City and County of Honolulu, Hawaii

Honolulu County Education, Geography, and History

Honolulu County (officially known as the City and County of Honolulu, formerly Oahu County) is a consolidated city-county located in the state of Hawaii. Based on the 2010 census, the population was 953,207. The consolidated city-county was created in the city charter adopted in 1907 and accepted by the Legislature of the Territory of Hawaii. The county seat in Honolulu. Honolulu is named from a Hawaiian language word meaning "sheltered bay" or "place of shelter."

Etymology - Origin of Honolulu County Name

Honolulu is a Hawaiian language word meaning "sheltered bay" or "place of shelter."

Demographics:

County QuickFacts: CensusBureau Quick Facts

Honolulu County History

The City and County of Honolulu is a combined city-county jurisdiction located in the state of Hawaii. It is also the official municipal and cultural entity of the combined urban district of Honolulu and the rest of the island of Oʻahu in the state of Hawaii, as prescribed in the city charter adopted in 1907 and accepted by the Legislature of the Territory of Hawaii. The City and County encompasses all of the island of Oʻahu and several minor outlying islands including all of the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands (islands beyond Niʻihau except Midway Atoll). It acts as a public corporation that manages various aspects of traditional municipal governance primarily in the American manner.

Upon becoming a consolidated city-county on April 30, 1907, the combined territories were incorporated as the City and County of Honolulu, as it is known today. Because of Hawaii's municipal structure, the United States Census Bureau divides Honolulu County into several census-designated places for statistical purposes.

The City and 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.

Geography: Land and Water

As reported by the Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 2,127 square miles (5,509 km²), of which, 600 square miles (1,553 km²) of it is land and 1,527 square miles (3,955 km²) of it is water.

Honolulu county is located close to the center of Hawaii. The total census tract area is 71.80% water. However, the majority of this area is the Pacific Ocean that surrounds the islands.

Neighboring Counties

Bordering counties are as follows:

Surrounding area: North Pacific Ocean

• Maui County, Hawaii - southeast
• Kauai County, Hawaii - northwest
  

Education

Colleges and universities

Colleges and universities in Honolulu County include The University of Hawaii System, consisting of University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu Community College and Kapiolani Community College in the Honolulu CDP, Leeward Community College in Pearl City, University of Hawaii-West Oahu in Kapolei, and Windward Community College in Kaneohe. UH Manoa houses the main offices of the University of Hawaii System. New Hope Christian College The private institutions serving the county include Chaminade University, Hawaii Pacific University, and Remington College (Honolulu Campus) in the Honolulu CDP and Brigham Young University-Hawaii in Laie CDP.

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