Why a Move to Lihue Could be Right for You

Lihue serves as the heart of the island of Kauai as its commercial and governmental hub, and it's a region steeped in breath taking natural beauty, local culture and history. Lihue, the county seat of Kauai County, is the second largest municipality on the island and has a population of nearly 6,500 residents.

During its early days the town with the name that means “cold chill” in the Hawaiian language was a small village. Lihue became the region's governing seat in 1837, after Royal Governor Kaikio'ewa reassigned that designation from the neighboring locality of Waimea. Sugar production drove much of the early economy here through the 1800s and a large sugar mill kept Lihue in business during that time.

George Norton Wilcox was among the largest sugar plantation owners in Lihue by 1930. In recent years the Wilcox family homestead called Kilohana has served the area as a restaurant and gift shop that is a popular stop for tourists. The plantation surrounding the business is still used to cultivate local crops and nurture livestock.

Today the county administration building is located in Lihue, as is the Kukui Grove Shopping Center, which houses a Macy's Department Store. Other major retailers in town include Wal-mart, Home Depot and Costco, and the commercial district also features a number of restaurants and movie theaters. Lihue has one elementary school, Wilcox Elementary, which is operated by the Hawaii Department of Education. The town has a private school serving students in pre-kindergarten through grade 12, and Kauai Community College is also located here.

Lihue is among the most visited communities on Kauai, mostly because it is home to the island's main airport and Nawiliwili Harbor, which supports a large-scale commercial shipping and cruise ship port. Kalapaki Beach provides residents and visitors a great spot for swimming, body surfing or just relaxing in the sand. Other attractions in or near Lihue include Alekoko (Menehune Fishpond), an aquaculture reservoir that dates back nearly 1,000 years, the picturesque Wailua Falls and Kauai Museum.

Lihue is perfect for anyone looking to live like they're always on vacation!