The population across Hawaii has been slowly declining since the 2020 decennial census, with the state losing more than 22,000 residents through 2025, as people move to the continental U.S. and beyond in search of higher wages and a lower cost of living.
The most striking change in the United States Census Bureau’s latest Vintage 2025 population estimate is in Maui County, which includes the islands of Maui, Molokai and Lanai.
Maui County’s population dipped during and after the pandemic, falling from 164,762 in 2020 to 164,195 in 2022, a 0.34% percent difference. But after the Lahaina wildfires, that trend accelerated, dropping from 164,022 in 2023 to 160,592 in 2025 – a loss of about 3,400 residents, or 2.1%. That’s a decrease five times larger than the previous period…