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]

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Kauai County
County
Captain James Cook statue
Seal
Location within the U.S. state of Hawaii
Hawaii's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 22°04′00″N 159°39′00″W
Country	United States
State	Hawaii
Founded	1905
Seat	Lihue
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	58/sq mi (22/km2)
Time zone	UTC−10 (Hawaii–Aleutian)
Congressional district	2nd
Website	www.kauai.gov

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

Kauai County's sister cities are:^[14]