Kalawao County, Hawaii
{{short description|County in Hawaii, United States}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox U.S. county
| county = Kalawao County
| state = Hawaii
| ex image = Kalaupapa penninsula.jpg
| ex image size = 250px
| ex image cap = Kalaupapa peninsula
| seal =
| founded year = 1905
| founded date =
| seat = none (administered by Hawaii Dept. of Health)
| largest city wl = Kalaupapa
| city type = community
| area_total_sq_mi = 53
| area_land_sq_mi = 12
| area_water_sq_mi = 41
| area percentage = 77.3
| population_as_of = 2020
| population_total = 82
| population_density_sq_mi = auto
| time zone = Hawaii
| district = 2nd
| named for = Kalawao
| web =
}}
{{maplink|frame=yes|zoom=10|id=Q494546|type=shape|text=Interactive map of Kalawao County, Hawaii}}
Kalawao County ({{langx|haw| Kalana o Kalawao}}) is a county in the U.S. state of Hawaii.{{Cite web |last=Voss, Oscar |date=2012 |title=Is Kalawao County, on the north shore of Molokai, really a separate county? |url=http://www.hawaiihighways.com/FAQs-page6.htm#Kalawao |access-date=January 25, 2015}} It is the smallest county in the 50 states by land area and the second-smallest county by population, after Loving County, Texas.{{cite web |title=2020 Population and Housing State Data |url=https://www.census.gov/library/visualizations/interactive/2020-population-and-housing-state-data.html |publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=August 12, 2021}} The county encompasses the peninsula on the north coast of the island of Moloka{{okina}}i. The peninsula was developed and used from 1866 to 1969 for settlements for treatment of quarantined persons with Hansen's disease (leprosy),{{Cite web |date=May 27, 2015 |title=When the Last Patient Dies |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2015/05/when-the-last-patient-dies/394163/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220811181356/https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2015/05/when-the-last-patient-dies/394163/ |archive-date=August 11, 2022 |access-date=August 11, 2022 |website=The Atlantic}} chosen because it is isolated from the rest of Moloka{{okina}}i by cliffs over a quarter-mile high; the only land access is a mule trail.{{Cite web |title=Kalaupapa National Historical Park |url=https://www.nps.gov/kala |access-date=August 11, 2022 |website=National Park Service}}
Due to the small population (82 as of the 2020 United States census),{{cite web | url=https://public.tableau.com/shared/KZTXKDRPJ?:display_count=y&:origin=viz_share_link&:embed=y&:device=phone | title=Tableau }} Kalawao County does not have the same functions as other Hawaii counties. Instead, it operates as a judicial district of Maui County, which includes the rest of the island of Moloka{{okina}}i. The county has no elected government.{{Cite web |title=Kalawao County {{!}} Office of Hawaiian Affairs |url=https://www.oha.org/wp-content/uploads/RPT_Kalawao-County.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220811180551/https://www.oha.org/wp-content/uploads/RPT_Kalawao-County.pdf |archive-date=August 11, 2022 |access-date=August 11, 2022 |website=Office of Hawaiian Affairs |quote=Kalawao County has no county government; a sheriff is appointed by the Hawai'i Department of Health (DOH). The HRS Chapter 326, Sections 326-1-326-40 Hansen's Disease detail topics including patient treatment, care, services, expenses, and privacy; general excise, income, and real property tax exemptions; employment, compensation, and pensions; Kalaupapa store; fishing laws exemption; and Damien Memorial Chapel.}}
History
The Kingdom of Hawai{{okina}}i, the Republic of Hawai{{okina}}i, the Territory of Hawaii, and the state of Hawaii all exiled persons suffering from Hansen's disease (leprosy) to the peninsula, from 1866 to 1969. The quarantine policy was only lifted after effective antibiotic treatments were developed that could be administered on an outpatient basis and patients could be rendered non-contagious.{{Cite web |title=Kalawao County {{!}} Office of Hawaiian Affairs |url=https://www.oha.org/wp-content/uploads/RPT_Kalawao-County.pdf |access-date=August 11, 2022 |website=Office of Hawaiian Affairs |page=7}}
Many residents chose to remain in their familiar community on the peninsula.{{cite web | last=Fessenden | first=Maris | title=Should a Colony Where Leprosy Patients Were Once Exiled Become a Tourist Destination? | website=Smithsonian Magazine | date=May 29, 2015 | url=https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/should-colony-where-leprosy-patients-were-once-exiled-become-tourist-destination-180955449/ | access-date=April 20, 2024}} The state promised that they could live there for the rest of their lives.{{cite web | title=Kalaupapa National Historical Park, Hawai'i | website=National Parks System | url=http://npshistory.com/publications/kala/index.htm | access-date=April 20, 2024}} As of 2015, the population consisted of the remaining patients, plus state employees and park staff.{{cite news| last=Senthilingam | first=Meera | title=Taken from their families: The dark history of Hawaii's leprosy colony | website=CNN | date=September 9, 2015 | url=https://www.cnn.com/2015/09/09/health/leprosy-kalaupapa-hawaii/index.html | access-date=April 20, 2024}} Tourists 16 years of age and older and personal guests of residents may visit with prior government permission,{{cite report |author=Office of Hawaiian Affairs Research Division |date=2015 |title=Kalawao County | url=https://www.oha.org/wp-content/uploads/RPT_Kalawao-County.pdf |publisher=Office of Hawaiian Affairs |access-date=April 20, 2024}}{{cite web | title=Laws & Policies | website=Kalaupapa National Historical Park (U.S. National Park Service) | date=December 22, 1980 | url=https://www.nps.gov/kala/learn/management/lawsandpolicies.htm | access-date=April 20, 2024}} and the general public must be part of an official tour.
In 1980, the Kalaupapa National Historical Park was established to preserve the county's history and environment.
Government
Kalawao County lacks a local, county government. Instead, Kalawao County is administered by the Hawaii Department of Health because of the history of the settlement and current patients living there. Under Hawaiian state law, the Director of the Hawaii Department of Health, who is appointed by the Governor, also serves as the Mayor of Kalawao County.{{Cite news |last=Dingeman |first=Robbie |date=October 31, 2002 |title=Smallest county to ban smoking |work=Honolulu Advertiser |url=http://the.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/2002/Oct/31/ln/ln22a.html |access-date=January 2, 2014}}{{Cite news |last=Rawlings |first=Nate |date=December 12, 2013 |title=Hawaii Official Killed in Plane Crash |work=Time Magazine |url=https://nation.time.com/2013/12/12/hawaii-official-killed-in-plane-crash/ |access-date=January 2, 2014}}{{Cite news |last=Uyeno |first=Kristine |date=December 12, 2013 |title=Hawaii Official Killed in Plane Crash |work=KHON |url=http://www.khon2.com/news/loretta-fuddy-committed-to-serving-others |url-status=dead |access-date=January 2, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140104142321/http://www.khon2.com/news/loretta-fuddy-committed-to-serving-others |archive-date=January 4, 2014}}{{Cite news |last=Kakesako |first=Gregg K. |date=December 12, 2013 |title=Pilot described 'catastrophic engine failure' in Molokai crash |work=Honolulu Star Advertiser |url=http://www.staradvertiser.com/news/breaking/235590541.html?id=235590541 |url-status=live |access-date=January 2, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131221154659/http://www.staradvertiser.com/news/breaking/235590541.html?id=235590541 |archive-date=December 21, 2013}} The Mayor holds executive powers within the county; the mayor also appoints a county sheriff, who is selected from local residents.{{Cite web |title=Department of Health Administrative Offices |url=http://hawaii.gov/health/about/doh-info.html |access-date=September 28, 2010 |publisher=State of Hawaiʻi}} The only county statutes that apply to Kalawao County directly are those on matters of health.{{Cite web |title=Hawaii's 4 (or 5) Counties |url=http://www.chem.hawaii.edu/uham/counties.html |access-date=January 22, 2014 |archive-date=August 5, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070805013928/http://www.chem.hawaii.edu/uham/counties.html |url-status=dead }}
Kalawao is part of the First Judicial Circuit, which includes the entire island of Oahu.[https://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/Digitization/109520NCJRS.pdf "The Judiciary – State of Hawaii – Annual Report – July 1, 1986 to June 30, 1987". pp. 16, 26.] For the purpose of notarization, the designated venue for the First Judicial Circuit is "State of Hawaii, City and County of Honolulu."
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of {{convert|53|sqmi}}, comprising {{convert|12|sqmi}} of land and {{convert|41|sqmi}} (77.3%) of water.{{Cite web |date=February 12, 2011 |title=US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990 |url=https://www.census.gov/geographies/reference-files/time-series/geo/gazetteer-files.html |access-date=April 23, 2011 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}} By land area, it is the smallest true county in the United States; some independent cities in Virginia are smaller and are sometimes considered to be "county equivalents" for statistical purposes such as with the US Census Bureau.
=Kalaupapa Peninsula=
Kalaupapa Peninsula contains the county's only settlement, Kalaupapa. The Kalaupapa Peninsula developed from lava that erupted from the ocean floor near Kauhakō Crater and spread outward, forming a low shield volcano. This was the most recent volcanic episode on the island and of the larger East Moloka{{okina}}i shield volcano, occurring after the formation of the cliffs by erosion.
=Subdivisions=
{{Update section|date = September 2014|reason = }}
Kalawao County is composed of four ahupuaʻa. From west to east:{{Cite web |title=Kalaupapa Ahupua'a neighborhood in Kalaupapa, Hawaii (HI), 96742 subdivision profile – real estate, apartments, condos, homes, community, population, jobs, income, streets |url=http://www.city-data.com/neighborhood/Kalaupapa-Ahupua-a-Kalaupapa-HI.html |website=www.city-data.com}}{{Cite web |title=Waikolu Ahupua'a neighborhood in Kaunakakai, Hawaii (HI), 96742 subdivision profile – real estate, apartments, condos, homes, community, population, jobs, income, streets |url=http://www.city-data.com/neighborhood/Waikolu-Ahupua-a-Kaunakakai-HI.html |website=www.city-data.com}}
| class="wikitable sortable" | |||
| style="background: #CCC;"
! align="left" |Ahupuaʻa | Area mi2 | Area km2 | {{Abbr|Pop.|Population}}
!Description |
| Kalaupapa | align="right"| 2.079 | align="right"| 5.385 | align="right"| 65
|West side of Kalaupapa peninsula. Includes a section of Molokaʻi's coast further west |
| Makanalua | align="right"| 3.229 | align="right"| 8.363 | align="right"| 8
|Strip of land in the center of the peninsula that runs to its northern tip. Includes Kalaupapa Airport. |
| Kalawao | align="right"| 3.294 | align="right"| 8.531 | align="right"| 9
|Eastern coast of Kalaupapa peninsula and Waialeia Valley to the southeast |
| Waikolu | align="right"| 5.544 | align="right"| 14.359 | align="right"| 0 |
| style="background: #DDD;" | class="sortbottom"
|Kalawao County | align="right"| 14.146 | align="right"| 36.638 | align="right"| 82
| |
Demographics
{{US Census population
|1900= 1177
|1910= 785
|1920= 667
|1930= 605
|1940= 446
|1950= 340
|1960= 279
|1970= 172
|1980= 144
|1990= 130
|2000= 147
|2010= 90
|2020= 82
|estyear=2023
|estimate=81
|align-fn=center
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census{{Cite web |title=U.S. Decennial Census |url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html |access-date=June 28, 2014 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}}
1790-1960{{Cite web |title=Historical Census Browser |url=http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu |access-date=June 28, 2014 |publisher=University of Virginia Library}} 1900–1990{{Cite web |title=Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990 |url=https://www.census.gov/population/cencounts/hi190090.txt |access-date=June 28, 2014 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}}
1990–2000{{Cite web |title=Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000 |url=https://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf |access-date=June 28, 2014 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}} 2010–2018{{Cite web |title=State & County QuickFacts |url=http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/15/15005.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110606183851/http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/15/15005.html |archive-date=June 6, 2011 |access-date=June 28, 2014 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}}
}}
=2020 census=
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
|+Kalawao County, Hawaii – Racial and ethnic composition !Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic) !Pop 2000{{Cite web|title=P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Kalawao County, Hawaii |url=https://data.census.gov/table?g=050XX00US15005&tid=DECENNIALSF12000.P004|website=United States Census Bureau |access-date= }} !Pop 2010{{Cite web|title=P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Kalawao County, Hawaii |url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=p2&g=050XX00US15005&tid=DECENNIALPL2010.P2|website=United States Census Bureau |access-date= }} !{{partial|Pop 2020}}{{Cite web|title=P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Kalawao County, Hawaii |url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=p2&g=050XX00US15005&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2|website=United States Census Bureau |access-date= }} !% 2000 !% 2010 !{{partial|% 2020}} |
| White alone (NH)
|33 |24 |style='background: #ffffe6; |27 |22.45% |26.67% |style='background: #ffffe6; |32.93% |
| Black or African American alone (NH)
|0 |0 |style='background: #ffffe6; |0 |0.00% |0.00% |style='background: #ffffe6; |0.00% |
| Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)
|0 |0 |style='background: #ffffe6; |0 |0.00% |0.00% |style='background: #ffffe6; |0.00% |
| Asian alone (NH)
|25 |7 |style='background: #ffffe6; |9 |17.01% |7.78% |style='background: #ffffe6; |10.98% |
| Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander alone (NH)
|71 |44 |style='background: #ffffe6; |15 |48.30% |48.89% |style='background: #ffffe6; |18.29% |
| Other race alone (NH)
|3 |0 |style='background: #ffffe6; |4 |2.04% |0.00% |style='background: #ffffe6; |4.88% |
| Mixed race or Multiracial (NH)
|9 |14 |style='background: #ffffe6; |9 |6.12% |15.56% |style='background: #ffffe6; |10.98% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race)
|6 |1 |style='background: #ffffe6; |18 |4.08% |1.11% |style='background: #ffffe6; |21.95% |
| Total
|147 |90 |style='background: #ffffe6; |82 |100.00% |100.00% |style='background: #ffffe6; |100.00% |
=2000 census=
As of the census of 2000,{{Cite web |title=U.S. Census website |url=https://www.census.gov |access-date=January 31, 2008 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}} 147 people, 115 households, and 21 families resided in the county, declining to 90 inhabitants in 2010. The population density was {{convert|11|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|people |people}}. The 172 housing units produced an average density of {{convert|13|/mi2|/km2}}. The racial makeup of the county was 48% Pacific Islander, 26% White, 17% Asian, 3% from other races, and 6% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race made up 4%. Kalawao County has the highest Pacific Islander population percentage of any U.S. county, and is the only county where they make up a plurality.
2% of households housed children under the age of 18. 17% were married couples living together. 3% had a female householder with no husband present. 81% were non-families. 79% of all households were made up of individuals, and 31% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 1.28 and the average family size was 2.27.
2% of residents were under the age of 18, 1% from 18 to 24, 18% from 25 to 44, 46% from 45 to 64, and 32% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 59 years. For every 100 females, there were 98.6 males. The population has declined since 1900:{{Cite web |title=Bureau of the Census: HAWAII. Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990 |url=https://www.census.gov/population/cencounts/hi190090.txt}}
ImageSize = width:600 height:200
PlotArea = width:80% height:70% left:20% bottom:20%
AlignBars = late
DateFormat = yyyy
Period = from:0 till:1200
TimeAxis = orientation:vertical
ScaleMajor = increment:200 start:0
PlotData=
color:drabgreen
bar:1900 from:start till:1177
bar:1910 from:start till:785
bar:1920 from:start till:667
bar:1930 from:start till:605
bar:1940 from:start till:446
bar:1950 from:start till:370
bar:1960 from:start till:279
bar:1970 from:start till:172
bar:1980 from:start till:144
bar:1990 from:start till:130
bar:2000 from:start till:147
bar:2010 from:start till:90
bar:2020 from:start till:82
TextData=
pos:(100,190) fontsize:M text:Population at censuses of 1900 through 2020
Current residents include 16 former patients,{{Cite web |title=Planning for Kalaupapa's future means remembering its past |date=May 8, 2015 |url=https://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/story/29011284/planning-for-kalaupapas-future-means-remembering-its-past/}} 40 federal employees who work on preservation projects, and some state-employed health workers.{{Cite web |last=Wong |first=Alia |date=May 27, 2015 |title=People With Leprosy Were Exiled There—Should It Be a Tourist Destination? |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2015/05/when-the-last-patient-dies/394163/ |website=The Atlantic}}
Transportation
The only access to Kalawao County is by air, or by a steep mule trail that descends {{cvt|1,600|feet}} from the rest of Moloka{{okina}}i. Kalaupapa Airport has scheduled air service to Moloka{{okina}}i Airport and to Honolulu Airport.
Freight is delivered to the county once a year, usually in July, by barge.{{Cite web |title=Life Today in Kalaupapa |url=http://www.nps.gov/kala/historyculture/life2day.htm |access-date=January 22, 2014 |publisher=National Park Service}}
Politics
{{PresHead|place=Kalawao County, Hawaii|source1={{Cite web |last=Leip |first=David |title=Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections |url=http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS/ |access-date=May 26, 2017 |website=uselectionatlas.org}}}}
{{PresRow|2024|Democratic|3|15|0|Hawaii}}
{{PresRow|2020|Democratic|1|23|0|Hawaii}}
{{PresRow|2016|Democratic|1|14|5|Hawaii}}
{{PresRow|2012|Democratic|2|25|0|Hawaii}}
{{PresRow|2008|Democratic|6|24|1|Hawaii}}
{{PresRow|2004|Democratic|14|26|0|Hawaii}}
{{PresRow|2000|Democratic|11|30|4|Hawaii}}
{{PresRow|1996|Democratic|13|46|4|Hawaii}}
{{PresFoot|1992|Democratic|24|48|3|Hawaii}}
Like the rest of the state, Kalawao County is a stronghold for the Democratic Party. It was the only county in the United States where the Republican candidate in the 2016 United States presidential election, Donald Trump, finished in third by only getting one vote; 70% of Kalawao's voters chose Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton, and 25% of Kalawao voters cast their ballots for Green Party candidate Jill Stein, making it Stein's strongest county nationwide in terms of vote percentage.{{Cite web |title=Statewide Precinct Detail |url=http://files.hawaii.gov/elections/files/results/2016/general/precinct.pdf |access-date=March 13, 2020 |publisher=State of Hawaii Office of Elections}} In 2020 Joe Biden improved on Clinton's 2016 performance by over 25% as the Greens declined to zero votes, giving Biden 96% of the vote, which was his strongest performance in any county in the United States. However, many people in Kalawao County are also socially conservative, with this county being the only one in the state to vote against 2024 Hawaii Amendment 1, which repealed a state constitutional amendment that allowed Hawaii's legislature to outlaw same-sex marriage.{{cite web |title=GENERAL ELECTION 2024 - State of Hawaii - Statewide Precinct Report |url=https://elections.hawaii.gov/wp-content/results/precinct.pdf |access-date=2025-04-01}}
Education
The county is within the Hawaii Department of Education school district.{{cite web|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st15_hi/schooldistrict_maps/c15005_kalawao/DC20SD_C15005.pdf|title=2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Kalawao County, HI
|publisher=U.S. Census Bureau|accessdate=July 22, 2022}} - [https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st15_hi/schooldistrict_maps/c15005_kalawao/DC20SD_C15005_SD2MS.txt Text list]
References
{{reflist|30em}}
External links
{{Sister project auto}}
{{Geographic Location
|Centre = Kalawao County, Molokai, Hawaii
|North = Pacific Ocean
|Northeast =
|East = Pacific Ocean
|Southeast =
|South = Maui County
|Southwest =
|West = Pacific Ocean
|Northwest =
}}
{{Kalawao County, Hawaii}}
{{Hawaii}}
{{Authority control}}
{{coord|21|11|49|N|156|58|02|W|region:US-HI_type:adm2nd_source:dewiki|display=title}}
Category:1905 establishments in Hawaii