Kiahuna Plantation Resort Kauai by Outrigger

This place was much more than we expected. A wonderful condo on the second floor with plantation views. Well priced for us. The décor in each condo was different since each is independently owned. We were shown about 4 and chose the one we liked best.
Imagine sleeping with the windows open and the shutters adjusted to let the evening breeze come in. Evenings and mornings explode with the calls of the many birds around in the many trees.
A simple stroll down the winding path and across the cute little bridge to the beach. And what a stroll it is with sweet smelling flowers everywhere and purple orchid trees, or so they looked to me.
The beach was crowded by day, but we liked it best when sun was setting and the colors started to appear. Our week here was a real hit!

Inexplicably one of my wife’s favorite places to stay on Kauai. I do not share her enthusiasm after 2 different stays. On vacation I’m usually a gracious and super agreeable guy. I overlook petty faults and go with the flow. But the first unit that we directly rented from the owner was dungeon dark, furnished in old shabby furniture, a queen size mattress that should have been thrown away 5 years ago and smelled musty. Owner lives in CA and never visits his unit, it’s just income flow for him, so complaining seems worthless.
Following year was a somewhat happier experience with a brighter and fresher unit. So my 3 star rating is an average.
Though I now stay exclusively on the north shore during my annual Kauai visits for the gorgeous views and the sandier safe swimming beaches, I admit that the South Island has much drier weather.
If I did decide to vacation in Poipu again, it would not be at Kiahuna.

I found a travel package that included this place through Costco. These are individually-​owned condos that are rented. The buildings are relatively old. There is a 24-​hour front desk and security. There is a beach hut where they would provide towels and beach chairs but NOT umbrellas. There are boogie and surf boards for rent and surfing and snorkeling lessons available through concierge. The concierge is through Expedia. They have two representatives. One at the front office who provides daily tours at 8:30 am and one at the beach hut. They would help booking tours ariund the island.
The condos are obviously equipped with kitchens (refrigerator, oven, electric stove, microwave, cofeemaker, utensils, etc.). Our condo even had multiple beach chairs, umbrellas and boogie boards but since these are individually-​owned condos, it must vary from condo to condo. The condos are not air-​conditioned. But have no worries. The way the have been built and the breeze of the island make them perfectly fine without air conditioner. Also don’t worry about mosquitos inside condos. There is mosquito net all around the condos. Condos have a very spacious balcony. Ours had two chairs to lie on, four chairs to sit on and a big round table.
The bathroom was fine. The shower didn’t have the best pressure but was okay. We stayed one full week and during that time our towels were changed once and our room was cleaned once. There is an extra charge for cleaning after you check out. It is $ 140+. If you want new towls they charge you $ 15.00 extra. If you want an additional day of cleaning they charge you $ 60.00 extra.
There is a restaurant & Bar (Plantation Garden) on site. It is one of the best restaurants on the island. There are a couple of shopping centers nearby and you can buy anything you need to cook at the condo if you wish to do so.
The beach is one of the nicest on the island. It is basically next to Sheraton. I saw many locals come to the same beach which basically suggested it was a favorite beach even amongst locals. The closer you get to Sheraton the rockier the beach would get.
Many ziplines start 5 minutes from this place. Port Allen (where the dinner cruises take off) is less than 30 minutes away. Free wifi is included.
Overall we felt comfortable at this place. We wished there was some simple food at the beach so one didn’t need to leave the beach for lunch. There was no elevator for the luggage but security helped out.
We may stay here again in future but may try to stay at another part of the island also.

1. When we arrived to check in, we were asked for our credit card in order for them to charge us $ 140 for cleaning the room after we leave.
A. No room of this size anywhere in the planet should cost that much for cleaning.
This is outrageous fee and taking advantage of tourists.
B. Our room was dirty when we walked in– dirty shower, dirty sinks, dirty floor and hairs around the bathroom sink and filthy dishes-​shameful!
I went out and bought a bottle of Clorox to clean it myself.
Right from the beginning this place put a bitter note on the entire vacation.
When I complained about it, first thing they told me is that the charge is a policy and its meant for them to clean our room only after we leave (so either they didn’t charge the people before me or it’s not a cleaning fee but theft in broad day light).
Next the manager called and gave us $ 100 credit for their overpriced restaurant.
How about don’t act like thieves and not charge me at all for this fictional service that you do not provide?
2. We stayed on the first floor and every foot step on the second floor sound like loud banging on our ceiling.
Our upstairs neighbors woke us up every morning at 6 am– great way to ruin someone’s vacation!
3. There were extra large ROACHES in the room which again explains how low their cleaning standards are.
In conclusion, as much as I enjoy spending money on vacation, I felt bad for every dollar that was spent here. They don’t deserve my business and they will never see my money again!
STAY AWAY FROM THIS PLACE!!!

We loved our stay on the Kiahuna Plantation! The plantation is in an area close to plenty of restaurants and activities. The condo was clean, had all the amenities you would want on vacation. I loved the porch as it had a place to eat as well as lounge chairs. There were plenty of pots/​pans and utensils so we didn’t have to eat out for every meal. The owners gave us some tips on the area which was much appreciated. The beach was super close and it was one of the best beaches I saw on the island. It had enough waves to boogie board and enough beach to layout, there was even a Hawaiian Monk Seal sleeping on the beach one day! The only cons were, the pool was far away and there is no air conditioning. The pool is part of a fitness club across the street, wonderful pool and bar, but it’s not really part of the complex. The unit also did not have air conditioning, which is not unusual in the location, but it would have been nice. I would definitely recommend this place!

We spent 4 nights here last week and are looking forward to the next time. We stayed in unit 46 and both the unit and location were just right. The furnishings were just right (simple) and the ambiance made it comfortable. The view from our patio was garden-​like and the beach was a very short walk. Across the street are a few shops. It sounds from the reviews that some people expected more. We are not fussy (no judgement intended towards other reviewers). We understood there were more expensive and newer choices but we really had no problems and thought it was a reasonably decent place. The grounds of the neighboring places weren’t nearly as pretty or spacious. Between the two ceiling fans and windows we felt an almost continual breeze. The condo is 640 sq ft. and it has a full kitchen. We found it cozy.

We stayed in unit 144 and could have not been happier. The condo has been beautifully remodeled and decorated with a pottery barn meets Hawaii décor and retro spin. The lanai leads out to the meticulously landscaped grounds with paths to the palm tree lined beach. The sunsets are surreal and not to be missed! Will definitely stay in this unit again as it had everything we needed and more.

The grounds are beautiful but the service is unbelievably bad. I spent 2 weeks at Kiahuna Plantation. The first week with my sister, and after she went home my husband joined me for the following week. They require identification from all guests before giving them access to their rooms, which is fine. I explained that the night my sister was scheduled to fly home, my husband would be joining me. I dropped her off at the airport in the a.m. He was not scheduled to arrive until that evening. After I dropped her off, I went back to the resort to discover that my key card didn’t work. I walked almost a mile to the front desk, and they informed me that I would remain locked out until my husband arrived and showed ID!!! This was company policy, they said. For security reasons, they said. As unbelievable as this sounds, it is the truth.
Oh wait, it gets worse. On the night before we were scheduled to leave, we enjoyed a late dinner at a local restaurant and returned to our room shortly after 11 p.m. Our flight was early in the a.m. and we still needed to pack. ONCE AGAIN, we were locked out of our room! We had to walk almost a mile to the office just to be told that the building we were staying in was being fumigated in the morning. We were told to pack our things and move to another room.
No warning, nothing. At this point, we simply refused. It was completely out of line for them to expect us to relocate when we were only going to be there for 6 more hours. First of all, they never should have booked the room if it was scheduled to be fumigated. Second, they could have and should have given us notice. And to top it off, they were completely unapologetic and rude.
On a final note; The following morning, as we shut the door to leave for the airport the building was completely tented over us! COMPLETELY!!! Take heed.

We are paying over $ 400 a night for a unit that doesn’t have a washer & dryer (even though it was advertised to have them) the pool is across the street and very few beach chaise lounges — will NEVER stay here again

Between two & half to 3 stars. The Kiahuna is in a nice location, has a great restaurant and their units are decent (borderline 3 stars). The condos themselves are nice, but don’t expect too much in terms of extras (not even salt/​pepper or any condiments).
The main issue is with the overall staff and complacency of help. These are some burned out island workers for sure. From the front desk to towel service, they could all use a PR refresher.
We’ve stayed at over a dozen different places (Poipu shores, Poipu Kai, Makahuena etc) in our many stays on this beautiful eyes isle. That being said, probably will not book this one again.

The room was of adequate size and functional, the pool was difficult to find. We even got a ride from the golf cart staff and he took us to a pool that wasn’t even ours and we were asked rudely to leave. The beach is a lot further than we thought, stayed in building 40. Upon check out we were surprised to learn about the 125.00 cleaning fee so be prepared. We won’t be staying there again, too many other options available on the island.

We stayed in Bldg 13 Unit 66 Sept 28 — Oct 8, 2015, booked through VBRO to ensure we got the unit we wanted, and really enjoyed the condo. Great location, view, floor plan and it was comfortable too.
We looked at many two bedroom condos when planning our trip and the second bedroom having a twin bed in addition to a queen bed sealed the deal as my sister and her husband were traveling with their 13 year old.
Parking was plentiful and it was an easy walk to the unit.
The manager, John Nabors and Outrigger made our stay easy. Check in/​out was excellent. John answered all of our questions quickly by email and John, Outrigger and the owners addressed any concerns we had promptly.
The condo is well stocked and the had almost everything we needed. Dish soap and dishwasher soap is provided along with trash bags and paper towels. Outrigger supplies really nice shampoo, conditioner, lotion and soap.
Unit 66 is a short stroll through beautiful grounds to the beach. Beach chairs and towels are provided free of charge at the hut on the beach along with snorkel gear and concierge services for a fee.
We also used the pool at the Poipu Athletic Club (entry included in our stay). The pool has a water slide and water fall, towels are provided and there is drink and food service available. There are also tennis courts and a gym. Not every unit includes entry so this was a plus, it really is a hidden gem.
I worked with Erik at
to have groceries stocked prior to my arrival. He worked with Outrigger to coordinate delivery. We actually met him in the parking lot when we arrived. He had just finished delivering and putting away the groceries we ordered. Wonderful service, easy to work with. There is a deposit required, and charges for shopping, delivery, tax and credit card fee all which seems reasonable to me. Erik also gave us a variety of local fruit from a local fruit stand and two avocados from his own tree free of charge. Nice touch!
Since there were five of us staying at the condo I feel this service was invaluable to avoid having to shop for two families right away. I highly recommend KauaiKiss to anyone looking for grocery delivery, especially for a party of 4 or more.
The only people I would not recommend this unit for are those that have trouble with stairs. The living area is upstairs, bedrooms and both bathrooms downstairs.
Also, the buildings do not have windows, only screens and shutters. Quite time starts at 10 pm so if you’re planning late night parties you might look elsewhere.
That said, we would definitely stay in Unit 66 again.
Mahalo!

To begin we did not book this ourselves — we used our travel agent. Honestly we have used him several times with no problems, so I didn’t even check it out on Unilocal before we went — probably a mistake. Upon arrival, I immediately pulled them up… Ok here we go.
We came over immediately from the airport, around 1pm. Only 1 person at the desk and had to wait a while to be helped. Were told that rooms are not ready until 3, so we cannot check in. Went to lunch across the street and stopped at the little store in that shopping center. More like a mini mart, items are expensive. Stop at the Safeway on the way from the airport — much much better option.
Checked in a little after 3, were told there is no maid service included (extra fee if you want it), and $ 125 cleaning fee when we leave. Didn’t know anything about this, not pleased. Towel change after 4^th day only. No vacuum, nothing else unless you want to pay more. Pay laundry on site, no spa, pool and jacuzzi across the road at a public facility. The only place to eat on site is only open for dinner. The paperwork they give you when you check in to justify no maid service was to «heighten the condo living experience». I’m on vacation — I can stay home for the do everything yourself experience.
The reviews were horrific. I was fully prepared to leave after the first day, but fortunately our experience was not as bad as many seemed to have had. We stayed in 7 – 30 bottom floor 1 br unit. It was older but fairly well kept and clean. I was really freaked out about all the reports of cockroaches but we didn’t have anything like that. Our screens were in tact, no major bug issues.
The grounds are beautiful and of course chickens everywhere. The roosters start promptly at 5 am. Not a big issue for us we are early people anyway.
The reports of no windows and no AC are accurate. Think «living in a tree house» without the tree — plantation shutters and screens — that’s it. Don’t need AC so that was no biggie, but every time someone walks by it sounds like they are in your room.
The units are called condos but that is probably generous. Maybe 650 – 700 square feet. You can hear EVERYTHING your neighbors are doing.
I have doubts that the parent company cares anything about these reviews. I have not seen a single response to reviews good or bad. But just in case they do, I must comment that it was disappointing to discover that they profusely irrigate (over irrigate actually) the entire grounds, rain or shine. Some simple weather stations would save a ton of water and cut way down on landscape maintenance.
The only reason they managed 2 stars instead of 1 is that the grounds are very well kept, and the front desk dealings after check in have been much better. No spa, no pool or jacuzzi, no real restaurant — not a resort, in my opinion not a vacation deal. The best part was sunset at the private beach. A community event on the lawn.
Edit — I swear to god 2 hours after I wrote this and said I had no cockroach issues a huge one was in the living room. 30 minutes later I found several more smaller ones in the bathroom. DISGUSTING!

Amazingly beautiful grounds, beautiful trees (especially the one in the roundabout, it is massive, I think it was called a monkeypod tree?), and we love the orchid garden you can walk through. Stop and smell the flowers people! Shops and groceries just nearby, and good restaurants too, and Sheraton is on the beach if you want some waves. Lovely spot!

So far I am not thrilled. We checked in a bit early and asked if they could call us when the room was available — no such luck. I came back to registration and checked for myself.
Today, I wanted to make dinner for friends that were arriving early this evening…3 of the 4 burners were not working properly. Thanks to my husband they now work. Also, I was told my friends could be in the next building close to us… When I meet them at registration, the front desk said that room was not available SMH.
Now we are trying to get internet access, which we were told was readily available in each room — not true for us. We were on the phone with a technician from Oahu… in the end we figured that problem too!
This establishment is not so customer friendly/​service oriented as I wish they could be.

Love the beach in front of the condos! The grounds are lovely as well! I go on
or home away to rent from an owner! That way you know what room your getting! There is a quiet rule after 10 pm! 3 strikes and they kick you out! And keep your money! So if your young or old and tend to be a little loud… this isn’t for you!

I can relate to so many sentiments I read in the reviews.
Negative:
1. Super frustrated at the unforeseen cleaning fees and yet no cleaning service during the actual stay.**
2. The lack of A/​C never became a real problem but it threw us the first night until we got used to the tradewinds. :)
3. The «steps from the ocean» translated to mean about 3 blocks.
4. The pool/​hot tub is not on the premises and where our condo was located, it wasn’t easily walkable.
Positive:
It’s easy to gloss over the negatives because reality is, I was on vacation in Kauai at one of the best beaches we experienced in our two-​week vacation. (One week here, one week Oahu.)
The grounds were breathtakingly BEAUTIFUL. We arrived at dusk and the tiki torches were a fantastic tough. It was close to plenty of restaurants and grocery stores. I enjoyed mangoes from the tree outside our unit almost every day. My son enjoyed «catch and release» frog hunting…(no frogs were harmed in his adventures. haha)
We booked our trip 7 months in advance and it was, by far, the least expensive option so that’s a bonus. Truthfully, I’ll do more research next time and probably find some place else.
** Yes, it was in the fine print on the Costco website but as often as I read the description, I never noticed it. I’ll call it a learning experience!

Nice but one major issue…
Kaihuna Plantation by Outrigger has a lovely location on Poi’pu. The grounds are gorgeous, the beach beautiful (though a little rough for my five year old). Beach chairs and towels are easy to come by and there’s lots of space. Poi’pu is noticeably less crowded than Ka’anapali which we liked.
The resort staff were all very pleasant and Bart the concierge gave me some cool local tips. The staff picked out a great location for us — right in the middle of the resort. From our unit the beach and pool/​rec club were just short walks.
About the unit… ours was a spacious 1 bedroom bottom floor end unit with beautiful louvered windows throughout — very old school island style. Louvered windows have no glass pane, which means when open, we experience all that the island (and resort) have to offer. Since the units have no air conditioning, the louvers stayed open all the time which we didn’t mind. Our neighbors were considerate and I enjoyed waking up to the sound of birds. Until day three. That’s when my son woke up feeling sick. His right eye was swollen and he had a low grade fever. While getting him ready for a bath I discovered insect bites all over his body — close to thirty. I had noticed a couple mosquitoes flying around in the evenings but didn’t think much of them until I saw what happened. After checking the windows I found to my horror that all the window’s bug screens had huge gaps and margins in them, some not even set in the window frame at all — just rested in front. Sadly, my son would have been safer sleeping in a tent. Maintenance came immediately and fixed the window screens. The front door screen had to be rebuilt and was completed later that afternoon. The next day our unit was sprayed. My son continued to awake each morning with a couple more bites which makes me question the possibility of bed bugs, especially with the nature of the bites — in little clusters. Whatever they were, dealing with a punky five year old covered in itchy, swollen bug bites definitely put a damper on our vacation.
Aside from the insect issue, Kiahuna Plantation seems quite nice for those on a budget traveling with kids. The kitchen in our until was well appointed and even included convenience items like chip clips and Tupperware containers. We really enjoyed the Poi’pu athletic club pool with it’s waterslide and sandy beach — it was my son’s favorite part of the trip.

Nice place and great price for garden view but very outdated and noisy. No glass on windows just shutters so can hear every noise from road and birds chirping at 5:00am. Bathroom old and needs updating. Good things — beautiful grounds and front desk staff great customer service!

This was my favorite hotel in our whole Hawaiian stay. Affordable when booked in advance, large with a full kitchen for cooking amazing breakfasts, a gorgeous spacious lanai and nice bedroom just name a few. The bathtub is the largest we’ve encountered abc you can really hear the amazing winter rain while you’re warm and toasty. Wish we’d stayed a few weeks!