Companion Care in Kapaa, HI: Senior Companions at Home

Local figures

Companion Care in Kapaa, HI: the local picture

2,640

residents 65 or older (24% of Kapaa)

20%

of residents 65+ in households live alone (19% in Kauai County)

20%

of residents 5+ speak a language other than English at home

4.6%

of households have no vehicle (4.0% in Kauai County)

About 515 residents of Kapaa aged 65 or older live alone, 20% of older residents in households (19% in Kauai County). They are the people companion care is usually for: mostly independent, but on their own for long stretches of the day.

4.6% of Kapaa households have no vehicle (4.0% in Kauai County). A companion who drives can turn a week at home into appointments, shopping and visits.

Of the 2,640 Kapaa residents aged 65 or older, 242 are 85 or older (9.2%). Before the first visit with someone in that oldest group, ask the family about hearing, eyesight, walking and any memory changes, so the visit is planned around them.

1,262 Kapaa households headed by someone 65 or older own their home and 199 rent. A companion visiting a house may also help with mail, light chores and keeping an eye on things; in an apartment building, ask whether visitors sign in.

About 183 older Kapaa residents (7.1%) live below the poverty line (8.6% in Kauai County). For them, Medicaid home and community-based services or the local Area Agency on Aging may cover some companion or homemaker hours, depending on the state program; private pay is not the only route.

About 20% of Kapaa residents aged 5 and over speak a language other than English at home. The most common are other Asian and Pacific Island languages (960), Tagalog (742), Spanish (157). If the person you care for is more at ease in one of these languages, say so in your posting; many caregivers list the languages they speak.

Kapaa compared with Kauai County and Hawaii

Census figure	Kapaa	Kauai County	Hawaii
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	20%	19%	20%
Residents 65 or older	24%	22%	20%
Residents 5+ who speak a language other than English at home	20%	18%	25%
Households with no vehicle	4.6%	4.0%	8.2%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	7.1%	8.6%	9.2%
Residents 65+ with a disability	26%	27%	32%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$70,989	$74,413	—

Older residents in towns around Kapaa

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Live alone (65+)
Wailua Homesteads, HI	2.3 mi	1,408	24%
Wailua, HI	2.5 mi	657	30%
Anahola, HI	4.7 mi	618	9.2%
Hanamaulu, HI	6.3 mi	888	6.5%
Lihue, HI	8.0 mi	2,374	19%
Kilauea, HI	9.1 mi	611	12%

Hospitals near Kapaa (for rides to appointments)

Hospital with an emergency department	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Phone
Samuel Mahelona Memorial Hospital	Kapaa, HI	0.5 mi	not rated	(808) 822-4961
Wilcox Memorial Hospital	Lihue, HI	7.4 mi	2 of 5	(808) 245-1100
Kauai Veterans Memorial Hospital	Waimea, HI	22 mi	not rated	(808) 338-9431

Straight-line miles from the center of Kapaa. Medicare (CMS) data, October 2026; call ahead to confirm. We are not affiliated with these providers.

What it covers

What a companion caregiver can help with

Conversation, cards, puzzles and shared hobbies
Walks and outings to the park, library or senior center
Company at meals, and help preparing them
Rides or escort to appointments, church and visits

Cost

What companion care costs in Kapaa

At the Hawaii median aide wage of $18.32 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,588 a month in wages, which is 27% of the $5,916 monthly median income of Kapaa households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Hawaii's minimum wage is $16.00 an hour (U.S. Department of Labor table, updated July 1, 2026).

Hiring directly, you agree the rate with the caregiver and usually become the household employer (U.S. Department of Labor rules). Some families qualify for programs that pay for care at home; see Medicaid programs for family caregivers: who can be paid, and the rules in 12 states.

Before you hire

What to know before hiring a companion caregiver

Isolation is a health risk, not only a mood. The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine found that nearly one in four Americans aged 65 and older living in the community is socially isolated, and linked isolation to higher risks of dementia, heart disease and early death (2020 report).

Questions worth asking: What do you enjoy doing with the people you care for? Are you comfortable driving, and is your car insured for passengers? How do you handle a client who does not want company at first? More in our companion care guide.

CaregiverConnect does not run background checks. Check identity, references and any certification yourself before anyone starts. The Safety Center explains how.

Questions

Companion Care in Kapaa: common questions

How many seniors live alone in Kapaa?

About 515 residents aged 65 or older, 20% of older residents in households (Census ACS 2020–2024) (19% in Kauai County).

How much does companion care cost in Kapaa?

At the Hawaii median aide wage of $18.32 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,588 a month in wages, which is 27% of the $5,916 monthly median income of Kapaa households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Hawaii's minimum wage is $16.00 an hour (U.S. Department of Labor table, updated July 1, 2026).

What does a companion caregiver do in Kapaa?

A companion keeps an older adult company and helps around the visit: conversation, activities, walks, meals, errands, rides and reminders. It suits someone who is mostly independent but lonely, or a family that wants someone to check in on weekdays.

More near Kapaa

More senior care near Kapaa

Sources

Census ACS 2020–2024 5-year; CMS provider data (October 25, 2026); U.S. DOL state minimum wages (July 1, 2026); BLS OEWS May 2025 aide wages, which cover employed aides rather than private rates.

Companion Care for Seniors in Kapaa, HI