East Kauai
Most Kauaians live between Lihue and the overlapping communities of WAILUA, WAIPOULI and KAPAA , whose malls, condos and hotels blend into each other a few miles north of the capital. All the way along there's an exposed thin strip of beach; only Wailua is especially aesthetic, and you have to go further north for snorkeling.
 
EATING
Kapaa is the only one of the towns in east Kauai with anything like a center; you can windowshop for restaurants along its street of wooden stores, fronted by a beach park.

 
Caffè Coco 4-1639 Kuhio Hwy, Wailua tel 808/822-7990. Attractively ramshackle café, serving cheap and wholesome, if not entirely vege tarian, breakfasts and lunches for under $10, plus changing dinner specials. Closed Mon.

Korean Bar-B-Q Restaurant 4-3561 Kuhio Hwy, Wailua tel 808/823-6744. Unassuming barbecue diner serving excellent grilled meats and chicken; the best bet for a bargain meal, with large combos for under $8.

Mema 4-361 Kuhio Hwy, Wailua tel 808/823-0899. Large, attractive Thai/Chinese restaurant; great curries with fresh spices for around $10.

A Pacific Café 4-831 Kuhio Hwy, Kapaa tel 808/822-0013. Very popular for its exotic and utterly wonderful (if expensive; entrees $20-27) Pacific cuisine. Dinner only.