Kauai’s Iconic Town of Hanapepe and its Famous Swinging Bridge

Hawaii is full of unique sights and iconic spots, sometimes from movies and sometimes from our grandparents memories that they’ve shared. The town of Hanapepe and its famous Swinging Bridge are some of these historic sites that is easy to visit and shows you what Hawaii was like before tourism became so prevalent. We’ll share with you how to visit the Hanapepe Swinging Bridge, more things to do in the area, and some suggestions for what to add to your time exploring the South Shore of Kauai. You may just fall in love with Hanapepe and this part of the island and never want to leave.

Have you gotten to explore much of Kauai’s south shore? If not, Hanapepe needs to be on your itinerary. The town is charming and small, and the iconic swinging bridge is neat. If you have questions about dropping into Hanapepe or need more ideas for Kauai, please leave a comment or send us a note. We’re always happy to share more and help you plan a wonderful aloha trip.

Things to Do in Hanapepe Town

As you arrive in Hanapepe, it doesn’t seem very large, and it’s not. It’s cute though and there are some great shops here. When you’re in town, you’ll be on foot for everything. It’s not a long visit, but you can for sure enjoy a morning or afternoon here in Hanapepe town. To keep it simple, here’s how to enjoy some nice time in Hanapepe:

• visit the Hanapepe Swinging Bridge
• find the different Lilo & Stitch murals
• stop into the different shops, including the cool antique store
• grab a Hawaiian plate from Unkos Kitchen, Ku’ulei’s Gourmet or Caba (or Paco’s Tacos)
• visit Glass Beach
• go out with Holo Holo Charters – this is one of the only ways to visit Niihau
• enjoy pizza or local beer at Kauai Island Brewing Co

Between all of this, you’ll be able to enjoy half a day and you can easily add a visit to Hanapepe town to your time on the South Shore.

Parking in the Town of Hanapepe

Downtown Hanapepe is pretty low key. You’ll find both street parking and some side-street areas and even a small lot you can park in. Walking from one end of town to the other doesn’t take long, but even if you’re not planning on shopping or grabbing lunch in Hanapepe, still pay attention to any posted parking restriction signs. This is very much a lived in town and people need to be able to go about their daily business without dealing with tourist and their poor parking.

Is the Hanapepe Swinging Bridge worth visiting?

It’s not difficult to visit the Hanapepe Swinging bridge, so why wouldn’t you? Being located just off the main street in Hanapepe, if you know where to look you’ll come right up to the bridge and then you’re welcome to check it out. I think it’s worth visiting because it’s pretty unique for Hawaii. There aren’t a lot of older communities that haven’t been drastically changed by tourism and infrastructure like the Hanapepe Swinging Bridge.

This is an old bridge and it’s an icon of Kauai, so keep that in mind as you enjoy crossing it. As you approach, be careful and remember that it’s not a trampoline and it’s not designed to have you and all of your friends trying to swing it as much as possible. The Hanapepe Swinging bridge is a functional part of this small community. Its unique character and being something of an icon doesn’t mean that it’s meant for thousands of tourists to try their strength and weight on it. I’m just saying, respect it as you enjoy it.

The setting of the Hanapepe Swinging Bridge itself is beautiful. The Hanapepe River winds down from the mountains in the middle of Kauai and has carved a gorgeous valley. The town of Hanapepe is on both sides of the river, with the residential area being on the north side and the town with shops and restaurants on the south side. I love it here.

Tips for Visiting the Hanapepe Swinging Bridge

When you’re ready to visit the Hanapepe Swinging Bridge, be sure to plan time in town as well. The bridge is cool, but it’s only a few minutes of your time. The actual town of Hanapepe is quaint with some good shops and restaurants. It’s not as developed as Koloa or Hanalei on the North Shore, but it’s nice. Our kids like to find souvenirs here in Hanapepe and the shop owners are some of the nicest we’ve met here on Kauai.

If you think this all sounds great, but you don’t think you’ll be in the area, don’t worry, you will be. Hanapepe is on the way to Waimea Canyon and the western shores, such as Barking Sands Beach. If you’re planning to visit Glass Beach or wanted to check out Kauai Coffee Co you’ll be right around here. There are lots of things to do on the south shore of Kauai, so Hanapepe will easily work its way into your schedule.

“Can I jump off the bridge?” Nope. To keep the bridge safe and open, there is no jumping off or diving from the bridge allowed. Also, even though it’s not posted, this is NOT a place for fishing. If you’re planning on fishing on Kauai, be sure that you’ve checked the local regulations and that you’re properly licensed.