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Kauai County, Hawaii

Coordinates: 22°04′N 159°39′W / 22.067°N 159.650°W / 22.067; -159.650
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Kauai County
County
Captain James Cook statue
Captain James Cook statue
Official seal of Kauai County
Seal
Map of Hawaii highlighting Kauai County
Location within the U.S. state of Hawaii
Map of the United States highlighting Hawaii
Hawaii's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 22°04′00″N 159°39′00″W / 22.066666666667°N 159.65°W / 22.066666666667; -159.65
Country United States
State Hawaii
Founded1905
SeatLihue
Largest communityKapa‘a
Government
 • MayorDerek Kawakami
Area
 • Total
1,266 sq mi (3,280 km2)
 • Land620 sq mi (1,600 km2)
 • Water646 sq mi (1,670 km2)  51.0%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total
73,298
 • Density58/sq mi (22/km2)
Time zoneUTC−10 (Hawaii–Aleutian)
Congressional district2nd
Websitekauai.gov

Kauaʻi County (Hawaiian: Kalana o Kauaʻi), officially known as the County of Kauaʻi, is a county in the U.S. state of Hawaiʻi. It encompasses the islands of Kauaʻi, Niʻihau, Lehua, and Kaʻula. According to the 2020 Census, the population was 73,298.[1] The county seat is Līhuʻe.[2]

The Kapa'a Micropolitan Statistical Area includes all of Kauai County.

Geography

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According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,266 square miles (3,280 km2), of which 620 square miles (1,600 km2) is land and 646 square miles (1,670 km2) (51.0%) is water.[3] The Pacific Ocean surrounds the county.

Adjacent entities

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National protected areas

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Government and politics

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Kauaʻi County operates under a mayor-council form of municipal government. The Mayor of Kauaʻi, elected by the voters on a nonpartisan basis, holds executive authority for a four-year term. Meanwhile, legislative authority is vested in the seven-member County Council. Members of the County Council are elected on a nonpartisan, at-large basis to two-year terms.

United States Congress

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Kauai County, like the rest of Hawaii, is represented entirely by Democrats in both the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives.

Senators Name Party First Elected Level
  Senate Class 1 Mazie Hirono Democratic 2013 Junior Senator
  Senate Class 3 Brian Schatz Democratic 2012 Senior Senator
Representatives Name Party First Elected Area(s) of Kauai County Represented
  District 2 Jill Tokuda Democratic 2023 entire county

Hawaii Legislature

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Hawaii Senate

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District Name Party First Elected Area(s) of Kauaʻi County Represented
  8 Ron Kouchi Democratic 2010 entire county

Hawaii House of Representatives

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District Name Party First Elected Area(s) of Kauaʻi County Represented
  15 Nadine Nakamura Democratic 2016 Hā‘ena, Wainiha, Hanalei, Princeville, Kīlauea, Anahola, Keālia, Kāpa‘a, portion of Wailuā, Kawaihau
  16 Luke Evslin Democratic 2023[a] Wailuā, Hanamāʻulu, Kapaia, Līhuʻe, Puhi, portion of ʻŌmaʻo
  17 Dee Morikawa Democratic 2011 Niʻihau, portion of ʻŌmaʻo, Kōloa, Po‘ipū, Lāwa‘i, Kalāheo, ‘Ele‘ele, Hanapēpē, Kaawanui Village, Pākalā Village, Waimea, Kekaha


Elections

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Federal

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Kauai County has traditionally been a solid Democratic stronghold. The county has not voted Republican since the 1984 federal election, when it narrowly voted in favor of Ronald Reagan. In 2024, while it still voted majority Democratic, Kauai County cast the highest percentage of its vote for the Republican candidate out of any county in the state, a record that has generally been held by Honolulu County. This was the first time since 1960 that the county held this distinction.

United States presidential election results for Kauai County, Hawaii[5]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2024 11,803 39.26% 17,675 58.79% 586 1.95%
2020 11,582 34.58% 21,225 63.36% 690 2.06%
2016 7,574 28.76% 16,456 62.49% 2,305 8.75%
2012 6,121 24.13% 18,641 73.47% 610 2.40%
2008 6,245 22.94% 20,416 74.99% 563 2.07%
2004 9,740 39.15% 14,916 59.96% 220 0.88%
2000 6,583 30.23% 13,470 61.87% 1,720 7.90%
1996 5,325 25.33% 13,357 63.54% 2,338 11.12%
1992 6,274 32.80% 10,715 56.02% 2,138 11.18%
1988 8,298 40.95% 11,770 58.08% 198 0.98%
1984 9,249 50.45% 8,862 48.34% 221 1.21%
1980 5,883 35.39% 9,081 54.64% 1,657 9.97%
1976 6,278 43.23% 8,105 55.81% 139 0.96%
1972 7,571 58.36% 5,401 41.64% 0 0.00%
1968 4,140 36.49% 7,051 62.15% 155 1.37%
1964 1,971 18.45% 8,713 81.55% 0 0.00%
1960 5,655 54.95% 4,636 45.05% 0 0.00%

Demographics

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Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
190020,734—
191023,95215.5%
192029,43822.9%
193035,94222.1%
194035,818−0.3%
195029,905−16.5%
196028,176−5.8%
197029,7615.6%
198039,08231.3%
199051,17730.9%
200058,46314.2%
201067,09114.8%
202073,2989.3%
2023 (est.)73,851[6]0.8%
U.S. Decennial Census[7]
1790-1960[8] 1900-1990[9]
1990-2000[10] 2010-2018[1]

At the 2000 census there were 58,463 people, 20,183 households, and 14,572 families in the county. The population density was 94 people per square mile (36 people/km2). There were 25,331 housing units at an average density of 41 per square mile (16/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 36.0% Asian, 29.5% White, 23.8% from two or more races, 9.1% Pacific Islander, 0.3% Black or African American, 0.4% Native American and 0.9% from other races. 8.2%.[11] were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

Of the 20,183 households 34.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.9% were married couples living together, 12.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.8% were non-families. 21.4% of households were one person and 7.7% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.87 and the average family size was 3.34.

The age distribution was 26.4% under the age of 18, 7.1% from 18 to 24, 27.2% from 25 to 44, 25.5% from 45 to 64, and 13.8% 65 or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 100.10 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.50 males.

Economy

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Top employers

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According to the county's 2022 Annual Comprehensive Financial Report,[12] the top non-government employers in the county are the following:

# Employer # of Employees
1 Wilcox Health (Wilcox Medical Center) 846
2 Grand Hyatt Kauai Resort and Spa 810
3 Ohana Pacific Management Co. 371
4 Kauai Veterans Memorial Hospital 275
5 Kauai Beach Resort 160
6 Samuel Mahelona Memorial Hospital 148
7 Kauaʻi Island Utility Cooperative 140
8 Kauai Nursery & Landscaping Inc. 97
9 Gather FCU 88
10 The Parrish Collection 85

Education

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Higher education

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Kauai Community College is the county's only institution of higher education. One of the ten branches of the University of Hawaiʻi system, it offers a range of 2-year degrees and is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges.

Primary and Secondary Education

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Public schools in the county are operated by the Hawaiʻi State Department of Education,[13] and the county is represented by Maggie Cox on the state's Board of Education. There are 10 elementary schools, 3 middle schools, 3 high schools, and 5 K-12 schools in the county.

High schools

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Middle schools

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  • Chiefess Kamakahelei Middle School
  • Kapa'a Middle School
  • Waimea Canyon Middle School

Elementary schools

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  • Alakaʻi O Kauaʻi Public Charter School
  • Eleele Elementary School
  • Hanalei Elementary School
  • Kalaheo Elementary School
  • Kapa'a Elementary
  • Kaumualii Elementary School
  • Kekaha Elementary School
  • Kilauea Elementary School
  • Kōloa Elementary School
  • Wilcox Elementary School

K-12 Schools

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Private schools

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There are four private schools in the county: Island School, Kahili Adventist School, St. Theresa's Elementary School, and ʻŌlelo Christian Academy. St. Catherine's School used to operate, but closed its doors on June 7, 2024.[14]

Infrastructure

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Transportation

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Lihue Airport serves the island of Kauai. Bus service is provided by The Kauai Bus.

Major Highways

Communities

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There are no incorporated communities in Kauai County, or in any other county of Hawaii. The county is the only form of local government in the State of Hawaii.

Census-designated places

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Other unincorporated places

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Sister cities

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Kauai County's sister cities are:[15]

Notes

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  1. ^ Appointed to seat on February 15, 2023, by Governor Josh Green after James Tokioka was appointed to join the governor's cabinet.[4]

References

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  1. ^ a b "U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Kauai County, Hawaii". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 28, 2014.
  2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
  4. ^ "Green makes appointments for open House seats". February 15, 2023. Retrieved March 14, 2023.
  5. ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved November 10, 2024.
  6. ^ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 31, 2024.
  7. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 28, 2014.
  8. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved June 28, 2014.
  9. ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 28, 2014.
  10. ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 28, 2014.
  11. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  12. ^ The Department of Finance, Accounting Division. "Annual Comprehensive Financial Report for the Fiscal Year Ended June 30, 2022". Retrieved November 12, 2023.
  13. ^ "2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Kauai County, HI" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved July 22, 2022. - Text list
  14. ^ "St. Catherine School". St. Catherine School. Retrieved December 15, 2024.
  15. ^ "Sister City program worth continuing". thegardenisland.com. The Garden Island. October 6, 2019. Retrieved April 27, 2021.
  16. ^ a b "Kauai mayor visits Japan keeping communities together, worlds apart". kitv.com. KITV Island News. November 22, 2015. Retrieved April 27, 2021.
  17. ^ "Tahiti sister-city students come to call". thegardenisland.com. The Garden Island. May 18, 2018. Retrieved April 27, 2021.
  18. ^ "Music strengthens sister city bond with Whitby". thegardenisland.com. The Garden Island. February 12, 2013. Retrieved April 27, 2021.

22°04′N 159°39′W / 22.067°N 159.650°W / 22.067; -159.650

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