Lihu'e, Kaua'i is both representative of and uniquely different from other communities in Hawai'i. Its origins are rooted in the early days of the sugar industry. Over time, this once obscure hamlet branched out to become the island's county seat, commercial core, and transport hub--the "Heart of Kaua'i." Lihu'e: Root and Branch of a Hawai'i Town traces that history from its beginnings to the present day.

This extensively researched yet engagingly written account presents a vivid picture of the town's vernacular landscape--the built environment and the people who shaped it. Lihu'e...