COMMENTS ABOUT KIAHUNA PLANTATION

Kiahuna Plantation provides clean, comfortable travel accommodations for your Hawaii vacation. Located in Poipu, on Kauai, the Kiahuna Plantation is a good deluxe resort choice.

Condo vs. hotel rooms: The units are all offered as condos.

Immediate impression: Great location, right next to a lovely beach; beautiful grounds.

Location relative to the city/area: Just west of Brennecke's Beach is a rocky stretch of coastline, and to the west of that is a lovely crescent-shaped beach. The resort is located along and north of this beach.

Location relative to other resorts: This resort is just to the east of the Sheraton.

Layout of buildings: The condos are located in a large number of two- and three-story wooden cottages scattered throughout the grounds.

How far to the beach: The grounds are right next to the beach, and some of the cottages are very close to the beach.

Comments on the nearest beach: In our opinion, this is the nicest resort-area beach in Kauai. We did not swim there, but we saw people enjoying both the beach and the ocean. The crescent-shaped beach stretches from the easternmost border of the grounds of the Kiahuna Plantation, all the way to the Sheraton. The beach is not only good for strolls along the pretty, beige sand, but apparently good for surfing and swimming also -- at least, by Kauai standards.

Grounds: The grounds are large and well-maintained, with rolling lawns, ponds, lagoons and lush, sub-tropical trees, flowers, and shrubs. Many of the trees seem mature, which gives an ambiance of shade and peace. The grounds are bordered on the south by the beach, and by Poipu Road on the north.

Rooms: The condos are wooden one- or two-bedroom units, with available views being garden view, royal garden view, partial ocean view, ocean view, and oceanfront. However, oceanfront is available for the one-bedroom units only.

Each condo comes with its own lanai and ceiling fan, but no air conditioning. Each has a fully equipped kitchen that includes a stove/oven, microwave, and refrigerator. In the two condos where we stayed, there was also a dishwasher.

One-bedroom condos have a maximum of four people, and the two-bedroom condos have a maximum of six people.

We stayed at a different condo for each of two nights and really liked how cozy, yet elegant, each of the two condos was. The décor was quite different from one condo to the other, consistent with the individual ownership of each condo. However, because they were both managed by Outrigger Resorts, each of the two condos was well-equipped, clean, and elegant.

Pool: Even though there is such a nice beach right next to the grounds, the resort also has a swimming pool.

BBQ: Barbecue facilities are available, in an idyllic setting of beautiful rolling lawns, close to the beach.

Restaurants: There are many dining choices in the area. Plantation Gardens, the on-site restaurant, offers a good selection of well-prepared food, although we must admit to mild sticker shock. Plantation Gardens is near the northernmost part of the grounds, right next to the Outrigger reception desk.

The restaurants at the adjacent Sheraton resort have delicious food, although they're not cheap either. More restaurants are available at the shopping center just across the road, north of the resort. Yet another option is Brennecke's restaurant, to the east.

Nearby attractions: The beach is probably the best attraction. An activities hut on the grounds of the resort, close to the beach, rents beach toys, such as snorkeling equipment. We rented ours there and liked the friendly service and the quality of the equipment. The best snorkeling is probably at Brennecke's beach, just to the east of the resort. The variety and amount of marine life is impressive, but we experienced some strong currents.

Age, level of maintenance: The resort is probably several decades old, but seems to be well-maintained.

Noise: Our first condo was on the second floor of a three-story building, and the people directly above us had a small child who kept running back and forth in their living room area. The noise was amplified by the wooden construction; it soon lost its charm and became annoying. To avert this, we recommend that you request units on the top floor of the building. The condo where we stayed the second night was quiet except for a loud party in a condo approximately fifty yards away. The guests at the party were not unreasonably raucous, but their loudness was in stark contrast with the relative quiet of the area. At this resort, the official quiet time starts at 10 p.m. At 10:15, we called the hotel front desk and explained the situation. The operator offered to send out a security guard right away. After a few minutes the noise level was reduced to an acceptable level, while remaining festive.

Special mention: In the course of our travels, we make a point of staying at many different resorts so that we can write about our experiences. For this reason, our choice of resorts at which we happen to stay is driven more by business considerations than personal preferences. However, if we simply went to Kauai for a week's worth of fun and relaxation, it is very likely that our personal favorite would be this resort.

The resort has an arrangement with Outrigger Resorts whereby some of the condos, which are actually privately owned, are managed and rented by Outrigger.

Minimum Night Stay: 2

Kids Stay Free: The resort does not charge extra for additional guests (including children), up to the maximum capacity of the condo.

Children: The swimming and snorkeling at the adjacent beach and at Brennecke's Beach are fairly good for children, though still not ideal. The beaches of Kauai are notoriously dangerous. When we visited, we experienced some strong currents at Brennecke's beach.

How to get there: From the airport, take Highway 50 south towards Poipu. After a few miles, you will see a sign showing a road going off to the left, towards Poipu. Turn onto that road. It takes you through the Koloa tree tunnel. After you've exited the tree tunnel, stay on that road as it curves; do not turn right toward Koloa. After a few more miles on that road, you will reach the intersection with Poipu Road. Turn right at that intersection, and drive along Poipu Road until you see the entrance to the Kiahuna Plantation.

Outrigger is not the only vendor that offers these condos. If your booking is for an Outrigger condo, make sure that you find the Outrigger front desk. There are clear signs next to the driveway, so as long as you know what to look for, you should be fine.

Golf: The Poipu Bay golf course is located next to the Hyatt Regency on Kauai, a few miles east on Poipu Road.

Parking: Self-parking is free.

Best features: Large and pretty grounds, peaceful ambiance, great location right next to a lovely beach, weather sunnier than in Kapaa and Princeville, several nearby restaurant options.

Worst features: Some units are far from beach and near the noise of Poipu Road. In addition, the wooden construction tends to amplify the noises made by your upstairs neighbors.

Who would want to stay here: Anyone (but especially a family) who wants an elegant condo with a great location, in terms of view, weather, activities, beach, and nearby restaurant options.