13 Best Things to Do in Lihue, Kauai (2024 Guide + Map!)

Looking to visit the beautiful island of Kauai? In this guide, you will find information that will help you plan your trip to Lihue, one of the top destinations on the island.

This travel guide helps you find the best things to do in Lihue, the perfect place to base yourself for a trip around the Garden Isle.

Lihue is very underrated, and you can find many cool things to do in town. While it can come off a bit sleepy initially, there are delicious food options, museums, and even some of my favorite Kauai tours here. And most importantly, an array of hotels that will accommodate most budgets.

Near some of these popular Lihue attractions, you will find cool coffee shops, craft beer bars, and more. In this guide, I am listing some of the coolest places I discovered in the city!

So, if you’re looking for what to do in Lihue, I hope this guide helps you plan your Lihue bucket list accordingly!

Best Things to Do in Lihue

1. Go on a Nāpali Coast helicopter tour.

If there is one thing you must do (and save money for) in Lihue, it is to take a Nāpali Coast helicopter tour. You can do this right from the Lihue Airport and it is around 50 minutes long.

The journey will glide you over the Nāpali Coast, Waimea Canyon, Mount Waiʻaleʻale (the rainiest place on Earth), and a few other jaw-dropping sites.

You can either drive your rental car to Lihue Airport or get an Uber/Lyft. It is one of the coolest things I have ever done on my travels anywhere on the planet! And, hands down, the most beautiful scenery I have ever witnessed. I sincerely mean this!

>> Click here to check Nāpali Coast helicopter tour rates and availability

2. Visit Wailua Falls.

One of the best quick trips from Lihue is the iconic Wailua Falls.

These falls are located on the South Fork of the Wailua River and they cascade 173 feet down into a beautiful pool of water below. Visiting is a must for every Lihue bucket list!

You can’t really walk down to the pool below (well, there is a trail but it is not advised for most people), so you will need to check out the waterfall from above. Luckily, the parking lot is right next to the double waterfall.

You don’t need much time at the falls—maybe 20 minutes maximum.

3. Peruse the Kauai Museum.

The Kauai Museum was opened as a museum of art and history in 1960 and it is one of the top attractions in Lihue today!

If you make the journey inside, you can learn more about Captain Cook and his exploration (err… colonization) of the Hawaiian shores, as well as a bit about the Hawaiian monarchy.

There is also an area where you can learn more about the volcanic history of Hawaii.

Inside the museum, you can find tools that Native Hawaiians used in their daily lives, as well as murals on the walls that depict the history of Kauai. Another popular exhibit in the museum are the ruins from the 1824 shipwreck in Hanalei Bay.

The museum is open from Monday to Friday (9am-4pm) and Saturday (9am-2pm). It is closed on Sundays. Admission is $15 for adults, $12 for seniors, $10 for students, and kids under 7 are free.

Address: 4428 Rice Street, Lihue

4. Enjoy a coffee at Aloha Roastery.

I am constantly on the hunt for delicious coffee, and nothing was more delicious than a flat white at the Aloha Roastery in Lihue!

This Kauai coffee shop was bright and airy with a minimalistic design and I loved every second of it! Aside from coffee, you will also find pastries, merchandise, and plenty of tables to sit at.

It is also a great place to pick up a bag of beans if you’re traveling with an Aeropress and grocery store coffee just won’t cut it.

They are open Monday through Saturday from 6am-3pm. Aloha Roastery has a second location in Wailua.

Address: 3100 Kuhio Road, Lihue

5. Head out kayaking on the Wailua River.

Another one of my favorite experiences in Kauai was kayaking on the Wailua River! This is a fantastic tour for everyone (of all ages!).

The meeting point is at Coconut Marketplace, a bit up the road in Kapaʻa. Once briefed and dressed for your tour, you will head to the river by bus and set out for an exciting half-day trip!

The Wailua River is easy to navigate and once you get to your destination, you will pull off onto a river bank and do a short hike (pretty easy) to the Secret Waterfall, formally known as Uluwehi Falls.

It is not a secret and others will most definitely be there. But it is beautiful and you can swim in it! The hike is easy but it does involve a few river crossings, so wear waterproof shoes.

>> Click here to check Wailua River kayaking rates and availability

6. See the Fern Grotto.

On the eastern side of Kauai is the famous Fern Grotto. This cave is a natural lava rock grotto that has a lot of vegetation growing in and around it.

Historically, it was significant to Hawaiian royalty, but around 50 years ago, riverboat tours started there. Today, you can find it on the south fork of the Wailua River, and you can only reach it by boat or kayak.

Taking a boat tour to the grotto takes about 1.5 hours, and it gives curious travelers a chance to check out the geological wonder!

7. Savor a ginger beer at Aloha Ginger Beer.

One of my favorite discoveries in Lihue was the Aloha Ginger Beer Company.

The hand-crafted ginger beer is made with ginger grown directly on the island; it was so delicious that I went back multiple times when on Kauai!

When you go inside their shop, you will find several taps with different styles and flavors of ginger beer.

Some are even made with local spices and fruits that are in season! Another cool thing is that you can take a growler home with you to enjoy anytime you want.

Aloha Ginger Beer is open from Monday to Friday (9:30am-2:30pm) and Saturday (9:30am-3pm).

Address: 3-3100 Kuhio Hwy., Lihue

8. Check out the Kauai Community Market.

The Kauai Community Market is the local market where you’ll find Kauai-grown produce, fruits, plate lunches, and more. You can even taste some Hawaiian delicacies, like poi!

The vendors are super friendly and willing to chat about their products, which is a good way to learn more about what grows on the island and how it impacts the daily life of the Kauai locals.

The market is open on Saturdays from 9:30am-1pm and you can find it right next door to Kauai Community College.

Address: 3 Kaumualii Hwy, Lihue

9. Learn about Hawaiian history at the Menehune Fishpond (ʻAlekoko).

The Menehune Fishpond (also called the ʻAlekoko Fishpond) is a small collective of ponds built by an Indigenous tribe called the Menehune around 1,000 years ago (or so legend states).

There were large stones that built walls 900 feet wide and around 5 feet high.

This dammed the Hulē‘ia River, which was once used to catch fish that was used to feed the royal Hawaiians.

10. Discover the Nawiliwili Harbor.

Nawiliwili Harbor is one of the best places to stay in Lihue (and to eat and walk along the beach).

Once there, you’ll find a small boat harbor, a cruise ship dock, and more. It is located at the mouth of the Hulē‘ia Stream and has been the area’s primary harbor since 1930.

The main beach here is Kalapaki Beach and along it are some of the top restaurants in Lihue (and the most popular luaus).

Fun fact: the 1981 blockbuster ‘Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark’ had Nawiliwili Harbor as its backdrop.

11. Go to the Kilohana Plantation.

Founded in the 1930s, the Kilohana Plantation is a spacious area where you can step back in time a bit and learn a little bit about the plantation’s history, including seeing the Kauai Plantation Railway.

The Kilohana Plantation has over 50 varieties of fruit trees in its orchard, as well as vegetable gardens, forests, and some domesticated animals like cattle, geese, and donkeys. I also saw some food trucks around the area, which made for the perfect lunch option.

When there, also be sure to stop by the Koloa Rum Company, where you’ll find rum distilled on location and other small eats like rum cakes. You can even take home rum fudge sauce, jellies, and more!

If you’re 21 or older, you can also do a rum tasting on-site, where you’ll get to explore their line of Hawaii’s best rum. This was the first distillery on the island and it can trace its roots back to the commercial sugar operations that began in 1835.

The Koloa Rum Company is open from Monday to Saturday (10am-5pm) and has tasting hours from Monday to Saturday (10am-4pm). They are closed on Sundays.

Address: 3-2087 Kaumualii Hwy., Lihue

Where to Eat in Lihue (Best Restaurants)

I had so much delicious food in Lihue!

Here are some of the best places I ate at (please keep in mind that I was based there throughout my entire Kauai trip so I was able to explore quite a few places!):

• The Plantation House by Gaylords (3-2087 Kaumualii Hwy)
• Hamura Saimin (2956 Kress St) – very local place and quite tasty!
• Duke’s Kauai (3610 Rice St) – famous place and right on the beach
• Rob’s Good Times Grill (4303 Rice St)
• Fish Express (3-3343 Kuhio Hwy #7) – had the most delicious poke!
• Kauai Beer Company (4265 Rice St) – excellent craft beer!

Things to Do in Lihue (On a Map!)

Where to Stay in Lihue

If you are looking for where to stay in Lihue, I’ve got you covered.

The Kauai Inn is where I stayed when there (budget-friendly but a small walk from Nawiliwili Harbor), but I did have a chance to visit the Marriott’s Kauai Beach Club and the Royal Sonesta when there. All three are worth booking for your trip.

• The Kauai Inn (budget option near Lihue)
• Marriottʻs Kauai Beach Club (mid-range with pool and beach near Lihue)
• Royal Sonesta Kaua’i Resort Lihue (luxury beachfront beauty!)

These are some of my favorite things to do in Lihue and I definitely think it is worth adding some of these Lihue landmarks, restaurants, and places to visit to your itinerary!

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