Kauai County, Hawaii | |
|---|---|
 | |
 Seal | |
 Location within the U.S. state ofHawaii | |
| Coordinates:22°04′00″N159°39′00″W / 22.066666666667°N 159.65°W /22.066666666667; -159.65 | |
| Country |  United States |
| State |  Hawaii |
| Founded | 1905 |
| Seat | Līhuʻe |
| Largest community | Kapa‘a |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Derek Kawakami |
| Area | |
• Total | 1,266 sq mi (3,280 km2) |
| • Land | 620 sq mi (1,600 km2) |
| • Water | 646 sq mi (1,670 km2) 51.0% |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 73,298 |
| • Density | 120/sq mi (46/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−10 (Hawaii–Aleutian) |
| Congressional district | 2nd |
| Website | kauai |
Kauai County orKauaʻi County (Hawaiian:Kalana o Kauaʻi), officially known as theCounty of Kauaʻi, is acounty in theU.S. state ofHawaiʻi. It encompasses the islands ofKauaʻi,Niʻihau,Lehua, andKaʻula. According to the2020 Census, the population was 73,298.[1] Thecounty seat isLīhuʻe.[2]
TheKapa'aMicropolitan Statistical Area includes all of Kauai County.
According to theU.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] ThePacific Ocean surrounds the county.
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 theState of Hawaii.
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1900 | 20,734 | — | |
| 1910 | 23,952 | 15.5% | |
| 1920 | 29,438 | 22.9% | |
| 1930 | 35,942 | 22.1% | |
| 1940 | 35,818 | −0.3% | |
| 1950 | 29,905 | −16.5% | |
| 1960 | 28,176 | −5.8% | |
| 1970 | 29,761 | 5.6% | |
| 1980 | 39,082 | 31.3% | |
| 1990 | 51,177 | 30.9% | |
| 2000 | 58,463 | 14.2% | |
| 2010 | 67,091 | 14.8% | |
| 2020 | 73,298 | 9.3% | |
| 2024 (est.) | 73,840 | [4] | 0.7% |
| U.S. Decennial Census[5] 1790-1960[6] 1900-1990[7] 1990-2000[8] 2010-2020[1] | |||
As of the2020 census, the county had a population of 73,298. Of the residents, 21.5% were under the age of 18 and 21.2% were 65 years of age or older; the median age was 43.0 years. For every 100 females there were 97.5 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 96.2 males. 57.8% of residents lived in urban areas and 42.2% lived in rural areas.[9]
The racial makeup of the county was 31.7% White, 0.5%Black or African American, 0.4%American Indian and Alaska Native, 28.8%Asian, 9.9%Native Hawaiian andPacific Islander, 1.5% from some other race, and 27.3% fromtwo or more races.Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 10.1% of the population.[10]
There were 24,712 households in the county, of which 33.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 24.5% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 21.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.[11]
There were 30,157 housing units, of which 18.1% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 62.8% were owner-occupied and 37.2% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.1% and the rental vacancy rate was 13.4%.[11]
| Race / Ethnicity(NH = Non-Hispanic) | Pop 1980[12] | Pop 1990[13] | Pop 2000[14] | Pop 2010[15] | Pop 2020[16] | % 1980 | % 1990 | % 2000 | % 2010 | % 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White alone (NH) | 10,109 | 16,235 | 16,284 | 20,611 | 22,194 | 25.87% | 31.72% | 27.85% | 30.72% | 30.28% |
| Black or African American alone (NH) | 64 | 193 | 163 | 258 | 352 | 0.16% | 0.38% | 0.28% | 0.38% | 0.48% |
| Native American orAlaska Native alone (NH) | 78 | 149 | 138 | 158 | 156 | 0.20% | 0.29% | 0.24% | 0.24% | 0.21% |
| Asian alone (NH) | 25,561 | 28,914 | 20,412 | 20,296 | 20,504 | 65.40% | 56.50% | 34.91% | 30.25% | 27.97% |
| Native Hawaiian orPacific Islander alone (NH) | x[17] | x[18] | 5,077 | 5,716 | 6,825 | x | x | 8.68% | 8.52% | 9.31% |
| Other race alone (NH) | 0 | 106 | 82 | 74 | 283 | 0.00% | 0.21% | 0.14% | 0.11% | 0.39% |
| Mixed race or Multiracial (NH) | x[19] | x[20] | 11,504 | 13,663 | 15,590 | x | x | 19.68% | 20.36% | 21.27% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 3,270 | 5,580 | 4,803 | 6,315 | 7,394 | 8.37% | 10.90% | 8.22% | 9.41% | 10.09% |
| Total | 39,082 | 51,177 | 58,463 | 67,091 | 73,298 | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% |
At the2000 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). Theracial 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%.[21] 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.
According to the county's 2022Annual Comprehensive Financial Report,[22] 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 |
Kauaʻi Community College is the county's only institution of higher education. One of the ten branches of theUniversity of Hawaiʻi system, it offers a range of 2-year degrees and is accredited by theWestern Association of Schools and Colleges.
Public schools in the county are operated by theHawaiʻi State Department of Education,[23] 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.
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.[24]
Lihue Airport serves the island ofKauaʻi. Bus service is provided byThe Kauai Bus.
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 2024 | 8,537 | 29.96% | 18,934 | 66.45% | 1,024 | 3.59% |
| 2018 | 6,120 | 24.85% | 18,510 | 75.15% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 2012 | 7,134 | 28.41% | 17,973 | 71.59% | 0 | 0.00% |
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 2022 | 5,658 | 24.28% | 16,891 | 72.50% | 750 | 3.22% |
| 2016 | 4,745 | 19.00% | 19,015 | 76.13% | 1,216 | 4.87% |
| 2014 | 5,250 | 23.89% | 16,189 | 73.67% | 537 | 2.44% |
| 2010 | 3,732 | 17.09% | 17,192 | 78.72% | 915 | 4.19% |
Kauaʻi County operates under amayor-council form of municipal government. TheMayor 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.
Kauaʻi County, like the rest of Hawaii, is represented entirely byDemocrats in both theUnited States Senate and theUnited 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 | |
| District | Name | Party | First Elected | Area(s) of Kauai County Represented | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 | Ron Kouchi | Democratic | 2010 | entire county | |
| District | Name | Party | First Elected | Area(s) of Kauai County Represented | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15 | Nadine Nakamura | Democratic | 2016 | Hā‘ena, Wainiha,Hanalei,Princeville,Kīlauea,Anahola, Keālia,Kāpa‘a, portion ofWailuā, Kawaihau | |
| 16 | Luke Evslin | Democratic | 2023[a] | Wailuā,Hanamāʻulu, Kapaia,Līhuʻe,Puhi, portion ofʻŌmaʻo | |
| 17 | Dee Morikawa | Democratic | 2011 | Niʻihau, portion ofʻŌmaʻo,Kōloa, Po‘ipū, Lāwa‘i, Kalāheo, ‘Ele‘ele, Hanapēpē, Kaawanui Village, Pākalā Village,Waimea, Kekaha | |
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 2022 | 9,632 | 40.37% | 14,227 | 59.63% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 2018 | 8,135 | 32.76% | 15,868 | 63.90% | 830 | 3.34% |
| 2014 | 7,495 | 31.99% | 12,451 | 53.14% | 3,483 | 14.87% |
| 2010 | 8,953 | 39.50% | 13,559 | 59.82% | 156 | 0.69% |
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 1960 | 5,655 | 54.95% | 4,636 | 45.05% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1964 | 1,971 | 18.45% | 8,713 | 81.55% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1968 | 4,140 | 36.49% | 7,051 | 62.15% | 155 | 1.37% |
| 1972 | 7,571 | 58.36% | 5,401 | 41.64% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1976 | 6,278 | 43.23% | 8,105 | 55.81% | 139 | 0.96% |
| 1980 | 5,883 | 35.39% | 9,081 | 54.64% | 1,657 | 9.97% |
| 1984 | 9,249 | 50.45% | 8,862 | 48.34% | 221 | 1.21% |
| 1988 | 8,298 | 40.95% | 11,770 | 58.08% | 198 | 0.98% |
| 1992 | 6,274 | 32.80% | 10,715 | 56.02% | 2,138 | 11.18% |
| 1996 | 5,325 | 25.33% | 13,357 | 63.54% | 2,338 | 11.12% |
| 2000 | 6,583 | 30.23% | 13,470 | 61.87% | 1,720 | 7.90% |
| 2004 | 9,740 | 39.15% | 14,916 | 59.96% | 220 | 0.88% |
| 2008 | 6,245 | 22.94% | 20,416 | 74.99% | 563 | 2.07% |
| 2012 | 6,121 | 24.13% | 18,641 | 73.47% | 610 | 2.40% |
| 2016 | 7,574 | 28.76% | 16,456 | 62.49% | 2,305 | 8.75% |
| 2020 | 11,582 | 34.58% | 21,225 | 63.36% | 690 | 2.06% |
| 2024 | 11,803 | 39.26% | 17,675 | 58.79% | 586 | 1.95% |
Kauai County, like Hawaii in general, has traditionally been a stronghold of theDemocratic Party. The county has not voted for aRepublican presidential candidate since1984, when it narrowly voted in favor ofRonald Reagan. In2024, while it still voted majority Democratic, Kauai County cast the highest percentage for the Republican candidate of any county in the state, a distinction that has generally been held by Honolulu County; this was the first time Kauai County had done so since 1960.[29] The island of Kauai leans Democratic overall. The island of Ni'ihau, which has a very small population, tends to vote almost entirely Republican, by far the strongest such leaning of all major Hawaiian islands.[30]
Kauai County'ssister cities are:[31]
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