Kaʻaʻawa is a small community and census-designated place located in the windward district of Koʻolauloa, City & County of Honolulu on the island of Oʻahu, Hawaiʻi, United States. As of the 2010 Census, the total population for Kaʻaʻawa was 1,379. In Hawaiian, kaʻaʻawa means "the wrasse". From the Hawaiian spelling Kaʻaʻawa it is seen that each a is pronounced separately and distinctly, set apart by the two ʻokinas: [ˈkɐʔəˈʔɐvə] or [ˈkɐʔəˈʔɐwə].Kaʻaʻawa is north of Kāneʻohe Bay, and the Pacific Ocean shore here is fronted by a broad fringing reef with a narrow, but quite inviting beach. The around-the-island-highway and the houses and other buildings comprising the town, are confined to a relatively narrow belt along the coast. However, a long valley extends inland. Kaʻaʻawa Valley is part of Kualoa Ranch and used for various tourist activities as well as filming.