Kalawao County, Hawaii

County Distress Index: Healthy · 32.4 | 81 people · 5th most distressed in Hawaii
American Default Research

Behind on your mortgage or facing eviction? Take a 2-minute assessment to see your options.

Kalawao County, HI ranks among the least distressed counties in the country at 32.4 — 2626th nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Economic Vitality, where wages are low relative to housing costs, business formation lags, and the local economy lacks dynamism. Within Hawaii, it ranks 5th of 5 counties. It scores lower than all 1 of its neighboring counties.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Kalawao County's primary driver is Economic Vitality at 92.0 — worse than roughly 92% of U.S. counties.

Economic Vitality Primary driver 92.0
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 95
Rent-to-Income Ratio 95
Business Formation Rate 95
House Price Change (YoY) 61
Structural Poverty 35.1
Unemployment Rate 5
Poverty Rate 16
Income vs. State Median 50
Child Poverty Rate 17
Disability Rate 95
Transfer Income Dependency 22
Housing Cost Burden 27.6
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 9
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 5
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 70
Homeownership Rate 95
Consumer Credit Distress 24.1
Debt in Collections 21
Medical Debt 24
Auto Loan Delinquency 29
Credit Card Delinquency 29
Uninsured Rate 5
Subprime Credit Population 27
Legal Distress 20.2
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 20

Scores are percentile-based: 50 = national median, higher = more distressed.

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Kalawao County
Kalawao County, HI 32.4 Healthy —
Maui County, HI 44.1 Normal +11.7

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Kalawao County
Copper River Census Area, AK 32.4 Healthy +0.0
Kingman County, KS 32.4 Healthy +0.0
Howard County, NE 32.4 Healthy -0.0
Scotland County, MO 32.3 Healthy -0.1
Richardson County, NE 32.3 Healthy -0.1

Download Data

Export all distress indicators for Kalawao County as a CSV file.

Find Help in Kalawao County

Find an Attorney

Hawaii State Bar Association Lawyer Referral and Information Service (LRIS) offers a lawyer referral service for bankruptcy, foreclosure defense, and consumer rights.

Hawaii State Bar Association Lawyer Referral and Information Service (LRIS) 808-537-9140

Free Legal Aid

Legal aid organizations serving Kalawao County residents at no cost.

Legal Aid Society of Hawaii 808-536-4302 (Oahu); 808-243-3726 (Maui); 808-935-6088 (Big Island); 808-245-7580 (Kauai)
Volunteer Legal Services Hawaii 808-528-7046

Self-Help Resources

Hawaii State Judiciary Self-Help Center

American Default Research does not endorse, rate, or rank any provider. Verify attorney credentials with your state bar.

Need legal help? Find a foreclosure defense attorney in Hawaii →

Continue Reading

Frequently Asked Questions

  • What is the distress score for Kalawao County, Hawaii?

    Kalawao County has a County Distress Index score of 32.4 out of 100, placing it in the Healthy zone. It ranks 2,626th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 5th in Hawaii out of 5 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Kalawao County?

    The primary driver of distress in Kalawao County is Economic Vitality, where the county scores 92.0 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Wage-to-Rent Ratio, Rent-to-Income Ratio, Business Formation Rate.

  • How does Kalawao County compare to neighboring counties?

    Kalawao County (32.4) can be compared to its 1 neighboring county: Maui County, HI (44.1).

  • How is the County Distress Index calculated?

    The County Distress Index uses PCA-weighted percentile scoring across five statistically derived factors: Consumer Credit Distress (47.5%), Housing Cost Burden (22.3%), Structural Poverty (13.6%), Economic Vitality (9.2%), and Legal Distress (7.4%). Each county's indicators are ranked against all 3,144 U.S. counties. A score of 50 means the county is at the national median; higher scores indicate greater distress.

  • How often is the CDI updated?

    Annually, aligned to Census American Community Survey and Urban Institute Debt in America release windows — the slowest-moving source inputs. Between annual refreshes, faster-cadence indicators (BLS unemployment, QCEW wages) may drive light mid-year updates if a specific component moves meaningfully. Current data compiled April 14, 2026; next full refresh early 2027.

  • What does the Healthy zone mean?

    The CDI divides counties into five zones: Healthy (below 46), Normal (46–55), Elevated (55–71), Serious (71–86), and Crisis (86 and above). Kalawao County's score of 32.4 sits in the Healthy zone (below 46).

  • What data sources power Kalawao County's CDI score?

    Kalawao County's CDI score draws on Urban Institute Debt in America (Equifax credit-bureau panel), U.S. Census Bureau (American Community Survey 5-year, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates), Bureau of Labor Statistics (LAUS, QCEW), U.S. Courts Administrative Office (F-5A bankruptcy filings), and HUD Fair Market Rents. Every number on this page traces to one of these public sources.

  • What is the population of Kalawao County?

    Kalawao County, Hawaii has a population of approximately 81 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a tiny county.