Signature · 17.8% SNAP (100th pct in HI)
Hawaii County, HI
Hawaii County stands out on SNAP (17.8%, +5.7 pts vs U.S.) with 31.3% low-access from USDA FARA 2019.
- 31.3%
- low-access pop.
- 10
- food-desert tracts
- 17.8%
- on SNAP
- 206K
- residents (ACS 2024)
USDA FARA access plate
County Hawaii County, HI
LA-ELEVATED · ABOVE-NATIONAL · LILA-CLUSTER · SNAP-HEAVY · VEH-OK · DENSITY-DENSE
- LA-ELEVATED 31.3% low-access
- ABOVE-NATIONAL +9.2 pts vs US
- LILA-CLUSTER 10 food-desert tracts
- SNAP-HEAVY 17.8% SNAP
- VEH-OK 4.8% no vehicle
- DENSITY-DENSE 30% tracts LILA
Nearest low-access peer: Kauai County (+ 2.9 pts)
Upper-band low-access
Hawaii County sits in the upper national band (31.3%, #860 of 3,079) with 10 LILA tracts.
- #860
- national by low-access %
- #2
- in HI
- 16
- low-access tracts
- 15K
- food-desert residents
Upper-band counties often pair elevated low-access with clustered LILA tracts. Low access = >1 mile urban / >10 miles rural.
Signature read: 17.8% SNAP (100th pct in HI) (+5.7 pts vs U.S. SNAP) .
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's elevated USDA tier split
33 census tracts grouped by USDA classification · 10 LILA.
By USDA urbanicity classification, Hawaii County has 13 urban and 20 rural census tracts. The 1-mile (urban) vs 10-mile (rural) distance threshold above applies per tract, so a county's access rate reflects this mix.
Hawaii County vs nearby high low-access peers
Poles + nearest peers in Hawaii, not a full county-board reprint
- Kauai
Kauai 34.2%
34.2 % low-access
- Hawaii
Hawaii 31.3%
31.3 % low-access
- Maui
Maui 27%
27 % low-access
- Honolulu
Honolulu 25.2%
25.2 % low-access
- Kalawao 0
Kalawao 0%
0 % low-access
FARA 2019 · elevated low-access
| 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 |
ACS 2024 · elevated SNAP band
| 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% |
Thick SNAP store book 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 stores, a live third population, not the 2019 Atlas or ACS 2024 snapshot above).
Other Counties in Hawaii
One of 4 counties in Hawaii, 4 are shown here.
Compare Hawaii County vs Honolulu County → · All Hawaii counties →
Counties near Hawaii County's elevated low-access or SNAP band
SNAP-led peer set first for Hawaii County (17.8%), with low-access neighbours deduped against it, both outside Hawaii.
Similar low-access share
Nearest low-access rates outside HI (31.3% here).
- Cooper County, MO · 31.3% low-access
- Cooper County, MO · 31.3% low-access
- Lenoir County, NC · 31.3% low-access
- Lenoir County, NC · 31.3% low-access
Similar SNAP participation
Nearest household SNAP rates outside HI (17.8% here).
- Stone County, AR · 17.8% SNAP
- Stone County, AR · 17.8% SNAP
- Lackawanna County, PA · 17.8% SNAP
- Lackawanna County, PA · 17.8% SNAP
Source: USDA Food Access Research Atlas (2019) + Census ACS 2024 SNAP. Peers floor at 10,000 residents so stub counties cannot own the match.
Hawaii County inside a higher low-access state context
Hawaii County sits inside Hawaii (ringed). Each state is colored by population-weighted low-access; click any state to compare.
USDA Economic Research Service, Food Access Research Atlas (2019), population-weighted · Census ACS 2024 context
Read with this county
Sources: USDA Economic Research Service, Food Access Research Atlas (2019) · U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey, 2024 5-Year Estimates · methodology · compiled .
PlainFoodAccess renders this county profile directly from the USDA Food Access Research Atlas (2019) and U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (2024 5-year estimates), no number is typed in by an editor. Figures for Hawaii County, HI are computed from the joined Atlas and ACS records for FIPS 15001. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of 2026-06-23. Primary sources: USDA Food Access Research Atlas and Census ACS 5-year estimates.
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.