Lia A.
July 2024
We had a great stay. The beaches were far less accessible than we hoped for. We had to drive everywhere. No amenities are within walking distance.
Cheryl R.
July 2024
The Dolphin Hale is a wonderful property overlooking the Pacific Ocean with easy access to multiple beaches. Absolutely loved our stay, would stay here again and would recommend to friends. Property owner very responsive and accommodating.
maria d.
June 2024
the home and view were beautiful. centrally located and close to grocery store, which was a plus for last minute items. after active days filled with hiking, golfing, foiling, snorkeling, etc., the hot tub was an added bonus for tired muscles. kitchen : eating areas were roomy for nine adults sharing cooking duties. home layout also allowed for quiet:me time for individuals as well. we couldn’t have asked for a better home our vacation.
Vincent V.
June 2024
The Dolphin Hale House set the perfect stage for our stay in Beautiful Kauai We not only enjoyed your comfortable and lovely accommodations but were impressed by your well appointed kitchen as well as the well thought out comforts in the entire house . We couldn't have desired more!! Many Thanks from us all. Would definitely like to stay at The Dolphin Hale in the future!!! Gabrielle
Arnell G.
May 2024
Awesome home with many amenities. My family loved the view from the patio. We plan to come back to Princeville in the near future.
Mary M.
May 2024
Property was beautiful, very well maintained. Even though it rained every day, it was amazing. The communication with the team assigned to us was great. They were very attentive and helpful.
Anita W.
April 2024
The home was lovely and accommodated the 8 of us. Beautiful view of the ocean.
Paige P.
April 2024
The property was awesome. The hostess went out of her way to correct damage from a recent storm. The two rating is due to her constant contact in paranoia that our Harvard graduate married lawyers and Doctors and wives were coming and going to much. This was as a torn in our side during our very high class wedding celebration.
Laurel H.
March 2024
My family fell in love with both the home and the location as soon as we arrived. It has big, open, accommodating spaces for large family gatherings, a great kitchen layout for large group cooking experiences, quiet tucked in patios for a little solitude. The bedrooms are nicely appointed and arranged for a variety of guests. The home is clean and well taken care of. We all had a wonderful reunion experience that will be remembered and appreciated by us all. Mahalo
Michelle P.
March 2024
Wonderful week.
KONNIE K.
February 2024
We love everything about the vrbo. Kitchen , view, beds, safety, parking, location. Definitely would stay sgain
Todd A.
February 2024
This was an unbelievable vacation! We have been to Hawaii four different times, and this was by far our favorite house to stay in! The house was even better than the pictures you see in the listing. It was very clean, well stocked, easy, check-in process,and the property manager was very attentive. The house itself was amazing! Awesome views, awesome kitchen, awesome hot tub overlooking the ocean. We even saw whales from the deck! Highly recommend!
Jena D.
January 2024
We can't think of enough great things to say about the Dolphin Hale. The house is gorgeous and well-maintained, and the view is incredible. Check-in and check-out were easy, and communication was seamless. We would love to bring our family back here for future vacations. Thank you for a wonderful trip!
Wendy P.
January 2024
House was well appointed and laid out for a family vacation with 8 adults. Gorgeous views of the ocean and sunrise/sunsets. Love the north shore location but easy to get to other side of island as well. Second time to Kauai but won’t be the last! Mahalo Dolphin Hale!!
Karen K.
January 2024
The Dolphin Hale was exactly as described- a big, lovely house. Our family likes to cook and the DH kitchen was amazing. It had everything we needed. It rained a couple of days during our visit and the house was a great place to hangout.
Michael E.
December 2023
We had a lovely Thanksgiving Week at Dolphin Hale! Delightful!
Javier B.
September 2023
Thank you for opening your beautiful home! The view and accommodations were amazing and the welcome gift was a nice touch and much appreciated. The house was well-stocked and organized and had everything we needed with instructions and labels for just about everything. Our family birthday and retirement celebrations were made even more special by our stay in this lovely home.
Tricia F.
September 2023
What a beautiful place to stay. My group of 8 had an amazing stay. It was so nice having 3 bedrooms with en suite’s to accommodate our multi-generational family. Everyone had their own private little space, but then a large dining room table and living room that could accommodate all of us when we wanted to be together. The kitchen is unbelievably beautiful and very well stocked. The property managers were very easy to stay in touch with and very helpful with answers and tips. Tammy was really helpful with suggestions before I got there to solve a couple of concerns that I had. An absolute haven and would 100% stay again if I have my big crew in the future.
Thank you, Dolphin Hale, Tammy and Nancy for an amazing vacation!
Linda S.
August 2023
This was a very special property. Location perfect- near everything- shops, restaurants and multiple beaches. Kitchen was amazing as was living area. Only negative was some minor things that needed repairs -but didn’t hurt our overall impression. Biggest issue was that we were there in August and there was no ac in bedrooms. They did have plenty of fans for bedrooms and in the main room and one bedroom there was ac. Putting window ac in other bedrooms would make it perfect. However, it is near the ocean (amazing views) so it helped at night. Maybe we were unlucky having very hot week but it was not all bad since it encouraged our entire family to always gather in main room.😂
LEIGH B.
July 2023
The property was excellent - Great Location - Great Views - Great for family and Friends group of 11. all ages loved it - close to beaches - golf and neighborhood walks in the am and pm.
Kenon N.
July 2023
We loved staying here! It was absolutely perfect for our group of 3 siblings and spouses. Beautiful location and helpful hostess made for a wonderful vacation. We are SO happy we stayed on this property. 🙂
Cody B.
April 2023
Everything was incredible and the views were top notch. We've been to Hawaii for several times, but it was my parents first time going and they can't wait to go back. The house had everything you need and then some, and it was a treat seeing the whales EVERY day from the back deck.
Joy G.
March 2023
First the welcome gift was a very nice added touch and very delicious. We really enjoyed our stay at Dolphin Hale. The property was very clean with great views. All issues we had were taken care of VERY quickly. All issues were minor. We would definitely stay at this property again and would recommend it to anyone wanting to stay in Princeville.
Dan M.
February 2023
Perfect home for our family reunion. Spacious and functional kitchen, comfy living room lounge area, dining table easily accommodates 10 people, three of five bedrooms have en suite bathrooms, lovely quiet neighborhood (if you're moderately adventurous, you can walk to two beaches). Host's liaison (Nancy) was extraordinarily helpful and friendly.
David g.
February 2023
Dolphin hale was everything I expected since booking it over a year ago. It is the perfect place to entertain and mingle. Everyone loved it there as much as we did. The views from the deck are beautiful and gave of the chance to see whales
Everyday. Everyone will enjoy this house.
Mahalo
Patti C.
January 2023
This property was perfect for our group of 8. The kitchen had everything we needed and the bedrooms and bathrooms accommodated all of us comfortably. The view is breathtaking from the two decks. We can’t wait to go back. Property managers were also very helpful and provided us a lot of recommendations. We loved it.
Sonya R.
January 2023
We had a wonderful time at this beautiful property. Well stocked, excellent Viking appliances, great view, and plenty of room for our extended family. Owner and property manager great to deal with. We had exceptional weather during our week so we spent most days on the beach or on adventure but the evenings in the house were great. Highly recommend.
Joanne M.
December 2022
Beautiful location and pictures do not do the view justice. Tammy the owner answered questions quickly as they came up in over a year of planning. And once we got on the island Nancy was a joy to have a a resource for our stay. House and rooms are spacious and extremely comfortable, along with the beds! We spent mornings doing yoga on the lovely deck. The kitchen and living room were perfect for hanging out with friends and the gourmet kitchen was well equipped for making delicious meals. We only used it for a handful of breakfasts, because the location was close to Hanalei and yummy restaurants. There is A/C in the living room, but only used it 2-3X on our week stay! The trade winds worked well to keep us cool. In Texas, we sleep with a sound machine of rain and the ocean and we kept pinching ourselves, because we were listening to the real deal in Princeville, HI. Don’t let me forget the jacuzzi! What a treat to have to relax and let you muscles recoup after a long day of activities! If you are considering renting The Dolphin Hale, just go ahead and do it. It made for lifelong memories to celebrate our 25 Wedding Anniversary exceptional. Kauai is a place we spent our Honeymoon, renewed our vows at our 10 year anniversary, released our dog’s, Aloha, ashes and now our Silver Anniversary…Kauai is our Aloha and The Dolphin Hale is now part our unforgettable memories!
Heather W.
December 2022
The property comfortably accommodated my parents in their 70's, sister, my husband and I and two kids 8 and 12. There were enough rooms and living areas that we could all comfortably sit together of break out in different parts of the house for some alone time. The decks look over the ocean with spectacular views and the cliffs cascade down into thick rainforest. Every morning the local roosters will wake you up, but by the last day you are there, you start to get used to them.
Since we were a larger party, we ate in mostly. The kitchen was well stocked and the kitchen's size allowed more than one person to work in the kitchen comfortably.
The first night we arrived the hot tub was not working, but management worked hard to get it in working order by the next day.
We experienced a big storm on the island during our stay and this is the best house to still experience Kauai's beauty from the dryness of the living room.
We would stay at this property again. The management were very responsive and helpful.
Mahalo
Rhonda H.
November 2022
The views from the property we priceless and the layout of the home accommodated our needs. We were a little disappointed in the hot tub not working as that was one requirement we wanted in the home we selected. There were a few issues at the beginning but the property management promptly took care of them. Thank you for the great stay and letting us enjoy your beautiful island.
Denise T.
November 2022
The house is really good and full of amenities. We had such a great time. It is a beautiful home with a wonderful location. A wonderful place to create new memories.
Starr M.
October 2022
If you’re thinking about renting here, do it! The location is beautiful and quiet, other than the tranquil sound of the ocean in the background. The bed was one of the most comfortable mattresses I’ve ever had in a rental home and the home itself is decorated beautifully. Communication with the property manager was easy and timely. The views from the home are gorgeous from any room and we really enjoyed the landscaping as well. I can’t stress enough what a peaceful neighborhood the home is in, very quiet which is exactly what we wanted. The kitchen is amazing, truly a professional kitchen. We would love to come stay here again anytime!
Corey B.
October 2022
Dolphin Hale is a beautiful home with a million dollar view! Well equipped and comfortable. Nancy was very helpful with any questions. We had an amazing stay there.
Kathy P.
October 2022
Spacious home accommodated our family reunion of sibs who grew up on the islands. Beautiful ocean views and located in a peaceful, well kept neighborhood. Well equipped kitchen and a large dining table enabled us to enjoy the meals we prepared in the home. Comfortable beds with ample bathroom space. The first floor bedroom is very warm and even with all the windows open and using a large fan, there is no adequate cross ventilation. As the hosts of our family reunion, we chose to sleep here, so our guests would not be uncomfortable. Would be helpful to put in AC for this room. The rest of the home was fine with AC in the living room and the downstairs bedrooms received the trade winds through the windows, plus there are overhead fans. Wonderful deck and hot tub. Ample beach chairs, umbrellas, snorkel gear and toys. Communication with host was very timely and helpful.
Debi H.
September 2022
Dolphin Hale is impeccably clean and very well maintained. Our group of 8 stayed for our daughter’s wedding. Everyone had their own room, most with en suite bathrooms.
Had a lovely welcome basket when we arrived. Kitchen was fully stocked. Lots of beach towels.
Any questions we had were answered promptly by the property manager.
It was just absolutely lovely. Book your stay, you’ll be glad you did! 🌺
Josh B.
September 2022
The Dolphin Hale is a beautiful property with an absolutely amazing ocean view! There was enough space for our entire party to never feel crowded. All the chefs in family loved cooking in the kitchen and on the Viking range!
Our only negative was it did get pretty warm in the bedrooms, but we adjusted and still enjoyed.
Tammy and Nancy were both super responsive to all question from beginning to end which made our stay so much easier!
Definitely would be at the top of our list to stay at again.
Amy M.
August 2022
We thoroughly enjoyed our week on Kauai, particularly our stay at Dolphin Hale. The house is a great location for day trips to all the North Shore beaches and sites. The house itself was clean and well appointed. There were nine of us total, two families, and it was plenty of space. I was a little concerned with how hot it was downstairs when we first arrived. However, there are plenty of fans and once you get the windows open and the fans going things were comfortable for sleeping. The hottest room is the one on the main floor. We had kids sleeping in there and they did not complain once!
The kitchen is well stocked and there were plenty of toiletry and household items. In addition, there is decent beach equipment, including chairs, umbrellas and snorkeling gear. The hosts, Tammy, Nancy and Chris were responsive and helpful. Nancy let us know about events happening locally and quickly responded to requests for recommendations. Chris even gave us a ride to and from Hideaways since the parking lot was filled.
From the fun fountain out front to the gorgeous view off the back deck, the Dolphin Hale is a great vacation home and we'd certainly consider staying here again if we are ever fortunate enough to return to Kauai. Mahalo!
Julia a.
August 2022
Very nice house in a great location in Princeville. The VRBO description is on-point. Tammy and the owner are excellent with response time. The house has everything a multi-generational family needs. All the bedrooms/bathrooms are good sized and super comfortable. The view from the house is AMAZING. So relaxing. We really enjoyed walking down to Sealodge Beach from the house, doing morning runs around Princeville, riding the two bikes that are in the garage to nearby locations (Queens Bath), and taking the beach chairs to Hanalei Bay. Awesome to provide beach towels and some ocean toys as well. The only reason for the four stars is that the bedroom on the first floor (immediately to the left upon entering), was unusable at night due to the heat. My brother and his wife ended up sleeping in the living room on the (very comfortable) couch for 3 out of the 5 nights. They had three fans going and windows open in the bedroom, but the air was so warm/humid that it was not feasible for sleep. Highly recommend getting a small A/C in that room. The A/C in the main living room is wonderful and works well, but that bedroom needs one as well. The other bedrooms were fine at night because the trade-winds blew through them. (The room with the twin beds also got a little stuffy though). Overall, we would only stay at this location again if that bedroom has A/C. For complete context, we did stay during the hottest time of the year (July/August), so this might not apply during cooler months.
Sarah S.
July 2022
Everything we were looking for. Clean, all the amenities you could want, very welcoming and responsive property manager. Great home base from which to explore the island. Highly recommend!
John F.
July 2022
Excellent location in one of our most favorite places in all of Hawaii! Easy access to all that is this side of Kauai.
Angela S.
July 2022
AMAZING! I was skeptical as I thought the pictures may have been "exaggerated" - I was wrong. The pictures don't do it justice! The views from this house are stunning!! Tammy is phenomenal to work with! She answered every one of my questions in a very timely manner. Nancy was a great contact once we checked in! We were a group of 8 and the house fit us perfectly! The kitchen was fully stocked and amazing to cook in & the outdoor BBQ grill was fantastic! We will definitely be back!! Here are a few observations I made that might be helpful for others to know:
*Bedrooms: Opening the windows and sliding doors offers a great breeze that cool down the rooms to a comfortable temperate - except the "fish room". That's the only room that only has one window (facing West, I think) so not a lot of trade winds. The fans helped a lot - but out of all the rooms, this one stayed the warmest.
* The "fish room" and the "blue room" share a hallway bathroom. The door is not solid, it has a wooden slated door. I'm sure this is to ventilate and keep it cool, however, it offers no "noise or odor" privacy. We thought it would be a problem but it was not - most of us were up stairs or in our rooms when the restroom was being used. I was told, however, it did make those using that restroom a little uncomfortable. So just be aware.
*The master bathroom is probably the warmest room of the house. After showing it becomes extremely humid. The beautiful opaque glass window tiles above the tub give off a strong glare that back-lights you when you are looking in the mirror - moving to the far right of the room gives you a small area of a solid door behind you.
*House rules - make sure you follow them to be respectful of the neighbors. We understand the need for these as the house sits in the middle of a residential neighborhood. Tammy does a GREAT job giving you all the information you need (READ the notebook when you arrive) in order to have a fantastic vacation & respecting the neighbors. This may not be the location for you if you are looking to have a party or game night to go past 10pm.
These are just observations - these are NOT deal breakers. We WILL be back! And I HIGHLY recommend finding the "Princeville SeaLodge I" trail and HIKE hike down to the beach. Water is not deep, but perfect for sitting in the water or snorkeling- its a bit rocky, wear water shoes; it's worth the effort to get there & back! It was one of our favorite beaches!
Mary S.
June 2022
This place is definitely as described. Such a beautiful view of the Kauai jungle and ocean. The house was perfect for our group of 8. Plenty of space for everyone. Rooms and the kitchen are so well stocked. I really appreciate that all the bedrooms were nicely decorated and had very comfortable beds so everyone was happy with their room choices. This place is very professionally run and most everything is thought of. There were more rules than I have seen before in other places we have rented but they were understandable. You will find that Princeville is a sleepy and quiet town and protective of their neighborhoods so this area is not for everyone.
Carolyn M.
June 2022
Spacious and well-equipped with magnificent views. Excellent location for exploring the North Shore. The beds were comfortable. Very clean and well managed property. Property manager was friendly and quick to reply. No direct beach access but sweeping ocean views from the lanais and great room.
Samantha R.
May 2022
This house was well stocked and the views were great w/ a jacuzzi. Wish the deck was covered or had an umbrella, since it rains so much in Kauai off & on, you always have to wipe everything down to hang out there.
Location was great, I would just note that the house is located pretty close to neighbors Who lived there full-time so even if you are inside playing games as we were you will get noise complaints. We have friends who are local and live actually just down the street and they came over to have dinner and was playing board games and I was told by the property manager that they have to leave & that you are not allowed to have anyone over even if it’s just for dinner or a visit. I didn’t really understand this I thought that occupancy max is just for the people who are staying at the house. We have stayed in court Princeville many times and I’ve always had a dinner or just hung out with our friends that live there and I’ve never had a problem, it was just us adults & none of our kids were even awake. We closed all the windows and kept it inside and they still had a problem. Another thing that I thought was odd but I did because I didn’t have anything to hide was that the Property Manager asks for everyone staying there, the names and ages of all.
Other than that the house was comfortable, clean, nice floor plan great kitchen and the views were the main selling point for me.
Brooke C.
April 2022
Loved our stay!
steve h.
April 2022
We were a group of 10 family and friends who found the Dolphin Halle to exceed all of our expectations. First and foremost the view from the great room is absolutely stunning. We were overwhelmed upon entering the house as the pictures online do not do it justice. We really appreciated using the well appointed gourmet kitchen and the barbecue to full affect. Food is terribly expensive when eating out so this allowed us to save a tremendous amount of money and spend even more quality time together. The 4 full baths were also a god-send with that many people in one house. One of the best ways to ensure a successful vacation with 10 different personalities is to have SPACE and the Dolphin Halle provides this in spades. The house managers Nancy and Chris were super great and attended to our every need and question. Not everybody lives Aloha in Hawaii but these folks sure do! Don't miss exploring the hidden beach below the house which is a true gem. That said do be careful if you are not agile and fit and if it has recently rained because it is quiet slippery. There are not very many VRBO homes I hope to return to but this is one of them.
Chance P.
March 2022
It was a nice stayed with 4 different couples the big down side is the neighbors complained we where to loud one morning we where early risers with the time difference and the is no way we where to loud other than starting are cars and leaving at 5:30 in the morning
Christine G.
March 2022
Great family/friends week at the Dolphin Hale. Hosts were super helpful and responsive. We all enjoyed our stay while touring the beautiful island of Kauai. Highly recommend.
Phuong C.
March 2022
My family and I had the best time in Kauai and this VRBO rental was one of the absolute highlights. The home was spacious for our group of 9 adults, spotlessly clean, and well organized. It was nice for everyone to have their own private space when needed, and yet there was stunning common spaces for everyone to gather and hang out. Most of us woke up early daily to watch the sunrise from the too floor. Our stay coincided with the migration patterns of the humpback whales and we were able to view their many spouts and occasional breaches from the comfort of the deck and living room. The kitchen was well stocked with kitchenware and we cooked every day (they have a Viking stove!). The trail down to Sealodge Beach is tricky when wet but doable. We stumbled upon a baby albatross nest in the neighborhood (with signs to remind to admire from a respectful distance). Lastly, our hosts Tammy and Nancy were wonderfully responsive and professional. Thank you for a dreamy stay!
Tina H.
February 2022
The property was exactly as advertised. Great space for 8 people. Location was great.
Paul G.
January 2022
After reading all of the previous reviews I find it difficult to add something that hasn’t already been said, but I’ll make an attempt.
We had a relatively small group of 6 adults, and every single one of us had a completely enjoyable time. The Dolphin Hale itself did not disappoint with its gorgeous views, impeccable furnishings, gourmet kitchen and prime location in Princeville. We used the Dolphin Hale as a base for our adventures on Kauai and explored the entire island. The best part is that no matter what we ended up doing and seeing on a given day, we were all excited to come home to the Dolphin Hale to either cook a great meal or have drink while reminiscing the days events with great friends.
On the business side of things, I can’t imagine anyone more responsive than the owner and the local host. Both Tammy and Nancy were wonderful and very helpful. Rest assured, the ONLY way you can make your stay on Kauai any better is to stay at Dolphin Hale!
Ryan M.
January 2022
Fantastic property, great location if you want to be based on the north side of the island, professional and very responsive management (and owner), cleanest and best maintained vacation rental we have stayed at. Overall experience exceeded our expectations!
Ellen S.
January 2022
Our family if eight adults had a wonderful visit in this spectacular home. Even the weather (mostly) cooperated.
Pallavi T.
January 2022
We cannot be more grateful that we had an opportunity to stay in this wonderful home on Kauai. The photos do NOT do this home justice. It is immaculate, perfectly appointed, thoughtfully decorated, and so well laid out. It makes for a perfect family vacation. Our Christmas holiday centered around spending time as a family in this home, and using this home as a base for all of our activities. Thank you to the island host and the owner for their incredible hospitality!
robert v.
December 2021
We rented this property to celebrate two birthdays with 8 people. The property easil accommodated us. The bedrooms were generous with walk in closets.
But the best part was the beautiful views of the North Shore. There is also a community trail to Sealodge Beach. This is a charming private cove. We saw many tropical fish and sea turtles.
Dustin D.
November 2021
This property isn’t exactly as advertised- it is better. As others have posted- pictures do not do that view justice. And the house itself- rarely do you find a rental property that is actually as immaculate and high-quality as the listing photos suggest.
My friends and I went to the island to celebrate a very special occasion, and we could not have had a better time- due in very large part to our decision to stay at this beautiful home. Tammy was incredibly kind and responsive through the entire process, as was their amazing island host, Nancy- between both of them we didn’t have a care or a worry in the world should we have needed anything.
This will definitely be the place we call home on all future trips to Kaua’i!
Kelly W.
November 2021
What an amazing property in a magnificent part of the world…Hanalei Bay is a magical spot, as is the entire island of Kauai.
As for the house, it is wonderful with a chef’s kitchen and beautiful views of the Pacific for as far as the eyes can see. The only reason we wouldn’t stay here again is if we buy our own place in the lovely town of Princeville.
We absolutely loved it and there was ample room for our party of 8.
David S.
November 2021
This property delivered on every element of our experience - from our questions pre-rental, to questions about logistics and help with things needed for our one year-olds and a couple of questions we had post arrival. The location is perfect, the home gorgeous, and the view was incredible - we strongly recommend this home for your visit to Kauai.
Whit S.
October 2021
The Dolphin Hale was a wonderful home in a beautiful neighborhood, close to Princeville and Hanalei shopping and restaurants. Tammy and her property manager were friendly and accommodating.
Positives: Great view of the ocean and island, clean and well maintained, nice bedrooms with dedicated baths and a great kitchen. Beautiful deck with a fantastic view of the ocean.
Negative: No air conditioning in the bedrooms, which was a little uncomfortable when we first arrived, it was a hot day and all the windows were shut. Once we opened windows and got some natural ventilation going, it was better.
In spite of our initial impression at the temperature indoors and lack of bedroom AC, this wasn't a big problem, we adjusted to island living and there were plenty of fans and lots of windows to open up to the breeze. All in all it was a great home for our group during our stay in Kauai, and it will be at the top of our list the next time we visit.
Melissa I.
August 2021
Amazing house in a perfect location with generous hosts.
Jeff B.
August 2021
This is a beautiful home with a well appointed kitchen. The views from the kitchen and living room are wide open and amazing. Master bedroom view is top notch as well. Home slept 10 comfortably. Would definitely rent again.
Only small draw back was the nights were a bit worm in the sleeping rooms. No a/c and dependent on breezes to semi cool. Still worth it.
Larry Y.
August 2021
Great stay with all the amenities for our group. Quiet neighborhood with close access to the beach and Princeville shops.
Gwen G.
July 2021
Everything we could have asked for and more! Wonderful home for families or groups of friends. Mahalo Tammy!!!
Jessica B.
July 2021
We (family of 10 including teens, parents and grandparents) loved our week at Dolphin Hale. We’ve been coming to Kauai for over a decade and this ranks as perhaps our favorite place to stay. Everything was as advertised and Nancy the island host was terrific with timely recommendations on how to navigate the construction on Hanalei bridge. The views cannot be beat and great access to all our favorite beaches (tunnels, haena, Hanalei and Anini) as well as newly discovered ones in the neighborhood. Hopefully the hot tub will be repaired for future guests as it would be a great finishing touch to a fantastic house.
Mani E.
June 2021
was not aware the property had no central AC but one unit .. that was limiting, property was some what advetized as close to the ocean .. but to get to it there was much more than we imagined ... the ad in the verb was not clear that the house was actually not beach proximate ...
toiletry were limited, cooking material limited, ... but overall the house had a great view , was spacious, functional and met our needs and was beautiful
tom h.
June 2021
The vacation was great (whole fam -- mom, dad, 3 teen sons), and the house was a big part of it. Clean, totally stocked for cooking, etc., great location, and incredible views. Close to Hanalei, walking distance to several great beaches, central on north side of the island, located in great neighborhood. When we return to Hawaii, this will be our first choice.
Troy R.
June 2021
We had a great time! Working with Tammy was great to work with and considering all of the challenges with COVID, things couldn’t have worked out better.
Jennifer M.
January 2019
My family thoroughly enjoyed our stay at the Dolphin Hale - comfortable and relaxing!!
sam L.
December 2018
The house and the view are killer!! Couple very small issues but nothing major. We had 9 people in our party and there was more than enough room. Ownership and management company were top notch. There is no way you could ever be disappointed with this house... If I ever went back I would lease this home again..
Sam L (Phoenix)
McKell M.
November 2018
This home is nothing short of amazing! It accommodates our group of 10 adults with ease. The views from the deck are breath taking. The kitchen is FULLY equipped with anything and everything you would need in a kitchen. We utilized the barbecuer and ate a lot of our meals there. The house was extremely clean and fully stocked with towels, bedding, etc. I cannot express anymore good about this house!
Joanne A.
October 2018
This is a beautiful home with an amazing view of the ocean. The neighborhood is quiet and well maintained. We celebrated our 40th anniversary with our children and grandchildren and it was just perfect for a family gathering. The house was very clean and spacious. I would recommend this vacation rental to anyone.
Big Wave Dave M.
September 2018
What a beautiful and romantic setting. The house is amazing! Five bedrooms with multiple King Beds. The view allowed for watching the sunrise every morning. The peacefulness was relaxing hearing the ocean waters below. Being a mile from a top golf course = Makai has spectacular views equaling the ones from The Dolphin Hale House. We visited three beaches with the Hanalai Bay being the best of the bunch and only 15 minutes away. We walked and rode bikes around Princeville. Flat enough to get a workout but easy enough to enjoy the sites. Having a market two minutes away made life easy for eating at home or to go to dinner nearby too. Just a wonderful location. Great home! Great location and great amenities nearby. A Bo Derek 10 in my book.
August 2018
WONDERFUL!
July 2018...We stayed at Dolphin Hale with our family of eight. The home is truly beautiful and spacious. There are five bedrooms and four baths. The kitchen is very large and modern with everything you can ask for in pans, utensils and dishes...even a Keurig coffee maker (bring your k-cups). The bedrooms are nicely appointed and there are big fans in each bedroom because the only place there is air-condition is the dining area. We loved having the large wooden dining table to enjoy our meals. There is a reading nook upstairs near the dining area where we would find someone at different times snuggled up reading in this cozy, private space near the dining room. The master suite is fabulous with a huge walk in closet...even an ironing board. All t he big sliding doors (up and down) are great because it brings in a nice breeze. The deck is wonderful and at a distance we could see the beautiful ocean. In the garage there is a washer and dryer and plenty of chairs, water toys including snorkels..
NOT SO GOOD...We have three teenagers that love to boogie board. It is a distance to drive to find a nice beach but the waves were so small that the boys could not boogie board but they did enjoy splashing, snorkeling and playing catch on the beach. The rental agent told me that in summer months the waves are small but during the winter months they actually have surfing competitions.
All in all we found this house lovely and relaxing and would highly recommend it, Kauai s a beautiful area to visit and would definitely come back to Dolphin Hale.
Lisa C.
July 2018
A group of 10 of us stayed at the Dolphin Hale, and could not have had a better experience. The house had everything we needed, including an abundance of towels and everything we needed in the kitchen. Our group, which ranged in age from 5 to 73, was very comfortable. There was so much space for both my family and my brother's family. The view is outstanding, and we really enjoyed the neighborhood; my husband and I went on a daily run from right outside the front door, and my mother and the kids enjoyed seeing the nesting albatross down the street. Hanalei was a quick drive, and we even walked to Queen's Bath. Communication with the owner was very clear, and she was very responsive. We also had a "local host" who called and checked in on us. Highly recommend this house, not only for the actual house, but for the ideal location.
Michael F.
June 2018
The description of the property is very accurate and the views are astounding. The house has recently been upgraded to have A/C in the family room, dining room and kitchen area (main part of the house). That made a huge difference during our stay! The house is well laid out and could easily fit 9 or 10 people comfortably. The garage is stocked with boogie boards, a surf board and other beach must-haves. You can absolutely tell that the owners of this property care about guest experience. They have a guidebook that answers most any question that you would have during your stay and the property manager, Nancy, was incredibly responsive. Everything was first rate and we will absolutely rent this property again in a future visit to Kauai. I can't recommend it enough. Anyone who rents here will not be disappointed.
Stacy K.
June 2018
So incredibly grateful to have found this home in Princeville! My (new) husband and I had an idea a year ago to bring our blended family together for a "family-moon"/week in Paradise and this house was the perfect fit for our large group of 10 plus our (barely) 6 month old grandson! Personally, I'm the kind of person that likes my space/quiet time and this layout was ideal. Our Master Suite had huge picture windows and views that were so peaceful to fall asleep and wake up to. The home is also well appointed with recently installed air conditioning, gourmet kitchen and breathtaking ocean views from the large great room. It was everything my husband and I hoped for on this trip, and more!
This home is the ideal setting for a large family or group, with Smart TV's throughout to enjoy Netflix, etc. Large deck is great for dining, and has a barbecue and space to chill and catch some rays. Set in an upscale and quiet neighborhood with paved streets, it's great for walks or running and is close to some good beaches and hiking spots. It's also within walking distance to the St. Regis Resort.
Can't say enough good things about this house, and the lovely lady I dealt with during this entire process, owner Tammy Russel-Rice. From beginning to end she was responsive, thoughtful and extremely helpful providing answers to any questions I had. I also was in touch with the property's Island Host during my stay, and she too was was responsive and helpful.
Words cannot express how grateful I am that we found this home to make some great family memories in. If you're planning a trip for a large group to Kauai, this is your spot.
Marjorie R.
May 2018
This dream home is situated in a pleasant, very upscale neighborhood in Princeville and is just as beautiful it looks online. It sits on a cliff with a magnificent view of the ocean. Each time I went out on the upper deck I felt like breaking into the soliloquy from South Pacific: “Wonder how I’d feel, living on a hillside, Looking at an ocean, beautiful and still”!
The house is spotlessly clean, beautifully furnished and decorated, and had every amenity for the comfort and enjoyment of our group of nine adults (myself and four daughters and sons-in-law).
Our island host, Nancy Miller was very helpful and responsive. One of the bathrooms had a loose toilet seat, and Nancy had it replaced within an hour of my calling about it.
The beauty of Kauai is breathtaking. Because of closed roads from recent flooding, we could not drive north to see some of the sites we had planned, but a Blue Hawaiian helicopter tour gave us a thrilling view of the entire island. We also went on Captain Andy's sunset dinner cruise along the Napali Coast. It was a fantastic adventure! And there's nothing like eating breakfast on the St. Regis Hotel's elegant outdoor Makana Terrace (less than 5 minutes from the house) while enjoying the ocean vista with Bali Hai as a backdrop. Heavenly!
On this vacation of a lifetime, we visited Oahu, Kauai and the Big Island. The Dolphin Hale, in its beautiful location, was by far the most desirable place we stayed. If I ever return to Kauai I will want to stay again in this lovely home.
hari j.
July 2017
Had a fabulous time at The Dolphin, Very close to the St Regis Hotel and 2 minutes form Food Land and restaurants.
The villa was immaculate and very well organized. Excellent wi-fi, beautiful views and a stunning kitchen. All the bedrooms were very comfortable and slept 10 people very comfortably.
The owner Tammy was a pleasure to communicate with, so accommodating and friendly! So many nice small touches in the villa were appreciated, like a bottle of red and white wine in the wine fridge and even a bottle of prosecco too!
The garage also had wake boards, bikes and plenty of beach equipment.
The only thing missing was A/C, however, there are plenty of windows that allow a nice sea breeze to pass through the entire villa.
Would highly recommend
Hari from NYC
Kevin W.
June 2017
This was our 4th time staying at the Dolphin Hale. The latest updates improved an already spectacular home. The new kitchen is much better placed in the house with great views while preparing meals. The new secondary master suite is also an impressive update. The house is perfectly located on a quiet street with incredible ocean views. Close to the golf course, close to the local private beach, and close to the local shops and restaurants within Princeville. This location is also good for access to many island amenities such as horse back riding, zip lines, ATVs, botanical gardens, hiking trails, Hanalei, and oh the beaches and snorkling spots. WOW! I did not think the house could get better and the Owners raised the bar again. Bring friends as there is lots of room. This is absolutely the best option for a house on Kauai.
Susan F.
April 2017
Amazing! The house was perfect for our vacation. There was 8 of us and the house was spacious, clean, updated, everything worked perfectly! The views are beautiful!! The house is conveniently located to the stores and beaches. We all had a great time and would definitely come back!
Rodney E.
February 2017
We spent our Thanksgiving Holiday here and had a great time. The house on the inside look just like the pictures! Which is nice! The kitchen was great because it was nice and big. There were 9 of us, 3 couples, 3 children and everyone loved it. It was nice how the almost all the bedrooms except 1 were on the basement level. The hot-tub was not working when we got there, they responded to our email quickly. However, they would send the hot tub guy over, he did not fix or did not show. My husband was able to fix it because it was fuse... So not a big deal for us. Had a great time - and cooked a ton in the kitchen! The dining room table was nice and big so that was nice for us to get to sit together! Would stay at this house, or other houses by the same owners... Thanks so much, it was great vacation from the Midwest.
Clay M.
January 2017
This was our second two week stay at The Dolphin Hale, we were here two years ago for two weeks as well. The remodel work has really made the home special. The new kitchen is excellent, commercial gas stove is easy to use, new wine cooler refrigerator, gigantic sink and what a view now from the kitchen! The new gas grill is excellent for grilling fresh fish, nice consistent heat and it will grill at lower temperatures as well as high temperatures.
They also added an upstairs bathroom, great improvement and very handy.
They added a new bedroom on to the lower level that has a sliding door to the hot tub. The new bathroom/shower is beautiful and functional.
They also added a carport which came in handy on our last day as it was raining when we loaded the car.
TDH comes well stocked with plenty of hand soap and dish soap, paper towels and toilet paper.
When we arrived there was a broken window from the previous occupants, two days later the repair people replaced it while we were out for the day. Great service and response time!
We used the beach gear almost every day, chairs, mats and plenty of beach towels.
We only occupied three of the five bedrooms but there is plenty of space for a group of ten. The living area upstairs can easily accommodate ten at the dinner table and the deck is very large for everyone to enjoy the humpback whales playing in the bay!
Thank you and we highly recommend this beautiful and functional vacation home!
Lauren Q.
August 2016
Visiting from Australia, we had never been to Hawaii before. Our first stop was Kauai and we were extremely excited to stay at the Dolphin Hale.
The house exceeded our expectations and was an absolutely beautiful place to base ourselves during our stay.
We loved Kauai and found Princeville the perfect location to stay. The beach, just a short walk down from the house, is stunning and quite quiet.
Just a short drive to Queens Bath which is a must see!
Yen was very helpful during our booking process. We valued her assistance and recommendations. We did a helicopter flight and boat around the island.
We ordered in the local thai one night which delivered to the house and ate out other nights at local restuarants and food trucks. Wailua Shave Ice in Kaapa was our fave! Natural flavourings and delicious.
The Dolphin Hale is paradise! Would recommend to our friends and families.
Mahalo!
Marian D.
August 2016
Okay....the place is everything we hoped it would be and then some! We stayed at the Dolphin Hale for 10 days. All the renovations that have been done were well thought out and done very well. The place is just lovely. Not only was it lovely, but everything was so very neat and clean.
The kitchen remodel is impressive. We love of the choice for the counter/bar top in the kitchen. The blue in the granite is just beautiful. And there was so much room in the kitchen......plenty of room for 4 adults and two kids to move around in!
We took the Master Bedroom at the end of the hall with the big picture window. What a great ocean view to wake up to every morning. Our son and daughter-in-law took the Coral room with one of the three newly renovated bathrooms. The view they woke up to each morning was truly beautiful. And the grandkids had the Fish Room next door to a second renovated bathroom, which was perfect for them.
With the beaches near-by there was plenty to do for kids. They thoroughly enjoyed snorkeling and body surfing for the first time (so did their parents!). We took the grandkids to play miniature one day while their parents went on an 8 mile hike on the Napoli Coast. It was one of the most well kept and manicured miniature golf courses we have seen. They had a great little deli and shaved ice too! Actually, we tried a new shaved ice place just about every day we were there on our daily travels!
And Yen Upson of Elite Vacation Properties was of great help before and during our vacation. On one occasion the kids wanted to go bike riding. They have 3 bikes available, but two had flat tires. When we contacted Yen, she was there within 45 minutes with a tire pump for us! We weren't expecting that!
We did what many people we heard do, stopped at Cosco after landing in Lihue. We stocked up on some things, but found the local close-by, Princeville, Foodland, was a great grocery store and deli to shop at in-between. In the same shopping center are some great shops, restaurants, bank, a coffee shop and ice cream shop. Great little hang out!
And I can't say enough about Thomas Duffy, Concierge with Hawaii Vacation Activities. Yen put us in touch with him. He did a great job of giving us numerous choices for the activities we were interested in doing that were good for 4 adults and an 8 and 10 year old.
We loved our stay!!!!! We hope to go back again!!!!
Brent T.
March 2016
Stayed here for a week with my family of five during 2016 spring break. We were the first to stay "post-remodel" and the place is incredible. Fully updated throughout, however, the new gourmet kitchen is really the highlight. If this is your first visit to Kauai, you'll appreciate that the location is conveniently located in Princeville - close to shops, restaurants, wonderful beaches and outdoor activities. My wife and I, along with our three teenage children, also appreciated easy access to walking/running paths and the safe and friendly neighborhood.
And while the views from the deck of Dolphin Hale are amazing, we were so busy checking out the local attractions we really didn't spend a lot of time on it. Would definitely recommend this place and hope to make it back! Also, the owner was very responsive and I know they worked hard to get the place ready for our stay - something that was much appreciated.
Shawn L.
February 2015
We stayed at Dolphin Hale the week of New Years 2014/2015. Firstly the house is truly beautiful. It is advertised as an executive home and it is. The price is also executive though! As such, we expected a lot. Photos do no the place justice. It is big and gorgeous. The views are great too. Property manager is friendly and eager to please. We ran out of soap and dishwasher detergent and she was there in hours with what we needed.
Here are the negatives from our stay:
• House includes a few boogie board but they are all in ROUGH shape
• No beach umbrella, no beach chairs – you will need your own
• Many windows are in disrepair. Many don’t open or close. In fact window on kids room (with two single beds) fell off completely and laid on ground for 2 days. Normally not a big deal but nights were cool and windy and our kids were cold as the wind howled into the room. It took property manager 3 days go get someone over to fix it
• The spa is new and awesome! They mounted the cover so it blocks your view of the ocean which is kinda dumb but you can take it off completely if you like. We did have one major problem though . Spa guy did not show up on holiday Wed. By Thursday night spa was a cesspool and had to be drained as it had been 9 days without chemical. This meant no spa for Fri or Sat of our 7 day rental. For the price we paid this was unacceptable and owners offered no compensation in return even though we asked.
• The kitchen is well stocked but could use a few items like baking sheets,etc. It was a pleasant surprise to find many condiments, spices, and plastic wrap left over from previous renters. Often these are raided by the cleaners.
• The house next door faces a strange direction – basically the neighbors back view (towards ocean) faces directly onto the hot tub. Therefore there is no privacy in the spa area. We were very curious as the history here. We figured the neighbor was there first and had a great view. Then this house was built as far back as legally possible obstructing the neighbors view. Once you see it, you’ll get it.
Clay M.
January 2015
My wife and I spent two weeks at Dolphin Hale and loved every minute of our stay. The deck provides an awesome view of the ocean where we spotted whale activity every day. The open family/dining room is great with the huge windows. The master bedroom has a wonderful view of the ocean as well. Most nights we would go to the local fish market and get the fresh catch of the day for grilling. We brought a portable blue tooth speaker so we could feed Pandora to the deck. Music, cocktails, grilled fish, beautiful view, then off to the hot tub, perfect!
This house has a well equipped kitchen, the beds were very comfortable, and plenty of space. Thank you and we will return, outstanding vacation home!
Marlene W.
December 2014
This beautiful home is spacious and is so comfortable that it will feel like your very own Kauai home away from home. I found myself constantly stopping to enjoy the ocean view from different areas of the home. The large rear deck is perfect for private sunbathing and great for outdoor dining after you enjoy the the home's bubbling spa. Local beaches and outdoor activities are just a short distance away. My husband and I also enjoyed simple morning walks throughout the neighborhood and around the lovely local golf course. The community park even has its own built-in workout equipment.
This was my family’s first visit to the Dolphin Hale, but it won’t be our last. We can’t wait to get back. If you are ready to relax and enjoy an amazing vacation experience, I can’t imagine a better place.
jeff t.
October 2013
My wife and family stayed at Dolphin Hale for 2 weeks for my 60th birthday it had everything we had hoped it would. The large open kitchen living room area that is the whole upstairs with large windowed views of the pacific was perfect. The beds were firm and very comfortable and even though there is no AC it was just right even cool enough toward morning to pull up a bigger blanket. The beach a short walk from the house was nice and private also fun snorkeling,queens bath is near as is the turtle cave. Got a boat ride to the end of the Napali coast trail and hiked out so amazing. This house is a great place to base out of for all your Kauai adventures.
Aloha
the Teter family
John F.
March 2013
“Luxury in Paradise” is the only way to describe this house. We were blessed to have selected it for our first visit to Hawaii. In my opinion, the pictures do not do it justice. The view from the second bedroom is better than the pictures can show. I enjoyed being able to see my family from the kitchen as I prepared treats. The ocean view was awesome! When we arrived we were drawn to the view just in time for a whale to greet us from a distance. What a memory.
As for the practical items, the beds were very comfortable. That is very important to us after a day of exploring. There was everything we needed. Our son in his twenties appreciated the internet access and our twelve year old was thankful for the boogie boards. He didn’t really have time to use them because we rented surfboards, went snorkeling, zip lined, hiked on the Napali Coast (challenging), saw the sights and more. This house was in a great central location to go North or South on the Island.
The owner was very helpful in answering all of my questions, and I had a lot of them. He gave accurate information which I appreciated. We may have missed out on a few things had it not been for him. This trip was everything we hoped for and more. This house was a big part of the reason it was. I’ll say it again, “Luxury in Paradise”.
Brenda
Vivian F.
February 2012
My husband and I stayed here during our vacation in Kauai. The home is beautiful and spacious with lots of amenities. We especially enjoyed sitting out on the upper lanai with the beautiful ocean view! At night, listening to the ocean was so peaceful. We also appreciated the convenient location, with fantastic restaurants and shopping so close. I highly recommend the Dolphin Hale and would stay there on future trips for sure. This was our third trip to the islands and the Dolphin Hale was by far our favorite place to stay.
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