Lihue, Hawaii
Norwegian Cruise Line's Pride of Aloha docked in Port of Nāwiliwili
Location in Kauai County and the state of Hawaii
Coordinates: 21°58′29″N 159°21′56″W / 21.97472, -159.36556
Country	United States
State	Hawaii
County	Kauai
Area
- Total	7.1 sq mi (18.4 km²)
- Land	6.3 sq mi (16.4 km²)
- Water	0.8 sq mi (2.1 km²)
Elevation	220 ft (67 m)
Population (2000)
- Total	5,674
- Density	898.3/sq mi (346.8/km²)
Time zone	Hawaii-Aleutian (UTC-10)
ZIP code	96766
Area code(s)	808
FIPS code	15-45200
GNIS feature ID	0361837

Lihue ^[1] (Hawaiian: Līhuʻe; pronounced [liːhuʔe]) is the second largest town on the Hawaiian island of Kauai. Līhuʻe means literally "cold chill" in Hawaiian. It is a census-designated place (CDP) and the county seat of Kauai County, Hawaii. As of the 2000 Census, the CDP had a total population of 5,674 ^[2].

Lihue is served by the Lihue Airport. The main seaport for Kauai is at Nawiliwili Bay, directly southeast of town. The town is home to the county administration building; Kauai's largest shopping center, Kukui Grove Center, which houses the island's only big department store, Macy's; and several big-box stores including K-Mart, Wal-Mart, Home Depot and Costco. There are also several car dealerships and restaurants. Most of the island's traffic lights can be found here.

However, Lihue does not have a monopoly on island commerce. There is a cluster of several shopping centers to the north in Kapaa, Hawaii.

History

In ancient times, Lihue was a minor village. The name is of recent origin and means "goose flesh", referring to the cold winds that blew across the land. The ancient name of the area was Ka-laʻ-i-a-mea, meaning calm reddish brown place. Lihue is located in the ancient district of Puna. With the emergence of the sugar industry in the 1800s, Lihue became the central city of the island with the construction of a large sugar mill. Many Germans emigrated to Lihue, even building in 1881 the first Lutheran church in Hawaii that stands to this day. Services were delivered in German well into the 1960s. By the 1930s, George Wilcox had become one of the largest sugar plantation owners. The Wilcox family home, Kilohana, has been converted into a restaurant and gift shop. The surrounding plantation is still active, growing a number of crops and livestock. A recently installed narrow gauge tourist railroad with vintage diesel locomotives from Whitworth and General Electric offers tours of the plantation; horse-drawn carriage tours are offered as well. The grounds are also the site of luaus, many of which are offshore excursions booked through NCL America. Lihue also houses the Kauai Museum, which details the rich history of Kauai.

Geography and Climate

Lihue is located at 21°58′29″N, 159°21′56″W (21.974810, -159.365576)^[3]. According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 7.1 square miles (18.4 km²), of which, 6.3 square miles (16.4 km²) of it is land and 0.8 square miles (2.0 km²) of it is water. The total area is 11.11% water.

Demographics

As of the census^[4] of 2000, there were 5,674 people, 2,178 households, and 1,420 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 898.3 people per square mile (346.6/km²). There were 2,399 housing units at an average density of 379.8/sq mi (146.6/km²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 22.75% White, 49.24% Asian, 0.21% Black or African American, 0.23% Native American, 6.43% Pacific Islander, 0.67% from other races, and 20.46% from two or more races. 6.52% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 2,178 households out of which 25.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.9% were married couples living together, 11.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.8% were non-families. 29.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.55 and the average family size was 3.16.

In the CDP the population was spread out with 22.8% under the age of 18, 5.2% from 18 to 24, 23.7% from 25 to 44, 25.8% from 45 to 64, and 22.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44 years. For every 100 females there were 92.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.6 males.

The median income for a household in the CDP was $44,906, and the median income for a family was $56,875 in 2000. Males had a median income of $38,713 versus $28,032 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $22,619. 4.6% of the population and 1.7% of families were below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 1.4% of those under the age of 18 and 7.3% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line.

Education

Līhue is home to Kauai Community College, part of the University of Hawaii system.

Lihue is also served by the Hawaii Department of Education. Two K-5 elementary schools — Wilcox Elementary School and Kaumualiʻi Elementary School — serve the area. All of the area is zoned to Kamakahelei Middle School and Kauai High School.

References

1. ^ United States Board on Geographic Names decisions 1914, 1954, cited as part of the Geographic Names Information System (GNIS) database at USGS, http://geonames.usgs.gov/pls/gnispublic/f?p=108:3:54903956865769708::NO::P3_FID:361837
2. ^ Find a County. National Association of Counties. Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
3. ^ US Gazetteer files: 2000 and 1990. United States Census Bureau (2005-05-03). Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
4. ^ American FactFinder. United States Census Bureau. Retrieved on 2008-01-31.

External links

• City of Lihue

• Lihue, Hawaii is at coordinates 21°58′29″N 159°21′56″W / 21.97481, -159.365576 (Lihue, Hawaii)Coordinates: 21°58′29″N 159°21′56″W / 21.97481, -159.365576 (Lihue, Hawaii)

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Counties	Hawaii · Honolulu · Kalawao · Kauai · Maui

v • d • e Municipalities and communities of Kauai County, Hawaii
County seat: Lihue
CDPs	Anahola | Eleele | Hanalei | Hanamaulu | Hanapepe | Kalaheo | Kalihiwai | Kapa'a | Kaumakani | Kekaha | Kilauea | Koloa | Lawai | Lihue | Omao | Pakala Village | Poipu | Princeville | Puhi | Wailua | Wailuā Homesteads | Waimea
Unincorporated community	Puuwai