New hotels in Kauai

Kauai, Hawaii's oldest and northernmost main island, splits into a handful of distinct coasts rather than one continuous resort strip: the sunny South Shore around Poipu, the North Shore around Princeville and Hanalei, the East Side around Lihue and Kapaa, the West Side around Waimea Canyon, and the roadless Na Pali Coast, reachable only on foot or by boat. This guide tracks one verified opening so far: Hale Hōkūala Kaua'i, Curio Collection by Hilton, the first hotel under Hilton's Curio Collection anywhere in Hawaii, set to open near Lihue in late September 2026.

What to do

A few days on the South or North Shore

Poipu, on the sunnier South Shore, centers on Poipu Beach Park — a calm, reef-protected stretch popular with families and known for the Hawaiian monk seals that regularly haul out on the sand. Princeville and Hanalei, on the North Shore, sit at the edge of the Na Pali Coast: Hanalei Bay's crescent beach and small plantation-era town are a common base for exploring, while the cliffside golf courses and resorts of Princeville look out over the same coastline from above. The North Shore is best visited outside winter, when swells can make the water rough.

A full week

A week leaves room for Kauai's interior and west side. Waimea Canyon, nicknamed the "Grand Canyon of the Pacific," cuts nearly 3,000 feet deep across the island's west side, with lookout points reachable by car and trails for longer hikes. The Kalalau Trail, along the Na Pali Coast, is Kauai's best-known hike — a demanding, permit-restricted route along sea cliffs with no road access — while shorter sections near the trailhead are open to day hikers without a permit. A helicopter or boat tour remains the only way most visitors see the full length of the Na Pali Coast, since no road has ever reached it.

Regions of Kauai

South Shore (Poipu)

Kauai's most reliably sunny coast and its established resort area, anchored by Poipu Beach and the small town of Koloa nearby.

North Shore (Princeville & Hanalei)

Cliffside resorts and golf courses around Princeville, and the beach town of Hanalei below, at the start of the Na Pali Coast. Calmer for swimming in summer; known for large surf in winter.

East Side (Lihue & Kapaa)

Home to Lihue Airport and most of the island's shops and services, plus the Coconut Coast around Kapaa. Hale Hōkūala Kaua'i, this guide's one tracked opening, sits within the Hokuala Resort community here, close to the airport.

West Side (Waimea Canyon)

Waimea Canyon and the island's drier western coast, largely given over to state parks and forest reserve rather than resort development.

Na Pali Coast

A roadless stretch of sea cliffs on the northwest coast, protected as state wilderness and accessible only by the Kalalau Trail, boat or helicopter.

Frequently asked questions

What hotels does this guide track on Kauai?

One so far: Hale Hōkūala Kaua'i, Curio Collection by Hilton, the first Curio Collection property in Hawaii, opening near Lihue in late September 2026 within the Hokuala Resort community. Our editorial team has not yet verified and published any other Kauai hotel openings — check back as coverage expands.

Which coast of Kauai has the best weather?

The South Shore, around Poipu, is generally the sunniest and driest part of the island, which is why it developed as Kauai's primary resort coast.

Can you drive the entire coastline of Kauai?

No. The Na Pali Coast, on the northwest side, has no road and never has — the highway dead-ends at Haena in the north and Polihale in the west, with the coast in between reachable only by trail, boat or helicopter.

Do you need a permit to hike the Kalalau Trail?

Yes, for the full trail into Kalalau Valley. Shorter sections near the Haena trailhead are open to day hikers without a permit, but continuing past roughly the two-mile mark requires an advance permit through Hawaii's state parks system.