Vacation Rentals on Kauai

You’ll find hundreds of beach villas along the beautiful shores of Kauai island. Hotspots for beach rentals include Hanalei in the north and Wailua on the eastern coast, where you can rent properties set in palm tree groves within earshot of the Pacific Ocean.

There are plenty of inland options on Kauai, particularly around Koloa in the southeast and near the Lihue-Koloa Forest Reserve. You can also stay in comfortable resort villages at Lihue and Hanalei, with access to tennis courts, golf courses and on-site restaurants.

Kauai is an island in the Hawaiian archipelago, and is located near the western end of the island chain. It has an area of around 560 square miles, which includes dramatic canyons, waterfalls, forests and miles and miles of sandy beaches. The island is easy to reach via Lihue Airport, which offers connections to US mainland cities and Honolulu.

Kauai's interior is mountainous and filled with deep, forested canyons. On the slopes, the people of the island grow huge amounts of coffee, while vast areas are set aside for conservation purposes. Most vacation properties are therefore located on the coast, around major resorts like Hanalei in the north, Kealia and Wailua in the east, and Poipu in the south.

Many people choose to get around Kauai by a rental vehicle. If you want to visit out of the way trailheadsor waterfalls, renting a 4x4 makes perfect sense. There's a handy highway around the eastern coast, but no route across the center or along the west coast, so plan ahead if you want to visit these areas.

Choosing a rental home on Kauai is a wonderful option for anyone who loves getting outside and hiking, climbing, canoeing or cycling. You can hike to areas of incredible natural beauty like Waimea Canyon, rent kayaks to see the Na Pali Coast or experience rafting down the Wailua River.

Few places in the world offer beaches as beautiful as those on Kauai. There are modern resort beaches at Hanalei and Lihue, as well as wild, secluded coves in Na Pali like Hanakapiai Beach.

With its Pacific coastline receiving plenty of waves, Kauai attracts a huge surfing community. In fact, the locals claim to have invented the sport (or “hee nalu” as they call it). You can take lessons at Poipu Beach or hit the eastern beaches in high season for some of the most spectacular waves around.

Also known as the “Grand Canyon of the Pacific”, Waimea Canyon is 14 miles long and 3,600 feet deep, with bright red cliffs streaked by vegetation and scoured by waterfalls. It’s a scenic delight.

Hanalei’s three mile wide beach is one of the island’s most popular spots. The picturesque harbor and mountains beyond are attractive, but the reliable surf is the real draw in Hanalei.

The golf courses of Kauai are challenging and beautiful, with dramatic lava rocks dotting the waste bunkers and mountains in the background. The Jack Nicklaus designed Princeville course is a particular highlight, but there will be great courses near almost any vacation home on Kauai.

Kauai is a great gourmet destination. Don’t miss the pit-roasted pork, fish tacos or the excellent Japanese-influenced restaurants, and enjoy a few mai tai cocktails with friends while you’re there.

Kauai has some sublime waterfalls, but none are as pretty (or accessible) as Opaekaa, a couple of miles inland from Wailua.

Kauai has a tropical climate, so temperatures will almost always range from around 70 to 100 degrees all year-round. However, the island has some regional variations. For example, the area around Mount Waialeale receives a massive 400 inches of rain every year (so take a raincoat if you head out on the trail).

The island also hosts events throughout the year. The Festival of Lights is probably the most spectacular. Held just before Christmas, it began as an attempt to use recycled materials to create festive decorations. Now, thousands of people head to a huge light show at Kauai County Building every year.