Signature · 65 SNAP-authorized stores

Kauai County, HI

Kauai County sits in the upper national band on low-access (34.2%, +12.1 pts vs U.S.), with SNAP/vehicle context from ACS 2024.

34.2%
low-access pop.
0
food-desert tracts
11.3%
on SNAP
74K
residents (ACS 2024)
USDA FARA 2019 Census ACS 2024 HI

USDA FARA access plate

County Kauai County, HI

LA-ELEVATED · ABOVE-NATIONAL · LILA-NONE · SNAP-TYPICAL · VEH-OK · DENSITY-CLEAR

  • LA-ELEVATED 34.2% low-access
  • ABOVE-NATIONAL +12.1 pts vs US
  • LILA-NONE 0 food-desert tracts
  • SNAP-TYPICAL 11.3% SNAP
  • VEH-OK 4.0% no vehicle
  • DENSITY-CLEAR 0% tracts LILA

Nearest low-access peer: Hawaii County ( -2.9 pts)

Upper-band low-access

Kauai County sits in the upper national band (34.2%, #653 of 3,079).

#653
national by low-access %
#1
in HI
7
low-access tracts
5K
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: 65 SNAP-authorized stores .

How Kauai County compares nationally

Relative to the 3,133 U.S. counties with USDA food-access data, Kauai County's 34.2% low-access share is elevated, higher than 79% of them and ranked #656 most-affected nationwide.

lower low-accesshigher low-access

Kauai County's elevated USDA tier split

14 census tracts grouped by USDA classification .

Food access tier distribution for Kauai County, HI USDA-defined food-access tiers: 7 census tracts adequate (within distance threshold), 7 limited, 0 severe (low-income low-access food desert). Total 14 tracts evaluated. 7 tracts adequate (50.0%) 7 tracts limited (50.0%) Adequate 50% Limited 50% Severe 0% Food-access tier distribution: Kauai County, HI
Source: USDA Economic Research Service, Food Access Research Atlas 2019

By USDA urbanicity classification, Kauai County has 6 urban and 8 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.

Kauai County vs nearby high low-access peers

Poles + nearest peers in Hawaii, not a full county-board reprint

% low-access
Source USDA Economic Research Service, Food Access Research Atlas As of 2019 edition

FARA 2019 · elevated low-access

USDA Food Access Research Atlas 2019 indicators for Kauai County
IndicatorValue
Census Tracts14
Atlas Population (2010 basis)67,091
Low-Access Tracts7
Food-Desert Tracts (low-income & low-access)0
Low-Access Population22,944
Low-Access Share34.2%well above the national average
Low-Income & Low-Access Population4,957

ACS 2024 · elevated SNAP band

Census ACS 2024 demographic and SNAP data for Kauai County
IndicatorValue
Population73,731
Median Household Income$97,668
Poverty Rate9.1%below the national average
SNAP Households2,680
SNAP Participation Rate11.3%near the national average
Households Without a Vehicle4.0%well below the national average
Group-Quarters Population1.0%

Thick SNAP store book in Kauai County

Kauai County has 65 stores currently authorized to accept SNAP (EBT) benefits, across 13 store categories. Convenience Store lead with 20 locations (31% of the total), followed by super store.

Convenience Store · 20

  • 7-eleven 54134, hanamaulu
  • 7-eleven 54213, lihue
  • 7-eleven 54288, lawai
  • abc stores 59, lihue
  • abc store 58, kapaa
  • hokulei village texaco, lihue
  • island country markets 93, kapaa
  • koloa texaco 93871, koloa
  • lihue texaco 97619, lihue
  • menehune food mart kapahi 1125, kapaa
  • menehune food mart kekaha 1124, kekaha
  • rainbow shell, kapaa
  • shell kapaa 1326, kapaa
  • shell kilauea 1327, kilauea
  • umi's store llc, waimea
  • vim n vigor, lihue
  • whalers general store 1158, anahola
  • wailua country store, kapaa
  • wainiha country market, hanalei
  • whalers general store 1253, koloa

Super Store · 10

  • big save eleele 29, eleele
  • big save hanalei 30, hanalei
  • big save kapaa 31, kapaa
  • big save koloa 32, koloa
  • big save waimea 33, waimea
  • costco wholesale 0640, lihue
  • foodland princeville 30, princeville
  • target store t3400, lihue
  • times super mkt lihue 26, lihue
  • walmart 2308, lihue

Farmers' Market · 8

  • ahk farmstand, kilauea
  • anaina hou community park, kilauea
  • hale puna farmer's market, waimea
  • hanalei farmers market, hanalei
  • mahalo market, kapaa
  • moloa'a aina center, kilauea
  • nourish kauai nafmnp, kapa'a
  • waimanalo beach park, kapolei

Supermarket · 7

  • healthy hut, kilauea
  • hoku foods natural market, kapaa
  • kilauea market + cafe 2810, kilauea
  • papaya's natural foods kp, kapaa
  • safeway 1209, kapaa
  • safeway 2894, lihue
  • sueoka market 96, koloa

Combination Grocery/Other · 6

  • cvs 10474, poipu
  • cvs pharmacy 9189, lihue
  • cvs pharmacy 9952, kapaa
  • cvs/pharmacy 7669, eleele
  • healthgo market inc. 2, lihue
  • living foods, koloa

Small Grocery Store · 5

  • kukuiula store, inc., koloa
  • lawai market, kalaheo
  • penchie s cabasag, lihue
  • salt pond country store, hanapepe
  • thrifty mini mart, kekaha

Medium Grocery Store · 3

  • hanalei market, hanalei
  • roses pinoy favorites, lihue
  • tj variety store 1, lihue

Bakery Specialty · 1

  • thrifty mart, kaumakani

Delivery Route · 1

  • kauai seafood, kapaa

Fruits/Veg Specialty · 1

  • ohi ohi farms, kilauea

Large Grocery Store · 1

  • hoku foods natural market rs2, koloa

Meat/Poultry Specialty · 1

  • medeiros farm, inc, kalaheo

Seafood Specialty · 1

  • lawai'a fish co., lihue

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 Kauai County vs Hawaii County → · All Hawaii counties →

Counties near Kauai County's elevated low-access or SNAP band

Two USDA/ACS-derived peer sets for Kauai County, both outside Hawaii so the neighborhoods are not the same-state county list above.

Similar low-access share

Nearest low-access rates outside HI (34.2% here).

Similar SNAP participation

Nearest household SNAP rates outside HI (11.3% here).

Source: USDA Food Access Research Atlas (2019) + Census ACS 2024 SNAP. Peers floor at 10,000 residents so stub counties cannot own the match.

Kauai County inside a higher low-access state context

Kauai 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 Kauai County, HI are computed from the joined Atlas and ACS records for FIPS 15007. 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.