I spent my birthday at this little slice of Paradise. Having our coffee in the morning and our…read morefresh juice with Koloa dark rum in the evenings was as exquisite as it was economical. The lawn is plush enough for a picnic and we spread out a blanket and had one. The skies opened up and poured rain down upon us and we just laughed. Such a magical place tucked away from all of the others! I love the privacy you have when you stay here. Auntie has all Sorts of wonderful books if you like to read. Extra bonus, Tunnels beach is a moments drive away from the cottage. Highly recommend.

My husband and I loved our experience here!…read more We are frequent visitors to this part of the island due to relatives who live just down the road. Due to a family reunion, we needed an extra place to stay when visiting most recently during July 2013. We loved the authentic worker-style cottage and property, very similar to our relatives' home just up the road, where we usually stay. What we liked: - Location: Remote and on the lush North (north!) Shore, directly across from the beach - Auntie, the owner, was patient and friendly through the reservation process and during the visit. She was very understanding when my lasy payment check didn't go through the first time, oops! - The simple interior and exterior of this cottage, which really lets you feel the "island lifestyle," - The kitchen had everything you need to cook real meals - Brand new washer and dryer. I am totally in love with this area of Kauai, it never gets old even after 20+ visits. If you are low maintenance, and like simple, affordable, authentic lodging and service, this is the place for you. Auntie even accommodated our young daughter stay for a very minimal additional charge, by providing extra bedding, and towels. I would definitely stay here again, and again, and again.

The beach was great. A little hard to get directions on line but once found . Thanks to a post on…read moreyelp

My family and I stayed at the Dali Hale Estate for 7 days to celebrate my parents 50th anniversary…read more It was an amazing, once-in-a-lifetime experience. The property was amazing with 8 bedrooms (4 upstairs and 4 downstairs), a huge kitchen, a family room, sitting room and media room there was plenty of room for everyone. It was beautifully kept and was stocked with towels, toys, and sports equipment. The house manager was readily available to answer any questions. The walk down to Secret Beach has 360 steep stairs so it was a workout getting back up but the beach is breaking and very quiet although you may see a little bit of nude bathing. The house offers the most amazing views of the ocean, sand and lighthouse. I would highly recommend!

This cottage is a perfect vacation rental if you like to feel the unique qualities of the community…read moreyou're visiting. HMBC's openness lets you enjoy the warmth, the wetness, and the beauty of Hanalei Bay in a low-key way that lets you feel like you really live there. Maybe I am reacting to our trip to the Princeville St. Regis hotel for sunset cocktails. That beautiful resort felt like placeless luxury. The views were Hawaiian, but the grand style of the rooms, plentiful central air conditioning, upper-class airs, and property layout were suitable for anywhere from the Caribbean to Mexico to wherever... My preference is to stay where the local touch is celebrated. So..., HMBC is not endlessly elegant, it's a beach cottage. But, it is definitely my type of place! HMBC's front lawn leads directly to a very swimmable, less crowded area of Hanalei Bay. We walked 4 miles roundtrip on the Bay every morning, crossing the two local rivers coming into the sea at different places each day as the sands shifted. We took our first swim of the day on our pre-brekfast treks, and decided that the placement of the cottage was enough to ensure a wonderful vacation. The building is smartly designed with a large picture window in the living room. You can sit on the couch or one of the two reclining chairs, and watch the water, surfers, and swimmers go by. Moreover, the furniture and decorations feel well-designed, thought-out, sturdy and in excellent shape. Nothing is beachy, sticky, or falling apart. Suzanne, the owner, knows how to add touches to the property let us feel even more comfortable and able to relax. The building is well maintained and clean, which is not unique but noteworthy because those basic qualities are not universal in Hanalei! There are also nice, if somewhat common extras like a reasonable selection of pots and pans, microwave, toaster-oven, a charcoal BBQ, wide-screen TVs, full-size new refrigerator, comfortable chairs, washing soap, beach towels, extra towels of all types, and other reassuring amenities. We also liked the lock-box on the porch. That arrangement was new to us, but it let us lock up, swim, and not worry about losing the key on the beach. The books, games, and beach-gazing telescope in the living room were truly above-and-beyond treats. So was assortment of beach toys and mats and chairs that were in excellent shape and felt clean. We even appreciated the unique photographs on the walls and the other artwork that was unique and felt just right. We traveled with friends who rented a cottage across the grass from us. Their place is owned by a different member of the extended family that owns 5 adjacent waterfront units (and more elsewhere in the country). We felt lucky to have chosen HMBC because our owners seemed to understand what boosts a vacation. Our cottage had a gas stove, which I much prefer over the electric one our friends had. Adding gas must be costly, but it let us enjoy cooking more. Plus, there is a washing machine and gas clothes drier at the cottage which was both handy and free ... our friends had to pay several dollars to dry their clothes at an underpowered electric drier. (Come on owners of the other cottages... you're charging $400+ a night and then you make your guests put in quarters to wash and dry their clothes?? I am sure glad HMBC's washing and drying were not nickel and dime annoying extras. I mean, do you want to carry a bag full of quarters from the mainland in case you need to do laundry? Geeze!) Another special at HMBC is its lovely, hot-water plumbed, outdoor shower. We also appreciated that our kitchen was stocked with matches (our friends had none) and lighter fluid (again, they had none). Our friends even had to ask the housekeepers cleaning other cottages for more toilet paper. You're given the owner's telephone number is case of any problems. We had an incident: the clothes drier started smoking with an electrical smell as soon as we turned it on one morning. Suzanne had someone check the problem that afternoon and, when it turned out the motor had burned out, had a new drier installed the next morning. She was very, very responsive, came out herself to make sure we were okay, and ensured that the minor problem was solved. That visit, by the way, is when we discovered how delightful and friendly Suzanne is! Overall, in our opinion HMBC is excellently laid out, well taken care of, and, well..., as good as it gets.

Fall asleep to the sound of waves crashing out in Hanalei Bay? Walk to town for coffee and…read morebreakfast (or drinks and dinner at night; no need for a designated driver here!)? Views of Bali Hai from your front lawn? If you want the quintessential Hawaii experience, then stay here! The Moon Beach cottage is on the rustic side (think gecko visitors)--but that's part of its charm. Do yourself a favor and use the outside shower as your primary one (it's amazing to look up at Bali Hai as you lather up). The bed is a lot more comfortable than it looks, which is a big plus in my book. One night it got a bit noisy as some kids were partying on the beach--but everyone else we ran into was nice and respectful (and quiet). Sitting in the living room on the rattan furniture with the windows open and watching the surfers and the waves is pure heaven! It's one of the lesser-expensive places in Hanalei, but at $1,950 for the week it might be above some people's price range. But you are right on Weke road (multi-million-dollar real estate)--in walking distance to town and with direct ocean views. Also, the house sits on a big lot. There's even a neighborhood cat and dog who come by from time to time to say hello--just welcoming you to the neighborhood with that ol' Aloha spirit. Skip Poipu. Stay here. (You can thank me later...)

Luxe cleaning fulfilled all my expectations! They responded quickly to a request for service and…read morethe owner herself came to the location to review and price the job requested. Used them back in March for a move out clean and to save some the time and energy of doing it on my own. The quality of work was appreciated and they also completed the work on a weekend and within the contacted 2 hours. Thank you Luxe Cleaning and staff!

Angel was lovely to work with! We used the cleaning service during our one week trip to Kauai while…read morewe were staying at an Airbnb. Before arriving, Angel was easy to coordinate with and discuss our needs. When we arrived, the cleaning was thorough and it was a great way for us to feel like we were staying at a hotel, all while enjoying the perks of staying in our private Airbnb! I would highly recommend using her cleaning service.

Terrible experience. They expect people to stay at their accommodations during an epic storm in a…read moredisaster zone with impassable roads and broken sewer mains. They refused to refund my reservation despite access to the accommodation effectively severed by severe storm damage. I would not recommend using their services- watch out for their listings on AirBnB!

Scam scam scam!…read more Don't trust those google reviews they purchased. All paid reviews. They bid low, take security deposit with no intention to return it by saying we've made a mess. Can't prove that it was spotless before but now they're saying we soiled their drapes with urine. Ew, now I am more disgusted that we stayed there while it was covered in urine! You didn't clean it before!? How disgusting! Should be banned. Prime example of why Maui is going down the drain. What a fraud

We just returned from an incredible week at Orchid house. The large 5 bedroom house was perfect for…read moreour 8 adults and 4 teens. The views take your breath away every single morning as we watched the sunrise over Shipwreck Beach. The kitchen has lots of cooking and baking items, plenty of dishes and cutlery, 2 large refrigerators to hold so much food and beverages. Restaurants and food shopping are close by in Koloa. There's a large dining room table inside next to the kitchen, plus another large table on the front porch by the large BBQ. The salt pool and deck are spacious and beautifully maintained. The garage has lots of pool toys, beach towels, even a wagon to carry things to the beach. The bedrooms are large and comfortable and all have an ensuite. The house is in a very quiet and safe neighborhood that overlooks Poipu Beach. Another great asset is Evan, the house manager. He's absolutely wonderful and quickly responds any time you have a question. I would stay here again and I very highly recommend Orchid house for amazing accommodations in the Poipu beach area.

We had such an incredible stay at Orchid Home! It was perfect for our large extended family with…read morelittle kids in tow. The moment we arrived the hosts welcomed us warmly. They were very responsive and helpful throughout our stay. The house is absolutely beautiful yet so comfy. It is bright, airy, and the ocean views are spectacular. We woke up early everyday just to see the sunrise! Many special touches like binoculars (enjoyed by us birders!), toys and games, well appointed kitchen (a cook's dream!), huge well-maintained pool, and an abundance of beach towels, beach toys, beach chairs, and coolers. Everything we needed! The location is 5 min away from beautiful Poipu Beach where we swam with turtles and even a seal, and 5 min to Koloa town. Orchid Home exceeded our expectations in every way. We made many unforgettable family memories and hope to return again. Nui Mahalo to the hosts!

I never leave reviews, but once in a blue moon I do business with a company that's so exceptional,…read moreand whose staff is so above and beyond that I find myself looking for outlets to let others know of my experience. This is the case with the people at Garden Island Properties. A week prior to our departure, we sadly had to cancel our travel to Kauai Island because our daughter was hospitalized. I had already paid in full for our three week rental (60 days prior to our departure date) and I did not purchase insurance. This could have been the end of the story because everyone had already been paid. But, the people at Garden Island Properties worked tirelessly to find another renter so we could recover some of our money. The humanity they showed, and the effort they made on our behalf has made me a loyal customer, and I plan to use them to help me with future rental properties going forth. I will also purchase travel insurance!

1 Star -- WARNING: This property management company will take your money and put your family at…read morerisk. We booked a week at Mele Kai (March 11-18) for two families, including kids, one of whom was celebrating a birthday on the island. Nearly $8,000. On March 10, with a massive Kona storm bearing down on Kauai, we reached out to Garden Island Properties to discuss our options. Our VRBO messages went unanswered. Our phone call went unanswered. When we finally got a text response, they told us the rain is what gives Kauai its nickname "The Garden Island" and suggested we bring "a flexible plan and rain gear." We weren't being difficult. We wrote back and told them we weren't opposed to being rained on -- our concern was flooding, loss of power, or being stuck on the island. I asked them directly: "Will my family be safe during this massive storm in your place?" Their response? They told us, "I don't mean to downplay the news coverage, but this is fairly typical winter weather for Kauai." They assured us the rental was "not located in a flood zone." Fairly typical winter weather. Not in a flood zone. Here's what actually happened: The Governor declared a STATE OF EMERGENCY. Roads in Poipu -- the exact neighborhood of this house -- were closed due to flooding. Ho'one Road and Ku'ai Road, right by this property, were shut down. The islands were hit with up to 44 inches of rain and 135-mph winds. Schools and government offices closed. Over 120,000 customers lost power across the state. Beaches were closed under brown water advisories warning of sewage overflow and hazardous bacteria. The Red Cross and Salvation Army mobilized relief efforts. Residents were evacuated into emergency shelters. So much for "fairly typical winter weather." So much for "not in a flood zone." And here's what makes it worse: the forecast they themselves included in their own message showed 90-100% chance of rain with thunderstorms and wind gusts up to 50 mph for EVERY SINGLE DAY of our trip. Their own evidence showed this was not typical. They sent it to us and still told us to come. We never made it to Kauai. We couldn't. It would have been dangerous and irresponsible to bring our families -- our kids -- into that situation. Garden Island Properties refused any refund. VRBO has been contacted twice by phone, was promised a resolution email both times, and as of this writing we've received nothing. $8,000. Gone. For a house we never stepped foot in, on an island we never reached, during a declared state of emergency that the property manager called "fairly typical." This is not a review about the weather. Nobody controls the weather. This is a review about a property management company that had every piece of information -- including their own forecast -- telling them this was a dangerous, historic storm, and they still chose to encourage a family with children to fly into it rather than do the right thing. I asked them point blank if my family would be safe. They couldn't even answer the question. They chose profit over safety. Period. If you are considering booking with Garden Island Properties, understand this: when things go wrong -- and in Hawaii, weather can go very wrong -- this company will not have your back. They will take your money, send you a canned aloha, and wish you luck.

Absolutely everything was perfect. Kauai , the Capt was awesome! Same name as the island. Ask for…read morehim by name. Knowledgeable, funny, highly skilled, professional , safe and let you know what to expect. Great staff Audrey, Ariel and Elee. Was the most beautiful and lovely adventure tour covering the NaPoli Coast. Gave so much information even down to the waves and weather as they changed. Very comfortable. Some enclosed areas but mostly open. Gets lots of air flow so you don't get sick. Take dramamine just in case. Loved this the most of a 12 day stay! Golden!

The staff is super cool & friendly Waking up to the sound of…read morethe ocean is amazing!! There is a little beach within walking distance of the hostel..

This was our second time to Kauai in 3 years, both times staying in Hanalei. We were thrilled to…read morefind Hanalei Surfboard House for many reasons. 1: The location across the street from the beach, plus a short stroll into town, is the absolute best. We truly didn't need a car this trip, as we spent all of our time in our little heaven of Hanalei. 2: The property was ideal for a relaxing and comfortable stay. We prefer Airbnb situations when we can find them, and this fit the bill perfectly. The entire property was expertly maintained, from the gorgeous exotic grounds, to the care of the interiors, and the structures were without a doubt built with high quality and integrity. 3. Although there is a few suites on site, there is excellent privacy both inside and outside. No noise issues at all. We loved the covered lanais, both front and back. 4. This really could move up to 1, but the bed and the shower were both top notch! Bed and pillows so comfortable, and that's always our biggest issue. The shower had amazing water pressure and got as hot as you wanted it. 5. Simon - he's a gem! We got to meet and chat with him and it's clear, he loves this place and the people who visit.

The best place we've ever stayed in Kauai & one of our most…read morefavorites ! This was almost 10 years ago . This place is absolutely pristine & clean ! Simon the owner of this Amazing Airbnb is simply a gracious host & everything you need for your stay is available. The grounds are kept & very well maintained. We loved all the retro & eclectic decor surround the outdoors & the inside of our Cowgirl suite was eco& retro as well ! We genuinely loved our stay here & were well taken care of by Simon . We did arrive there when there was a tsunami on the way but it was all good & we didn't get hit by the tropical storm fortunately. Simon also offered his upstairs home in case we had to move to higher ground . Simon was Mr. Hospitality ! I know sometime in the near future we will be back again more than likely on our anniversary. Simon also recommended some great places to eat & venture out too . This place is phenomenal so check it out you won't regret! It's own little paradise.

Terrible experience. Started with the toilet being turned off and the toilet tank empty when we got…read morethere. Reached out to the property manager and they said everything was working fine before we walked in the door??? Took them 18 hours (8:51 p.m. to 3:03 p.m) to fix it so we didn't have a working toilet through the night. I had to find a bucket on my own to use to fill with water and get it to flush. We also could walk about 8-10 minutes down to the beach and use those filthy toilets or ask the local restaurants. Next issue was a concern of our privacy in the bathroom. There was a large hole in the wall (partially covered with a picture) and I mean LARGE that led to a closet/storage area. If someone was in the closet, they could see directly into the shower. The hole was big enough to where someone could tip the picture out and literally grab you. Pictures attached. When I raised this with the property manager (who you never actually see on site), they simply said that nobody was in the closet so don't worry about it. Lastly was the bathroom was disgusting. More pictures attached. I asked for a partial refund and they said they would mail us a check (even asked for the mailing address). No check ever arrived and they stopped responding to my follow-ups.

The host, "Pete", double booked our room, shut the door in our face when we arrived and refused to…read moregive a refund. We arrived the day after the start of our rental agreement. He claims we "No Showed", but we clearly showed up and stood face to face with him as he fumbled through an explanation as to why it was our fault that he rented our room to someone else. VRBO failed to honor their rental guarantee which states we 'have the right to enter the rental for the ENTIRE duration of our rental term'. Throughout the process of trying to get a refund, Pete repeatedly sent multiple inappropriate text messages to my wife telling her to "F$#% You"... "Sh@# Head". He only stopped after we filed a harassment report with Kauai Police. We are considering pressing charges. Pete is very two faced and what he says to in front of you is not how he feels or what he thinks about you when he is behind a computer screen. Don't let him SCAM or BULLY YOU. GO ELSEWHERE