Of course, the cheapest Lihue airfare you’re going to find is frequent flyer miles should you have those to burn. If that’s your plan, however, be advised you’ll need to make arrangements as far in advance as possible. Airlines’ frequent flyer seats – especially for flights headed to Kauai or any of the Hawaiian Islands – are very limited and go fast.

Typically, you can book frequent flyer seats 11 months in advance of the date you plan to travel home after visiting Kauai (you’ll want to review details directly with the airline you plan to use, of course), and that’s the sort of head start you’ll need to succeed at using frequent flyer miles to cover your Lihue airfare. This is especially true if you want to travel during summer months or the Christmas-New Year holiday period. Even for travel to Hawaii during other times of the year, though, planning a frequent flyer mile exchange in advance is always your best bet.

If you’re not planning to use frequent flyer miles to cover your Lihue airfare, there are a few other tips to be aware of if you want to keep costs down. First, airfare to the Hawaiian Islands tends to increase in May (usually just before Memorial Day) and then decrease around mid-September (historically around the 10th of the month). If you’re planning a fall visit to Kauai, try to hold off until then to book your flights. Fares will usually stay down for flights through December 15th, but that’s when holiday rates kick in and fares will increase.

The Hawaiian Islands are one of the world’s most popular vacation destinations and because they are so remote, airlines must keep flights full in order to remain profitable. Last-minute deals, while not unheard of, are rare, and you probably won’t see a lot of vacant seats on the flight to Kauai. Should you have trouble finding a suitable Lihue airfare, feel free to contact us by email and we’ll be happy to share any new information we may have found.

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Once you land, retrieve your luggage and pick up your Lihue rental car and load it up, you’ll be ready to roll to the Kauai accommodations you’ve arranged. The chart below sets out approximate driving times from the airport to various cities in Kauai’s popular vacation destinations, but be advised actual times can vary depending on the time of day you’re traveling:

Lihue to North Shore (Princeville, Hanalei, Haena) – about 60 minutes
Lihue to Northeastern Shore (Anahola, Kilauea) – about 40 minutes
Lihue to East Side (Lihue, Wailua, Kapaa) – about 15 minutes
Lihue to South Shore (Koloa, Poipu) – about 35 minutes
Lihue to West Side (Hanapepe, Waimea, Kalaheo) – about 45 minutes

As you can see, you can get from Kauai’s West Side to its North Shore in roughly two hours (again, this can vary depending on traffic conditions). While not prohibitive, it’s probably not something you will want to do every day so you’ll want to plan your activities and sightseeing on the island in order to make the most of your vacation time.

We’ve found staying in Kauai’s East Side cities (Lihue, Wailua and Kapaa) provides a good central “home base” location, but Poipu vacation rentals (on the island’s south shore) and Princeville vacation rentals and Hanalei vacation rentals (on the north shore) also offer a great way to enjoy Kauai.

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Kauai Leis

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According to the reference book Place Names of Hawaii by the famous Hawaii historian Mary Kawena Pukui, there is no known meaning behind the name of Kauai, but ancient Hawaiian lore connects the name’s origin to the legend of Hawaiiloa, the Polynesian navigator attributed with discovering the Hawaiian Islands.  Legend holds that he named the […]

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Kauai’s airport is located in the town of Lihue, and its airport code is LIH.  Travel to Kauai from “the mainland” (the rest of the United States) isn’t cheap, and airfare can vary widely depending on: where you’re coming from; the carrier you choose; the season; and how far in advance you book your flights. […]

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While some Kauai golf courses offer great challenges amidst spectacular backdrops, the island also has “simple” courses which will satisfy anyone in search of Kauai golf vacation goodness, no matter their budget or level or expertise.  You don’t have to be a pro or a millionaire to enjoy playing golf on Kauai! That said, Kauai […]

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