Editing Kekaha, Hawaii

{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2025}}
{{Infobox settlement
<!-- Basic info  ---------------->
|official_name            = Kekaha
|other_name               = 
|native_name              = <!-- for cities whose native name is not in English -->
|nickname                 = 
|settlement_type          = [[Census-designated place]]
|motto                    = 
<!-- Images -->
<!-- images and maps  ----------->
|image_skyline            = Kekaha beachfront.jpg
|imagesize                = 250px
|image_caption            = Aerial view of Kekaha
|image_flag               = 
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|image_seal               = 
|seal_size                = 
|image_shield             = 
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|image_blank_emblem       = 
|blank_emblem_type        = 
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|image_map                = Kauai_County_Hawaii_Incorporated_and_Unincorporated_areas_Kekaha_Highlighted.svg
|mapsize                  = 
|map_caption              = Location in [[Kauai County, Hawaii|Kauai County]] and the state of [[Hawaii]]
|image_map1               = 
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|pushpin_map              = <!-- the name of a location map as per http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Location_map -->
|pushpin_label_position   = <!-- the position of the pushpin label: left, right, top, bottom, none -->
|pushpin_map_caption      = 
|pushpin_mapsize          = 
<!-- Location ------------------>
|subdivision_type         = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
|subdivision_name         = United States
|subdivision_type1        = [[U.S. state|State]]
|subdivision_name1        = [[Hawaii]]
|subdivision_type2        = [[List of counties in Hawaii|County]]
|subdivision_name2        = [[Kauai County, Hawaii|Kauai]]
|subdivision_type3        = 
|subdivision_name3        = 
|subdivision_type4        = 
|subdivision_name4        = 
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|leader_title3            = 
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|leader_title4            = 
|leader_name4             = 
|established_title        = 
|established_date         = 
|established_title2       = <!-- Incorporated (town) -->
|established_date2        = 
|established_title3       = <!-- Incorporated (city) -->
|established_date3        = 
<!-- Area    --------------------->
|area_magnitude           = 
|unit_pref                = Imperial
|area_footnotes           = <ref name="CenPopGazetteer2020">{{cite web|title=2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2020_Gazetteer/2020_gaz_place_15.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=December 18, 2021}}</ref>
|area_total_km2           = 3.35
|area_land_km2            = 2.60
|area_water_km2           = 0.75
|area_total_sq_mi         = 1.29
|area_land_sq_mi          = 1.00
|area_water_sq_mi         = 0.29
|area_water_percent       = 
|area_urban_km2           = 
|area_urban_sq_mi         = 
|area_metro_km2           = 
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|area_blank1_title        = 
|area_blank1_km2          = 
|area_blank1_sq_mi        = 
<!-- Population   ----------------------->
|population_as_of         = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
|population_footnotes     = 
|population_note          = 
|population_total         = 3715
|population_density_km2   = 1430.32
|population_density_sq_mi = 3703.89
|population_metro               = 
|population_density_metro_km2   = 
|population_density_metro_sq_mi = 
|population_urban               = 
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<!-- General information  --------------->
|timezone                 = [[Hawaii-Aleutian Standard Time Zone|Hawaii-Aleutian]]
|utc_offset               = -10
|timezone_DST             = 
|utc_offset_DST           = 
|coordinates              = {{coord|21|58|18|N|159|42|59|W|region:US_type:city|display=inline,title}}
|elevation_footnotes      = 
|elevation_m              = 3
|elevation_ft             = 10
<!-- Area/postal codes & others -------->
|postal_code_type         = [[ZIP code]]
|postal_code              = 96752
|area_code                = [[Area code 808|808]]
|blank_name               = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
|blank_info               = 15-35600
|blank1_name              = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
|blank1_info              = 0361086
|website                  = 
|footnotes                = 
|pop_est_as_of            = 
|pop_est_footnotes        = 
|population_est           = 
}}
 
'''Kekaha''' (literally, "the place" in [[Hawaiian language|Hawaiian]]<ref>{{Cite book | author=Pukui, Mary Kawena | title=Place Names of Hawaii | publisher=University of Hawaii Press | isbn=0-8248-0524-0 }}</ref>) is a [[census-designated place]] (CDP) in [[Kauai County, Hawaii|Kaua{{okina}}i County]], [[Hawaii|Hawai{{okina}}i]], United States. The population was 3,715 at the [[2010 United States Census|2020 census]],<ref name="Census 2010">{{Cite web| url=http://factfinder2.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/G001/1600000US1535600| title=Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (G001): Kekaha CDP, Hawaii| publisher=U.S. Census Bureau| work=American Factfinder| access-date=February 1, 2019}}{{dead link|bot=medic|date=April 2020}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> up from 3,175 at the 2000 census.

==History==
[[Image:Kekaha sugar mill.jpg|thumbnail|left|230px|Kekaha Sugar Mill]]
For most of the 20th century, the Kekaha Sugar Mill (owned by [[Amfac, Inc.|Amfac]]) was the centerpiece of agriculture on Kaua{{okina}}i's west side. The sugar mill had a major influence in Kekaha's development, including banking, employment, transportation, housing and utilities such as water and electricity. The mill employed several generations of local families. It closed in 2000 when the entire sugar industry in Hawai{{okina}}i collapsed. The mill was purchased in 2005 by mainland investors who sold off its heavy machinery to other mills as far away as [[Africa]].

Hawai{{okina}}i's first (and only) train robbery occurred here in February 1920, when a masked gunman stopped a slow-moving sugar train and escaped with the locomotive and $11,000 (~${{Format price|{{Inflation|index=US|value=11000|start_year=1920}}}} in {{Inflation/year|US}}) taken from the labor paymaster on board. Police recovered the money in a swamp near the home of a local fisherman, whose suspicious behavior soon resulted in his arrest and conviction. The fisherman was a big fan of [[Western (genre)|Western]] movies, and was thought to have been inspired by some of the films he had seen.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-02-11 |title=Train Robbery |url=https://imagesofoldhawaii.com/train-robbery/ |access-date=2022-06-18 |website=Images of Old Hawaiʻi |language=en-US}}</ref>

==Geography==
Kekaha is located on the southwest side of the island of [[Kauai]] at {{coord|21|58|18|N|159|42|59|W|type:city}} (21.971690, -159.716290).<ref name="GR1">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/geographies/reference-files/time-series/geo/gazetteer-files.html|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=2011-04-23|date=2011-02-12|title=US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990}}</ref> It is bordered to the east by [[Waimea, Kauai County, Hawaii|Waimea]] and to the south by the [[Pacific Ocean]]. [[Hawaii Route 50]] passes through the community, leading northwest {{convert|7|mi|0}} to its end at the [[Pacific Missile Range Facility]] and east {{convert|15|mi}} to [[Kalaheo, Hawaii|Kalaheo]].

According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the Kekaha CDP has a total area of {{convert|3.4|km2|order=flip}}, of which {{convert|2.6|km2|order=flip}} is land and {{convert|0.8|km2|order=flip}}, or 22.48%, are water.<ref name="Census 2010"/>

===Climate===
According to data from a weather station affiliated with the [[Pacific Missile Range Facility]] {{convert|7|mi|0}} from town, Kekaha has the climate type of the [[Semi-arid climate#Hot semi-arid climates|hot semi-arid climate]] ([[Köppen climate classification|Köppen]]: ''BSh''). The annual precipitation is {{convert|17.84|in}}, of which summer is the dry season and winter is the rainy season. December is the wettest month, while August is the driest.
{{Weather box
|location = [[Pacific Missile Range Facility]], 1991&ndash;2020 normals, extremes 1949&ndash;2015
|single line = Y

|Jan record high F = 86
|Feb record high F = 87
|Mar record high F = 87
|Apr record high F = 90
|May record high F = 90
|Jun record high F = 93
|Jul record high F = 93
|Aug record high F = 93
|Sep record high F = 93
|Oct record high F = 92
|Nov record high F = 90
|Dec record high F = 88

|Jan avg record high F = 83.1
|Feb avg record high F = 83.1
|Mar avg record high F = 84.7
|Apr avg record high F = 85.7
|May avg record high F = 86.7
|Jun avg record high F = 88.1
|Jul avg record high F = 90.0
|Aug avg record high F = 90.2
|Sep avg record high F = 89.6
|Oct avg record high F = 89.2
|Nov avg record high F = 87.0
|Dec avg record high F = 85.3
|year avg record high F = 91.1

|Jan high F = 79.1
|Feb high F = 79.2
|Mar high F = 80.5
|Apr high F = 82.2
|May high F = 83.6
|Jun high F = 85.7
|Jul high F = 86.5
|Aug high F = 87.5
|Sep high F = 87.2
|Oct high F = 86.0
|Nov high F = 83.5
|Dec high F = 81.6
|year high F = 83.5
|Jan mean F = 72.0
|Feb mean F = 71.8
|Mar mean F = 73.0
|Apr mean F = 74.4
|May mean F = 76.1
|Jun mean F = 78.1
|Jul mean F = 78.9
|Aug mean F = 80.1
|Sep mean F = 79.7
|Oct mean F = 78.6
|Nov mean F = 76.1
|Dec mean F = 74.3
|year mean F = 76.1
|Jan low F = 64.9
|Feb low F = 64.4
|Mar low F = 65.5
|Apr low F = 66.6
|May low F = 68.6
|Jun low F = 70.5
|Jul low F = 71.2
|Aug low F = 72.7
|Sep low F = 72.2
|Oct low F = 71.2
|Nov low F = 68.7
|Dec low F = 67.0
|year low F = 68.6

|Jan avg record low F = 58.3
|Feb avg record low F = 58.2
|Mar avg record low F = 59.7
|Apr avg record low F = 61.4
|May avg record low F = 63.8
|Jun avg record low F = 66.7
|Jul avg record low F = 67.8
|Aug avg record low F = 69.2
|Sep avg record low F = 68.4
|Oct avg record low F = 66.9
|Nov avg record low F = 63.9
|Dec avg record low F = 60.9
|year avg record low F = 57.0

|Jan record low F = 54
|Feb record low F = 54
|Mar record low F = 55
|Apr record low F = 57
|May record low F = 59
|Jun record low F = 63
|Jul record low F = 64
|Aug record low F = 65
|Sep record low F = 64
|Oct record low F = 58
|Nov record low F = 57
|Dec record low F = 53

|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation inch = 1.92
|Feb precipitation inch = 2.64
|Mar precipitation inch = 1.66
|Apr precipitation inch = 0.60
|May precipitation inch = 1.19
|Jun precipitation inch = 0.60
|Jul precipitation inch = 0.29
|Aug precipitation inch = 0.27
|Sep precipitation inch = 0.78
|Oct precipitation inch = 1.82
|Nov precipitation inch = 2.62
|Dec precipitation inch = 3.45
|year precipitation inch = 17.84
|unit precipitation days = 0.01 inch
|Jan precipitation days = 7.8
|Feb precipitation days = 5.7
|Mar precipitation days = 6.3
|Apr precipitation days = 6.2
|May precipitation days = 4.7
|Jun precipitation days = 4.2
|Jul precipitation days = 3.6
|Aug precipitation days = 3.2
|Sep precipitation days = 5.6
|Oct precipitation days = 6.5
|Nov precipitation days = 5.7
|Dec precipitation days = 7.3
|year precipitation days = 66.8
|source 1 = NOAA (mean maxima/minima 1981&ndash;2010)<ref>
{{cite web
|url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&stations=USW00022501&format=pdf&dataTypes=MLY-TMAX-NORMAL,MLY-TMIN-NORMAL,MLY-TAVG-NORMAL,MLY-PRCP-NORMAL,MLY-SNOW-NORMAL
|publisher = [[National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration]]
|title = U.S. Climate Normals Quick Access – Station: BARKING SANDS, HI US USW00022501
|access-date = June 10, 2023
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20230610064636/https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&stations=USW00022501&format=pdf&dataTypes=MLY-TMAX-NORMAL,MLY-TMIN-NORMAL,MLY-TAVG-NORMAL,MLY-PRCP-NORMAL,MLY-SNOW-NORMAL
|archive-date = 2023-06-10
}}
</ref><ref name = XMACIS2>
{{cite web
|url = https://xmacis.rcc-acis.org/
|publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
|title = xmACIS2 
|access-date = June 14, 2023
}}
</ref>
}}

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|2000= 3175
|2020= 3715
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref name="DecennialCensus">{{cite web|url=http://www.census.gov/prod/www/decennial.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|publisher=Census.gov|accessdate=June 4, 2016}}</ref>
}}
As of the [[census]]<ref name="GR2">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=2008-01-31|title=U.S. Census website}}</ref> of 2000, there were 3,175 people, 1,073 households, and 799 families residing in the CDP. The population density was {{convert|3,178.2|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 1,162 housing units at an average density of {{convert|1,163.2|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|units&nbsp;|units|}}. The racial makeup of the CDP was 15.9% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 0.2% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.5% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 43.6% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 12.4% [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 1.0% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 26.4% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 8.7% of the population.

There were 1,073 households, out of which 30.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.9% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 13.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.5% were non-families. 21.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.96 and the average family size was 3.44.

In the CDP the population was spread out, with 25.1% under the age of 18, 7.5% from 18 to 24, 24.4% from 25 to 44, 27.4% from 45 to 64, and 15.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 98.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.2 males.

The median income for a household in the CDP was $41,103, and the median income for a family was $48,629. Males had a median income of $32,969 versus $26,739 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the CDP was $17,117. About 10.9% of families and 11.2% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 11.8% of those under age 18 and 11.1% of those age 65 or over.

==Items of interest==
[[Image:Kekaha Beach Sunset.jpg|thumbnail|230px|Kekaha Beach at sunset]]
Located near Kekaha is the U.S. Navy [[Pacific Missile Range Facility]] (PMRF). Within PMRF's property is located [[WWVH]], the U.S.'s Pacific-region shortwave station operated by [[NIST]] broadcasting time signals from an [[atomic clock]]. The station also broadcasts weather alerts for portions of the [[Pacific Ocean]]. Kekaha Beach Park offers splendid views of [[Niihau|Ni{{okina}}ihau]], Hawai{{okina}}i's Forbidden Island.

==Education==
[[Hawaii Department of Education]] operates public schools, including:
* Kekaha Elementary School<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.kekahaschool.k12.hi.us/|title=Home|publisher=Kekaha Elementary School|access-date=2020-10-19|quote=8140 Kekaha Rd. [...] Kekaha, HI 96752 }}</ref>

[[Niihau School of Kekaha]] is a charter K-12 school in Kekaha.

==Communications==
Circa 1962, the Army Radio Station a few miles west of Kekaha provided [[Ionoscatter|ionospheric]] and [[Troposcatter|tropospheric scatter communications]] as part of a line of stations from [[California]] to [[Vietnam]], sending TTY ([[Teleprinter]]) traffic back and forth during the [[Vietnam War]].{{Citation needed|date=December 2007}} The radio station was shut down 1967.

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{Kauai County, Hawaii}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Census-designated places in Kauai County, Hawaii]]
[[Category:Populated places on Kauai]]
[[Category:Sugar plantations in Hawaii]]
[[Category:Populated coastal places in Hawaii]]