What are the Best Places to Stay in Kauai

I absolutely love Kauai, and my family and I visit there quite often! My husband teases me because I book flights there almost every time there’s a sale on Southwest Airlines. I always say, “We can always cancel if we change our minds,” knowing full well that I won’t. 😂

Our son shares the same love for Kauai, and for a while, he believed that we were flying there every time we went to the airport.

I thought I’d share some information about the island to help others plan their trip, including recommendations on where to stay, eat, what to do, and tips to make the most of their experience. Since we usually travel with our son, most of my suggestions are kid-friendly.

If you’ve never been to Kauai before, some of the more popular locations to stay on the island are Princeville and Hanalei on the north side, Kapa’a and Lihue on the east side, Poipu and Koloa on the south side, and Waimea on the west side.

Princeville

I’m in awe of the scenery every time I go to Princeville. Everything is lush green, and waterfalls can be seen from almost anywhere. This is my favorite area to stay on Kauai!

Places to walk and exercise

I don’t know about you, but I like to start my days off with a run when I’m on vacation, mainly to counteract the calories from eating and drinking, but I’ll keep telling myself it’s because I like to be healthy!

Regardless of my reasons for exercising, in the heart of Princeville, there’s a large golf course with wide paths that are perfect for walking or running. Most of the resorts and hotels in the area surround the golf course, so it’s easy to access.

View of the walking and running path along the Makai Golf course in Princeville, one of the best places to stay in Kauai

The path also leads to the Princeville Center, a playground, and outside exercise equipment. I’ve never tried the exercise equipment, but kids get a kick out of it!

Besides walking around the golf course, you can easily walk to Queen’s Bath, explore neighborhoods and other resorts, or go to 1 Hotel Hanalei Bay to check out the stunning views of Hanalei Bay and grab a drink or bite to eat.

View of the beach from the 1 Hotel Hanalei Bay in Princeville, Kauai

If you’re up for a bit of a challenge, try walking down to the beach located at the base of 1 Hotel Hanalei Bay. There are stairs that you can use to access the beach. I did this a few times with my son in a baby carrier when he was eighteen months old, and it wore me out!

Princeville Shopping Center

If you’re looking for shopping options in Princeville, you’ll have plenty to choose from at the Princeville Shopping Center. You can even find a gas station, post office, and UPS there. I find the UPS particularly useful when I need to ship items back home after buying too much stuff.

When it comes to grocery shopping in Princeville at Foodland, it can be expensive, and the store is often crowded. To save money, I prefer to stock up on groceries at Costco and Safeway in Lihue before heading north for my stay. We still end up shopping at Foodland when we need addtional items – they have a great selection of food, drinks, toiletries, sunscreen, medicine, and more.

For those of you with a sweet tooth, there’s also an ice cream parlor and shave ice. Both are so good and yet another reason to go for a run around the golf course!

Princeville Playground

Our son enjoys spending time at the playground, and I love it, too, because it helps him burn off some of his endless energy. Though the effect is not long-lasting, I’ll take any opportunity to get a little bit of rest.

The playground is located right behind the Princeville Center, making it easy for me to stroll over whenever my son wants to play.

Anaina Hou Community Park

Anaina Hou Community Park is one of the coolest parks, and it’s just a short drive to Kilauea.

We discovered it back when our son was a toddler, and it has a large playground, miniature golf, and food. The playground is unique and has a separate area for toddlers, which I appreciated even though my adventurous toddler still ended up in the big kid area.

Beaches nearby

Tunnels Beach, Hanalei Bay, Secret Beach, and Anini Beach.

Besides the Beach

Hanalei town, Kilauea shops and lighthouse, Queen’s Bath, and Napali Coast.

Restaurants

Tahiti Nui, Avalon Gastropub, Hideaway Pizza Pub, Sandwich Isle, and Tiki Iniki – mostly for late-night drinks, and by late I mean 9 pm, but they are open until 11 pm. 🤣

Resorts

There’s no shortage of resorts to try out in this area. We have stayed at Bali Hai Villas, and my parents have stayed at Ka Eo Kai.

Things to consider

A minor drawback of choosing to stay in Princeville is that it’s located 45 minutes away from the airport. Although it may not be a dealbreaker, it’s important to keep in mind when planning your trip, especially if you have kids or plan to visit places like Waimea, which is quite a long drive.

One solution to this is to consider splitting your stay between two locations on the island, like Princeville and Kapa’a. This way, you can enjoy Princeville’s scenic beauty and easily access the other side of the island from Kapa’a. Additionally, Kapa’a is close to the airport, making it convenient for when it’s time to head home.

Another thing to keep in mind is that the reason why everything is so lush and green in Princeville is that it rains a lot. While this hasn’t been a problem for us, it’s always a good idea to pack an umbrella for those rainy days.

Kapa’a

Resorts with games, hammocks, trails for adventures, and a secret ocean pool are why Kapa’a is at the top of my son’s list of super cool places to stay in Kauai.

Royal Coconut Coast

Are you cuckoo for coconuts? If so, you’ll love the Royal Coconut Coast with its abundant palm trees and beautiful ocean views.

The coast is lined with a variety of resorts, making it easy to find the perfect one for your vacation. We enjoy staying there because of the numerous activities to keep our son entertained, making parenting a breeze. It’s also easier to explore all sides of the island from this location, and it’s only a 15-minute drive from the airport.

Royal Coconut Coast palm fields in Kapa'a, Kauai

There are so many things to do just outside of the resort. Some resorts offer outdoor games, hammocks, and paths for family adventures or exercise

One of the hammocks along the walking path at the Kauai Coast Resort at the Beachboy in Kapa'a

Connect four game at the Kauai Coast Resort at the Beachboy in Kapa'a

Another advantage is the paths are away from busy streets, so I don’t have to remind my son to stay out of the street repeatedly.

The path between resorts on The Coconut Coast in Kapa'a, Kauai

It’s also a quick walk to Longs Drugs, restaurants, and the Coconut Marketplace from the resorts in this area. Safeway is only a few minutes’ drive away, while Costco is about 20 minutes by car.

Lae Nani Beach Pool

Shhh…this is a secret! Not really, but we were so happy to stumble across this ocean pool at the edge of the Lae Nani Resort.

There are large boulders that protect the pool from the rough surf, and it provides hours of entertainment 🙌.

Lae Nani Beach ocean pool for kids in Kapa'a, Kauai

The water is actually much warmer than the resort pools, and there’s more for kids to explore, like sand crabs, sea shells, and other ocean life.

On our way back to the resort, we like to stop at Lava Lava Beach Club for some oceanfront food and drinks.

Coconut Marketplace

Looking for a delicious gourmet coffee or latte in the morning? You can take a quick walk to Island Country Market in the Coconut Marketplace. The market offers a variety of retail items, and my son was thrilled to find Pikachu shades there!

My family and I visit the Coconut Marketplace almost every day, enjoying the large grassy areas and the fun of playing on the stage.

It’s also convenient for dining, grabbing drinks, and shopping.

If you want to try something new, such as hula dancing, lei-making, or learning how to play the ukulele, check out the classes on the event calendar while you’re there! It’s an entertaining and affordable way to try something new.

The Coconut Marketplace in Kapa'a, Kauai

The Coconut Marketplace also offers free concerts, hula shows, and a farmers’ market.

Lydgate Beach Park

Back to wearing out little ones, another way to burn some energy is to head over to Lydgate Beach Park, just a 5-minute drive from the resorts.

Lydgate Park Pools for kids in Lihue, Kauai

There’s a large playground and a huge protected pool in the ocean for kids to swim safely. Older kids will also love boogie boarding just outside the pools.