Kauaʻi at a glance

Location: Northwesternmost of Hawaiʻi’s main islands (county seat: Līhuʻe).
Vibe: Low-rise, nature-forward, slower pace than Oʻahu/Maui; tourism, health care, agriculture, and small business drive the economy.

Demographics (Kauaʻi County)

• Population: ~73,840 (July 1, 2024 estimate). Density ~119 people/sq mi. Median age ~43.2. Census.govCensus Reporter

• Diversity: Strong multiracial/Native Hawaiian & Pacific Islander and Asian communities; ~13–14% foreign-born. Census ReporterData USA

• Age mix: Highest share of under-18s among Hawaiʻi counties (~21.1%). Hawaii Files

Points of interest & lifestyle anchors

• Nāpali Coast State Wilderness Park – world-class coastline; hiking/boating permits required. Department of Land and Natural Resources

• Waimea Canyon & Kōkeʻe State Parks – “Grand Canyon of the Pacific.” Note: Waimea Canyon Lookout is closed for a viewing-platform rebuild through early December 2025; other lookouts remain open.

• Wailua River State Park – Fern Grotto, river kayaking, falls. Hawaii Life

• Kīlauea Point National Wildlife Refuge & Lighthouse – seabirds, scenic lookout. Hawaii Life

• Beach towns: Hanalei/Princeville (North Shore), Kapa‘a/Wailua (East), Poʻipū/Kōloa (South), Waimea/Hanapēpē (West). Official state tourism overview: GoHawaii. Go Hawaii

Commercial nodes & retail corridors

• Līhuʻe (Central hub):

• Kukui Grove Center – island’s primary open-air mall; grocery, services, dining/entertainment.

• Hokulei Village – Safeway-anchored retail (also Petco, eateries).

• Harbor Mall (Nawiliwili) – retail/office across from the harbor.

• South Shore: The Shops at Kukuiʻula (Poʻipū) – upscale dining, galleries, weekly farmers’ market.

• East Side (Kapa‘a/Wailua): Coconut Marketplace – renovated open-air center with shops/dining.

• North Shore: Princeville Center – daily-needs retail/dining for Princeville/Hanalei.
  
  

Market update (2025 snapshot)

(Countywide; single-family unless noted. Always verify current numbers when advising clients.)

• July 2025 (Locations Hawaiʻi, using Hawaiʻi Information Service data):

• Median SF price: $1.43M (+3.9% YoY)

• Median condo price: $900k (+6.2% YoY)

• Active listings: 342 (SF), 197 (condo)

• Months of supply: 8.1 (SF), 8.7 (condo) — a buyer-leaning inventory compared with recent years. Data USA

Context: Inventory has rebuilt versus 2022–2023 lows; pricing remains elevated relative to pre-pandemic baselines, especially in resort sub-markets (Poʻipū, Princeville) where nightly-rentable condos and second-home demand influence comps. (Figures above summarize the latest publicly posted island roll-up.) Data USA