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Kauai Island, North shores 2026

Posted by (Omaha, NE) on

My husband and I have not yet been to the Hawaiian Islands, but hope to go in our lifetime.

We are retired, 78 & 80 years old, not independently wealthy, love to travel, and have recently learned we appreciate low-effort travel in which we can plop ourselves down in a beautiful area with a view, happily giving up the exploration and energetic sightseeing we've enjoyed in the past.

Our research for our next trip has led us to Kauai Island, the north shore area. It appears to be a location perfectly suited for us with fewer tourists, is reasonably peaceful and quiet, and has natural areas and beautiful views of mountains and sea.

We're aiming for late Jan or early Feb 2026 and are hoping to find pleasant, well-cared-for accommodations (not high-end, I.e., Hotel 1 Hanaly Bay!) for a ten- (or so) day stay. We're looking for a room for two, king or queen, with a balcony or terrace (and comfortable lounge chairs) providing outdoor access and a clear view of the sea and other environs. Also, something reasonably close to reasonably good restaurants (we’ll have a rental car.)

I've begun looking for accommodations in Princeville and am quickly learning that many of the hotels that boast balconies and views give priority to their high percentage of time-share owners and cannot guarantee any of the things we are requesting as independent hotel guests. I've not completed my research but thought I might save time and ultimate disappointment if I consulted with travelers in this community who have stayed in the Princeville area of Kauai and might have some perspectives overall and/or specific recommendations for accommodations that might come close to what we’re envisioning. Any other relevant advice is welcomed!

Thank you for your kind consideration.
Warm regards,
Mary

Posted by
68 posts

Not a Hawaii expert but noting that you have chosen the wettest part of the wettest island at the height of the rainy season.

Posted by
1633 posts

It's been more than 10 years since my last stay on Kauai, so I won't attempt to offer lodging suggestions. But on the west side of the island you have the bird sanctuary and Barking Sands Beach, both of which are excellent places to just sit and watch the world go by. The trail to Barking Sands is unpaved, and can be rutted, so it can be a chore, but the beach is great and never crowded.

Posted by
3043 posts

Long-time Kauai resident chiming in here.
As was mentioned, the weather on the north shore at that time of year can be a roll of the dice - it can be (and usually is) spectacular ... really other worldly beautiful. Thing is, the winter months can also see a week or more of solid rain - not the passing showers that you'll see most every day but true socked-in conditions that would spoil a once-in-a-lifetime visit. I'm not sure I'd risk it but it's your call.
Also, winter is high season up in Princeville and Hanalei which is probably why you're finding affordable accommodations difficult to come by.
Your safer bet for good weather on any of the islands is to head over to the south or west side (Poipu, Kalaheo, etc.), which is the "rain shadow" due to the prevailing northeast trade winds.
FWIW, we return to Hawaii every winter to visit family on Oahu, and usually add an extra week or so on the Big Island to decompress and generally chill out without the crowds (and the high prices) of the more resort-oriented destinations on the other neighbor islands. The area north of Kailua-Kona in particular has become our personal go-to destination before returning to the snows of Colorado. I can provide some suggestions for an affordable getaway if you're interested.
One comment: the beautiful state beach that KGC refers to is Polihale - located just to the north of the US Navy base at Barking Sands which has restricted entry policies. It truly is gorgeous, but the old cane haul road is indeed unpaved and usually badly rutted. You wouldn't want drive it in a rental car, and you'll void your rental car contract if you try.

Posted by
4131 posts

We are going to Kauai next week for 2 weeks splitting our time between the north shore and south. We typically stay in a condo and have had limited water views but we’ve been to this resort in Princeville where my cousin stays each year. https://www.hanaleibayresort.com/ They always have a room with mountain and Hanalei Bay views.

I can also recommend the location of the Westin hotel with many ocean views. https://www.marriott.com/en-us/hotels/lihwp-the-westin-princeville-ocean-resort-villas/overview/?scid=f2ae0541-1279-4f24-b197-a979c79310b0

Posted by
15 posts

We rented a condo at Pali Ke Kua and loved it--but it's been several years. There was a casual restaurant onsite and you could walk down a steep hill to the beach. It's the only part of Hawaii that we went to twice!

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