Kauai County is named for Kaua’I, who was the eldest son of Hawai’iloa.
Surrounding County Courthouses:
N – Pacific Ocean
E – Honolulu County
S – Pacific Ocean
W – Pacific Ocean
Created: July 1, 1905
County Seat:
Lihue 1905 – present
County Courthouse – Lihue
Location: 3970 Kaana Street / Kapule Highway
Built: 2003 – 2005
Style: Modern
Architect: Anbe, Aruga & Ishizu Architects of Honolulu
Contractor: Unlimited Construction Services, Inc. of Kauai
Description: The building faces southwest and is a two story cream colored stucco and concrete structure. The building is named as the Pu‘uhonua Kaulike Building ( The Sanctuary of Justice ) and is located on landscaped grounds. The building is “L” shaped with a north wing and an east wing which join at a portico with six high pillars rising to a pediment at the roof line. The hipped roof is green colored metal. The building houses the District Court and the Circuit Court for the Fifth District.
Old County Courthouse – Lihue
Location: 3059 Umi Street / Hardy Street
Built: 1938– 1939
Style: Spanish Mission Revival
Architect: Harry K Stewart
Contractor: Progress Works Administration.
Description: The building faces east and is a one story white colored reinforced concrete structure. The building is cruciform shaped and is part of three buildings in the Civic Center. The building has stucco walls and a red colored tiled, double pitched hipped roof with gables. There is a try lanai (porch) with square columns. The building is eleven bays wide with projected windows in each bay, except the three center bays which feature a double door entry flanked by a pair of projected windows. The building sits on a raised foundation with herring bone designed concrete blocks providing ornamentation and ventilation. On the interior, the main entry opens into a central octagonal space with articulated low arched openings leading to three corridors, with offices off each. The central area’s ceiling has intersecting beams creating a coffered effect.
History; The county was created in 1905 and Lihue was selected as the county seat. The first courthouse was built in 1938 to 1939 and is still standing. The second and present courthouse was constructed in 2003 to 2005.