Lihue Hawaii is the point of entry to the Aloha State for many visitors, as it is the site of the island of Kauai's airport. You will also find the island's main seaport due south of the city, so you can also look to pay Lihue a visit when enjoying a Hawaiian cruise. While some visitors to the island of Kauai move on to other destinations rather quickly after arriving in Lihue, it's worth sticking around for a while, as there are interesting attractions to take in here. The county seat of Kauai County, Lihue Hawaii is a culturally rich place where hula performances and Hawaiian music concerts help set the stage for entertaining events, and there is no finer place to learn about the island's rich history.

The Kauai Museum is one of the top attractions in Lihue, not to mention all of Kauai, as it is also one of the best places on the island to learn about its people and history. Native Hawaiian art and artifacts are always on display at the Kauai Museum, and there are exhibits that also cover topics such as geology and the region's native flora and fauna. The admission fees at this top Lihue travel attraction are reasonable, which makes a visit all the more enjoyable, and there is a nice gift shop on-site where you can pick up interesting keepsakes before you leave.

After you leave the Kauai Museum, you can head over to Ewa Street and pick up camping and hiking permits at the state offices should you be interested in adding those activities to your Lihue travel plans. There are good Lihue hotels to choose from if camping doesn't figure into your plans, and when it's the resort experience that you're after, you can hardly go wrong with the Kauai Marriott Resort or the Hilton Kauai Beach Resort, which both offer plenty of amenities and services.

Kauai Map

Other attractions in Lihue Hawaii include the old Lutheran church and the Wilcox family home, and both are worth visiting when in the area. A significant number of German citizens immigrated to Lihue in the 1800s, and the Lutheran church they built in 1881 still stands. The Wilcox family home, which is known as the Grove Farm Homestead, is essentially many attractions in one location, and it is not to be missed when looking for things to do on Lihue vacations.

The original Wilcox family home is now a restaurant and gift shop, though the onetime sugar plantation continues to grow crops and sustain livestock. Enjoying a train tour of the Grove Farm Homestead's plantation is one of the top things to do in Lihue, and if you prefer to take a horse-drawn carriage tour, you can do that as well. The Grove Farm Homestead is also the site for many luaus, which visitors should consider including in their Lihue travel plans. When you're not enjoying cultural attractions on Lihue vacations, you can always head for Kalapaki Beach, one of the city's top resort destinations. Kalapaki Beach gently slopes towards the turquoise sea, keeping the beach partially protected. Beach volleyball, sailing, and surfing are among the top beach activities at Kalapaki, and you can take surfing lessons if you need help finding your surfing legs.

Shopping is just one of the other fun things to do on Lihue vacations, and you may want to consider shopping here before moving on to other Kauai destinations such as Princeville or Poipu. Chances are good that your Kauai hotel room or vacation rental will feature a kitchenette or kitchen, so after you rent a car in Lihue at the airport, you might stock up on provisions at the local grocery stores. The Kukui Grove Center, which is the largest shopping center on the island, is also located in Lihue and includes a Macy's department store. Nearby Kapaa also boasts some shopping centers, so you can stop there as well when looking to add shopping to your Kauai vacation.