Honolulu, HI Metropolitan Statistical Area

Honolulu County (officially known as the City and County of Honolulu, formerly Oahu County) is a consolidated city–county in the U.S. state of Hawaii. The city–county includes both the city of Honolulu (the state's capital and largest city) and the rest of the island of Oʻahu, as well as several minor outlying islands, including all of the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands (islands beyond Niihau) except Midway Atoll.

The consolidated city-county was established in the city charter adopted in 1907 and accepted by the Legislature of the Territory of Hawaii. As a municipal corporation and jurisdiction it manages aspects of government traditionally exercised by both municipalities and counties in the rest of the United States.

As of the 2020 United States Census, the population was 1,016,508. Because of Hawaii's municipal structure, the United States Census Bureau divides Honolulu County into several census-designated places for statistical purposes.

The mayor of Honolulu County is Rick Blangiardi. The county motto is "Haaheo No O Honolulu (Honolulu Pride)". About 70% of the state's population lives in Honolulu County. Only Nevada has a higher percentage of its population living in its most populous county. 43.0% of residents identify as Asian or Asian American, the highest of any US county.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of , of which is land and (71.8%) is water. However, the majority of this area is the Pacific Ocean that surrounds the islands. At over from end to end, it is by a significant margin the widest county in the United States.

Adjacent counties

* Maui County - southeast
* Kauai County - northwest of population center

National protected areas

* James Campbell National Wildlife Refuge
* Oʻahu Forest National Wildlife Refuge
* Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument
* Pearl Harbor National Wildlife Refuge
* USS Arizona Memorial

Government

Local government

Originally governed by a Board of Supervisors, the Honolulu County is administered under a mayor-council system of governance overseeing all municipal services: civil defense, emergency medical, fire, parks and recreation, police, sanitation, streets, and water, among others. For 2013, the county has an annual operating budget of US$2.16 billion.

The government of Honolulu County is simplified and streamlined and coalesces at three major divisions of municipal power.
*The mayor of Honolulu is the principal executor of administrative authority. The mayor is elected on a non-partisan basis to a four-year term.
*The Honolulu City Council is the unicameral legislative body. Its elected members are responsible for drafting and passing laws, as well as proposing budgets for various departments. Unlike other cities in the United States, the council is absolutely independent of the mayor, who does not make any appearances during any of the council sessions. The nine council members each represent one of nine districts, and are elected on a non-partisan basis to staggered four-year terms.
*The Prosecuting Attorney of Honolulu is independently elected of the other two major divisions of municipal power, and is charged with prosecuting criminal offenses committed within the county. The office is not charged with providing legal counsel to the mayor or City Council; that duty is a responsibility of the Department of Corporation Counsel, under mayoral jurisdiction. The prosecuting attorney is elected on a non-partisan basis to a four-year term.

The Honolulu County is divided into 36 neighborhood boards. The office of neighborhood board member is an advisory position for public policy and civil investment. Members are elected to two-year terms.

County districts

Honolulu County has nine districts, each of which elects a member of the city-county council. The boundaries of each district are revised every ten years in conjunction with the U.S. Census.

* District I: Ewa, Ewa Beach, Honouliuli, West Loch, Kapolei, Makakilo, Kalaeloa, Honokai Hale and Nanakai Gardens, Ko Olina, Nānākuli, Waianae, Mākaha, Keaau, Mākua.
* District II: Mililani Mauka, Wahiawā, Whitmore Village, Mokulēia, Waialua, Haleiwa, Waimea, Pūpūkea, Sunset Beach, Kahuku, Lāie, Hauula, Punaluu, Kahana Bay, Kaaawa, Kualoa, Waiāhole, Kahaluu, Āhuimanu, Heeia.
* District III: Waimānalo, Kailua, Kāneohe.
* District IV: Hawaii Kai, Kuliouou, Niu Valley, Āina Haina, Wailupe, Waialae-Iki, Kalani Valley, Kāhala, Wilhelmina Rise, a portion of Kapahulu, a portion of Kaimukī, Diamond Head, Waikīkī, Ala Moana.
* District V: Kapahulu, Kaimukī, Pālolo Valley, St. Louis Heights, Mānoa, Mōiliili, McCully, Kakaako, Ala Moana, Makiki.
* District VI: Makiki, downtown Honolulu, Punchbowl, Liliha, Pauoa Valley, Nuuanu, Ālewa Heights, Papakōlea, Kalihi Valley, Kalihi.
* District VII: Kalihi, Kapālama (aka Pālama), Iwilei, Sand Island, Māpunapuna, Airport, Hickam, Pearl Harbor, Ford Island, Āliamanu, Salt Lake, Foster Village, Aloha Stadium, Hālawa Valley Estates.
* District VIII: Fort Shafter, Moanalua, Hālawa, Aiea, Pearl City, Seaview, Crestview.
* District IX: Waikele, Waipahu, Village Park, Kunia, Mililani, Waipio Gentry.

Civic center

The civic center is coextensive with what is known as the Capitol District in downtown Honolulu. The official seat of governance for the Honolulu County is located within the district at Honolulu Hale, established in the 1920s as a city hall structure and houses the chambers of the mayor of Honolulu and the Honolulu City Council. In the 1960s and 1970s, Mayor Frank Fasi developed the modern civic center as it is known today. He took controversial and aggressive measures to reclaim property, demolish massive concrete structures in the area, construct underground parking facilities and open a green campus above ground with manicured lawns and specially commissioned sculpted artwork. He also oversaw the construction of new government buildings, to house the departments that fell within mayoral jurisdiction. The most prominent of those new buildings were the Honolulu Municipal Building and Hale Makai, the headquarters of the Honolulu Police Department. Civic centers were also constructed off the Capitol District campus, including the Kapiolani Bandstand, Neal S. Blaisdell Center, and the Waikīkī Shell.

Municipal services

The Honolulu County collects various forms of taxes, including a property tax. Revenue from those taxes is used to provide several services for the residents.

Services include:
* Honolulu Board of Water Supply
*Honolulu Fire Department
*Honolulu Emergency Medical Services
* TheBus
*Honolulu Police Department
*The ''Liquor Commission'' regulates intoxicating liquors.

State representation

The Hawaii Department of Public Safety operates three prisons, including the Halawa Correctional Facility, the Waiawa Correctional Facility, and the Women's Community Correctional Center, on the island of Oʻahu in the City and County of Honolulu. In addition the Oʻahu Community Correctional Center, the jail on Oʻahu, is in the county.

Federal representation

The United States Postal Service operates post offices in Honolulu County. The main one is located by the Honolulu International Airport, operated by the Federal Bureau of Prisons, is in the CDP. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Honolulu field office is in Kapolei. The Kunia Regional SIGINT Operations Center of the National Security Agency (NSA) and the Wheeler Army Airfield are in Honolulu County.

Honolulu County, like the rest of Hawaii, is a Democratic stronghold. Although, it tends to be the most Republican-leaning county in the state.

Demographics

As of the census of 2010, there were 953,207 people, 311,047 households, and 217,842 families residing in Honolulu County. The population density was . There were 315,988 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the county was 43.9% Asian, 20.8% white, 9.5% Pacific Islander, 2.0% black or African American, 0.3% Native American, 1.1% from other races, and 22.3% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 9.1% of the population. The largest ancestry groups were:

*15.7% Japanese
*14.9% Filipino
*5.9% German
*5.4% Chinese
*5.0% Native Hawaiian
*4.4% Irish
*3.8% English
*3.1% Portuguese
*2.9% Puerto Rican
*2.3% Korean
*2.3% Mexican
*1.8% Samoan
*1.8% Italian
*1.8% Spanish
*1.4% French

In the census of 2000, there were 286,450 households, out of which 31.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.5% were married couples living together, 12.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.2% were non-families. 21.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.95 and the average family size was 3.46.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 23.80% under the age of 18, 10.1% from 18 to 24, 30.6% from 25 to 44, 22.0% from 45 to 64, and 13.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 101.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 99.7 males.

Metropolitan Statistical Area

The United States Office of Management and Budget has designated Honolulu County as the Urban Honolulu, HI Metropolitan Statistical Area. The United States Census Bureau ranked the Urban Honolulu, HI Metropolitan Statistical Area as the 54th most populous metropolitan statistical area and the 61st most populous primary statistical area of the United States as of July 1, 2012.

Economy

Hawaiian Airlines, Island Air, and Aloha Air Cargo are headquartered in the CDP.Honolulu CDP, HI
." ''U.S. Census Bureau''. Retrieved May 21, 2009. Prior to its dissolution, Aloha Airlines was headquartered in the CDP. Other major companies headquartered in Honolulu CDP include First Hawaiian Bank, Bank of Hawaii, and the Hawaiian Electric Company (HECO).

Diplomatic missions

Several countries have diplomatic facilities in Honolulu County. The Consulate-General of Japan in Honolulu is located at 1742 Nuuanu Avenue. The Consulate-General of South Korea in Honolulu is located at 2756 Pali Highway. The Consulate-General of the Philippines in Honolulu is located at 2433 Pali Highway. The Consulate-General of the Federated States of Micronesia in Honolulu is located in Suite 908 at 3049 Ualena Street. The Consulate-General of Australia in Honolulu is located in the penthouse of 1000 Bishop Street. The Consulate-General of the Marshall Islands is located in Suite 301 at 1888 Lusitana Street. The Consulate of the Republic of Kiribati is located at 95 Nakolo Place, Room 265.

Transportation

Air

Located on the western end of the Honolulu census-designated place, Honolulu International Airport also operates flights to destinations within the islands of Hawaii and to major destinations across the Pacific.

Major Highways

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Public transportation

Bus

Established by former Mayor Frank F. Fasi, Honolulu's public transit system has been twice honored by the American Public Transportation Association bestowing the title of "America's Best Transit System" for 1994–1995 and 2000–2001. Oʻahu Transit Services' " TheBus" operates 107 routes with a fleet of 525 buses.

In 2004, construction had started on a bus rapid transit (BRT) system using dedicated rights-of-way for buses. The system, proposed by then Mayor Jeremy Harris, was expected to link the Iwilei neighborhood with Waikiki. However, former Mayor Mufi Hannemann largely dismantled the BRT system and deployed its buses along other express bus routes.

Most buses in TheBus roster were manufactured by Gillig Corporation of Hayward, California, with the exception of articulated buses made by New Flyer, the latter also providing standard buses, likewise from Nova Bus.

Rail

Currently, there is no urban rail transit system in Honolulu, although electric street railways were used during the early days of Honolulu's history. The last major attempt was called the Honolulu Area Rail Rapid Transit project, popularly known as HART. Proposed in 1968 by Mayor Neal S. Blaisdell and supported by his successor, Frank Fasi, HART was originally envisioned as a line from Pearl City to Hawaii Kai. By 1980, however, the project's length was cut to an segment between the University of Hawaii at Manoa and Honolulu International Airport

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