Pono Kai, Kauai

Pono Kai Resort, located in the historic town of Kapaa on Kauai's east side, offers a picturesque 12-acre property with meticulously manicured grounds and a koi pond. The resort is within walking distance of various restaurants, shops, and grocery stores, and is just 15 minutes from Lihue Airport. Guests can enjoy numerous on-site amenities, including a pool, hot tub, tennis and pickleball courts, workout room, BBQ facilities, herb garden, and a 7-mile multi-use coastal path. The resort also provides free parking, 24-hour front desk service, and an activities desk for arranging island adventures.

In addition to its convenient location and extensive amenities, Pono Kai Resort is situated along the scenic Ke Ala Hele Makalae walking and bike path, providing easy access to the beautiful coastline and nearby attractions. With a range of activities and facilities available, Pono Kai Resort is an ideal choice for vacationers seeking a relaxing and enjoyable stay on the Garden Isle of Kauai.

Pono Kai Average Rates


As of March 2025, the average price of a 1 bedroom unit at Pono Kai is $327. The average price of a 2 bedroom unit is $526. The average takes into account Hawaii's 18% accommodation tax as well as the cleaning and booking fees rentals charge. Also note that prices vary depending on the specifc unit and season (holiday rates are usally much higher). Visit the Pono Kai Rentals page to see specific unit prices for your dates.

Pono Kai's Best Rentals

View All 39 Pono Kai Rentals (with vacancy and search options)

What Do Guests Think? An AI Analysis of 1000 Guest Reviews


Reviewer Portrait

The following executive summary is based on a comprehensive and impartial AI analysis of guest reviews. Keep in mind that all units are individually owned, and review scores among units can vary considerably.

It seems like guests have had a positive experience staying at the Pono Kai condo resort on Kauai. Many appreciate the central location, which allows for easy access to restaurants, shops, and sightseeing spots. The oceanfront views and proximity to the beach are highlights for many, with guests enjoying sunrises and the sound of waves from their units. The resort's amenities, including pools, family activities, and well-maintained grounds, are well-received. Units are described as clean, comfortable, and well-equipped, offering everything needed for a pleasant stay, including beach gear. Some guests mention minor issues such as noise from neighboring units or the need for updates in some condos, but these do not seem to detract significantly from the overall positive experience. The convenience of walking and biking paths, as well as the friendly and responsive property management, are also appreciated. Overall, guests recommend Pono Kai for its beautiful location, comfortable accommodations, and the excellent value it provides for a memorable stay on Kauai. This summary is based on a comprehensive analysis of 1000 guest reviews.

Recent Pono Kai Reviews


Very pleased with our stay. My family and I stayed 7 days and it was Amazing.
Christia
December 2024

Rating Details: The property manager was very helpful. The vacation rental was spotless. I was very happy with the location. I was very satisfied with the condition of the vacation rental. Overall, I recommend this vacation rental. Reviewer Comments: It was a great condo for my family of 4. My two young daughters shared a queen(twin beds would have been better). It was so nice being on the ground level and walking up to walk on the beach at sunrise. (Beach was not swimmable for young ones). Being on the bike trail was great too. It was nice to go for a jog or walking to restaurants, food trucks, coffee. It was centrally located which made exploring the island easier. Snorkel rentals on site. The only negative was not having a washer and dryer in the unit(from a mother's perspective, it makes the trip more difficult). There is a laundry mat, but we didn't use it.
Aimee H.
December 2024

This place was perfect for our family of 4. The condo was very spacious and was bigger than expected. The beds were comfortable and the kitchen was perfect for making meals at home. The view was amazing and sunrises sublime. The location was great if you plan to visit both south and north sides so that you are located in between. The Pono Kai resort was good. Amenities were adequate. You have go to the front desk to check out things like ping pong paddles, croquet set, etc and they close at 6 so we had wished that it was possible to do some of these things after 6. That was our only comment but it is no fault of the condo owner, just an odd resort policy. The resort and grounds were nicely kept. We would stay here again. Thank you for sharing it with us.
Donna R.
December 2024

Wonderful mother daughter getaway
Kimberley G.
December 2024

Comfy, clean condo in a resort complex with much on offer! Roll out the front door and down the stairs and you are steps from the sand and good swimming or from strolling and exploring oh-so-Kauai Kapa'a town. And, lots of beach gear in the closet to use!
Jeremy F.
December 2024

Excellent condo. Beautiful view. Layout was ideal. Owners very helpful. If you are looking for paradise you have found it.
Charles G.
December 2024

We totally enjoyed the ocean front views. It was very relaxing to hear the surf. The condo and property are very clean, but dated. We did have a few ants
Jan A.
December 2024

Super clean, air conditioned unit. No in-unit laundry, but the building laundry room is just steps away. Only downsides were that the upstairs neighbors fed the chickens (which led to a gross lanai) and seemed to hold square dancing competitions at odd hours.
Danielle T.
December 2024

Great location! View is awesome and corner unit is very quiet! Had 5 adults and perfect size.
John H.
December 2024

Best place to stay in Kapa’a. Condo was large and fully equipped with all you need.
Carrie M.
December 2024

Our stay at this condo was absolutely wonderful! The location couldn’t be better—right next to a stunning ocean beach, offering breathtaking views and easy access. The condo was well-equipped with a fully stocked kitchen, making it convenient to prepare meals. It truly felt like a home away from home. We couldn’t have asked for a better experience and can’t wait to return!
Ser C.
November 2024

View was lovely, well located, and well appointed. Always seemed to have what we needed. Stayed at Pno Kai many times and this was a very nice unit.
Janice C.
November 2024

Met all our expectations.
Joe G.
November 2024

Rating Details: The property manager was very helpful. The vacation rental was spotless. I was very happy with the location. I was very satisfied with the condition of the vacation rental. Overall, I recommend this vacation rental. Reviewer Comments: Fantastic view, super clean unit, good layout ... overall a great place to spend a couple of weeks!
Tamara D.
November 2024

Absolutely amazing stay , will definitely come back to same condo , thank you so much
lisa W.
November 2024

Great stay at this property, location is perfect, sleeping to the sound of the waves with shops and restaurants just around the corner. The coastal path is also great for long walks. The unit was very clean and spacious. AC throughout, basic amenities provided sufficient for a 4 night stay. Was a great base to discover both north sand south shores
Shenaaz R.
November 2024

The condo was lovely and well stocked for cooking onsite. Beautiful view of ocean and loved that we could walk out onto the lanai and across the grass to a small beach. The owner and property manager were very responsive to questions. Kauai is such an amazing island! We would like to stay at this condo again.
Alexis B.
November 2024

Loved our time here. Great central location to beaches, food and relaxation. Condo worked well for six of us. Common use/shared coin operated washers and dryers only slight inconvenience for the trip. Wonderful grounds. Lots of games to play and opportunities through the activities center. Would come and stay again.
tyler k.
November 2024

Great place to stay with a great view. Highly recommended.
Ryan E.
November 2024

We really loved our stay at this property. The room itself was clean and solid and the kitchen was super well-stocked. I'm so glad that they left a bunch of the spices and odds and ends that people probably gathered when they cooked in it, as all those things made the kitchen far more usable. Also, when we found that there weren't dishwasher pods in the kitchen, the owner actually gave us plenty of money in a refund for us to get our own, and since we were out so much, that was easy for us to do. They responded really well to our problem and were good about being generous on how to solve it when the housekeeper was across the island and unable to get to us in a timely manner. The hottub on the property was a great way to get to talk to a lot of other travelers. The location was right on the edge of a small town, with lots of fun stuff just in walking distance, and instant access to the main road around the island. And being at the mid-point meant that going north and doing west was equally easy. We've done Poipu before, but this was so much nicer, and more mixed into the actual residents of this island instead of just a resort dislocated from the rest of the island. I would so recommend this instead of Poipu, if you want to go to Poipu beach, it's an easy drive from here, too, and there are even beaches just on one side of the whole complex, some with protection from the surf to make swimming much less hazardous than on other parts of the island.
John R.
November 2024

Our unit was wonderful, beautiful view and convenient location. We would definitely stay here again.
Candyce D.
November 2024

Kauai is such a beautiful lush island. Our condo provided the perfect location to see all parts. Our condo had all of the items needed for an enjoyable stay. Thank You Steven, Stephanie & Ashley! Mahalo
Karen S.
November 2024

What a great visit! You can't beat the location. Close parking, close to the beach and a well-stocked apartment. The unit was clean and spacious. We appreciated the small extras like beach chairs and beach towels. We had good communication with the property management as well. There were a couple of small maintenance items that I alerted the PM too and I received a prompt reply to my email with the assurance things would be looked at by maintenance. None of the housekeeping items were a deal breaker for our stay. We would definitely stay here again!
Tava R.
November 2024

The condo was clean, spacious, and well equipped for our stay. It’s in a convenient location for access to all the island offers.
Ross C.
November 2024

This unit is located in a lovely, well maintained resort in Kapa'a. We had no issues with the unit, although we felt some of the furnishings could be a little more comfortable. Lovely view from lanai, nice to have the walking trail as well. Overall would definitely recommend!
Beth C.
November 2024

Nice, clean and centrally located!
Conley B.
November 2024

This VRBO was perfect from my girlfriend and I. We felt right at home being able to cook, watch movies and hang by the pool when we wanted. It’s also in a very central area with lots to do in a walking distance. We enjoyed this place very much and will def look to stay here again. Highly recommended!
Gerald D.
November 2024

Rating Details: The property manager was very helpful. The vacation rental was spotless. I was very happy with the location. I was very satisfied with the condition of the vacation rental. Overall, I recommend this vacation rental. Reviewer Comments: It was everything we needed . .
LaVonda L.
November 2024

The view was amazing and the condo was beautiful and clean! Enjoyed our stay so much and we will be back !
Cynthia S.
November 2024

Super cosy apartment with a breathtaking view to the sea. By a short walk you reach coffee shops and bars.
Anna C.
November 2024

Loved the Condo! I went with my elderly mom and being on the first floor and having A/C was perfect. Had a comfortable bed and everything we needed. The only negative was the fact that the drinkware took up 3 cupboards (over 50 glasses) so there was no cupboard space for groceries. Other than that, it was perfect.
Cynthia C.
November 2024

Loved it
mary r.
November 2024

We just got home from a wonderful stay in Kauai. The condo was just what we needed, and the ocean front view was gorgeous. We had awesome sunrises each morning, and a shaded patio all afternoon. It had everything we needed in the kitchen, and had boogie boards, beach chairs and a beach umbrella for our use. We also loved the location as it was close to Safeway, and many good restaurants (try the Macadamia Sea Bass at the Lemongrass Grill). Huma was always quick to respond to any questions, and the check in/out procedure was easy. We'll keep this on our list for future visits.
David M.
November 2024

What a beautiful condo for our family of 6 adults to stay in. Had more than enough room for everyone. It is well equipped with everything you would need in the kitchen and for the beach. The condo is furnished very nicely and very comfortable. The grounds of the complex were lovely and we made use of the pool and hot tub. The bike walking path in front is great for renting a bike and taking in the views along the shore. The hosts Betsy and Brooke responded very quickly before our arrival and during when I had questions. They quickly fixed the concerns we had with the aircon in no time. I would highly recommend this unit and hosts Betsy and Brooke for your stay !
Heather M.
November 2024

Great location clean beautiful grounds
Nancy P.
November 2024

Rating Details: The property manager was very helpful. The vacation rental was spotless. I was more than happy with the location. I was very satisfied with the condition of the vacation rental. Overall, I recommend this vacation rental. Reviewer Comments: Excellent accomodations, was simple and easy from check in to checkout. Wonderful, clean and updated unit steps from the ocean. Overall had a wonderful time and was pleased with the pono kai.
Jason B.
November 2024

A great location for walking the bike path in Kapaa, easy walking distance to shops and food, plus 24/7 ocean sounds made for the perfect vacation spot. The condo was clean and had everything we needed for beach adventures or just lounging around. Bed was comfortable. Good communication w the owner. She was very attentive and helpful with any questions. We will definitely be back! Mahalo
Meg G.
October 2024

This location has amazing ocean views! Perfect to watch the sunrises. It has everything you need for your vacation. The only downside we had was staying for 9 days and the property only had 1 set of showering towels for each one of us. Granted there was a washer/dryer on the property, we weren’t in our unit enough to wash them every other day. I would recommend more towels for the guests. Also, our comforter had yellow stains on it which made going to bed a little uneasy. Lastly, our units AC was out for the first two days that we got there. Donna was quick to get it fixed and also accommodated us, which we were grateful for.
Nicholas B.
October 2024

We did get some ,e rest.
Kathy D.
October 2024

Rating Details: The property manager was very helpful. The vacation rental was spotless. I was more than happy with the location. I was more than satisfied with the condition of the vacation rental. Overall, I recommend this vacation rental. Reviewer Comments: Good central location, the condo was nicely furnished. Property management very responsive and helpful. Wonderful view, listen to the waves. However, not an area where you can swim in the ocean if that is what you are looking for.

October 2024

This was our second time at this condo. The place looked as new as when we saw it 2 years ago. Kitchen is well stocked with cooking and baking ware. There were plenty of towels for bath and beach. There were many extras like beach chairs, snorkel equipment. Lovely view of water from living area. Management was very responsive to questions I had. Mary
Mary B.
October 2024

This was a great place for a visit to Kaua’i. Beautiful unit in a nice resort, with convenient access to the bike path and ocean. The included bikes and beach gear are a nice touch as well. Lots of good local restaurants & food trucks, and the general location is central with easy access to the northern and southern parts of the island.
Jonathan C.
October 2024

Excellent place. Central location, ocean front. Well equipped unit. One little problem thst was handled promptly, Would love to return.
Richard G.
October 2024

My husband and I stayed in a very nice and comfortable condo in Kaapi, Kauai for 9 days. It was close to everything, very nice people and nice place where we could see the ocean (and the rain when it would "blow" in. We would stay there again!!
Stanley M.
October 2024

Wonderful property, great views and people watching. Excellent accommodations.
Jan K.
October 2024

This place was beyond our expectations. Perfect location, right on the beach. Excellent sunrises. Quiet and the beds were so comfy. It’s located in the middle of everything we did. We had no complaints. We’d definitely recommend it and would stay again for sure.
Liz H.
October 2024

The condo is in a great location. Beautiful view and stocked with anything you could need. Would definitely stay again
Tameka A.
October 2024

We spent 8 wonderful days on Kauai in this beautiful condo and absolutely loved it! The view from the lanai is incredible and the sunrises each morning were stunning! It was a great place and truly a home away from home. The condo is centrally located with many great places to walk to, as well as a great path along the ocean that we walked on each day. Stephanie was great with communication and addressed a small issue immediately when contacted. It’s easy to see why this place is so highly rated! Mahalo for an unforgettable dream vacation! Lauri & Ray 😊
Lauri A.
October 2024

The property is a bit dated. The grounds are kept well. The unit was a little shabby, especially the bathrooms. The bedrooms are large, but the living area is smaller than the pictures make it look. Our biggest issue was that the door code we were given did not work, so upon arriving late at night, we had to call the property manager and get a code to the lockbox to let a key (that was difficult to use)…and there was only one key, so we could never separate from the friends we were traveling with. But the kicker was when I messaged the manager the same night we arrived, I NEVER heard back from them for the remaining four days we were there. Terrible customer service in my opinion. Think I’ll be avoiding Vacasa rentals in the future. Otherwise the island was beautiful and we’ll be coming back to Kauai soon.
Jeffrey P.
October 2024

Super place with all one needs! A bit noisy sometimes being on the ground floor but all in all we would definitely come back again!
Dr Larry D.
October 2024


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