Founder & certified Hawaii travel expert with 20+ years of experience in Hawaii tourism.
This article may include affiliate links at no extra cost to you. Mahalo for your support!
Lihue Town
Kauai, Hawaii
Lihu'e is the second largest town on the Hawaiian Island of Kaua'i in Hawai'i. Lihu'e means literally "cold chill" in Hawaiian. With a population of 5,674, it's a pretty laid back place. There are plenty of shopping and dining possibilities including Walmart, Home Depot, and K-Mart. When you fly into Kauai, you will arrive at the small Lihu'e Airport. In ancient times, Lihu'e was a minor village. The name is of recent origin and means "goose flesh", referring to the cold winds that blew across the land. The ancient name of the area was Ka-laʻ-i-a-mea, meaning calm reddish brown place.
Lihu'e is located in the ancient district of Puna. With the emergence of the sugar industry in the 1800's, Lihu'e became the central city of the island with the construction of a large sugar mill. Many Germans emigrated to Lihu'e, even building in 1881 the first Lutheran church in Hawaii that stands to this day. Services were delivered in German well into the 1960s. George Wilcox was one of the largest sugar plantation owners. The family home, Kilohana, can be visited by tourists. Lihu'e also houses the Kaua'i Museum, which details the rich history of the island.
Browse Kauai Tours & Accommodations
FREE 2025 DOWNLOADS
Kauai Intro Visitor Guide
+ Our Summary Guidesheet!
Includes the top must-see & do attractions, best times to visit, a monthly weather & visitor summary, and our tips on how to save when booking your car rental, tours, and activities. Plus, grab our free Kauai Summary Guidesheets. Check out our 2025 Kauai Visitor Guides.
Founder & certified Hawaii travel expert with 20+ years of experience in Hawaii tourism.
