When residents speak of "going to to town" on Kauai they're generally referring to Lihue. If you're arriving by plane (like 99.9% of us) you'll pass through Lihue Airport, a welcome change from almost any airport you may have departed from. Small and well-designed, it's generally a breeze to arrive or depart from and the arrival is spectacular as the island first comes into view. Speaking of spectacular, most island helicopter tours depart from the airport. Serving as both government and commercial center, Lihue is where you'll go for DMV, taxation questions, building permits and information, and "Big Box" shopping at Costco, WalMart, and Target. There's a "new" (Puhi Industrial Park) and "old" industrial center which is where you'll find the majority of commercial enterprises located. Lihue is not short of things to do and sights to see with Kalapaki Beach fronting the Kauai Marriot a hub for beach rentals, surf lessons, and places to snack and dine, with Wailua Falls a short 15 minute drive away, and the Kauai Museum on Rice Street is always a worthwhile visit. Major elementary and high schools are located in Lihue as well as the independent college prep Island School and Lihue Community College which hosts community musical events as well as one of the three Kauai Farmers Markets on Kauai. Next door to the Community College is Grove Farm and Kilohana Plantation with a small museum, restaurant, and tours of this historic plantation era home as well as the site of the popular Lu'au Kalamaku. The main harbor on Kauai, Nawiliwili Small Boat Harbor is a commercial cargo port housing Matson and Young Brothers along with a Coast Guard station, small vessel slips and moorings, and is also a port for cruise ships visiting the island.