Hanalei Colony Resort

Customer Ratings & Reviews

TripAdvisor Traveler Rating

818 reviews

• 

  Hanalei Colony cancels after Hurricane Lowell and after 30 days still no refund to us.

  Well, we were supposed to go to the Hanalei Colony Resort. Hurricane Lowell hit and upon phoning the hotel just before we were due to arrive we found out that the hotel was closed. Nobody informed us - we had to phone to find out. We were already en-route to Honolulu. What is really upsetting me is that we were booked in for the 11th September. I paid over AUD $3000 for our stay there and I am still waiting for the refund. Unfortunately we lost our credit card in Honolulu and they say they won't pay back to our replacement card or do a direct deposit. I have asked if they can pay me via paypal (will see how that goes!). They say their accountant is away and only he/she can write a cheque for me. I will have to wait for this accountant to come to their property to write me a cheque. Apparently nobody else can write me a cheque. It has been over 30 days now and everything I have read says that if the hotel cancels on you, 30 days is the limit - they are obligated to refund you before that! Have you ever heard anything so pathetic! Why can't their hotel manager write me a cheque or any other senior person. They are insured. They probably have a generator. How can you keep an individual waiting for over 30 days for their refund!!!

  Oct 10, 2026
• 

  Falling Asleep to the Sound of the Ocean

  We absolutely loved our stay at Hanalei Colony Resort. Our accommodations were comfortable and spacious, but what made them truly special was the setting. We fell asleep each night and woke each morning to the sound of the ocean, with the beach just steps outside our room. The location was exactly what we hoped for. Surrounded by the quiet, lush landscape of Hā‘ena and away from the larger resorts and busy towns, we felt immersed in the beauty of the North Shore. Having the beach right outside our door meant we could wander down whenever we wanted, then come back to our own comfortable home base. Hanalei was only a 15 minute beautiful drive or hotel shuttle away for shopping and dining out while some of the best North Shore beaches were within a mile or two from our location. Of particular note was the staff. Everyone we encountered could not have been friendlier, warmer, or more helpful. From the moment we arrived, we felt genuinely welcomed, and whenever we needed something, someone was there to help with sincerity and a genuine smile. The daily emails updating us on an approaching storm were thoughtful and thorough. That warmth and care added so much to our stay. We also loved the new pool area and the fabulous outdoor kitchen and BBQ setup with its comfortable lounge area. It was beautifully done and gave us another wonderful place to relax outside. And the laundry room was an unexpectedly useful amenity when we came back with wet swimsuits, towels, and beach clothes! If you’re looking for a polished mega-resort experience, this isn’t that, and that is precisely what we loved about it. Hanalei Colony feels intimate, peaceful, and deeply connected to its extraordinary setting. Staying there allowed us to experience Hā‘ena not simply as somewhere we visited during the day, but as our home on Kauaʻi. We would happily stay here again.

  Sep 09, 2026
• 

  Sunrises and sunsets

  Exceeded my expectations! I loved having the sight and sound of the ocean right outside our unit. Sitting on the lanai, watching the sunrise, was a daily treat while I waited for family to wake up. We used a rollaway bed that I've heard can be uncomfortable and thin, but this mattress was normal thickness and perfectly comfortable. Between the cross breezes and ceiling fans, the unit stayed a comfortable temperature. No one complained about the lack of TV; we spent our evenings playing games at the table. One of my favorite things was the shuttle to Tunnels and Ke'e Beach. Both Keith Richards and Zach were wonderfully reliable shuttle drivers who were fun to talk to. Shout out to Margaret for answering all my questions and walking me through the initial reservation. My only regret is that I waited until the last day to walk to nearby Kepuhi Beach. I saw turtles in the early morning and later, watched a beautiful sunset just past the point.

  Aug 29, 2026
• 

  Hanalei Colony Resort-A Huge Disappointment

  I almost never give a negative review to a hotel or a restaurant because I know that every business can have an off day or an off night. However I was extremely disappointed in the Hanalei Colony Resort, which I just returned from. First, while this may have been a very nice resort 30 years ago, it is now worn, dated, and poorly maintained. The wooden shutters in our condo were covered in dust. The lampshades and every metal surface in the condo were rusted. The furniture was worn and dated. There was no dishwasher. The condos are two stories, but the stairways are not lighted and are slippery when wet (pre-ADA obviously). In fact, the entire resort was very dark at night with no lighting around the buildings or in the courtyard. The parking lot had only a single light. The resort is accessible only by a narrow road winding through the mountains that includes several one-lane bridges. That road sometimes closes due to flooding during heavy storms. I experienced one of those storms during my stay-Hurricane Lala. On Saturday August 15 and Sunday August 16, the resort was without power or Internet service. Although the resort sent emails repeating local government warnings about the storm, people without smart phones couldn't read the emails. Although the resort had guests' phone numbers and sent messages reminding guests of the check out time, no messages were sent with information about the storm. Worst of all, on Saturday August 15, the resort closed its office, sent all of its employees home, and left its guests to fend for themselves during the storm. The resort didn't even provide an emergency number to call if, for example, a guest's candle started a fire or if the resort was flooded, or if a tree fell through our roof. Under the circumstances, I can't recommend the Hanalei Colony Resort to anyone.

  Aug 22, 2026
• 

  A favorite for me not everyone

  I’ve stayed here twice now, and I’ve had two very different experiences booking my stays. The first time, I booked through VRBO and was in a room fairly close to the parking lot. The only thing that bothered me was hearing people lock their cars, which triggered the car alarm sounds. I think most people probably wouldn’t find this to be a big issue, but it was noticeable from my room. The second time, I booked directly through the Colony Resort. I was a little concerned about the lack of air conditioning, so I explained my concerns to the staff. They were extremely helpful and put me in a room where we could get a good cross breeze with the doors open and fans running. We were fortunate to have some rain and good trade winds during our stay, which made the room very comfortable. We also had a great ocean view. One of the things I really like about the Colony is its location. It’s just steps from the local beach, which is great for walking, and parking is free. The rooms also have everything you need to prepare your own meals, including a full-size refrigerator, stove, microwave, dishes, utensils, and other basic kitchen items. This can save quite a bit of money compared with eating out every meal. There’s also a grill by the pool, which we used and really enjoyed. The new restaurant wasn’t really my style, although several people in my family liked it very much. So I think that’s really a matter of personal preference. The resort was fairly quiet, which is exactly what I was looking for. The bed was very firm and comfortable for both my partner and me. They also provided beach chairs to use at the beach and umbrellas for rainy weather, which were nice touches. I think the Colony is probably best suited for a certain type of traveler. I’m not really interested in a large resort with a bunch of pools and activities. I prefer somewhere quiet, relaxed, and close to the beach. If you have kids, I could see a larger resort being a better fit. I stayed at the Outrigger for several nights as well, and I think many families would probably prefer that experience over the Colony. I’m mentioning this because I think some of the negative reviews may come from people having an experience that wasn’t what they expected. I’ll admit I was initially nervous about staying somewhere without air conditioning. But between the weather, the trade winds, the room we were given, and the very helpful staff, we ended up being very comfortable. Overall, I really enjoyed my stays here. If you’re looking for a quiet place with a great beach location, free parking, a kitchen, and a more relaxed atmosphere rather than a traditional family resort, I think the Colony is a great choice.

  Aug 18, 2026