Princeville is a development of some 500 acres on the north shore of Kauai, between the towns of Hanalei and Kilauea. What started as a coffee plantation in the mid-1800s is now the largest planned Resort Community on Kauai.

Princeville is home to some of the finest resorts, golf courses and restaurants on the islands. Kauai’s north shore is also where you’ll find some of the most spectacular scenery in Hawaii.

Other area activities include tennis, golf, windsurfing, kayaking, fishing, sailing, helicopter tours and shopping. You can arrange for a private guided jungle hike, waterfall excursion or kayaking adventure. Just outside of Princeville along Highway 56 is a beautiful scenic overlook that is marked by a Hawaiian warrior state marker. From here you can look out over the lush Hanalei Valley.

Princeville is ideally located on the scenic north coast, making it a good home base while touring all the area attractions . . . It is one of the world's most beautiful spots.

Hanalei: The history and charm of Old Hawai'i lingers in the north shore town of Hanalei. Its lush pastoral landscape, combined with the cultural and historic way of life, make Hanalei a place of extraordinary beauty.

Kilauea: Kilauea Lighthouse
and Wildlife Refuge

The ocean cliffs and open grassy slopes of an extinct volcano provide breeding grounds for native Hawaiian seabirds and Hawaii's state bird, the nene, an endangered Hawaiian goose.

Hanapepe: From World War I to the early 1950s, west side Hanapepe was one of Kaua'i's busiest towns. During the second World War, the coastal village was alive with thousands of GIs and sailors who were sent from the Mainland and the rest of Hawai'i to train for Pacific Theater duty and to shore up Kaua'i's defenses.

Today, Hanapepe exudes an old-fashioned appeal, with its vintage cars, plantation-era buildings and slow-paced lifestyle. One of the most fascinating sites in Hanapepe is the salt pond. Hawaiian families hold special deeds to the shallow red clay soil pits and they work hard to dry the salty sea water into rock salt, used to cure meat and for medicinal purposes.

Koloa: This 19th century plantation town was the site of Hawai'i's first successful sugar mill. Remains of the old mill still exist. Nearby is a sculpture that depicts the history of the area and the various ethnic groups that made their mark on Kaua'i's sugar industry.

Koloa residents were the first to use plantation scrip to purchase goods, initiating a new style of commerce in the islands. The town also boasts the island's first Catholic church and elementary school. Koloa Landing, on the edge of town, was the state's third largest whaling port in the 1800s and also was used for the export of raw sugar and sweet potatoes.

Lihu'e: Kaua'i's history can be traced to the beginning and growth of the sugar plantations. A visit to the Grove Farm Homestead in Lihu'e provides visitors with a fascinating look into the island's past. Grove Farm, one of the earliest sugar plantations, was founded in 1864. Today, this historic site museum showcases the old sugar days and Hawai'i's politics from the monarchy to statehood. A two and one-half hour tour takes visitors throughout the property, which includes the gracious old Wilcox home and the cottage of the plantation housekeeper situated amidst tropical gardens, orchards and rolling lawns. Cost is $5 per person and the tours are given on Monday, Wednesday and Thursday. Reservations required.  Phone (808) 245-3202.