Find a Job You Really Want In
As we move into 2026, the challenges women face in the workforce continue to evolve. Despite advancements in gender equality, women in the United States still encounter obstacles such as wage disparities, underrepresentation in leadership roles, and a disproportionate share of family responsibilities. This article explores the dynamics impacting women in Hawaii, offering insights into the cities that present the most significant difficulties for women today.
Having assessed the overall landscape for women across the state, we focused on pinpointing the cities in Hawaii where women face the greatest challenges. The findings reveal that location plays a crucial role in shaping women’s experiences.
Continue reading to discover the rankings and the criteria used to identify the worst cities for women in Hawaii.
The 10 Worst Cities To Be A Woman In Hawaii
The following cities rank as the most challenging locations for women in Hawaii. For further context, we also highlight the best cities for women in the state.
Methodology – How We Determined The Worst Cities For Women In Hawaii
Each city was evaluated based on four key metrics:
- Percentage Of Women In Management (Lower percentage is worse)
- Percentage Of Women Living In Poverty (Higher percentage is worse)
- Income of Women Relative to Male Earnings (Lower ratio is worse)
- Percentage of Women Without Health Insurance (Lower percentage is worse)
To assess the income disparity between genders, we utilized data from the Census’ American Community Survey. By dividing the median male income by the median female income, we calculated the ratio of women’s earnings per male dollar.
For the poverty statistics, we again turned to the ACS. This metric focuses on women living independently, excluding those who are married or living with relatives, which tends to yield a higher poverty rate among women.
The percentage of women in management was also sourced from the ACS, providing valuable insight into women’s representation in leadership roles—critical for understanding advancement opportunities.
Lastly, we used ACS data to determine the share of uninsured women in each city.
Our analysis was limited to cities in Hawaii with populations exceeding 5,000.
1. Wailea
How Much Women Make For Male Dollars Earned: $0.67
Women In Management: 31.7%
Women In Poverty: 15.0%
Women Uninsured: 6.6%
Wailea ranks as the most challenging city for women in Hawaii, characterized by low scores across all evaluated metrics. Women in Wailea face a high likelihood of living in poverty and lacking health insurance, underscoring the considerable hurdles they encounter.
2. Waianae
How Much Women Make For Male Dollars Earned: $0.75
Women In Management: 37.4%
Women In Poverty: 30.6%
Women Uninsured: 5.7%
Waianae is the second most challenging city for women, with high poverty rates and generally unfavorable conditions.
3. Kula
How Much Women Make For Male Dollars Earned: $0.63
Women In Management: 38.6%
Women In Poverty: 11.0%
Women Uninsured: 5.2%
While Kula shows some progress, challenges persist. A sizeable portion of women remain in poverty, and the representation in management roles is not particularly encouraging.
4. Maili
How Much Women Make For Male Dollars Earned: $0.61
Women In Management: 49.0%
Women In Poverty: 23.3%
Women Uninsured: 6.3%
Maili ranks as the fourth worst city for women, with a notable percentage living in poverty and lacking health insurance, emphasizing the need for improved support systems.
5. Ocean Pointe
How Much Women Make For Male Dollars Earned: $0.60
Women In Management: 22.8%
Women In Poverty: 4.7%
Women Uninsured: 4.7%
Ocean Pointe ranks as the fifth most challenging location for women, with limited management representation and income disparity remaining significant.
6. Kalaheo
How Much Women Make For Male Dollars Earned: $0.76
Women In Management: 38.2%
Women In Poverty: 10.0%
Women Uninsured: 6.7%
At number six, Kalaheo shows a concerning poverty rate among women, which highlights the need for further initiatives to address these issues.
7. Wahiawa
How Much Women Make For Male Dollars Earned: $0.67
Women In Management: 40.1%
Women In Poverty: 12.0%
Women Uninsured: 3.7%
Wahiawa presents significant challenges for women, with high poverty rates and limited access to management positions contributing to a less favorable landscape.
8. Waimanalo
How Much Women Make For Male Dollars Earned: $0.71
Women In Management: 43.2%
Women In Poverty: 17.8%
Women Uninsured: 4.2%
Waimanalo struggles with high poverty rates among women, earning only $0.71 for every dollar earned by men, signaling a deeper systemic issue in wage equality.
9. Wailuku
How Much Women Make For Male Dollars Earned: $0.75
Women In Management: 31.7%
Women In Poverty: 12.6%
Women Uninsured: 3.5%
Wailuku presents a challenging environment for women, with significant wage disparities and a concerning percentage of uninsured individuals, contributing to an overall sense of hardship.
10. Lahaina
How Much Women Make For Male Dollars Earned: $0.84
Women In Management: 21.9%
Women In Poverty: 8.9%
Women Uninsured: 6.6%
In tenth place, Lahaina offers slightly better conditions than the previous cities, yet women still confront notable challenges, with nearly 9% living in poverty.
Summary On Worst Cities to Be A Woman In Hawaii
The cities highlighted in this analysis present significant challenges for women in Hawaii. While progress has been made statewide, these locations still reflect systemic issues affecting women’s livelihoods, particularly in terms of income inequality and access to management positions.
Although not every woman will face the same obstacles, the data indicates that women living in these cities are confronted with unique and pressing challenges that demand attention and action.
Explore the detailed list below to gain further insights into the worst cities for women in Hawaii.
Detailed List Of The Worst Cities For Women In Hawaii
| Rank | Place | Pay Gap |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wailea | $0.67 |
| 2 | Waianae | $0.75 |
| 3 | Kula | $0.63 |
| 4 | Maili | $0.61 |
| 5 | Ocean Pointe | $0.60 |
| 6 | Kalaheo | $0.76 |
| 7 | Wahiawa | $0.67 |
| 8 | Waimanalo | $0.71 |
| 9 | Wailuku | $0.75 |
| 10 | Lahaina | $0.84 |
| 11 | Waimea (Hawaii | $0.77 |
| 12 | Waimalu | $0.64 |
| 13 | Waipio Acres | $0.68 |
| 14 | Pukalani | $0.84 |
| 15 | Wailua Homesteads | $0.87 |
| 16 | Ewa Beach | $0.83 |
| 17 | Nanakuli | $0.65 |
| 18 | Urban Honolulu | $0.78 |
| 19 | Napili-Honokowai | $1.05 |
| 20 | Kalaoa | $0.77 |
| 21 | Haiku-Pauwela | $0.75 |
| 22 | Mililani Town | $0.74 |
| 23 | West Loch Estate | $0.65 |
| 24 | Kailua (Honolulu | $0.69 |
| 25 | Kapaa | $0.95 |
| 26 | Waikoloa | $0.73 |
| 27 | Waipahu | $0.85 |
| 28 | Makawao | $0.61 |
| 29 | Hilo | $0.82 |
| 30 | Kihei | $0.79 |
| 31 | Waipio | $0.73 |
| 32 | Makakilo | $0.67 |
| 33 | Ewa Villages | $0.74 |
| 34 | Hawaiian Paradise Park | $0.91 |
| 35 | Makaha | $0.89 |
| 36 | Kahului | $0.91 |
| 37 | Kailua (Hawaii | $0.96 |
| 38 | Schofield Barracks | $0.76 |
| 39 | Halawa | $0.85 |
| 40 | East Honolulu | $0.74 |
| 41 | Ewa Gentry | $0.72 |
| 42 | Kapolei | $0.66 |
| 43 | Kaneohe | $0.73 |
| 44 | Aiea | $0.71 |
| 45 | Pearl City | $0.87 |
| 46 | Hickam Housing | $0.53 |
| 47 | Mililani Mauka | $0.76 |
| 48 | Holualoa | $0.99 |
| 49 | Waihee-Waiehu | $0.86 |
| 50 | Ahuimanu | $0.86 |
| 51 | Waikele | $0.76 |
| 52 | Hanamaulu | $0.89 |
| 53 | Royal Kunia | $0.78 |
| 54 | Lihue | $0.90 |
Author
Kathy is the head of content at Zippia with a knack for engaging audiences. Prior to joining Zippia, Kathy worked at Gateway Blend growing audiences across diverse brands. She graduated from Troy University with a degree in Social Science Education.
