Hanalei Colony Resort E3

This is my second time staying here, and I’ll probably come back again. The setting is beautiful, near the end of a small winding road, with Hanalei and lots of hiking options close by. The beach right outside the hotel isn’t for swimming in winter, but it’s lovely for a walk. Tunnels Beach, which is good for swimming and snorkeling, is about a mile away. We walked there and back easily. The location is pretty, and the office staff were friendly. Some of the grounds crew had a bit of character, though one guy reminded me of Caddy Shack. The buildings were proudly put up in '71, and they have some personality. There’s no AC, and the wooden shutters can leak during heavy storms. I liked the charm, and everything was clean and worked. Bugs are part of the tropics, and the island has plenty of chickens too. The price wasn’t outrageous for Hawaii, though the resort fee felt like a small extra gouge. If you want a free beach view, stay home and watch Survivor.

We had groceries delivered to the cottage before arriving, which meant we could make breakfast before heading out each day. We hiked the 9 mile beach and waterfall route at Ha'ena State Park, visited botanical gardens, and did a kayak and waterfall hike. The nearby towns were charming and welcoming, and the staff at Hanalei Colony helped us make the most of the trip. The shuttle worked well for excursions and dinner, and the coffee shop on site had tasty breakfast bagels and danishes. Our room, D4, was literally on the beach, with ocean views from every window. The north shore had 30' waves while we were there, and the sound was intoxicating. We slept with the windows and doors open, which was wonderful. The sunrise views from cottage D-4 were spectacular. We’ve stayed everywhere from one to five stars around the world, and this is one of our favorite places. We’ll return to Kauai and Hanalei Colony resort.

For around 500$ a night, I expected much more. I think 250$ would be a fair price for what the rooms offer. I don’t mind that there’s no TV or AC, but the place feels run down, and I got the impression they’re renting it as is without plans to renovate. Several units were for sale, which made the whole setup feel odd. Please be kind to the staff, though. The price and upkeep are management and owner issues, and the employees we dealt with did their jobs as they should. The views are beautiful, but the stay felt overpriced. The bathrooms and kitchen were badly outdated, wallpaper was peeling, the doors looked like kicked-in motel 8 doors, and the screen doors had huge holes. The bed was very uncomfortable, and the pretty beach wasn’t usable. The road there is one I’d avoid driving at night if possible.

It’s a lovely, remote part of the island, with an old Hawaiian feel, and the room was clean with a kitchenette. Still, the rooms are quite dated, and the bathroom and shower are small. Check the room category carefully: ocean view isn’t the same as oceanfront, and an oceanview room also looks out onto the other units. The location is nice, but the office staff were unwelcoming. For the price and service, I wouldn’t recommend it.