Puako is a community in Hawaii County, Hawaii, home to about 259 people across 3.2 square miles. It has no ZIP code of its own: it’s part of 96743.
Homes sold for a median of $853 per square foot in the three months ending August 2026, a buyer’s market.
Mostly Waimea (Hawaii County); part is in Puako
Each card is that ZIP code’s whole market, including any part outside Puako. Seller’s market: under 4 months of supply; buyer’s market: over 6. Methodology
We’re writing up Puako’s story and what everyday life there is like, for people thinking about moving in.
Are you a local agent who knows Puako well? Agents who advertise here will be able to write the guide. Advertise on OfferBacked
| Nearest major airport | Ellison Onizuka Kona International Airport at Keāhole (KOA)29 miles away |
|---|---|
| Closer regional airport | Waimea Kohala Airport (MUE)2 miles away |
| Nearest city of 250,000+ | Urban Honolulu, HI166 miles away |
Straight-line distances from the center of Puako; driving is longer.
Source: Airports from OurAirports (scheduled passenger service); city centers and populations from the U.S. Census Bureau.
Source: Members of Congress from the congress-legislators project; districts from the Census Bureau’s relationship files; governor and mayor from Wikidata.
Puako had 267 residents in the 2020 census, down 38% since 2000.
It’s the 153rd largest of 163 towns in Hawaii by population.
Hawaii County grew from 46,843 residents in 1900 to 200,629 in 2020.
Hawaii County, 1900–2020
Source: U.S. Census Bureau decennial censuses (counties 1900–1990 from the Bureau’s historical county file).
Average highs peak around 89°F in summer, and winter lows average 68°F. About 8.9 inches of rain and melted snow fall in a typical year.
Source: NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals, Puukohola Heiau 98.1, HI weather station (8 miles away).
54,716 jobs at 4,400 businesses in Hawaii County. The biggest industries by employees:
Source: U.S. Census Bureau County Business Patterns 2023 (private employers; jobs counted where people work).
192 doctors and other health care providers list an office in Puako.
Nearest hospitals
Providers with an office here
| Primary care doctors | 38 |
|---|---|
| Specialist doctors | 29 |
| Dentists | 11 |
| Nurse practitioners and physician assistants | 32 |
| Mental health providers | 47 |
| Physical and occupational therapists | 17 |
| Optometrists | 6 |
| Chiropractors | 12 |
| Pharmacies | 4 |
Source: Hospitals from CMS Hospital General Information (ratings are CMS overall star ratings); straight-line distances; providers from the CMS National Plan and Provider Enumeration System (NPPES), by practice address and primary specialty.
Grocery stores
Pharmacies
Libraries
Museums
Theaters and performance venues
Counts are within about 1.5 miles of the center of town.
Source: Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors (openstreetmap.org/copyright), as mapped by volunteers; it can miss places or include closed ones.
Public schools here are run by Hawaii Department of Education. Check each district’s attendance zones for a specific address.
| School | Grades | Students | Type | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Waimea Elementary SchoolKamuela | Pre-K–5 | 474 | Public | 2.4 mi |
| Kanu o ka Aina - New Century PCSKamuela | K–12 | 696 | Charter | 3.5 mi |
| Waimea Middle - PCCSKamuela | 6–8 | 188 | Charter | 2.4 mi |
| School | Grades | Students | Affiliation | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Montessori Education Center of HawaiiKamuela | Pre-K–K | 9 | Nonsectarian | 2.0 mi |
| Hawaii Preparatory AcademyKamuela | K–12 | 576 | Nonsectarian | 1.6 mi |
| Parker SchoolKamuela | K–12 | 337 | Nonsectarian | 2.5 mi |
| Waimea Country SchoolKamuela | K–5 | 49 | Nonsectarian | 2.4 mi |
Source: U.S. Department of Education, NCES: Common Core of Data (2024-2025) for public schools; Private School Universe Survey (2023-2024) for private schools. Listed by address; we don’t rate schools.
Buying or selling around Puako? Tell us what you need and when. No agents advertise here yet, so we’ll keep your request for up to 30 days and send it to local agents who join. No obligation, and you choose who to work with.
Loading map…
Shares ZIP codes with Waimea (Hawaii County) and Waikoloa Beach Resort.
Town boundaries don’t always match ZIP codes: a ZIP code can cross into neighboring towns, and a town can share a ZIP code with its neighbors. Facts describe the town itself; market figures describe whole ZIP codes.