Like many others, we needed a place to stay for two nights until our five night Marriott package kicked in. We found the Garden Island Inn here on Trip Advisor and decided to give it a try. What a great find! Okay - rooms are small, hand sewn curtains don't exactly fit the windows, and your bedspread looks like it's straight from Sears. In short, no frilly, all funky, but a hip funky! If you can live with that, you'll love it here. The hosts are great, and as has been mentioned, you can borrow coolers, boogie boards and beach chairs for your short walk across the street to Kalapaki beach in front of the Marriott Beach Club. We had a second floor room with a nice lanai, but the "ocean view" is first parking lot, then street, then park, then ocean, so don't expect to feel the salt spray on your cheek. Personally, I'd opt for the cheaper garden room since the garden is green and peaceful (but small) and is just as close to the beach. Koi ponds are beautiful (with baby koi!) and the hand painted doors to each room lend a very charming feel. We totally lucked out by staying 9/7 which happened to be the owner's 20th anniversary of purchasing the hotel. We were invited to a luau that night which was so real and local we felt honored being a part of it. Whole roasted pig, huge feast, live music = pure magic. You may not get that experience, but it speaks to the heart of the management. Enjoy Duke's Canoe Club across the street at the Marriott for relatively cheap eats and tasty drinks, and the Beach Shack up the street for good cheap coffee and breakfast. The only down side of the Garden Island Inn was no pool - I'm a lounge chair lizard, and I like my pool time. Still, for the price it's a gem if you're looking for a great location for a home base.






