Hawaii elevation
Hawaii runs from sea level (Pacific Ocean) to 13,796 ft at Pu'u Wēkiu, Mauna Kea, with an average of about 2,928 ft.
Highest point: Pu'u Wēkiu, Mauna Kea
13,796ft
4,205 m above sea level
Pu'u Wēkiu, Mauna Kea, Hawaii County · NGVD 29 (the older U.S. vertical datum)
- Lowest point: Pacific Ocean
- 0 ft (sea level)
- Source: USGS, Elevations and Distances in the United States (highest and lowest elevations) (revised edition 2001)
- Average elevation (sampled)
- 2,928 ft (893 m)
- Mean of 216 USGS points about 9 km apart; an estimate, not a published figure.
- Source: USGS 3DEP + 2024 Census boundary
Data updated · By Ankit Kumar, compiled from public U.S. government and open datasets · How these numbers are made
Hawaii places on this site
Cities and towns (USGS, downtown)
- Honolulu19 ft
Hawaii elevation facts
| What | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Highest point: Pu'u Wēkiu, Mauna Kea | 13,796 ft (4,205 m) | USGS, Elevations and Distances in the United States (highest and lowest elevations) (revised edition 2001) |
| Lowest point: Pacific Ocean | Sea level | USGS, Elevations and Distances in the United States (highest and lowest elevations) (revised edition 2001) |
| Vertical range | 13,796 ft (4,205 m) | Difference of the two figures above |
| Average elevation (sampled) | 2,928 ft (893 m) | USGS 3DEP, 216 grid points |
| USGS 3DEP value at the high point | 13,798 ft (4,206 m) | USGS 3DEP, within 250 m of the GNIS summit |
| Capital: Urban Honolulu | 19 ft (6 m) | USGS 3DEP at the city center |
| Land area | 6,423 sq mi (16,634 km²) | Census 2024 boundary file |
Life at 2,928 ft
Standard-atmosphere estimates for the state's sampled average elevation (2,928 ft). Weather moves the real values a little from day to day.
- Oxygen per breath
- 90 % of sea level
- Air is still 20.9% oxygen; there is just less air.
- Oxygen calculator
- Home canning
- Above 1,000 ft, USDA processing times and pressure-canner pounds go up.
- Canning adjustments · Baking
Sources: pressure from the U.S. Standard Atmosphere, 1976 (NOAA, NASA, USAF); boiling point from the Antoine equation for water (Lange's Handbook of Chemistry); canning thresholds from the USDA Complete Guide to Home Canning. Not medical or food-safety advice; follow the tested USDA recipe for your altitude.
City elevations in Hawaii
- Honaunau-Napoopoo3,736 ft
- Waimea2,666 ft
- Mountain View1,439 ft
- Urban Honolulu (capital)19 ft
- Hilo19 ft
- Honolulu19 ft
Largest places in Hawaii
The five Census-designated places with the largest land area (no incorporated places in this state).
| What | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Honolulu | 19 ft (6 m) · pop. 344,967 | USGS 3DEP; Census 2024 estimate |
| Mountain View | 1,439 ft (439 m) | USGS 3DEP; Census Gazetteer |
| Hilo | 19 ft (6 m) | USGS 3DEP; Census Gazetteer |
| Waimea | 2,666 ft (813 m) | USGS 3DEP; Census Gazetteer |
| Honaunau-Napoopoo | 3,736 ft (1,139 m) | USGS 3DEP; Census Gazetteer |
Frequently asked questions
What is the highest point in Hawaii?
Pu'u Wēkiu, Mauna Kea at 13,796 ft (4,205 m), from USGS, Elevations and Distances in the United States (highest and lowest elevations) (revised edition 2001).
What is the lowest point in Hawaii?
Pacific Ocean, at sea level, per the USGS Elevations and Distances table (2001).
What is the average elevation of Hawaii?
About 2,928 ft (893 m): the mean of USGS 3DEP elevations at 216 points on a regular grid about 9 km apart inside the state boundary. It is our estimate, not a published figure.
Which Hawaii city on this site is highest?
Honolulu, at 19 ft downtown (USGS).
Does altitude affect cooking in Hawaii?
At 2,928 ft, water boils at about 206.7 °F (97.0 °C) and standard air pressure is 26.89 inHg (911 hPa), so each breath holds about 90% of the oxygen it would at sea level. That is for the state's average elevation; check your own town, because Hawaii spans 13,796 ft from lowest to highest.
Sources
- USGS, Elevations and Distances in the United States (highest and lowest elevations) (revised edition 2001) — highest point
- USGS, Elevations and Distances in the United States (highest and lowest elevations) — lowest point
- USGS Elevation Point Query Service (3DEP) — average elevation, city-center values and the high-point check
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2024 Cartographic Boundary Files (places, states; 1:500,000) — state boundary and land area
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2024 Gazetteer Files (places) — city locations
- U.S. Census Bureau, Vintage 2024 Population Estimates (cities and towns, July 1, 2024) — largest cities by population
- Wikidata (elevation statements that cite a source; the cited source is listed with each value) — state capital name
- U.S. Standard Atmosphere, 1976 (NOAA/NASA/USAF); water boiling point by the Antoine equation (Lange’s Handbook of Chemistry) — boiling point, air pressure and oxygen
How each number is produced: methodology and data sources.
Every state: US elevation by state · Highest point in each state
Data updated · By Ankit Kumar, compiled from public U.S. government and open datasets · How these numbers are made