Is Kalawao County, on the north shore of Molokai, really a separate county?
Yes, really. Hawaii state law (Hawaii Revised Statutes section 326-34) says: “The county of Kalawao shall consist of that portion of the island of Molokai known as Kalaupapa, Kalawao, and Waikolu, and commonly known or designated as the Kalaupapa Settlement, and shall not be or form a portion of the county of Maui, but is constituted a county by itself.” Moreover, the Maui County charter (section 1.2) disclaims jurisdiction over the three above-named villages that comprise Kalawao County. The county is definitely unusual — the above state law goes on to say that most Hawaii laws regarding county government don’t apply to Kalawao County, and that the county is to be administered by the state department of health, rather than by a locally-elected government like Hawaii’s other four counties. But Kalawao is definitely a county of its own, and in particular it is separate from Maui County. Kalawao County is coextensive with the Kalaupapa National Historical Park, and the Kalaupapa Settlem
Yes, really. Hawaii state law (Hawaii Revised Statutes section 326-34) states: “The county of Kalawao shall consist of that portion of the island of Molokai known as Kalaupapa, Kalawao, and Waikolu, and commonly known or designated as the Kalaupapa Settlement, and shall not be or form a portion of the county of Maui, but is constituted a county by itself.” Moreover, the Maui County charter (section 1.2) disclaims jurisdiction over the three above-named villages that comprise Kalawao County. The county is definitely unusual — the above state law goes on to say that most Hawaii laws regarding county government don’t apply to Kalawao County, and that the county is to be administered by the state department of health, rather than by a locally-elected government like Hawaii’s other four counties. But Kalawao is definitely a county of its own, and in particular it is not part of Maui County. Kalawao County is coextensive with the Kalaupapa National Historical Park, and the Kalaupapa Settlem
