Pono Kai Resort by CRH

I’m an owner of one of the mini suites here. It’s basically a one-bedroom with a small Lanai, and those units have garden views rather than ocean views. I usually pay to upgrade to a true one-bedroom or a two-bedroom when we stay. The photos are from unit A209. Ponokai sits right on the ocean, with a small beach that can be larger depending on the tide and time of year. The sunrises are gorgeous, and you can watch one every morning. Kapa'a is a short walk away, with great food trucks just around the corner. I love being roughly between the North shore and South shore, about an hour’s drive either way. On island time, that’s easy. Most rooms have been renovated and are in good shape. The staff and service are really good. The grounds are gorgeous too. Don’t expect a Hyatt or Hilton experience, though. The pool is a regular rectangular one, and the spa is big enough for maybe 10-12 people. There’s no restaurant onsite, but you can walk into town, eat at a food truck, or choose from other restaurants and great shops. Pono market is right there for a plate lunch, and Safeway isn’t far if you want to stock up the full-sized fridge and cook your own breakfast, lunch, or dinner. Honestly, these are the kinds of resorts I enjoy, and I’m happy to have it. We actually have the timeshare here. You don’t hear that much from people with timeshares, but it’s true.

Shopping and local restaurants are an easy walk away. I liked the place and the games you could borrow, and the small pool did the job. The coin laundry, though, was frustrating. Why charge for it? I also wish they had a nightly happy hour.

The ocean view from my room was a highlight, especially first thing in the morning. I liked having the pool and tennis courts right there, and the relaxed feel suited me well. It made a comfortable base for exploring the area, and I’d consider staying again.

We made the walk into Kapaa every day, sometimes more than once, for food, shopping, massages, malasadas, and other things. The oceanfront unit and its location worked really well for us. We spotted humpback whales from our lanai a couple of times, and the beachside multi-use path was lovely. Parking was plentiful. The units are older, but ours was clean and well maintained, as were the grounds and facilities.