Hawaii County, Hawaii
Hawaii County is a county in the U.S. state of Hawaii in the Hawaiian Islands. It is coterminous with the Island of Hawaii, often called the "Big Island" to distinguish it from the state as a whole. As of the 2010 Census the population was 185,079. The county seat is Hilo. There are no incorporated cities in Hawaii County. The Hilo Micropolitan Statistical Area includes all of Hawaii County. Hawaii County has a mayor–council form of government. Hawaii County is the largest county in the state in terms of geography.
The mayor of Hawaii County is Harry Kim, who took office in 2016. Legislative authority is vested in a nine-member Hawaii County Council.
Hawaii County is one of seven counties in the United States to share the same name as the state they are in.
Geography
Hawaii County has a total area of ; is land and is water. The county's land area comprises 62.7 percent of the state's land area. It is the highest percentage by any county in the United States.Major Highways
Adjacent county
- Maui County - northwest
Demographics
- 9.8% Japanese
- 9.6% German
- 8.6% Filipino
- 8.5% Native Hawaiian
- 8.3% Portuguese
- 6.9% Irish
- 5.7% English
- 5.1% Puerto Rican
- 3.2% Mexican
- 2.5% French
- 2.2% Italian
- 1.9% Spanish
- 1.7% Scottish
- 1.5% Scotch-Irish
- 1.5% Swedish
- 1.1% Polish
- 1.1% Dutch
- 1.0% Norwegian
The age distribution was 26.1% under 18, 8.2% from 18 to 24, 26.2% from 25 to 44, 26.0% from 45 to 64, and 13.5% who were 65 or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 100 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98 males.
41.3% of the people on Hawaii island are religious, meaning they affiliate with a religion. 18.4% are Catholic; 3.7% are of another Christian faith; 5.1% are LDS; 0.1% in Hawaii, 5.0% are of an eastern faith; 0.1% are Muslim.
Government and infrastructure
County government
Executive authority is vested in the mayor of Hawaii County, who is elected for a four-year term. Since 2004, the election by the voters has been on a nonpartisan basis. In 2016, Harry Kim was elected mayor, succeeding Billy Kenoi, who had served a two-term limit. Legislative authority is vested in a nine-member County Council. Members of the County Council are elected on a nonpartisan basis to two-year terms from single-member districts. As of December 2016, Hawaii County Council has a female supermajority for the first time, with six women and three men.Administrative districts were originally based on the traditional land divisions called Moku of Ancient Hawaii. Some more heavily populated districts have since been split into North and South districts to make them more comparable on a population basis.
The number following each district is the Tax Map Key number, used to locate state property information. They are assigned in a counter-clockwise order beginning on the eastern side of the island.
Nr. | District | Area mi² | Population 2000 | moku | Map | - |
1 | Puna | 499.45 | 31335 | Puna | Map | |
2 | South Hilo | 394.38 | 47386 | Hilo | Map | |
3 | North Hilo | 370.65 | 1720 | Hilo | Map | |
4 | Hāmākua | 580.50 | 6108 | Hāmākua | Map | |
5 | North Kohala | 132.92 | 6038 | Kohala | Map | |
6 | South Kohala | 351.72 | 13131 | Kohala | Map | |
7 | North Kona | 489.01 | 28543 | Kona | Map | |
8 | South Kona | 335.38 | 8589 | Kona | Map | |
9 | Kaū | 922.22 | 5827 | Kaū | Map | |
Hawaiʻi County | 4028.02 | 148677 | 6 moku | - |
County council districts do not directly match the property tax districts because of the variation in the population density of voters in urban areas to rural areas; Hilo & Kailua towns are densely populated areas, while other districts such as Kaū, Puna, Hāmākua, and North & South Kohala are more sparsely populated.
Several government functions are administered at the county level that are at the state or municipal level in other states. For example, the county has its own office of liquor control.
State government
previously operated the Kulani Correctional Facility in Hawaii County, on the Island of Hawaii. In 2009, the Hawaii Department of Public Safety announced that Kulani Correctional Facility would close.Localities
Census-designated places
- Ainaloa
- Captain Cook
- Eden Roc
- Fern Acres
- Fern Forest
- Halaula
- Hawaiian Acres
- Hawaiian Beaches
- Hawaiian Ocean View
- Hawaiian Paradise Park
- Hawi
- Hilo
- Holualoa
- Honalo
- Honaunau-Napoopoo
- Honokaa
- Honomu
- Kahaluu-Keauhou
- Kailua
- Kalaoa
- Kapaau
- Keaau
- Kealakekua
- Keokea
- Kukuihaele
- Kurtistown
- Laupahoehoe
- Leilani Estates
- Mountain View
- Naalehu
- Nanawale Estates
- Orchidlands Estates
- Paauilo
- Pahala
- Pahoa
- Papaikou
- Pepeekeo
- Paukaa
- Puako
- Volcano
- Waikoloa Village
- Waimea
- Wainaku
- Waiohinu
Other communities
- Ahualoa
- Hakalau
National protected areas
- Ala Kahakai National Historic Trail
- Hakalau Forest National Wildlife Refuge
- Hawaii Volcanoes National Park
- Honokōhau Settlement and Kaloko-Honokōhau National Historical Park
- Kona Forest National Wildlife Refuge
- Puuhonua o Hōnaunau National Historical Park
- Puukoholā Heiau National Historic Site
Economy
Top employers
According to the county's 2010 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, the top employers in the county are:# | Employer | # of Employees |
1 | State of Hawaii | 8,115 |
2 | Hawaii County | 2,745 |
3 | United States Government | 1,364 |
4 | Hilton Waikoloa Village | 984 |
5 | Wal-Mart | 852 |
6 | KTA Super Stores | 800 |
7 | Mauna Kea Beach Hotel | 685 |
8 | The Fairmont Orchid | 577 |
9 | Four Seasons Resort Hualalai | 562 |
10 | Hapuna Beach Prince Hotel | 487 |
Education
Hawaii County has 10 sisters:- Hualien City, Taiwan
- La Serena, Chile
- Legazpi City, Philippines
- Nago City, Okinawa, Japan
- Izu Ōshima, Japan
- Sao Miguel Island, Portugal
- Shibukawa, Gunma, Japan
- Sumoto, Hyōgo, Japan
- Tasmania, Australia
- Yurihama, Tottori, Japan