Gonaïves is a commune in northern Haiti, and the capital of the Artibonite department of Haiti. The population was 356,324 at the 2015 census…Gonaïves is a commune in northern Haiti, and the capital of the Artibonite department of Haiti. The population was 356,324 at the 2015 census. The city of Gonaïves was founded around 1422 by a group of Taíno, who named it Gonaibo. The Gulf of Gonâve is named after the town.