The oldest major Hawaiian island, nicknamed the 'Garden Isle.' The island features the weathered Mount Waialeale crater, the Nā Pali Coast's dramatic cliffs, tropical rainforests, and numerous rivers and waterfalls. Millions of years of erosion have created a landscape of deep valleys, sharp mountain spires, and lush coastal plains.
Kauai is one of the main islands of the state of Hawaii in the United States. Geologically, it is the oldest of the islands. Kauai has a total area of over 562 square miles, and it is the fourth largest Hawaiian island by area. The island has a population of 67,091 people per the last census data in 2010, with a population density of 106 people per square mile. By area, it is the 21st largest island in the US.
Kapa’a is the largest town on the island of Kauai. According to census data, the population of this town is 10,699 people and has a total area of 10 square miles. In its early years, Kauia, along with the island of Ni’ihau, was the last Hawaiian island to join the Kingdom of Hawaii. The island resisted for years before finally deciding to join in 1810 to avoid further invasions. In 1816, an agreement was signed that allowed the Russians to build Fort Elizabeth on the island. However, the Russians were expelled the next year after construction began due to rising tensions with American traders and Native Americans.
Tourism is the primary industry of Kauai. Over 1.2 million tourists visited in 2007, with most 84% of visitors coming from the continental US. In the early 2000s, there were about 27,000 jobs, with the largest sector being in accommodations and food services. About 15% of jobs are government jobs, while retail accounted for 14.5% of all jobs. Small businesses are prevalent on the island, and 87% of all non-farming businesses have less than 20 employees. The island’s unemployment rate is slightly higher than the state’s average, while the poverty rate falls below the national average.
The cities and towns in Kauai hand populations that range from around 10,000 people to hamlets with few residents. The largest, as previously mentioned, is Kapa’a, while the second largest by population is Lihu’e. Other notable cities and towns including Wainiha, Princeville and Anahola, just to name a few.
The island of Kauai has seen slow and steady growth throughout its history, and this trend isn’t expected to stop – at least not in the near future. While Kauai won’t see substantial growth, it will continue to add new residents in the years ahead.