Hanalei Town Kauai | Go Hawaii

Hanalei Town

Scroll to Continue

Hanalei Town

What: Charming small town on Kauaʻi’s north shore
Where: In northern Kauaʻi, a few minutes west of Princeville
 
West of Princeville, on Kauaʻi’s North shore, is peaceful Hanalei Town. Graced with timeless beauty, this lovely small town is home to everything from historic places to contemporary art galleries. Hanalei Town is an unforgettable stop on your visit to Kauaʻi.
 
Visit the Waiʻoli Mission House and step back into Kauaʻi’s history. Browse Hanalei’s art galleries for made-in-Kauai art and carvings made from rare, native Hawaiian woods. Locals and visitors come to Hanalei for ʻukulele concerts held at the Hanalei Community Center, a regular Kauaʻi event.
 
At the foot of Hanalei’s misty green mountains, you’ll also discover fields of taro ("kalo” in Hawaiian). These heart-shaped plants grow intensely green in flooded patches and are used to make poi, a Hawaiian staple starch that you can taste at any Kauaʻi lūʻau. You can get a good view of this emerald quilt of land from the Hanalei Valley Lookout. Note that these taro farms are on private property, so only step foot on them during an authorized farm tour.
 
The historic Hanalei Pier was built in 1892 and has long been a favorite gathering place for local residents, who go there to fish, swim and play music on Hanalei Bay. In 1957, the pier became world famous when Oscar Hammerstein II and 20th Century Fox featured the pier in the classic film, “South Pacific.” After a busy day of soaking up Hanalei Town’s history and charm, kick back, relax and watch a luminous sunset over Hanalei Bay.
 
Note: To get to Hanalei, visitors need to pass over a one-lane bridge. Drivers must use local etiquette: all the vehicles on one side cross, followed by all the vehicles on the other side.