Kauai County

The county seat is Līhue. The Kapaʻa Micropolitan Statistical Area includes all of Kauai County.

• County — Kauai County • Official Name — County of Kauai • State — Hawaii • Image Seal — Seal of Kauai County, Hawaii.png • Founded — 1905 • Seat Wl — Līhuʻe • Leader Title — Mayor • Leader Name — Derek Kawakami • Largest City — Kapa‘a • City Type — community • Area Total Sq Mi — 1266 • Area Land Sq Mi — 620 • Area Water Sq Mi — 646 • Area Water Percent — 51.0% • Population As Of — 2020 • Population Total — 73298 • Pop Est As Of — 2025 • Population Est — 73400 • Population Density Sq Mi — auto • Time Zone — Hawaii • District — 2nd Kauai County (Kalana o Kauaʻi), officially known as the County of Kauai, is a county in the U.S. state of Hawaii. It encompasses the islands of Kauai, Niihau, Lehua, and Kaula. According to the 2020 Census, the population was 73,298. The county seat is Līhue. The Kapaʻa Micropolitan Statistical Area includes all of Kauai County.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1266 sqmi, of which 620 sqmi is land and 646 sqmi (51.0%) is water. The Pacific Ocean surrounds the county.

• Honolulu County, Hawaii – southeast • Midway Atoll – northwest

• Hanalei National Wildlife Refuge • Hulēʻia National Wildlife Refuge • Kīlauea Point National Wildlife Refuge

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.

• Anahola • ʻEleʻele • Hāʻena • Hanalei • Hanamāʻulu • Hanapēpē • Kalāheo • Kalihiwai • Kapaʻa • Kaumakani • Kekaha • Kīlauea • Kōloa • Lāwaʻi • Līhuʻe • ʻŌmaʻo • Pākalā Village • Poʻipū • Princeville • Puhi • Wailua • Wailua Homesteads • Waimea • Wainiha

• Puʻuwai • Keālia

As of the 2020 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. 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 and Pacific Islander, 1.5% from some other race, and 27.3% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 10.1% of the population. 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. 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%. Kauai County, Hawaii – Racial and ethnic composition Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race. • Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic) — Pop 1980 — Pop 1990 — Pop 2000 — Pop 2010 — Pop 2020 — % 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 or Alaska 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 or Pacific Islander alone (NH) — x — x — 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 — x — 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 the 2000 census there were 58,463 people, 20,183 households, and 14,572 families in the county. The population density was 94 /mi2. There were 25,331 housing units at an average density of 41 /mi2. 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%. 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 2022 annual comprehensive financial report, 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 — Kauaʻi Beach Resort & Spa — 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

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.

Public schools in the county are operated by the Hawaiʻi State Department of Education, 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.

• Kapaa High School • Kauai High School • Waimea High School

• Chiefess Kamakahelei Middle School • Kapaa Middle School • Waimea Canyon Middle School

• Alakai O Kauai Public Charter School • Eleele Elementary School • Hanalei Elementary School • Kalāheo Elementary School • Kapaa Elementary School • Kaumualii Elementary School • Kekaha Elementary School • Kīlauea Elementary School • Kōloa Elementary School • Wilcox Elementary School

• Kanuikapono Public Charter School • Kawaikini New Century Public Charter School • Ke Kula Niʻihau O Kekaha Learning Center • Kula Aupuni Niʻihau A Kahelelani Aloha • Niʻihau High & Elementary

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.

Lihue Airport serves the island of Kauai. Bus service is provided by The Kauaʻi Bus. • Major Highways * * * * * * * * * * *

Kauai County operates under a mayor-council form of municipal government. The Mayor of Kauai, 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.

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

• 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 of Wailuā, Kawaihau • — 16 — Luke Evslin — Democratic — 2023 — 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

Kauai County, like Hawaii in general, has traditionally been a stronghold of the Democratic Party. The county has not voted for a Republican presidential candidate since 1984, when it narrowly voted in favor of Ronald Reagan. In 2024, 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. 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.

Kauai County's sister cities are: • Bangued, Philippines • Cook, Australia • Davao City, Philippines • Ishigaki, Japan • Iwaki, Japan • Laoag, Philippines • Moriyama, Japan • Papenoo, French Polynesia • Penghu, Taiwan • Ponta Delgada, Portugal • Qinhuangdao, China • Santa, Philippines • Suō-Ōshima, Japan • Urdaneta, Philippines • Whitby, England, United Kingdom