Kauai Geography & Weather
» Kauai Micro-Climates » Live Princeville Webcam » Pacific Weather Image » Kauai Weather Report » Printable Kauai Maps » Best GuidebooksDowntown Kauai
Weather and Lifestyle
Each geographic area of Kauai is unique in climate and life style. People will have different opinions about the strengths and weaknesses of an area, and attractiveness to live or visit, but a general summary follows.
The 'downtown' area is the major population and commercial center, where our civic buildings, hospital, medical group, with most services and major stores (Wilcox Memorial Hospital, Kauai Medical Clinic, Sears, K-Mart, Wal-Mart, Longs drug store, Marriott Resort, and car dealers), and the Lihue airport. The most popular beach is Nawiliwili, next to the Marriott. Downtown is also on the eastern edge of Kauai.
Monthly rainfall 2-6"
Something for Everyone
Kauai is the island where people who live in the state of Hawaii go to vacation, and most think it is the best island to live on. And remember, as a resident of Hawaii, you are a kama'aina, a local. As such, you get big discounts on hotels and airfare (For instance, round trip air fares to other islands start as low as $98, and most hotels are half the regular price).Kauai Monthly Rainfall
Main Geographic Areas
- North Shore
Kilauea, Princeville - 3-4"
Hanalei, Haena, Wainiha - 5-7" - Eastside - 2-6"
Anahola, Kealia, Kapaa, Wailua - Downtown - 2-6"
Hanamaulu, Puhi, and Lihue, our county seat - South Shore - 3-4"
Koloa, Poipu, Lawai, Kalaheo - Westside - 1-3"
Port Allen, Hanapepe, Ele'ele, Waimea, Kekaha, Mana - Na Pali - 6-7"
Na Pali (literally, 'The Cliffs,' in Hawaiian), the State Parks around Na Pali and Waimea Canyon, most of the inaccessible-by-road island interior
Rainfall Comparison to other Island Resort Areas
- Oahu - Honolulu 1-4" monthly
- Big Island - Kona Coast 3-5" monthly
- Big Island - Kohala Coast 1-2" monthly
- Big Island - Hilo 5-12" monthly
- Maui - Wailea 3-4" monthly
- Maui - Ka'anapali 1-4" monthly
Kauai Weather statistics courtesy of the University of Hawaii, gathered over many decades (Univ. of Hawaii Press, Atlas of Hawaii, 3rd Ed., pages 56-57).
