County food-access profile · Hawaii
Hawaii County, HI
Distance to a supermarket is a real obstacle for a meaningful share of Hawaii County residents. This profile covers who qualifies as a food desert here and the income, SNAP, and vehicle-access context behind it, from the USDA Food Access Research Atlas (2019) and the Census ACS (2024).
- 31.3%
- low-access pop.
- 10
- food-desert tracts
- 17.8%
- on SNAP
- 206K
- residents (ACS 2024)
The food-access picture
31.3% of Hawaii County residents live in a low-access area, and 10 of its 33 census tracts are USDA-designated food deserts.
- 16
- low-access tracts
- 15K
- food-desert residents
- 4.8%
- households, no vehicle
- 14.9%
- below poverty line
Low access = living more than 1 mile (urban) or 10 miles (rural) from the nearest supermarket. Food deserts add a low-income condition (USDA LILA, 1-and-10-mile measure).
USDA data puts Hawaii County's low-access share at 31.3%, above the national share. 16 of the county's 33 census tracts are classified low-access, meaning residents there live far from a supermarket, an area covering about 57,929 people. 10 of those also meet the low-income condition that defines a food desert, home to roughly 14,978 low-income residents.
How the USDA defines low-access and food-desert tracts
The USDA measures food access by distance to the nearest supermarket. A census tract is "low-access" when a meaningful share of residents live more than one mile from a supermarket in urban areas, or more than ten miles in rural areas. A tract becomes a "food desert" only when it is both low-access and low-income, because distance is far harder to overcome for households without a car or a cushion in the budget. Counts on this page are aggregated from the tract level, where the federal data is actually published, so a single county figure can hide neighbourhoods that are much better or much worse served than the average. Distance also does not capture everything that shapes whether a family eats well: the presence of a full-service grocer rather than a convenience store, public transit, food pantries, and the price and quality of what is on the shelf all matter beyond the radius the Atlas can draw.
How Hawaii County compares nationally
Relative to the 3,133 U.S. counties with USDA food-access data, Hawaii County's 31.3% low-access share is elevated, higher than 72% of them and ranked #864 most-affected nationwide.
Hawaii County: USDA Food-Access Tier Breakdown
All 33 census tracts in Hawaii County, grouped by USDA classification (see "How the USDA defines low-access and food-desert tracts" above for what each tier means).
Hawaii County vs. other Hawaii counties
Share of the population living in low-access areas, compared with other counties in Hawaii
- Hawaii
Hawaii County, HI
31.3 % low-access
- Honolulu
Honolulu County, HI
25.2 % low-access
- Kalawao 0
Kalawao County, HI
0 % low-access
- Kauai
Kauai County, HI
34.2 % low-access
- Maui
Maui County, HI
27 % low-access
Food Access (USDA FARA 2019)
| Indicator | Value |
|---|---|
| Census Tracts | 33 |
| Atlas Population (2010 basis) | 185,079 |
| Low-Access Tracts | 16 |
| Food-Desert Tracts (low-income & low-access) | 10 |
| Low-Access Population | 57,929 |
| Low-Access Share | 31.3%above the national average |
| Low-Income & Low-Access Population | 14,978 |
Demographics & Assistance (Census ACS 2024)
| Indicator | Value |
|---|---|
| Population | 205,769 |
| Median Household Income | $78,639 |
| Poverty Rate | 14.9%near the national average |
| SNAP Households | 13,197 |
| SNAP Participation Rate | 17.8%above the national average |
| Households Without a Vehicle | 4.8%well below the national average |
| Group-Quarters Population | 1.2% |
About 17.8% of Hawaii County households receive SNAP, versus a U.S. county median in the 11–13% range (Census ACS).
What this means
- 31.3% of residents are low-access, above the national share for U.S. counties.
- 17.8% of households receive SNAP, the federal program that offsets food costs for 13,197 households here.
- 4.8% of households have no vehicle, the hidden multiplier that turns distance into a real barrier.
- 10 tracts meet the USDA food-desert threshold (low-income and low-access).
USDA low-access figures reflect the 2019 Atlas (2010 tract populations); socioeconomic context is the latest Census ACS 5-year (2024).
What the food-access data shows for Hawaii County
above the national share
10 of Hawaii County's 33 census tracts are USDA-designated food deserts, low-income areas where many residents also live far from a supermarket, about 30.3% of all its tracts.
A further 6 tracts are low-access but not low-income, bringing the total low-access tract count to 16.
An estimated 57,929 residents, roughly 31.3% of the county's 2010 population, live in one of these low-access areas.
Of those, 14,978 are also low-income, the group most exposed to genuine food hardship, since limited transportation compounds a limited budget.
The remaining 17 tracts (51.5%) meet the USDA's adequate-access threshold.
SNAP retailers in Hawaii County
Hawaii County has 171 stores currently authorized to accept SNAP (EBT) benefits, across 13 store categories. Convenience Store lead with 76 locations (44% of the total), followed by super store.
Convenience Store · 76
- 7-eleven 54136, hilo
- 7-eleven 54138, hilo
- 7-eleven 54209, pahoa
- 7-eleven 54222, hilo
- 7-eleven 54258, hilo
- 7-eleven 54277, kurtistown
- 7-eleven 54284, keaau
- abc store 62, kailua kona
- abc store 63, kona
- abc store 71, kailua kona
- abc store 75, kailua-kona
- aim captain cook 1015, captain cook
- aim henry st 1115, kailua kona
- aim honalo shell 1303, kealakekua
- aim kamuela shell 1301, kamuela
- aim kona-mauka shell 1314, kailua kona
- aim waiakea shell 1311, hilo
- ainaola mart, hilo
- aloha island mart keauhou 1117, kailua kona
- armed forces recreation ctr kmc, hawaii national park
- banyan mart, kailua kona
- banyan mini mart 1, hilo
- bayside texaco, hilo
- captain cook chevron food mart, captain cook
- captain cook mini mart, kealakekua
- doris place, holualoa
- fanitom mini mart, hilo
- fujihara store, captain cook
- hele hilo 61203, hilo
- hele honokaa 61204, honokaa
- hele kaumana 61201, hilo
- hele kilauea 61210, hilo
- hele stores 61081, hilo
- hele stores 61087, kealakekua
- hele stores 61089, kailua kona
- hwy. x-press mini mart, pepeekeo
- hale aloha, pahoa
- hirano store, mountain view
- kagimoto's, hilo
- kawaihae marketplace 1, kamuela
- keaau shell food mart, keaau
- kilauea shell 4, hilo
- kimura general store, papaikou
- kona liquor store, kailua kona
- kona reef liquor & deli, kailua kona
- kuakini chevron food mart, kailua kona
- minit stop 81, kamuela
- minit stop 82, kamuela
- minit stop 83, hilo
- minit stop 84, keaau
- minit stop 88, laupahoehoe
- ms hamakua 90, honokaa
- ms hawi 85, hawi
- ms kohanaiki 87, kailua kona
- ms. honokaa 89, honokaa
- n & p mart, pahoa
- naito store, kapaau
- ohana warehouse, captain cook
- one spot hawaii, pepeekeo
- onomea country market, pepeekeo
- patel's auto service, captain cook
- queen k tesoro, kailua kona
- r & g minimart & laundromat, pahala
- sunset mini mart, kailua-kona
- tea time hawaii, hilo
- the keaukaha general store, llc, hilo
- the volcano store, volcano
- waiakea texaco 20611, hilo
- waiakeawaena texaco, hilo
- waiholokui garden, pahoa
- waikoloa chevron, waikoloa
- waimea chevron food mart, kamuela
- waimea express, kamuela
- whalers general store 1230, waikoloa
- wong yuen store, naalehu
- woodland center, pahoa
Super Store · 24
- choice mart, captain cook
- costco wholesale 0140, kailua kona
- foodland farms mauna lani 39, kamuela
- foodland keaau 41, keaau
- foodland waimea 38, kamuela
- island naturals kona inc., kailua kona
- k. takata store 14, kapaau
- kta super stores 1, hilo
- kta super stores 2, kailua kona
- kta super stores 3, hilo
- kta super stores kamuela, kamuela
- kta super stores keauhou, kailua kona
- malama market - pahoa 2802, pahoa
- malama market honoka'a 2808, honokaa
- ocean view market, ocean view
- puna plantation hawaii ltd 11, kealakekua
- sack n save hilo 21, hilo
- sack n save kona 25, kailua kona
- sack n save puainako 26, hilo
- target store t-2412, kailua kona
- target store t-2682, hilo
- waikoloa village market, waikoloa
- walmart 2321, kailua kona
- walmart 2473, hilo
Combination Grocery/Other · 15
- cvs 2406, kamuela
- cvs 5638, pahala
- cvs pharmacy 06870, keaau
- cvs pharmacy 7098, pahoa
- cvs pharmacy 9227, hilo
- cvs pharmacy 9249, kailua kona
- cvs pharmacy 9620, hilo
- cvs pharmacy 9936, kailua kona
- cost-u-less 3, hilo
- island naturals market, inc, hilo
- island naturals pahoa, inc. `, pahoa
- j hara store inc, kurtistown
- kahuku country market, ocean view
- kohala food hub, hawi
- orchidland general store, keaau
Small Grocery Store · 14
- a arakaki store inc, kapaau
- hawaii true value 5066, volcano
- honokaa filipino store, llc., honokaa
- honokaa market, honokaa
- kaimu korner country store, pahoa
- kilauea general store, volcano
- kohala grown market, hawi
- manono mini mart, hilo
- marcy's variety store, hilo
- mt. view mini mart, mountain view
- ohana foods, hilo
- poke to your taste llc, hilo
- the farm stand, hilo
- trini's market, kailua kona
Medium Grocery Store · 12
- chita's travel & filipino store, waikoloa
- da store hawaiian beaches, pahoa
- healthways ii, kamuela
- keaau natural foods, inc., keaau
- keaau filipino food store llc, keaau
- kilauea market 0, hilo
- matsuyama food mart, kailua kona
- matsuyama food & fuel, kailua kona
- mizuno superette 3, pahala
- papaaloa country store and cafe, papaaloa
- the locavore store, hilo
- wiki wiki mart union 76, naalehu
Farmers' Market · 11
- hakalau farmers market and foodshare, hakalau
- hamakua harvest farmers' market, honokaa
- hawaii farm to car, keaau
- hilo coffee mill farmers market, mountain view
- hilo farmers market, hilo
- kaimu farmers market, pahoa
- kamuela farmers market llc, kamuela
- keauhou farmers market, kailua kona
- makuu farmers market co., pahoa
- volcano farmers market, volcano
- waimea midweek market llc, kamuela
Meat/Poultry Specialty · 7
- aloha aina natural beef, naalehu
- big island beef jerky, hilo
- frank's foods inc, hilo
- georges meat market, hilo
- hamakua meat market, paauilo
- kulana foods, hilo
- waimea butcher shop llc, kamuela
Supermarket · 5
- abundant life natural foods, hilo
- island gourmet markets 77, waikoloa
- malama market - oceanview 805, oceanview
- safeway 1117, kailua kona
- safeway 2893, hilo
Fruits/Veg Specialty · 2
- alae postharvest facility, hilo
- danny's produce, keaau
Seafood Specialty · 2
- ellie girl poke shop n/a, hilo
- suisan company ltd, hilo
Delivery Route · 1
- so juicy hilo, hilo
Food Buying Co-op · 1
- the food basket, inc., hawaii island's food bank, hilo
Large Grocery Store · 1
- plantation market, hawi
Source: USDA SNAP Retailer Locator, currently authorized retailers.
Other Counties in Hawaii
Compare Hawaii County vs Honolulu County → · All Hawaii counties →
Food access nationally, Hawaii in context
Hawaii County sits inside Hawaii (ringed). Each state is colored by its population-weighted low-access share; click any state to compare.
USDA Economic Research Service, Food Access Research Atlas (2019), population-weighted · Census ACS 2024 context
Understand the Data
Frequently Asked Questions
What share of Hawaii County has low food access? ▼
What is the SNAP participation rate in Hawaii County? ▼
What is the poverty rate in Hawaii County? ▼
Is Hawaii County a food desert? ▼
What share of Hawaii County households lack a vehicle? ▼
Data Sources & Methodology
USDA Economic Research Service, Food Access Research Atlas (2019): low-access and food-desert tract classifications, low-access population, and low-income low-access counts. ers.usda.gov/food-access-research-atlas
U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey, 2024 5-Year Estimates: population, median income, poverty, SNAP participation, vehicle access, and group quarters. census.gov/programs-surveys/acs
Low access is defined as living more than 1 mile (urban) or 10 miles (rural) from the nearest supermarket; a food desert adds a low-income condition. Read the full methodology →
Data current as of (most recent source-data vintage; figures reflect the 2019 USDA Atlas and 2024 Census ACS).
Note: This page presents public USDA and Census data for informational purposes and is not professional advice. Figures reflect the cited dataset vintages and may differ from the most recent local conditions. How this data is sourced & verified.