Princeville is bordered to the east by Kalihiwai, to the west by Hanalei, and to the north by the Pacific Ocean.

[3] For statistical purposes, the United States Census Bureau has defined Princeville as a census-designated place (CDP).

[6] There was no private property prior to the Māhele, but in 1842 the land had been leased by the governor of Kauai to Godfrey Rhodes and John Bernard for a coffee plantation and this lease of Crown Lands was sold to Robert Crichton Wyllie in 1853.

[9] Originally the land was planted with coffee, which was not suited to the wet lowlands.

[10][11] It was sold for development in 1968[12] and became a golf course and resort called "Princeville at Hanalei".

26.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 6.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.