We had a wonderful time in Princeville despite being very disappointed in these accommodations. This unit needs some work to be up to even basic standards in many areas.
I'll start with pros. This is a great location, the perfect, quiet, family-friendly area, convenient to most of the activities we wanted to experience on Kauai. We liked the condo complex. The pool is huge and very well-maintained. I met the complex's manager, Ken, who was friendly and offered some great tips. The furniture and decoration of the unit was nice.
OK, now the cons. Going to have to shift into list mode:
• Mold growing in the washing machine. I noticed this was mentioned in an older review. It has not been addressed.
• The loud, in-room A/C units struggled mightily against even the fairly mild low-80s temps. A couple of days before we left, the main unit in the LR stopped blowing cold air and it got very hot in the main areas of the condo. Maintenance came out to check it while we were away. They reported back that it was working fine. It wasn't. It remained hot in that room the rest of our stay.
• Flooring is cheap and squishy underfoot.
• The main bathroom is a disaster. The shower leaks onto the floor, the water closet is absurdly cramped, and the lack of blinds or curtains on the sliding glass doors in the bathroom is totally inexcusable. Early in our stay, I was left exposed to an embarrassing situation. I'll leave it at that. After that, I had to make sure I was decent except when in the shower with the shower curtain closed. In my own bathroom. Ridiculous.
• Perhaps worst of all is the upstairs bedroom, which reeks of an overpowering mildew smell and featured hundreds of living and dead insect "roommates" upon our arrival. It was uninhabitable, and my daughter had to sleep on the LR sofa instead. I demanded and received a partial refund for that.
When complaining about the bugs/mildew smell/broken A/C, the Vacasa representative was friendly and helpful. I did appreciate their professionalism.
Robert C.
July 2025
The manager Matt is vmVERY kind, but the property needs to be improved. I don't think it's his fault, but owner's fault. Balcony door didn't lock at all because the two parts of the door no more alkgned.. Fans are very slow, you cannot modify the speed, therefore the studio is an oven when no rain. It looks like you can cook in the studio, but it takes 40min to boil eggs (at maximum temperature). Stove is outdated, to do an omlette is definitely not safe because teflon is damaged. The oil bottle in the kitchen, with 20ml ranked oil inside and bottle bottom not closed...I've dropped it, or it was up to the cleaning person to do this.Too much stress with all papers to be signed after booking, (high) prices announced for anything will "disappear": towels, paper for parking admission...In four different locations in Hawai'i, all noted by me with maximum, no such stress anywhere. I've payed everywhere same price per night, this studio is clearly far to expensive for the quality one could expect.POSITIVE POINT Disney and Netflix (but in French, w/o possibility to change in english).
Anca R.
July 2025
Rating Details:
The property manager was very helpful.
The vacation rental was spotless.
I was very happy with the location.
I was very satisfied with the condition of the vacation rental.
Overall, I recommend this vacation rental.
Reviewer Comments:
Tony & Judith not only have a gorgeous home, they have thought of just about everything one will need no matter how long they are staying there. The kitchen is well-appointed, the living room comfortable, the bedroom didn't require a.c during out time there in early june and ther whole house is filled with "goodies:" from a small cooler perfect to take fishing or to the beach to beach equipment to plush beach towels to ice packs.tony & judth themselves are incredibly generous hosts who do out of their way to make sure their guests have everything they need, even if the property itself occasionally conspires against them (e.g. the parking situation was kind of a mess when we were there, but tony gave us his spot when we needed one!). one note of caution (having NOTHING to do with tony & judith): the pool area is completely unlit at night so if you are using the grill late (i.e. past 8p), BE CAREFUL! the chairs & tables become invisible in the darkness and it is very easy to hurt yourself as you walk past. (fwiw, this was brought to the attention of the board, but was ignored.) otherwise, tony & judith's place is a little piece of heaven. my favorite location on the north shore and just an absolutely perfect place to spend a few fays or a few weeks in paradise.
Jeffrey W.
July 2025
Very comfortable condo with plenty of room for a family of four. Two teens so each had their own bedroom which is a plus on a longer vacation! The decor is cute and the beds are comfortable. The third bedroom downstairs (without the deck) got hot at night. The kitchen needs a new skillet. Otherwise great stay! The beach chairs and umbrella are an awesome touch.
Katherine G.
July 2025
Loved the enormous shared pool as well as the easy access to Anini, the Westin Starbucks, the park and the grocery store. Staying in this charming condo, it’s possible to enjoy Princeville and Hanalei without a car.
Sarah M.
July 2025
My wife and I stayed for a week. Location was perfect for all the activities we had planned. The drive to the other side of the island wasnt very long (about an hour) so on days we ventured to the southern part of the island it was no problem. Check in process was easy and the condo was well stocked. Would highly recommend this property.
Shawn G.
July 2025
If you’re on the fence, but have decided on Princeville area and want A/C in the bedroom so you can guarantee you’ll sleep comfortably without the roosters waking you up at the crack of dawn, book Tony’s place before someone else can snag it. Princeville is an absolute treasure and Tony’s place is a gem. So many amenities for the price without the hustle and bustle of a resort. Warm pool that was never crowded, spotless communal grill with a sink/clean up area, beautiful views from the lanai, washer and dryer with detergent and a ton of beach gear including a cooler that was better than anything we’ve rented, boogie boards, many chairs and an umbrella that held strong on windy days. Not to mention Tony and his wife are the sweetest most down to earth hosts we’ve met on our travels - they live in the unit below and are close by to assist with anything or suggest beaches that the best guidebooks ignore. The icing on the cake was stargazing with Tony multiple nights with his super fancy telescopes. He’s eager to share his knowledge and if you’re into space (or know very little like me) you’re in for a real treat. Location is amazing for the many secluded and harder to get to beaches up north as well as some good eating in Hanalei or Kilauea. If you’re in the right season, you may see albatrosses in a nearby neighborhood. We’ll definitely be back and will recommend to any family or friends heading to the amazing island of Kauai. Thanks for the memories, Tony.
Katie L.
July 2025
Lovely property and beautiful neighborhood.
janet s.
July 2025
Our stay was excellent and we enjoyed every bit! The apartment was bright, clean and equipped with everything you need to make your stay as smooth as possible. We would definitely stay here again! The location is also fantastic.
Máté B.
July 2025
We really enjoyed our stay here. Kalani was very responsive and the place was just as described. My entire family had a great time and we loved the location. The layout of the house was great for me and my husband, our two kids, and my parents. We would definitely stay again in the future.
Kristin H.
July 2025
Everything was great about this vacation rental experience. Rick, the owner was incredibly helpful as we set things up, and while we were there, genuine aloha... There were no big issues, but he was immediately responsive & helpful. The unit was exactly as described, extremely clean and comfortable, perfectly set up for 2 guests in a lovely easy to find spot. (We also appreciated good quality fans, and enough of them during a very hot weekend.) Rick also provides extremely helpful info in the unit with a great map, about what to see and do, exactly how to find places-so we wasted no time figuring things out. We already know the area very well, but imagine to a first timer this info would be priceless. He even suggested a few things/places were unaware of-mahalo! It was an excellent experience. We'd love to come again and stay longer...
Mary O.
July 2025
Location, great outdoor space
Sally B.
July 2025
Lovely! Didn’t find pool key until we left!!’
Sally B.
July 2025
We enjoyed the condo and its location in Princeville. It was very spacious and perfect for our party of 4. We like to cook and enjoyed its large kitchen, which was well equipped with everything we needed. It felt very homey and we enjoyed its furnishings and Hawaiian-style art pictures throughout the house. We loved the large lanai that wrapped around the condo, surrounded by the tropical foliage. The property has a beautiful swimming pool with perfect temperature water and a new BBQ that we used a lot. Just know that the condo does have some stairs inside for "sunken" rooms, if there are any mobility issues. Our party decided we would definitely stay here again!
Candace O.
July 2025
Excellent, quaint little spot with all the essentials. Located in a beautiful neighborhood in Princeville, it’s close to everything — great restaurants, stunning beaches, and convenient stores are all just a five-minute drive away.
Benjamin S.
June 2025
![Mauna Kai 5]()
I'm not sure exactly where to start. When we arrived everything seemed to be in order. However, as the week went on there were things that were affecting our stay. First, the A/C is a wall unit; it looks like it could be the original but we don't know. The outside was very dirty, which probably means that the cover has never been removed and inside cleaned of mold/mildew. The unit itself is on 2 floors (could be a problem for someone who struggles with stairs;) this bit of information was left off the description when we booked. There is no way it could cool down the space upstairs, let alone the lower level. We took the upper BR and one of the jalousie windows wouldn't even open. Another jalousie window in the main area was totally missing one of it's bottom glass louvers. The ceiling fan in the upper BR only operated on the lowest speed, which didn't give much air movement. It was hot and muggy with the temps and humidity. In the lower smaller BR there was a fan up in the corner by the ceiling. It made noise but didn't blow any air out. Our son and wife were in the BR and it had a musty odor. As far as the kitchen, the kitchen faucet moved in its location; it wasn't stationery as it should be. There was only one medium size frying pan. It had a teflon finish (not a healthy finish for cooking) that is started wearing off. It didn't sit flat on the cooktop, and the handle was loose. We did use it every day as we cooked our meals in the condo. In the bathroom downstairs there was a fan (washer/dryer was in this bathroom,) that was covered in dust/dirt that had accumulated over time. While there was a broom for sweeping up, there was no dust pan; we used a thinner piece of cardboard to sweep dirt on. As we were getting into the week (we were there a total of 9 days,) we noticed we were getting low on toilet paper, paper towels and detergent. I texted Vacasa and they sent my request to the owner, Valerie. We texted back and forth, and she informed me they don't supply again and it was our responsibility to pay for any additional items we needed. As we continued texting she asked me to send pics of some of the items I was discussing as listed above. We said we would and took pics and videos and tried to send it over and it came back undeliverable. Unfortunately, it left us with a negative feeling about our stay there. If you don't mind the humidity then you won't mind staying in this unit, but if it bothers you as it did us then this won't be a good fit for your party. I don't want to end on a totally negative note. The unit itself was furnished nicely. We did appreciate that they had sand chairs available, as well as boogie boards to use at the beach. And, the pool was quite close and our grandchildren really enjoyed spending time there. Overall, we were disappointed with the above complaints we had, and especially the way Valerie handled communicating with us, and then blocked our text back to her.
Cathy M.
June 2025
This was the perfect spot for our family. Wonderful property with great amenities (kids absolutely loved the pool)! Easy trips to so many beaches and Hanalei, we will absolutely stay here again!
Michael L.
June 2025
Very nice condo in beautiful area. Drawbacks: parking is VERY limited and if you are sensitive to noise probably not a good pick. You can hear every step they take upstairs.
Shelly S.
June 2025
It was a great location. Close to many beaches, including one real secluded beach just down the street. Close to grocery stores and amazing restaurants. Response time from owner was very quick. Great experience.
Gabriela M.
June 2025
This is a wonderful, peaceful place to stay. Close to beaches and an excellent pool. The townhouse was clean and well-maintained.
Sarah O.
June 2025
Our stay here was great. The property was beautiful, in a great location and easy to access. Rick communicated with us very well, he responded quickly and was very professional. This property was wonderful for my wife and I on our honeymoon stay, however there is no A/C so it does get hot.
Jacob V.
June 2025
![Mauna Kai 5]()
Overall everything was great. It should be noted that the A/C is only a small unit in the living room upstairs and doesn’t extend to the two downstairs bedrooms. It only really gets into the upstairs bedroom if you leave the door open. There are some slots in the bedroom wall to try to let air through, but they don't help a ton. There are ceiling fans but they don't provide much relief either. There are 3 additional fans that were provided but one more would be appreciated. We gave up our fan in the upstairs bedroom to the downstairs. The kitchen is very functional which was great. There's a grocery store within walking distance which was also nice. The parking is an issue after 9/10 pm. The spots aren't assigned and the lot fills quickly at night. During the day it wasn't an issue. There is an overflow parking lot at the community center you can use that's a bit of a walk (10 minutesish) and you need a pass to park overnight. So be aware if you're coming in late you're going to have to park farther away. Since this is managed by vacasa we couldn't directly communicate with the owners which wasn't ideal since vacasa didn't seem to have any information other then the bare minimum which wasn't very helpful. Overall we would stay here again though.
Danielle M.
June 2025
The home was well stocked and clean.
Sharon B.
June 2025
we had the best week here! right when we settled in we had a lovely conversation with our neighbour joy who made our stay feel so welcoming. this place felt like home from the personalized items around the home to a closet full of beach activities.
rama t.
June 2025
Great place, quick response from owner on a question. Provided everything we needed for a beach vacation! Would recommend highly.
Sue S.
June 2025
The property is pretty much as advertised. Its a bit hard to find in the condo complex. Parking is thin. The TV stopped working on the last day. The grill was a mess when we got there and the ceiling fan in the one upstairs bedroom had a few loose blades, that was fixed right away. But overall property was good. The unit had nice beds, appliances. The location was great. It had everything you would need for a trip to paradise. Would definitely recommend
Jeff L.
June 2025
The pictures of this place don’t do it justice — it was perfect for us to stay at as a couple! If you want to explore the north shore, this is your best bet. We loved being close to Hanalei and visited Ha’ena State Park, and we also did some activities in Wailua —easy drive. We loved the beach chairs, umbrella, cooler, and snorkel gear - they really made our trip with all of our beach exploring. There is also a copy of a Kauai Guidebook that was GOLD - great info and recommendations. I would stay here again, it was lovely.
jess b.
June 2025
We had a great stay! Location of this place was great for what we had planned for our staycation. The condo is super clean bed was comfortable and the air was cold. Would recommend anyone to stay here.
Katherine R.
June 2025
Rating Details:
The property manager was very helpful.
The vacation rental was spotless.
I was very happy with the location.
I was very satisfied with the condition of the vacation rental.
Overall, I recommend this vacation rental.
Reviewer Comments:
We absolutely loved the rental property! The unit was decorated so cute and the layout was great! Very spacious! The wrap around porch was amazing with the beautiful landscaping on the property! Thank you for making it such a wonderful vacation!
Cindy B.
June 2025
The area was nice but this location did not have air conditioning and was very noisy. The room was right next to a busy road and there was traffic late into the night, which was annoying because without air conditioning we had to keep all the windows open. There were also a bunch of ridiculous fees if there was something done against the ridiculous rules of the property… like hanging towels outside. Would not recommend to anyone.
Justin
June 2025
We stayed for five nights with our family ages 8 to 70. The rental had great books for relaxing, a well stocked kitchen for a couple nights of home cooking, a very close and clean pool, a beach box with all of the options (snorkels, chairs, umbrellas, floaties, sand castle makers, etc.) We walked to Willey’s beach for a quiet morning stroll and that was a bonus to have a beach within walking. Everything else seemed to be 10-15 minutes away driving - very convenient.The only tricky thing was parking if we got home after 6pm. The lot fills to the brim but there is good overflow parking if you know that is allowed. Lots of flowers and wildlife (pictured) for close-to-the-house adventures.
Jennifer P.
May 2025
This studio was/is perfect for 1/2 people. The photos on line did not do it justice. It had everything you would need and then some. The bed/furniture were comfortable and the most beautiful beaches were a short walk/drive away. I have price shop the rentals for years and the cost for this studio was very reasonable. The only problem I had was with the lock box-only because I went to the wrong box-I even had my glasses on-contacted the the designated person-very helpful-even had a follow up visit by a very nice lady to ensure I was good to go. The only draw back I initially had was when I read the”rules& regulations” then I read some of the ratings starting with the lowest and moving on up. The good HEAVILY overshadowed the bad. The “rules & regulations” were reasonable it just needed to be “toned” down. Would I stay here again..that’s a BIG YES.
Michael P.
May 2025
Everything was just perfect 10/10
David V.
May 2025
![Paniolo 204A - Princeville Retreat]()
We stayed here for five nights in May 2025. We were incredibly underwhelmed and disappointed. The cleanliness of the property was hard to overlook and took away from the overall experience in a beautiful place. Communication with the property manager was not great. Taking three different instances of reaching out before receiving a response. The price was attractive, however, it made us wish we would have spent a little more to stay somewhere more comfortable. Here are some of the issues we noticed:Dead bug in the bed sheets did not inspire confidence that the unit had been cleaned recently. There was old residue on the fridge and a very shaky handle that felt like it could fall off at any point, a dirty toilet brush next to the toilet, the toilet took basic plumbing skills to flush each time as it wouldn’t fill correctly. The screen above the kitchen sink was broken and we were treated with There is a washer and dryer and there was no way to seal the window to avoid unwanted visitors coming through. There is a washer and dryer in the unit. Graciously, they gave us just three pods of laundry detergent which obviously isn’t enough for four people staying for a week. In good faith I could not recommend staying at this property for anyone.
Paul A.
May 2025
Clean & pretty.Tony & Judith are great, welcoming & gracious.Anyone would feel welcomed.
Warren H.
May 2025
Rating Details:
The property manager was very helpful.
The vacation rental was spotless.
I was more than happy with the location.
I was very satisfied with the condition of the vacation rental.
Overall, I recommend this vacation rental.
Reviewer Comments:
The condo was really nice, including both interior features and decor and the beautiful landscaping surrounding the unit on all sides, providing plenty of privacy and fresh air. The unit is very close to the (steep) trail down to Wyllie Beach, but there is no ocean view. Property management was very responsive and easy to contact. It's very close to food and hardware stores. I definitely would recommend it to others. I wish a list of restaurant suggestions/recommendations had been provided.
Stephen B.
May 2025
![Mauna Kai Unit]()
The condo is well located in Princeville—with convenient food shopping within walking distance and good restaurants nearby in Hanalei (about a 5 minute drive), including great coffee, poke, and shaved ice. Terrific beaches, snorkeling, kayaking, paddling all close by the condo too—we loved Anini beach especially for snorkeling, seeing lots of sea turtles. The kitchen is incredibly well stocked—and the porch is lovely in the early morning and evenings. Lots of roosters around—they tend to be on their own time clock—so they will sometimes wake you at 3 am—and that will be the case anywhere you stay in Kauai—just be aware! The back of the condo is close to a road—so there were some traffic noises—but nothing later than 10 pm and none in our party found that it interfered with our use or enjoyment of the condo. The grounds of the condo are beautifully landscaped, and the pool is often empty—and lovely in the late afternoon. I would not rely on the snorkeling equipment provided by the host—you really need to be fitted—snorkeling equipment is inexpensive to rent lots of places. The host’s beach chairs were great—as were all the beach towels provided. The washer/dryer was super helpful! The host was responsive and helpful—we were not the most organized of guests, unfortunately. I would stay at these accommodations again—no concerns.
Donna E.
May 2025
We had an excellent experience staying at this VRBO. Property was clean, had all the amenities you’d need, and was a great deal for the area. I would stay here again when I return to the island.
Mark B.
May 2025
We enjoyed a week long stay in this love home with many sightings of chickens and wonderful gardens on the premises. The pool was relaxing and the provided beach equipment was enough to satisfy everyone! High recommend!
Frederick V.
May 2025
Very well kept and lots of "extras" like beach gear available for use. Had a wonderful visit.
Jim W.
May 2025
The condo was exactly as listed...maybe better. Great location and easy to get anywhere on the island. Numerous beaches, shopping and hiking nearby. The condo was very clean and well stocked. There was a great starter supply of toilet paper/soap and paper towels.The grounds and pool area are beautifully landscaped.
Jenn O.
May 2025
Exactly like the listing. It was very nice. Upstairs neighbors have heavy feet and the one of the snorkels has a broken diagram. But other than that it was a good experience. Very happy we got to stay and it was very affordable. Thanks Rick, for sharing your home!
Breanna Y.
May 2025
Amazing getaway and near great spots!
Korben
May 2025
Loved staying here for our week long stay in Kauai. The condo was spotless, bed was comfy and it stayed cool despite being warm outside. It's so serene and peaceful, plus having a kitchen at home was great to utilize for making meals when we didn't want to eat out. Tony was such a gracious host and made us feel right at home. He has a ton of beach things (towels, boogie boards, chairs, etc) that were super helpful.
Alex
May 2025
We loved our stay here! The location was perfect ! Close to Foodland for delicious Poke, an ice cream shop and not to far from someGreat hikes. The condo was clean with super cozy beds & the swimming pool was great too. If you’re like me and go to bed earlier than most I do recommend ear plugs and a sleep mask. Noise wasn’t too bad except for there was one extra excited kiddo who was running laps upstairs he did settle down after our first night stay and we proceeded to get great sleep and rest for the remainder of our trip.
Sara S.
May 2025
My husband and I stayed 7 nights. It was great location to the princeville center. Neighbor Joy was sweet and helpful! Can't wait to come back! :)
Roni S.
May 2025
Wonderful location & beautiful pool! Space has everything one we need. Only hiccup was the toilet would have trouble flushing and there is no AC and the fans don’t keep the upstairs cool enough so 2 of us ended up sleeping on the floor in the living room.
Becki A.
May 2025
![Mauna Kai 7B]()
Management/property managers were non existent when issues came up immediately after arrival. You are forced to speak with someone from another country who owns this rental from a mother company. They therefore are not interested in resolving anything. Conflicting information about parking. We spent an hour on the phone explaining that all of their literature says ample free parking but they refused to give us more than one parking pass. There was no working stovetop upon arrival. The presence of a hot plate meant they were aware that our party of EIGHT didn’t have a working stovetop and that we were expected to use that hot plate instead, for cooking all of our meals. Missing smoke detectors. One was randomly placed on dresser. Bbq grill was full of grease and hadn’t been cleaned in months, which lead to a very dangerous situation when we lit it. Photos in ad show different furniture that was not present in unit. Consistent stream of water leaking from downstairs guest bathtub faucet. During a time of water conservation and regulation on Kauai. We saw no one during our time here. No one came to check or fix anything. Even after one employee said someone was coming to look at the stove. We saw no one and nothing was fixed. Pick a different company and definitely pick a different unit. A minimal and laughable partial refund was given to us for our trouble. I’m guessing this was their version of hush money.
Jennifer K.
May 2025
Our condo was clean, comfortable and nicely furnished. We were able to get to all of our favorite spots easily and had a great vacation. We will definitely be coming back.
Danna J.
May 2025
Very well located
Naiara G.
May 2025