Thriving Nursing Job Market in Kapaa, Hawaii: A Pathway to Competitive Salaries and a Unique Island Lifestyle
Here in Kapaa, Hawaii, the spirit of aloha resonates throughout our tight-knit community, not only in our stunning landscapes but also within our burgeoning nursing job market. Surrounded by lush greenery, cascading waterfalls, and beautiful beaches, Kapaa serves as a serene backdrop for a rewarding nursing career. As of the latest data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, registered nurses throughout Hawaii earn a mean annual salary of approximately $89,050, while the nationwide mean is around $77,600. In Kapaa specifically, we can expect nursing salaries to range from about $80,000 to $92,000 annually depending on experience and specialization. Such competitive figures highlight the blend of fulfilling work and the stunning beauty of life in Hawaii, distinguishing our town from nearby Lihue, which has more healthcare facilities while offering slightly lower average salaries for nurses around $77,000.
Diving deeper into the nursing job market in Kapaa reveals an atmosphere ripe for growth. With an ever-increasing demand for healthcare professionals across the island—stemming from our growing population and aging demographics—NurseRecruiter estimates that we will need an additional 100 to 150 nurses in the next three to five years. Currently, about 400 nurses call Kapaa home, including those working in nearby facilities in Lihue and Princeville. Additionally, our city is seeing a unique influx of travel nursing opportunities, especially during the peak tourist seasons in summer and winter, when travel nurses are drawn to our island lifestyle. We're fortunate to have several prominent healthcare employers located within our vicinity, such as the Wilcox Medical Center and various small clinics, providing diverse nursing roles that cater to various specialties. Compared to Lihue, which supports a higher volume of healthcare facilities, our city offers a quality of life that many find unmatched—an oasis of calm just steps away from the coastline.
Kapaa boasts a robust healthcare infrastructure, with several clinics and community health centers that cater to a spectrum of patient needs—pediatrics, geriatrics, mental health, and more. Recent investments aimed at bolstering healthcare access are evident, with plans for expanding facilities and services to meet the needs of residents while maintaining the unique Hawaiian ethos of care and compassion. Our population, which currently sits just above 10,000, continues to grow at around 2% annually, reflecting the desirability of our home. Complementing these services are various public health initiatives focused on holistic wellness, native Hawaiian health practices, and preventive care—all of which shape the nursing roles here in Kapaa. Living and working beneath the vibrant coconuts and island sunshine undoubtedly cultivates a distinctive lifestyle that combines professional fulfillment with the simple joys of island living. For both current and prospective nurses looking to engage with our dynamic job market, signing up for NurseRecruiter is a fantastic way to connect with local opportunities, while healthcare employers can also find promising candidates right here in our beautiful town.