This was my first trip to Kaua'i (I'd only been to Oahu years ago), and flying in from Tennessee…read moremade for a long journey--especially compared to when I lived in California. My brother and his wife were celebrating their 20th anniversary. He surprised her by renewing their vows on Kekaha Beach and presented a beautiful diamond ring symbolizing their four kids and two decades together. She knew family and friends were joining for vacation, but had no idea the real reason we all made the trip was to be there for his surprise. While they stayed in an Airbnb, I wanted a more authentic island experience. My travel agent (who knows Kaua'i well from family trips) recommended Waimea Plantation Cottages, and we booked months ahead for what felt like a solid deal. I was pleasantly surprised by how roomy the cottage was. Like a well-equipped Airbnb, the kitchen had everything--dinnerware, serving bowls, knives, silverware, the works. The beds were extremely comfortable, and they provided plenty of pillows (I used at least four and was happy). We had three bedrooms, two full bathrooms, and a beautiful covered deck with comfy chairs perfect for watching the ocean waves, plus a table for breakfast and a coffee table. Individual climate-controlled AC units in each room kept things as cool as we wanted--impressive and much appreciated. The plantation grounds were gorgeous, the weather was ideal during our early September stay (quiet with kids back in school), and we were close to the beach. I loved having the bar and restaurants right on the property. Front-desk customer service was excellent, and every staff member we encountered was friendly and professional. We arrived Thursday, September 3rd, and Thursday through Sunday were wonderful. My brother's surprise went perfectly. Then talk of a Category 5 hurricane approaching started. Many thought it would stay farther west, and Kaua'i hadn't seen a major one in 34 years. With my elderly mother with me and our cottage so close to the ocean, I was cautious. My brother's group (in a bigger second-story building even closer to the water in Kekaha) felt more confident, but by early afternoon Monday the 7th we all decided not to risk it. We booked rooms at the Sheraton at Coconut Beach on the east side--still near the ocean, but with the island between us and the storm. It proved to be a smart move; we fared much better than we would have on the west side. Thankfully, we brought all our belongings when we left (not planning to return ). The Waimea Plantation Cottages survived with quite a bit of damage but will recover. Without us even asking, they refunded a generous portion of our booking costs before we left the island--more than fair and greatly appreciated. This was just the start of some challenges, but I'll save those for another time. I plan to return and finish the vacation we started. If you have the chance to stay at Waimea Plantation Cottages, I highly recommend them. Beautiful grounds, comfortable cottages, great location, and thoughtful staff--even in the middle of an unexpected storm.

There aren't enough good words to say about this place. I'm almost afraid to rave about it too much…read morebecause I don't want it to be booked up when I come back! This place is beautiful, amazing, peaceful, and incredibly relaxing. In my opinion, it's even better than a "luxury" resort. It feels like you've stepped back in time to an era before technology took over, while still having all the comforts you could want. Each cottage has air conditioning, ceiling fans, and a TV, along with a full kitchen equipped with almost anything you could think of--a rice cooker, microwave, toaster, coffee maker (with coffee!), tea kettle, and even a blender. And if you choose, you can leave the screen door open and fall asleep to the sound of the waves crashing all night. It's truly a special place, and I can't wait to come back!

Come check it out. You won't be disappointed. You are already here. It's a short walk. It's an…read moreeasy bridge and as long as it thrill standing. Come check out out. It really swings and it feels so sketchy. But worth the quick stop.

Strolled mid-way on this bridge as it was lowkey sketchy and scary especially since it was a bit…read morewindy out. It definitely is an old bridge and wooden panels didn't seem as sturdy, plus it was making creaky noise every step I took lol. However, my husband and I took our pics and can say that we been there done that kind of a thing lol.

The bridge is in an old style town of Hanapepe. Nice picture spot and a cruise around town.read more

Actually was an awesome experience when I visited with my son…read more He had so much and be couldn't get enough of it.

The food is always amazing & the staff is like family. It's a definite must dine when you're on the…read moreWestside of Kauai.

FIRST UP: DO NOT BE FOOLED THIS IS THE EXACT SAME BUSINESS AS THE SADDLE ROOM…read more Confusing, perplexing service. Most of the menu they are out of. Really low-rent sides. (veggies out of a microwave bag) Steak was A-OK. If you want a steak, and maybe a water to dump all over it (sloppy steaks!)...this place is great. Everyone else should probably go elsewhere. Oh yeah: there was also a person playing live music. And by playing live music, I mean singing and holding a guitar and not actually playing it while guitar notes came out of a speaker.

Makana and his crew on the Amelia K were outstanding! Super attentive team and the captain is…read moreextremely skilled at maneuvering the boat in the caves and over the rough seas. Our family loved it and were grateful we got to experience the Napili coast together!

While vacation planning for Kauai, one of the things I wanted to do was see the Na Pali Coast. I…read morewas scared to hike as I'm not physically fit for that and helicopter rides were a no for me. So I opted for a boat tour! I chose makana charters because of how detailed they were in their information as different tours tour the coast in different areas. With this tour, included lunch and snorkeling. What I didn't want was a fancy lunch because what I'm really there for is to see the Na Pali Coast and everything else was just an extra for me. The lunch was very simple which I like especially because it can get very nauseous. I wanted to do the snorkeling part, but I also wanted my husband to do it, but he's not a confident swimmer so I stayed with him and watched people snorkel which was totally fine. We did the early morning tour and it was beautiful! The weather was perfect! Our tour guides went around us as we were enjoying the way to the coast and asked us where we were from. They also showed us the forbidden island and told us some history of the island and how certain areas locals would camp but a permit would be needed. They also tried to get into caves as deep as they can go and also showed us where Mary J Blige recorded her music video for everything. We also saw some dolphins going and come back from the coast! The coast was just as magical and beautiful!

Hands down, one of the most amazing excursion experiences I've had to date!…read more We went out Monday, just after Hurricane LaLa, and honestly, I couldn't have asked for a better experience. Our group had 14 people ranging in age, and somehow Captain Rob and Logan managed to make the entire experience incredible for EVERYONE. These two were exceptional. They matched our energy perfectly, kept the vibes fun and upbeat, and made everyone feel comfortable and included. The conversation was engaging, hilarious, and never felt forced. They were also incredibly knowledgeable about Hawaiian history, the surrounding area, and all of the amazing sights we passed along the way. I learned so much while having an absolute blast. One of the coolest parts of the entire excursion was getting to ride into some of the sea caves! It was such a unique experience and definitely something I'll never forget. Captain Rob navigated the caves with such confidence, skill, and expertise. You could tell he knew the waters extremely well and knew exactly how to navigate those areas safely while still giving us an incredible experience. And Logan was the perfect co-captain. The two of them worked together so seamlessly and were clearly in sync throughout the entire trip. It was obvious that they trusted and complemented each other, which made the whole experience feel effortless. Logan was attentive, helpful, knowledgeable, and just as much a part of making the day amazing as Rob was. And then there was the way we came back into the dock with AC/DC's *Thunderstruck* playing. THE PERFECT ending! The energy was absolutely unmatched, and our entire group was having the time of our lives. Rob and Logan truly made this excursion what it was. They were professional, knowledgeable, personable, hilarious, and genuinely fun to be around. More than anything, they made our entire group feel like we were there to have an amazing time... not just on a tour. If you're considering booking this excursion, DO IT. You won't regret it. The scenery, sea caves, Hawaiian history, adventure, laughs, music, and especially the crew made this one of the absolute highlights of our trip. A huge thank you to Captain Rob and Logan for making our day on the water so memorable! We came back with huge smiles, great stories, and memories we'll be talking about for a long time.

Do not hesitate to book with this company. The people are so kind and professional. I booked with…read morethem and had a very easy transaction and experience all around.

This place is a gem for military families. I didn't even realize that there were military…read moreaccommodations in Kauai, until some friends mentioned it. Luckily, when I called, they had one cottage left, not renovated, oceanside. I took it and thank goodness I did. Location - This is as far as you can go west in Kauai (in civilization) before you hit the State Park and then Napali Coast. Even though it is the furthest point, Kauai is not that big, so don't deter the location from booking. Waimea is about 10 mins away! Also, bonus, our cottage was one of the non-renovated ones so our rate was even cheaper. Score! Pros: - Price can't be beat. - Stand alone cottage and we got ocean front. Our view was the beautiful ocean and the Forbidden Island, The Island of Ni'ihau and the other little island. The sunsets here are gorgeous (we, unfortunately only had one good day as the rest of our vacay, it was raining). - Full Kitchen (microwave, coffee maker, full stocked kitchen), 2 Closed Bedrooms (1 queen in one and 2 Full in the other), Stacked Washer and Dryer, TV, AC - the deck to go out and look at the beautiful sunset or early morning or just going out there to hear the ocean waves crash - the NEX on post has a commissary section in their store. Not a lot to choose from, but that's just Kauai. Cons: - the little bugs are ridiculous at night! Looks like fruit flies and they just get through the screen. During the day is fine. They just love to come out and play at night. - the moaning of the Wedge tailed Shear Water birds. They have started a colony and they are protected. Every time they dig a hole, the military puts up a wooden shelter over it. They just have the weirdest moaning noises and they only do this at night. We thought it was our own kids fussing to go to bed. No, it's those birds. So, this isn't really the PMRF's problem and more their effort to protect these birds! Overall, you can't beat the price and the best view on land of Ni'ihau. Can't get any closer unless you take a boat tour. Also, the convenience of being able to use your benefits of gas station and NEX is a no brainer. Also, this will be another review post, but the on post restaurant Shenanigans had really great food for the price (closed Mons)! We ate there 2 nights as it was right there on post!

The best if you are able to stay here. The prices in this entire state are sky high. Not sure how…read morethe locals survive. The base have less expensive gas but only premium. If you want to save money shop the chain stores, but that hurts the local business, just like where you live. Much of the local stuff comes from China. Local work at the chain stores so it is good and bad. Groceries compared to where we live were doubled or more at local stores and even on the base. Best prices were at Target and Costco because of bulk buying power i.e. Amazon. Base does have a great restaurant. This island does have something you cannot buy, weather, but just prepare for sticker shock and bring plenty of plastic. My thing is to go to the beach, get sun and pick up trash. Some of God's best work so please treated it kindly. MAHALO!

Great food in a great little town…read more Keep expectations realistic and you will love this place. We had steak and lobster. It was great. Service was quick and friendly. From servers to back of the house. It is a nice vibe to sit on the porch out front and enjoy a great meal in a great setting.

FIRST UP: DO NOT BE FOOLED THIS IS THE EXACT SAME BUSINESS AS WRANGLER'S STEAKHOUSE…read more Confusing, perplexing service. Most of the menu they are out of. Really low-rent sides. (veggies out of a microwave bag) Steak was A-OK. If you want a steak, and maybe a water to dump all over it (sloppy steaks!)...this place is great. Everyone else should probably go elsewhere. Oh yeah: there was also a person playing live music. And by playing live music, I mean singing and holding a guitar and not actually playing it while guitar notes came out of a speaker.

Lovely business and lovely product! We love to cook, we love finishing salts and all things…read morebrining. Salty Wahine has something for every palate. A must stop when visiting the island. We also just realized we can place orders online...we'll never be without our favorites ever again!

We had such a great experience at Salty Wahine in Kauai! The owner was incredibly sweet and so…read moreknowledgeable about her seasoning products. She took the time to genuinely talk with us, explain her blends, and share the story behind them, which made the experience feel personal and special. She also let us taste test several of her family seasonings -- and they were AMAZING. You can truly taste the quality and creativity in each blend. It's clear she puts so much care and passion into what she creates. If you're driving by her store, definitely stop in. It's truly a hidden gem and absolutely worth the visit!