The house was wonderful for a large group. Spacious rooms, well natural breeze ventilation with the overhead fans. Exceptional well furnished and cooking serving amenities were abundant. The location to the beach, the 180 degree view, the deck, hot tub, beach chairs, was great! It was the best vacation rental I have had. My only advise would be to use bug spray. Several of us had numerous small itchy bites that we really did not see any bugs, but must have been around and it was too late to use the spray. Other than this it was an exceptional stay and extremely well furnished. Lyle
Lyle J., Post Falls, Idaho, 11.27.11
This rental was fantastic for our group of 5! My parents (in their 60s) really enjoyed relaxing on the beautiful lanai and walking the beach in front of the house. Also, the snorkeling in front of the house was superb when the wind was down. On windier days we would take a short walk around the point where the outer reef keeps the water quite calm. Their were dozens of turtles to swim with every afternoon, definitely a highlight of the trip. My boyfriend and brother and I (in our 20s) really enjoyed the hiking that the Haena area has to offer. If you go DEFINITELY do the 2 mile Kalalua Trail to Hanakapai Beach. It is a little strenuous but worth every bit of effort. If your not a huge hiker even the first 1/2 mile of the hike offers OUTSTANDING views of the Na Pali coast.. definitely not to be missed!!! We planned to hike the 4 miles to Hanakapai Falls (I hear its great) but ran out of energy and time! We definitely will be back to conquer that! Other activities we enjoyed were a helicopter ride as well as a catamaran sail along the Na Pali Cost... both BEAUTIFUL ways to see the breathtaking north shore of Kauai. As far as restaurants and groceries we enjoyed going to the Dolphin Fish Market in Hanalei and cooking fresh caught fish on the grill at the house. Other places we really enjoyed were Bubba's Burgers and TikiMan Pizza in Hanalei. Tahiti Nui (next to TIkiMan) was a great bar to relax, listen to local hawaiian bands in the evening and enjoy their 50 year old mai tai recipe!!! Everyone in Hanalei was really friendly. We found a number of our groceries at the Big Save in Hanalei but recommend Foodland in Princeville for more variety (and only 5 minute additional drive). Oh and dont miss grabbing a smoothie at the Aloha Juice Bar stand (located next to the Big Save in Hanalei)!!! The Hanalei passion was our favorite of all the smoothies (yes we had one each day, it became an addiction!) I would recommend this house to anyone, regardless of age or ability due to the high number of activities offered. Some days we just enjoyed nothing more than napping on the lanai and beach. The sunsets every afternoon were outstanding. You could walk out to the point on the right and see all of Bali Hai and the accompanying mountains. Such a beautiful way to end each day! The house and neighborhood were so quiet that we all slept great each night. The option of having AC helped as well as we did have a few hot nights and many rentals in this area do not offer AC. We were a bit worried about the Y Camp located next door but this was not an issue. It was occupied part of our stay but we could not hear any of the noise next door. There is also a beach access between the Y Camp and the house but that did not bother us either. Since the house is up on stilts it drowns out a lot of the noise and with very few beach access parking there was never more than a few cars parking and using the beach access. The entire booking process of the house was great!!! Vacational Rental Agent answered all of our questions when trying to find our perfect house. Once we arrived on the island we were greeted by Ginny, the house caretaker. She was really helpful in giving us restaurant ideas, grocery shopping, etc! I cannot recommend this rental enough, we will definitely be back! We stayed for 10 days and it flew by. If you can definitely try to stay at least 10 days to really soak in the area. Kauai offers SO many activities that its fun to do a few things and have days to do nothing. This was my third trip to Kauai and definitely the most enjoyable! I know this is a long review but I know when deciding to invest in a trip like this, more information is better than less. Thank you Vacation Rental Agent, Ginny and the owners of the Makua Kai homes for such a fun trip that we will remember for years to come! Natalie Dallas, TX
Natalie P., Garland, TX, 9.21.11
The house is well designed and built high enough to see the surf and coastline even when sitting down. Swimming and snorkeling possible right in front of house---and excellent, a beach-walk away. We loved the spacious living area and the beach-level shower. It's a great beach house "just around the corner" from one of the most beautiful places on earth.
Jean E., Encino, CA, 8.30.11
5 Stars for this wonderful home! This place is built and decorated as if the owners really use it. Rare is it that a home looks much better than the photos but this one does. Ultra clean, very elegant attention to the smallest details and we noticed and appreciated it all. We had a group of 14 and it was spacious enough for our nightly family gatherings. We cooked, played games and danced the nights away. If you do only one thing, be sure you hike the Na Pali Coast Trail, at least to the beach. You have never seen anything like this on earth! If you're in good shape, continue on to the waterfalls but it is definately harder than the first part. Back at the house you will actually find wonderful snorkling right outside the house and there is a sea turtle who lives near the rock in front of the house. He was adorable and we saw him every day. Also walked to tunnels almost every day for the best snorkling I have seen since Cozumel...but better I think.
Kristine E., Woodland Hills, CA, 8.24.11
I wish i could give this house a better review! After the first day we had a great time. Unfortunately, the house had not been cleaned the day we arrived. We had to empty food from the refrigerator before we could put our food in. Then we emptied the trash and cleaned the rest of the kitchen. Since we had no clean sheets or towels and it was late, we wrapped up in a blanket we found in a closet and slept on the futon in the living room. I tried to call all our contact numbers, but no one answered. Also, the previous tenant had lost the keys to the house so we could not get in the laundry room. At 6 o'clock the next morning the owner called and assured us that she would get someone over the clean the house. The cleaning people arrived at 9 AM with flowers, fruit, hugs and sincere apologies. We were given clean beach towels and told we could have the house by 2 or 3 PM. When we returned the house looked great! The previous tenants had left quite a mess! Our daughter and her family arrived that day and we had a great vacation. I was never able to contact the property manager. I asked for a full refund of the cleaning fee and the cleaning deposit, plus one day of the rental fee. The property manager agreed to the cleaning refunds, but would not refund the one day rental fee. That one day was miserable and we did not have access to the house. The house when clean is good for families but not fancy. There is no beach or mountain view, but the garden view is very nice. We loved the outdoor shower and found the house very convenient for two families. There are many attractions in the area including beaches, hikes and a lovely restaurant right across the street.
Donita G., San jose, CA, 8.14.11
Location, facilities and ammenities were excellent. Definitely will return. A kid freindly area.
Harold K., Chadds Ford, Pa, 5.23.11
From the moment I called to look into a beach home, I was impressed with the customer service. The agent, Mary Kress, was so enthusiastic about each property I was considering. She is an islander and knows the details of the homes, which is such a relief. What I liked best about this house is the location. It is on the beach. We were able to step out and go for walks or swim with no effort. The Colony Resort is next door, which offers wonderful food and drink and a coffee bar. The best part of my trip was sleeping with the sound of the waves crashing and afternoon cool water baths with a perfect view and a glass of champagne. I would reccomend attending the Luau right next door at the Colony. The music and dance was unforgettable, the food was amazing, and the best part is after several Mai Tais, we walked home with no effort! I have to say, I was glad to stay in this beautiful home and not an "apartment style" resort. The best insider tip, get the hut massage as well, twice if you can! I will definately be back with or without company. This house is perfect for one couple or 3, and especiallly with children, they would love the easy access and you can keep your eyes on them from the house! Very many possibilities. My advice to someone staying here, follow the Golden Rule: please take the trash out for Friday morning. Trash pick-up is once a week, and if you do not take the trash out , the next group will have no room in the cans.
Kate O., Spokane, Wa, 5.2.11
We enjoyed our stay so much we cant wait to come back. We had never been to hawaii and we are so glad we choose to go to kauai for our first trip. It is so beautifull there, the house was awesome right on the beach and very peacefull, everything we wanted in a house, great views from every room. We went on the Malolo Adventures boat tour whale watching and saw a lot of whales and dolphins,we weren't able to do the snorkling because the water was to dirty,but Captain Joe made sure we all enjoyed it anyway, that was my daughters favorite thing she did, but we were able to do some snorkling right on our own beach front,awesome. Our favorite place to eat was called Scottys BBQ really good food we ate there 2 times its right on the water so the first time there we did see a whale, really cool. We also went to the Smith Family Garden Luau, very nice. We went down to Larsons Beach and saw a monk seal right on the beach and 2 turtles on the beach as well, we were warned there may be nudist on the beach and we did see a couple of them, ha ha. Our next trip there we want to do more hiking,we did hike to Hanakapi'ai Falls, it was absolutely beautifull, a long hike but well worth it,just make sure you wear shoes that do well in the water because you go through a lot of creeks and mud. I am already planning our next trip, we loved it. The Simms Family Ca.
Lorna S., Shingle Springs, CA, 1.9.11
Great location for secluded get away! Lack of ac was an issue at night for us. Some windows dont work. Nice patio hammock and chairs, made for nice daytime lounging. Some of the bedsheets were rough and limited pillows. No hangers in closets. With a little effort this unit could be better than average rating!!
Dale S., Saline, MI, 1.2.11
We absolutely loved this house! It was just as advertised, only better. We loved the privacy, private beach access, and the ocean and mountain views. Snorkeling just to the right was awesome, nearly as good as tunnels. Service and process overall was excellent. Our favorite find was the fish market in Hanalei, behind the Hanalei Dolphin Center...sushi rolls were incredible and you get everything ready to go! Chopsticks, wasabi, ginger, everything. We loved the hike on the Napali Coastline, the zipline in Princeville was incredible, but the Catamaran ride through Kauai Sea Tours was a favorite. Captain Kfouri led an awesome sunset cruise with amazing snorkeling, good food and a great crew! Next time we come, we will be packing in our own condiments and such for the kitchen as it is not stocked and very expensive on the island. The kitchen is well stocked with utensils and appliances tho which made it easy to cook most meals at the house, which we didn't want to leave.
Robin R., Costa Mesa, Ca, 9.4.10
What I liked best about the unit was the view - it was absolutely outstanding. The customer service I received was good. We dined at several great restaurants in the area including the one at the resort next door. They were particularly good to our group of six. My advice to someone else staying at this unit would be to expect strong winds after 8:30am and lasting all day if you are booking in April - I'm not sure if the conditions remain the same all year round. The winds make lounging on the beach during the afternoon difficult to enjoy, but the view from the home is excellent. Also, it rains frequently in this part of the island. This is easily avoided by sightseeing or other activities in other areas that are not too far to get to. The area is so lush due to the rainfall and is definitely the most beautiful scenery on the island.
Cynthia P., Chicago, IL, 5.2.10
We loved the house. It was perfect for our needs. Loved that each bedroom had its own bath. The 'fully equipped' went above and beyond, which was wonderful. The view out over the ocean was to die for. On Thurs, we saw the most beautiful rainbow! We planned 'cook-teams' who shopped for/cooked/cleaned up for each evening meal. Made eating dinner a bit more affordable. We really enjoyed a hike from the park into the Napali coast. We only went as far as the secluded beach. But our daughter and friend went on the to waterfall. Totally wonderful. Kauai has been a favorite vacation spot for many years. This was our 4th trip. We would seek to plan our next trip around this house if the number of beds/rooms was right. Customer service was wonderful. REALLY appreciated the coffee and bagels for the first morning. Thank you again for a wonderful vacation. Stephanie Judkins and family.
Stephanie J., Milford, OH, 4.3.10
we had a wonderful time. the house is absolutely fabulous. hope to come back in the future... magda
Magda F., Cayucos, California, 10.19.09
Wonderful location and great service
Marty S., Black Diamond, WA, 9.18.09
It was the perfect size and the deck is really the best place to be. Bring tons of bug spray or you will get eaten alive. You have to do all the dishes and take out the trash before you leave.....not sure what the $180 cleaning charge is for. My contract said that there was a pool and spa....we never found it.
Rebecca M., Fort Collins, CO, 9.11.09
The rental home was lovely. Very clean. All you need to bring is your bathing suit and a few changes of clothes. Everything you need for the beach is at your finger tips. There was even a hair dryer! The kitchen knives could use a little sharpening otherwise it was perfect everything in excellent working order. Great back porch and BBQ! A tiny bit warm during the afternoon hours- very COOL at night- no problem sleeping you will definately need a blanket. The hammock on the porch is fantastic! Nice quiet neighbors- no roosters! The beach is across the street. Short walk Also, a great restaurant 2 minutes across the street- The owner gracious and attentive. The serve coffee in a tiny shop there as well. Internet at the house. Bring your CD's for music. Lots of books to read and movies to watch. But you will not need any of that cause your in KAUAI!!!
Regina R., Roslyn, New York, 7.23.09
We had a wonderful stay at Kaulana Naue. The house was impecable and perfect for us. Haena was great and the location of the house could not be any better. I want to commend the flexibility and assistance of both Leila and Leticia. We look forward to going back next year and continue to explore the Paradise Island.
Alejandro P., Bellaire, Texas, 7.1.09
I was a great set up for my family, two rooms downstairs and a studio attached to the house. We walked across the street to the beach and had a great time. the house needs a few repairs but it was fine for our family with small kids, the cleaning crew and staff were very helpful.
Elizabeth B., Aptos, CA, 1.4.09
Jungle/Beach setting in a upscale home Customer service was first rate. Activiites such as ocean, jungle (Zip Line) Best restaurant we found was the Barracuda in Hanelai Advise any who stay at this locale do so for 10 days or more to really get into the ambiance of the area. The great thing about the Island is its size where we could go to a Lua at the Hyatt in the south and be back in Hanelai on the North West coast in an hour and a half.
Mark S., Kamloops, British Columbia, 1.2.09
The Banana Beach House was everything and more than the listing indicated. It was understated luxury, spacious, inviting and very comfortable for our two families. The two master suites were wonderful - one had a view of the ocean and the other a view of the mountains. There were breathaking vies of the ocean from the great room, dining area and kitchen. We dined al fresco with palm trees in the background. The location of this house was ideal. We had a wonderful beach mostly to oursleves. The water was clear, the colors glorious and the snorkeling quite good. The neighborhood was peaceful. We went into Hanalei for excellent dining and fun shopping experiences. The amenities, layout, furnishings and location of the Banana Beach House made this a truly dream vacation. Kudos to the owners for doing it right!
Karen V., Chevy Chase, MD, 7.28.08
The setting, view, and weather are absolutely magnificent, one of the great vacation spots anywhere! Unit is excellent -- comfortable/luxurious and convenient, for a family group of grandparents 65+, parents 40-ish, and child 5. The sister unit next door is close, but we got along well with the family there, so that was no problem. The Y camp on the other side was occupied for part of the stay, but this was no problem for noise or other disturbance. The best thing was that the surf directly in front of the house was good for swimming and snorkeling almost every day we were there. The factors affecting this are the amount of afternoon wind, which was relatively low while we were there, and the threat of a riptide -- we did not find a rip in the area directly in front and to the right, and many people including children used the water there while we were there. Tunnels, around the corner to the left, is always good, wind-sheltered and safe, with outstanding snorkeling -- deservedly a world-famous beach. The downside is that the deep coarse sand on our beach makes it a longer walk than it looks to Tunnels, so it is nice when the beach in front is swimmable. Note, we saw a sea-turtle near the rock directly in front of the house. The kiteboarders put on a great show every afternoon. As far as eats go, for takeout and casual, we loved Tropical Taco (fish tacos) and the shave-ice trailer in Hanalei, and Kilauea fish market for the great ahi wraps. For high end dinner, Bar Acuda is superb, a really first class restaurant. PS -- It is very annoying, Hawaiian Beach Rental, that you block right-click copying -- I had to use PrintScreen to make a copy of my own comments!
Tom G., Stanford, CA, 6.30.08
The setting was very nice. The main house was great, but the Studio was to hot. It needs a cieling fan. The vacuums didn't work very well. I know we didn't have to do that, but I did it anyway. I like to try and leave a place like I recieved it. I will recomend it to other people. I think the sliding screens should have some yarn of a brite color, sowed in the shape of a Star or something like that. That would make them easier to see, so it wasn't so easy to walk through. I hope we were clean enough for everyone. Over all, we had a great time, and enjoyed the place very much. Thank you very much, Ed and Blanche Sommer
Edmund S., Portland, Or, 6.28.08
Terrific place, despite the rip off cleaning fee. Well located, comfortable. I would happily recommend it to friends if you guys fix the cleaning fee situation.
Kim C., Berkeley, CA, 6.16.08
The Hale Hanealei Beach House was perfect. Very spacious and clean, with a beautiful deck for relaxing and birdwatching. We walked to Tunnels beach for snorkeling every day, and saw a monk seal! There's also a great swimming beach just across the road. We shopped at the Waipa farmer's market and enjoyed cooking delicious fresh food at the house, rather than going out. Thanks for a great vacation!
Jennifer P., Portland, OR, 4.22.08
The home is lovely and the setting is amazing. If it's a windy day on the beach, just walk around the point to the left where it's sheltered from the wind and the water is calmer.
Arlene H., Olympia, Washington, 4.13.08
I would rate the rental a three star...not four. I think everything was adequate but not great. The Kitchen lacked good glasses and pots and pans. The lights in the bedroom were poor. One lamp didn't work. It seems to me when you rent everything should be in working order. The outside shower is a real plus. The seating in the living room is good and the lanais are great. We didn't eat out a lot but the Dolphin restaurant in Hanalei was great. This is from Vicki
Vicky Albert S., Bloomfield, CT, 3.26.08
We stayed in Hale Hoku over New Year's 2007/2008. While Hale Hoku is in a beautiful location, has a nice wrap-around lanai and is within 2 minutes from the beach; the house is not well maintained which made our stay there disappointing. The house had only been superficially cleaned prior to our arrival and many areas, especially in the lower unit, were just too dirty to touch. As the house had not been aired out, sheets, towels, etc, smelled musty. Many lights did not work and several screens were broken, which led to many bug bites, especially for our son. The wireless internet only worked during the latter part of our stay and even then unreliably. The TV in the living room was broken, as was the VCR.
Most disappointing however was the reaction we got from Hawaiian Beach Rentals/Napali Coast Properties. While they fixed one sliding door and the internet worked after their second visit, their way of fixing the TV in the living room was to take the one out of the bedroom and put it into the living room. We requested a minor $50 per day discount to offset some of the disappointment and frustration we experienced with the house - and they simply ignored our requests.
Iris K., San Francisco, CA, 1.9.08
Have already sent an email about our stay at Hale Hanalei Beach House, so will not try to touch all suggested points. As already stated, we were pleased with the condition of the place when we arrived, and the helpfulness extended by Housekeeper Gina upon our arrival. The good condition inspired us to make sure we kept it that way, and - although we did keep sandy footwear and apparel out of the house, we did vacuum the main floor living area every couple of days during our stay. Our only contacts with "customer service" people were with Gina and Sandy, and they were responsive, courteous and helpful. The best parts of our trip were our times at beaches and snorkeling. We elected not to bring snorkeling gear with us, we rented gear from the shop next to the Postcard Restaurant in Hanalei, and the man there gave us very good advice on good and safe beaches for snorkeling and swimming; he also provided high-quality gear, although perhaps a bit pricey. I'd go there again! We tried a number of restaurants, but our best meals were those we prepared ourselves in the cottage. (By the way, I met and talked with a visiting Unilever manager on New Years Eve at the Princeville Resort Hotel who informed us that the Princeville Foodland grocery is the most expensive grocery store in the entire USA!) We had fair to good meals at a restaurant in Kapa'a, and at the restaurant next to Hanalei Colony Resort across the road. (That restaurant did have the best coconut ice cream we'd ever found.) We haven't yet found a restaurant in the area which I would put in the very good to excellent categories, but am willing to keep trying. If you people have restaurant recommendations, would suggest you so advise visitors. My advice to someone else considering staying at our unit would be not to look for the partial ocean view, and to bring quantities of good mosquito repellent. We would all like to come back and stay at the same place again. Mahalo, C. Lazenby
Charles L., Edmonds, Washington, 1.9.08
Very nice furnishings and a roomy house. The large patios on front and back are great.
Max N., Paradise Valley, AZ, 1.8.08
My advice to someone else staying at this unit would be to stay at least ten days. What my whole family liked best about the unit we rented was the back porch/view.
Mark and Patricia S., Charlotte Harbor, FL, 7.2.07
This rental unit was everything that the website said it would be and more. A lovely house. the customer service was accurate and efficient. We loved the whole week. This part of the island is juse wonderful.
Leon B., , , 6.13.07
I spent close to a year in Tahiti durring my early childhood (1959) and my stay in Riko Hale was as close to that as possible. Truly Hawai'ian. thoroughly enjoyable ! Next time I'll stay longer and bring my adult children.
Kit A., Port Townsend, WA, 5.8.07
We have been frequent visitors to Kauai and Hale Aloha surpassed all of our expectations. The house was perfect for us and the snorkeling just done from the house was the best we have seen. Thanks so much for a great place to hang our hat! Aloha.
Julie B., Owasso, OK, 7.11.06
wonderful!
Judy A., San Francisco, CA, 9.7.05