Kauai has a rich heritage, living tradition, and strong customs to support the local way of life.  One thing that people will quickly pick up is the sense of family, community, and ‘ohana that is perpetuated throughout the island.  For people interested in Kauai homes for sale, becoming a part of this group is an esteemed privilege and not a right. To understand the Kauai of today, it is important to look at the background of the island. The daily life of Kauaians is largely based around Lihue, the seat of Kauai County and the second largest city on the island.  Kapaa, six miles away from Lihue, is about twice as large as Lihue and boasts a population exceeding ten thousand people.  Captain James Cook, a British explorer who arrived in the islands in 1778, first visited Waimea, the original capital of the Kauai, on the southwest side of the island.  More recently, Hurricane Iniki caused tremendous damage to the fragile ecosystem as beaches eroded, ridges collapsed, and livestock patterns changed.  However, such a catastrophe only strengthened the cultural fabric of the island that has since recovered.

The island has also hosted, in the wake of the hurricane, a number of Hollywood movies, including South Pacific, Jurassic Park, Raiders of the Lost Ark, Six Days Seven Nights, King Kong, and Donovan’s Reef.  Disney’s popular Lilo and Stitch series is based on life in the village of Hanalei.