Kauai Town Guide

Anahola

Anahola is an east Kauai community known for Hawaiian Home Lands, Anahola Beach Park, Kalalea Mountain, local food stops and a quiet shoreline setting.

Plan Your Visit
Anahola

Anahola, Kauai

Anahola is a small village located on the east shore of Kauai, approximately 14 miles (22.5 km) from Lihue. The old part of the village is located along the bay, and the new commercial part is located along the highway. The area is designated Hawaiian Homelands, a residential area available to Native Hawaiian people.

There is a general store, a burger place and a post office. A nearby attraction is the Na 'Aina Kai Botanical Garden – a 240-acre well-maintained tropical garden. Guided tours are being offered for a fee. The jagged mountain that you can see from Anahola (on the mountain side of town) is called Kalalea Mountain, also known as King Kong's Profile.

If you love secluded beaches, there are some near Anahola, including Anahola Beach Park, a very large sandy beach that is usually empty.

Key Features

Small east Kauai community north of Kapaa
Important Hawaiian Home Lands area
Close to Anahola Beach Park and Anahola Bay
Kalalea Mountain rises above town and is nicknamed King Kong's Profile
Local food stops and small services are near the highway
Na 'Aina Kai Botanical Gardens is a short drive north
Residential roads and beach access points require respectful parking
Quieter than Kapaa and the main resort areas
Good stop for beach scenery during an east Kauai drive
Population: 2,243 at the 2020 Census
ZIP code: 96703

Featured selection

Vacation rentals in Kilauea / Anahola

Explore Kilauea / Anahola rentals

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Anahola mean?

Anahola is often translated as deadly cave, though place-name meanings can vary by source and tradition. The name belongs to a long-settled east Kauai area near Anahola Bay.

Why is Anahola important to Native Hawaiian history?

Anahola is one of Kauai's important Hawaiian Home Lands communities. That gives the area a strong residential and cultural identity that is different from resort towns nearby.

What is Kalalea Mountain?

Kalalea Mountain is the jagged mountain visible above Anahola. Its outline is often nicknamed King Kong's Profile because the ridge can resemble a face from certain angles.

How is Anahola different from Kapaa?

Kapaa has more shops, traffic, restaurants and visitor services. Anahola is smaller and more residential, with a quieter beach setting and a stronger Hawaiian Home Lands character.

What nearby places are easy to combine with Anahola?

Anahola Beach Park, Aliomanu Beach, Kealia, Kapaa, Kilauea and Na 'Aina Kai Botanical Gardens can all fit into an east or northeast Kauai drive.