Visiting Kauai

Historic Tours and Communities

Many Distinctive Communities

While Kaua`i has more than two dozen distinctive towns and communities, the County of Kaua`i can be broken down into four main areas plus the neighboring island of Ni`ihau which is privately owned and inhabited exclusively by native Hawaiians.

Kaua`i has a population of about 70,000 with the greatest concentration of businesses and homes on the east side of the island, between the residential area of Puhi, the county seat of Lihu`e, neighboring Hanama`ulu, Wailua (Homesteads and House lots), Kapa`a Town and the adjacent Kawaihau area.

The East Side

Here in Lihu`e and Kapa`a, you will see the embodiment of a local adage “One island, many people, all Kauaians.” These communities, woven together through their shared heritage, are home to a mix of transplanted residents, long-time kama`aina (native born) families and malihini (visitors or newcomers).

Kauai`s people have a strong sense of ohana (family), extending to friends, neighbors and the community as a whole. You see it on the road when drivers yield to fellow drivers, and you feel it in a stranger`s warm smile.

Both Lihu`e and Kapa`a are by the beach, near the mountains and never more than a few minutes from leafy residential areas or business districts conveniently situated to serve the community as well as visitors.

Kauai’s largest shopping center, Kukui Grove, is located just west of central Lihu`e between the airport, Nawiliwili Harbor and Kaua`i Community College (KCC).

Downtown Lihu`e is the island’s administrative and commercial hub with half a dozen smaller shopping centers and plazas in the Wailua-Kapa`a area, aptly nicknamed the “Coconut Coast.”

The residential areas of Wailua Homesteads and Kawaihau are a mix of sub-divisions and rural homes set back from the coast behind scenic Nounou (“Sleeping Giant”) Ridge.

Continuing north along the Kuhio Highway (Hwy 56), the east side opens into the town of Anahola whose largely Hawaiian residents live beneath a backdrop of soaring mountains. Further north, the communities of Moloa`a Ridge, Kalihiwai Ridge and `Anini Beach are the gateway to the north shore towns of Kilauea, Princeville, Hanalei and Ha`ena.

The former sugar town of Kilauea, the northernmost point on Hawaii’s eight main islands, is cool, casual and home to a wildlife refuge, historical shops, galleries, restaurants and the Kaua`i Arts and Cultural Center which hosts community events, live performances and films. www.kilaueatheater.com

The Rugged North Shore

Beyond Kilauea is the carefully planned resort community of Princeville, famous for its spectacular views of the Hanalei Valley, north shore mountains and dramatic seascapes. Princeville is a peaceful place to watch the waves from high on a bluff, take a leisurely stroll or enjoy some of Hawaii’s finest golf at the Prince and Makai courses, designed by Robert Trent Jones, Jr.

In the communities of Hanalei and Ha`ena you’ll find local-style plantation homes as well as multi-million dollar residences nestled cozily between towering mountains and the rugged north shore. These small towns tucked away at the end of the road are prized for their tight-knit communities and relaxed lifestyle. Hanalei is well-known for its surf spots, taro fields and scenic beauty and has a small but thriving commercial center, catering to visitors and residents who enjoy living close to nature.

The South Shore

Kauai’s south shore communities include the resort area of Po`ipu Beach and nearby Koloa, the first sugar town of Hawai`i. Here, on the leeward side of Kaua`i, the climate is semi-arid tropical with the more frequent rainfall of the north shore giving way to seemingly endless sunshine-filled days perfect for warm weather outdoor pursuits like golf, tennis, swimming, surfing and fishing.

Moving inland, the small towns of Oma`o and Lawai have a homey, country feel where lush exotic foliage is sustained by occasional passing mauka (literally: towards the mountains) showers and your neighbors are as likely to keep horses or goats as they are surf boards or boats. Continuing along the back roads, or Kaumuali`i Highway (Hwy 50), you reach the upcountry town of Kalaheo, once a settlement of Portuguese sugar plantation workers. Today breezy Kalaheo is home to the Kaua`i Coffee Company (the largest coffee estate in the U.S.) and gateway to the west side.

The West Side

Kauai`s west side, with wide open skies and sweeping views of the sugar cane fields, is still thought of by many as the “most Hawaiian” part of Kaua`i. The west side has a distinctly laid-back feel to it, unhurried and comfortable as it is welcoming, warm and friendly.

Inland from Kauai’s former main harbor, Port Allen, is the community of `Ele`ele and below a steep bougainvillaea covered bluff, Hanapepe, called “Kauai’s biggest little town.” Today Hanapepe is well-known for its craft galleries and flourishing art community. Further west you enter true “red dirt country,” where the Gay & Robinson Company maintain the only commercial sugar plantation on Kaua`i between the towns of Kaumakani and Makaweli.

It was in January 1778 that Captain James Cook landed near the Waimea River which flows along the west side’s largest town of the same name. Waimea, 25 miles west of Lihu`e, has its own businesses, educational, medical and recreational facilities, all close at hand, which serve its residents and those of neighboring Kekaha, the most westerly town on the island. Both Kekaha and Waimea are quiet, relaxed communities which lead to the cool highlands of Koke`e and Waimea Canyon State Parks as well as the Pacific Missile Range Facility (PMRF) and hauntingly beautiful Polihale Beach.

Contributing to the well-being of these diverse communities are the Kaua`i Rotary Club (six chapters on Kaua`i), the Kaua`i Lions Club (five local chapters) and the Kaua`i Jaycees as well as the Kaua`i United Way.

Vibrant, diverse and highly valued as a desirable location to live, visit or do business, Kaua`i has an economic climate as fertile and inviting as the island itself.

Recreation in Paradise

Age does have its advantages. At 5.1 million years, Kaua`i is the oldest of the eight main Hawaiian islands where the forces of nature have conspired over the eons to form some of Hawaii’s most beautiful coastlines, almost half of which are sand beaches.

For ocean enthusiasts, there are more than fifty separate beaches and fringing reefs with a wide variety of associated activities. Whether you are an experienced SCUBA diver, a first time surfer, a family with small children or just looking to stick your toes in the sand, Kaua`i has the beach for you.

Sea conditions vary widely, but generally the north shore seas are calm in the summer when surfing and boogie boarding are popular on the south side. Winter often brings massive surf to the north and west facing shores of Kaua`i.

On the north shore, Ke`e beach at the end of the road is a popular spot for snorkeling with exciting tropical fish like parrot fish, yellow tang and Hawaii’s state fish, the humuhumunukunukuapua`a. Also frequently seen in or around Kauai’s ultramarine waters are the endangered Hawaiian monk seal, honu sea turtles, Spinner dolphins and during the winter, humpback whales.

For those who prefer their fun on terra firma, Kaua`i has countless outdoor activities including biking, hiking, camping, golf and tennis as well as themed tours where you can experience life on a working ranch, hike to a waterfall, stroll through gardens, get dirty on an ATV or learn about Hawaii’s natural, historical and cultural treasures.

Another fine way to enjoy Kaua`i is to simply do nothing at all. Take a walk alone through the filtered light of an early morning jungle path and listen to the roosters crow. Choose a quiet stretch of beach and watch a sliver of crescent moon rise in the late afternoon skies. Read a book, talk with your kids or simply enjoy being on one of the most beautiful islands in the world.

Evenings on Kaua`i are peaceful with sunsets and starry skies accompanying the timeless rhythm of the ocean’s waves. For a taste of nightlife Hawaiian-style, there are half a dozen entertaining luaus around the island sure to please long time kama`aina (native born) as well as first time visitors or catch some live Hawaiian music and dance offered at a number of Kauai’s open-air restaurants.

A simpler, but equally enjoyable way to spend your days or nights on Kaua`i is to gather with family and friends at one of Kauai’s many county or state parks and enjoy a barbeque.

Find more information about recreation on Kaua`i at the Kauai Visitors Bureau at http://www.kauaidiscovery.com/.

Eating Out

If one thing can be said about the people of Kaua`i, it’s that their food is as varied as they are. Undeniably, the common thread which unites the palates of Kaua`i is the love of anything ono (delicious). Start your morning with slices of fresh papaya, sugarloaf pineapple, malassadas (Portuguese doughnut) and a cup of Kauai’s homegrown coffee. For lunch, enjoy a bowl of hot saimin (Asian noodles in broth) or a Hawaiian-style plate lunch of kalua pork and rice. Dinner starts with ahi poke (tuna sashimi) followed by a thick kiawe (mesquite)-grilled steak or fresh grilled prawns or sushi or Chinese or… Whatever and where ever you dine on Kaua`i, your taste buds will be in paradise.

Capitalizing on near flawless year-round weather, many of Kauai’s restaurants offer open-air dining where you can twirl your pasta while watching whales breach, tuck into a decadent fudge brownie in the shade of a bamboo grove or sip a cool mai tai beneath the swaying palms.

Enjoy everything from Pacific Rim cuisine and ethnic fare like Thai, Mediterranean, Mexican, and Vietnamese to simple hearty home-cooking and just plain ono grinds (delicious food). Whether you are looking for a romantic beach-side setting where you can watch the sun set into the surf or a little local restaurant specializing in lau lau (butterfish and pork steamed in taro leaves), Kauai’s eateries are an unforgettable part of the island.

Places to Stay

Staying on Kaua`i affords the opportunity to sample accommodations ranging from locally-run bed & breakfasts and hotels of every style and size to restored plantation cottages, time share condominiums and public camp grounds to vacation rental homes and world-class resorts sprawling over acres of palm studded beaches.

Whether spending the night in a mountain cabin beneath the starry skies of Koke`e State Park, on a weekend getaway for two in an upscale version of a “little grass shack” or indulging in some serious luxury at an island resort spa, to stay on Kaua`i is to be immersed in creature comforts, a gift to the five senses.

With a wealth of lodging possibilities to fit every budget and taste, Kaua`i enjoys consistently high occupancy rates, a high percentage of return guests and a reputation for having some of Hawaii’s best accommodations.

To learn more about accommodations on Kaua`i, visit the Kauai Visitors Bureau or the Poipu Beach Resort Association.

If you are looking for the comforts of home or planning a longer stay, there are countless vacation rental homes let out by the week or month in every price range. For those doing their own cooking, Kauai’s daily “Sunshine Markets” provide an excellent opportunity to shop with local residents for Kaua`i-grown fruit, vegetables and flowers. The Sunshine Market schedule can be seen at the County of Kaua`i website.

The Kamalani Playground

An on-going community project supported and maintained by The Friends of Kamalani and Lydgate Park. The Friends came together to design, build and maintain a children’s playground, an interactive bridge, and a pavilion. Two and a half miles of bike and walking paths significantly enhance Lydgate Park in Kapa`a. For more information visit www.kamalani.org.

Keahua Arboretum

The Arboretum is located deep in the lush green forests along the Wailua River, behind Sleeping Giant Mountain, and is a popular spot for locals and visitors to hike, ride horses and enjoy the cool shady surroundings and outstanding scenery.

Koke`e Lodge & Museum situated at a cool, high 4,000 feet above sea level in Koke`e State Park. In addition to being the gateway to more than 45 miles of hiking trails and some of the most spectacular views in all of Hawai`i (Waimea Canyon Lookout, Kalalau Lookout), Koke`e Lodge has a wide open grassy area, perfect for picnics. The surrounding trails are popular for enjoying native flora, bird watching as well as plum picking during the summer.

Hanalei Pier & Black Pot Park

Located at the eastern end of the famed Hanalei Bay where the Hanalei River flows to the sea. Here kayakers, beach combers, campers and families gather to enjoy the magnificent beauty of the north shore.

Hanapepe`s Salt Pond Beach Park

Located on the sunny south side, this park is nestled in a protected cove between coffee and sugar cane fields and is a favorite gathering spot for local families and visitors to enjoy swimming, snorkeling and barbeques. The county park is named for the adjacent salt ponds still used by Hawaiian families to make salt.

Shopping

Shopping centers like Kukui Grove (Kauai’s largest) and the Coconut Marketplace or smaller plazas like Kinipopo, Ching Young Village, Anchor Cove, Po`ipu Shopping Village, Kong Lung Center and the `Ele`ele Shopping Center have a wealth of restaurants, specialty shops, theaters, and boutiques where you will find everything from the ordinary to the unusual.

Festivals

Kauai’s festivals celebrate music, art, hula and dance, craftwork, history and culture. The natural beauty of the island itself reflects the diversity of people and influences that make up the Island’s colorful cultural mosaic.

Whether your interest is in slack key guitar, rodeos, plant life or Polynesian culture, there is a festival somewhere on Kaua`i where you can dine, dance or do your favorite activity.

For malihini (visitors or newcomers) to the island, Kauai’s outdoor festivals are an excellent way to meet and interact with local residents. Some of the most popular annual festivals include the Waimea Town Celebration held at the old sugar mill in late February, the week long Koloa Plantation Days celebration each July and the Kaua`i Mokihana Festival where the Mokihana berry, native to Kaua`i, is celebrated in September with hula competitions, traditional chants, food and more.

Billed as the “ultimate Sunday brunch,” Kauai’s own Taste of Hawai`i, presented by the Rotary Club of Kapa`a, brings 50 of the state’s most distinguished chefs together for a day of great food and fun. The annual fundraiser, which features more than 50 food, dessert, beer and wine-tasting booths, is held every June at Smith’s Tropical Paradise gardens. Summers on Kaua`i are also an exciting time to visit Japanese temples when they are at their most lively, during the traditional Bon dances held across the island. The Kauai County Farm Bureau Fair at the end of August concludes the summer season on the island.

Autumn brings cooler nights and the state-wide Aloha Festival, a celebration of culture, as well as the whimsical Coconut Festival and the Kaua`i Powwow which celebrates an exchange between Native Americans and the people of Hawai`i.

Festivals are great places to run into old friends and make new ones while celebrating Kauai’s unique island culture through its art, music and food. Family-friendly and focused on fun, admission to festivals and fairs is often free or minimal. Visit Kauai Festivals for schedules and further information.

Outdoor Sports & Activities

Kaua`i is a sports enthusiast’s dream come true. With some of the finest golf in the world, mountains, canyons, rivers, streams and the Pacific Ocean in your backyard, the choices of activities are limited only by your endurance.  When considering Kauai’s sports, games and outdoor activity options, you may want to have a seat – it can be a dizzying experience. From surfing, snorkeling, swimming and SCUBA to sailing, biking, hiking, kayaking, fishing, parasailing, horseback riding, rodeos, tennis and golf, Kaua`i is a sports enthusiast’s dream come true.

Golf

For starters, imagine living and playing amongst eight courses with over 153 holes of golf with three of the state’s top five golf courses on Kaua`i.

Three names are synonymous with golfing the Garden Island – Kaua`i Lagoons Golf Club, Poipu Bay Golf Course and Princeville Golf Club. Here you can play on four courses designed by Robert Trent Jones, Jr. and two by Jack Nicklaus.

Kaua`i also boasts some of the country’s finest municipal golf courses, such as Wailua Golf Course, overlooking world-class views at prices affordable for beginners, yet tough enough to host the pros.

Whether you are a local resident playing with friends or business associates, on vacation with your family or here for the PGA Grand Slam (hosted in Po`ipu each November), it doesn’t get any better than golfing Kaua`i.

For more information about Kauai’s golf courses, visit www.kauaidiscovery.com  or www.kauai-hawaii.com.   

Tennis

Tennis players will find courts in almost every town with a number of public courts free of charge, on a first come, first serve basis. Hotels and resorts often have lighted courts and some private courts may be available for a fee.

Watersports

Kaua`i has dozens of companies offering lessons and tours for windsurfers, snorkelers, divers, surfers, sailors, fishermen and water enthusiasts of every type. For a list of some of the island’s water sport companies, visit the County Website.  

Paddling Sports

For those interested in paddling sports, there are several kayak, canoe and outrigger clubs, including the Koloa Outrigger Canoe Club.

Horseback Riding

One of the most enjoyable ways to see Kaua`i is by horseback and there are several ranches on the island offering tours. Equally exciting are Kauai’s many rodeos which keep Hawaii’s nearly two hundred year history of paniolo (Hawaiian cowboys) alive. For rodeo information visit the Kauai Rodeo Association. 

Hiking

With some of the most varied and best maintained hiking trails in the state, Kauai’s Department of Land and Natural Resources’ hiking website, Na Ala Hele, provides a good introduction to exploring the Garden Island on foot. For more information visit http://www.hawaiistateparks.org/hiking/

Soccer

Soccer enthusiasts can sign up to join an organized league by contacting the Hawai`i Soccer Association and affiliated Kauai’s Institute of Soccer.

Bowling

The Lihu`e Bowling Center has 28 lanes, youth programs, tournaments and hosts fund raising events.

Athletic Club

If you are just looking for a good work out, visit the Kaua`i Athletic Club.

Island Museums

For a small island in the middle of the ocean settled late in human history, Kaua`i offers an incredible array of places to experience the cultural and natural history of Hawaii’s oldest main island.

An excellent starting point is the Kaua`i Museum www.kauaimuseum.org in downtown Lihu`e with its permanent and rotating collections showcasing ancient Hawaiian artifacts, historical photographs, textiles and Kauai’s rich natural legacy. Step back in time to admire native wood crafts, woven hats, baskets and highly prized Ni`ihau shell jewelry. Here, in this cultural sanctuary, you are drawn into the world of the early Hawaiians inside the historic Albert Spencer Wilcox Memorial Building on Rice Street.

Living museums where you will see, hear and feel Hawaii’s sugar era are found at the Waimea Sugar Mill Camp Museum, the Grove Farm Homestead in Lihu`e, the Wai`oli Mission House in Hanalei and Gay & Robinson Sugar Plantation, one of the last two working plantations in Hawai`i.

To experience the rich cultural and natural heritage of the Garden Island, a visit to Hui o Laka – Koke`e Museum, high up in Koke`e State Park is a must. For an unforgettable introduction to Hawaiian heritage, visit the National Tropical Botanical Garden (NTBG)’s Limahuli Garden in Ha`ena with its extensive ancient lava rock terraces and rare native plant collection. The NTBG’s south shore gardens, McBryde and Allerton, offer an outstanding botanical collection as well as insight into Kauai’s colorful history.

Bird watchers and marine life enthusiasts will delight at the majestic Kilauea Point National Wildlife Refuge with its sweeping views of Kauai’s north shore and seasonal migration of marine birds, dolphins and whales.

Children on Kaua`i can explore science, art and nature through the many exhibitions at Kaua`i Children’s Discovery Museum in Kapa`a, www.kcdm.org. History buffs or those looking for Kauai’s most extensive historical archives and collections can access the Kaua`i Historical Society www.kauaihistoricalsociety.org near the Kaua`i Museum.

For more information, visit the Hawai`i Museums Association.

Art & Culture

Kaua`i natural beauty is a magnet for artists, musicians, crafters and film makers who come for inspiration and relaxation. Fittingly, Kaua`i has scores of galleries, curio shops, boutiques and craft fairs where exciting island inspired paintings, exquisite wood work, pottery, photography, quilt work and every kind of Hawaiian craft can be discovered.

Spend a rainy afternoon fishing through old Hawaiian treasures and antiques or take a break from the sun and search for just the right piece of island art for your home. From the whimsical to traditional, Kauai’s artists capture the spirit of the islands.

For a crash course in the arts of Kaua`i, join “Art Night” in Old Hanapepe Town every Friday evening for a fun, casual gallery walk where local works are displayed after dark.

Residents and visitors who would like to participate in Kauai’s art community are encouraged to visit the Garden Island Arts Council website and the Kaua`i Society of Artists, which posts a list of organizations and events associated with culture and the arts on Kaua`i.

For a general introduction to the art galleries of Kaua`i, visit www.trykauai.com/Kauai_Art_Galleries.

Performing Arts

Kaua`i also has a thriving performing arts selection with three main community theater groups on the island, all of which stage performances throughout the year. The Kaua`i Community Players www.kauaicommunityplayers.org, Hawai`i Children’s Theatre www.hawaiichildrenstheatre.com and Women in Theater perform regularly at the 560-seat KCC Performing Arts Center (PAC) www.kauaicc.hawaii.edu/pac, Kauai’s War Memorial Convention Hall and other outdoor venues.

Students can participate in the arts through the Department of Education funded after-school performing arts program called the Kaua`i Performing Arts Center (KPAC). Additionally, the non-profit Kaua`i Concert Association sponsors concerts by major jazz, classical and other artists on Kaua`i.