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.
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2023 Kauai Visitor Guides
If you're visiting Kauai soon, be sure to download your copy of one of our updated 2023 Kauai Visitor Guides. We've updated both travel guides with a lot of new great information for potential visitors (and those who've been a time or two as well).
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.
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2023 Kauai Visitor Guides
If you're visiting Kauai soon, be sure to download your copy of one of our updated 2023 Kauai Visitor Guides. We've updated both travel guides with a lot of new great information for potential visitors (and those who've been a time or two as well).
