Kauai’s “place in the wind” has scenic beauty and island charm
Pacific views and mountain scenery greet the residents of Kaumakani, a rural village whose name translates to “place in the wind." Indeed, the wind whips in from the nearby coastline, offering a cool breeze in what’s typically a hot, muggy climate. Home to a few hundred residents, Kaumakani is little more than a collection of homes, a small shopping center and a community park. It’s on the island of Kauai, known as the Garden Island because of its deep green jungles, jagged mountain peaks and towering cliffs. “It’s a little village that used to provide labor for the sugar plantations. The sugar plantations are gone now, but the people who live here are still mostly agricultural workers,” says Clyde Nada, a longtime worker at Aloha Sweet Delights, one of the village’s two restaurants.
Modest ranch homes with small lots and occasional ocean views
Kaumakani’s residential streets are lined with modest ranch-style homes, many of which are shaded by leafy trees. Some streets have been paved, while others are dirt or gravel. Lot sizes are typically small, with just enough room for a garden or landscaping along the front and sides. Some residences have views of the sprawling flatlands outside the village, while others get peekaboo views of the ocean. Homes here rarely go on the market.
Beaches, canyons and trails offer endless ways to explore outdoors
Outdoor recreation is abundant on the island, with everything from sandy beaches to hiking across steep mountains and deep canyons etched into the landscape. “Kauai has nice weather and beautiful beaches. It’s a piece of paradise for everyone who lives here,” Nada says. Waimea Canyon State Park, known as the Grand Canyon of the Pacific, is just a few miles away. It features a web of trails with dramatic views of rivers, cliffs and coastal scenery. Along the seashore, nearby beaches like Salt Pond Beach Park and Glass Beach have gorgeous views of the ocean — and the occasional sunbathing seal. Glass Beach has glimmering sea glass instead of sand, the result of glass being smoothed out by the ocean before washing ashore. Close to home, locals can head to Kaumakani Park to play a pickup game of baseball or have a picnic.
A few local shops and eateries serve this quiet village
Kaumakani has a commercial strip with a post office and a handful of shops and eateries. Aloha Sweet Delights is the go-to for handmade baked goods, while JP’s Pizza offers takeout pizza and calzones from a tiny storefront. Next door, Talk Story Bookstore has a wide range of new and used books, video games and vinyl records. Kaumakani is also home to Niihau Helicopters headquarters, which offers helicopter rides to the “Forbidden Isle” of Niihau, Hawaii. The island is privately owned, and no visitors are allowed there except for the owners, their relatives and the occasional hunting or helicopter tour. For everything else, residents head up the road to Hanapepe, Eleele or Waimea, all of which have grocery chains and an assortment of restaurants and shops.
Waimea High offers career-focused programs and internships
Students start their education at Eleele Elementary School, which earns a B-minus rating from Niche, followed by C-rated Waimea Canyon Intermediate School. The last four years can be spent at Waimea High School, which gets a B-plus. Waimea High has recently revamped its curriculum with a greater focus on career and technical education, offering students a pathway to a career right out of high school. As a result, the school now offers a wider range of partnerships and internships with local businesses.
Kaumakani is remote, with limited transit and nearby services
Locals will need a car to get around. The town does have a bus stop, however, offering a way to get to nearby towns and villages. It’s about 30 miles from Kapa’a, the largest city on the island. Locals will have to catch a plane or boat to get to Hawaii’s more populous islands like Oahu. Lihue Airport, about 20 miles east, offers flights to other islands and to the U.S. mainland. Wilcox Medical Center is the nearest hospital, about 20 miles away.
Photography Contributed By
Harry Antipala
