We stayed at the Waimea Inn for a week to explore Kauai. It was a lovely historical building.
Waimea is a very quiet town, more locals than really for tourists. Not a lot of dining options. Big supermarket 2 mins walk away though. Also the hotel is right by the water but it's more for walks, it's not a good swimming beach. You will definitely need a car to go and explore other areas of Kauai, but this is a good spot if you plan to head up to Waimea Canyon for sightseeing and hikes.