The location is excellent for access to the best of poipu. The trail just outside the apartment leads to beautiful rocky cliffs where whale watching, turtle watching and sunset viewing are spectacular. The apartment itself is comfortable. Negatives are early morning noise from hikers on the trail and the parking lot just adjacent to the apartment (it is on the end of the building - but this means more windows which provides a great cross breeze). The pool and spa are not incredible but are nice. There is also a tennis court and the apartment has rackets, boogie boards and some snorkle supplies as well as cooler. Brenneke's is great for afternoon and later evening happy hour and is a short walk. The Hyatt and Sheraton are also short walks along the beaches for dinner or lunch. We ate at the apartment most of the time and enjoyed sitting on the balcony overlooking the ocean. Waimiea canyon and the northshore - kayaking, hiking, botanical gardens and Na Pali coast were favorites. Tubing was ok - fun but not worth the money. Smith's luau was nice, food mediocre and entertainment amateur but it was also huge and if you want a more intimate experience, recommend one of the smaller companies. Smith's did have lovely gardens but there was little time to really enjoy them.
Lea D., Newberg, OR, 1.19.12
Well appointed house in a great location. We loved watching the turtles and whales from our porch each day. Good restaurants, beaches and snorkeling areas were just a short walk away. The house was larger than expected and roomy enough for 6 people to comfortably stay. Rental agents were courteous and helpful with questions. We will definitely try to stay here again when we are back on the island.
Valarie and Lonnie C., Fredericksburg, Texas, 1.16.12
We stayed at this home with two other families and it was great. There was plenty of room to have your own space, while at the same time enjoy each others company in the living/dining room area. The beds were comfy and the location in poipu is great. There was also upstairs and downstairs laundry so no one was ever fighting over washing clothes. Overall a great house to hang out in and enjoy each others company.
Chris M., San jose, Ca, 1.10.12
This property provided a very comfortable home for our family's two week vacation over the Christmas and New Years 2011 holiday season. It's only been two weeks and I still miss waking up and falling asleep to the sounds of the waves crashing. This home is right on the water and in such a fantastic location. We have visited Poipu many times but have never ventured to this end of the community. The property is within short walking distance to the Spouting Horn (which you can see spouting in full view from the home's lanai. the botanical gardens and a great shopping center with many restaurant choices. It's a short drive to the Hyatt and the great hikes around that area. It's in proximity to many terrific spots. Enough about the location. The house itself offers plenty of room and a fully equipped kitchen, magnificent bathrooms (the master bathroom's shower is as big as my walk-in closet at home!), a cabinet full of every game you can think of, an underground rec-room which contains a ping-pong table, croquet set, boogie boards and lots of snorkle gear. There are three bicycles in the garage that we didn't use (unfortunately, they were all mens' bikes). All in all, we loved the house and the lanais offered many hours of sunbathing, whale-watching, sunsets and star-gazing (we did see whales spouting out there and the stars were amazing). There are also great spots behind the house for tide pool exploration and nearby snorkeling. The BBQ grill worked great and we had fun grilling fresh fish a couple of nights. There is a great wine store in Koloa and I suggest purchasing fresh fish from the Living Foods market. Unfortunately, the produce in Poipu isn't that great, but the Living Foods, and Kukui Ula markets and the Farmer's Markets are probably your best bet. We loved the Casablanca restaurant, but we tried most of the local restaurants during our two-week visit and there are some other great ones nearby. Now for the negatives, and there are just a few that I think are worth mentioning - only because I'm hoping the owners will take note and remedy. Although the jacuzzi was great, the pool was unfortunately much too cold to use. It would be nice to have a heated pool. We noticed that there was a heater for the pool, but no directions and we couldn't figure out how to make it work. Also, one of the better located prime view bedrooms upstairs is outfitted with twin beds. That room definitely warrants at least a queen bed (we had 4 couples in our group and no one could use that room). The TV in the master bedroom did not work and, for the amount we paid to stay there, we would have appreciated access to movie and on-demand TV channels, at least on the main TV. The ping-pong table would be much more pleasant in a brighter, airier location - either outside, on one of the lanais, or in one of the upstairs rooms perhaps - or if it were more portable. Two last issues that can't really be fixed: the narrow driveway to the house and the noisy public park next door. The park isn't too bad, but it can be pretty noisy on weekend or holiday weekend nights and the clientelle of that park can be a bit riff-raffy. The photos on all the property management websites make it look like there is a lot of land around the home, but there really isn't. The home is very close to the house next door and has a very small backyard and front yard. Regardless, the positives definitely outweigh any of the negatives and we do recommend the house if you have a party of 6-8 people.
Penelope L., La Jolla, CA, 1.2.12
The unit is perfect for families with children and two couples travelling together. There are two master bedrooms each with a bathroom. The unit is clean, well appointed, and has a lovely garden and small patio for dining or relaxing. The unit is not beachside, which we understood in advance and is represented by the rate. However, the unit is located within walking distance to the beach, shopping and restaurants.
We would stay here again.
Mary D. H., Walnut Creek, CA, 12.27.11
Everything was perfect but here are some suggestions for improvements: 1.More lights outside in the garden 2.The outside was not very clean when we got the house (a lot of spiders etc...). When we pay fees for the cleaning we expect the house to be perfect 3. Someone should come every 2 days for the trash....when we are 8 in a house it's normal Or indicate more clearly where to put them if a person can not come Otherwise the house was very nice Thank you
Julie A., Chicago, IL, 11.28.11
We really enjoyed another stay here. This is our 3rd time renting this house. We keep coming back because we love the location and the amenities. We won't stay anywhere else! Thanks for another great trip.
Liz H., Spokane, WA, 10.7.11
Stayed here in Fall 2011. The unit was well located with amazing views of sunrise every morning. As other reviewers have mentioned, there is a bunch of gear, including fins, boogie boards, tennis racquets and such (bring or rent your own snorkel and mask). The only issue I had which could have been handled better was that the internet (no WiFi - Ethernet cable only) didnt work, and the local Time Warner support was inept in fixing it, insisting that everything was ok. Remax wanted me to call national time warner on my own. I would have expected the owner of the property to have taken care of fixing it, not relying on a person who was there for just a couple of days. A Wi-Fi router would have been good to have too - pretty much all condos I have rented have had one.
Prasanna V., FREMONT, CA, 10.1.11
Alohilani was amazing. It had every amenity one could think of for a perfect Kauai vacation. The rooms were spacious, clean and comfortable. Vicki was very nice and even left us a huge bouquet of tropical flowers which was an amazing way to start our trip. My advice to someone else staying at Alohilani would be that even though there isn't air conditioning in every room, you don't need it because of the gorgeous cross breeze that flows through the house! Everything was pretty much perfect! Also, the walk to Poipu Beach is easy and close, which was amazing. All in all a wonderful trip, I look forward to returning!
Jaime H., Los Angeles, CA, 9.27.11
A beautiful home for a beautiful island! We had a great time. It was wonderful to be with our 3 daughters and their husbands. Next year we plan to stay for at least 2 weeks as 1 week is just too short. The bad thing about Paradisio Ho'o Kumu is that you are not as motivated to explore the island. You just want to stay and enjoy the home!
Melodee N., Loma Linda, CA, 9.12.11
the unit was clean and spacious and easy access to shops, restaurants and beaches. the pools were smaller than we expected and I couldn't ever get the internet to work the whole time I was there (on your computer or mine). probably wouldn't stay there again only because we'd prefer to be ocean front...I thought this place was closer to the beach. my mistake.
Naomi C., Portland, OR, 9.11.11
BEAUTIFUL SETTING. The house was a perfect size for our family of four. Everything was clean. Plenty of towels made life that much easier. The kitchen was stocked with every gadget you could think of. We had a lovely lovely time. I would recommend this house to all my friends and family.
Safa H., Laguna beach, CA, 9.6.11
We absolutely loved the location of the bungalow. It's maybe 20 steps away from the beach and you can see the water from your kitchen and living room window. We had lovely breakfasts on the patio looking over the Pacific Ocean and dinners sitting outside. The rooms are nicely furnished, the kitchen is well equipped, we had plenty of towels, beach towels, etc. We even found sand toys, boogie boards by the backdoor. The place is quiet, the street is not busy at all, the nice beach is perfect for families with kids or couples who are looking for privacy. A nice shopping center is 4 minutes away by car where you can find restaurants, a Whole Foods-like grocery store (lots of organic food), and a sweet, little Farmers Market on Wednesday (from 4-6pm). I love Kauai and we always stayed in the Hyatt but renting the Baby Beach Bungalow made our 6th trip to the island even more special. By renting this lovely place we felt like locals. :) We were welcomed by the cleaning crew and they were very polite and did a great job cleaning out the house. They leave a vacuum cleaner in the closet that we used several times a week. (Some unwanted sand found its way in the house even after hosing off). The wireless internet and wash machine were a godsend! Kauai is the most amazing island and highly recommend it to everybody! We surely will return! Aloha, From San Francisco
Ildiko P., Kentfield, CA, 9.4.11
For a family of 10 traveling together, it was perfect!! All of the accesories in the closet were wonderful. To have all the chairs, boogie boards, and snorkle equipment was an added bonus. I would definiely recommend this unit for friends and family.... ZipLine in Princeville and ATV's at Kipu Ranch are a must.
Sheryl U., Huntington beach, Ca, 8.16.11
The house was beautiful as was the location. I recommend it highly. The combination of being right on the water, the pool, and the green grass yard made being outdoors perfect. It was thrilling to watch the turtles play in the waves right in front of you. The layout of the house is perfect, lots of room to mingle and plenty of places to find a little privacy. The kitchen was fully equipped and very functional. aLL IN ALL A GREAT VACATION SPOT.
Rob A., San Diego, CA, 8.14.11
Fantastic Location, brennecke beach has the best boogie boarding for beginners. Poipu beach Park was great for beginning snorkelers, we saw a giant turtle there. Both beaches within a short less than 5 min feet walk. The house is extremely spacious, great for big families, beautifully furnished.
Sampath G., Cupertino, CA, 8.7.11
1 - the house worked brilliantly for 2 families. Lived up to expectation (ie looked like photos) and was comfortable and well furnished. The view, pool, access to beach were all fantastic. 2 - customer service was all very good. 3 - the best part of our trip was probably hanging around the house and relaxing, but we also took the opportunity to do a number of activities and explore the whole island eg surfing, horseriding, tubing down sugar cane canals, snorkeling on Napali Coast, exploring the Canyon...We did a lot! 4 - We ate at a number of restaurants, mostly in Poipu - the biggest disappointment was the much celebrated Beach House. We really enjoyed Merrimans, Josselins Tapas Restaurant, Casa di Amici, JJs Broiller, Brennecke's Broiler, Hanapepe Cafe, and Hanalei Gourmet. We also really enjoyed shopping at The Living Market in Poipu and going to the wednesday afternoon gourmet market - we did it all! 5 - I went tubing and the beauty of the Coast and what a great temperature it was and how well the kids surfed... 6 - That 2 weeks in a house in a great spot like this, is the only true way to relax. 7 - Use the Kuaui Surf School at Poipu (there are lots) and go on the Liko boat for the coastal trip. Eat pie and carrot cake at the Hanapepe Cafe - divine! 8 - Some exploring of the canyon and other beaches by foot. We pretty much stayed around Poipu unless we were doing an activity.
Nick and Leah L., Singapore, Singapore, 8.2.11
There were 14 of us in both units, and there was more than enough room. The house was well furnished, and was a very pleasant place. There were a couple of ways, however, in which the house could have easily and rather inexpensively be improved. There is no closet in the master bedroom, or even in the upstairs at all. Some piece of furniture which could be used to hang clothes would have made the stay easier. Further, there is only one towel rack in the upstairs bath (I do not know about the downstairs bath), and one other rack would have helped. The upstairs bathtub is not easily used because the faucet above the tub is not long enough to reach the tub, and, thus much of the water runs onto the edge of the tub. Even with these negatives, the overall rating is very good, and it was a great place to stay.
Charles R., Sanibel, FL, 8.1.11
The house is beautiful and exactly as pictured. The best features of the house were the large space and the gorgeous ocean view. It is so close to the ocean, we could see turtles swimming from the backyard. Our only complaint is that the house does not have air conditioning and was very hot even with all of the windows and doors open. Our favorite places to eat were Roy's, Keoke's and Joe's on the Green. If you are wanting to see Barking Sands Beach you have to use an unpaved dirt road to get there. Be advised, it says 4-wheel drive only. For families, the plantation train is not to be missed. It is so much fun and you get to feed goats and boars as well.
Christine C., Altadena, CA, 7.27.11
I loved waking up and looking out to see the ocean. Having the beach right there was such a luxury, cozy and never crowded. Snorkeling was a five minute car ride away. The pictures don't do this place justice, much better in person! Can't wait to return!! AMAZING!!!!!
Julie B., Cornelius, Oregon, 6.27.11
The property was perfect. We noticed all the updates and how clean the proprety was. Also, the property is very well stocked. We were not in need of anything. It was a perfect location and a wonderfully relaxing vacation.
Kris J., Lees Summit, MO, 6.22.11
Location was awesome....definitely would rent again.
Charlene E., Los Altos Hills, CA, 6.20.11
Hana Hou Hale is a truly amazing home with a heavenly location. It is a perfect spot for 'family time' and we plan another reunion there as soon as possible. The kitchen is a dream and is very well equipped - we enjoyed cooking together and gathering around that gorgeous table that we never went out to eat as a family (excepting the evening trips for gelato at Papalani's and a Puka Dog every day or two). Our two big 'days out' were phenomenal (too many superlatives? can't help it...). We loved the Nui Loa Zip Line tour with Outfitters in Poipu; it is a wonderful way for the entire family (ages 12 - 62) to have a great time. We also loved our snorkel sail trip of the Na'Poli Coast with Captain Sundown. His catamaran was great, and the family loved riding the trampolines in the front. The snorkeling at Nu'alolo Kai was simply unparalleled. It is a restricted snorkeling location and we saw reef sharks, turtles, trumpet fish, and countless others. Dolphins raced the boat and twice we say flying fish. Captain Bob was very helpful, setting up the perfect spot to scatter a small amount of our mother's ashes we had brought along for that purpose. Only suggestion - we would have liked more information in the house itself regarding simple things like 1) do we provide our own toilet paper, 2) where is a broom, 3) where are garbage bags and dishwasher detergent (hated to buy them just because we only needed a few more, not an entire box...) and 4) the gas smell when you turn on the hot tub is normal for propane - don't fear blowing up the house. Louie was fantastic about answering our calls and questions, and we truly appreciated the extra time on check-out. THANK YOU!
Sharlyn W., Turlock, CA, 6.19.11
Great location beiing halfway between the Hyatt and Poipu Beach. Walkable either way. The grounds are gorgeous around the hotel and the beaches around Brenneckes have something for everyone. Going out a little farther, Koloa is great for a little shopping and lunch at Tomkats. Something new discovered- Polihale Beach at the far end to the west but don't try it in a small car- 4.8 miles of potholes but absolutely worth it with views of "other"side of Waimea Canyon and the forbidden isle of Ni'i'hau. Kauai is definitely the place to do ziplining. Kauai Outfitters did a good job of keeping us safe. Secret pool to jump into after that was a huge bonus. Advice for those using this beautiful unit is...bring important spices or condiments if you are cooking. Only salt and pepper were there. And bring earplugs as the air conditioning is kind of noisy. And there is no designated parking place for 620 that we could find but we always managed to find a space. Leave the kids and try Hyatt's Tidepools for a romantic evening with Stephenson Library Bar for drinks and classy pool after. Take the kids to Puka Dog or Brenneckes for a very good(but expensive) hamburger. For a peaceful retreat, the McBride Gardens next to Allerton where you can stroll among magnificent Hawaiian trees and landscape with a lovely creek flowing through it all and you don't need a guide to enjoy. Be flexible and check weather conditions before trekking over to North Coast and TRY to do that on a sunny day. Fantastic snorkeling at Tunnels and Ke'e. Be nice to locals and you might find a good place to park. ALOOOOHA
Jefra P., Santa Rosa, California, 6.13.11
What l liked best about the unit I rented was the cleanliness. The entire unit was impeccably well maintained, orderly, and very comfortable. Customer service was prompt, polite and responsive- Thank you Scott/Customer Service. We enjoyed our stay so much, it felt like home. Throughout our stay I ofter found myself saying, "Let's go back home"-meaning the condo.
Jennifer M., San Lorenzo, Ca, 6.2.11
Everything other then the weather was great. Thanks
Patrick T W., Milwaukee, Wisconsin, 5.18.11
There are so many things we liked about the house we rented - beautifully designed & tastefully appointed with enough bedrooms for our family, a beautifully appointed kitchen (two ovens, two dishwashers, and lots of dishes & pans), a private pool, and spacious living area. But the best part was its location right on the water with its stunning sunset view of the Spouting Horn. We came here for our son's wedding at the Grand Hyatt Resort (that's worth a visit and a meal if you can) and Kauai was the perfect place to spend time together. Our grown children especially enjoyed hiking in Waimea Canyon and the tour of the Steelgrass Chocolate Farm. Everyone wants to come back here!
John N., Marshfield, WI, 5.6.11
Our family had a wonderful time at the Stone House. The house was great. It was so nice to have all the amenities. I would have liked a crock pot. But there were so many details. Felt like home. Everything was so so nice. When we first arrived and walked around to the front of the house it took my breath away. The view was to die for. At sunset we photo nuts would take shot after shot of the glorious sunset. We ended up having a photo contest but there were no bad pictures. It is beautiful there. This is truly a piece of heaven. The first moring was unbelievable with a rainbow. I have never seen both ends of a rainbow at once. God's was showing off. His glory was everywhere. We spotted sea turtles and I am pretty sure the spout of a whale. Missing the palm trees swaying and the changing skies and the sound of the sure. WE LOVED IT. What a honor to have stayed in such a unique and speical place. The house worked for us. We loved all being together and sharing the sun and the fun. We have a terriffic Christain family but don't all live close. We are blessed. This vacation was a gift. We enjoyed the kayaking, the catameran trip and Smith's Luau but most of all the wonderful location and feeling we were left with. I have already sent pictures to our friends and recommend "The Stone House". Thanks for sharing your speical place!
Ruthann M., Grass Valley, CA, 5.4.11
The vacation rental was close to perfect for our group. There were 3 couples, 2 kids and 2 single adults. The layout of the house was really nice for such a large party. We all loved the pool and backyard especially. The location if you are staying on the South Shore is quite ideal. Just minutes from Poipu Beach and the local shops. We had a few issues with the house but nothing too major where it impacted our vacation. The garbage disposal did not work and when using the stove, we did not realize that you needed to use the utility lighter to ignite it. Costco and Safeway are about 20 minutes away which was nice. Buy all your needs there first as the house does not really come with any supplies for cooking. The local shops minutes away are really expensive for grocery shopping. Also, keep all the screens closed so flies, cockroaches and bugs do not enter the house. We did read there was construction next door, which there was but it did not really bother us since we were out and about most of the day. The other thing to note is check in is not until 5 pm. Our flight arrived in the morning and when traveling with small children it was important for us that we could check in a little early. Luckily when we called they were able to accommodate this request. We also requested a later check out by an hour which was also fine. Overall, the house is really lovely and we all had a great time in Kauai. We would come back in a heartbeat.
Rachel Omarra Y., Oakland, Ca, 5.4.11
The best thing about the unit was that it was directly across from the beach- which was nice and the weather was PERFECT! *The customer service was perfect- no problems! *We have been coming to Kaui for the last 18 years. We have done alot of things on the island, so we mainly come now for relaxation. However our little girl is getting bigger and she is wanting more adventure...So I guess the next time we will do zip-line adventures. *Over the years we have found many great little spots to eat and here are our favorites: 1. "Da Crack" 2. Hanalaei Dolphin 3. Tropical Taco 4. Savage Shrimp 5. Shrimp Station 6. Beach House Restaurant 7. Pizzetta Pizza We cook alot to try and save money!! Don't waste your money on Dudes Dogs. or Fast food. * if you really want a thrill- try Sky Dive Kaui- I have done it 3 times. My last jump was totally epic with "Pete". However they do not always have the same divers. Seems they are really nomadic. Meaning these guys travel to different places, earn money, sky dive with different companies. Ask for Pete.....he may be around...or he may be in Tailand, or Fiji....ya never know! *There were two things staying in this unit I was not happy about- 1. They were cutting down trees in the back and had a tree clipper/ shredder. I come to relax not hear noise. The place smelled like urine. Most of been some major toliet overflow. Carpet needs to come out. YUCK. Bed was very uncomfortable and the sheets and towels need to be replaced. I soaked and re- washed those things with hot water several times. Washed all the bedding too. So the next person gets lucky after us- everything has been cleaned. Do I get some more money back???? HAHA I know it is humid and its an Island....but I guess we pay for an ocean not clean stuff.****The house was also for sale, and the locales -there was some shady ones hanging out...Really have to lock up. I live and work in ghetto- so now on the island I have to watch my back here too.....bummer.
Ruth N., Leona Valley, CA, 5.1.11
The unit I rented was great for my large family. I had all the amenities of home. We loved scuba diving and wished we had more time to do more. Fathom Five Rocks! They truly care about making sure you have a great experience and we did. Duke's is our favorite restaurant, we recommend the Caezars salad and Hula pie. We didn't eat out much due to the kitchen. I recommend that anyone that stays in this unit goes grocery shopping first. We went to Costco and had a ton of leftovers that I hope were able to be used. Having a washer and dryer to clean towels and swimming suits was awesome. We love to go to different beaches for different reasons Ke'e for snorkling, Tunnels for scuba and snorkling. There are others that I can't remember for boogie boarding and body surfing. If/when we come back I would like to stay longer. There is so much to do and see. The best tip we got while on our trip was the blue aloe with lidocaine. My son got so sunburned and it works.
Cheri M., Draper, UT, 4.27.11
Makahuena 1-305 was on the top floor and it was clean and spacious and we absolutely loved our stay there. My sister and I shared one bedroom and one full bathroom and our friend stayed in the other bedroom and used that full bathroom. There were extra beds upstairs as well and a big sofa for more guests if you have a larger party staying there. We went food shopping at the local grocery store, so we had breakfast at the condo and packed lunches for the beach. There were so many delicious restaurants all over the island. We went to Keoki's Paradise near the condo twice and it was delicious...a great place to eat outdoors! Our favorite restaurant was in the North SHore at the Hanalei Colony Resort called Mediterranean. The food was out of this world and fairly priced. We enjoyed driving all over the island looking at different beaches and taking in all the spectacular scenery. Everything is so green and it was sunny everyday! We enjoyed sightseeing to the North Shore, to the West Shore and around the East Shore. We went to Poipu Beach Park 3x while there and it was perfect. We snorkeled, swam, laid in the sun, rented an umbrella, sat under a palm tree for shade, and our friend went surfing as well. We saw people having barbeques and sitting on the grass to get some shade. We even saw seta turtles there. My favorite beach was Anini beach in the North Shore. You can see the lighthouse from a distance as well. The condo was in a good location because we were able to get lots of sun, eat at many good restauarants nearby, it was a short 20-minute drive to the airport, there was a parking lot in the condo where we parked our rented Jeep Wrangler and it was safe. We could hear the sound of the waves through the open windows, which was amazing. The only thing was that the beach outside the window was not a beach to swim or lay out at. We had to drive to other beaches to spend the day at. The condo was clean, spacious, had a pretty view of the ocean, and the people who lived there and rented from there were so nice. I loved Kaua'i and would like to go again!
Ann Marie L., Neptune, New Jersey, 4.25.11
Everything about the trip was excellent. I will definitely recommend Regency Villas and Kauai to all my friends and relatives.
Jose A., North Las Vegas, NV, 4.25.11
View of rental property on website looks as if this is a fairly new house. It is not. It is several years old and many things need repair, maintenance or replacement. Maintenance guy was there when we got to the house and had to come back a couple of times during our stay. House was very open and space was nice. Kitchen well outfitted. Pool needs resurfacing. Unknown to us before arriving is that renters are required to wash sheets/towels before leaving or face an additional charge. We found this unacceptable since we were already paying over $500 for a cleaning fee for our stay.
Kathy D., Lafayette, IN, 4.24.11
We rented both sides of the house for everyone who came into town for a wedding. It was perfect--just the right size. Gave people privacy if they wanted it, and group areas also. Loved the short walk to the beach and the even shorter walk to the bar/restaurant right behind the house! Everything was like new, clean, and we couldn't have done without the central air! We are from Texas and NEED our central air!! The house was close to everything that we have planned for the wedding. Thanks!
Mary S., Houston, TX, 4.22.11
Great house. Beautiful views, direct access to a small sandy beach, which is hard to find in this area.
Steve G., Villa Park, Ca, 4.10.11
Hi, everything was great but the info supplied on the lock box code was wrong, and there were a few appliances in need of repair. The gas stove was leaking (we called the Emergency contact and they came to fix it the next day), and the soap copmpartment in the dishwasher was broken. Some tiles in the master bathroom could really use a recaulking. Otherwise, it was a spectacular location and a great house, which we thoroughly enjoyed. Thanks!
Petra T., Los Altos Hills, CA, 3.24.11
Great location, and very spacious (inside and outside).
Dayna D., Meadow Lake, SK, 3.21.11
Excellent place, really comfy and clean, we had to drive to the beach because we have a baby but other than that everything was supereme
Azzam A., Calgary, AB, 3.3.11
I loved the island and would love to go back, as there are things such as hiking and taking the helicopter tour that I would like to do -but due to weather, could not do. We enjoyed the house very much, and having the space and private pool was really nice. There are some suggestions that I would make. The house is quite dated and needs some work done. The shower in the upstairs bathroom was not useable. Another suggest is that the directions to the house were poor - and arriving at night made it even more difficult. Thank you.
Glenda C., Edmenton, Alberta, 2.23.11
The unit Makahuena 4301 was perfect for the 5 of us. It is located steps away from a walking trail to gorgeous sunset watching and minutes from the beach. We watched the whales from the balcony, they were amazing. The "beach" supplies available to us in the closet was a bonus. We injoyed the beach chairs and had a blast on the buggy boards. Having the full size washer and dryer also came in handy. I'd have to say the decorating of the unit was very tasteful and updated. The best thing about being on the south size of the island is the beaches. We did go west I think most everyday to various beaches. Salt pond beach was good and beyond. Hanapepe old town is a must. Also Captain Andy's snorkling and Napali coast trip. The boat was great. We saw lots of spinner dolphins and whales. The crew were very personable and the food and drink wonderful! We also visited the Kauai Coffee plantation. Great coffee samples.
Theresa L., Albany, OR, 2.7.11
The house itself was very nice and in good condition. The location of the house is a 2-3 minute walk accross a street and then a park. The view of the ocean was partial. The view is blocked on one side by another house and the other by large trees/shrubs. There are powerlines going directly through the view. The part most frusterating to us was the lack of items we felt should be in the house. There was no handsoap in one bathroom. The BBQ was out of propane. There was a limit to the number of washes on the washing machine. There were only 5 dishwasher tablets. We had to supply more toilet paper. Literally, there was not enough TP in the house! No extra garbage bags. These are all things that should have been included. We did pay $4000 for the house. We felt that the $10 in extra supplies should have been included. Also, the first things we had to do when we got there was 1)pick up the chineese containers from the back deck (presumably from the cleaners' lunch) and 2) take out the garbage. I really felt that the cleaners should have taken the garbage cans to the street. I'm on vacation and didn't want to take out the garbage. So overall the house was fine, the view was not as good as we had hoped, and we felt the house management was being cheap with the standard supplies.
Chris S., Reno, NV, 1.17.11
What a fantastic vacation! Everything was perfect, the condo was gorgeous, spacious with easy access to everything you need (dishes, cleaning supplies, towels, even seasonings for cooking and beach accessories). The location could not have been better, right down a quiet street from the beach. We bought all of our groceries from Costco and Walmart - it only takes about 25 min to get there from the condo. Of course we loved the roosters. The customer service was also amazing. I could call any time and always received friendly fast service. I would vacation here again! Enjoy!!
Shauna H., Winnipeg, Manitoba, 1.13.11
We really enjoyed our stay. The house is perfect for a multigenerational vacation. The grand kids loved the pool and the house has 2 wings plus an upstairs bedroom. So every family had their own space and would hangout together in the grand room , kitchen and patio. The office was slow and not responding to the problem of a dead cat under the window. That should have been taken care of immediately. There for 4 stars instead of 5.
Ineke L., Los altos, CA, 1.4.11
This was a great location. We loved falling asleep to the sound of the ocean. The unit was in good shape and had everything we needed (except a dust pan...). It was easy to use and the staff were quick to respond and fix our missing screens. We loved the food at PukaDogs and Casablanca and just eating around the big table in the condo. We played all the games they had, watched movies on the DVD, hung at the pool and hot tub. We especially appreciated having beach chairs and a wave board to use. Poipu was a great choice for us. Kauai Outfitters provided a couple of great adventures (hanging upside down on the zipline is a must). We enjoyed the nearby Hyatt for golf and spa. Just wish we had enough time for diving but we will have to return. Thanks so much for the greatest Christmas present my family could have.
Janet B., Naperville, IL, 12.30.10
Location for this house is perfect. Cross the street and you are at the park. It was perfect for our family with kids in that the house is really nice but not so super nice you are afraid you will ruin it. It is very comfortable and accomodating. It is much bigger than the pictures make it out to be, with plenty of space to spread out. Layout is a bit querky in that the downstairs and upstairs definitely feel seperated, but it works well as there are different places for people to hang out and have space. Bathroom, Kitchen, Appliances, everything worked and was good quality. It's a bit bare when it comes to cooking and dishes, as in there are 6 coffee cups, 8 plates, 3 cereal bowls, utensils for 6 or 7, we ended up supplementing with paper plates, cups and bowls. On the other hand there are beach toys and boards for 12, so what it lacks in one area it makes up in another. There is plenty of parking and a garage. Noise at the park on the weekend nights went fairly late, but wasn't really disruptive. I'd highly recommend this house for a family that enjoys the beach... Highlight was watching the Sea Turtles surf the waves at Brennecke Beach, and watching the fish up close at Baby Beach, as well as the children getting up each morning and chasing the roosters around the park... you can see the grass from the deck, so we let them just run and run and run...
Sandy A., Bellevue, WA, 12.9.10
The unit was spotless, well-decorated, and gorgeous. The unit is extremely well-stocked, complete with gourmet kitchen and lots of towels. The location is wonderful. We loved the unit.
Adrienne G., San Francisco, CA, 11.29.10
The unit was very conveniently located, although the actual view was a bit misrepresented in the photos. The actual view is of power lines, a street, and a parking lot for Poipu beach. Inside the unit, it was lovely. The linens were great, and they had wonderful amenities including boogie boards and things for the beach. Owner may want to consider using a different local person as a contact, as we were 8 people and notified the local caretaker that 2 of the toilets didn't work (1 had no chain connected to the handle, and the other just had water pouring out of the tank if you tried to flush it). She said she would get her husband the handiman right on it, but 8 days later, we still only had 2 toilets. That's a shame in such a lovely home. Another tip would be to open up the house before guests arrive. When we got there, is was completely closed up and hot, hot, hot. Lunches were the best. Bouchons in Hanalei, the Snack Shack in Old Kaloa town, Duane's burgers, and Puka dogs were all good. There was a great restaurant past Princeville overlooking the Hanalei River with the freshest Sashimi we had during our trip. Kipu Ranch is lovely, and we explored it by ATV, kayak and hiking. The best beaches are in Hanalei Bay. We rode in open helicopters, took the Zodiac trip to see the Nepali coast, trip zip-lining, and each adventure was terrific. The luau at the Plantation was a fine experience, but go for the entertainment. The kids had a blast.
Kathy J., McAllen, Texas, 10.17.10
The unit is very nicely appointed and has every amenity we could desire (including a cooler, beach towels, beach chairs, beach toys, etc.). It was great for our large family to be able to stay together but have enough space to spread out. It's perfectly located mid-way between two very nice beaches: Go down the path (paved - good for strollers) one way and you get to a great, gentle kids' beach (with sunset views) in 10 minutes. Go down the other way and you can stroll the grounds of the Hyatt and enjoy sunrise views (for the babies who are still on mainland time). Also - the Villas' lovely pool has a shallow stream with a waterfall and a large shallow end - perfect for kids and babes. Restaurants we enjoyed were Kalapaki Joe's (walking distance; open-air; ocean views) and Sueoka's Snack Shop in Koloa (quick drive; yummy $5.50 plate lunches). We ate many meals in the condo - I recommend stocking up with food in Lihue at Costco or KMart on your way from the airport; or go to Sueoka's Store in Koloa. Using the convenience store in Poipu is very expensive. Two recommendations: We stayed for 10 days and could have used maid service half-way through to restock toilet paper, etc. and change linens and clean the baths. No service for a week is okay, but 10 days was getting long. Also: have the A/C on and running at the time the guest is scheduled to arrive. We came in to a very hot condo with a tired, fussy baby. The circuit breaker to the A/C was tripped and we couldn't figure out why it wasn't working while she cried and cried... not a great way to start our stay. Other than these two things, everything was perfect - we would definitely recommend Regency Villas.
Deborah K., Hayward, CA, 10.8.10
The condo was really well equipped with five buggie boards, beach chairs and beach towels. Also the Unit was very well kept and had lots of space.
Susan C., Roseville, California, 8.5.10
We have stayed in hotels, timeshares, condos, and homes for many years on Kauai, but these accommodations were the best we've ever experienced, an altogether beautiful place; well-appointed and well-provisioned for trouble-free vacationing. The owners deserve the highest praise, and the rental company, (although we experienced some initial reservations because of a changeover of agents which resulted in not being able to access the house when we arrived after a very long day), was responsive to the only complaint we had, involving a minor problem with the pool which was quickly handled. Much appreciated. I would definitely both recommend this home to others and stay here again myself. "No ka oi" I think is the phrase: "it's the best!"
Sandy F., Southlake, TX, 6.29.10
We loved the house and the oceanfront view...its a fabulous location. We especially loved watching the waves crash just a few from the house and also enjoyed watching the huge sea turtles that appeared in the waves every afternoon. The only downside of our stay at Kai Lani was the constant noise of the heavy machinery working on the new housing development directly across the street. The noise was non-stop from morning to evening. The construction stirred up a lot of fine red dust that found its way into the house, lanai, and pool; it was everywhere including clothes hanging in the closets, the furniture, towels, bedding, food and so on. We tried our best to ignore the noise and the dust and not let it spoil our vacation...when it got to be too much we jumped in the car and left for a while. Our rental agent (Bronson) was terrific, and the property management person for Kai Lani (Vickie) was extremely helpful. Thanks to you both.
Peggy M., Richmond, BC, 5.24.10
It is a beautiful location and house. Unfortunately, it is becoming worn in the beds, sheets, towels, barbecue and some furniture. For the price, it should all be first rate. We will not be returning there next year.
John H., Medical Lake, WA, 5.3.10
This was our second year staying at Nani Kai, and as usual, it did not disappoint! the view is spectacular... as a matter of fact, each evening cars are lined up trying to "steal the view from the front of the house! We loved visiting the Beach House, our favorite restauraunt. Our best advice to someone staying at this unit is to relax and have a great time! we barbequed almost every night and relaxed in the sun each day. Our only recommendation is for the unit to perhaps supply snorkel equipment for guests which would make it so convenient!
Kari L., Kenmore, WA, 4.29.10
We loved the rental house. The large kitchen worked very well to feed a large family and have many helpers. We all loved the pool and waterfall. Very easy access to many beaches. Make sure to visit the Monday Farmers Market!
Kristin R., Sammamish, WA, 4.9.10
the location was the most beautiful spot we have ever stayed at the customer service could have been better, someone came and took family pictures off the wall while we were up in the high ground during the tsunami warning, we had to call the rental agent to find out what happened to them, they should have told us, we try to take good care of the places we rent. Also any relative should not be able to just walk into a house which is being rented for $5000 a week, we should be insured of some privacy. the best part of our trip was being where we were with our loved ones the best restaurant was the Beach House the best picture was the family on the lawn of the house we tell our friends that Kauai is beautiful but is getting too full of big condo units & less trees As we have been to the Hawaiian islands 12 times we know what expect, however the constant destruction and construction on the house next door was an unpleasant part of our stay. The Stone House is a beautiful place but needs some loving care, several unstairs windows need repair, the downstairs bedroom windows were stuck open, we fixed them as there would be easy access to the house thru them, most blinds were not working, we fixed two of them, toaster oven not fully working, bed covers & shams need washing, dining room chair broken, we still would like to come back, would buy the house if ever for sale but hope to come back in 2012 for my husbands 75th birthday. We have seen that house every time we have been in Kauai, it will always be the most wonderful location to me our stay was almost perfect, the construction was no ones fault, but the things that need attention in the house should be addressed. I know whoever took the pictures off the wall was only saving the family heritage, but some consideration could have been shown to us, we were enjoying the family history (book & photos) and the blank wall (full of nail holes) was a shock when we returned from high ground and remained that way for the rest of our stay. The lawns, trees and construction of the Stone House are wonderful and beautiful.
Anne S., Jamesville, NY, 3.28.10
we enjoyed our stay very much. the unit was as decribed. we liked being close to the different beaches. The unit was very clean.
Josh D., Rathdrum, Idaho, 3.16.10
What I liked best about the unit I rented was the location. My advice to someone else staying at this unit would be: 1) There aren't many towels, about 6 bath towels and 2 beach towels in total 2) The dishwasher is really heavy and can easily fall to the ground or injure someone that's not expecting it's weight. 3) The bathtub in the master does not plug up. 4) There are not shampoos or conditioners but there is ample body soap
Nicole B., San Francisco, CA, 2.17.10
This was our second time renting PS223 and we love it. They thoughtfully provide beach chairs, an umbrella and a cooler. The king bed is especially comfortable -- the proximity to the pool and the Weber grills is a plus.
Dan D., Ashland, OR, 2.4.10
The area was beautiful as always, the house was very nice, excellant location. I would recomend that you put a new gas grill at the house and also adjust the hot water in the master bedroom shower. The service was excellent and the cleaning people did an excellant job cleaning the unit before we checked in. The best restaurant I found was Tidepools at the Hyatt. The sunshine helicopter tour was excellent as was the whale watching. The best insider tip I received was the fish market in old town. I plan on comming back next year for a month in either January or February
Philip D., Medford, MA, 1.16.10
This is a great home for families - 10 of us stayed very comfortably. The pool and spa are very nice, and the landscaping is beautiful. The house was very spacious, and it had all the amenities. We were only a 5 minute walk from Poipu beach, which is amazing. There are rougher sections for surfing, plus calmer "pools" for wading and snorkeling. As well, there is a gorgeous walking/jogging trail along the coast that ends at the Grand Hyatt. We also enjoyed whale watching from the lanai. We have always gone to Maui, and this was our first trip to Kauai. We will definitely be back!
Deanna S., Calgary, Alberta, 1.11.10
The house was wonderful! All eight of us enjoyed the stay, especially breakfasting on the balcony. One morning two sea turtles were frolicing right below us. Sons-in-law and older grandchildren enjoyed a day up the canyon, zip lines, kayaking, etc. I especially enjoyed the National Tropical Botanical Gardens, an easy walk from the house. Best restaurant = Casablanca. Best carry-out = Poipu Grill, another easy walk from the house. Next time I'll try the garlic shrimp from the truck that parks at one end of Hoona Lane.
Harriet M., Alexandria, VA, 1.5.10
This unit was as advertised. It was plenty spacious for 2, had a TV in both LR and bedroom. The location has no view, but is convenient to walk to either the beach near the Sheraton or Kuhio Park, etc. VERY close to Koloa Landing for shore diving. We saved money by shopping at Costco and eating most meals in the condo. That way we didn't worry about spending more for "nice" meals out. The construction was a bother in the morning. Plan on being awake at 7am. Probably will be an issue for most of 2010.
James F., Coeur d'Alene, ID, 12.16.09
Ho'ohu Nani was AWESOME! A very comfortable, house with all the amenities and then some. The kids loved the pool, the beach was close by and even though the island has so much to do and so much to see, you never wanted to leave the relaxing atmosphere of the house. When you did, the people of Kauai were great. My advice to anyone wanting to stay here is Don't Hesitate and stay an extra week. We will be back soon! Thanks to the rental agency for a great recommendation and for a great vacation get away!
John S., Ault, CO, 11.9.09
Hale Moana was a great place to stay; private, quite, relaxing, and all the amenities of home with no extra charge for the unbelievable sunsets. Customer service was great, two minor issues we noticed when we arrived were handled within hours of reporting them. I can't think of a down side worth mentioning in regards to staying in this unit, my wife and I enjoyed all 11 days there and would not hesitate to stay there again. If you do make it here be sure to ask the locals for direction to the Kipu falls swimming hole (the hike is well worth the effort) and if you'd like an unforgettable adventure be sure to make it up to the Port Allen airstrip for a motorized micro-light flight over the island with Jim Gaither at Big Sky Kauai. It may not replace a helicopter tour but its a most exhilarating experience and a very up-close view of things you'll never see otherwise. Many thanks to Home Away and Island Rentals for helping make our time on the island most memorable.
Ron P., Baltimore, Maryland, 10.24.09
its location.. and the house. thanks
Larry S., Vaughan, Ontario Canada, 10.21.09
This rental had lots of roaches and ants even after the extriminator was called and did whatever he did. Poor maintenance, ie broken light switches, etc throughout (I got tired of fixing them). The villa (especially apppliances) was dirty in fact we called in house cleaner to do a once over. The view was nice, not much beach.
Michael L., Ogden, Ut, 10.6.09
its a verry nice bugalow so closed to the beach. We had a wonderful time at kauai.
Sandra W., Teufen AR, Switzerland, 7.27.09
Hana Hou Hale was exactly as described. A beautiful house, clean as can be with amenities galore! A wonderful welcome basket, every utensil a cook could dream of, walking distance to Brennecke beach and Poipu beach, plentiful beach towels and very comfy beds! I would love to live there permanently. C-Lure fishing charter was wonderful and productive (fresh grilled wahoo for dinner). Kauai Sea Tours for a Napali Coast Catamaran was fun. Zip lining was great. I would recommend this to everyone.
Kristen S., Springfield, MO, 6.15.09
Paradisio Ho'o Kumu is truly awesome, even better than we expected. As I listened to my family as they explored Paradisio on arrival, I thought of the expressions of the people who have had their home undergo the extreme makeover. Customer service was excellent, as the home was spotless on arrival, and when the propane tank went empty on our second barbecue night, a replacement was delivered and installed within a few hours. However, we were not able to get a proper fire with that replacement unit, but used the extensive kitchen for the meal in place of the barbecue. The best part of the trip was being able to live in comfort with the entire family, 8 people from granparents to grandchildren. We mostly ate at home, but the two middle couples each had a night out for dinner. We all had a nice lunch at Keokee's at the shops at Poipu, and take home pizza from Brick Oven Pizza in Kelehoe. We all spent one fabulous night at the Smith's Family Luau in Waliua, and got a family picture in the process. We took many pictures and video clips, from the open-door helicopter ride, the drive up Waimea Canyon, the hike on the Holupa trail and the hidden beaches to the east of Poipu, as well as a tour of Paradisio Ho'o Kumu in both pictures and video. We had a couple of noisy nights from partying going on at the park near the harbor, but that was only on weekend nights. Otherwise, the best advice for someone planning to stay at the unit, is to make best use of the fine property and all its amenties. As for the best insider tip, it was the directions to the beaches to the east of Poipu, small secluded beaches primarily visited by the locals. And what we learned in the time spent at Paradisio, is not to pay attention to the Weather Channel forecasts, as the weather was much better on the south shore than the forecasts indicated.
Joseph S., Lowell, MA, 4.15.09
This unit was very nice and we would definitely stay there again!
Cheryl P., Ridgefield, WA, 2.23.09
A truly beautiful home. We were very grateful to have been able to stay even if for a short period of time. Would definately like to go back. Thank you. Leigh Vickerstaff
Leigh V., West Vancouver, B.C., 1.8.09
The view from this condo is wonderful. We spent hours looking at the ocean. The turtles came up everyday close to the shore and you can see whales in the distance. Also, we had a wonderful view of the surfers. The best "insider tip" is the restaurant/bar TomKats in Koloa. The food and service are great. Very reasonable for the islands. Also, the best Mai Tai's in Kauai in our opinion. Only two negatives. One was the outside hallway light came through the drape at night. Had to hang a blanket over the window so we could sleep. Number 2 were the twin beds in the second bedroom. My son who is only 5'11" feet hung off the end of the bed.
Juanita S., Granada Hills, CA, 1.8.09
We had a 15 days at Whalers Cove. The unit was excellent with views of the sea including passing humpback whales. The owner has done a wonderful job providing a comfortable place with all the extras one could desire. Two minor gliches were handled promptly by the rental agent. Two things that might be helpful for future users of this unit. 1) The instructions to get to the unit need to be updated. There is now a rotary that one needs to go around on the road from Koloa and there are a couple of sentences in the directions that are redundant making the final turns a bit confusing. Fortunately we had scoped out the directions with our mapping program on our computer and were able to get to the unit without a problem. 2) The arrangements for this unit are NOT made with the Whalers Cove management. What this means is some of the amenities provided to the other units are not included for Whalers Cove 113-2 rental. Where we got a bit confused is reading in the travel guides it said daily maid service is included. However, this is not so for unit 113-2. When you consider the rate we paid for this unit (which we thought was the best unit on the property) was about half the top published rate for the deluxe 2 bedroom Whalers Cove units, we were very happy to go without the extras. The best activity we did was to take the Blue Hawaiian Helicopter tour of the island. We fist tried to book with one of Blue Hawaiian's competitors. After being rescheduled twice (a day or two later each time) we called Blue Hawaiian and had the trip scheduled for the same day! Thank you for your part in making out trip a great experience.
Ron B., Laconia, New Hampshire, 1.8.09
The best feature of Kahalekai is the fantastic view and locale. The best part of our vacation was ATV-ing at Kipu Adventures where we took our most favorite pictures. The best restaurant was Roy's. We loved Snorkle Bob's. We ate tons of ice cream at Lappert's. Do not take the Wailua Kayak & Canoe guided tour as the guides are surly, rude, and rush you. Thumbs way down for them.
Judy S., Oregon City, Oregon, 11.14.08
We all had a wonderful time in Kaua'i. We loved watching the green sea turtles, dolphins, and pounding surf against the rocks right in front of our condo. We looved the food at Duke's, Keoki's Paradise, and Tidepools. The best shave ice on the island was at mile marker 23 in Waimea at Jo Jo's Shave ice. The snorkeling was the best at Poipu beach. We loved receiving tropical flowers at the condo the first day we arrived. The only thing we were not impressed with was the pool at the condo. It was small, secluded, not kept up and the water was cold. The Smith's Paradise Luau was very good. We took many pictures the best was of my wife and I on our 40th Anniversary. Next time, we would rent C1 again and we would go on a Catamaran around the NaPali coastline. Thankyou for the friendly service. Sincerely John and Glynnda Davis
JOHN D., Lincoln City, Oregon, 9.18.08
Honulani the villa is lovely, although my wife found some of the decor rather dated, especially in the bathroom. The view was fantastic...when it wasn't obscured by the groups of young surfers traipsing through the front yard into the back garden, sitting on the wall at the end of the garden or making use of the garden hose to wash themselves down after a heavy surfing workout. This was obviously a problem for other visitors before us, as demonstrated by entries in the guest book. However, a solution, even if only partial was found and a gate was put up across the entry into the front yard. My wife removed the hose and hey presto, after much rather comical reactions by the surfer dudes when they realised that the hose was no longer there (all captured nicely on video) we had far fewer unwated guests. Let me make myself very clear...We really enjoyed ouyr stay in Honulani and loved the villa itself, but the first couple of days of our much too short stay was very blighted by the completely unexpected intrusion into our expensive holiday home of truculent and unpleasant visitors. We paid thousands of dollars for a peaceful and beatiful view of the Kauaian coast, and we didn't get it. Of course, the ongoing (for months) construction work next door was unexpected as well. Would we rent Honulani again? Yes, but checking to make sure that these unexpected things would not affect us again. We took a helcopter trip with Blue Hawaiian. Highly recommended and well worth the expense.
Marek J., London, UK, 9.10.08
We were in awe the moment we walked through the door. The views, the sounds of the waves crashing, were just incredible. We had a fabulous time in this beautiful home. We enjoyed sitting on the lanai in the mornings and afternoons watching the clouds and the stars during the evenings. Thank you for sharing your home.
Joanne W., Fremont, CA, 7.13.08
This is the second time we stayed here, and the unit is great.
Allan W., Vancouver, WA, 5.5.08
What I liked best about the unit I rented was that when we finally saw it in person it was WAAAY better than we expected. The pictures and virtual tour made it look pretty nice, but in reality it was phenominal!!! We LOVED the house and did not ever want to leave. The customer service I received was top notch. Everything from the booking and payment arrangements to the access into the house was effortless to us. The best part of my trip was my wedding on Shipwreak beach of course:) - and then we had dinner at Tidepools restaurant at the Grand Hyatt. It was so close that we walked home along the ocean front walkway for a beautiful end to our special day. We had debated booking a room at the Hyatt for our wedding night but we were glad we didn't. There is no way the room there for $500 a night would have been anywhere near as nice as the room we alreadcy had at the house- with a walk in closet, king size bed, lanai off our room, huge bathroom with 2 sinks, a jacuzzi tub and a huge walk in shower that you never wanted to get out of. The best restaurant I found was The Beach House Restaurant and Tidepools was a close second. The best picture I took was of a sunset from the Lanai at the house - we had a beautiful view of the ocean. The part of my trip I would definitely recommend to others is hiking the Napali Coast trail to the beach (2 miles) and then waterfall (2 miles). Be warned this is not for beginner hikers though! The best "insider tip" I received while on my trip was not to take the Napali Coast sailing trip with Blue Dolphin if you were prone to sea sickness. We cancelled that and rebooked a 2 hour sunset sail on the south end and I was still sea sick for 2 hours. The 5 and 1/2 Napali trip would have been awful for me! I didn't have time this trip, but next trip to Hawaii I'm looking forward to the plantation tubing and maybe a helicopter tour.
Kari H., Calgary, Alberta, 4.1.08
The unit was perfect, it was very clean and fully equiped and the best part was how quiet and peacefull the complex was. We enjoyed being able to walk to the Hyatt and watch the whales from the deck. A big plus was the available beach chairs, boogy boards and coolers at the unit. The best thing about the unit was listening to the waves crash at night and the morning sunrise over the water. Our favorite restaurant was the Plantation Garden. I would highly recommend the surf lessons it was a blast. Next time I hope to try the zip lines. We would rent this unit again, no question. Please let the owners know they have a lovely home and it was greatly appreciated!! P.S It was great to have comfortable beds, so many rentalshave terrible mattresses.
Regis R., Stonington, CT, 3.3.08
The Kahalekai was beautiful. The house is right on the water, and we went to sleep with the sound of the surf every night. The best part of our trip was watching the whales breach out of the water while sitting on the patio...it was awesome. We took a helicopter tour of the island which was beautiful. We also ziplined, which was amazing. One of the best parts of our trip was just relaxing with our group (4 couples of old friends) while enjoying the Kahalekai. We made new friends with the staff at Brenneckis in Poi Pu........what fun. The rental company was very accomodating and we felt very welcome. Thank you!
ReNae Y., SPOKANE, WA, 2.28.08
The beach was reasonable for snorkeling but not for swimming without shoes.The house was very comfortable apart from the morning wake up call at o430 am from the resident Rooster-but we got used to that.The weather was only fair- a rain coat is a must.The trip up the canyon was beautiful and the rain cleared for a while.
Diana H., Auckland, New Zealand, 2.9.08
The house was just stunning. The second my family and I stepped into it we were in tears, it was breathtaking. it is a very convenient location. Be prepared to spend most of your time on the Lanai because the view is out of this world. It boggles my mind that anyone who owns a house like this would not be living in it every day. The whole holiday was a dream. Kauai is so beautiful. If you are brave then you have to see the Island via open door helicopter. it was one of the highlights of my holiday. Ask to be taken up by a dude called Floyd at Port Allen . Quality food can be found at the Plantation and at Roy's nearby. Not too much choice for vegetarians though. Best insider tip was from a lovely lady and her dog (Zoe) at a surfboard rental place called "Kemo's". if you surf, she'll advise you where's safe and where's not. Longboard and Mai Tai's are the drinks of the holiday. Last bit of advice, "bug spray". We left some anti-bug candles there for the next Folks that stay...essential.
Richard O., CULVER CITY, CA, 2.4.08
We love Kauai but will probably not stay at Hale Ohe again.
Junie F., Teton Village, WY, 1.31.08
We found this home very comfortable and attractive. The nearby ocean is fabulous and the pool/spa area is wonderful with small children. We did not find the people of Kauai to be especially friendly, as a rule, though some people were very nice. We ate in alot as prices on the island are understandably high and this home is ideal for preparing snacks or elaborate meals. We will definitely consider this property again.
Margaret M., Las Vegas, NC, 1.19.08
The house was great! We loved the location. The street was cozy and the proximity to Baby Beach was perfect. My kids loved looking for sea creatures and the sunsets were divine! The only thing that was lacking were some household amenities. We ran out of garbage bags and paper towels. It also would have been nice to have some spray cleaner. Other than that everything was great. Thanks! Danyelle
Danyelle P., Portland, OR, 1.18.08
We really liked the Kuhio Shores 211 had a great time was close to the beach, and the kids can't wait to go back. It was a little noisy in the evening and did not get quiet until after 11 pm or so, and not having air conditioning in the afternoons the condo could get a little hot. But we would go back in the future to this condo. Take plenty of sunscreen as it was sunny every day.
Cory S., Steamboat Rock, IA, 1.11.08
It was an amazing experience. We loved our trip to Kauai and am glad that we stayed in poipu rather than the princeville area (heavy rain). Every room in the house had views of the ocean and we could hear the crashing of the waves in all of the rooms. It was great for entertaining friends for dinner, especially with the outside barbecue. The entire house was well-furnished with comfortable chairs and sofas. They also had a nice upstairs office with computer and printer that was helpful. The only negative aspect of the trip was that there is no air-conditioning (hot when cooking inside); however none of the restaurants that we went to had air-conditioning, including Roy's. Overall, outstanding experience.
Chris G., , , 10.21.07
I liked the location and the service (not much required) was fine. The best part was being on the island and I can't say I found a restaurant I REALLY liked. I don't have to tell my friend anything because I brought them with me to the island. My advice to someone about this house is to plan to be outside from about 4pm to 7pm - the lack of AC makes the house uncomfortable. I didn't have time to just sit and read, so next time I'm going to plan on doing that. The best activity was the catamaran/snorkel trip I took with Holo-Holo. Thanx for asking, Chantal Berkowitz
Chantal B., Phoenix, AZ, 10.13.07
The location is simply terrific, the house and garden are well maintained, conveniently equipped.
Dr. Carsten N., Bad Abbach, Germany, 9.9.07
One of the best floor plans for a large home that I have seen. It was well organized and plenty of bathrooms for our large group. Excellent! the wonderful views and the constant sound of the surf. It was so relaxing and helped in my recovery from a very difficult medical therapy. Always, the Beachhouse Restaurant. Us, As a family. Next time we are in Hawaii (Kauai) we will be house shopping. Thanik you so much
Mary Y., San Diego, CA, 9.1.07
The rental was beautiful, in a calm environment, and I loved hearing the strong waves crash on the rocks. The best part of the trip was going on the North Shore Jungle Valley Adventure on the Princeville Ranch. Best restaurant was WAHOO's in Kapaa (I think). Best picture was taken on the drive to Hanalei. We pulled over where there was a view of the taro fields, and the beautiful mountains. Oh wait, I another is the Waimea Canyon. Another is Wailua Falls. Another is a picture of a sea turtle at the Makahuena. Can't wait to tell friends that my 10 year old daughter went scuba diving and had the time of her life. Advice to people staying at the unit is to take advantage of the wonderful view even if your room is not facing the ocean directly. I didn't have time to see or do anything fun on the Napali Coast...bummer. A Napali Coast tour will be the first thing we do when we go back. There was no "best" part of the trip. Everyday was fun and enjoying the beauty of Kauai was vacation enough for us.
Crystal S., Vancouver, Washington, 8.30.07
The place was very nice, I didn't know it got up into the ninety in August and with no air con. some of the night were hot for sleeping. And the supplies (run out of toilet paper and soap) Other than that was had a great time and the house was beautiful. We made all of our dinner and eat then out on the patio. Had a great time and would come back again in the next few years. Thanks Debra
Debra M., Glendale, Arizona, 8.20.07
The rental unit was clean and had been recently updated. There was a partial ocean and mountain view from the upper balcony. I could watch the sun set from the balcony. The beach (Breneke and Poipu) is walking distance so no packing up a car and trying to find parking. In the afternoon when the sun hit the ocean side of the condo one could just go and sit on the lanai on the other side which was shaded, cool with a great breeze. Customer service was great and efficient. We'd stay there again. This was the nicest condo we've stayed at in our three trips to Kauai. The best new place we found to eat was the Poipu Grill just down the road towards Koloa. It is just an open window on a building with a series of businesses, but the food was great and inexpensive. It is take away, but a good bargain. We've been to 5 of the Islands and Kauai is our favorite. I like the fact that it isn't over developed, yet and enjoy all of the outdoor opportunities, not just the beaches. We can't wait to return
Tom M., College Station, Texas, 8.8.07
The condo was a great place to come and relax after a very busy day. Next time I will hopefully get an ocean front room. Other than that it was we enjoyed our stay. It was clean and nice location
Jeff H., Carthage, MO, 8.3.07
We liked the view over the ocean. We had a nice stay at Kauai. We enjoyed the beach next to the restaurant,we also enjoyed the view of the turtles. rnThe only thing we didn't like were a few cockroaches in the bathroom.
Hans V., Zaandam, Netherlands, 7.30.07
Paradaiso Ho'o Kumu was a beautiful, well-appointed property. It is so much more than was presented online and by your company...definitely a property we will visit again. The kitchen was wonderful and generally the property had everything you need and more..Customer service as far as information on this property was lacking. No one seems to know details at all. We purchased and brought many things that we did not need to bother with. The only negative we can think of in relation to the home is that the audio visual system was difficult to operate and in most rooms does not work...but really who needs tv in Hawaii? The property is adjacent to a small boat harbor which ended up being great for us because the kids enjoyed fishing from the dock. If you have privacy issues it could be a negative...across the street there is a home that is used for parties and events at night..again, worked out fine for us..we even caught a Michael McDonald concert from the beach. Overall, we would give the home a 10+...we will be back.
Jill G., , , 7.30.07
What I liked best about the accommodations was the thought that went into provisioning it with all of the things we would find both necessary and useful, especially the internet wireless setup. Addiitonally, the unit was very clean, and also came equipped with unexpected touches (e.g., boogy boards, etc.).
Wendell P., Honolulu, HI, 7.23.07
Loved the beach for snorkeling, swimming and boogie boarding. rnTip - reserve adventures before you get there if traveling in July.
Robin O., Scottsdale, AZ, 7.11.07