Makanui at Poipu Kai, Kauai

Makanui is a condo development in the Poipu Kai Resort that consists of 7 buildings. The development is split into two sections: the main section contains buildings 3-7 which are large 2 story town-home like buildings located on a small hilltop, some with nice mountain and distant ocean views. Buildings 1 and 2 are located about 200 yards away, and building 1 is actually a single level home that you can rent. The pool is located beside buildings 3-7, and guests have access to the Poipu Kai resort tennis facilities.

Makanui units are large, ranging in size from 1000 - 1700 sq ft. From the main buildings, it takes about eight minutes to walk to Brennecke beach and nine minutes to walk to Shipwreck beach. Buildings 1 and 2 are five minutes closer walking distance to Shipwreck, and about 13 minutes from Brennecke.

Chose Makanui if you need spacious accommodations at a reasonable price and would like something that's ideally situated between Poipu beach park and Shipwreck beach, as well as the Grand Hyatt's restaurants and spas. The 70 acre resort grounds of Poipu Kai make for pleasant walking.

    Makanui at Poipu Kai Quick Facts:


  • Address: 2370 Ho'ohu Rd,Koloa, HI 96756
  • Property Size: ~3.0 acres (22 units)
  • Reviews: 4.71 / 5.0 (from 205 reviews)
  • Rentals: Makanui at Poipu Kai Vacation Rentals

Makanui at Poipu Kai Average Rates


What Do Guests Think? An Analysis of 142 Guest Reviews


Reviewer Portrait

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.

Guests consistently praise Makanui at Poipu Kai for its prime Poipu location and relaxing, residential feel. Greenbelt paths make it an easy 8–15 minute walk to Poipu, Brennecke, or Shipwreck Beach, with restaurants and the Grand Hyatt close by. Many mention beautifully kept grounds, quiet surroundings, easy parking, and mountain/sunrise views enjoyed from spacious lanais.

The condos are roomy and practical for families and groups, with well‑stocked kitchens, in‑unit laundry, and lots of thoughtful beach gear (chairs, umbrellas, boogie boards, snorkel sets, and coolers). Pools and BBQs are nearby and typically uncrowded—great for a quick dip after the beach. Check‑in is straightforward, and hosts/managers earn high marks for clear communication and fast help when small issues arise.

Set expectations for a laid‑back condo complex rather than a full‑service luxury resort. Some units show their age and a few furnishings or sliders could use refreshes; the pools aren’t flashy. Air conditioning is often limited to the primary bedroom or absent, with most guests relying on trade winds and ceiling fans; on still, hot nights some areas can feel warm. Stairs and walkways mean accessibility varies, and sound can travel through louvered windows. Overall, reviewers overwhelmingly report comfortable, convenient stays and say they’d happily return for the value, space, and walkable Poipu location.

This summary is based on a comprehensive analysis of 142 reviews

Recent Makanui at Poipu Kai Reviews


Great view, interesting artwork and furnishings throughout the condo!
Tim B.
March 2026

The property is a little dated and the kitchen full, but great value for money. Pool was lovely. Grdat to be able to walk to poipu beach, nothing else walkable but we were happy, except for the storm!
Heather C.
March 2026

We really enjoyed our stay. The location was great and the condo was perfect for our family of four. The condo was very clean, and the hosts were attentive to our questions.
Amy H.
March 2026

Our family loved our stay here. The condo was clean, spacious, easy access to walk to Brennekes beach, poipu beach, and shipwreck. The kids loved the pool, which they had to themselves our entire stay. It was ez parking, we used the grill (a little walk to get to), and we enjoyed eating breakfast on our patio. I hope we can return some day!
Brian Z.
March 2026

The condominium was exactly how it was described. The check was easy and we had everything we needed. We liked the location because it was quiet and easy to get to our favorite places in Poipu. The amenities were excellent and the rental was clean and comfortable. We would stay here again.
Kraig A.
March 2026

Nice place, convenient location if you’re based in Poipu. Would stay again.
Kristin O.
February 2026

Loved our time in the condo. Arrived after dark and they had the lights on for us! Easy door instructions, info book and keys right there for our use. Very well equipped place with cooler, beach chairs, beach towels, washer dryer. Will be back as soo as we can!
Jeanette S.
February 2026

Such a prime location! Will stay again. 3
Michelle H.
January 2026

We had an awesome stay. Management converted one of the twin bed rooms to a king after we checked in. Stay gave imus memories for a lifetime!
Sean M.
January 2026

All was perfect
Laurie M.
November 2025

Absolutely love this unit. This is my second time staying and I will likely come back again! The convenience of the location and the beautiful view from the back porch are highlights for me.
Sydney L.
October 2025

Location is fabulous. Check in procedure was easy and simple The pool was just steps away. I loved our walk down to the beach. After a day of snorkeling, hiking or touring, we came home and enjoyed the lanai. Our beds were comfy and the kitchen had everything we needed. Loved having first day coffee and many spices available to use. We also made use of the coolers, ice packs, beach chairs, and cubes ice for beverages and water bottles. Darrell and Ida were responsive and helpful. I would love to stay again in the future
Lorena T.
September 2025

Overall a great place to stay
Alexandrea L.
September 2025

Great place to stay, close to the beach
Lacey G.
September 2025

We loved it here. Perfect location, easy parking, easy walk to Poipu Beach. Condo was a bit dated, but in a way that made it even more comfortable and homey. Beach chairs, snorkel gear, tennis equipment all provided, and access to the athletic club was a huge bonus. Never felt hot even though temps were above average. Only issue was it wasnt quite clear from listing that payments would be made through Suite Paradise's website rather than VRBO. SP's email had gone to junk mail and I was very confused on how to make my final payment when it was past due. A message through VRBO alerting to payment portal might help (though I'd book direct with SP in the future).
Bethany R.
August 2025

Great location! Only air conditioning in one room, but we made it work.
Robin H.
August 2025

Great place to stay - didn’t even need A/C for most of the trip (there isn’t any…just ceiling fans and that Hawaiian breeze). Super close to the pool and beach. Really enjoyed our stay!
James S.
July 2025

We enjoyed a thoroughly relaxing stay and would recommend this location for its comfort and amenities.
Kathryn P.
July 2025

This condo fit our family needs very well - very nice area, wonderful accommodations, so comfortable. Mahalo for sharing your home with us!
M C U.
June 2025

This condo is a great place to stay! It is well stocked and has all the appliances you might need...plus a hair dryer. The hosts were very informative and gave us information prior to us arriving which is super nice so we could plan our vacation. It is a perfect place to open the window and doors and get that great hawaiian breeze and at night they have a air conditioner right in the bedroom so we were always comfortable.
Becky V.
June 2025

Lovely property in a convenient location.
Mary Anne S.
June 2025

Lovely property in a convenient location.

June 2025

The location was perfect! Lots to see and close to anything that we needed. Would definitely stay here again. Mahalo!
Teryn L.
May 2025

No complaints on this place! My family and I stayed here and it was perfect, by the end we were all saying how we’d come back and stay here. Such a great location for walk and driving to different places.
Madi E.
March 2025

We loved the location, mountain views and the grounds. The dishwasher was a little touchy and the controls were hard to navigate. Bathrooms and kitchen could be updated but they were ok. Staff at Suite Paradise were helpful and friendly. Mahalo!!
Thomas S.
February 2025

We had a great time, the property was as we had expected and served us very well. The beach chairs and cooler came in very handy. The upstairs mattress could use an upgrade. Would definitely consider coming back here.
Peter F.
February 2025

The check in process was fantastic and the management staff were top notch.
Cory R.
January 2025

We all had such an amazing stay! The condo was spacious, clean and had everything that we needed for our stay and more. The beach gear was great and the extra beach towels, the washer/dryer was such a convenience. We walked to Poipu Beach at night to watch the turtles and to Kalapaki Joe's for dinner. We would recommend this condo to anyone!
Debbie R.
January 2025

Location is great. Well equipped for beach. Parking was easy compared to other locations we’ve stayed at before. Could definitely use some updating (furniture, flooring, tv), fixing sliders, layout of main area is funky, etc.
Skye S.
January 2025

We stayed here 10 years ago and truly enjoyed the condo so much we returned again in July. It is still a fantastic and quiet condo close to back and activities. Would recommend!!
Patrick K.
January 2025

This condo has everything and more than we expected! Great location and amenities for the whole family.
Kory K.
January 2025

The place grew on us. Initial disappointment over lack of pool right by property, no air conditioning and dated furniture, eventually disappeared as the week went on given the nice ocean view from 1 of 2 balconies, the proximity to Shipwreck Beach and Poipu and you essentially have a small single family home all to yourselves. Folks at Suite Paradise very nice and communicative.
richardp
January 2025

House was well appointed and had great space for our family (2 parents, 3 kids between 12-16). This unit is stand-alone so you aren't sharing walls with any other condos which is nice. The outdoor deck space was awesome as was the sea breeze most (most!!) nights. It was super clean, but had enough written rules that I felt a little bit like a kid that might mess something up and get in trouble. Also know that it is up a short staircase and longer pathway to the house, so hauling stuff may be an issue. Also isn't actually in the Poipu Kai resort area, you are segregated (along with one other condo building) from the main paths/pools/amenities by a good half block. Only other downside was the beds and pillows were mixed reviews. I thought the king was quite uncomfortable. My boys in the front bedroom thought the beds were almost unbearable. My daughter in the back room thought it was fine.
Joyce H.
December 2024

Noisy. Could not sleep due to outdoor noise. Had to call neighborhood patrol most nights about the noise. Property is nice, clean, spacious. There was no shampoo besides 1 bar of soap in each bathroom. Communication was not good between HOA and owner. When we were out HOA person came to do some routine maintenance work. Left the door open don’t know how long. We came back shocked as we had checked the lock several times and it was locked. Property owner told me I left it open not believing what I was saying. This has never happened in my life. Thankfully our stuff did not get stolen.
Sudeep
October 2024

Great stay
Michelle R.
October 2024

This was the perfect place to go with my family who hasn't traveled in almost 10 years. Everything was convenient, comfortable and tastefully updated. The grounds outside were beautifully kept. Loved the green belt wandering through the properties, choose your own beach adventure!
jessica
August 2024

Property is located perfectly for beach and restaurants. Easy to leave in and out of town.
Jeff D.
July 2024

All good
Lisa
June 2024

We loved the area and easily walkable to the beach.
Erin G.
June 2024

The neighborhood is quiet, walking distance to the beach. Love how clean the property is. Love it more that we have basic necessities for cooking to start our day so we dont have to run to the store. Thank you for the welcome basket. The kids devoured it.
leah d.
June 2024

Loved the condo complex and location. The hosts have a beautiful place and it was perfect for our group of 4 people.
Elizabeth H.
June 2024

Had a great stay in Poipu. The condo unit was very nice and spacious with a well stocked kitchen and beach amenities. The location was amazing, very close to the main roadways and walking distance to walking trails and beaches (15 minutes). The owners were very communicative prior to the visit, and were quick to answer questions. Overall had a great stay, would absolutely consider staying again.
Scott L.
June 2024

Location is perfect. Very walkable to lots of restaurants and a 5 minute walk to the beach. Very clean property, lots of room and great amenities. Beautiful landscaping. Would definitely stay here again. Mahalo!

May 2024

Family trip and fully enjoyed the accommodations and location to the beach, restaurants, shops and activities.
Scott C.
May 2024

Our stay was fabulous. The property was clean and well appointed. It matched the description on VRBO. Check-in and out was easy. Highly recommended!
Sarah S.
April 2024

We go to Poipu and stay in Poipu Kai Resort about every other year - overall was a great place in a great location with excellent communication by the hosts. My only comments are that the sofa bed needs to be updated (rolls into the middle) and the sliding glass door needs to be adjusted as it's very hard to open and close. Otherwise its great and I would certainly stay here again!
Jason G.
April 2024

Really is what people say. Clean, modern, lovely and quiet. Everyone was to bed early and we hardly noticed the neighbors except to say hello. The pool is a short sidewalk away as if it is in your back yard. There was a blowup mattress that was perfect to assemble for one of our older children. Linens and blankets were easy to find. Didn't have to call for anything.
Jill P.
April 2024

Our family of five had a great stay - very nice and spacious house in a good location. Amazing views!
Carly L.
March 2024

We had a fabulous time in this condo. The house was well cared for and management was quick to respond. Could see the sunrise from the bedroom. And being close to the pool was a plus for our family.
Jennifer Q.
March 2024

The unit well kept well equipped five minute walk to the beach 10 minute walk to the restaurant. We enjoyed our stay.

February 2024


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