18 Great Things to Do in Lihue (near the harbor + in town)
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Where is Lihue and what is it known for?
The town of Lihue is on Kauai’s southeastern coast and the windward side of the island, also known as the Royal Coconut Coast. This is one of the largest towns, just south of the biggest city of Kapa’a. Lihue is the commercial center of Kauai and where you’ll find the island’s airport.
While it might not be the most popular place to stay, Lihue is great to explore for those who are doing a quick trip as it’s close to the airport and perfectly centered between the Napali Coast in the north and Poipu in the south.
Is it Worth Visiting Lihue?
Most of Kauai’s best sights are a bit far-flung, aka not near Lihue. Overall, we typically recommend that Kauai visitors skip Lihue in favor of the more beautiful spots like the Napali Coast or Poipu. Still, most cruises stop here and this is where you’ll be flying in and out. If you’re milling around town, there are still a lot of fun things to do in Lihue!
So, is it worth it to visit Lihue? We’d say that it depends on your itinerary. Need to kill some time before a flight at the Lihue Airport? This makes for a great pitstop. Pulling into Kauai on a cruise ship in Lihue’s Nawiliwili Harbor? You’ll still have a wonderful time exploring the area’s beaches and restaurant scene. The most popular tour on Kauai is located in Lihue too!
The 17 Best Things to Do in Lihue
If you’re stopping in Lihue on a cruise or milling around town before your flight, there’s plenty to keep you busy on Kauai’s Royal Coconut Coast.
Our first six suggestions are just a short walk from the Nawiliwili Cruise Harbor and perfect if you have limited time during your port of call in Lihue. After that, the remaining 11 activities are closer to Lihue Town, about 2 miles from the cruise port.
These are the 17 best things to do in Lihue!
1. Kalapaki Beach
Kalapaki Beach is the best beach spot in Lihue and a great place to head to if you’re hopping off one of the cruise ships. Located right in front of the Mariott Resort, this U-shaped beach with golden sand, sweeping coastal scenery, and swaying palms is picture-perfect.
Restrooms and showers are available for public use and guests can park in the Marriott’s upper parking area. You can also sign up for surfing lessons and rent SUPs and other beach equipment nearby.
Keep in mind that there are no lifeguards at Kalapaki Beach. Luckily, the ocean stays fairly calm due to a large break wall that helps to protect it from swells and pounding surf. This also means that Kalapaki Beach is a great spot for kids to splash around, swim, and enjoy water sports, something that can be difficult to find on Kauai.
Check out more of Kauai’s best beaches:
The 10 Best Beaches on Kauai: stunning spots you don’t want to miss!
The 7 Best Kid-Friendly Beaches on Kauai
9 Best Beaches on Kauai for Swimming
2. Alekoko Menehune Fishpond
One of Hawaii’s most important cultural sites, the Alekoko Menehune Fishpond was created over 1,000 years ago and is the state’s oldest aquaculture reservoir.
Built to capture fish, the Alekoko Menehune Fishpond gets its name from the mythical Menehune, essentially Hawaii’s version of elves. As legend states, the Menehune constructed the Alekoko Fishpond in a single night by the light of the moon.
It’s said that these fabled beings could complete architectural feats in record time and were experts at building with stone. Another possible theory is that the Menehune were the first people to discover Hawaii, sailing from Marquesas, and were simply shorter in stature than the Tahitians who arrived later.
Whether it was the Menehune or not, the fishpond was masterfully built to capture both fresh water and plenty of fish from the Hule’ia River. Visitors can see the fishpond from various overlooks, including one that is easily reached from Nawiliwili Harbor.
3. Jammin’ Banana Bakery & Cafe
Located in Lihue’s Anchor Cove Shopping Center, the Jammin’ Banana Bakery & Cafe dishes up some of the island’s most delicious breakfast options. A wide variety of coffee, smoothies, fresh bagels, pastries, and other baked goodies are on offer.
You can look forward to seriously delicious banana bread and their famous banana pudding, with a side of super-friendly service and beautiful ocean views. This bakery is family owned and operated and you can really feel the Aloha spirit.
Afternoon hours do vary, closing any time from 12-3 depending on the day, but they open at 6 am every day of the week.
4. Happy Hour at Duke’s
Perched right along Kalapaki Beach, Duke’s is an upscale dining staple in Hawaii. The Barefoot Bar offers a more casual atmosphere with an undeniably good Happy Hour every day from 3 to 5 pm and again from 9 to 10:30 pm with discounted drinks and appetizers.
Saddle up to oceanfront views beneath thatched roofs all while enjoying their signature Mai Tai, Piña Colada, or Lava Flow alongside bites like Hurricane Fries and Prime Rib Bones.
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5. Head Out on a Shore Excursion
Chances are, you’re visiting Lihue because it’s one of your cruise ports of call. If that’s the case, don’t miss out on the chance to book one of Kauai’s incredible shore excursions!
For the adventurous, it doesn’t get better than a Napali Coast Tour which you can experience by helicopter, boat, or hiking. Although trekking through Waimea Canyon or floating along the Lihue Plantation on a mountain tubing excursion are close seconds.
Snorkeling is another popular option and nothing beats Holo Holo’s combined Napali Coast and Ni’ihau tour. If something a bit more tame is more in your wheelhouse, a sunset cruise along Kauai’s beautiful coastline might be just the thing.
6. Grab a Pizza at Scorpacciata
Our favorite food truck in Kapa’a permanently moved shop to their home in Lihue. Scorpacciata dishes up some of the best eats on Kauai, featuring traditional Neapolitan-style pizza. Each pizza is 12” with options like Mediterranean, Hot Salami, and the ever-classic, Hawaiian. They also offer salads and appetizers, like roasted artichokes, alongside an extensive drink list including their own beer, Scorpacciata Lager.
Don’t miss the best food trucks in Lihue (and all of Kauai)!
Whether you’re just passing through town or you’re based here, the next 11 things to do on our list are in Lihue Town, about a six-minute drive (2 miles) from the cruise harbor. While it might be a bit of a trek to walk here, you can easily grab a taxi or rideshare.
7. Grove Farm Sugar Plantation Museum Guided Tour
For over 150 years, sugar farming was the primary industry on Kauai. Grove Farm Homestead is a 100 acre homestead right in Lihue that has been preserved since 1870. You can learn more about the history of Kauai and sugar cane farming during a two hour guided tour of the property.
Advanced reservations are required and tours are offered on Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday (at the time of publishing). You can book at tour on the Grove Sugar Plantation website.
8. Rum Tasting
Tucked away on the Kilohana Plantation, the Kōloa Rum Company offers visitors a look into their unique process of rum making. Using only rainwater from nearby Mount Wai’ale’ale and pure sugarcane, the Koloa Rum Company distillery has been crafting its signature spirits in a celebration of Kauai’s agricultural heritage since 2009.
Rum tastings take place every hour, daily, and last for around 60 minutes. Specialty cocktails, like their White Rum Mai Tai and Pineapple Passion, are served depending on the day.
Visitors can purchase gifts to take home like rum fudge sauce, rum cakes, and Mai Tai mix. Keep in mind that guests must be 21 and over to enter their tasting room.
9. Luau Kalamaku
Attending a luau is a quintessential Hawaiian experience, and Lihue does it splendidly. Luau Kalamaku is held every day at the Kilohana Plantation and takes visitors on a journey across the ocean from Tahiti to Hawaii through traditional dance, drumming, and fire dancing.
You can explore the lush, 60-acre plantation before the show, which also provides a striking backdrop. An open bar and full buffet of delicious food further seal the deal that this is one of the best luau’s on Kauai.
With so many unique experiences to have at the Kilohana Plantation, you could easily spend a day here riding the train, sampling their world-class rum, and cap the night off at their beautiful luau.
If you’re looking for another unique food experience, check out this Farm-to-Table Dinner in a Regenerative Food Forest on the North Shore near Hanalei.
10. Kauai Museum
Explore Kauai’s fascinating history and rich heritage at the Kauai Museum. Visitors can explore the Cultural Exhibit which includes several displays like the Art of Kapa, detailing how ancient Hawaiians made clothing and other household goods from plant fibers, and Pupu O Ni’ihau which is dedicated to teaching about traditional Ni’ihau shell lei making, among others.
Weekly art classes continue to teach both locals and visitors the art of lei making, hula dancing, and other traditional Hawaiian cultural practices. A visit to the Gift Shop is a great way to support the local community and to purchase authentic, Hawaiian-made souvenirs.
11. Sunrise Coffee & Donuts
Sunrise Coffee & Donuts is a yummy place to grab a quick breakfast while you’re exploring Lihue. Located downtown, pop in to grab an array of specialty drinks like hot or iced coffees and smoothies with acai bowls, avocado toast, bagels, pastries, and of course, donuts.
Seating is a bit limited but this is a good grab-and-go option for those who are eager to get exploring Kauai. A great place to enjoy your donuts and coffee is at our next destination, the Kapaia Swinging Bridge.
12. Kapaia Swinging Bridge
Located only a minute or two walk from Sunrise Coffee & Donuts, the 225’ long Kapaia Swinging Bridge is a fun stop on your tour through Lihue. Surrounded by lush jungle, this is one of the only swinging bridges in all of Hawaii and was used as a transportation route for the nearby sugarcane plantations.
13. Kauai Backcountry Adventures
Ready for an adventure? You’ve come to the right place! Instead of the “Garden Isle” Kauai probably should’ve been nicknamed the “Adventure Isle” for all the exciting experiences you can take part in.
Kauai Backcountry Adventures takes visitors on a mountain tubing excursion, floating along a 100-year-old irrigation system, past plantations and dense rainforest. The adventure starts off with a narrated ride through the plantation before you hop in your tubes. Not only is this a fun joy-ride through Kauai’s history, guests will also see unique views of the Waialeale Crater and sail through caves and tunnels along the way.
This is the most popular tour on Kauai and books up well in advance. Secure your tickets as soon as possible ahead of your dates. Lunch is included on this 3-hour excursion. Children must be 5 years of age or older. Helmets, headlamps, and gloves are provided.
14. Take a Na Pali Coast Helicopter Tour
Helicopter tours are one of the best ways to see Kauai’s stunning Napali Coast. Getting a bird’s eye view offers up scenery that you just can’t get any other way and showcases not only the island’s unspoiled nature but exciting sites like the Kilauea Lighthouse and the Waimea Canyon.
Ali’i Air Tours offer helicopter tours of Kauai with the added option of Ni’ihau (Hawaii’s “Forbidden Isle”) with the option to keep the doors on or off for an extra exhilarating adventure! You’ll see secret waterfalls, look deep inside the coast’s craggy pinnacles, and maybe even spot a whale or two in the winter months.
Make sure to book this experience early in your stay, just in case the weather turns. They’ll rebook you at a later date if they need to cancel. If you have young children in your group, you can also book one of their airplane tours which show off stunning aerial views of Kauai.
15. Grab some Saimin
Hawaiian cuisine is a delicious melting pot of cultures and a great way to dive right into Hawaii’s history through your tastebuds. Saimin might be one of the best representations of this. A savory soup, saimin combines wheat noodles with dashi, a Japanese-style broth. The mixture is garnished with green onions and thin slices of kamaboko, another Japanese culinary element of cured sashimi, as well as soft-boiled eggs.
If you’re on the hunt for traditional Hawaiian food in Lihue, look no further than Hamura Saimin. Offering up piping hot bowls of steaming saimin with a variety of meat options like chicken and pork, visitors can also try fried dumplings, BBQ’d meat, and homemade pie.
16. Enjoy Poke at Konohiki Seafood
Looking to try more of Hawaii’s traditional cuisine? Poke is just the thing! Poke bowls are a Hawaiian invention with poke meaning cut meat in the Hawaiian language. Mix fresh seafood with various vegetables and yummy sauces and you have a poke bowl.
Konohiki Seafood is the best place to grab a fresh poke bowl in Lihue, and possibly the entire island. Choose from delicious options like spicy salmon, ahi, or California mix. If poke isn’t your thing, you can also grab fresh sushi, bento boxes, a variety of plates, and other pre-prepared foods like potato salad and BBQ or fried meats.
This is a grab-and-go restaurant which makes it an ideal stop before you head out to the beach for the day.
Fish doesn’t get any fresher than catching it yourself, so if fishing is your thing, the best fishing charter on Kauai also leaves from Lihue!
17. Ride the train at Kilohana Plantation Railways
All aboard! Kauai’s Kilohana Plantation provides an inside look at Hawaii’s agricultural industry while also allowing guests to step back in time, hopping on board their historic plantation train. You’ll ride through 2.5 miles of lush orchards and fruit fields, admiring the groves of papaya, mango, and pineapple trees that grow alongside sugarcane and taro fields.
Visitors can book either the Signature Train Tour or the Train & Lunch Tour with slight variations between the two. The Signature Tour provides guests with a 40-minute narration of both the history and modern happenings of the plantation, while the Lunch Tour allows guests to walk throughout the grounds, including a banana patch and native Hawaiian forest, as well as meet alpacas.
Both tours make a pitstop to feed some of the plantation’s animal residents like sheep and wild pigs.
18. Lydgate Beach Park
One of the few beaches on Kauai’s eastern coast that’s worth the trek, Lydgate Beach Park offers up a beautiful beach that’s perfect for kids. As the premier spot for both striking sunrises and a good area for novice snorkelers to get their feet wet, the shallow swimming area is protected from the open ocean by a rock wall and makes for a wonderful spot to swim for children.
Because many of Kauai’s beaches can be plagued with dangerous currents (especially in winter), Lydgate provides an ideal option for those who aren’t strong swimmers or who have children in tow. Its semi-protected lagoon and a large playground area make it perfect for kids while daily lifeguards provide added protection.
Restrooms, showers, a picnic area, and open green spaces to run around in make Lydgate an excellent spot to put up shop for an entire day on the beach.
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