We were two couples spending three nights at this B&B. It was my third time, first was in 1984, second ten years ago, and now again. It has come a long way from the first unit, still lovely, which is underneath the main house. Now there are stand-alone units which are fully equiped, modern and tasttefully decorated. You have privacy, and it's a pretty location, with a nice view of a lagoon and the flora. Kathy also grows flowers, and she's happy to take all visitors through her lush garden. She's also helpful with advice generally on the island, and has a very "up" personality. It's not near the beach, but it really doesn't matter as everything is so close on the island. It's excellent value for the money and we were delighted with everything.

We didn't actually get to travel as expected. However, Kathy was extremely gracious and friendly in dealing both with our reservation and our cancellation. We WILL be heading for Kauai in the future, and Kakalina's will be our first choice for accomodations.

Kakalina's was a great retreat on Kauai. No, it is not next to the ocean, and no, it is not a 5-star hotel. But, we didn't expect either. What completely exceeded our expectations was how gracious and kind the owner (Kathy) was. Each day, she filled our refrigerator with wonderful homemade bread, fresh fruit, and orange juice. She was very willing to work with our schedule on our last day and even allowed us some extra time to shower and pack before checking out. Kathy also provided lots of information about surrounding restaurants and markets that really enhanced our stay.

We stayed in the Hale Elua suite, which is a two-bedroom suite. The second bedroom was locked-out, but it was essentially a mirror of the side we stayed on. The suite was very clean (one of the cleanest vacation rentals we've stayed in). The kitchen was very well-stocked with dishes, utensils, coffee maker, etc. The trash was emptied each day, and recycling was picked up daily. There were a few sugar ants around, which is common in Hawaii. And, we were kind of disappointed we didn't see more geckoes (which are also common and considered good luck).

The bed was very comfortable, and the closet was spacious. The bathroom was very clean. About the only complaint we had was the size of the water heater. You would be doing good to get 2 showers in a row with warm water. But, I learned to enjoy cool showers. In the summer on Kauai, it's a welcome, relaxing experience. The evenings were cool (72-76ºF), and the fans kept the suite very cool. There is no air conditioning, which was fine, even in July. It does sit next to Kawaihau Road, which can have some traffic on it at night, but it never really bothered us.

The location is kind of central on the island. There is only one major highway that runs around 80% of the island. Kapaa is near the center. Kakalina's is several miles above Kapaa in the hills, and it was a bit confusing to find the first time (look for a big white mailbox next to the road). After we acquainted ourselves with the area, we loved the location. It overlooks a reservoir, with the ocean in the distance. The surrounding flowers are beautiful. Be sure to try taking the back route down Kainahola Road over to Kuamoo Road at least once; the views of the mountains are spectacular! It's a ways to anywhere, though, so be sure to factor that in. 20-30 mins to airport, 45 mins to Princeville, and 45-60 mins to Poipu -- all depending on traffic. You will learn to love the Kapaa bypass road (and the back route above).

The best part of this bed and breakfast was the owner and the room's amenities. We felt like we were staying as a guest in someone's home, not in a hotel room (yea!). The worst part was that we had to leave. :(

We hope to return here soon.

This was our third trip to the island but the first stay at Kakalinas. Our first two trips were spent near Poipu but Kapa'a is logistically the best place to stay if you want to explore the entire island. We love bed and breakfast locations and this one was perfect for us and the two couples who accompanied us for their first visit to Kauai.
I found the location by searching on the web but after finding it, had some inside information about the place since we have a friend who lives and works on the island and knew the couple who owned it and recommended it. We were not disappointed.
The accommodations were spotless and very reasonably priced, actually a great bargain! Yes, it is about three miles west of Kapa'a in the foothills and not near the beach. If you are someone who simply must pay a premium price for beachfront property, this is not the place for you. But if you are someone who looks for a first-class place to stay, away from the traffic and continuous construction at a great rate, this is the ideal location.
Hale Eha and Hale Kolu are separated by double doors, the kind found in adjoining motel rooms. It was perfect for us. The six of us have been friends for years and the doors remained opened all day and most of the evening. You can see the setup from the pictures we have attached.
Kathy was a very gracious hostess. Each day fresh fruit, juice, and homemade bread was left in our refrigerators for breakfast the next morning. Ceiling fans are provided throughout and the cool breezes in the evening and at night necessitate a light cover in the middle of the night. It is so much cooler in the foothills with the tradewinds. Be sure to close the shades on the east picture window in Hale Kolu and shut the bedroom doors before retiring. The sun streams through that window early in the morning. \
There were beach towels, chairs, boogie boards, straw mats, and other amenities to use for your beach activities. A washer and dryer are available but there is a charge of $1.25 per load on the honor system.
For those complaining about ants, we saw a few tiny ones but you are in Hawaii, folks! You are bound to see a few insects and geckos (which we did). My wife loves the geckos and if you are not fond of insects, you should love them too! The chickens and roosters are pretty active around the place. You may hear them in the evening and early morning but that helped us get up and get prepared for the day's activities.
The rooms are loaded with all kinds of information about the island and the different activities available and Kathy has a lot of good information about where to go and what to see.
I wouldn't recommend these accommodations for families with children. There's really nothing for them to do but for couples of any age, this place can't be beat.