The following executive summary is based on a comprehensive and impartial AI analysis of guest reviews. Keep in mind that all units are individually owned, and review scores among units can vary considerably.
Travelers rave about Kiahuna Plantation’s setting: a classic, low‑rise condo resort with sweeping lawns, mature tropical gardens, and direct access or a short stroll to a sandy, swimmable beach. Guests love the easy walk to Poipu’s shops, restaurants, coffee spots, and the Sheraton, plus sunsets, gentle surf for boogie boarding and beginner surf lessons, and frequent turtle/monk seal sightings. Many highlight it as an ideal, relaxing home base for families and for exploring the South Shore, Waimea Canyon, and beyond.
Units are individually owned, so decor and upgrades vary, but recent guests frequently mention clean, well‑equipped kitchens, comfortable beds, and lanais with garden or partial ocean views. A growing number of condos have air‑conditioning (a big plus on warmer days), while others rely on breezes and fans; many provide beach gear (chairs, umbrellas, boogie boards, coolers). Resort perks stand out: lounge chairs on the great lawn above the beach, BBQs, towel exchange at the beach hut, and guest access to the Poipu Beach Athletic Club across the road (pool with slide and toddler area, hot tub, gym, tennis/pickleball, and a casual restaurant). Hosts and on‑site staff are often praised for friendly, responsive communication.
Common considerations reflect the property’s condo style and size. Quality can vary by unit (some are newly remodeled while a few feel dated), so check photos, recent reviews, and whether A/C is included if that’s important to you. The pool is off‑property across the street and closes relatively early; some back buildings are farther from the beach and closer to road noise; upper floors require stairs; and basic pantry items (oil, salt, spices) are typically not supplied. Light noise from upstairs neighbors, roosters, or sprinklers can occur, and parking can be tight at peak times. Overall sentiment is strongly positive—many repeat guests call Kiahuna a favorite for its unbeatable location, laid‑back vibe, and family‑friendly beach.
This summary is based on a comprehensive analysis of 1000 reviews
Overall, we were very happy with our stay here! The unit is spacious, clean, and well-stocked. It's not oceanfront, but you can see and hear the beach in the distance from both the upper and lower balconies. We loved being able to walk to the beach as well as some shopping and restaurants. We were even able to walk to a beachfront luau at a neighboring resort. The only surprise to us was that the pool is located across the street from the resort and closes at 6:00 PM, so no night swimming or sending kids to swim on their own during the day.
Robert C.
September 2025
We loved this condo! We’ve stayed in many at Kiahuna. Clean, comfortable and well equipped for our stay. We’ll be back! Just fix the screen!
Eric V.
August 2025
Great place for a couple. Very cozy. Fresh towels were great during our stay. It was a long walk to the pool across the street so we didn’t visit too much. Some spices would have been nice for cooking or bbqing. We bought some of the Salty Wahine spices and took them home.
Maureen T.
August 2025
Hawaii is awesome had a great stay
John M.
August 2025
We always love our stay at Kiahuna and this time was no different. Diane was an amazing host and the condo was perfect. Great location, nice and clean, and was stocked with all the beach supplies and toys for us to use each day. We can’t wait to come back!
Elyse C.
August 2025
Beautiful condo with a lovely view of the ocean. Great area outdoors for children to play on the grass. The ocean was a bit rough for the 5 and under crowd. They loved the pool with the slide! We went to the Poipu beach park for ocean time. Gentle waves. Truly appreciated the AC both in the living area and bedrooms!! I know when we first started coming to Kiahuna, AC was not allowed. Thankfully the rules changed. Truly enhanced our stay. All appliances worked. We appreciated the kitchen supplies, dishes, utensils, glasses, etc. The complimentary pack n’ play, baby gate and high chair were a bonus. We had a fabulous stay! Mahalo!
Mary R.
August 2025
We've stayed at the Kiahuna many, many times and never had any issues at all. This experience was different. Unit is in a beautiful location with a beautiful view. Unfortunately, the unit was not in great working condition when we arrived, which was disappointing given the price and the amount of time we needed to invest to get it functional (carpet cleaning took an entire day, wifi took quite a bit of back and forth, etc). Now it should be in good shape for the next guest but I probably wouldn't risk the hassle next time and would choose a different unit.
Sara C.
August 2025
Lovely property and great location. Plenty of room for our family Would definitely stay again
Marie T.
August 2025
I always love staying at the kiahuna. This was the first time having a place to myself so that was cool. Really enjoyed my time there. I was a short walk from all my family.It was really nice to have A/C I haven't stayed in a unit with AC before
Nathan C.
August 2025
We had an amazing family vacation! The accommodations are incredible and equipped with everything you need. The location affords easy access to beaches and restaurants. Highly recommend and would happily return!
Kristen N.
August 2025
Great stay!
Ian E.
August 2025
It was a perfect stay and looking forward to staying there again soon!
Maria D.
August 2025
Our family of four had a fantastic stay at this 2-bedroom unit! The space was surprisingly roomy and very comfortable, giving everyone plenty of room to relax after beach days. The layout worked perfectly for us, and everything was clean and well-maintained.The amenities were definitely above average—we had everything we needed for a smooth and easy stay, including a well stocked kitchen, boogie and surfboard, beach chairs, umbrellas, and other beach gear, which made heading out to the beach super convenient.Laura was a wonderful host, with prompt, clear, and friendly communication from booking through check-out. She made everything simple and stress-free.The location was ideal—just a short walk to the beach and close to everything we needed including local shops and restaurants, but still quiet and peaceful.We wouldn’t hesitate to stay here again. Highly recommend this spot for a family getaway!
Rachel S.
August 2025
A great place to be at Poipu beach. Easy walking acces to a long stretch of beach and awesome location to able to reach anything on the Island. This property has great extras beach gear to use. We will definitely book this again when coming back. Btw this area of Kauai has also the most choices for food.
Johannes v.
August 2025
The Poipu Beach condo was perfect for our visit to Kauai! I was concerned about not having AC, but the breeze in late July was still enough to keep it cool. The pictures definitely don't do the condo justice. It is really open and the ocean view from the deck was amazing. Michael was super accommodating as we were forced to evacuate due to the tsunami warning. Definitely made our trip to Kauia memorable and would stay here again.
Mary M.
August 2025
We loved our stay! The condo is very comfortable. Beds are great - even the sofa bed is comfortable. It was also nice to have a full sectional and spacious living room that was a separate area to where the sofa bed couch is. It is only a 2 min walk from the beach, and we loved the location. The house has beach chairs and boogie boards for use. Sunny and spacious. We also loved being able to use the pool/gym/tennis/pickleball/restaurant across the street at the athletic club. Great location for seeing everything in Kauai. Please note - we didn't realize that there was no washer/dryer. For a holiday with lots of sand, this was a challenge. The listing says there is a laundromat nearby, but we didn't find one less than a 20 min drive away - not very close in my opinion.
Norah W.
August 2025
Lovely and cozy apartment. We enjoyed our stay very much. Only thing that we didn’t like was the mandatory cleaning fee that came on top and was nowhere mentioned during the booking. And for that finding little plastic bags under the nightstand (most likely from earplugs) that fee is even more ridiculous. We missed Salt & Pepper. But other than that, the whole Kiahuna Plantation Compound is lovely, the beach is awesome.
Tim D.
August 2025
Absolutely loved our stay and very much looking forward to next time! Everything about our home away from home was excellent and outstanding!
Christina H.
August 2025
Kiahuna Plantation Resort is our "go-to" and has been for over nearly 40 years now. We started going when our kids were barely 3 years old, and now they bring their own kids for a great 10-12 stay just about every summer! Location can't be beat; accommodations are awesome. We'll be back summer 2026!
John T.
August 2025
Amazing location and spotless rental. Steps away from a great swimming beach and surf spots close by. Will be staying again.
asia d.
August 2025
Clean, close to the good beaches. A little noisy with the gardeners working every day around the property.
Jake P.
August 2025
Best rental ever! My wife and I stayed at the beautiful condo resort located on Poipu Beach for 3 weeks. It was beyond wonderful. The condo itself is fully stocked with all kitchen items you would ever need, towels, towels and more towels. The lanai is dreamy in the morning and evening and big! Air Conditioning turned out to be a BIG plus, although only needed occasionally when the windows are opened due to great air flow. We sirvived the great Tsunami 2025 scare with direct assistance from Bob the owner of the condo who gave us much needed advice getting us to the evacuation location. His response time for any inquiries was very quick and much appreciated. Can't endorse this condo and resort location enough - we will be coming back!
Michael C.
August 2025
Our plane was delayed overnight; between host Chuck and the office check in was very smooth. Appreciate their kindness and support. The view is extraordinary. Sipping your morning coffee on the Lanai while taking in the view was irreplaceable. Activity closet suited our needs. Some comments relate to the unit being a bit aged. Not a concern for us. Love the "private staircase" to this unit; allowed us to feel comfortable letting the breeze blow from the open front door to Lanai in the August heat of the day. Our relatives were in Bldg 4. - a quick walk across the lawn. The only upkeep suggestion: The twenty somethings that slept in the sofa bed recommend a new mattress. Aside from that, we will return to this unit. Mahalo!
Fern O.
August 2025
Great location and perfect condo for our family of 4.
Lisa B.
August 2025
Very nice condo. Our kids loved sleeping on the pull-out couch.
Julianne M.
August 2025
Loved the condo and property! Easy access to several beaches by walking or short drive. We loved our stay here and will return
Tricia P.
August 2025
Great property and fantastic hosts.Very responsive to our questions. We look forward to returning soon
Anne F.
August 2025
Checkin was easy and the front desk person was extremely helpful. Kitchen was fully stocked with pans, dishes and utensils. Very clean.
Jim T.
August 2025
Great stay! It’s kinda more like a hotel resort than a VRBO. You have to check in at a hotel desk and they give you key cards for the beach towels.Overall the condo was really nice though! Nice modern appliances. Well kept and updated. The location is perfect and it’s a short walk to the beach! You can see the beach from the patio.Most of the windows aren’t really windows. they’re just screens with shades so it can be very load from outside noises. Especially when the sprinklers come on right next to the window at 6 AM every morning.
Joseph D.
August 2025
Incredibly noisy, walls are too thin. Building was difficult to find, numbering on outside of buildings was sparse. No information on the tsunami or where to evacuate was given. Everybody was constantly tired because the noise interfered with sleep.
Lawrence A.
August 2025
We had an amazing first visit to Kauai and Hawaii. Much of this was due to the great location and setting of this property. The views and close access to the beach couldn’t better. This rental has all beach items you could possibly want, same with kitchen and everyday living essentials. We had 2 adults, 2 grandparents, and 2, 11-year-old boys. While it worked this time, my boys prefer more of a personal bedroom space as they shared the upstairs living area. Both bathrooms are ground level too. We would definitely return to this unit as a family of 4.
Michelle L.
August 2025
Beautiful area to stay. The check-in went smoothly. The condo was as advertised: updated, immaculate, & comfortable. Best of all, for check-out, there was no need to take out trash, do the dishes, etc. The cleaners will do it. Now that's a vacation.
Denise M.
August 2025
Easy check-in, staff is very friendly. The condo was stocked with kitchen/restroom necessities/toiletry. On cleaning day housekeeping just left the towels at the door, I thought they were gna also replace the sheets and throw the trash besides that awesome experience. I would definitely stay again. The property owner was very responsive. We had issues with the tv and they sent someone to fix it first thing in the morning.
Claudia E.
August 2025
Great place to stay, with 2 adults and 2 kids!
Jason F.
August 2025
Amazing stay from beginning to end. It’s a perfect unit. Great decor. Wonderful view and location. Only a minute or two walk to the beach. Deena is a fantastic host. You won’t regret your stay here amongst the beautifully manicured tropical grounds of Kiahuna Plantation @ Poipu.
Erick Y.
August 2025
![Kiahuna Plantation 198 (Building 31)]()
The Kiahuna Plantation Resort itself is fantastic. Beautiful well maintained property with all the amenities we would have looked for; they were doing maintenance on the fountain/water areas. The staff were all friendly and helpful. Easy access to the local shopping areas and restaurants (10 min walk). Ample parking available.Check-in: We arrived late, they provided info to facilitate that and we did the regular check-in the next morning at the main desk, no issues. Two cards are provided to get beach towels from the beach hut on site.The unit (198) was even nicer than we expected! It had everything we would have wanted during our stay (minus a kettle). The kitchen was spacious and provided ample cookware, utensils and dishes. There is a Keurig as well. We ate exclusively on the lanai for every breakfast and most dinners so we could soak in the views and listen to the waves crashing just before us. The AC unit was good; ceiling fan cooled the bedroom perfectly. One of the beach chairs was broken (unusable), but the other provided gear (umbrella/cooler) was in good shape.Would not hesitate to stay here again if our travels bring us back to Kauai!
Kirk M.
August 2025
Really lovely, clean, updated place, great location on a beach, and right next to Poipu Beach with good snorkeling, calm area for littles, and sea turtles! Ground floor with walk-out lanai was absolutely the best decision with a kiddo. Oh, and just steps from the pool, food, some shops. Zero regrets and we'd definitely book it again!
Kristin E.
August 2025
Gorgeous property, right on the beach, everything we needed.
Tajalli L.
August 2025
Thank you so much for this incredible experience. This property is right in a large lawn that leads to the beach. My kids ran & played outside all day when we were not at the pool or ocean. Owners were so lovely and responsive. We cannot wait to come back!
Deana R.
August 2025
Fantastic!!!!! The checking in process was very easy. The staff was friendly and answered all of our questions. The condo was clean and neat. The kitchen had all of the utensils etc that we needed. And the best part of the experience was that the beach was right outside of deck with a completely unobstructed view of the ocean!
charles
August 2025
Everything was absolutely perfect. Unit was spacious and clean. There were also beach items available for use in one of the closets. Overall, a perfect visit and I hope to stay here again soon!
Renee G.
August 2025
great unit
max b.
August 2025
enjoyed this unit
max b.
August 2025
Unit was great thanks
max b.
August 2025
Kiahuna Plantation is always wonderful.
Robert R.
August 2025
We loved our stay here! It is a perfect location and has everything you need.
Jenna R.
August 2025
This is the best unit that we've stayed in at Kiahuna as we come every year. The bed is like a cloud that enevelopes you after an adventure filled day, it's a short walk to the beach, just across a coffee shop and the pool and shopping center. All the kitchenwares are of the highest quality so we really enjoyed cooking our meals. The grill is just below the unit and having an AC made it more cozy and comfortable on warm days. The owner Mark was very responsive and helpful if there are questions or problems and the check in/ out was a breeze! There is also a dedicated parking lot. Our favorite is sitting on the lanai every morning sipping our coffee & watching the ocean. This is now our place in the South. Mahalo Mark and Laurie!
Kharla G.
August 2025
Spacious condo with everything needed. Short walk to Poipu beach where we saw turtles every day.Good Restaurants are located within 5min drive.Very good communication with the host.
Mandy K.
August 2025
Wonderful
Kenneth H.
August 2025
Very nice and well kept. Room was ready on time.
Erika M.
August 2025