The Most Charming River Towns In Hawaii

There are few navigable rivers in Hawaii, and only five of the islands, Kaua’i, Maui, O’ahu, Moloka’i, and Hawaii (the Big Island), have a high enough elevation to capture rain clouds for stream-generating precipitation. Though these streams are small in size, they do house a proportionately small native freshwater ecosystem. For example, Hawaii has five native species of fish in its streams. Native Hawaiians who depended on these rivers believed that they represented a connection between the mountains and the ocean. While rivers may not be what many people automatically associate with Hawaii, there are several charming river towns on the islands with unique connections to the local waterways.

Wailua, Kaua’i

The town of Wailua on the eastern shore of the island of Kaua’i features the Wailua River, the only navigable river in Hawaii, winding through the town to its mouth, where it meets the Pacific Ocean in the Wailua Bay. It is a very small town, but there is a small variety of hotels, restaurants, and shops available for visitors. Wailua is a good place to stay for people hoping to explore the Wailua River. At Smith’s Tropical Paradise in Wailua, just across the river from the town and inside the Wailua River State Park, visitors can wander a thirty-acre botanical and cultural garden, book Wailua River cruise boats to the Fern Grotto, and even see the most popular luau on Kaua’i, which Smith’s Tropical Paradise hosts. Another Wailua-area landmark is the Wailua Complex of Heiaus, a National Historical Landmark in Wailua River State Park near the mouth of the Wailua River. This complex used to be the political center of the island for ancient Hawaiians. This site is accessible via the Wailua Heritage Trail, which takes visitors to several notable Wailua landmarks beginning at Wailua Bay.

Hale’iwa, Oahu

Hale’iwa, on O'ahu’s North Shore, is an old-fashioned, laid-back surf town with famously lovely beaches, offering a slower-paced alternative to Honolulu on the island of O'ahu. Waimea Beach Park, just north of the town’s center via Kamehameha Highway, is a beautiful beach with waves that make it a well-known surfing destination. Hale’iwa Beach Park is another established surfing destination just outside of town, hosting many local surf events and even giving visitors the opportunity to engage in other ocean activities like swimming, fishing, sea turtle spotting, and much more. The local restaurant scene is well-established, with a variety of local favorites carving their niches into Hale’iwa’s culture. Haleiwa Joe’s is famous for its tropical food menu, cocktails, and fresh seafood. Matsumoto Shave Ice is an iconic destination for a sweet treat after a day of surfing. The Anahulu River in Hale’iwa adds to the variety of activities available to visitors, including paddleboarding and kayaking on the river and taking scenic photographs on the Anahulu Bridge, nicknamed the Rainbow Bridge, that straddles the river. Other local attractions include art galleries, farmers’ markets, and the Hale’iwa War Memorial.

Hanapēpē, Kaua’i

Hanapēpē is a river town that has maintained close ties with its roots. Asian immigrant entrepreneurs developed the town over one hundred years ago, and the historic downtown district has changed little in its appearance. The Disney movie Lilo & Stitch features several historic buildings in Hanapēpē. The town also boasts at least eight fine art galleries, a children's theater, shops, and restaurants. The town’s welcome sign describes Hanapēpē as “Kaua’i’s biggest little town.”

The Hanapēpē Swinging Bridge over the Hanapēpē River, a pedestrian bridge linking the town to the tropical wilderness that surrounds it, is a unique representation of the history of the town. Plantation workers built the bridge to be able to access the fields in which they worked from the town. The bridge bounces and sways as people walk across it because of its architectural design: wooden planks and steel cables comprise the suspension of the bridge. As a result, it is a popular destination for visitors looking for a small thrill as they observe the lush, calm views of the Hanapēpē Valley from the bridge.

Kapa’a, Kaua’i

Kapa’a, on Kaua’i’s southeast coast, neighboring the town of Wailua and near a stretch of the Wailua River, is another town with a plantation history. Rice was a very common crop in the area, and the region had many pineapple and sugarcane plantations. Today, Kapa’a is the largest town on the island, making it a major Kaua'i shopping destination. There are multiple nearby beaches, including Lydgate Beach Park, which is a great beach for swimming. Outdoor activities like kayaking or paddleboarding along the 20-mile Wailua River and going to see the Wailua Falls are easily accessible from Kapa’a. Wailua Falls, along the Wailua River, is a double-tiered waterfall that became famous for its appearance in the opening scene of the television series Fantasy Island. No hiking is necessary to see the falls, with the parking lot already almost overlooking them, so Wailua Falls is a very popular destination for visitors looking for an easily accessible tropical view.

There are also many popular food spots in Kapa’a, including the Musubi Truck, serving a beloved Hawaiian lunch staple, Wailua Shave Ice, another food truck, and Pono Market, where the deli serves reasonably-priced poke and laulau that visitors can bring to the nearby Keālia Beach to eat.

Hilo, Hawaii

Hilo, on the Hilo Bay on the northeast coast of the Big Island, is the seat of Hawaii County. It is also the business hub of the island and the home of the University of Hawaii at Hilo and Hawaii Community College. Hilo is the US’s wettest city, receiving over 130 inches of rainfall per year, and, as a result, has many lush parks and gardens. The Lili’uokalani Gardens are Japanese-style gardens dedicated to the memory of Queen Lili’uokalani, reflecting the heavy influence of Japanese immigrants in Hawaii. There is also a large orchid industry in Hilo, so there are several orchid gardens that visitors can enjoy. Visitors can learn about Hilo’s history at the Pacific Tsunami Museum, which memorializes the victims of the tsunamis that have struck Hilo throughout history, and the Lyman Museum and Mission House, which houses artifacts from the early missionary and whaling periods in Hilo.

Accessible via Waiānuenue Avenue in downtown Hilo is Wailuku River State Park, which has two separate park areas. The first is Boiling Pots, which is a series of large pools linked by an underground flow or cascade, making the water on the surface roil as if it is boiling. The second park area is Rainbow Falls, an 80-foot waterfall over a lava ledge with mist that creates a rainbow frequently during the mornings. This waterfall, according to Hawaiian legend, was the home of Hina, the demigod Maui’s mother.

Hanalei, Kaua’i

Hanalei is a small village on the north-central shore of the island of Kaua’i in Hanalei Valley, near the head of Hanalei Bay. Hanalei is a very peaceful and rural town, accessible by a one-lane historic steel bridge over the 16-mile-long Hanalei River. The two-mile white sand beach at Hanalei Bay is a beautiful place to fish, swim, or surf. The historic pier extends 340 feet out from the beach, providing the perfect place to take in the views of the beach and the surrounding mountains and waterfalls.

The Hanelei food scene also provides a unique draw to this tiny town. Hanalei Poke is a very popular poke restaurant that began as a food truck and gained wide recognition on the Food Network. Tahiti Nui is a family-run restaurant that serves island classics like coconut shrimp and kalua pig, as well as a famous mai tai with a secret recipe. The original location of Holey Grail, a donut shop notable for its plant-based creations, now with locations in Los Angeles and on O'ahu, is in Hanalei, where it began selling taro donuts out of a trailer in 2018. In fact, much of Hawaii’s taro supply grows in the Hanalei area. Just outside of the town of Hanalei, in the Hanalei Valley, is the Hanalei National Wildlife Refuge, which is closed to the public, but visitors can overlook it from an observation point in Princeville on Kūhiō Highway.

Waimea, Kaua’i

At the mouth of the Waimea River sits the town of Waimea on the southwestern coast of the island of Kaua’i. “Waimea” means “reddish water,” in reference to the red tint of the soil in the region, which turns the river and ocean nearby red. This red soil is particularly visible in Waimea Canyon, located around an hour from the town. The Waimea River created Waimea Canyon, which is around ten miles wide and 3000 feet deep. In the canyon, the Waimea River drops 800 feet over Waipo’o Falls, a two-tiered waterfall.

In the town of Waimea itself, there is a black sand beach with Waimea Pier extending out into the ocean. On the other side of town, the Waimea Sugar Mill Camp Museum exhibits information about the history of the sugar trade in the region. Waimea had many sugar plantations because sugar was a primary economic driver in the region, but production has since declined significantly. Some well-known nearby spots for a bite to eat include Island Taco and JoJo’s Shave Ice.

Hawaii’s Hidden River Gems

Hawaii is not particularly famous for its rivers, but towns like Wailua, Hale’iwa, Hanapēpē, Kapa’a, Hilo, Hanalei, and Waimea are ideal destinations for people looking to explore river communities in Hawaii. They are each scenic, culturally unique, and offer a wide variety of activities and destinations for visitors. The role of rivers in Hawaii’s history and native ecosystem is lesser-known outside of Hawaii than the role of the Pacific Ocean, but there is a lot to learn, and Hawaii’s river towns present an opportunity to gain a little bit of that knowledge.