Lihue is the government and commercial center of the island as well as a cultural and historical area. This may be the most traveled town on Kauai since its home to Kauai’s main airport (the Lihue Airport) and Nawiliwili Harbor, the island’s major commercial shipping center and cruise ship port.
Lihue hosts the major shopping on the island with the only WalMart, KMart and department store anchored shopping center: Kukui Grove Shopping Center. Top them off with Costco and Home Depot and you understand that no matter where you live on the island, you will end up “coming to town” to do some major shopping.
Lihue has a variety of beaches and natural wonders to explore. Kalapaki Beach is the home of the Kauai Marriott Resort and Beach Club and the Hokuala Golf Resort. Bodysurfing, windsurfing and swimming make Kalapaki a popular destination. Ninini Beach is home to an automated lighthouse, operating since 1897. And just north of Lihue, don’t forget to stop at the Wailua Falls lookout for an amazing waterfall view.
The Lihue area also has numerous historical spots including Alekoko (Menehune Fishpond), a roughly 1000-year old aquaculture reservoir; Kilohana, a historic plantation estate; and both the historic Kauai Museum and Grove Farm Homestead Museum. Lihue is your gateway to adventure on Kauai.
(Source: http://www.gohawaii.com/en/kauai/regions-neighborh…)
