Guidebook for Kapaa/Kauai
My Favorite Restaurants
Good italian food. A little pricey and a drive, but good food and nice atmosphere. I recommend the charcuterie starter and chicken and veal dishes. Their bread is yummy too.
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La Spezia
5492 Koloa RdGood italian food. A little pricey and a drive, but good food and nice atmosphere. I recommend the charcuterie starter and chicken and veal dishes. Their bread is yummy too.
Currently CLOSED due to kitchen fire which caused extensive interior damage. Good Japanese food. Very popular. Must have a reservation or go when they open at 5:30. Closed Sundays. They have hibachi (Benihana style) cooking tables which kids may enjoy. Mid to higher priced entrees but worth it.
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Kintaro Japanese Restaurant
4-370 Kuhio HwyCurrently CLOSED due to kitchen fire which caused extensive interior damage. Good Japanese food. Very popular. Must have a reservation or go when they open at 5:30. Closed Sundays. They have hibachi (Benihana style) cooking tables which kids may enjoy. Mid to higher priced entrees but worth it.
Good food and nice atmosphere. Located in an ocean front resort. Gets crowded so reservations are required. Expensive. They have music in the bar lounge from 6 to 9 each night. Try their food and wine tastings from 5:00 to 5:45 nightly $50 for 5 courses and wines. Check out their website.
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Hukilau Lanai
520 Aleka LoopGood food and nice atmosphere. Located in an ocean front resort. Gets crowded so reservations are required. Expensive. They have music in the bar lounge from 6 to 9 each night. Try their food and wine tastings from 5:00 to 5:45 nightly $50 for 5 courses and wines. Check out their website.
Good Happy Hour from 3 to 7pm. Select pupus are $5. Located on the second floor in the middle of downtown Kapaa. Sit and watch the traffic and people go by. Food is okay and price is moderate.
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Olympic Cafe
1354 Kuhio HwyGood Happy Hour from 3 to 7pm. Select pupus are $5. Located on the second floor in the middle of downtown Kapaa. Sit and watch the traffic and people go by. Food is okay and price is moderate.
Always popular. Good coffee drinks, bakery items and even lunches. Sit outside and watch the people and cars go by.
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Java Kai
4-1384 Kuhio HwyAlways popular. Good coffee drinks, bakery items and even lunches. Sit outside and watch the people and cars go by.
Great waterfront views with salad bar and good food. I recommend that you go early to get a good table. We like their prime rib and also their ahi tuna. Pricey but good.
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Bull Shed Restaurant
4-796 Kuhio HwyGreat waterfront views with salad bar and good food. I recommend that you go early to get a good table. We like their prime rib and also their ahi tuna. Pricey but good.
Very casual shop with good Pho soup. They do not have a liquor license but MAY allow you to BYOB.
Pho Kapaa
4-831 Kuhio HwyVery casual shop with good Pho soup. They do not have a liquor license but MAY allow you to BYOB.
JO2 Restaurant
4-971 Kuhio HwyVERY expensive but good for a special occasion.
Located adjacent to The Pono Kai Resort, the Pono Market serves Hawaiian style food.
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Pono Market
4-1300 Kuhio HwyLocated adjacent to The Pono Kai Resort, the Pono Market serves Hawaiian style food.
Loved by the locals for their saimin and lillikoi chiffon pie. A must try if you are in Lihue around lunch or dinner time. VERY casual.
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Hamura Saimin
2956 Kress StLoved by the locals for their saimin and lillikoi chiffon pie. A must try if you are in Lihue around lunch or dinner time. VERY casual.
Also loved by the locals. VERY casual local foods including ox tail soup, loco moco, and banana macadamia nut pancakes. Located in Lihue.
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Tip Top Motel
3173 Akahi StAlso loved by the locals. VERY casual local foods including ox tail soup, loco moco, and banana macadamia nut pancakes. Located in Lihue.
Order fish tacos inside and sit at outdoor tables. No beer or wine sold there but you can bring your own. Very fresh and good.
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Kilauea Fish Market
4270 Kilauea RdOrder fish tacos inside and sit at outdoor tables. No beer or wine sold there but you can bring your own. Very fresh and good.
Currently closed due to COVID! Nice atmosphere and reasonable prices. Located on the water by Kalipaki Bay with indoor and outdoor seating. We like their rueben sandwiches with fries which costs about $15. There are many tvs if you are interested in football or other sports.
JJ's Broiler
3416 Rice StCurrently closed due to COVID! Nice atmosphere and reasonable prices. Located on the water by Kalipaki Bay with indoor and outdoor seating. We like their rueben sandwiches with fries which costs about $15. There are many tvs if you are interested in football or other sports.
Good Happy Hour menu and drink specials. Lunches are also good with a great beach front location. We particularly like their fish tacos served at lunch and their daily grilled cheese special is worth a try.
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Lava Lava Beach Club
420 Papaloa RdGood Happy Hour menu and drink specials. Lunches are also good with a great beach front location. We particularly like their fish tacos served at lunch and their daily grilled cheese special is worth a try.
Bar atmosphere with good bar food and reasonable prices. located in Lihue. Good for sports watching and some evening music.
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Rob's Good Times Grill
4303 Rice StBar atmosphere with good bar food and reasonable prices. located in Lihue. Good for sports watching and some evening music.
For a special occasion drive to Poipu at sunset and have a drink on the lawn. The food and drinks are expensive there but it is worth having one and watching the sunset. Bring your camera and hopefully get some beautiful sunset pictures.
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Beach House Restaurant
5022 Lawai RdFor a special occasion drive to Poipu at sunset and have a drink on the lawn. The food and drinks are expensive there but it is worth having one and watching the sunset. Bring your camera and hopefully get some beautiful sunset pictures.
Located at Timbers Resort alongside the Hokuala Golf Course in Lihue this restaurant has gorgeous ocean views. It is expensive so go for happy hour which is 3 to 5pm daily.
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Hualani's Restaurant
3770 Ala Oli StLocated at Timbers Resort alongside the Hokuala Golf Course in Lihue this restaurant has gorgeous ocean views. It is expensive so go for happy hour which is 3 to 5pm daily.
Drinks & Nightlife
There are very few places that you can go out and listen to music and dance on the island. Though I don't go there, I have friends that love it.
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Trees Lounge
440 Aleka PlThere are very few places that you can go out and listen to music and dance on the island. Though I don't go there, I have friends that love it.
Fun bar featured in the movie "The Descendants". Hawaiian music nightly. Owned and operated by the same family since 1963. Make a day of it and check out Princeville and Hanalei while you are there. I liked the pizza.
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Tahiti Nui Restaurant
5122 Kuhio HwyFun bar featured in the movie "The Descendants". Hawaiian music nightly. Owned and operated by the same family since 1963. Make a day of it and check out Princeville and Hanalei while you are there. I liked the pizza.
Sightseeing
Beautiful vistas. Good hiking and picture taking.
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Waimea Canyon Lookout
Beautiful vistas. Good hiking and picture taking.
Spouting Horn
Why not?
Spectacular sights, beautiful, tranquil and educational. Walking tours are available with prior reservations. There is also a very nice gift shop there.
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Kauai's Hindu Monastery - Saiva Siddhanta Headquarters
107 Kaholalele RdSpectacular sights, beautiful, tranquil and educational. Walking tours are available with prior reservations. There is also a very nice gift shop there.
Capt. Andy's provides boat tours. We have taken the NaPali Coast tours which included snorkeling and lunch. It was a wonderful way to see the NaPali Coast with MANY photo opportunities. Capt. Andy's offers other tours including sunset tours so go to their website to find the tour that best fits your needs or desires.
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Capt Andy's
4353 Waialo RdCapt. Andy's provides boat tours. We have taken the NaPali Coast tours which included snorkeling and lunch. It was a wonderful way to see the NaPali Coast with MANY photo opportunities. Capt. Andy's offers other tours including sunset tours so go to their website to find the tour that best fits your needs or desires.
Parks & Nature
Poipu Beach
Good swimming, snorkeling, and people watching.
Gorgeous views plus a lot of educational information.
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Kīlauea Lighthouse
3580 Kilauea RdGorgeous views plus a lot of educational information.
Wonderful tours of gorgeous gardens. See the trees used in filming Jurasic Park.
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National Tropical Botanical Garden
4425 Lawai RdWonderful tours of gorgeous gardens. See the trees used in filming Jurasic Park.
Local plants featured in this beautiful miniature golf course. Great for families or anyone wanting to do something a little different.
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Kauai Mini Golf & Botanical Gardens
5-2723 Kuhio HighwayLocal plants featured in this beautiful miniature golf course. Great for families or anyone wanting to do something a little different.
Wonderful ocean front bike path that meanders approximately 4.5 miles. I love to ride my bike to the north end of the path and then walk down into an open field, sit on a rock and watch the ocean surf and enjoy the gentle trade winds. From December thru March you may see some of the whales that migrate to Hawaii to have their calves. Unbelievable sight is all that I can say.
Kauai Multiuse Path(Ke Ala Hele Makalae)
Kauai Multiuse Path(Ke Ala Hele Makalae)Wonderful ocean front bike path that meanders approximately 4.5 miles. I love to ride my bike to the north end of the path and then walk down into an open field, sit on a rock and watch the ocean surf and enjoy the gentle trade winds. From December thru March you may see some of the whales that migrate to Hawaii to have their calves. Unbelievable sight is all that I can say.
Near Kapaa and very popular with outdoor enthusiasts.
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Sleeping Giant Trail Head
Haleilio RoadNear Kapaa and very popular with outdoor enthusiasts.
Fun ride and educational talks. Check ahead for reservations.
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Kauai Plantation Railway
3-2087 Kaumualii HwyFun ride and educational talks. Check ahead for reservations.
Shopping
Kiko
4-1316 HI-56Lots of unusual things from around the world.
We love Costco. Prices are competitive with mainland stores. Most items are sold in large quantities though making the store less attractive to many visitors.
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Costco Wholesale
4300 Nuhou StWe love Costco. Prices are competitive with mainland stores. Most items are sold in large quantities though making the store less attractive to many visitors.
I just love the bright tropical prints of the clothes at Tropical Tantrum. The fabric and clothing are designed by a local woman and fabricated in Bali. Great place to by a fun tropical dress, shirt or whatever..
Tropical Tantrum
4-1296 Kuhio HwyI just love the bright tropical prints of the clothes at Tropical Tantrum. The fabric and clothing are designed by a local woman and fabricated in Bali. Great place to by a fun tropical dress, shirt or whatever..
Cute local mall with small shops. Otherwise known as the Creative Community Marketplace of the Southside of Kauai. Filled with local creatives, makers and entrepreneurs, fresh baked goods and the kindest coffee truck around! Shops open 10 am to 4pm daily. Check it out.
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Warehouse 3540
3540 Koloa RdCute local mall with small shops. Otherwise known as the Creative Community Marketplace of the Southside of Kauai. Filled with local creatives, makers and entrepreneurs, fresh baked goods and the kindest coffee truck around! Shops open 10 am to 4pm daily. Check it out.
Essentials
Safeway
4-831 Kuhio HwyGood grocery store with large selection of products.
Great place to pick up a few small items in a hurry. They carry souvenirs, sodas, beer, wine, liquor, sunscreen, cigarettes, some food items as well as most drug store type items.
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ABC Store
4-484 Kuhio HwyGreat place to pick up a few small items in a hurry. They carry souvenirs, sodas, beer, wine, liquor, sunscreen, cigarettes, some food items as well as most drug store type items.
Walmart
3-3300 Kuhio HwyGood prices. Everyone knows Walmart
Entertainment & Activities
Things to do around town
You MUST go to a luau while you are in Hawaii. Smith Family Garden Luau is located on the Wailua River nearby Kapaa. Take a ride in the cart and get an over view of local flora and fauna. See how a whole pig is roasted. Feast on a hawaiian style buffet and enjoy a multi-cultural show after dinner.
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Smith Family Garden Luau
3-5971 Kuhio HwyYou MUST go to a luau while you are in Hawaii. Smith Family Garden Luau is located on the Wailua River nearby Kapaa. Take a ride in the cart and get an over view of local flora and fauna. See how a whole pig is roasted. Feast on a hawaiian style buffet and enjoy a multi-cultural show after dinner.
Fun escape and puzzle rooms. Currently features "Curse of the Tiki Lounge". A great family activity especially for rainy days.
Kauai Escape Room
4353 Rice StFun escape and puzzle rooms. Currently features "Curse of the Tiki Lounge". A great family activity especially for rainy days.
Kipu Ranch offers 4x4 Off Road Tours. Though I have not done this yet, it looks like lots of fun and a good way to see parts of the island that you otherwise would not see. They offer Ranch tours, waterfall jungle tours and picnic tours. The ranch covers 3,000 acres and is a working cattle ranch. Call the ranch for more information.
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Kipu Ranch Adventures
235 Kipu RdKipu Ranch offers 4x4 Off Road Tours. Though I have not done this yet, it looks like lots of fun and a good way to see parts of the island that you otherwise would not see. They offer Ranch tours, waterfall jungle tours and picnic tours. The ranch covers 3,000 acres and is a working cattle ranch. Call the ranch for more information.
Go online and book a tour of the Koloa Rum property. You will pay a fee but it will include Koloa Rum tastings and drinks made with Koloa Rum plus an entertaining tour of the property.
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Kōloa Rum™ Company Store
3-2087 Kaumualii HwyGo online and book a tour of the Koloa Rum property. You will pay a fee but it will include Koloa Rum tastings and drinks made with Koloa Rum plus an entertaining tour of the property.
Visit the Kauai Coffee Company, do a self guided walking tour of the grounds to see how they grow and make their coffee. Then enjoy samples of various flavors of their delicious coffee. Their store sells the coffee as well as t-shirts, jams and just about anything that you can imagine made with coffee or Hawaiian themed. Good place to buy souvenirs.
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Kauai Coffee Company
870 Halewili RdVisit the Kauai Coffee Company, do a self guided walking tour of the grounds to see how they grow and make their coffee. Then enjoy samples of various flavors of their delicious coffee. Their store sells the coffee as well as t-shirts, jams and just about anything that you can imagine made with coffee or Hawaiian themed. Good place to buy souvenirs.