Located on the East Side of Kauai, Kalapaki Beach takes on its own persona. Kalapaki Beach and the surrounding area are sprinkled with multiple accommodations. The white sand beach and protected waters of Kalapaki Bay are a playground of activity on and off the water. Find a range of water activities, including surf lessons, SUP rentals, boogie boarding, beach volleyball, kayak tours, sailing, and relaxing under the shade of a palm tree. If water sports are not what you’re looking for, you can find zip-lining, land tours, shopping, and multiple dining choices to keep you entertained.
Take a swing at the Kauai Lagoons championship golf course on the bluff overlooking Kalapaki Bay. Fairways crisscross guava and mango tree forests alongside freshwater lagoons and skirt the dramatic ocean-side cliffs that give way to the most spectacular panorama of Kauai’s East Side. The Alekoko Scenic Overlook (Menehune Fishpond) is located just off of Hulemalu Road, about 1/2 a mile from the Nawiliwili small boat harbor entrance, designated as the Huleia National Wildlife Refuge in 1973 and now is a protected and beautiful home to many endemic water birds.
Adjacent Nawiliwili Harbor is the gateway to Kauai by Sea. International and inter-island cruise ships make Nawiliwili their port of call year-round. The small boat harbor tucked up in the harbor along the Huleia River is home to many sailboats that have found their way to paradise from ports worldwide. Here you can also find the fun and laid-back Nawiliwili Yacht Club. Weekly yacht races can be enjoyed from the jetty off the southern point of Kalapaki Bay.
Kalapaki is the most centrally located resort destination, making the drive to explore both the West Side and the North Shore somewhat equal, although opposite directions. This is important to remember if you plan to fully explore the entire island, as it will spare a rather lengthy drive should you stay on either the West Side or the North Shore and therefore need to drive from one side back to the other in one day.
Kalapaki is close to Lihue, the central hub for city government, development, and shopping. It is a trendy tourist destination, as does its population of smaller privately owned boutique hotels and other affordable accommodations.
