Kapaa, HI

Ke Ala Hele Makālae gives Kapaʻa an eight-mile paved corridor for walking, running, cycling, skating, and wheelchair travel along Kauaʻi's east coast. The route connects Lydgate Beach Park with Kuna Bay and passes shoreline parks, cultural and ecological signs, and former cane-haul alignments. After storm debris forced a temporary closure, the county reopened the section from Keālia Beach to Paliku Beach in March 2026. Nearby county facilities range from Kapaʻa Town Park's soccer field and pavilions to the ball fields, courts, and roller-hockey rink at Bryan J. Baptiste Sports Complex. Farmers sell directly at the Kapaʻa Ball Park Sunshine Market each Wednesday afternoon. Kapaʻa Public Library supplies an everyday meeting place through weekly keiki storytimes, Lego Club, adult craft circles, family game nights, and seasonal reading activities.

Kapaʻa held 11,652 residents in 2020, up from 10,699 in 2010. During 2020 through 2024, owner occupancy was 69 percent, the median owner-occupied value was $861,300, monthly costs for mortgage holders were $2,755, and median gross rent was $2,020. For 2020 through 2024, median household income was $89,477, workers averaged about 27 minutes of travel to work, households averaged three people, and nearly 24 percent of residents were age 65 or older. The Kauaʻi Bus serves the Kūhiō Highway corridor with fixed routes and vehicles equipped for mobility devices and bicycles; as of July 2026, service operated Monday through Saturday while Sunday runs remained suspended because of a driver shortage.