A Kaua‘i community is in the running to be named one of the best in two different categories of the USA Today 10Best Readers' Choice Awards.
The awards aim to rank the 10 best in several areas of travel and lifestyle, and Hanalei is one of 20 communities — with a population of fewer than 25,000 and nominated by a panel of experts — that are vying to make the list of Best Small Town in the West and Best Small Town Food Scene.
You can vote once a day here and here until polls close at 6 a.m. Monday, March 30. Winners will be announced on Wednesday, April 8.
Located west of Princeville on the Garden Isle’s North Shore, Hanalei — which had a population of 444, according to 2020 census data — is “known for its 2-mile crescent-shaped beach and 19th-century pier that stretches into Hanalei Bay,” the entry for Best Small Towns in the West notes. “Hanalei has a walkable downtown district with small businesses, a local farmers market and a vibrant food truck scene.”
The listing for Best Small Town Food Scene notes that Hanalei “offers a tropical taste of Kaua‘i, with farm-to-table restaurants, fresh seafood and locally grown produce that reflect the island’s bounty.”
You can find more about what Hanalei has to offer here.
For the pop culture connoisseurs, Hanalei Bay has been featured in movies like “South Pacific” and “Lilo & Stitch.”
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Stephanie Salmons can be reached at stephanie@alohastatedaily.com.
