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...)

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!

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.

The Hanalei Surfboard house is a gem! The location is perfection. The garden is a dream. The rooms…read moreand patios are exactly what you need with a little kitsch. Simon and his house manager Jackie were hospitable and lovely. Boca the house cat is a delight. It instantly felt like home. I'm already looking at dates to come back again.

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.

Renting a Princeville condo managed by Na Pali. Arrived to a clean, well equipped 2 bedroom unit…read more Furnished nicely. All appliances are in good condition. Only critique is that 2 overhead light bulbs were burned out. I found new bulbs in the supply closet and replaced them. Condo is located on the Makai golf course. Pretty view looks out towards the ocean. Quiet and peaceful complex. The pool is clean. The hot tub is out of service with no repair date predicted. Despite these shortcomings I plan to return next year.

I recently used this realty agency for a 2 week vacation home rental for the second time. It…read moreappears that the first time, "we just lucked out" because the home we rented had been newly renovated. We were very excited to have the experience again and paid 2,600/week for a wonderful looking rental next to the beach. The price of this property was in line given location and size relative to the others listed on their website. NOT. We arrived at a house which was much older than appeared in the pictures on the website (scary flashback to online dating experience right now). It was a 2 bedroom with an additional master suite loft; we quickly discovered that one of the bedrooms was filled with mold as one of our party cannot tolerate it and couldn't go into that room. The floor in that room was not redone like the rest of the house; it was faded linoleum with what looked like cigarette burns all over it. Upon moving one of the beds to another room so that it could be used, there was a hole about the size of a golf ball that led directly under the house. Now in Kauia in this kind of house that actually means it leads outside, as there is no built basement AT ALL. Within three days, one of the burners on the electric (eek) stove had burnt out, the ballasts on the fluorescent lights in the bathroom and kitchen were fried (they're old, just fiddle with it a bit to turn it on said the realty - ??! huh?? I don't want to do that on vacation) and the dryer blew out. The worse is in this tropical paradise, we discovered many of the screens in the door and skylights had holes in them, so mosquitoes were streaming in day and night. The house had no broadband and promised a BBQ, which turned out to be an old portable hibachi that had rusted out, under the house. We had to call the realty to bring us another one. When asked why they would rent a house in such disrepair for this amount of money, they said, they do not really manage this house, they merely handle the bookings. What I ask is the point in renting a house all the way from New York City with an agency which can't quality control the condition of a property???

The experience with the Bali Hai staff was exceptional! From initial booking with Drew to final…read morearrival details with Janelle, their communication was flawless and thorough. Even though we were booking our stay last-minute, their accommodating attitude made the process relaxing and completely stress-free. The unit we stayed in is dreamy, it felt like one of the best views available. This added to the sense of specialness. We hope to come back! And will definitely work with this wonderful team again. Thanks Bali Hai!

My great grandfather immigrated to Hawaii and the islands have supported five different generations…read moreof my family. Recently haole Sequoia Ferry at Bali Hai Realty cheated me and my family out of more than $10,000. We are having to pursue legal action against her. She has proven herself untrustworthy. In Hawaii we have rented vacation property multiple times and worked with several different realtors. I would not do any business again with Sequoia Ferry.

The beds suck so bad it's insane. Hard as a rock, barely any blankets, and no AC. If you don't…read morelike ceiling fans blowing on you constantly you are out of luck. Because we were right by the pool we couldn't leave our windows open unless you want a very early morning. It's very outdated. Carpets. Old smell. BUT the beds! Such a bummer when you don't have a comfy bed to sink into on vacation.

Photos on their website are very misleading…read more The rooms were filthy and falling apart. The main bathroom had actual dirty and a USED TOILET PAPER on the counter. The bed mattress was hard as a rock and the bed linen was easily 30 years old. The bed skirt was actually fraying. While packing I went to turn and my foot got tangled up with the bed skirts fraying pieces and I fell. Both beach chairs were broken and unusable. We contacted the front desk and were shown beach chairs that were also falling apart. I requested the front desk manager several times and still have not heard from anyone. The head housekeeper did help, but no one from upper management contacted me and I made multiple attempts but I never heard back from them. The housekeeper and room inspectors are obviously failing miserably. The hotel's manager seems to be MIA and is ignoring guests and also woefully inept at any kind of quality management. SPEND YOUR MONEY AND VACATION ELSEWHERE.

My husband and I had a great vacation at Paradise At The Plantation. Alanna our host made our stay…read morevery easy from the second I talked to her I knew this would be the perfect spot for us. There are so many wonderful things I loved about this property 1. The Master Bathroom has a soaker tub. His and her vanities and a shower. It also has an extra large walk-in closet. 2. Garage to park in. 3. Large lanai loved eating our meals out there. Great quality barbecue. 4. Pool and gym. We were able to work out each morning. 5. The area had great hiking. 6. Alanna is an amazing host. Her condo is immaculately clean. Aloha. I shall be back.

My family and I try to return yearly. The property is amazingly beautiful, spacious and…read morecomfortable. The three bedrooms are separated by a good distance. A great feature if inviting friends/family to stay with you. The location is a few minutes away from top restaurants and the local market. Super clean, good space, lovely pool and a perfect location make this condo the perfect place to keep returning to!

Aloha! This review is way overdue and is about our lovely experience staying at the Hale Makai in…read morethe Ginger cottage #4 back in May 2019. If you are looking for the perfect getaway, in need of peace, quiet, a place to detach from the hustle and bustle of city life and connect with nature, the Hale Makai cottages can provide all aspects of relaxation. Nestled in the depths of a tropical paradise you can find this exquisite beach front property with panoramic views of the ocean and as you walk out onto the sand you can witness a magnificent sunrise (am) and sunset (pm). We originally booked our stay in May 2018 however, due to the unforeseen flooding the Hanalei/Haena Area experienced in April 2018 which caused a lot of damage resulting in the closure of many businesses, the Kauai government imposed a strict ban for tourist to not be allowed to rent in areas that were hit hard, this was due to the safety of the tourist. So, Hale Makai cottages offered to re-book our stay the following year once the Kauai government felt it was safe again for tourist to rent and dwell in the Haena area. Susan play such an integral part in rebooking our stay in May 2019. She exhibited superb customer service and was always on point in answering all our questions promptly. We loved our cottage and it was equipped with everything we needed, comfy bed, linens, dishes, oven, stove, utensils, refrigerator, sink, living room, outdoor patio (we used to eat out every morning and night), soak tub, and beautifully smelling soaps and lotions locally made by Aunty Ina. The breeze felt so nice coming through into the cottage and it smelled like plumeria. It's about a 5-minute drive into the hip town of Hanalei and your surrounded by so many beautiful beaches that are not heavily impacted with tourists. When we were there it felt like we had our own private beach. We really enjoyed our stay here, the cottages are immaculate and the grounds are impeccably well maintained, just absolute paradise! Mahalo!

We have been staying at Hale Makai Cottages since 2006. We absolutely LOVE this place.Stayed here…read morein July 2023 & the new ownership does not disappoint! Matt & Chris were so helpful with our stay. The grounds are amazing & cottages located on the best beach. We will be back and look forward to our next trip.

AVOID AT ALL COSTS. My wife, 6-month old and I stayed in the Plumeria Suite on the ground floor of…read morethis property at the end of May. In the end, we had to cut short our week-long stay. At the end of an exhaustive list of serious problems, the cockroach infestation got the better of us. On entering, you realize the place is totally misrepresented. Far from being a quaint Hawaiian throwback, the 'suite' hasn't had any love since the 70s. First, it's filthy: the fluorescent striplight housing throughout is full of dead flies and roaches, the skirting boards are black with dirt, the shower curtains are flecked with black mould, the grout is disgusting, the brown bathroom tiles are stained, the couches in the living room area are revolting (creases in the old grey leather are dark with years of dirt - we had to throw bedsheets over them just to be able to sit on them), the mattress on the master bed has broken springs that stick out, the curtains are non-existent, the beach paraphernalia is rusty and broken, the kitchen has the bare minimum of crockery and utensils (good luck opening wine with the pathetic corkscrew), the kettle was broken, the fridge had been painted white (assumedly because it was disgusting beforehand)... I really could go on. But the climax of this disaster was the cockroach infestation. We first saw a couple of roaches on our first night but the owner told us it was a tropical island and there was no avoiding them. We tried so very hard to swallow this until we visited other friends staying nearby in other houses that had been updated in the past half-century. Obviously, they did not have any problems with roaches. On the fourth night, we returned to a kitchen alive with cockroaches. We had passed the tipping point of a stray roach passing through - we never cooked in the kitchen and no food had been left anywhere. It's clear that the house needs fumigating. We left the following day and flew home. The owner was lovely at the beginning of the booking but, as the problems presented themselves, she wouldn't even entertain the idea of a refund. We emailed her immediately on arrival to explain that we wanted to leave and even offered to pay for a few nights (so she could retain some of the income from our stay). The answer was a resounding "no". She wouldn't acknowledge that the house is in a state of disrepair. She offered us a new kettle and a re-clean (which never happened) but, frankly, the place needs a total overhaul. If we had paid a third of the considerable price (over $2000 for the week), we might have had to accept that you get what you pay for. But, for over $2000, you expect a minimal level of quality. Here, the owners are cashing in on a near-beach location - they have absolutely no interest in putting any of their money into fixing this disaster zone. In the end, we have complained to VRBO and will be seeking a refund through Amex. Interestingly, the Hanalei Villa website no longer works and the VRBO listing has disappeared. Very odd; I just hope the health inspectors have closed the property and that the owners will be obligated to sort the place out. It's an absolute disgrace. For the record, we've travelled pretty extensively over the course of our lives, stayed in our fair share of shitholes, but this place is well over the line in terms of what is acceptable. Please, please go elsewhere.

Felt like a rock star on my honeymoon! This was a gorgeous modern house that was in the perfect…read moreplace. Steps from the Ocean (you can see from the house), right in town, yet this beach town still feels like your in the real tropical and private setting of Kuaui. Maile is awesome and couldn't find a more relaxing perfect setting with my wife.