Lihue, Hawaii facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Lihue, Hawaii Līhuʻe
Census-designated place
Aerial view of Lihue
Location in Kauai County and the state of Hawaii
Country	United States
State	Hawaii
County	Kauai
Area
• Total	8.24 sq mi (21.33 km2)
• Land	7.46 sq mi (19.32 km2)
• Water	0.78 sq mi (2.01 km2)
Elevation	220 ft (67 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	8,004
• Density	1,072.92/sq mi (414.27/km2)
Time zone	UTC−10 (Hawaii-Aleutian)
ZIP code	96766
Area code(s)	808
FIPS code	15-45200
GNIS feature ID	0361837

Lihue (Hawaiian: Līhuʻe) is a special type of community in Hawaii, United States. It's called a census-designated place (CDP). Lihue is also the main town, or county seat, for Kauai County.

It's the second-largest town on the island of Kauaʻi. The biggest town is Kapaʻa. In 2010, about 6,455 people lived in Lihue. By 2020, the population grew to 8,004 people.

Exploring Lihue's Past

In ancient times, Lihue was just a small village. Its Hawaiian name, Līhuʻe, means "cold chill." Lihue is located in the old district of Puna. This area is on the southeastern coast of the island.

How Lihue Became Important

In 1837, the Royal Governor of Kauai, Kaikioʻewa, made Lihue the official governing center. He moved it from another town called Waimea. He named Lihue after land he owned on the island of Oahu.

The Rise of Sugar Plantations

In the 1800s, the sugar industry became very important in Hawaii. Lihue grew into the main city on Kauai because a large sugar mill was built there. Early investors like Henry A. Peirce and Charles Reed Bishop helped start the sugar business. The plantations faced challenges until William Harrison Rice built the first irrigation system in 1856. This system helped bring water to the crops.

Later, a plantation owner named Paul Isenberg helped people from Germany move to Lihue starting in 1881. They even built the first Lutheran church in Hawaii in 1883. Church services were held in German for a long time.

By the 1930s, George Norton Wilcox became one of the biggest sugarcane plantation owners. He bought a large farm called Grove Farm. The Wilcox family home, Kilohana, is now a restaurant and gift shop. The land around it still grows crops and raises animals. You can even take a tour of the plantation on a special narrow-gauge train! Horse-drawn carriage tours are also available.

Lihue is also home to the Kauai Museum. This museum shares the interesting history of Kauai.

Geography and Climate of Lihue

Air temperature changes in Lihue from 1929 to 2012.

Lihue is located on the eastern side of the island of Kauai. To the north is Hanamaulu, and to the west is Puhi. The town's coastline stretches from Hanamaulu Bay in the north to the larger Nawiliwili Bay in the south.

How Big is Lihue?

According to the United States Census Bureau, the Lihue area covers about 19.3 square miles (50 square kilometers). Most of this area is land, with about 2.0 square miles (5.2 square kilometers) being water.

Lihue's Tropical Weather

Lihue has a tropical wet and dry climate. This means it's usually warm and has a somewhat dry summer season. The average temperature is around 72°F (22°C) in February and about 80°F (27°C) in August.

It's very rare for temperatures to drop below 60°F (16°C). It's also rare for them to reach 90°F (32°C) or higher. The lowest temperature ever recorded was 46°F (8°C) in 1930. The highest was 91°F (33°C) in 2019.

Lihue gets about 37 inches (940 mm) of rain each year. This rain is spread out over about 195 days. However, the amount of rain can change a lot from year to year. For example, in 1982, it rained 74.40 inches (1890 mm)! The most rain in one day was 15.81 inches (402 mm) on May 13, 1940.

Who Lives in Lihue?

In 2000, there were 5,694 people living in Lihue. By 2020, this number grew to 8,004 people.

Population Makeup

In 2000, the people living in Lihue came from many different backgrounds:

• About 22.8% were White.
• About 49.2% were Asian.
• About 6.4% were Pacific Islander.
• About 20.5% were from two or more races.
• About 6.5% of the population were Hispanic or Latino.

Households and Families

There were 2,178 households in Lihue in 2000.

• About 25.8% of these households had children under 18.
• About 48.9% were married couples.
• About 29.9% of households were made up of single individuals.
• About 16.1% of households had someone aged 65 or older living alone.

Getting Around Lihue

Lihue has its own airport, called Lihue Airport. It's located in the eastern part of the community. Kauai's main seaport is at Nāwiliwili Bay, which is southeast of the town.

You can also get around Lihue and the rest of the island using The Kauaʻi Bus. This is a public bus system that serves the entire island.

Important Places in Town

Lihue is home to the county administration building. This is where the local government works. It also has Kauai's biggest shopping center, Kukui Grove Center. This center has the island's only large department store and several big-box stores. You can also find car dealerships and many restaurants in Lihue.

Education in Lihue

Lihue is a great place for learning! It has Kauai Community College, which is part of the University of Hawaii system.

The Hawaii Department of Education also runs schools in Lihue.

• There are two elementary schools for students from Kindergarten to 5th grade: Wilcox Elementary School in Lihue and Kaumualii Elementary School in Hanamaulu.
• All students in the area go to Kamakahelei Middle School and Kauai High School.

There's also a private school called Island School. It teaches students from pre-kindergarten all the way to 12th grade.

Famous People from Lihue

Many notable people have connections to Lihue:

• Bethany Hamilton (born 1990) is a famous surfer.
• Eric Shinseki (born 1942) is a retired U.S. Army general. He also served as the U.S. Secretary of Veterans Affairs.
• Robert Yasuda (born 1940) is an American abstract painter.
• Kirby Yates (born 1987) is a Major League Baseball pitcher.
• Tyler Yates (born 1977) is a former Major League Baseball pitcher.

See also

In Spanish: Lihue para niños