Island Snapshot
Market and community context for partners, sponsors, and civic leaders considering 24/7 emergency veterinary care on Kauaʻi — demographics, density, access, and cost of living.
At a glance
Kauaʻi is a single-county island of roughly 73,600 residents — plus tens of thousands of visitors on a typical day — with no 24-hour animal hospital.
73,610
Residents (Kauaʻi County)
119/sq mi
County population density
29,080
Average daily visitors (2023 YTD)
0
24-hour animal hospitals on Kauaʻi
Where people live
Population is concentrated along the east and south shores — especially the Līhuʻe–Kapaʻa corridor — with smaller communities on the north and west. Select a place on the map or list to see density and drive time to Līhuʻe.
Place populations from the 2020 U.S. Census. Map polygons are simplified for clarity and are not official CDP boundaries.
Island drive times
One well-located facility can reach most communities within about an hour under typical conditions — far closer than an inter-island flight to Oʻahu.
| From | To | Typical drive |
|---|---|---|
| Līhuʻe | Kapaʻa | ~18 min |
| Līhuʻe | Wailua Homesteads | ~15 min |
| Līhuʻe | Kōloa / Poipū | ~22 min |
| Līhuʻe | Kalāheo | ~22 min |
| Līhuʻe | Waimea | ~38 min |
| Līhuʻe | Kekaha | ~42 min |
| Līhuʻe | Princeville | ~50 min |
| Līhuʻe | Hanalei | ~55 min |
Approximate typical conditions. Actual times vary with traffic, weather, and road closures.
Cost of living
Housing costs are high relative to the mainland. Families already absorb significant living expenses — and today, serious pet emergencies can add inter-island transport cost and hours of delay on top of that.
$817,900
Median home value
$1,810
Median gross rent / month
$93,612
Median household income
6.5%
Poverty rate
Visitor economy
Tourism adds a large daily population beyond permanent residents. Visitors bring pets, foster animals, and the same after-hours emergencies — which today still require leaving the island for 24/7 in-person care.
1.35M
Visitor arrivals (2022)
28,600+
Average daily visitor census (2022)
$2.2B
Visitor expenditures (2022)
1.19M
Visitor arrivals YTD through Oct 2023
The care gap
Kauaʻi remains the only major Hawaiian island without a 24-hour emergency animal hospital. The nearest option is VERC on Oʻahu — over 100 miles across open ocean.
Sources
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates (2023)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Decennial Census (CDP populations) (2020)
- Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority — Kauaʻi County Visitor Fact Sheet (2023)
Drive times are approximate and for typical conditions only. This page is informational context for partners and community leaders — not a financial prospectus or investment solicitation.
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Interested in sponsorship, real estate or construction partnership, or a major gift? We would love to hear from you.
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