15 BEST Things to do in Lihue, Kauai (And Nearby!)

Best Things to do in Lihue, Hawaii

Lihue Town is often overlooked by visitors, but there is a growing number of fun things to do in Lihue! This small city is home to countless historical sites dating back to both pre-colonial times and the age of sugarcane. Lihue is also home to one of the island’s most beautiful beaches, Kalapaki Beach, and there are several lush rivers, waterfalls, and hikes to explore in the area.

Lihue is also a great place to base yourself while exploring everything else Kauai has to offer since its centrally located between Kauai’s North Shore, South Shore, and Waimea Canyon.

Napali Coast Helicopter Tour | Photo by Jakob Owens

1. Go on a Helicopter Tour

I couldn’t make a guide to Lihue (or Kauai) without telling you to go on a helicopter tour. Kauai is one of the best places in the world to go on a helicopter ride because of the rugged beauty of the Napali Coast, Waimea Canyon, Hanaeli Valley, and the rest of the island.

Helicopter tours of Kauai leave from Lihue Airport, so if you’re staying in Lihue (or visiting on a cruise), it is actually one of the most convenient ways to see the island! There are a lot of helicopter tour operators to choose from, this one of my recommendation because of their 1600+ 5-star reviews. Also, be sure to request a doors-off tour — it takes the experience to a whole new level, and the fresh air really helps if you deal with motion sickness. You won’t regret it!

2. Swim, Surf, and Relax at Kalapaki Beach

With lush green mountains wrapped around a turquoise blue bay, Kalapaki Beach is undoubtedly the most beautiful beach in Lihue! It is a small beach in front of the Marriott and Royal Sonseta but it is publicly accessible and only a 10 minute walk from the cruise port.

Yet despite how easy it is to get to Kalapaki Beach (and the fact that there are two resorts), it tends to be somewhat uncrowded and an overall lovely place for a beach day in Lihue. Kalapaki is also a good spot for surfing, depending on the time of year!

3. Visit the Kauai Museum

Learn about the garden isle’s history at the Kauai Museum in the heart of downtown Lihue. You’ll get the chance to see a variety of Hawaiian artifacts and immerse in the history of Kauai from ancient times to modern. This is the best place on the island to learn about Hawaiian history, so it’s worth adding to your Kauai itinerary if you have any interest in history and culture!

The entry fee is $15 for adults, $10 for students ages 8-17, $12 for seniors, and free for kids under 7. Free guided tours of the museum are offered every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday at 10am. In addition, the museum offers weekly weaving, lei making, hula classes, and more.

4. Join the Lihue Sunset Cruise

Cruise along Lihue’s Hulei’a River and breathtaking Kalapaki Bay on this Lihue sunset cruise. Sunset cruises are one of my favorite things to do on vacation and in my mind, this one is a must-do if you’re staying in Lihue!

The catamaran cruise gives you the chance to the ancient Menehune Fish Pond and the Hulē‘ia National Wildlife Refuge, both of which can be difficult to access without a tour. You’ll spot tropical birds and native plants along the way, and enjoy fruity cocktails, wine, champagne, and local beer, plus snacks!

5. See 84-Foot Wailua Falls

Just a 12 minute drive from Lihue will take you to Wailua Falls, one of the most beautiful and easily accessible waterfalls on the island. The waterfall is 84 feet tall and cascades down cliffside into a small pool below. You get a front-row view of the waterfall right from the parking lot.

You used to be able to hike down to the base of the falls, but the hike is illegal now. Still, this waterfall is so easy to get to and so beautiful, be sure to stop by during your Kauai vacation.

6. Kayak Along Wailua River to Secret Falls

One of the most adventurous things to do near Lihue is kayak the Wailua River and then hike to Secret Falls (Uluwehi Falls), a gorgeous 100-foot waterfall that can only be accessed via a kayak up the river and hike through the jungle.

You can either rent a kayak and explore Secret Falls on your own (follow directions on AllTrails), or go with a local guide. My recommendation is this Secret Falls kayak tour that includes all kayaking equipment and is led by a local guide who knows the ins and outs of the river journey and hike. Either way, keep in mind that you have to kayak 4 miles and hike 1.5 miles but it’s so worth it!

7. Ride Along the Plantation Railway

Ride a cute train around a historic 105-acre plantation in Lihue! The Kilohana Plantation in Lihue offers narrated train rides several times a day. You get to see Hawaiian crops like taro and sugarcane, as well as groves of other tropical crops like mango, pineapple, banana, papaya, noni, and more. The train stops so riders can feed farm animals.

This unique experience is perfect for families with kids, as well as anyone interested in agriculture and history. The train ride happens several times daily and costs $22 for adults, $16 for children, and $19 for seniors. Read more about the Plantation Railway and reserve your spot on the Kilohana Plantation website.

8. Taste Rum at Kōloa Rum Company

Another one of the best things to do in Lihue is to taste local Kauai rum at Kōloa Rum Company’s store and tasting room, located at the Kilohana Plantation. You get to taste a variety of unique local rums, my favorites are the dark rum and coconut rum, and the cacao rum is interesting, too!

Tasting happen every hour 10am-4pm every day except Sundays. The tasting menu changes daily (check it on Koala Rum’s website), and are FREE, but you do have to pay a $5 booking fee per group of up to 6 people.

9. Dine at the Plantation House (Gaylord’s Restaurant)

One more thing to at the Kilohana Plantation is to dine at the Plantation House. The restaurant is located inside the home of Gaylord Wilcox who once ran the 23,000 acre sugar plantation here. Even if you don’t order something to eat, it’s worth wandering through the building if you’re visiting Kilohana Plantation for the train or rum tasting.

The restaurant is open for lunch, dinner, and happy hour (3:30-4:45pm daily) and the menu is inspired by a mix of Hawaiian, Asian, and European flavors. There is also a small vegetarian/vegan menu and clearly marked gluten free options. See the full menu and make a reservation.

10. Visit A Hawaiian Archaeological Site

It took me visiting Hawaii six times to finally visit an archaeological site here! There are several places you can see Hawaiian ruins on Kauai, and one is Poliahu Heiau, the ruins of a temple just under 15 minutes away from Lihue.

It is a very small site, but it’s located right next to an overlook with views of the Wailua Valley, Wailua River, and Pacific ocean. It’s also right down the road from ‘Opaeka’a Falls!

11. Get Coffee & Bagels at Rainbeau Jo’s

I usually wouldn’t include a coffeeshop on a list of things to do in a certain location, but Rainbeau Jo.’s just has to be mentioned! This colorful and friendly coffeeshop is situated in the heart of downtown Lihue and is a must-visit spot!

The owners (Beau and Jo) and staff are some of the friendliest people you’ll ever meet, and the coffee, smoothies, and bagels they serve are spectacular! Although it isn’t mentioned on the menu, they do have vegan cream cheese for any bagel-loving vegan visitors like me.

12. See the Kapaia Swinging Bridge

This 125 foot long swinging bridge that the County of Kauai built over the Kapaia Stream in 1948. This small historic bridge provided passage for a majority immigrant community that lived in camps across the bridge. The Historic Hawai’i Foundation website describes the significance of the bridge:

“Japanese children crossed daily to attend Japanese School. Plantation laborers met across the bridge at 5 a.m. every morning to walk together to the trucks that transported them to the sugar fields. Housewives walked back and forth the bridge to do their daily grocery shopping and to visit friends. On Sundays, families crossed the bridge to get to the Catholic, Buddhist, Mormon, Methodist, or Chinese churches. These are just a few examples demonstrating the integral role of the Kapaia Swinging Bridge in the daily life of Kauai’s sugar plantation immigrant population. Its existence allowed people of diverse backgrounds to interact with each other, resulting in tolerance, understanding, acceptance, and respect for all people.”

PS: Sunrise Coffee & Donuts is close by if you’re craving something sweet or caffeinated (or both!)

13. Step Back in Time at the Grove Farm Museum

The Grove Farm Museum is another historic site in Lihue that gives you a glimpse into the past when Kauai was ruled by sugarcane. The museum is located at the historic home of the Wilcox Family who ran a large sugarcane business and employed workers from around the world.

The museum can only be visited on a 2-hour walking tour, which are offered on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays at 10am and 1pm. The requested donation for a tour is $20 per adult and $10 per child.

14. Visit Lihue’s Saturday Farmers Markets

There really is nothing like a farmer’s market in Hawaii! Fresh tropical fruit, local snacks and drinks, it’s all so good! There are two farmer’s markets in Lihue on Saturdays:

🌿 The Grove Farm Market: 4411 Kikowaena St, Lihue, HI 96766

🌺 Kauai Community Market: 3 Kaumualii Hwy, Lihue, HI 96766

Also, the city of Lihue has started hosting a Downtown Lihue Night Market on the second Saturday of the month with food vendors, local artists, live music, and more!

15. Go on a Guided Tour of Kauai’s Eastside

If you’re exploring Lihue and Kauai without a rental car, this guided tour of Kauai’s Eastside is a great option to see more of the island! Roundtrip transportation from Kauai Bakery in downtown Lihue is provided in a vehicle with AC.

The guided tour includes visits to: the Menehune Fish Pond, Wailua Falls, Lydgate State Park, Opaekaa Falls, Poli’ahu Heiau, and Kapaa Town.