Intimate 48-room hotel close to Nawiliwili Harbor
A 10-minute drive from Lihue Airport
Serene property with a secluded feel
Ground floor rooms have private lanais
Mid-size pool
Covered barbecue area with two grills
Free coffee, tea, and lemonade served throughout the day
Free continental breakfast, Wi-Fi, and parking
Not on the beach
Not within walking distance to shops or restaurants
Room decor is dated
No in-room coffeemakers
The oldest hotel on Kauai, The Kauai Inn is a 48-room budget-friendly option in Lihue, Kauai’s largest town and commercial center. The Kauai Inn has a convenient location, within a 10-minute drive of shopping, dining, Kalapaki Beach, Nawiliwili Harbor, and Lihue Airport. However, nothing is within walking distance. The Kauai Inn is a serene property with a quiet atmosphere and a secluded feel. Rooms, while dated, have an authentic Hawaiian character, and amenities like a pool, a barbecue area, and guest laundry can’t be found at other budget hotels in the area. It’s worth checking rates at the nearby and often similarly priced Garden Island Inn, which is within walking distance of shops, restaurants, and Kalapaki Beach.
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Scene
A budget hotel with an intriguing history
Opened in 1890 at the Fairview Hotel, The Kauai Inn has weathered years of interesting history. The hotel saw its first in-ground pool in 1935, hosted the Miss Kauai Contest in 1956, welcomed John Wayne and the cast of Donovan’s Reef in 1962, and was completely destroyed by Hurricane Iniki in 1992. By 2003, The Kauai Inn finally became the 48-room property it is today. Situated between Nawiliwili Harbor and Kauai’s famous mountainous landscape, the property sits on three lush acres. Composed of four two-story buildings that form a rough U shape around a central pool, The Kauai Inn feels like a homey, intimate property. Guests are typically adult budget travelers or adventurers who have come to explore the island. Children are welcome but not catered to.
Location
In Lihue, but not within walking distance to anything
Located in Lihue, Kauai’s largest town and commercial center, The Kauai Inn is close to a lot of things. It’s about a 10-minute drive from the airport, a six-minute drive to both Kukui Grove Shopping Center (Kauai’s only mall) and Costco, and about a four-minute drive from Kalapaki Beach. It should be noted that The Kauai Inn is not really within walking distance of any nearby shops, restaurants, or beaches, and the property itself feels fairly isolated.
Rooms
All are dated, and some have private lanais
There’s no denying that rooms at The Kauai Inn are dated. Green carpeting, ugly floral bedspreads, '80s era furniture -- the only in-room amenities from this decade are the flat-screen TVs. Rooms come in standard types: two double beds, or one king, and are equipped with mini-fridges and microwaves but not coffeemakers. Bathrooms are on the smaller side, and in some rooms, the sink is located outside of the bathroom. Suites have one king bed and a jetted tub in the bathroom, but otherwise don’t seem worth the upgrade. Though dated, some guests may find rooms to be more authentically Hawaiian than those at larger chain hotels on the island. Details like dark wood crown molding and fresh flowers give a simple Hawaiian touch. Furthering the island feel, ground floor rooms have large, private lanais that overlook the gorgeous property. Unfortunately second floor rooms do not have balconies.
Features
Pool, free breakfast, parking, and Wi-Fi, and coin operated laundry
Unlike other budget hotels in the area, The Kauai Inn has a pool. It’s not huge, nor is it deep, but it’s the perfect spot for cooling off after a long day exploring the island. It isn’t typically crowded and there are several lounge chairs and umbrella covered tables surrounding it. The most interesting aspect of the pool area is the large, abstract sculpture in the center of the patio. Entitled “The Legend of Hawaiki,” the figure alludes to a legendary tale in Maori mythology. Outside of the gated pool area are two barbecue grills that guests are welcome to use throughout their stay. Though there’s no on-site restaurant, the hotel serves a free continental breakfast each morning, and free coffee, tea, and lemonade each afternoon under the lobby’s covered patio. Other freebies include Wi-Fi and parking. The hotel also has a few coin-operated laundry machines available for guest use.
