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 love Islander on the Beach for its unbeatable setting and convenience. It sits oceanfront in Kapa‘a with direct beach access, wide-open sunrise views, and a scenic coastal path for walks, runs, or bike rides. The lush, well-kept grounds, relaxing pool and hot tub, and a friendly tiki bar with happy hour create an easy, laid‑back vibe. Being steps from Coconut Marketplace (shops, ABC/market, coffee, shave ice, and several casual restaurants) and a short drive from the airport make it a practical, central base for exploring both the North Shore and Waimea Canyon.
Most condos are “hotel‑style” studios: compact but comfortable, typically with AC, a mini‑fridge (sometimes two), microwave, toaster/coffee maker, and often beach gear (chairs, cooler, towels). Many guests praise cleanliness, comfy beds, responsive hosts, and good value. That said, this is an older property with variations by unit: some spaces feel dated or a bit musty in humid weather, and you may encounter small maintenance quirks (sticky sliders, finicky TVs/Wi‑Fi, occasional pests typical of the tropics). Common resort-wide realities include: no elevator to upper floors, limited on‑site laundry access for privately managed units (expect to use a nearby laundromat), parking that can fill by evening, thin walls in some areas, and island roosters that crow early. The beach is gorgeous for lounging and sunrise watching, but swimming conditions can be rough at times.
Overall, the resort suits couples and travelers who plan to be out adventuring and want a scenic, central, good‑value home base with strong “fall asleep to the waves” appeal. If you need a full kitchen, guaranteed laundry on site, an elevator, or plush luxury finishes, it may not be the best fit. Tips: book ocean‑view if sunrise coffee on the lanai matters, bring earplugs for roosters, plan simple meals (grills by the pool help), and arrive back before late evening for easier parking. With the marketplace next door, the pool bar, and that coastal path out front, most guests say they’d happily return.
This summary is based on a comprehensive analysis of 1000 reviews
Great stay! Old school vibe, felt very comfortable. Great location.
Brian C.
September 2025
Room had beach chairs and great view, toaster oven and mic, bed and pillows decent. Only issue was AC didn’t cool at all (evaporator coils clogged with dirt, fan not even running) so the inside unit basically blew room temp air. Floors had chips in the tile, should be replaced.
Dave D.
September 2025
My first impression was not great, the place smelled very musty and I didn’t even want to open my suitcase. We turned up the AC went to dinner and came back to a room that no longer smelled musty.The view from the lanai is amazing, especially those sunrises. We were here during a full moon and it was like daylight and so beautiful.The condo itself has just about everything you need. We had 6 sets of nice big bath towel sets, 2 beach towels, 2 chairs, 2 small coolers, coffee filters, cutting boards and much more in all the drawers & cabinets.The location is perfect! We were here for 7 days and only had a small amount of rain one morning. There are 7 restaurants, a mall and small grocery store within walking distance to the condo. The beach is right there. We never had to take our chairs down, there were always open lounge chairs when we wanted to go to the beach. The beach was never crowded, you have your own space! The maintenance around the condo is fantastic, I just wish they would maintain the beach front by raking up the pinecones from the trees occasionally.Parking at night was sometimes an issue. 3 nights we had to park outside the complex.We liked having a freezer and refrigerator in the room along with all the places to hang wet clothing and towels. The place was super clean. My suggestions is a luggage rack next to the tv since there are only 2 drawers available and plastic wine/glasses. Would stay here again!!
Jennifer K.
September 2025
We really enjoyed the property and location of this home. The views are spectacular!We had everything we needed, and the communication was very clear. Thank you!
Kristin T.
September 2025
We had such an amazing time at this beautiful property. It directly overlooks the ocean with a beautiful balcony. The pool was refreshing as well. Easy beach access right across from the pool.
Robert K.
September 2025
Great location steps from the beach and morning sunsets. Clean, well equipped condo.
Chris G.
September 2025
When traveling to new locations, there is always a sense of hesitation and lack of trust; however, this was simply amazing. Everything was comfortable, all appliances worked, the rooms were amazing, and just a short walk to the beach. Check-in was a breeze. Parking was ample throughout the day. The location was perfect. 5-10 minutes to some amazing beaches and activities. We enjoyed walking to the ABC market, the pop up farmers market with fresh fruit, Jo Jo’s shave ice, and other really good restaurants. As for my kids experience, it was wonderful!! There was enough space for some downtime personal activities. They provided some great family board games. The wireless network worked without issue; with the ability to stream on either of the large TVs. There is large grassy area where the kids loved to run around and watch all the amazing birds. We are already planning our next stay and definitely will return.
Garry H.
September 2025
Decent. The property is a little dated but everything worked and the view is nice over the pool.
John T.
September 2025
Our stay was amazing & we will definitely be back! It’s centrally located on the island and quiet. Perfect for a relaxing vacation.
September 2025
Excellent stay all around. The unit was precisely as described, clean, and well-situated. The location in Kapa’a cannot be beat for convenience. Rae was a communicative and gracious host. Would recommend!
Jon D.
September 2025
Amazing location and property!
Frank F.
September 2025
Location was great, and a beautiful long beach steps away. Easy base to roam the island. Beach chairs on the balcony were helpful to use, as well as lovely snacks left in the kitchen.
Place was very clean but smelled musty and shower curtain smelled moldy. Otherwise, great and easy place.
Great value and would highly recommend.
Su Young
September 2025
Bathroom tub very slow to drain
doug
September 2025
Excellent!!
Kathleen S.
September 2025
![Islander on the Beach 246]()
Had a fabulous stay in our unit at Islander on the Beach resort. The view from the balcony was gorgeous and peaceful. It was so nice to hear the sound of waves and often roosters! Coconut Marketplace was right behind us so it was so easy to walk and grab snacks, get a couple dinners, and purchase alcohol. Communication with the host was easy and prompt. We arrived about an hour early and left an hour late and were able to check in early and out late without issue. I didn’t expect to hang out at the pool here or the beach at the propery but we were at both every afternoon after coming home. The pool bar is great with happy hour from 3 to 6 and we enjoyed that the pool was peaceful with no loud music, again just roosters and chickens! Lava Lava restaurant is also next store and we walked there twice for dinner. This property is in an excellent location if you plan to go north and south during your stay and it's only about 10 minutes to the airport. The property/room is older, but charming. It's one of our favorite places and we generally stay at 5 star resorts. We will definitely return! Highly recommend!
Amber K.
September 2025
The view from the lanai is spectacular! Our trip was delayed a day because our flight out of DFW was delayed so long we missed the connecting leg to Kauai. The property manager graciously worked with us and pushed our whole stay back a day. We are grateful and impressed by that. Thank you, Cindy. Comfy bed, good location, great view! We had a wonderful stay!
Nancy F.
September 2025
Always stay here when we come. Beautiful landscaping, beach steps away, convenient location.
Shelby B.
September 2025
Centrally located. Close to local restaurants, beaches etc
Joe K.
September 2025
The room was very run down. I had to use the plunger to get the water to drain when taking a shower. Had to do this for four days. Under the sink a rusty something fell off. It went everywhere. Had to clean it up. One of the chairs was broken on the balcony. It was replaced. I have stayed at the Islander many times. I’m not sure I would rent this unit again.
September 2025
Great location, lots of things to do nearby and great view of the beach. There was a bit of construction on our building which was a tad inconvenient in regards to trying to get around the workers or getting in their way as well.
Alyssa P.
August 2025
This place was just as described. It had everything we needed for out accommodations. The fridge and small appliances were perfect for being able to make light breakfasts and lunches. The bed was comfortable. The a/c really helped on the hotter days. But the absolute best part of this place was a tie between the location and the lanai. The only thing better than the view was Starting and ending every day on a peaceful stretch of the ocean.
M S.
August 2025
Beautifully presented, thoughtfully furnished and equipped with a wonderful ocean view and nothing but the sound of waves! (Or cool and efficient silent split system AC if you choose). Immaculately clean - it was a delight to arrive. Cindy and her team had thought if everything I needed. I did not want to leave. I'll be back! Mahalo, Simon
simon l.
August 2025
Rating Details:
The property manager was very helpful.
The vacation rental was very clean.
I was very happy with the location.
I was more than satisfied with the condition of the vacation rental.
Overall, I recommend this vacation rental.
Reviewer Comments:
Room was small, but met our needs. I was unaware there would be construction during our stay, so it was annoying having to listen to saw cutting during the day and tripping over construction workers and equipment. The room smelled of mold/dampness when we arrived, and the bathtub could use a good scrubbing. The keypad for the door did not work, so we had to use a key that we left in the lockbox all week. Maintenance came out to fix it unannounced. It worked once after they left and it was broke again. The view was spectacular. Well worth the minor hiccups.
Christine H.
August 2025
Great location, surrounded by close shopping places and close to most places of interest. Easy check in and check out.
jikson
August 2025
Perfect view, great accommodations. Loved our stay in Kauai
Tom M.
August 2025
Very clean super nice place to stay. Access to wonderful beach and very nice pool. Easy parking. I’d definitely stay there again.
George S.
August 2025
Great location
Billy F.
August 2025
Easy check in. Adequate kitchenette. Clean room. Excellent location! The room is a bit tacky and dated. The carpet in the exterior of the building is old and mildewed and needs replacing. Beautiful view from the balcony however!
Theodore L.
August 2025
The location was perfect. The price was affordable. It was Steps away from everything. Was really disappointed with the condo. I’m sure it was beautiful at one time , but now it’s just old. Power washing the floor tile and grout, putting that same green in the bathroom would improve it 100%. Wiping down baseboards and even a rug as you enter to put shoes on make it a little more welcoming. No place for beach towels. Your not supposed to hang them from the railing, but other units had a place to hang them outside. The sliding door was almost impossible to open and the screen on the door has a huge rip in it. There’s no freezer compartment for ice, finally found thrice at another building.
Mary W.
August 2025
Perfectly located to explore the entire island
Greg R.
August 2025
My husband and I celebrated our 40th wedding anniversary here. The view from the lanai is just as pictured. We enjoyed the pool and the lit tiki torches at night made it feel very Hawaiian. Communication with the host was excellent!
Barry B.
August 2025
Room was great! Beautiful view of the water. Right by the pool and walking distance to lava lava beach club. Would stay again. Great location
Barrie B.
August 2025
Beautiful location, exactly what we wanted!!!
Tracy Y.
August 2025
Location was beautiful. Close to all activity's and awesome eatery's .
Diane H.
August 2025
Easy check in and check out. Nice to have beach towels and foldable beach chairs provided.
Please update description to show no laundry on site.
Michelle R.
August 2025
This property is one of my favorites on Kauai, next to shops and restaurants in Coconut Marketplace. The unit is in a great location, close to the pool. Host is accommodating and super easy to communicate with. Mahalo!
Angela P.
August 2025
Excellent ocean front room location next to the pool and beautiful grounds. Everything was as described and much better! The coconut market was a pleasant daily convenience. Would stay here again and again.
Phil C.
August 2025
This was our second stay in this unit, we love the location overlooking the beach and the pool. The Islander is such a beautiful place with quaint plantation style architecture, lovely grounds, and the pool and tiki bar (the Sandbar) literally steps from the beach. Just across the parking lot is the Coconut Marketplace with lots of shops, places to eat and activities like hula and fire knife dances, and the farmers' market is a great place to pick up fresh tropical fruit. Located just south of Kapa'a makes it easy to get to either the north shore or south shore. The room is comfortable and well equipped. Communication with Kauai Vision Rentals was timely and easy, both by email and text. This is by far our favorite place to stay on Kauai, we're already looking forward to our next visit.
Jeff E.
August 2025
I was impressed with the place! It looked just like the pictures. Walking distances to the beach and Coconut Market. Access to multiple pools and laundry rooms on site. I also appreciated the laundry pods they provided. Also the beach essentials they provided, body boards, cooler bag, and beach chairs was a plus! The only thing that they should replace is their cooking skillets, they are teflon and badly scratched. The reason for us staying in a rental was to be able to cook breakfast there. Other than that it was a pleasant stay.
Vere R.
August 2025
![Islander Studio 137]()
The door code we were given wasn’t correct, so we had to use the phone at the reception to call the after hours number (this was just after 4pm, so check in time, strange that check in time is not within normal office hours). Luckily they were able to provide the right code so we could get in.The studio is smaller then the pictures show and smelled terrible. The smell was moldy in especially the bathroom and cabinet in Living room, but the smell was everywhere. The studio, not condo, was old and everything in it too. Room was small and so were the beds, especially for 2 people. Pool/beach towels provided also smelled and were very old. The bed covers which were also meant to be used as blankets, were dirty and probably not washed in a long time. One bed had sand and dirt on it.The curtain was super old and moldy on the outside. We contacted management about our issue. The did reply early the next morning and offered a refund for the second night so we could change locations. Sadly we didn’t have that option since we had left the property very early in the morning, before the reply and didn’t get back until after dinner. We didn’t have time to find something else and move since we were only staying 2 nights. I hope they will fulfill my question of there was anything else they could offer as compensation.Especially the smell and it being old and not clean sadly took away from our Kauai experience. It didn’t meet any of the other reviewers experiences.
Jennifer D.
August 2025
![Islander on the Beach 305]()
No matter it’s Kaua’i and it’s amazing. I felt the check in process was easy. Contact with management was great. Property staff weren’t as pleasant as I remember in the past. The room is in need of an update but for the price I get it. Back door slider doesn’t lock as the HVAC unit doesn’t work and they’re using a portable AC unit with hose. I felt safe so didn’t make a fuss but if that’s important to you know the unit is not secure at this time. I’d not recommend long stays as you don’t get any extra linens, but a few extra towels are included (not enough). The bed is comfortable. We had a thief on the property that set off the fire alarm at 4 am as they tried to ransack the bar. Twice in one night. Police responded and presumably handled the matter. No security on site that we saw, but in all honesty we felt safe here. We don’t watch much TV, but if you can figure out how to make it work (yes I read the given instructions) you deserve an honorary MIT degree. Between the old tv and multiple controllers it was a mystery. lol. Either way, for its price it’s ok, will look for one with better amenities in the future.
Mike F.
August 2025
Nice place 👍
William
July 2025
I thought the property was very beautiful as I remember it back in 2003 my last trip here. The kitchen facilities were stocked and wonderful. Wi-Fi was accessible and I have to say that my check in with Cindy was beyond amazing. I arrived here and my phone was dead. I couldn’t find my recharger and I couldn’t the passcode to get in the door and I told cindy how horrible I was feeling and she helped me get in and she was amazing through my whole day.
Kimberly D.
July 2025
This place was great! Loved the property and the unit.
Michele D. B.
July 2025
Very nice place
Christopher M.
July 2025
Exceptional vacation. We were celebrating Wife's 60th B-day and our 30th Anniversary. It was truley a unforgetabletrip. Much thanks to all that provided. Vicki & I are already planning Christmas here with whole family.
Rodney J.
July 2025
Wonderful relaxing getaway. Will definitely be back again!
Danielle W.
July 2025
Great overall experience.
James B.
July 2025
You can’t beat the central location of Islander on the a beach. And this unit was comfortable, clean and provided us a great stay. Highly recommend!
Heather F.
July 2025
We loved our stay here!
Heather K.
July 2025