Lihue is Kauai's county seat as well as the hub for business and transportation. Lihue is a great spot for recreation. Beautiful Kalapaki Beach is nice for swimming and sunning. Nearby are a variety of golf courses for which Kauai is known.
The Kukui Grove Shopping Center at neighboring Puhi has an exciting selection of stores, boutiques, restaurants and snack shops. It also provides free wireless Internet access.
The Kauai Museum located at 4428 Rice Street in Lihue is a local history and art museum for the islands of Kauai and Niihau. It features a permanent exhibit of geology, flora, fauna, pre-contact Hawaiiana and artifacts from the missionary and sugar plantation periods on Kauai.
Grove Farm Homestead Museum at Lihue, Kauai was formerly the 80-acre plantation home of George N. Wilcox. The Grove Farm Homestead has been preserved as a depiction of life on a sugar plantation on Kauai. Tours are available but must be booked well in advance.
Nearby Kilohana Plantation at Puhi sits in the middle of 35 acres of pasture, manicured grounds, gardens and natural growth. The 16,000 square foot home displays paintings of Ethel and Gaylord Parke Wilcox who built the home in 1935. Furnishings were purchased from Gump's of San Francisco and the lumber was shipped from the west coast. The home was unusually modern for its time. Each of the seven bedrooms had a private bathroom, there was an elevator to the second floor and an intercom system. Mrs. Wilcox enjoyed the California designs she had observed on visits to the mainland and Kilohana reflects that influence in the Tudor style home. Today it is open to the public with Gaylord’s Restaurant and numerous shops, many of them featuring quality “Kauai Made” products. Visitors may even create pottery of their own or purchase the artist's selections.
The Huleia National Wildlife Refuge is a great place for experiencing the natural beauty of Kauai. The Huleia River winds its way through this thickly-jungled wildlife refuge where Indiana Jones made his daring escape in the opening scenes of the movie Raiders of the Lost Ark.
Stop by the Menehune (Alekoko) Fishpond at Lihue. Legends abound about the Menehune, an ancient race of "little people" who made their home on Kauai. These mysterious people were thought to be very industrious and used their great strength to accomplish mighty feats overnight. The seaward end of the fish pond was left unfinished because dawn came before the Menehune had completed their work. Many generations later, the wall at Lihue was completed. However, the stonework which closed the gap was far inferior to that of the mystical Menehune.
Nawiliwili Harbor was established as Kauai's principal sea port in 1930. Nawiliwili was named for the Wiliwili trees that were once abundant in the area. Cruise ships make port in the picturesque Kauai harbor. This is also where all of the ocean freight comes into and leaves Kauai.
Lihue and Puhi have much to offer. Contact us if you are interested in a Kauai rental in this area.
