Kapaa Town Sights
February 19, 2010
Places to stop by in Kapaa town...
Kapaa is a fairly small town even though it's in Kawaihau, one of the largest
districts on Kauai. Kawaihau has one third of Kauai's 63,000 population. And as little as
Kapaa is, it's quite full of many small businesses and shops catering to
visitors and locals as you'll see below. This page lists what's within
walking distance from the "core" of the town; places further than that
follow. Otherwise you can use the
Kauai County
Bus to go to most areas of Kauai if you don't have a car. For a
"looksee" of the town, here's some panoramic
photos. E-mail me
(kkbedbath@aloha.net) about any place you have questions on.
Some businesses mentioned here will give discounts if you show a copy of
this web page to them, or if you mention you read about them here. Be
sure to look for those deals below. The listings are broken up into
the following categories so you don't have to page through all of them:
Kawamura Building... Hula Girl, The Vintage Collection,
and Jacques Amo Fine Jewelry
Local Grinds... places to eat and snack
Shops... a wide variety to choose from
Beach, sun and sand... definitely not far away!
Household Stores... things needed around the home
Banks... ATMs at all of these as well as most grocery
stores
Churches... lots of these too
Real Estate... if you're interested
Medical... hope you don't need this info
Others... non-visitor related places
Kawamura Building:
Hula Girl, The Vintage
Collection, specializes in Hawaiian clothing, souvenirs and collectibles
with a 1950's theme. Stop by and see the 5 foot tall cast-bronze Hula Girl
lamp and the vintage surfboard! Feel free to e-mail them too at
p_riskus@yahoo.com if you have any requests after visiting them.
Jacques Amo Fine Jewelry is a
full service, independent jewelry store specializing in creating unique, custom
designs. Unlike other shops that simply buy and sell, Jacques (born and
raised in Tahiti) conceives, casts, mounts and fabricates all of his wearable
artwork himself.
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Past business information
The Kauai
Historical Society closed their Kapaa History Shop at the end of 2001.
Interpretive guides are still leading groups on
Kapaa Town Walking
Tours but are now starting from Pono Kai Resort (once a pineapple cannery),
just one block south. Each tour by this non-profit organization points out
historically significant buildings along Kuhio Highway and Kapaa's shoreline,
and will take you back in time to the "old plantation days." Reservations
are required and can be made by calling (808) 245-3373. Tours are Tuesday,
Thursday and Saturday at 10 a.m. E-mail
khs@hawaiilink.net if you have any other questions.
In April, 1999, Kayak Kauai
Outbound relocated to a new location further south at the Coconut
Marketplace. Take a printout of this page there and get a 10%
discount on rentals or tours. Be sure to talk to Chino or Micco
because no one else will know about the K.K. Bed & Bath discount.
Joe the Barber retired during Thanksgiving, 1996, to
his home after 22 years in his little corner shop. A fixture in Kapaa for
many more years than that, he hung up his shears at the end of June 2004.
Sadly, Joe passed away in April 2006.
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What about food? There are lots of places to
eat (again, all within walking distance).
A Taste of Paradise Kauai's House of Noodles (Hamura Saimin
in Lihue is still the
best!),
Pono Market (laulau, poke, sushi, plate lunches and
marriage licenses! Closed on Sundays.),
Ono Family Restaurant (ask for a 10% discount by showing your room key),
Burger King,
Hawaiian Blizzard Shave
Ice (find Aaron with the best and finest shave ice on Kauai just
outside the door of Big Save grocery store weekday afternoons only),
Sukhothai Restaurant,
and Verde Mexican Restaurant.
Heading north, Olympic Cafe,
Casa Bianca,
Full Moon Bakery,
ABC Discount Store (daily needs and snacks),
TJ Variety & Video Products (Filipino snacks),
Sushi Bushido,
Norberto's El Cafe,
Pizzetta Italian Restaurant & Topaz,
The Eastside Restaurant,
Mermaids Cafe (stir-fry, salads and wraps),
Java Kai (coffee shop),
Higashi Store (local style lunch),
Bubba Burgers (you'll find better burgers at TnT further north or Ono-Char
Burger in Anahola!),
Kountry Kitchen,
Small Town Coffee Co. & Exchange,
TnT Steak Burgers (in Kojima's parking lot),
along with No. 1 Chinese & BBQ plate lunches,
Scotty's Beachside BBQ and
The Coconut Cup Juice Bar.
And there are grocery stores like Big Save (with lunch-time plate lunch deli),
Cost-U-Less (Kauai's version of Costco, no membership required, accepts all
major credit cards), Hoku Foods (on Lehua Street behind the Dragon building) and
Kojima's Market.
Shopping might be a chore due to so many
choices! Clothes: In addition to Hula Girl's large selection,
there's
TAJ Beach Club (Aloha wear),
Hee Fat General Store (more Aloha wear),
Vicky's Fabric Shop (for all your sewing needs),
Work It Out (active lifestyle clothing),
Tropical Tantrum,
Hawaiian Wear Factory,
Island Hemp & Cotton,
Catwalk Clothing Co.,
Overboard (clothing),
DeJaVu Surf Outlet (f.k.a. M. Miura Store),
The Root (lingerie, accessories),
Collectible Designs,
Birkenstock shoe store,
Coconut Coast Gifts and
Tamba Surf Company (surf-related clothes and supplies).
Just keep walking around and you'll find a variety of things at
Kela's Glass Gallery,
Men's Hardwear,
The Glass Shack ("live" blown glass artwork),
A. Ell Atellier (in the Kawamoto Store),
Jim Saylor Jewelers,
A Vintage Boutique,
Larry's Music City Boutique,
Lotus Gallery,
Earth & Sea Gallery,
The JEM/Wyland Gallery (across from the ABC Store),
Alley Cat Art,
Ship Store Gallery,
ALOHA Images,
Orchid Alley,
Mineral Amorphia (crystals, precious stones, minerals),
TLC Consignment Boutique,
and near the north end of town, Kauai Products Market with
Red Dirt Shirts,
Kauai Jewelry & Camera Co. and
Oriental Garden Gallery.
Be sure to also visit the Kauai Products Fair next door every Wednesday through
Sunday, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Across the highway is Kauai Movie Tours (on- and off-road filming locations).
If you can't find activity ideas at Kayak Kauai, shop for or rent more outdoor
sports equipment at
Hele On Kauai (bike rentals at the Roxy Square),
Kauai Cycle & Tour (located across from Taco Bell)
or
Coconut Coasters Beach Bike Rentals (by the County swimming pool).
But if you need activity information before flying to Kauai, I highly
recommend contacting Lilikoi at Try Kauai!
The beach is only a block or
two away from the highway! Kapaa
Beach is usually quiet, calm and never crowded. It faces east so
you'll get to see a beautiful sunrise if you're up
early. ( Officially open!)
There's also an absolutely wonderful pedestrian and bicycle path along this
shore that takes you from Waikaea Canal to Kapaa Beach Park (with the Kauai
Police mini-substation) and the
Kapaa Library. Continue on this wide concrete path
across Moikeha Canal to the Kapaa Neighborhood Center, the County swimming pool
and out of Kapaa Town past Kealia Beach along beautiful, pristine shorelines all
the way to Donkey Beach and Kuna Bay for a total of 4 miles. For more
info, visit www.KauaiPath.org, the organization promoting more paths
throughout Kauai; or look at
some photos I've taken on the path's construction progress. If you're
adventurous, you could continue bicycling further north through old cane field
roads all the way to Anahola Beach Park! The latter is truly off-road
through bumpy gravel sections and dirt trails overgrown with thick cattle grass
and bushes.
If you should ever need household items or
services, try
Kapaa Ace Hardware,
Kapaa Laundry Center,
One Hour Photo,
Pono Cleaners,
Kawamoto's Store (Maytag appliances),
Kauai Marine & Mower and
Islandwide Solar.
On Lehua Street is Specialty Lumber.
Need a hair cut? Try
Fantastic Sams (near Burger King),
Donna's Hair Design,
Soul Play Hair Salon,
Paradise Beauty Center,
The Beauty Shop at Hotel Coral Reef
and
Hale-O-Hair (next to Kojima's grocery store, call 822-3321 for an
appointment).
You need spending money? Well, ATMs are easy to
locate. Besides finding them in almost every grocery store, Kapaa has
several banks with ATMs to "hit up" for money:
Bank of Hawaii (American Express, Discover, MasterCard, Visa, Plus, Cirrus,
Star, JCB, Armed Forces Financial Network, Sharecard and Quest);
First Hawaiian Bank (MasterCard, Visa, Cirrus, Citicorp, Plus, JCB and Star
System cards) and
American Savings Bank (MasterCard, Visa, Cirrus, Plus, Star System, American
Express Cash, Discover) located in Kapaa as well as further south in
Foodland.
All ABC Discount Stores have ATMs but charge a fee. Most stores take
Travelers Cheques (U.S. $) while "everyone" takes credit and debit cards.
Every Sunday is filled with a mixture of church
sounds. Kapaa Hawaiian Church, Kapaa United Church of Christ,
Kapaa Assembly of God Church, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints,
Kapaa Hongwanji Mission, Kapaa Seventh-day Adventist Church, Kapaa Baptist
Church, Christian Science Society Kauai and All Saints Church.
Naturally we have many real estate offices.
Summers Realty has many listings on Kauai's east and north sides. There
are also others like
Garden Island Properties,
Prudential All Star Realty,
Vision Properties,
Island Rentals & Real Estate,
Iguana Properties,
Foundation Mortgage,
Hawaii Life Real Estate Services,
Kauai Dreams Realty,
Blue Hawaii Properties,
First Hawaiian Mortgage.
I hope you don't need medical help, but here are
the closest places:
Ogawa Chiropractic,
Kapaa Clinic-Kauai Medical Group (Mon-Fri 8-5, Sat 8-noon),
Dr. Chad Bennis Chiropractor,
Ishida Family Dentistry,
Dr. Quarton Ophthalmologist,
Bodhi Tree Yoga,
Michael's Massage,
Dr. Esaki Family Practice,
Smith Chiropractic & Wellness Center,
Colonics Healing Center,
Hatha Yoga Kauai,
Kapaa Animal Clinic (for pets only!) and
the East Kauai Professional Building.
On the hill above the north end of Kapaa Town, you'll find Mahelona Medical
Center on Kawaihau Road with its emergency room.
Other shops that might not fit into any "tourist
activity" category are...
NAPA Auto Parts,
Computer Hospital,
Kuhio Motors,
Business Support Services (with Fedex, UPS, DHL & Notary Public),
Sign & Print Machine,
Akamai Computer Center (located behind Ono Family Restaurant),
Manny's Sports (uniforms and soccer gear),
Kauai Aquarium,
Ocean View Used Cars,
Allen Associates (Built-to-Ship homes),
Kapaa Electric Shop,
Tropic Pool & Spa,
The Dog House (dog groomer),
Clear View (glass & mirror),
Honsador Design Center/Alpha Electric Supply Co.,
SANS Institute,
Little Tsunami Tattoo,
State Farm Insurance and
Otsuka's Furniture store.
If all that wasn't enough, heading further south of downtown Kapaa and easily by
car or bicycle you'll find several clusters of stores and restaurants along the
highway. You would have passed these on the way from the Lihue airport...
Hale Lani Christian Store in the large, red gymnasium building at All Saints
Church. Across Kuhio Highway is the Dive Kauai SCUBA center.
Old Wailua Clubhouse (ocean-side of highway): Seasport Divers
(10% discount on snorkel & SCUBA equipment rentals when you show this
page. Look for the yellow submarine on the highway.), Dr. Mark Baird
(dentist), Puamana Massage and Dr. Bob Swiryn Chiropractor.
Across Kuhio Highway from them on the mountain-side is Kauai Music & Sound.
Waipouli Complex: Maile's
Barber Shop, Da Kine Wine, KCL Barbecue (Chinese-style plate lunches),
Popo's Cookies, Ohana Diner (Hawaiian food) and Ola
Massage.
Little Sprouts Playhouse (play and exercise center for children and parents),
Aloha Dance Studio, Jose's Welding
and Greenlight Creative Arts Center.
Yasuda Center: Kauai Plantation Store, Kauai Pasta (Italian cafe &
take-out), Nani Moon Mead (tropical honey wine), Pua Lei - A Flower Shop and
Kauai Photo & Art Tours. Next door you'll find Taco Bell (with Pizza
Hut Express).
Waipouli Plaza: The Shell Factory, Kauai Optometric Center (good place
for visitors to repair eye glasses, replace contacts or wash sand from their
eyes), Plaza Hair, King & I Thai Cuisine, Waipouli Variety Store (visitor
gifts and fishing supplies), Pay Day Hawaii (cash advance until payday), Nail
& Tanning Salon and Waipouli Massage.
Kauai Choy Village: Island Palm (island style grill & bar) and Lemon
Grass Grill & Seafood. Also in the back: Sweet Bikinis; Bliss, A
Salon; and The Yoga House.
Kauai Village Shopping Center: Safeway (don't forget your Club
Card!),
a visitor information booth,
Imperial Jewelers,
Divine Planet,
Subway Sandwiches,
Pacific Island Bistro (formerly Panda Garden Chinese Restaurant, same owners),
Cold Stone Creamery,
Starbucks Coffee,
ABC Store (another),
Vitamin World,
Supercuts,
Panda Express (Chinese fast food),
Papaya's Natural Foods & Cafe (with their new larger market),
The Children of the Land (formerly
Discovery Museum),
Old Republic Title & Escrow of Hawaii,
Remax Kauai,
Pau Hana Bar & Grill,
UPS Store,
Bali Teak & Stone,
Pho Vy (Vietnamese cuisine) and
Longs Drugstore (CVS Pharmacy).
There is now a pedestrian bridge over
the canal between Safeway and Foodland to make shopping both centers easier.
Waipouli Center: McDonalds,
Pizza Hut,
Kauai Kraze (women's and men's accessories),
Blockbuster Video,
Waipouli Restaurant,
Fun Factory (amusement center),
The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf and
Foodland Grocery Store with American Savings Bank.
Nearby are L&L Hawaiian BBQ (local plate lunches),
Wahooo's Seafood Grill & Bar and
Garden Island Motorsports (motorcycle sales, formerly Cycle City Kauai/Two
Wheels).
Across the highway toward the ocean you'll find
Sweet Marie
(gluten-free confections from scratch),
Bobby V's Italian Restaurant Pizzeria,
The Bull Shed Restaurant (ocean-view prime rib eating),
Ambrose's Kapuna Surf Shop & Art Gallery,
Marta's Boat (children's clothes),
Kapaa Missionary Church,
Boss Frog's Dive & Surf and
Snorkel Bob's.
If you need to fill your car before leaving town, Kapaa has Shell and Chevron
gas stations which take major credit cards at the pumps. After all, you
are going to tour the island, aren't you?
