1 Star -- WARNING: This property management company will take your money and put your family at…read morerisk. We booked a week at Mele Kai (March 11-18) for two families, including kids, one of whom was celebrating a birthday on the island. Nearly $8,000. On March 10, with a massive Kona storm bearing down on Kauai, we reached out to Garden Island Properties to discuss our options. Our VRBO messages went unanswered. Our phone call went unanswered. When we finally got a text response, they told us the rain is what gives Kauai its nickname "The Garden Island" and suggested we bring "a flexible plan and rain gear." We weren't being difficult. We wrote back and told them we weren't opposed to being rained on -- our concern was flooding, loss of power, or being stuck on the island. I asked them directly: "Will my family be safe during this massive storm in your place?" Their response? They told us, "I don't mean to downplay the news coverage, but this is fairly typical winter weather for Kauai." They assured us the rental was "not located in a flood zone." Fairly typical winter weather. Not in a flood zone. Here's what actually happened: The Governor declared a STATE OF EMERGENCY. Roads in Poipu -- the exact neighborhood of this house -- were closed due to flooding. Ho'one Road and Ku'ai Road, right by this property, were shut down. The islands were hit with up to 44 inches of rain and 135-mph winds. Schools and government offices closed. Over 120,000 customers lost power across the state. Beaches were closed under brown water advisories warning of sewage overflow and hazardous bacteria. The Red Cross and Salvation Army mobilized relief efforts. Residents were evacuated into emergency shelters. So much for "fairly typical winter weather." So much for "not in a flood zone." And here's what makes it worse: the forecast they themselves included in their own message showed 90-100% chance of rain with thunderstorms and wind gusts up to 50 mph for EVERY SINGLE DAY of our trip. Their own evidence showed this was not typical. They sent it to us and still told us to come. We never made it to Kauai. We couldn't. It would have been dangerous and irresponsible to bring our families -- our kids -- into that situation. Garden Island Properties refused any refund. VRBO has been contacted twice by phone, was promised a resolution email both times, and as of this writing we've received nothing. $8,000. Gone. For a house we never stepped foot in, on an island we never reached, during a declared state of emergency that the property manager called "fairly typical." This is not a review about the weather. Nobody controls the weather. This is a review about a property management company that had every piece of information -- including their own forecast -- telling them this was a dangerous, historic storm, and they still chose to encourage a family with children to fly into it rather than do the right thing. I asked them point blank if my family would be safe. They couldn't even answer the question. They chose profit over safety. Period. If you are considering booking with Garden Island Properties, understand this: when things go wrong -- and in Hawaii, weather can go very wrong -- this company will not have your back. They will take your money, send you a canned aloha, and wish you luck.

I never leave reviews, but once in a blue moon I do business with a company that's so exceptional,…read moreand whose staff is so above and beyond that I find myself looking for outlets to let others know of my experience. This is the case with the people at Garden Island Properties. A week prior to our departure, we sadly had to cancel our travel to Kauai Island because our daughter was hospitalized. I had already paid in full for our three week rental (60 days prior to our departure date) and I did not purchase insurance. This could have been the end of the story because everyone had already been paid. But, the people at Garden Island Properties worked tirelessly to find another renter so we could recover some of our money. The humanity they showed, and the effort they made on our behalf has made me a loyal customer, and I plan to use them to help me with future rental properties going forth. I will also purchase travel insurance!

We have dealt with this vacation mgmt company for years, and have had nothing but successful…read morecommunication and excellent stays. When the pandemic hit, they worked with us on a unit we had booked in April 2020 to get our vacation rescheduled - twice. Phone calls were returned promptly and they exhibited a great amount of patience with our situation. I highly recommend them

I write this review as a warning to anyone who might be considering doing business with Kauai…read morePacific Real Estate. We rented unit 8233/8234 at Hanalei Bay Resort managed by Kauai Pacific Real Estate this summer and were extremely disappointed in our unit and how we were treated. Our unit had a broken air conditioner, broken floor tiles, broken shower, mold, cockroaches, etc. Additionally, there were some safety issues like hot electrical switches and lack of fire alarms and extinguishers. We paid for and spent 2 weeks in this unit because there was no option for us to move to another unit or find a different rental on short notice. Kauai Pacific Real Estate did nothing to help us during our stay and ultimately seemed dismissive of our concerns. This company took payment for a unit they knew was in disrepair, then acted like they would get it fixed for us, in the end they did absolutely nothing. I have to wonder how many other unsuspecting guests they have treated this way. Kauai is a busy place in July, it's not like we had the option to get another room, move to another resort, or come back another time. We wasted too much of our hard earned vacation time trying to figure things out with this company only to be ignored in the end. Kauai Pacific Real Estate is a predatory rental agency that couldn't care less about your experience once they have your money. They did not care we were uncomfortable, they did not care that we were not receiving the services we paid for. My family spent years of planning and a lot of money on this vacation and unfortunately our time was horribly impacted by the fact that we didn't have a comfortable place to call home and get rest. If you are considering a place to stay or a management company for your property, please take your business elsewhere!

Aloha! This was our…read moresecond stay in #104 at the lovely Prince Kuhio. Unfortunately, management knew our toilet was broken before we arrived and did not fix it after we requested it on day 2. For 8 days, our commode would not flush properly, and the seat was sliding as if it would fall off at any moment. Then the sliding screen door kept blowing open because there was no latch or lock mechanism. Geckos, lizards, grasshoppers, and crickets were constant guests in the condo. Not only was my partner scared to death of these creepy critters constantly roaming the room (a gecko in bed), but the crickets chirping in the wee hours of the morning inside the condo kept us up, and me on the hunt to give my girl peace of mind and some shut-eye. We either kept the door closed (which kept the room hot/no AC) or propped it closed with something, but it always seemed to find its way open. I chose #104 after a lovely experience during our first stay in 2025. In May of 2026, to celebrate my 60th and my partner's 50th birthday in #104 at the Prince Kuhio made perfect sense. After all, it was a very special occasion, as two milestones were to be celebrated. We may as well have slept on the beach. I asked for some compensation, and all we received was an "I'm sorry." I asked for a follow-up and received none. If this were you, how would you feel? Exactly. We provided Kauai Exclusive Management plenty of time to respond before letting them know I'd leave a review, because it was the right thing to do for a business to make something that was wrong, right. They did not care. And of course, they will likely reply with some, "We're so sorry you had a bad experience during your stay and... blah blah... blah blah blah. We've all been there and know the feeling of frustration afterward when their words subtly mock our words to smooth things over, reassuring future customers that they really do care. They did not care, and they don't care now. If I were the owner of #104, I'd be ashamed to have this place manage my condo. Next year, we're staying at the Prince Kuhio again, though in a different unit, booked through VRBO. In fact, I already booked the room! As I said, The Prince Kuhio is a lovely place, and I encourage any visitor to stay there. But I will never use Kauai Exclusive Management LLC again. They care more about the money than about the paying client's experience and comfort. Aloha. Seattle, WA USA

I booked a condo at the Waipouli Beach Resort about 8 months ahead of time. Before booking, I…read morecalled this management company and asked what happens if someone in my family is sick and is not able to travel. The person on the phone told me they would allow us to move our dates if needed. Of course, 2 of my young kids came down with a virus 3 days before my trip, I called to change dates, told them we were flexible, but they would NOT let us change dates. The manager, Sean, told me "All of my staff knows our policy and they would not tell you that." Essentially calling me a liar. They had no compassion or empathy and said "We aren't doing anything wrong, this is our policy." We were going to lose out on $3000 so we ended up still going but it wasn't the easiest or most enjoyable. We also called to request a late checkout the day of leaving but they wouldn't honor that either, 10am sharp. Update: After reading Sean's response, I would like to make it clear he is incorrect in a few details. 1.I did not ask for a cancellation, I wanted to move dates. Prior to booking, I called and the person I spoke to said if I had a sick kid they would be able to move dates. This led me to book, feeling I had insurance from them. 2. I was not upset on the phone when they told me I couldn't late checkout. I told them I understood, but I just wanted to mention on the review that there was no late checkout. 3. I did not have 3 separate people call and threaten them with bad reviews. The other person who called was my mother in law who was going to book with them if they let us change our dates. Even after reading Sean's response, I still feel no empathy from him or the company. I really wish we could have changed dates. This was my 40th birthday, and having to deal with 2 sick kids on vacation was tough. They were not able to enjoy the beach or pool at all. Not to mention, I was shaking and in tears on the phone with him and he just kept saying "this is our policy."

Enjoyed our stay. Pool was great and never too crowded. The towel exchange was simple and never had…read moreany issues. The non swimable beach was nice for sunrise and evenings. We didn't eat at the restaurant due to cost and minimal options. Staying in this area puts you mid island with access to great beaches, but, know you are still driving every day a min of 30 minutes to get to a more desirable beach if you're looking for calmer water and the ability to snorkel. The room was fantastic and slept my family of 5 well. Well stocked for cooking. My biggest complaint was the "Mountain View" is more like a parking lot and grocery store view. Also, if you're a lite sleeper, the roosters and road noise will keep you awake. I won't miss the roster crow at 4 am.

Due to hurricane damage to our hotel we had to get a new hotel the day before we arrived in Kauai…read more The Waipouli resort looks great online, the reviews were good, but my experience was very different. The lobby hours are limited, like 9am-7pm which is ok but not if you run into an issue past 7pm (which we did) The front desk staff is lovely and welcoming no complaints with them at all, they are doing their best with what they have. The room was ok it was clean but dated you can tell they havent updated things in a long time. The lamp covers are dusty and the sofa in the room has lost its shape. Our room upon entering was soo hot! We turned on the ac and headed to the pool. When we got back to the room it was even hotter like a sauna the front desk sent a guy to fix it but it didnt work so they were able to move us to a different room. The new room was exactly the same but with working ac. Thankfully our friends were at the Royal Sonesta so we would spend our days over there but upon arriving back to our room on day 3 we were greeted by a puddle of water at the entrance coming from the water heater/ac closet. The front desk was closed and we're checking out the next day so we just threw towels at the puddle and were happy to be leaving the next day. All night it kept leaking we used up all the towels available. I'm sure this resort was great at one time but now its dated, sad and lonely the pool water is murky and the surrounding area is covered in chicken poop. The whole resort could use a refresh. The onsight restaurant was closed during our whole stay, it's good the resort is across the street from Safeway and lots of restaurants. I would not return!

Everything about this cottage is so Aloha but honestly the bed and linens made me feel like a…read morequeen! It was incredibly comfy. Here's my morning around the cottage...

These cottages are adorable and so well maintained. The owners go to great lenghts to make sure…read moreyour stay is fabulous! The location is great, close to many good places to eat and the beach is very close (within walking distance). This is the place to stay and very reasonably priced. Much better then staying at a hotel. Very relaxing and private area. Two thumbs up!

I have had ten transaction on the island of Kauai, all with Robb Wall and the level of service has…read morebeen the same for each one: steadfast and thorough. Robb thinks several steps ahead, anticipates potential issues, and never sugar coats the situation. Real estate transactions are fickle creatures that seem to get crazier in escrow. Robb has always been sure to present realistic scenarios as they might occur, provide problem solving solutions if need be, and provide a realistic sense of how the transaction will turn out. Buying and selling real estate can be an emotional experience and Robb has always done his best to be sure I was informed and prepared as the transactions progressed. Highly recommended.

Robb Wall is a long time resident of Kauai and is very knowledgeable regarding the island and the…read morereal estate here. He is extremely competent and personable. He impressed me over and over again during our buying experience with his vast knowledge and attention to detail. He was attentive and available, and made me laugh, as well. I would highly recommend Robb Wall.

This a Shell/Wyndham resort timeshare property. It has nice studio and kitchenettes. Most do not…read morehave elevators and it is 22 short steps to each floor. When you check-in, they will take a credit card for incidentals and charge about $18/day resort fee on top of other costs. Then they will direct you across to the concierge/1st timeshare contact to get first sales pitch. You can skip and just leave after getting key. I listened to others get the standard offer to get gifts to sit thru a pitch. My room was studio 3rd floor, 44 steps to top. No kitchen, but microwave and fridge. Interesting note is that AC unit is connected to sliding door. If open, it shuts off. Patio is nice, overlooking grass area with BBQ spots and tikis. Grill equipment is in room. Main lobby has bar and restaurant. Coffee in AM and juice is early PM. Good middle spot on the island so you can go north or south when exploring. Due to (prior?) homeless issue (I had no issue), they only have ice at the main desk, also you can get other items like coffee refills there as well. Limited gift, food shop area, but there is a nearby store with all you need. We had no significant issues, other than avoiding the timeshare pitch. Nice location, clean, it is a humid location because it is near the beach and it rains regularly. There are sometimes they leave remodeling items in parking lot, which fills quickly after dark, and the outside trash can also fill quickly. Lots of chickens, which you can't avoid in the islands. I would return in the future.

Check in was a breeze until they told us we must go to the concierge for our wristband keys. What…read moretranspired was an aggressive interaction in which the concierge misled us into believing we were required to sign up for a "safety briefing" which is "required for all guests" staying at the resort. She insisted that all guests go through the process to maintain the "safety and security" of the resort which was completely false and untrue. Instead of feeling the Aloha spirit we felt intimidated and unwelcomed. Aside from the timeshare aggressive pressure sales pitch from the concierge the resort was great. The units have a full kitchen, large living room, separate dining area and comfortable bedrooms. The ice maker in the freezer does not work but ice is provided at the front desk. The pool and hot tub is beautifully maintained and the grounds are groomed daily. The housekeeping and grounds staff are very helpful and friendly.

Had the most amazing stay at Fern Grotto Inn. It's a very cozy property with different sized guest…read morehouses and cottages. I stayed in CANAL A (Perfect for one person or 2 max). I was welcomed / greeted with a beautiful tropical floral arrangement. There were hibiscus flowers all over the room. The provided me a fresh lei on one of the towel arrangements, that I got to wear around my 1st day there. The place was so immaculate and clean! It was cleaner than my own house! It made me feel so good! Housekeeping prepared a welcome card and note with phone #'s for calls and txts. There was a kauai guidebook on the coffee table. They also had a binder with alot of tips, local recommendations and guides. The mattress is nice and firm, pillows are of a good quality. You will get wonderful sleep there. The plumbing worked well. The hot hot showers were amazing. It is on a removable shower head (just like I have at home) that is so convenient. You do have to take out your own trash, but they provide the trash liners under the bathroom sink. Paul and housekeeping happened to be on site when I arrived. They greeted me so warmly. I was having pain in my knees, and needed help with my luggage. Paul was so kind and helped me out. Cottage A was a charming studio. With a queen sized bed. There is absolutely everything you could need. Paul even prepared 2 beers, 2 water bottles and a box of chocolate in the fridge. It has both a fan and A/C wall unit that works very well! The kitchenette is stocked with everything you could need in terms of appliances, cookware, utensils, houswares, and even tupperware and ziploc bags. The cottage was well stocked with towels, bug spray, sunblock, extra blankets, etc. It was so thoughtful. Oh and the property has free laundry for the guests. They even provide laundry soap. It was outstanding. Such a huge blessing. They even have equipment: kayaking, SUP, ice boxes, beach chairs, beach umbrellas, water shoes, snorkeling equipment, etc. The freezer even has an ice tray and blue ice things to use for your daily picnics on the beach! I property has gorgeous flowers that bloom every day. You will be greeted daily with new orchids, ginger plants, ti leaves, etc. There is even a star fruit tree. Paul showed me how to pick when it's ripe (yellow color). I didn't have to buy fruit, I had so much organic star fruit, it was great! I had an amazing 7 night, 8 day stay. It was so quiet and serene. It's right on the river. Other guests were very nice to me. Every one is pretty quiet and keeps to themselves. It is well located 12 min from the airport. It is on the east side of the island, so you are pretty central to the north and south portions of the island. Nearby is a nice beach within 2 minutes - Lydgate Park. There are chickens everywhere on Kauai. But Paul thought of it all, the room comes with ear plugs. I enjoyed the roosters - it was a pleasant change from city life. I would like to return and stay at the larger cottage - the Ohana house next time! I would recommend this place to anybody looking for a safe, quiet, serene place to enjoy Kauai.

Best place to stay if you want to be centrally located. They provide a home away from home for you…read morewith everything you need. You can even kayak or paddle board right from your backyard on the Wailua River. They have a special personalized touch with all the fine details specific to your stay. Very clean, efficient, and warm home feeling.

We stayed here ten years ago for our fifth anniversary and had a magical time in a lovely unit. All…read morethe convenience of a condo and all the luxury of a hotel. So for our fifteenth anniversary, a return visit seemed like a perfect idea. Boy has it gone downhill. Instead of the daily housekeeping service we had before, there's a $225 cleaning fee you have to pay when you check out (For a two-bedroom condo. Even given Hawaii inflation, that's a level of ridiculous in the hourly rate that's hard to stomach. Also there were muddy handprints on the fridge when we arrived so the cleaners didn't exactly earn the $225 that the people before us paid ). You have to check in at a different property down the road, information that was NOT provided in the confirmation email nor in any signage at the condo. When we did check in, the woman at the front desk of that hotel very excitedly told me that "Because you're staying five nights, we provide you toiletries! (The attached picture indicates said toiletries. All of them. For five people for five nights.) And if you need extra trash bags, you can call us!" Wow. Not sure I can handle such fanciness. There is no WiFi, because apparently we're going on vacation in 2010. There is a coin-operated laundry rather than in-condo laundry. There's one beach chair and some raggedy standard-size bath towels towels that I'm guessing are expected to function as beach towels (because they're a different color and were in a closet) in a condo advertised as sleeping six (luckily we only had five and three were kids since instead of the advertised sofa bed, there was a standard sofa and an air mattress in a closet). Two showers but no tub. The location is great (walking distance to Coconut Marketplace and right on a small, largely private beach) and the condo is a nice size with two lanai (that's why the three stars). Probably it's fantastic if you own here and are customizing your space, but if you're visiting, I'd look at other vacation rentals or maybe try to go directly through the property/owners rather than working through Outrigger, because for what we're paying, it's incredibly disappointing - this is just not presently set up to be a great option for a family on a beach vacation. Outrigger is really not helping their branding with this level of inattention to the kind of details that make an experience special and make you want to come back to a place and recommend it to your friends.