Guest: Malora C. (Aurora, IL)
Date of Stay: 03/03/10 Review Submitted: 03/03/10

This rental is perfect! It offered unparalleled privacy with all the natural beauty one could want from Kauai. Even with the draw of so many things to do and see on the island, we often couldn't pull ourselves from the back lanai where we were happy contemplating paradise while watching for whales. The sound of the rushing water below and the river gorge setting acted as nature's music video with so many birds dancing their way across the valley. Amazed by the rising sun painting the mountain side in pastel peach and pink from the lanai off of the master suite; we were moved by the awesome gift that is the North shore of Kauai. This is our second visit to the island and we will surely return to this rental. The location and mellow vibe of Kilauea can't be beat. The home is as wonderful as the view.There was plenty of room for a family of four traveling with grandparents. It was stylish, yet comfortable; also close to the highly recommended fish market and bakery in Kilauea and a nice walking/jogging distance to the lighthouse. Forget the condos in Princeville- this is the place to be!

Recommended for:

Majestic Kauai Vacation

Guest: clb428 (Jackson, WY)
Date of Stay: 04/15/09 Review Submitted: 04/29/09

Absolutely wonderful! My family and friends were able to share 9 beautiful days at this home, and we cannot wait to return. Not caring for the feel of a resort area, this was a perfect retreat after exploring the island. While some features are outdated, the home is in good condition and was quite comfortable. The property is well groomed, and has amazing views. The waterfalls are beautiful, although I wasn't able to make the entire hike down to it. If you do set out into the jungle, make sure and use lots of bug spray and don't carry anything bulky (like a big camera case) - the path is steep. You would definately need to rent a car to stay at this - or probably any - residence. The kitchen is well equipped, and their is a grill as well. Most meals can easily be prepared in-house, although there are some very good resteraunts on the island that are worth trying out. Gaylord's at the Kilohana Plantation was our favorite - they have a good Luau also. There is a Foodland for groceries in Princeville, but we found Safeway to be a bit less expensive. You will want to sign up for the discount card at either one you use - groceries are very pricey. All said, Kauai is a wonderful island to spend time on, and Hale Mana was the perfect place to stay!

Owner response:"Outdated features" mentioned above (bathrooms) have been remodeled within the last year...per your request..we aim to please.

Recommended for:Romantic getaway, sightseeing, adventure seekers, families with young children.

Guestbook Comment

Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 03/01/09 Review Submitted: 03/02/09

I recently had an opportunity to stay at Hale Mana with my family. This was truly a vacation of a lifetime. Most of the party traveled from New York to have this time spent together and this property did not disappoint! All the amenities of home, perfect floor plan with plenty of space and privacy complimented by the amazing views and soothing sounds of the breathtaking waterfalls. Add to this the charming town of Kilauea - we really started to feel like locals. When booking, the owner was so helpful and eager to provide us with all of the information to help us feel confident we were making the perfect decision choosing their lovely home (and with 8 people considering, we had plenty of questions). When people reminisce about the spirit of Aloha, this is what they are talking about (I don't believe we turned the TV on for more than 2 hours the entire 9 nights we stayed). If you are looking for a unique experience with privacy, comfort and beauty, this is the place for you. When the opportunity presents itself, we will be back to capture more of this experience for ourselves. Mahalo Neal and Barbara for sharing your paradise with us.

Recommended for:

amazing!!!!

Guest: huge fan (TX)
Date of Stay: 09/30/08 Review Submitted: 10/14/08

the pictures of this property simply do not do it justice. the views were so absolutely amazing. the hike to the waterfall was a fun adventure (the waterfall was featured in the movie 6 Days 7 Nights). the property was open and airy. three of the bedrooms are close together and the master suite is set apart. be forewarned that there is no air conditioning. we heard that most places are not air conditioned on the island. it got a little warm at times, but they have fans and the location of the house made for lots of breeze. the temp was always comfortable outside and they had chairs for outdoor seating. the house is perched on the edge of a cliff which is VERY steep. keep this in mind if you have kids. we have a toddler and 3 year old and it was fine, but we had to be hypervigilant about watching them at all times. the water pressure was awesome. the beds were very soft. too soft for our liking, but the views and the rest of the house made it worth it. truly fabulous in every way. there was rave review after rave review in the guest book at the home. we were so thankful to have found this gem. i could not imagine staying anywhere more beautiful.

Recommended for:Romantic getaway, adventure seekers, girls getaway, age 55+, families with teenagers.

Heaven on Earth

Guest: Ania (Haworth, New Jersey)
Date of Stay: 08/04/08 Review Submitted: 08/20/08

This property is beyond anything my family or I have ever imagined it to be. The pictures, as beautiful as they are, do not do justice to the views that this property offers. The home had a wonderful layout with huge windows or sliding doors from every room. The mastersuite is located to one side of the main living area of the house and the other three bedrooms to the other side. Having two teenagers, we found this helpful when my husband and I wanted to retreat early (because of all of the hiking that we did daily) or when we got up at 6:00am to have our coffee on the lana'i and watch the sunrise. Our adventures are too many to write but one that I highly recommend is the hike to the beautiful waterfalls in the valley below. Our favorite restaurant was the Dolphin in Hanalei. The food was of excellent quality and always perfectly cooked. We even went back a second time before we left. The ONLY negative thing that I could possibly say about this home would be that I would like to see the kitchen and bathrooms updated (and that's because I'm a kitchen and bath designer). With that being said, I would, not only, highly recommend this property but my family and I hopefully will be back next year. Our most sincere "thank you's" to the owner for sharing this slice of heaven.

Owner response:Bathrooms & kitchen have since been remodeled.

Recommended for:Sightseeing, adventure seekers, families with teenagers.

Excellent Property

Guest: Queen Bee (Houston)
Date of Stay: 02/01/07 Review Submitted: 03/04/08

House was immaculate and very open. Nice furnishings and great views. The grounds were beutiful and meticulously cared for. Plenty of restaurants in the area and close to North and Eastside activities. We watched whales from the deck and the waterfalls lulled you to sleep at night. Downside: A packet with information on restaurants and activities recommended in the area would have been nice. King bed was in one of the small bedrooms and not in the master. I would definitely reccommend this house. It was very relaxing and sat on an amazing piece of property.

Owner response:Per your suggestion, we now have an extensive guide written with a local's perspective(mine!)outlining best restaurants, beaches, activities, etc. Also, we have a beautiful new King bed in the master suite as well as the Garden Suite.

Recommended for:Sightseeing, age 55+.