Our Location

Hanalei Retreat is located in the heart of Kauai's north shore, just a four minute walk from the beautiful world-renowned crescent shaped beach at Hanalei Bay. The area is blessed with stunning mountain views and waterfall vistas. Hanalei bay is known for fantastic surfing during the winter months.

Shopping and restaurants are just a short walk from the homes.
Nearby activities include:

• Hiking (including the famous Kalalau Trail on the Na Pali Coast)
• Swimming, Surfing, Diving, and Snorkeling
• World class golf at Princeville
• Boat and helicopter tours
• River and ocean kayaking
• Windsurfing
• Fishing
• Sailing

Aerial photo courtesy of Brad Dawber Photography

HANALEI: Some interesting facts

“If Puff the Magic Dragon had resided in the sunshine of Hanalei instead of the mists of Hanalee, Little Jackie Paper would still be hangin’ around. You know you’re entering a magic land the minute you drop down from the heights and cross the Hanalei River.”
(quoted from Moon Handbooks, Kauai by Robert Nilsen)

Hanalei (which means crescent bay) is located on the North Shore on Hwy. 560. It’s a small Hawaiian village which has many unique shops, terrific restaurants, ocean activities, and historical sites. The village is the gateway to the Napali coast for hiking and the Hanalei River for kayaking, not to mention the famous Hanalei Bay for surfing. Hanalei is known for its laid-back atmosphere and is home to one of the most magnificent bays in the whole state of Hawaii. In this small, quaint town live a wide variety of people—long-time locals, new-age types, surfers, celebrities and any type you can think of. You’ll see cars ranging from Mercedes to junkers in the village market parking lots.

Hanalei was one of the main ports and the pier was built in 1892 from where ships would dock. The pier was featured in the movie South Pacific. In the old days, taro was produced here. When white people came, they tried planting coffee that failed and sugar cane which eventually wasn’t profitable. Then the Chinese planted rice and this was profitable until the 1930’s. Amazingly, this valley began to revert back to taro patches which it produces now. Nearly all the poi (which is made from taro) that is eaten in Hawaii is grown in the Hanalei Valley. Poi has always been a stable in the Hawaiian diet.

Waioli Valley (the ridges outside of Hanalei town) is known as “birthplace of rainbows”. After it rains, there are numerous spectacular waterfalls to be seen and gawked at! Occasionally, after heavy rains, the road will be closed at the bridge before you go into Hanalei. There are several bridges from Hanalei to the end of the road (10 miles to Ke’e Beach) and they are one-lane. Hawaiian etiquette is that about 6 cars through at a time. Then you wait for the opposite side to go through. The Waipa Bridge was built in 1912 for $4000 and has never needed repair! The state was going to replace this with a $5 million bridge but the locals banded together and squashed that idea.

The Hanalei River has been designated an American Heritage River -- one of only 14 in the nation and the only one whose total length is so designated.

One of the most picturesque churches on the island is the deep green clapboard Wai’oli Hui’ia Church that is located on the road as you leave Hanalei.