Maui County, Hawaii

Government

Maui County has a quasi-mayor-council form of municipal government. Unlike traditional municipal governments, the county government is established by the state legislature by statute and is not chartered. Executive authority is vested in the mayor, elected by the voters on a nonpartisan basis to a four-year term (with a limit of two consecutive full terms). Legislative authority is vested in the nine-member Maui County Council. All seats in the county council have residency requirements, but all Maui County voters may vote in elections for all nine seats regardless of residence. Members of the county council are elected on a nonpartisan basis to two-year terms (with a limit of five consecutive full terms).

The mayor of Maui County is Richard Bissen, serving since January 2023. Richard Bissen formerly served as a Judge for the 2nd Hawaii State Circuit Court.

The parade banner of the county, described simply as "parade banner of the County of Maui", this banner is vertically divided light blue-light green-light blue, by red stripes, with a seal in the center.

The Maui County Police Department provides law enforcement services for the county. The current chief is John Pelletier.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 2398 sqmi, of which 1162 sqmi is land and 1237 sqmi (51.6%) is water. The islands that comprise Maui County correspond to the remnants of the ancient landmass of Maui Nui. The highest point in the county is the peak of Haleakalā at 10023 ft. Haleakalā is a shield volcano located on the eastern side of the island of Maui.

Adjacent counties

• Hawaii County, Hawaii – southeast
• Kalawao County, Hawaii – north
• Honolulu County, Hawaii – northwest

National protected areas

• Haleakalā National Park
• Kakahaia National Wildlife Refuge
• Kealia Pond National Wildlife Refuge
• Kalaupapa National Historical Park

Demographics

|align-fn=center 1790–1960 1900–1990 1990–2000 2010–2020

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 164,754. Of the residents, 21.3% were under the age of 18 and 19.2% were 65 years of age or older; the median age was 42.4 years. For every 100 females there were 98.9 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 96.9 males. 78.6% of residents lived in urban areas and 21.4% lived in rural areas.

The racial makeup of the county was 32.9% White, 0.6% Black or African American, 0.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 26.9% Asian, 12.1% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 2.6% from some other race, and 24.4% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 10.3% of the population.

There were 56,063 households in the county, of which 32.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 25.1% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 24.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

There were 71,439 housing units, of which 21.5% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 58.6% were owner-occupied and 41.4% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.3% and the rental vacancy rate was 12.7%.

The most reported detailed ancestries in 2020 were:

• Filipino (28.4%)
• Native Hawaiian (24%)
• Japanese (12.9%)
• German (11%)
• English (10.8%)
• Irish (10.5%)
• Chinese (8.8%)
• Portuguese (6.9%)
• Mexican (4%)
• Italian (3.5%)

As of the 2000 Census, there were 128,094 people, 43,507 households, and 29,889 families residing in the county. The population density was 110 /mi2. There were 56,377 housing units at an average density of 49 /mi2. The racial makeup of the county was 33.01% Asian, 28.90% White, 22.24% from two or more races, 10.72% Pacific Islander, 1.40% Black or African American, 0.37% Native American and 1.36% from other races. 7.8% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 43,507 households, out of which 33.00% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.90% were married couples living together, 12.00% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.30% were non-families. 21.90% of all households were made up of individuals, and 6.30% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.91 and the average family size was 3.41.

In the county, 25.50% of the population was under the age of 18, 7.70% was from 18 to 24, 30.90% from 25 to 44, 24.40% from 45 to 64, and 11.40% was 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 100.90 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 100.20 males.

2020 religious survey

Maui County is among the most religiously diverse counties in the US. A 2020 survey by the Public Religion Research Institute calculated a religious diversity score of 0.867 for Maui County, where a score of 1 represents complete diversity (each religious group of equal size), and 0 being a total lack of diversity. Only eight counties in the US had higher diversity scores than Maui County, three of which were boroughs of New York City.

Economy

Top employers

According to the county's 2022 Annual Comprehensive Financial Report, the top employers in the county are the following:

Transportation

Airports

Three airports provide air service to the island of Maui:

• Hana Airport provides regional service to eastern Maui
• Kahului Airport in central Maui is the island's busiest airport
• Kapalua Airport provides regional service to western Maui

There are also airports on Maui's smaller adjacent islands:

• Lānai Airport provides regional service to Lānai
• Molokai Airport provides regional service to Molokai

Major highways

Communities

Census-designated places

• Haʻikū-Pauwela
• Hāliʻimaile
• Hāna
• Kāʻanapali
• Kahului
• Kapalua
• Kaunakakai
• Kēōkea
• Kīhei
• Kualapuʻu
• Kula
• Lahaina
• Lānaʻi City
• Launiupoko
• Māʻalaea
• Māhinahina
• Makawao
• Mākena
• Mānele
• Maunaloa
• Nāpili-Honokōwai
• Olinda
• Olowalu
• Pāʻia
• Pukalani
• ʻUalapuʻe
• Waiheʻe-Waiehu
• Waikapū
• Wailea
• Wailuku (county seat)

Unincorporated communities

• Ah Fong Village
• Haʻikū
• Kaumalapau
• Keanae
• Kīpahulu
• Nāpili
• Puunēnē
• Spreckelsville
• Waiheʻe
• Wailua

Former communities

• Waikola

Politics

Like all of Hawaii, Maui County is reliably Democratic. It has only been carried by the Republican presidential candidate three times since its statehood in 1959: in 1960, 1972 and 1984.

Maui County was the only county in the United States won by Dennis Kucinich during his unsuccessful campaign for the Democratic Party nomination to the presidency in 2004.

Education

Hawaii Department of Education operates public schools in Maui County.

Sister cities

Maui County's sister cities are:

• ASM American Samoa
• PER Arequipa, Peru
• PHL Bacarra, Philippines
• PHL Badoc, Philippines
• PHL Cabugao, Philippines
• CHL Easter Island, Chile
• SCO Embo, Scotland, United Kingdom
• JPN Fukuyama, Japan
• POR Funchal, Portugal
• KOR Goyang, South Korea
• JPN Hachijō, Japan
• PHL Manila, Philippines
• TWN Pingtung, Taiwan
• PHL Puerto Princesa, Philippines
• PHL Quezon City, Philippines
• MNP Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands
• PHL San Juan, Philippines
• PHL Santa, Philippines
• CHN Sanya, China
• POR São Miguel Island, Portugal
• PHL Sarrat, Philippines
• PHL Zambales, Philippines

References

References

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2. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau.
3. "Find a County". National Association of Counties.
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10. "HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE (2020)". U.S. Census Bureau.
11. "HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE (2010)". U.S. Census Bureau.
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13. (2023). "2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)". United States Census Bureau.
14. (2021). "2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)". United States Census Bureau.
15. (2021). "2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)". United States Census Bureau.
16. "Detailed Races and Ethnicities in the United States and Puerto Rico: 2020 Census". U.S. Census Bureau.
17. "U.S. Census website". [[United States Census Bureau]].
18. Public Religion Research Institute. "The 2020 Census of American Religion".
19. Teruya, Scott. (June 30, 2022). "FY2022 County of Maui Annual Comprehensive Financial Report".
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22. Geography Division. (December 21, 2020). "2020 CENSUS – SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Maui County, HI". [[U.S. Census Bureau]].
23. "Sister Cities". County of Maui.