Hanalei
On Kauai's lush north shore, Hanalei is the surf town Hollywood keeps trying to invent: a crescent bay backed by waterfall-striped mountains, a wooden pier for jumping off and a one-street town of poke bowls and shave ice.
- Best forSurfers · Beach lovers · Walkers & hikers
- In March25°C · 19 rainy days · sea 24°C
- Ideal stay4–5 nights
- Approx. flying time~5h 35m from Los Angeles
- CurrencyUSDUS dollar
- LanguageEnglish
- Local time00:2011h behind the UK
- PlugsType A / BBring an adapter
- Drive on theRightOpposite to the UK
- Dialling code+1
Why go
Kauai's north shore is the wettest, greenest part of the island, and it shows: waterfalls stripe the mountains behind the bay, taro fields fill the river valley, and the light shifts every twenty minutes between rain and gold. Hanalei itself is one street of surf shops and food counters, a wooden pier, and a bay that curves for more than three kilometres. Days revolve around water and weather.
This end of the island suits people happy to swim, walk and eat rather than chase attractions, and it pairs well with a few nights on the drier south coast. Summer flattens the bay for beginners and opens the snorkelling; winter brings big swell, strong currents and closed beaches, which is glorious to watch and dangerous to enter. Rain is part of the deal, so pack for it and stop resenting it.
- Ideal stay
- 4–5 nights
- The vibe
- Green, damp, barefoot and unhurried
From our guides
Winter swells are for experts, but summer turns the bay into a benign longboarders' playground — take a lesson right off the beach. Stay for the Friday farmers' market and go early; the one road in clogs by mid-morning.
Featured in Ten laid-back tropical surf towns for slow mornings
Things to do
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Hanalei Bay and pier
A wide crescent of sand with a wooden pier at one end that children queue to jump from. In summer the shorebreak softens enough for first surf lessons.
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Hanalei Valley Lookout
A pull-in on the hill above town looks down on a patchwork of flooded taro fields and the river winding through. Endangered waterbirds feed in the refuge below.
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Ke'e Beach and Haena
The road ends at a reef-protected cove beneath the Napali cliffs. Entry to the state park requires an advance reservation, which keeps numbers manageable.
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Kalalau Trail
The coast path starts at Ke'e and climbs immediately. Even the first stretch to Hanakapiai beach, around three kilometres each way, delivers the full Napali drama.
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Tunnels Beach
A large reef system makes this the north shore's best summer snorkelling, with turtles common. Currents build through the channels once any swell arrives.
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Farmers' market
The weekly market fills a field with mangoes, papaya, poi and taro, and it is the best place on this coast to eat something that grew nearby.
Getting there
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Fly to
Lihue, Kauai (LIH)
Nearest airport to Hanalei, about 30km away as the crow flies.
-
Then
To Hanalei
About 50 minutes to an hour by car north from Lihue (LIH) on Kauai's one main highway, over the Hanalei bridge and into town. Traffic through Kapaa can add half an hour in the morning.
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On the ground
Getting around
The town is a single street you walk in 10 minutes, with the bay and pier at the end of it. Beyond Hanalei the road narrows to one-lane bridges towards Haena and Ke'e, where entry and parking must be reserved in advance.
Public transport: A county bus runs along the main highway but not to the far north-shore beaches, and services are limited, so a hire car is the norm.
Flights
Los Angeles Hanalei, Hawaii
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Roughly 5h 35m in the air from Los Angeles (LAX), estimated from the distance — check for a direct route. Pick a month to see every available flight with live prices.
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Flight times are estimates; prices open on Google Flights.
When to go
Daytime highs run from about 24°C in February to 28°C in September. Driest September and November to February; wettest in April, with rain on about 19 days. The sea is warmest in October at around 27°C, coolest at 24°C.
The year at a glance — pick a month for detail
March25° · rain 19 days · sea 24°Warm and often wet.
Monthly figures averaged from daily records for 2020–2024 at this location (ERA5 reanalysis). Live conditions from MET Norway, CC BY 4.0.
Where to stay
Holiday houses and condominiums almost throughout, with a couple of resorts at Princeville. Very few hotels in Hanalei itself, and short-term letting rules are strictly enforced.
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Best base overall
Hanalei
The one-street town behind the bay, walkable to the pier, the surf schools and dinner. Rentals are mostly houses rather than hotels, and the road in jams by mid-morning.
Find stays in Hanalei -
Best with children
Princeville
The bluff resort area five minutes east, with pools, condominiums, a supermarket and reef-sheltered Anini Beach nearby for small swimmers. Comfortable, if a little corporate for Kauai.
Find stays in Princeville -
Best value
Kapaa
The east side, forty minutes away, where rooms cost far less and the sun shines more often. You will drive north for the good stuff, and sit in traffic coming back.
Find stays in Kapaa -
Quietest
Haena
The end of the road, all jungle and mountain, close to the Napali trailhead. Entry to the state park needs a reservation, and services out here are minimal.
Find stays in Haena
Worth knowing before you book: Winter rain on the north shore is heavy and the single road has closed after flooding before, so book refundable and reserve Haena park entry when you book the room.
Search everything else in Hanalei by budget. These are indicative budget bands in GBP per night for two people, not live quotes or guarantees of hotel type. Check your dates, guests, taxes and final price on Booking.com.
Good to know
- Book ahead
- Entry and parking for Haena State Park, the gateway to the Napali coast, must be reserved in advance and sell out days ahead in high season.
- One road
- A single highway with several one-lane bridges serves this coast. Local custom lets around five to seven cars cross before yielding, and traffic clogs by mid-morning.
- Swim safety
- Winter surf here is genuinely hazardous, and some beaches have no lifeguards. If the sand is empty and the water is churning, that is your answer.
- Rain and closures
- Heavy storms have closed the north shore road for long periods in the past. Check conditions before committing to a day at the far end.
- Reef-safe sun cream
- Hawaii bans sun creams containing oxybenzone and octinoxate. Buy mineral-based formulas, ideally before you fly, since island prices are high.
Further afield
Waikiki
Oahu, Hawaii · 200km away →
Lanikai Beach
Oahu, Hawaii · 205km away →
Hanauma Bay
Oahu, Hawaii · 213km away →
Big Sur
California, USA →
Brown bears at Brooks Falls
Alaska, USA →
Pacific Coast Highway
California, USA →Elsewhere in the USA
Related articles
Quick answers
When is the best time to visit Hanalei?
Daytime highs run from about 24°C in February to 28°C in September. Driest September and November to February; wettest in April, with rain on about 19 days. The sea is warmest in October at around 27°C, coolest at 24°C.
How long should I spend in Hanalei?
Our suggestion: 4–5 nights.
How do I get to Hanalei?
About 50 minutes to an hour by car north from Lihue (LIH) on Kauai's one main highway, over the Hanalei bridge and into town. Traffic through Kapaa can add half an hour in the morning.
Do I need a car in Hanalei?
Yes, a car makes a real difference here. A county bus runs along the main highway but not to the far north-shore beaches, and services are limited, so a hire car is the norm.
What currency and language are used in Hanalei?
Currency: US dollar (USD). Language: English. Plugs: type A and B.
Who is Hanalei best for?
Best for surfers, beach lovers and walkers & hikers. In a phrase: green, damp, barefoot and unhurried.