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Pali Ke Kua: Traveler Reviews


Pali Ke Kua
5300 Ka Haku Road, Hanalei, Princeville, Kauai, HI 96722
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Pali Ke Kua #218 is first rate – best sunset views!

Pali Ke Kua

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5 of 5 stars
SailorKnight 14 contributions
Merritt Island, FL
Sep 6, 2008 | Trip type: Couples
3/3 found this review helpful

This was our third stay at PKK, which is our favorite condo complex on the North Shore of Kauai. My wife and I stayed at PKK#218 for a week in mid August 2008. Unit #218 is a 2nd floor end unit with a loft 2nd bedroom. The condo has a great view of sunsets and the north end of the Na Pali Coast (see photos taken from the lanai). Also, since this is an end unit that juts out slightly on a point of the cliff, in addition to the main views to the west, there is a view to the north from the dining area and the master bedroom. The position of this condo makes it a bit more private than some of the others, which is also a plus in my book. These facts, and the quality of the interior finish and furnishings, justify the premium in the rental rate. We heard our neighbors a few times, but it wasn’t really a problem. Our main company was the cute chirping geckos who shared the condo with us.

We like the west facing views the best (there are a number of buildings at PKK with north views, and there is unit 226 on “The Point” with fabulous north, east and west views). Bottom line: In my opinion, after unit 226, unit 218 offers the best views at PKK. Also, of the west facing units, the second floor units have the best views.

The only downside with the west-facing units like 218 is that in late afternoon, until the sun starts to set, these condos get direct sun to the interior of the unit and become quite warm (no A/C). So if you plan a sunset dinner, you might want to get takeout or prepare most of it ahead of time. During the summer, it can get rather warm if you are cooking in the kitchen in the early evening.

The furnishings in this condo are first rate. Very comfortable and in great condition. The owners web site - kauai-oceanfrontcondo.com - accurately depicts the interior of the unit (this unit can only be rented directly through the owner). Angela, the owner, was great to work with. She let us move our original dates by a week and also let us check out late on our last day, which was a huge advantage.

You will find almost everything you would have at home in this unit. Lots of kitchenware, drink coasters, cable TV, DVD player, 3-disc CD player, high speed Internet connection (cable provided), washer/dryer, books, games, puzzles, Hawaiian-themed videos. Lots of towels. Extra bed linens. Etc. Also stuff for the beach. Straw mats. Bogie boards. Good quality beach chairs. A couple of coolers. Etc. If I could change one thing, it would be the table and chairs on the lanai. They are very comfortable, but I found I was looking right at the railing while seated (I am 5’6”). I would have been happier with a bar height table with swivel bar chairs so I could enjoy the sunset unobstructed. That said, I would absolutely rent unit 218 again.

There is also a great little snorkeling beach, Hideways, at the base of the cliff, which is accessed by walking down a paved (most of the way) path. Even with the path, it is a steep hike, so the beach is not crowded. Thanks to our late check-out, on our last day we had time for one more visit to the beach and that happened to be the day a good-sized sea turtle decided to hang out and snack on the reef right off the beach. I met one of the long time owners of another PKK condo and she said we were real lucky because the turtles didn’t usually come so close to shore. I was able to get the best turtle photos (see photos) of all my trips to the Islands, so this made our stay extra-special.

There is a pool and hot tub. The pool area has been upgraded since our first visit to PKK. We only used it once this visit, and it was OK. Not at all crowded. I tried the hot tub, but the water temperature was set overly high, so it was impossible to relax and soak.

Overall, we really like PKK. Since the units are individually owned, the décor, upkeep, and furnishings can vary widely. If you can get recent reviews or photos of your specific unit, I would recommend it. In addition to renting directly from Angela, we have rented at PKK though Princeville Vacations and Kauai Vacation Rentals, and had good experiences with all three.

  • Liked — The view, privacy, and the interior quality
  • Disliked — Wish the Lanai had bar-height table/chairs to see over the railing while dining
  • My ratings for this hotel
    • 5 of 5 stars Value
    • 5 of 5 stars Rooms
    • 5 of 5 stars Location
    • 4 of 5 stars Cleanliness
    • 5 of 5 stars Business service (e.g., internet access)
  • Date of stay August 2008
  • Visit was for Romantic getaway
  • Traveled with Spouse / significant other
  • Age group 50-64
  • Member since July 07, 2005
  • Would you recommend this hotel to a friend? Yes
  • I recommend this hotel for An amazing honeymoon, A romantic getaway, Girlfriend getaway, Older travelers, Families with young children, Families with teenagers
  • I do not recommend this hotel for Young singles, Great pool scene, Pet owners
  • I selected this hotel as a top choice for Beach / Sun
This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
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Average price*: $244 (year-round)
We didn't want to leave!

Pali Ke Kua

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5 of 5 stars
auntgretchen 2 contributions
Southern California
Jul 31, 2008
3/3 found this review helpful

We stayed in unit #118. It has a 270 degree view of the ocean and Napali coast. It was the ideal location to watch the sunsets. My husband enjoyed snorkeling at Hideaways Beach. We took the path down between the 2 hotels. Then we discovered the paved pathway from the condo area. It was an easy walk by comparison down to the BBQ, tables, and private beach. I wish we had BBQed and eaten a dinner down there.
Our unit had been redecorated with beautiful counters, cabinets and tiling recently-very nice. We would love to come back to stay here.
We rented it from remaxkauai.com-great people to work with!

  • Date of stay July 2008
  • Member since July 30, 2008
This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
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Average price*: $244 (year-round)
Wonderful place to vacation!

Pali Ke Kua

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5 of 5 stars
vicky3269 11 contributions
Castro Valley, CA
Jul 24, 2008 | Trip type: Couples
1/1 found this review helpful

We stayed in #209 at Pali Ke Kua for almost a week during the first week of July. Let me start off by saying it was a WONDERFUL place to vacation!

The first evening we arrived, it was very hot inside because the unit had been closed up but the blinds were left open, so the afternoon sun just cooked the place. But after we got all the windows open, it took a few hours but the place finally cooled down once the sun set. This was the only day that it was too hot for us, because all the other days we left the windows open all day so the breeze coming thru always kept the temperature nice.

This unit is on the bluff facing the Bali Hai mountains to the west, giving you the most unbelievable sunsets! I had done a lot of research about which unit to stay in, and we were so glad with our choice! It is a second story unit, with the master bedroom and bath on the first floor, and another bedroom with bath upstairs, as well as a loft area with two twin beds. The loft however has no windows, so it was always warm in that area, too warm to sleep in.

The decor was very nice, and the owners supplied us with everything we could need, except for beach towels. That was the ONLY thing we were not happy with, since we hadn't packed any from home. The beds were very comfortable, and both bathrooms were absolutely AMAZING! The showers are big with a huge built-in seat under the window. We thought the downstairs master bath was the only one like it, so we were shocked when we saw the upstairs one was exactly the same, actually even bigger since it didn't contain the washer and dryer as the downstairs bath did. It ended up being perfect since we were two couples staying there, we each got a wonderful bathroom.

Now, I had read a lot about the private beach called Hideaways, and how it was such a huge, hard hike down and back up. So we were prepared for a hike, and believe me, we are not in the best shape. I was really worried about it, but I had heard that the snorkeling was good so I wanted to at least try doing the hike once. Well, let me tell you, the beach was WONDERFUL! The hike wasn't near as bad as people made it out to be! I was able to hike up it in 10 minutes, and each time I stopped and rested for a minute or two to catch my breath at two different spots. It really isn't that bad! And believe me when I say this, it is well worth it! The beach is small and very private, and has the best snorkeling on the island! The fish life is abundant, more so than at Tunnels beach, and we figured it's probably because there is WAY less people there! We ended up going down to the beach every morning about 7:30 and we had the whole place to ourselves for at least the first few hours! Eventually a few other people wandered down to do some snorkeling, but it was never crowded. It was always low tide in the morning, so it was perfect. We even walked out around the rocky point to get to the other part of Hideaways beach (the one that has public access) and even that one was never too crowded. We liked ours better though, because there was a lot of shade under the trees and less people. Two days in a row, while snorkeling, we came upon two sea turtles in the water! That was amazing to swim with them! We were done there each day by 11:00 or noon, and would come back up, shower, and go do more sight-seeing stuff. So don't let the steep path keep you from visiting this wonderful beach! If I can do it, you probably can too. And I considered it getting my daily exercise by hiking back up! One warning about this beach: do not walk on the black rocks! They are very slippery (I fell once and so did my brother-in-law). Just be careful getting in and out of the water, as it is rocky, but that's what makes the snorkeling so excellent! If you go down to the far end (just before the rocky point that separates the two beaches) there is actually a big sandy area to get in and out of the water very easily, as well as a nice big rock-free area to swim, if you aren't into snorkeling.

Most evenings we bought fresh fish at the local fish market in Hanalei Bay (behind the Dolphin restaurant) and brought it back to the condo to cook. The fish was great, and it was wonderful sitting on the balcony each night eating fresh local fish, drinking tropical fruity drinks made in the blender, and watching the sun set, from that fabulous balcony.

The whole place is very clean, the grounds are very well taken care of, and if you book a unit with a view like we had, you will not be disappointed. I would even stay on the other side of the bluff facing east, as the views from those units were great too. But nothing compares to the units facing Bali Hai.

We rented #209 from Regency Pacific, and I dealt with a very nice lady named Gloria. I highly recommend them, we had no problems, in fact we were able to extend our check-out on our last day until 1:00, which gave us an extra morning to go snorkel again on our private beach!

If you have any other questions, feel free to contact me via the link here. I am happy to answer any questions you may have if you are considering staying at Pali Ke Kua!

  • Liked — The view and great private beach!
  • Disliked — No air-conditioning
  • My ratings for this hotel
    • 5 of 5 stars Value
    • 5 of 5 stars Rooms
    • 5 of 5 stars Location
    • 4 of 5 stars Cleanliness
    • 5 of 5 stars Check in / front desk
    • 4 of 5 stars Service
    • 5 of 5 stars Business service (e.g., internet access)
  • Date of stay July 2008
  • Visit was for Quality time with family
  • Traveled with Spouse / significant other
  • Age group 35-49
  • Member since April 18, 2008
  • Would you recommend this hotel to a friend? Yes
  • I recommend this hotel for Young singles, An amazing honeymoon, A romantic getaway, Girlfriend getaway, Older travelers, Families with young children, Families with teenagers, Tourists
  • I do not recommend this hotel for People with disabilities, Great pool scene, Pet owners
  • I selected this hotel as a top choice for Beach / Sun, Outdoor / Adventure, Great food / Wine
This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Was this review helpful? Yes No
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Average price*: $244 (year-round)
Beautiful Property, Less than attractive amenities

Pali Ke Kua

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2 of 5 stars
oc_four 3 contributions
Orange County, CA
Jul 13, 2008
1/3 found this review helpful

Princeville, what can I say, as this part of the island is gorgeous. Our family of four stayed in unit 15 at Pli Ke Kua for three nights during July 2008 and it the heat was unbearable in our unit. No A/C, which we knew going in was much hard to do without. The dryer in our unit did not dry clothes. The pool area was unusual because the restaurant, Saffrons, overlooked the pool. The rest of our trip, five nights, was spent at the Sheraton Resort Poipu. That was amazing as the service was 4 to 5 star. Aloha!

  • Date of stay July 2008
  • Member since July 13, 2008
This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Was this review helpful? Yes No
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Average price*: $244 (year-round)
Pali Ke Kua Unit 205

Pali Ke Kua

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5 of 5 stars
LLH444 21 contributions
Burton, Michigan
Jul 7, 2008 | Trip type: Friends getaway
4/4 found this review helpful

Unit 205 is a two bedroom, two bath second floor unit at Pali Ke Kua...we stayed there (4 adults) in early April. It's a great place and we would highly recommend it to anyone.

For starters, it has to have the most beautiful view on this planet...it's located on a cliff that overlooks Bali Hai! I still dream about that view...the ever changing colors of the sky and ocean, the magnificent sunsets, the rainbows...in addition to the gorgeous vistas we were delighted to observe lots of wildlife from our lanai (Nene, whales, turtles, dolphin, swordfish, etc.)...ahhh, I could go on and on!

The decor of unit 205 was lovely and everything looks recently updated. The layout was great...It was immaculate and completely stocked with everything we needed in the way of kitchen supplies, towels, linens, beach chairs, etc. The beds were very comfortable and there was a wonderful cross breeze in the unit at night so air conditioning wasn't needed or missed.

The Pali Ke Kua is located centrally on the north shore (in Princeville) and is only a couple of miles from the charming little town of Hanalei. The grounds are lovely and well maintained. It's a steep paved walk to Hideaways Beach from the complex but well worth the trek. We spent a couple of idyllic afternoons there...it was one of our favorite beaches to visit...it's very pretty and never seemed crowded...probably due to the effort it takes to get down there!

There isn't anything negative I can say about this place. On our last day (we had a late flight out) we called the Remax management and were permitted to stay until 4:00pm for no additional charge (they didn't have new renters coming in on that day). That really made it nice for us...it was like getting an extra bonus day in paradise! And paradise it was...the north shore, Pali Ke Kua, unit 205...we can't wait to return.

  • Liked — the stunning view
  • Disliked — that we had to leave!
  • My ratings for this hotel
    • 5 of 5 stars Value
    • 5 of 5 stars Rooms
    • 5 of 5 stars Location
    • 5 of 5 stars Cleanliness
    • 5 of 5 stars Service
  • Date of stay April 2008
  • Traveled with Friends
  • Age group 50-64
  • Member since December 14, 2004
  • Would you recommend this hotel to a friend? Yes
  • I recommend this hotel for An amazing honeymoon, A romantic getaway, Girlfriend getaway, Tourists
  • I do not recommend this hotel for People with disabilities, Great pool scene, Pet owners
  • I selected this hotel as a top choice for Beach / Sun, Outdoor / Adventure, Great food / Wine, Golf
This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Was this review helpful? Yes No
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Average price*: $244 (year-round)
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Pali Ke Kua Address

5300 Ka Haku Road, Hanalei, Princeville, Kauai, HI 96722