Kiahuna Plantation Resort: laid back and beachfront

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In a nutshell: a casual vacation rental complex in the heart of Poipu.

Overview of Kiahuna Plantation Resort

Laid back condos in low density, two story buildings are spread throughout the 35 acre oceanfront resort. This place feels like laid back island living at it’s best, with plenty of green space to roam, beautiful plumeria trees to enjoy, and one of the best beaches just steps from your door. 

Kiahuna Plantation Resort Location

The location is a serious draw here. You’re located right on the south shore, just steps from one of the best beaches on Kauai, Kiahuna Beach. Trying to decide between Princeville (the north shore) and Poipu (the south)? We break down the decision with our Princeville vs Poipu article.

Highlights of the Kiahuna Plantation Resort

Pools

Enjoy a resort style pool just across the street from the Kiahuna Plantation Resort. Your vacation rental provides you with access to the Poipu Athletic Club where you’ll be able to enjoy a great pool, complete with a waterslide. 

Units

One bedroom or two bedroom units are available at the Kiahuna Plantation Resort. You can choose between garden view or partial ocean view units. All units come with a private lanai, though the furnishings and amenities will vary based on the individual unit owner. The units are located in two story buildings spread over the 35 acre resort, which gives it a very relaxed, spacious feel. 

Amenities

Onsite you have access to lounge chairs by the beach and community grills. Offsite, you have access to the Poipu Beach Athletic Club where you can enjoy the pool, fitness center, tennis courts or pickleball courts. 

Kiahuna Plantation Resort Review: why we love it

• Kiahuna Beach: This oceanfront condo community is located on one of the best beaches on Kauai, Kiahuna Beach. You can walk straight out your door and have your feet in the sand within minutes. 
• Walkable location: If you don’t feel like getting in your car for the day, there is plenty for you to walk to. You can take a leisurely stroll to get your meals (Little Fish is just a quick walk away), walk to either Kiahuna or Poipu Beach, or walk to a beachfront luau. 
• Poipu Beach Athletic Club Access: There is no pool or fitness center on-site, but you can head right across the street for pool, tennis court, and fitness center access. You’ll find a great pool and good food at the Cabana Bar & Grill. 
• Good value: This is a dated, retro place, but you can also get decent rental prices (especially compared to the Sheraton hotel next door).

Things to Know Before Booking Kiahuna Plantation Resort

While we do think the Kiahuna Plantation Resort is a great option for staying on South Kauai, there are some drawbacks: 

• Rental fees: All accommodations in Hawaii can come with some (rather large) fees. Whether you’re in a hotel paying resort fees or you’re getting a vacation rental and paying service fees, factor these into your equation. We usually go with VRBO because we’ve found that these fees are usually lower than what you’ll find on other similar platforms. You can also book through Outrigger, as they manage a number of the units on the property. 
• No unit consistency: all of these vacation rentals are individually owned, so there’s a lack of consistency. Some are great and some are dated and come with fewer helpful amenities. Reading reviews of individual units can always give you a better sense of what to expect before booking. We’ve included a short list of units that we’ve either stayed in or have had friends or family stay in and enjoy. But there are plenty of other great ones that aren’t included on this list. 
• Not all units have air conditioning: if having A/C is high on your list, check the VRBO listing to confirm that the unit you are booking has air conditioning. While there is a nice breeze and we usually keep the A/C off, there can be some nights in the summer where air conditioning would make for a much more comfortable night sleep. 
• Dated property: This is not a modern vacation rental community. You definitely get a retro vibe while here. 

Ready to head to Kauai? We can make it easy to finish your planning with our itineraries. These island itineraries take you on excursion days seeing the best sights and eating at the best restaurants. All on a planned out route so there is no backtracking.

“We leave on our trip to Kauai and Hawaii on this Saturday. We reserved our timeshares about a year ago. We purchased our plane tickets about two months ago. We started to “flesh-out” our itinerary about a month ago. I only came across your website and itineraries for each island about two weeks ago. I bought your itineraries about a week ago. Honestly, I wish I had found you long ago. Also, I wish that it was more clear on your website how incredibly helpful it is to have you do all the research! Your research and itineraries are priceless and a bargain at your price point. I don’t know why I hesitated to buy them.”

Gilda S.