Pros
- Oceanfront condo resort with a relaxed atmosphere and manicured grounds
- Large, apartment-style units with one, two, or three bedrooms
- Small pool and hot tub
- Large, sandy beach with access to Kauai Path
- Two tennis courts, a volleyball net, and a mini-golf course
- Multiple grills and barbecue areas scattered around the property
- Small fitness center
- Ample free parking and Wi-Fi
See MorePros
Cons
- Rooms have dated decor and appliances; some feel dark
- Beach isn’t as nice as those on the north or south shores, and water is rough
- Pool seems too small for the size of the hotel
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Bottom Line
This 221-room condo-style value hotel is fairly unremarkable. Rooms, available in one-, two-, and three-bedroom units, are plain, with dated decor and cheap furnishings. There are two tennis courts, multiple barbecue areas, a volleyball net, and a mini-golf course, but the hotel’s pool and fitness center are tiny. The hotel sits along Kauai Path, a miles-long hiking/biking/jogging trail that runs along the coast and allows for easy access to downtown Kapaa. The beach, often strewn with ocean debris, definitely isn’t the nicest in Kauai, and the rough ocean waters aren’t the best for swimming. It’s worth checking rates at nearby Plantation Hale Suites, which has comparably sized rooms with nicer decor and multiple pools -- however, it’s not directly on the beach.
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Hotel & Amenities Photos
Amenities
- Fitness Center
- Internet
- Jacuzzi
- Pool
See More Amenities
Oyster Hotel Review
Pono Kai Resort
Hotel Class:Budget
Scene
More of a condo complex than a “resort”
Pono Kai Resort could use a name rebranding. The term “resort” usually conjures images of a full-service hotel with a wide range of fabulous amenities and services. Instead Pono Kai Resort is more of a condo complex with a concierge and a few underwhelming amenities including a small pool and a lousy fitness center. For those who need a place to sleep while exploring the island, but don’t care about features such as a poolside bar or lounge chairs on the beach, Pono Kai might suit the bill. The majority of guests here are older couples, groups, and multigenerational families. Children are certainly welcome, but there’s really nothing for them to do here.
The lobby is a large, open-air room with an old Hawaiian feel. The main focal point, a giant red canoe that hangs from the tall wood-beamed ceiling, is a nod to the hotel’s nautical name -- Pono Kai roughly translates to “Sea of Righteousness” or “Sea of Hope” in Hawaiian.
See MoreScene
Location
Just outside of downtown Kapaa
Right on the periphery of downtown Kapaa, a scrappy little beach town on Kauai’s eastern coast, Pono Kai Resort is within a 10- to 15-minute walk of local shops, restaurants, and convenience stores. Safeway, the nearest full service grocery store, is about a five-minute drive from the hotel. Kauai Path, a miles-long hiking/biking/jogging trail, separates the hotel from the beach and serves as short cut for those walking into town. Lihue Airport is about a 15-minute drive from the hotel.
See MoreLocation
Rooms
Large and spacious with dated decor
The condo-style units at Pono Kai Resort are huge but bland and beige. One-, two-, and three-bedroom apartments are equipped with cheap hospitality-style furniture, and little else. Giant rooms feel empty because there’s hardly enough furniture or decorative pieces to fill them. Thanks to green carpeting and insufficient lighting, many rooms feel dark, despite their yellow walls and large windows. Beige sofas and light wood furniture seem to blend in with the space around them. Nothing stands out as being Hawaiian, or even beachy. Kitchens are generic as well. They are U-shaped in most rooms, and filled with blond cabinets, older white appliances, light solid surface countertops, and linoleum floors. They are however, functional spaces completely equipped with everything one might need for cooking and clean-up -- including dishwashers. Bathrooms are dark, and most are filled with standard shower/tub combos and either one or two sinks. Wall mounted hairdryers might be the most exciting bathroom amenity, as the provided soaps and shampoos are nothing to write home about. All rooms have balconies or patios, but not all ocean views are worth the upgrade. Some are obstructed by other buildings or trees.
See MoreRooms
Features
Pool, multiple sports courts, and a small fitness center
The small, rectangularly shaped pool at Pono Kai is nice, but no so memorable. For the size of the resort, the pool seems small and looks like it would be better fit for a backyard. There are plenty of nice lounge chairs and umbrellas around the pool and there is also a tiny hot tub. There are several barbecue areas, equipped with grills and picnic tables, scattered about the hotel’s well-manicured grounds. Sports enthusiasts should have no problems keeping themselves occupied here. The hotel has two tennis courts, two shuffleboard courts, a mini-golf course (though it’s really more of a putting green), a volleyball net, and a basketball hoop. However, the tiny gym is a dark, oddly configured room filled any which way with random fitness equipment, and only some of the machines work.
The beach, like all in Hawaii, is open to the public but is rarely crowded. The sloped shoreline is usually covered in debris, and the rough waters deter many swimmers. Pono Kai has free, ample parking surrounding each of its buildings and also offers free Wi-Fi. An on-site restaurant, or even a quick grab-and-go market, feels noticeably absent.
See MoreFeatures
Oyster Hotel Review
Pono Kai Resort
Hotel Class:Budget
Scene
More of a condo complex than a “resort”
Pono Kai Resort could use a name rebranding. The term “resort” usually conjures images of a full-service hotel with a wide range of fabulous amenities and services. Instead Pono Kai Resort is more of a condo complex with a concierge and a few underwhelming amenities including a small pool and a lousy fitness center. For those who need a place to sleep while exploring the island, but don’t care about features such as a poolside bar or lounge chairs on the beach, Pono Kai might suit the bill. The majority of guests here are older couples, groups, and multigenerational families. Children are certainly welcome, but there’s really nothing for them to do here.
The lobby is a large, open-air room with an old Hawaiian feel. The main focal point, a giant red canoe that hangs from the tall wood-beamed ceiling, is a nod to the hotel’s nautical name -- Pono Kai roughly translates to “Sea of Righteousness” or “Sea of Hope” in Hawaiian.
See MoreScene
Location
Just outside of downtown Kapaa
Right on the periphery of downtown Kapaa, a scrappy little beach town on Kauai’s eastern coast, Pono Kai Resort is within a 10- to 15-minute walk of local shops, restaurants, and convenience stores. Safeway, the nearest full service grocery store, is about a five-minute drive from the hotel. Kauai Path, a miles-long hiking/biking/jogging trail, separates the hotel from the beach and serves as short cut for those walking into town. Lihue Airport is about a 15-minute drive from the hotel.
See MoreLocation
Rooms
Large and spacious with dated decor
The condo-style units at Pono Kai Resort are huge but bland and beige. One-, two-, and three-bedroom apartments are equipped with cheap hospitality-style furniture, and little else. Giant rooms feel empty because there’s hardly enough furniture or decorative pieces to fill them. Thanks to green carpeting and insufficient lighting, many rooms feel dark, despite their yellow walls and large windows. Beige sofas and light wood furniture seem to blend in with the space around them. Nothing stands out as being Hawaiian, or even beachy. Kitchens are generic as well. They are U-shaped in most rooms, and filled with blond cabinets, older white appliances, light solid surface countertops, and linoleum floors. They are however, functional spaces completely equipped with everything one might need for cooking and clean-up -- including dishwashers. Bathrooms are dark, and most are filled with standard shower/tub combos and either one or two sinks. Wall mounted hairdryers might be the most exciting bathroom amenity, as the provided soaps and shampoos are nothing to write home about. All rooms have balconies or patios, but not all ocean views are worth the upgrade. Some are obstructed by other buildings or trees.
See MoreRooms
Features
Pool, multiple sports courts, and a small fitness center
The small, rectangularly shaped pool at Pono Kai is nice, but no so memorable. For the size of the resort, the pool seems small and looks like it would be better fit for a backyard. There are plenty of nice lounge chairs and umbrellas around the pool and there is also a tiny hot tub. There are several barbecue areas, equipped with grills and picnic tables, scattered about the hotel’s well-manicured grounds. Sports enthusiasts should have no problems keeping themselves occupied here. The hotel has two tennis courts, two shuffleboard courts, a mini-golf course (though it’s really more of a putting green), a volleyball net, and a basketball hoop. However, the tiny gym is a dark, oddly configured room filled any which way with random fitness equipment, and only some of the machines work.
The beach, like all in Hawaii, is open to the public but is rarely crowded. The sloped shoreline is usually covered in debris, and the rough waters deter many swimmers. Pono Kai has free, ample parking surrounding each of its buildings and also offers free Wi-Fi. An on-site restaurant, or even a quick grab-and-go market, feels noticeably absent.
See MoreFeatures
Amenities
Air Conditioner
Babysitting Services
Balcony / Terrace / Patio
Basic Television
Beach
Business Center
Cable
Concierge
Fitness Center
Full Kitchen
Internet
Jacuzzi
Kids Allowed
Laundry
Meeting / Conference Rooms
Pool
Rental Car Service Desk Onsite
Separate Bedroom / Living Room Space
Tennis Court
Disclaimer: This content was accurate at the time the hotel was reviewed. Please check our partner sites when booking to verify that details are still correct.
