Kauai County

Kauai County, Hawaii — key demographics

Population size

• 73,298 (2020 Census; official count)

Age

• Median age: ~42 years (ACS 2019–2023)
• Under 18: ~22%
• 18 to 64: ~59%
• 65 and over: ~19%

Gender

• Male: ~50%
• Female: ~50% (ACS 2019–2023)

Racial/ethnic composition (ACS 2019–2023)

• Asian (alone): ~30%
• White (alone): ~28%
• Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander (alone): ~9%
• Black or African American (alone): ~1%
• American Indian and Alaska Native (alone): <1%
• Some other race (alone): <1%
• Two or more races: ~32%
• Hispanic or Latino (of any race): ~12% (Note: “Hispanic or Latino” is an ethnicity and overlaps with race categories; race “alone” categories plus “Two or more races” sum to ~100%)

Households and housing (ACS 2019–2023)

• Households: ~24,000
• Average household size: ~3.0 persons
• Family households: ~65% of households
• Nonfamily households: ~35%; one-person households: ~26%
• Tenure: ~62% owner-occupied, ~38% renter-occupied

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Decennial Census (population count); American Community Survey 2019–2023 5-year estimates (age, sex, race/ethnicity, household characteristics)

• Estimated email users: 55,000–60,000 in Kauai County (about 75–80% of residents). This reflects near‑universal use among adults and partial uptake among teens.
• Age distribution of email users (approximate):
  • 13–24: ~12%
  • 25–44: ~30%
  • 45–64: ~33%
  • 65+: ~25% (Kauai’s older population boosts this share)
• Gender split among users: ~51% women, ~49% men, mirroring the county’s demographic balance.
• Digital access and usage trends:
  • About 90% of households maintain a broadband subscription; smartphone ownership is high, so most email is accessed on mobile.
  • Fiber and cable (DOCSIS) are concentrated in the Lihue–Kapaa–Wailua corridor and Poipu; north and west side communities rely more on DSL, fixed wireless, or satellite, which can dampen engagement during outages or peak congestion.
  • Public libraries and schools provide free Wi‑Fi that supports students and lower‑income residents; remote work and telehealth since 2020 have increased daytime email activity and reliance on mobile inboxes.
• Local density/connectivity facts:
  • Population ~74,000; density roughly 115–120 people per square mile, with most residents clustered along the east and south shores where multi‑provider broadband is available and speeds are higher than in rural interior and north shore pockets.

Mobile phone usage in Kauai County, HI — 2025 snapshot

Core scale and user estimates

• Population and households: 73,298 residents (2020 Census); roughly 24,800 households (ACS 2018–2022).
• Estimated resident smartphone users: about 55,000–58,000. This is derived by applying contemporary U.S. adult smartphone adoption rates to Kauai’s age structure (older than the state overall) and adding near-universal teen adoption.
• Active cellular lines (phones, tablets, watches, IoT): roughly 110,000–120,000 in the county at any given time, using Hawaii’s high connections-per-capita pattern (statewide wireless lines exceed population).
• Visitor load: Kauai’s daily visitor population is large relative to residents, producing seasonal and time-of-day mobile traffic peaks around Lihu‘e, Kapa‘a/Wailua, Po‘ipū/Kōloa, Princeville/Hanalei, and resort corridors.

Demographic usage profile (how Kauai differs from Hawaii statewide)

• Older age structure: Kauai’s median age is higher than the state’s, which pulls down smartphone adoption and mobile app intensity among kupuna (65+) relative to O‘ahu and the state average. Adults 18–64 account for the clear majority of smartphone users; teens contribute a small but highly engaged share; 65+ adoption is meaningful but lower than younger cohorts.
• Rural dispersion: A larger rural share than the state average leads to more “mobile-first” and “mobile-only” internet behavior in outlying communities (North Shore, West Side, and interior valleys). Kauai shows a higher incidence of households relying on cellular data as their primary or only internet connection than the statewide average, reflecting gaps in fixed broadband options in some tracts.
• Income and work patterns: A sizable service/tourism workforce, shift work, and multi-job households correlate with heavy mobile messaging, navigation, and gig/work-app usage, especially during visitor peaks, while professional remote-work patterns (heavier on O‘ahu) are less dominant in Kauai’s mix.

Digital infrastructure and coverage

• Radio access networks: AT&T (including FirstNet Band 14), T-Mobile, and Verizon operate LTE and 5G on Kauai. Coverage is strong along the main corridors (Kaumuali‘i Hwy/HI-50 and Kūhiō Hwy/HI-56) and in population centers (Līhu‘e, Kapa‘a/Wailua, Po‘ipū/Kōloa, Princeville/Hanalei). Terrain-driven gaps persist in the Nā Pali Coast, Waimea Canyon/Kōke‘e, and some interior valleys.
• 5G specifics: Low-band 5G covers the main settlements and road network; mid-band 5G capacity is concentrated around Līhu‘e/Kapa‘a and high-traffic resort/airport areas. Compared with O‘ahu, Kauai has less contiguous mid-band 5G capacity, and more reliance on low-band 5G/LTE in rural stretches.
• Backhaul and core: Kauai is linked to the statewide network via redundant inter-island submarine fiber and on-island fiber along primary highways; some remote cell sites use licensed microwave backhaul. Redundancy has improved since major storm events, but single points of failure can still impact West/North Shore segments during fiber cuts or prolonged power outages.
• Public safety: FirstNet builds have expanded Band 14 coverage for first responders, improving in-building and rural reach. Carriers maintain generators at macro sites, but long-duration outages in remote areas can still constrain uptime.

Behavior and traffic patterns

• Daytime uplifts and seasonal peaks: Mobile data surges coincide with visitor activity (beaches, lookouts, trailheads, airport) and weekend events. Uplink-intensive usage (photo/video sharing) spikes in scenic zones can trigger localized congestion even where signal strength is good.
• Mobile-only segments: A meaningful slice of households rely primarily on mobile data for home connectivity, particularly in pockets where cable/fiber coverage or affordability lags. This segment is larger than the state average and most pronounced outside Līhu‘e/Kapa‘a.
• App mix: High usage of maps, messaging, social/video, and travel/transit apps during visitor seasons; local residents show steady use of messaging/commerce and government/emergency alert channels.

Key ways Kauai differs from Hawaii statewide

• Slightly fewer smartphone users per capita due to an older population, but higher relative reliance on mobile for home internet in rural tracts.
• Less dense mid-band 5G and fewer small cells than O‘ahu; more low-band 5G/LTE dependence and terrain-limited pockets.
• More pronounced tourism-driven load swings relative to the resident base, which shapes where and when networks congest.
• Greater sensitivity to backhaul/power disruptions outside the Līhu‘e–Kapa‘a corridor, though inter-island fiber redundancy mitigates prolonged island-wide impacts.

Bottom-line estimates for planning

• Resident smartphone users: ~56,000 (midpoint of the 55k–58k estimate).
• Total active cellular lines (including non-phone devices): ~115,000–120,000.
• Coverage: 4G/5G along all primary corridors and towns; persistent terrain gaps in canyons/coastlines; mid-band 5G capacity concentrated near Līhu‘e and major resorts.
• Segments to watch: mobile-only households in rural areas; daytime/seasonal congestion hotspots tied to visitor flows; resiliency at edge sites reliant on microwave backhaul.

Sources and basis

• U.S. Census Bureau (Decennial 2020; ACS 2018–2022) for population/households and age structure.
• Pew Research Center (recent U.S. smartphone adoption by age cohort) applied to Kauai’s age mix to produce the user estimate.
• CTIA/FCC industry metrics for lines-per-capita and technology deployment; carrier public coverage disclosures for 4G/5G footprint characteristics in Kauai.
• Hawaii state tourism statistics for visitor-driven load context.

Kauai County, HI — social media usage snapshot (2024–2025)

Core user stats

• Population baseline: 73,298 (2020 Census). Adults ≈ 57,000.
• Internet access: Hawaii households with internet ≈ 92% (ACS); Kauai is similar, with lower access in more rural tracts.
• Adults using any social media: ≈ 72% of adults (Pew U.S. benchmark) ⇒ about 41,000 adult users in Kauai. Including teens would lift the total user base into the mid‑40,000s.

Most‑used platforms among adults (share of adults; U.S. 2024 rates applied locally for sizing)

• YouTube: 83% (~47k adults)
• Facebook: 68% (~39k)
• Instagram: 47% (~27k)
• Pinterest: 35% (~20k)
• TikTok: 33% (~19k)
• LinkedIn: 30% (~17k)
• Reddit: 22% (~13k)
• X (Twitter): 23% (~13k)
• WhatsApp: 21% (~12k)
• Snapchat: 20% (~11k)
• Nextdoor: 17% (10k) Note: Percentages are of all adults; local counts are approximations based on Kauai’s adult population.

Age profile (adoption and platform tilt)

• 18–29: Near‑universal social media use; heavy on Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat, YouTube; light on Facebook/Nextdoor.
• 30–49: Very high use; Facebook, YouTube, Instagram strong; TikTok meaningful; LinkedIn relevant for professionals.
• 50–64: Clear majority on Facebook and YouTube; moderate on Instagram/Pinterest; limited TikTok/Snapchat.
• 65+: About half use social media; Facebook and YouTube dominate; some Pinterest/Nextdoor.

Gender breakdown

• Resident base is roughly 50/50. Usage skews mirror national patterns:
  • Women: More active on Facebook and Pinterest; strong on Instagram; key decision‑makers for local services, food, and retail.
  • Men: Over‑indexed on YouTube and Reddit; solid on Facebook; moderate on X.
  • Instagram and TikTok skew female among younger cohorts; LinkedIn is near‑parity.

Behavioral trends specific to Kauai

• Facebook Groups are the community backbone: lost‑and‑found, swap/marketplace, local events, surf/ocean conditions, traffic/road closures, and emergency alerts (storms, floods). County and public safety agencies post updates primarily to Facebook and Instagram.
• Tourism‑driven discovery: Instagram Reels and TikTok are key for trip planning and “hidden gem” content; UGC from visitors influences dining, beaches, hikes, and tours. Hashtags and geotags (e.g., #Kauai, #Hanalei, #Poipu, #Kokeʻe) drive reach.
• Small‑business marketing: Restaurants, guides, and shops rely on Instagram + Facebook for menus, specials, and stories; short‑form vertical video outperforms static posts. Google Maps/Reviews are cross‑checked with IG/TikTok clips.
• Messaging: Facebook Messenger is ubiquitous; WhatsApp is common among hospitality/service workers and immigrant communities; Instagram DMs are a major inquiry channel.
• Neighborhood coordination: Nextdoor has meaningful use in residential areas for crime/safety notes, services, and HOA/community notices.
• Content cadence: Mobile‑first, video‑heavy consumption; evening (6–9 pm HST) and weekend engagement peaks. Weather events spike traffic to official pages and community groups.
• Values and tone: Strong interest in responsible tourism, cultural respect, ocean safety, and sustainability; posts featuring local language/culture and community benefit resonate more and see higher share rates.

How to read the numbers

• County‑level platform stats are not directly published; figures above use the latest Pew Research U.S. adoption rates applied to Kauai’s adult population to produce practical, local audience sizes. These align with observed usage patterns on‑island (community‑centric Facebook, visitor‑led IG/TikTok discovery, and mobile video dominance).