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Hawaii County, Hawaii facts for kids

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Hawaii County
U.S. county
W. H. Shipman House
Flag of Hawaii County
Flag
 Official seal of Hawaii County
Seal
Map of Hawaii highlighting Hawaii County
Location within the U.S. state of Hawaii
Map of the United States highlighting Hawaii
Hawaii's location within the U.S.
Country  United States
State  Hawaii
Founded 1905
Named for Hawaii (Island)
Seat Hilo
Largest community Hilo
Area
 • Total 5,086.70 sq mi (13,174.5 km2)
 • Land 4,028.02 sq mi (10,432.5 km2)
 • Water 1,058.69 sq mi (2,742.0 km2)  20.81%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total 200,629
 • Density 46/sq mi (17.7/km2)
Time zone UTC−10 (Hawaii–Aleutian)
 • Summer (DST) HADT
Congressional district 2nd

Hawaii County (Hawaiian: Kalana o Hawaiʻi) (officially known as the County of Hawaiʻi) is a county in the U.S. state of Hawaii in the Hawaiian Islands. It is coextensive with the Island of Hawaii, often called the "Big Island" to distinguish it from the state as a whole. The 2020 Census population was 200,629. The county seat is Hilo. There are no incorporated cities in Hawaii County (see Hawaii Counties). The Hilo Micropolitan Statistical Area includes all of Hawaii County. Hawaii County has a mayor–council form of government. In terms of geography, Hawaii County is the most expansive county in the state and the most southerly county in the United States.

The mayor of Hawaii County is Mitch Roth, who took office in 2020. 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 (the other six are Arkansas County, Idaho County, Iowa County, New York County, Oklahoma County, and Utah County).

Geography

Main article: Hawaii (island)

Hawaii County has a total area of 5,086.70 square miles (13,174.5 km2); 4,028.02 square miles (10,432.5 km2) is land and 1,058.69 square miles (2,742.0 km2) is water (mostly all off the ocean shoreline but counted in the total area by the U.S. Census Bureau). 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. (Delaware's Sussex County comes in second at 48.0 percent, while Rhode Island's Providence County is third at 39.55 percent.)

Major highways

  • Route 11
  • Route 19
  • Route 130
  • Route 132
  • Route 137
  • Route 190
  • Route 200
  • Route 250
  • Route 270
  • Route 2000

Adjacent county

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop. %±
1900 46,843 —
1910 55,382 18.2%
1920 64,895 17.2%
1930 73,325 13.0%
1940 73,276 −0.1%
1950 68,350 −6.7%
1960 61,332 −10.3%
1970 63,468 3.5%
1980 92,053 45.0%
1990 120,317 30.7%
2000 148,677 23.6%
2010 185,079 24.5%
2020 200,629 8.4%
2023 (est.) 207,615 12.2%

As of 2010, the island had a resident population of 185,079. There were 64,382 households in the county. The population density was 17.7/km2 (46/sq mi). There were 82,324 housing units at an average density of 8/km2 (21/sq mi). The racial makeup of the county was 34.5% White, 29.2% from two or more races, 22.6% Asian, 12.4% Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander and 0.7% African American; 11.8% of the population were Hispanics or Latinos of any race. The largest ancestry groups were:

  • 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

There were 64,382 households, out of which 32.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.6% were married couples living together, 13.2% had a woman whose husband did not live with her, and 30.4% were non-families. 23.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.75 and the average family size was 3.24.

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; 5.0% are of an Eastern faith; 0.1% are Muslim.

Localities

Census-designated places

Other communities

National protected areas

Economy

Top employers

According to the county's 2021 Annual Comprehensive Financial Report, the top employers in the county are the following:

# Employer # of Employees
1 State of Hawaii 16,700
2 Kamehameha Schools, Hawai'i Island 3,380
3 Hawaii County 2,800
4 United States Government 1,300
5 Mauna Kea Beach Hotel 1,100
6 Four Seasons Resort Hualalai 1,003
7 KTA Super Stores 900
8 Hilton Waikoloa Village 850
9 The Fairmont Orchid 560
10 Waikoloa Beach Marriott Resort 259

Education

  • University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo
  • University of the Nations
  • Hawaiʻi Community College

The Hawaii Department of Education operates public schools in Hawaii County.

Sister cities

Hawaii County's sister cities are:

  • Philippines Cabugao, Philippines (2017)
  • South Korea Gokseong, South Korea (2011)
  • Japan Hatsukaichi, Japan (2024)
  • Japan Kumejima, Japan (2011)
  • Japan Nago, Japan (1986)
  • Philippines Ormoc, Philippines (2011)
  • Japan Ōshima, Japan (1962)
  • Réunion Réunion, France (2012)
  • Chile La Serena, Chile (1994)
  • Japan Shibukawa, Japan (1997)
  • Japan Sumoto, Japan (2000)
  • Japan Yurihama, Japan (1996)

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Condado de Hawái para niños

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