Kailua Beach
By 1992, 50,000 residents encompassed a central urban core with surrounding residential areas.
Places of note in Kailua include Kailua Beach Park (photo at right), Lanikai Beach, Kawai Nui Marsh, and Marine Corps Base Hawaiʻi.
History
Early history
It is possible that Kailua was home to Hawaiian families at least 1,500 years ago. The earliest settlers are thought to have lived, fished, and played on the slopes surrounding Ka'wainui Marsh.
A report on archaeological excavations of the marshland concluded that when the marsh slopes were first occupied about 500 AD, agriculture was not possible. Early Hawaiian occupants of Kailua apparently lived beside a lagoon or bay open to the sea, hundreds of yards shoreside of today's shoreline.
In the 16th century, Kailua attracted the ali'i. During the reign of King Kakuhihewa and his successors, Kanekapu, Kahoowaha, Kauakahiakahoowaha, and Kualii; Kailua replaced Waikiki as the residential seat of the Alii Aimoku of Oahu.
Many legends were born, including the menehune, who were known for working at night in Kawai Nui Marsh, and mo'o, who took the shape of a large lizard that attracted fish.
Kailua was densely populated before the arrival of Captain James Cook, and was the ancient capital of Oahu's kings. The biggest event in Kailua and the entire Windward side was in 1795 when King Kamehameha I conquered O'ahu in his quest to unite the Hawaiian Islands.
The King granted Kawai Nui Marsh and old Kailua, which included large freshwater fish ponds and saltwater ponds at Mokapu, to warriors and chiefs who had helped him. However, the events of World War II changed the appearance of Kailua.
A significant portion of this water area is Kawai Nui Marsh, the largest wetland in the Hawaiian Islands and a nominated Ramsar Convention site.
Lanikai
Lanikai is an unincorporated community in Kailua on the windward coast at Kailua Bay. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 6.10% of the population.
There were 12,229 households out of which 32.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.2% were married couples living together, 12.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 23.8% were non-families.
For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.4 males.
The median income for a household in the CDP was $72,784, and the median income for a family was $79,118. About 3.3% of families and 5.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.3% of those under the age of 18 and 1.5% of those 65 and older.
Education
Public Schools serving Kailua, Lanikai, Enchanted Lakes, and Waimanalo
Aikahi Elementary School
Enchanted Lake Elementary School
Kaelepulu Elementary School
Keolu Elementary School
Maunawili Elementary School opened in 1958 and celebrating 50th birthday anniversary on May 22, 2009
Mokapu Elementary School
Lanikai Elementary School
Kailua Elementary School
Kainalu Elementary School
Kailua Intermediate School
Kailua High School, founded in 1955 the high school serves almost 1,000 students
Kalaheo High School: established in 1966 as an intermediate school, Kalāheo became a high school in 1973
Private Schools serving Kailua, Lanikai, Enchanted Lakes, and Waimanalo
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