Koloa Landing Resort at Poipu, Autograph Collection

Quiet, laid-back, and seemingly always sunny, Koloa Landing Resort at Poipu, Autograph Collection is a place where couples and families come for a relaxing escape in a luxury setting. The lobby -- an open-air space with cathedral wood-beam ceilings, fresh flower displays, and bright blue ocean views -- sets the tone for the rest of the tranquil property. This is a place where staff members greet guests with friendly alohas, families relax by the pool, and couples spend their days lounging on their lanai. There isn’t much excitement or activity, but the resort’s peaceful atmosphere is what attracts many of its guests.   

Simultaneously accurate and misleading, the resort’s lengthy name gives guests a semi-factual interpretation of its location. The hotel is indeed located at Koloa Landing -- a historic deep water port that was used for both the whaling and sugar trades until the mid 20th century. However, the “at Poipu Beach” part is a bit of a misnomer. The sandy, swimmable part of Poipu Beach, located in front of the Sheraton, is actually about a 10-minute walk from the hotel. In short -- though Koloa Landing does have spectacular ocean views, it is not a beachfront property. Besides the beach, there is plenty to do within walking distance of the hotel. Poipu Shopping Village and Kukui’ula Village Shopping Center, two main shopping and dining hubs, are within a 10-minute walk. The hotel is about a 25-minute drive from Lihue Airport.    

The huge, tastefully decorated rooms at Koloa Landing are undoubtedly the hotel’s greatest assets. Starting at 1,300 square feet, and culminating at a whopping 3,600 square feet, the one-, two-, three-, and four-bedroom villas at Koloa Landing are nothing if not spacious. Villas feature open concept floor plans, where the kitchen, living, and dining areas are seamlessly connected by travertine floors that lead to large, private lanais. Sliding glass doors can be tucked away to create a feeling of indoor/outdoor living. Decor throughout is modern traditional, with subtle Hawaiian accents and bursts of tropical colors. Green, blue, or coral colored accent walls are brought to life by framed paintings of the Na’Pali coast and old black and white prints of Kauai. Kitchens feature textured wood cabinets, stainless steel Wolf appliances, and beige-y green granite counters and back splashes. Each kitchen also has a sizable center island with bar stools. Bedrooms feature soft carpeting, carved dark wood furniture, and continued bursts of tropical colors. Each bedroom has its own private bathroom -- most of which have separate whirlpool tubs and walk-in showers. Bathrooms throughout are simple and spacious, with thoughtful design touches like tempered glass shower doors and mosaic tile detailing. Also, all villas are nicely equipped with small laundry rooms, which typically have a stacked washer/dryer unit.    

Guests traveling to large, luxury resorts such as Koloa Landing often expect certain amenities to be right at the fingertips during their stay. Koloa Landing does several of these amenities well; when we visited, there were two gorgeous pools, an intimate spa with Hawaiian-inspired treatments, and a modern fitness center with ocean views. The resort’s Phase III, $100 million expansion, completed in spring 2017, added a poolside bar and grill, a 13,000-square-foot lagoon pool, as well as 12,000 square feet of meeting space and an event lawn with ocean views. With these additional amenities, the hotel should be set to rival the area’s top luxury hotels like the Grand Hyatt and Koa Kea Resort. However, the resort lacks a swimmable beach.The hotel’s three pools, including one for families and one for adults only, are gorgeous spaces with waterfalls, hot tubs, and plenty of spots for sunbathing. The larger, family-friendly pool has a lagoon-style layout with both shallow and deep areas. There are two stainless steel grills and umbrella covered tables on one side of the pool, and a beach rental hut on the other. The main pool includes cabana seating, multiple waterslides, and food and drink service from Holoholo Grill. Guests can also grab a drink at the on-site mini-market (which also sells groceries and serves a few appetizers) or lobby bar. The lobby bar is also where a small continental breakfast is served (for an additional fee) each morning. The Spa at Koloa Landing isn’t as large as other hotel spas in the area, but it does offer several island inspired treatment options like a Hawaiian Lomi Lomi massage or a Pohaku warm stone ritual. Behind the spa, the on-site fitness center is a large, sunny room with ocean views. Several cardio machines fill the space, along with free weights, a weight machine, and several medicine balls. There are also two flat-screen TVs, but most of the machines are too far away for good viewing. As far as freebies are concerned, Koloa Landing offers free parking and Wi-Fi, and a free shuttle to nearby hotels, restaurants, and shops. However, free Wi-Fi is only available for two devices per room -- a real drawback for anyone traveling with large groups or families. Unfortunately, the continental breakfast served in the lobby each morning is not free. Instead guests have to pay a pretty penny for a sad buffet of muffins, fruit, and coffee.