Honolulu Civil Beat gives historical insight into the revitalization of Hanapēpē town on Kauaʻi's west side.
Once the economic hub of Kauai, Hanapēpē was where you’d go in the early 1900s if you wanted to buy a car, clothes, jewelry, the latest home appliance or a ticket to see chorus girls in a live stage show.
After suffering from economic and social upheavals due to the closure of the sugar industry and a couple of major hurricanes, Kauaʻi's "biggest little town" saw a surge in activity in the early 21st century when artists began moving in to take advantage of low real estate prices. Nowadays people come from all over th island every Friday for Art Night, or to visit the many shops and restaurants and to walk the famous swinging bridge. Hanapēpē is a charming town that embodies the spirit of westside Kauaʻi.