Princeville is located on the North Shore of Kauai, jutting out slightly into the Pacific Ocean at the island's northernmost tip. With Hanalei Bay tucked alongside Princeville to the west, and average daytime temperatures that remain in the 70s and low-80s F for most of the year, the town offers a handful of outdoor activities that will give you plenty of options to remain active and fit on your Hawaii vacation.
Golfing
Princeville at Hanalei features three Robert Trent Jones Jr.-designed layouts—the Makai Golf Course, the Prince Golf Course and the Woods Course. The Prince Course is an 18-hole links-style course with a par of 72 and a length of more than 7,300 yards from the back tees. The Makai course is an 18-hole, par-72 layout that stretches beyond 7,200 yards from the back tees. The Woods Course is a nine-hole, par-36 layout that plays to a length of 3,445 yards and can be played in conjunction with either the front or back nine of the Makai Course to create an 18-hole round.
Snorkeling
Princeville has a couple of good snorkeling locations, with tropical fish and green sea turtles among the marine animals you're likely to find feeding around the reefs. Pu'u Poa Beach is on the Hanalei side of Princeville and accessible by a long, steep set of stairs. The water surrounding the reef is fairly shallow and calm, making it an ideal spot for novice snorkelers. Anini Beach, just around the eastern side of Princeville, features a 1,600-foot-wide reef that is two miles long and filled with marine life.
Tennis
Princeville features two tennis clubs that are open to the public, each with on-site tennis professionals and pro shops that rent equipment. The Princeville Tennis Club, located at the Princeville Hotel, features six courts and offers private lessons, with discounts for hotel guests. The Hanalei Bay Resort has eight courts with views of nearby Hanalei Bay, and the pro shop offers rentals, tennis gear and clothing and lessons.
Beachcombing
Pu'u Poa Beach has a long, wide sandy beach, perfect for strolling along, as well as shallow waters that are ideal for snorkeling and swimming. Large, dangerous waves break beyond the reef, creating perfect conditions for expert surfers. Pali Ke Kua Beach, also known as Hideaways, is a series of small, sandy beaches surrounded by rock cliffs. Sea Lodge Beach is a gorgeous white-sand beach, but the ocean floor just off shore is rocky and not ideal for swimming. Hanalei Beach Park, which stretches around to the Princeville side of Hanalei Bay, is a long, sandy beach with on-duty lifeguards and opportunities for swimming, surfing and picnicking.
Surfing
Hanalei Bay is known as a world-class surf spot, with impressive waves that draw expert surfers to Kauai's North Shore. It can also be an an ideal place for beginners to learn how to surf, because when the waves aren't huge, the bay can be relatively calm and ideal for novice riders. Learn on a regular surf board or a long board from one of the area's many instructors. You can find surf board rentals and available lessons at any of the Princeville area's hotels, or try one of the surf shops in Princeville or across the main highway from Hanalei Bay.
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