When a Resort Becomes a Family Tradition

Our family has been visiting the Island of Kauai and staying at Waimea Plantation Cottages for 25 years, and I’m reluctant to write about it. When you fall in love with such a special place and it is infused with so many fond memories, you get protective. You don’t want to share this special place with too many others because you don’t want to ruin it. And yet, this place and this resort are just too good to hold back. We consider Waimea Plantation Cottages to be the best hotel on Kauai.

Yes, that is a big statement considering some of the most amazing hotels are located on Kauai. After all, it is the most beautiful, lush and unspoiled of the Hawaiian Islands. Nestled on the West Side of the Garden Island, Waimea Plantation Cottages is not as fancy or elegant as others. It does not have the luxury resort amenities of the 1 Hotel Hanalei Bay or the Grand Hyatt Resort in Poipu. But what it lacks in luxe comforts, it makes up for in authentic Hawaiian charm.

There are so many elements that embed a resort into family traditions, and most of those are the small things. Many small memories add up to big traditions in the 25 years we have been coming here. Waimea Plantation Cottages has earned that special place in our hearts, and this is why we return here again and again.

In fact, we just left Kauai for the 15th time and cannot wait to go back.

Waimea Plantation Cottages is the Best Hotel on Kauai

For our family, this statement is true. For us, Waimea Plantation Cottages is the best hotel on Kauai – and it always will be. This no-frills experience does not pretend to be something it’s not. The cottages are literally just that – sugar plantation cottages from the 1920s and 30s with corrugated tin roofs and hardwood floors, moved onto this beachfront property. The 59 cottages each have wide lanais facing the ocean and gardens, and are surrounded by sweeping green lawns and the scent of blossoming plumeria.

There are no umbrella drinks at the pool served by fresh-faced young locals just off their surf boards. There is no ultra-chic restaurant with a renowned chef serving precious seafood bites. And there is no beach club with lounge chairs in the sand and attendants to spray you with chilled Evian water.

Don’t get this wrong – we LOVE vacations like that, and have been on many. Read about our luxury experiences in Scottsdale or San Juan to learn more. It’s just that when a place like this charms you so deeply, it will forever remain a special place in your heart. This is why we think it’s the best hotel on Kauai.

What Makes Waimea Plantation Cottages So Special?

Our family originally began coming here because the cottages have full kitchens and wide, expansive grounds. With babies and then toddlers and then little kids, we needed a place where we could prepare meals for them at odd times. It was not practical to go out to a restaurant for every meal, and the kids would have been unruly after a week of restaurants.

We wanted a chill environment on the beach and away from the maddening crowds of tourists. Especially when the kids were little, we could not fathom the journey from pool to lobby to elevator to room just to change their clothes for lunch. Searching for a place where we could roll from the sand to the shower and down for a nap in less than 10 minutes, we found our heaven.

Granted, there is now a decent restaurant onsite called Chicken in a Barrel. After several hits and misses over the years, this one seems to be sticking. Judging from the full tables most nights, the tasty BBQ menu and the happy servers, I’d say it’s a hit. But still, however young or old you might be, having a kitchen and private cottage still comes in very handy.

Location on the West Side of Kauai

If you have not visited before, Kauai is a quiet island with lush jungle covering most of the land. It rains an average of 5o inches per year on the dry side and up to 475 inches in the wet interior, making that the wettest place on earth. This is why Kauai is called the Garden Island. Orchids bloom on the sides of roadways, Mimosa trees seem forever filled with delicate pink blossoms, and thick tropical plants grow practically overnight.

Most of the rain is concentrated on the North Side of the island near Princeville and Hanalei Bay. Waimea Plantation Cottages is located on the West Side of the island, about 30 minutes drive past Koloa and Poipu. The drier and sunnier side.

The West Side is topped by stunning mountains and Waimea Canyon, which is Hawaii’s version of the Grand Canyon. Other than that, there is not much else to do here but relax, swim, walk on the beach, play games and relax some more. Kauai is purposely not crisscrossed with roadways, and there is no way to drive completely around the island. Waimea is near the very end of the road on one side, and Halalei Bay is the near the end of the road on the other side. (More than 90% of the island is inaccessible by car.) This makes Waimea even more remote.

And this is exactly why people love coming here. It’s the quiet authenticity of being decidedly un-touristy that makes the West Side so charming. Yet another reason why we think Waimea Plantation Cottages is the best hotel on Kauai.

Historic Sugar Plantation Cottages

According to the resort website, Waimea Plantation Cottages is built on the site of Waimea Sugar Mill Company. This was once a small but prosperous sugar plantation founded in 1884. During the Hawaiian sugar heyday, more than 300,000 workers were imported from around the world to work in the plantation fields across Kauai. Housing was supplied to these new transplants, who often shared quarters within the same cottage. The plantation was closed in 1969 as Hawaii’s statehood shifted sugar to other parts of the world. The land foundered and many of the original cottages from the early 1900s were left abandoned.

After the destruction left by Hurricane Iwa in 1982, the first cottages were renovated as vacation rentals. Additional homes from other defunct Kauai sugar plantations were also moved to the site, dotted across the beachfront property. Each cottage has a historic backstory, and many have nameplates with the names of original sugar cane plantation residents.

The main lobby building, “Kumumao”, is the jewel of the collection of vintage homes and was built in 1884. It was the plantation owner’s residence in the Mana cane fields. It was restored and relocated at the entrance of the coconut grove, and now serves as the front desk and reception area. The restaurant is located in an adjacent building, and the cottages spread in either direction towards the beach from the lobby.

Authentic Hawaiian Vibe

All of this authentic history gives Waimea Plantation a true Hawaiian vibe hard to recreate with new development. Here guests feel immersed in what makes Hawaii so special. This is one of the reasons why visitors have been traveling to Hawaii since it came into vogue after WWII. The actual plantation cottages in Waimea are spaced apart, connected by sprawling lawns and tropical landscapes.

Map of Waimea Plantation Cottages

The resort’s quiet serenity is very appealing compared to the more touristy options elsewhere. In fact as I sit on the lanai of our cottage writing this, I hear only tropical birds singing and the sound of the waves. Oh, and the soothing sound of rainbird sprinklers making that familiar rhythmic splashing sound as they follow their patterns across the green lawns.

One stamp of approval that encapsulates everything I’ve stated above: local Hawaiians vacation at Waimea Plantation Cottages. This should tell anyone all they need to know about how authentically Hawaiian the resort really is. People from other Hawaiian islands travel to these cottages to escape and relax.

Activities on the Island of Kauai

It’s not likely you will sit on your cottage lanai for the duration of your visit, nor do we.  Since Waimea is remote, finding other things to do across the island requires a drive.

• Waimea Canyon – The main reason people drive West from other parts of the island, Waimea Canyon offers breathtaking views with red earth, deep canyons, picturesque waterfalls and the ubiquitous chickens.
• Local Beaches – We love grabbing sandwiches and driving over to Salt Pond Beach in Hanapepe, about 15 minutes away. Monk seals often sun on the beach here, and there is a protected spot for snorkeling.
• Snorkeling – Fantastic snorkeling in Poipu is about 30-40 minutes drive away. At Poipu Beach, rent equipment at Snorkel Bob’s and head for the waters next to the Beach House Restaurant for maximum viewing of tropical fish.
• Boating to Na Pali Coast – Seeing the plunging slopes of these breathtaking cliffs is best from a boat. Catch a catamaran and Na Pali Coast tour with Captain Andy’s near Hanapepe, about 20 minutes drive from Waimea.
• Hanalei Bay and Beaches – Funky, bohemian and ever-so-beautiful Hanalei is a longer drive to the North Side from Waimea. The 90-120 minute drive is worth it. There are many stops along the way to take in the jungle scenery and impressive ocean views.
• Mountain Tubing Adventure – Sit in an inner tube and float on a canal through the jungle? With tunnels? Yes please! Our family has done this fun activity so many times, and we keep going back for more. Book with Kauai Backcountry Adventures. 

Waimea Plantation Cottages is the Best Hotel on Kauai

Waimea Plantation Cottages come in all shapes and sizes and are affordable considering Hawaii prices and what is offered here.

• Of the 59 cottages available, there are 9 cottage categories of 1- to 3-bedroom cottages and 3 different view types
• Oceanfront is the highest pricing, ocean view is mid-pricing, garden view the lowest pricing
• There are also 4 cottages in the Premier category: the Manager’s House (5 BR), Kruse Cottage (5 BR), Bev Johnson’s Hale (3 BR), and Jean Burns-Faye Cottage (4 BR)

Rates vary by season and availability. Contact Waimea Plantation Cottages for more specific dates and rates.