The Lodge at Kukui’ula

The staff were lovely, and the food was healthy and delicious. The course looked gorgeous, interesting, and playable, if you can get a chance to play it. Guests can only golf in the afternoon, and not at all on Mondays, even when no members are playing. Our one-bedroom room felt too small for the price, with no closet, poor lighting, and no window covering for privacy or to block light. Housekeeping wasn't provided unless we complained. I imagine the two- and three-bedroom units are nicer, but you'd still have to push to get maid service.

The golf course, pools, and spa were terrific, and the setting was lovely, though there was a clear preference for club members. Staff at the restaurant, valet, golf, bike, and spa were warm and friendly, a sharp contrast with our arrival. The greeter seemed annoyed when we asked at 3 p.m. whether our room was ready, then kept trying to find someone else to show us to the villa. It was one of the least friendly hotel arrivals we've had. We'd booked the largest pool villa available for our family of five. Two weeks before Christmas, we were told the air conditioning was broken, there were no alternatives, and we could cancel. With such short notice, we couldn't book somewhere else, so we asked them to repair it. They installed cooling units in each room; it worked out, but it was definitely different from central air. The hotel gave us a very nice 15% discount for the AC issue. The outdoor area and plunge pool were never cleaned or swept during our stay. With so many geese and birds around, there was lots of animal droppings and the pool couldn't be used. Housekeeping was scheduled only twice that week, which seemed unusual for the price. When the front office woman tried to cancel the second visit, she said they were very busy. We came back and were thrilled to see the staff cleaning, but they were being radioed that they shouldn't be there. They stayed and cleaned anyway. It all felt very odd. For a five-star property at this price, we didn't feel welcome. It was our first time on the island, and locals were friendly and lovely almost everywhere. I've never written a review like this before.

We had a great time in a relaxing, well-appointed four-bedroom villa that still felt luxurious. The club gym was excellent, there were some interesting classes, and we loved the spa. We also enjoyed walking almost every day to the farm and along the nearby trails. I didn't golf, but my husband called the course phenomenal and well-maintained. The restaurant was delicious and service was mostly good, though the staff could be more attentive. Cleaning was the one real annoyance: more than once we had to call because rooms weren't cleaned, trash hadn't been emptied, or cleaning supplies were left behind. Still, we enjoyed our stay and will come back to the Lodge at Kukui’ula.

The bungalow was gorgeous and very clean, and the property itself was beautiful. The staff were incredibly attentive, the pool was amazing, and we loved the restaurants. My husband played golf while I rode along, and the course was stunning. We were blown away by our honeymoon stay and can't wait to return. We did wish we could spend more time on the bungalow porch, but construction noise and cigarette smoke from the workers made it unpleasant.