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
Excellent location, close to beach, pool, next to shady lawn & BBQ. Perfect vacation.
Diane P.
July 2025
Loved the location and amazing view!! Susan the owner was FANTASTIC!! She was so thoughtful and answered all questions I had about the condo. She also gave us great suggestions for places to go around the Plantation! Bed was super comfortable and the AC was fabulous!!
Heather G.
July 2025
Communication with Deena, the owner, was outstanding. Every question submitted to her prior to arrival was answered immediately. A welcome personal note was received upon check in along with a gift card for my adult granddaughter who was celebrating her birthday. We were literally steps from the beach and were even able to walk to a local Poipu luau which was very convenient. Kitchen was well supplied, bed was ever so comfy and after a warm June day at the beach, the AC was especially welcome! Thank you !
Pamela O.
July 2025
Place was as described! Everything you need within walking distance, there is no need to leave this place. If you are looking for a relaxing time this would be the place.
Erika H.
July 2025
Amazing condo at Kiahuna Plantation. The owner was fabulous and it was just beautiful.
Shari O.
July 2025
Wonderful location! Corner unit with plenty of windows so you can enjoy the breeze day and night. Large lanai with direct access to the great lawn and beach. Both the king bed in the bedroom and the hideaway bed in the living room were comfortable. Unit was clean, spacious, and nicely updated. Extra bonuses - having a washer/dryer in the unit was awesome and the storage closet outside has SO many beach supplies we didn’t need to rent anything!
Chantale R.
July 2025
Great family vacation
David P.
July 2025
Location was awesome. Very clean condo.
Jeanne W.
July 2025
Beautiful Kauai condo, every detail thought of and provided. Well-appointed kitchen, we cooked most of our meals and had everything we needed. AC much appreciated. Comfortable beds, clean accommodation. Great location. Kim was so helpful with island suggestions. Our family of four had the best two weeks! Mahalo!
Allison G.
July 2025
This property is not as advertised. From the pictures posted, I had no idea that we would be overlooking a public parking lot with people coming and going by vehicle and foot from 6 AM to 9 PM to access the beach. The one picture of the lanai that is included, you can see in the bottom right corner the edge of a vehicle. If you imagine zooming out this picture, you will be overlooking an entire parking lot from both the upstairs and the downstairs lanai. We were unhappy with the quality and the upkeep of the property from the moment we stepped in, and tried to get out of the rental within 24 hours of the beginning of our stay. We communicated clearly with the host our displeasure, and she refused to let us out. Additionally, lightbulbs were burnt, outlets only half worked, cracks were in the kitchen floor, kitchen cabinet doors wouldn’t stay shut, and the water pressure was terrible. It was so inconvenient that we had to go buy our own extension cords to get fans placed in front of windows for proper airflow. If you go back and view her negative comments, you will find others with similar experiences up to 10 years ago. This shows a pattern of behavior and an unwellness to accurately list this property. Why VRBO hasn’t pulled her from their site yet, I do not know. Be very careful with this one. NOT WORTH THE MONEY, and we know what to expect after many previous VRBO rentals.
Mariah N.
July 2025
Very recently renovated, beautiful finishes, and excellent location. We hiked several famous Kauai hikes. We loved exploring small towns and finding amazing restaurants. We also went to yoga classes and had massages in Hannapepe. We explored a local farmers market and a cacao farm. We can't wait to come back. Also it's fun to watch the surfers from the condo propert.
Judy H.
July 2025
![Kiahuna Plantation 417 (Bldg. 40)]()
Had a wonderful stay at this condo. It had everything you needed for a family of 4 to spread out and relax for the week. It is a remodeled unit with AC-nicely appointed with a lot of little extras that we appreciated a lot: Laundry in the unit, beach gear, extra hangers, a few games and books, also fitted with all the kitchen tools and gadgets including a rice cooker and a blender. It was super close to shopping, the athletic club with pickleball courts across the street -and the best part -a semi private area of Poipu beach with a beach shack and towel service just a short walk (8 minutes) away. No need to bring lawn chairs…they have plenty at the shack! Surf lessons were offered daily in front of the big lawn so if you want to learn- this is a great place to start. We snorkeled in 3 places around the island and this was by far the best for seeing a lot of fish. It was close to places to eat and shop and we loved Keoki Paradise. Their Coconut Mojito was hands down our favorite cocktail all week. Total props to Brendan for his wonderful virtual hospitality -from the moment we booked until we sadly had to say goodbye. He was always quick to respond to my every question- Mahalo! We had a great time here and would def book again.
Gavan A.
July 2025
We have stayed at many different properties at Kiahuna…#30 was top tier! So many thoughtful touches made this a home away from home! The kitchen is super well stocked with lots of food storage ! We enjoyed many sunsets on the patio sitting at the adorable high top table and super comfy loungers! We hope to return soon!
Tere B.
July 2025
Super cute space and perfect for beach vacation. Super close to the beach and the lawn areas and still very quite. Kitchen was well stocked. We had a great time.
Liz M.
July 2025
Fantastic! We loved our stay and this property was exactly what we were looking for. We left asking why anyone would stay anywhere else. It was perfect for my family. We highly recommended staying here!
Matt D.
July 2025
My spouse and I stayed here for our honeymoon and we had a blast!
Hamzah Y.
July 2025
Great property, air conditioner was great.
Carol K.
July 2025
We had a great time, very close to beach, the included beach chairs and umbrella were a nice bonus!
Nick W.
July 2025
It was the perfect stay again! Hope to be back again next year!
Tracey S.
July 2025
Everything about the property itself was great - the location was sub-par. Property was clean & well serviced. Communications were great. Bed was comfortable. The location was not much better than being on a cruise ship. You are among tourists in a condo that has a far off view of the ocean (obviously on a cruise ship, your views are closer). Since it is privately owned, there is no hotel service - you are pretty much on your own, but paying hotel prices. The biggest downside of this place is that Poipu is marketed as an awesome destination vacation, but the beauty of the island is better seen and experienced from other shores (we liked the North Shore) - NOT Poipu which is a commercial tourist trap.
Melinda
July 2025
Stay was great. This is a great location and very comfortable
Mike F.
July 2025
Roosters at 3AM and large amount of road noise as well as neighbor above footsteps
Glenn R.
July 2025
Brendan was very accommodating for our last minute request. The place was immaculate and right behind the Marriott where our friends were staying. The AC provided much needed reprieve. We will be back! Thanks again!
Jen S.
July 2025
I wish you could leave 10 stars - we had an amazing stay! The property was even more beautiful that the photos. The lanai extends to a grassy yard, perfect for our daughter to run around. The beach is maybe 50 steps away but the property feels very private. Easy to walk to and set up for the beach. They even had an umbrella, Tommy Bahama beach chairs, sand toys and coolers to use. Loved the AC and laundry in unit! A huge plus when traveling with a family. The kitchen is fully stocked and we ate most meals in. Walking distance to the pool (5-10 min depending) and was a nice to enjoy. We felt very safe at the property and walking around at night. Quick drive to shopping centers and exploring the island. We had great communication and loved our stay. Would highly recommend!
Emily R.
July 2025
We enjoyed our stay at Bill’s place, it was very comfortable for our family of three. Location was excellent, close to the beach and to the pool across the street.
Nathan G.
July 2025
![Kiahuna Plantation Condo]()
The place was exactly as shown in the pictures. It was my first time booking through VRBO since my husband usually handles our travel arrangements, so I was a little nervous. I used the map to see the exact location, but the app only showed the general area of the entire property (Kiahuna Plantation). As a result, I didn't realize it was a bit far from the beach. However, my husband appreciated that it was away from the main grassy area because it provided more privacy.Everything was remodeled, but some aspects felt a little outdated and cheaply done, although the place was clean. Most of the furniture was new and very comfortable, including the bed and the sofa bed. While the unit did not have air conditioning, opening all the windows and turning on the fan allowed for a nice breeze that kept the place cool.They provided beach chairs, an umbrella, and a cooler, which were very convenient. The dishes, glassware, and utensils were clean and seemed to be new. Overall, we ended up loving the place and would definitely stay here again.
Joanne H.
July 2025
kiahuna plantation is a beautiful setting for a family get together
Crissi F.
July 2025
Wish it had washer and dryer
Patrick U.
July 2025
We had a great time here. The location was great. Super short walk to the beach and a great home base for all of our adventures aroundThe island. Unit came complete with beach chairs, umbrella. Kitchen fully stocked with all pots, pans, toaster, coffee, blender, harder mixer etc you could possibly need to cook in. Would definitely stay here again.
Lory V.
July 2025
Small but beautiful!! Close to everything you need. Will be back!!
Annette Y.
July 2025
No complaints. Great place great location.
Mark L.
July 2025
We had a wonderful, relaxing vacation and the location is great. Only issue we had was using beach chairs checked out at the beach hut. This is on an honor system and chairs are to be returned. However, the time to return these chairs is 6pm well before the 7:45-8 pm sunset every night. There was no sign advising chairs needed to be returned by 6pm and we were made aware by a call by office and subsequent flyers left at our door. Chairs return needs to be posted and extended. We are seniors and cannot sit on sand or grass for evening sunsets which we look forward to.
T B.
July 2025
We really enjoyed our stay in this condo and would 100% stay here again. It was spacious and the porches were great overlooking the waves down at the beach. The beach was great, really enjoyed seeing the basking sea turtles at the next beach over (15 min walk), and access to the pool and exercise club across the street was also very nice. Loved the Poipu area, lots of great restaurants and very convenient for activities on the south side of the island.
Patrick C.
July 2025
Great location, well stocked, & clean. Wish it had a better pool but love the grounds and area.
MARIE S.
July 2025
The property was everything we'd hoped it would be.
Anna N.
July 2025
Lovely, well appointed condo. We'd recommend it to anybody. The Kaihuna Plantation is a beautiful place to vacation.
Peggy M.
July 2025
We had an amazing time and the property is beautiful and in a perfect location.
Wendy S.
July 2025
This is probably our 15th stay at Kiahuna and this unit was wonderful. Close to the beach. Quiet. Comfortable.
Daniel B.
July 2025
Our 4th time at Kiahuna plantation, and it was great! My teen daughters enjoyed swimming and sunsets, as well as close by fruit stands! The place had everything to make meals and was close enough to many restaurants when we did not want to cook!
Rick C.
July 2025
Loved staying here! Great view, quiet, clean and comfortable! Hosts were great in their communication with us throughout. Definitely recommend and look forward to returning!
Lisa H.
June 2025
My wife and I had a wonderful week-long stay. The location was perfect, and everything was exactly as advertised. We highly recommend this place and would gladly book again in the future.
RJ H.
June 2025
Traveled with my wife and two kids ages 9 and 14. We booked the unit for 8 nights. After 2 nights we moved to a different location. The unit itself has had some upgrades but still very dated. The beach is in very close proximity but the pool is not. At this price point I would expect more.
Michael H.
June 2025
Clean and well maintained. Lots of beach equipment to use, and the AC was great! Would stay here again.
Michelle D.
June 2025
The condo is outstanding. It is bright, open, and feels much bigger than it actually is. The view of the ocean is small, but actually really nice to have. We have stayed in other condo units in the complex and visited many others. This is by far one of the nicest. We hope to return.
Greg D.
June 2025
This was our first time staying in the south part of Kauai and very glad we stayed at this property! It was very nicely situated with a nice view of the green courtyard and a little bit of the ocean. We especially liked that it was just minutes away from the ocean where one could go surf every morning!
Sylvia P.
June 2025
We enjoyed our week long stay in Poipu. The condo was perfect for the two of us. The kitchen is well equipped and everything you need is close at hand. Perfectly situated on the south side of the island there is much to see and do including Na Pali coast, Waimea Canyon, and several beaches. Koala town is a very short drive and worth visiting. Great food all over this side of the island. Brendan was easy to communicate with although we didn’t have any issues. Stay here if you can.
Matthew K.
June 2025
Beautiful view from balcony. Very comfortable furniture. Easy access to beach, Neat and clean!
Nancy G.
June 2025
We had the best vacation! The condo was clean and had A/C throughout. The owner was easy to get in touch with as well as the front desk. We enjoyed our stay and loved property and location! Would return in the future!
Christie C.
June 2025
The unit was well located and reasonably close to the beach. We loved the lanai suspended at ground level with trees and plants in front, creating a sense of privacy and shade! This was an end unit so we had the benefit of cross-breezes front-to-back and at the side. We were close to the laundromat, and the registration office, so that was handy. Parking was easy and nearby. Overall a very private unit. We had a great time on the Plantation and in Kauai!
John Z.
June 2025
This was the perfect property and condo for a wonderful family vacation! We will be back!
Wendy G.
June 2025