Even before you set foot on The Island of Kauai for your elopement, you’ll want to be prepared and know where you should stay! Each city and town in Kauai is unique, and offers various different experiences and vibes. Let’s take a tour to figure out where you’ll be staying during your Kauai elopement adventure.
Kauai is one of my favorite places to shoot elopements and weddings! There are so many magical spots to stay on the island.
Anahola + Waimea/Kekaha: Anahola has a higher theft rate, and Waimea is really, really rural and not much to do.
Where not to stay
Airport code: LIH (Lihue, Kauai)
In general, the south side of the island can be more resort-like and generally less rainy than most of the island! Towns like Poipu, Koloa, and Kalaheo are where you’ll find some quaint spots. Poipu is right on the shoreline so think beach access, hotels and condos. Kalaheo is higher up in the mountains but no more than 10-15 minutes from the beaches and towns. So think cooler temperatures and cute airbnb hideaways. The south shore is a great base for exploring the amazing landmarks and scenery of the west side such as Waimea Canyon and Polihale State Park.
(By far one of my favorite accommodations I've had clients stay in. It's minutes away from Poipu but located in Kalaheo so it is higher in elevation with stunning views and makes the perfect getting ready location and relaxing hideaway!)
You aren’t too far from Lihue airport if you choose to stay near the east side of Kauai, which can be a plus (the airport code here is LIH). There are also a lot of cool hotels which can be more budget friendly. The most populated town in Kauai, Kapa’a, has a bunch of shops and places to stay. And Wailua is somewhat more hotel based with lots of little restaurants nearby.
The North Shore is the go-to area for those seeking a natural Kauai experience. Here you will have daily views of the gorgeous, Jurassic park like mountains. There is more rain on this part of the island than others that leads to lush jungles and beautiful greenery. You’ll find staggering cliffs and mountains near towns such as Princeville, Kilauea and Hanalei. Hanalei Bay is another place that is really neat to explore. And if you’re big hikers, this area is the perfect base to hike parts of the Na Pali coast via the Kalalau Trail (you will need parking permits, or shuttle reservations to access the trail head).
click each city below for more details on where to stay!
And on that note...
No matter where you decide to stay in Kauai during your elopement trip, I just know you’ll pick the perfect place based on what is important to you and your partner.
