Wailua Hawaii Map

About Wailua, Hawaii

Wailua is a locality in Kauai County, Hawaii, United States. It has a population of approximately 2,359. The population density is 593.0 people per km². Wailua is located at 22.0545°N, 159.3372°W. It observes the Hawaii Standard Time — no DST (Pacific/Honolulu) timezone. ZIP codes: 96708, 96746.

Wailua manifests as a verdant corridor where the Wailua River carves its path toward the Pacific Ocean, meeting the salt-heavy air with a constant, quiet momentum. It lies 3.2 miles south-southwest of Kapaa, HI (from Kapaa, HI: bearing 192°T), and is situated 5.6 miles north-northeast of Lihue. The landscape here is defined by the sharp transition from the jagged, protective silhouette of Kālepa Ridge to the low-lying, moisture-rich earth that supports the State Department of Land State Resource Management Area. Two miles inland, the Nounou Forest Reserve cloaks the higher elevations in a dense, emerald stillness, while the cascading waters of ʻŌpaekaʻa Falls spill over volcanic stone, feeding the tributaries that sustain the local flora. On clear afternoons, the light catches the spray from the coast, casting a prismatic haze over the alluvial soil where the Twin Reservoirs shimmer in the distance, holding the rainfall that once nourished the vast plantations of the past.

Wailua holds the weight of centuries, its history etched into the remnants of ancient taro lo'i and the sacred sites that whisper of a time when the river served as the primary artery for royal life. While the rhythmic hum of agricultural machinery has long since faded from the old sugarcane fields, the economy now thrives on the stewardship of this terrain and the hospitality extended to those who seek the quietude of the Pacific Ocean shoreline. The pace of life in Wailua remains tethered to the tide and the trade winds, which carry the faint, sweet scent of plumeria across the open fields. There is a profound sense of kuleana among the people here, an enduring commitment to protect the land and its waters, ensuring that the legacy of this place is measured not by industry, but by the preservation of its natural character.

About This Wailua Map Page

This page provides an embedded street and satellite map of Wailua, Hawaii. Coordinates: 22.054476, -159.337211. Live weather conditions are sourced directly from the National Weather Service. Real-time local and world news feeds keep the page current.

Detailed location data for Wailua includes the ZIP code (96708, 96746), telephone area code (808), county seat of Kauai County (Līhuʻe), and school district assignment (Hawaii Department of Education).

Location data is drawn from the USGS Geographic Names Information System (GNIS) and cross-verified against 2020 US Census records by coordinate proximity. Population figures are sourced from the 2020 US Census.