Yes, Hawaii does have counties. Five of them, and they are the only local government the state has. There are no cities, no towns, and no village or municipal governments anywhere in Hawaii. Every populated place, from downtown Honolulu to the smallest rural community, is governed directly by its county.
The Five Counties
Hawaii Revised Statutes § 4-1 divides the state into five counties, each responsible for a specific set of islands.1Justia. Hawaii Code 4-1 – Districts, Generally
- Hawaii County covers the entire island of Hawaii (the Big Island) and is divided into nine administrative districts, including Hilo, Kona, and Puna.
- Honolulu County, officially the City and County of Honolulu, covers Oahu plus various small, mostly uninhabited northwestern islands.
- Maui County covers Maui, Lanai, Kahoolawe, and most of Molokai.
- Kauai County covers Kauai, Niihau, and Kaula.
- Kalawao County covers only the Kalaupapa Peninsula on Molokai’s north shore and has no elected government.
Several counties govern multiple islands separated by open water. Maui County alone administers communities across four islands, which shapes how services are delivered and how residents are represented.
No Cities, No Towns Anywhere in the State
Hawaii is the only state where every populated place is unincorporated. The U.S. Census Bureau recognizes 151 places in Hawaii, and all of them are census-designated places rather than incorporated municipalities.2U.S. Census Bureau. Hawaii Names like Hilo, Lahaina, and Waikiki refer to geographic areas, not self-governing cities. None has its own council, budget, or police force.
That includes Honolulu, despite its name. The city and county governments were consolidated in 1907 into a single entity that governs all of Oahu.3City and County of Honolulu. City and County of Honolulu The mayor of the City and County of Honolulu is the mayor of Oahu. Whether you live in Waikiki, on the North Shore, or in Hawaii Kai, you have the same local government.
To give smaller communities a voice, Honolulu created a neighborhood board system. Thirty-three neighborhood boards operate across Oahu, each covering a specific area. They review proposed developments and make recommendations to the county, but they are advisory only and cannot pass ordinances or spend money.4Neighborhood Commission Office. Neighborhood Commission Office The other counties don’t use this system.
How Each County Is Governed
The Hawaii Constitution lets each county write its own charter for self-governance, setting up an executive branch, legislative body, and administrative departments without needing legislative approval.5Justia. Hawaii Revised Statutes 46-1.5 – General Powers and Limitation of the Counties All four functioning counties use a mayor-council structure. Mayors serve four-year terms. Councils vary in size and term length: Hawaii County’s council has nine members serving two-year terms, and the other counties set their own numbers through their charters.
Because Hawaii has no city mayors or town boards, the county mayor is the highest-ranking local official any resident deals with.
What Hawaii’s Counties Actually Do
With nothing below them, Hawaii’s counties handle work that in most states is spread across cities, towns, special districts, and counties. Chapter 46 of the Hawaii Revised Statutes gives them broad authority over local affairs.6Justia. Hawaii Revised Statutes Chapter 46 – General Provisions
Each county runs its own police department, fire department, parks, refuse collection, and sewage treatment. Counties build and maintain local roads, operate public transit, and manage harbors. Water supply is a county function too. On the Big Island, the Department of Water Supply is a semi-autonomous county agency operating 23 separate water systems across the island.7Department of Water Supply. Ka Wai A Kane – Water, Our Most Precious Resource
Counties also control zoning, building permits, and land use. They issue the Special Management Area permits Hawaii requires for development near the shoreline.8Maui County, HI. CP Special Management Area (SMA) Assessment Building code violations can trigger daily fines of up to $1,000 for each day a property remains out of compliance.9City and County of Honolulu. Bill 17 (2021) – Relating to the Housing Code
Real property tax is a county tax. Each county council sets its own rates, and the tax burden on identical properties can vary widely from one island to the next.10City and County of Honolulu. Real Property Tax Rates for Tax Year July 1, 2025 to June 30, 2026
Two functions that surprise newcomers: liquor licensing and vehicle registration are county work, not state work. Each county operates its own Department of Liquor Control and issues licenses to bars, restaurants, and retailers.11Hawaii County, HI. Department of Liquor Control Vehicle registration and driver licensing also run through county offices rather than a statewide DMV.12Hawaii County, HI. Vehicle Registration and Licensing Move between islands, and you deal with a different county for these things.
Policing is a county job in another way that catches people out. Hawaii has no county sheriffs. The state maintains a Sheriff Division within its Department of Public Safety to handle security at state buildings, courts, and airports, but day-to-day policing on every island is done by county police departments.
What Counties Don’t Do: Public Schools
Public education is not a county function in Hawaii. The state constitution requires a single statewide school system, making Hawaii the only state with one unified school district.13Justia. Hawaii Constitution Article X A single superintendent and a governor-appointed Board of Education set policy for every public school in the state. There are no county school boards and no local school taxes.
Kalawao: The County That Isn’t Quite a County
Kalawao County covers only the Kalaupapa Peninsula on Molokai’s isolated north coast. It is legally a county but has no mayor, no elected council, and no county departments. Hawaii Revised Statutes § 326-34 places it under the jurisdiction of the state Department of Health and explicitly says general county laws do not apply there.14Justia. Hawaii Code 326-34 – County of Kalawao; Governance
The arrangement dates to the peninsula’s use as an enforced settlement for people with Hansen’s disease beginning in 1866. Fewer than 100 people live there today, and the county functions more as a legal designation preserving the settlement’s history and health care obligations than as a working local government.