Im not sure why such bad reviews. Frankly I like the security and the rules gave us good piece of mind. I felt safe, and pretty much guaranteed peace and quit . The police station is right across the street, nothing to worry about. Room was a little sandy, bathroom was clean but not spotless. Its good karma to leave a place cleaner than you found it any how. The only rules are, no drinking on premises, clean after yourself, and quite hours. That's not so hard to follow. There are a few bars down the street if you want a beer anyhow. There is a full kitchen, with two refrigerators, you could cook every meal there. Or there were coffee shops and eateries with in walking distance. The manager comes off stern at first, but is really a nice guy. Had a few pleasurable conversations with him.
Your in paradise, relax. We hardly spent time there any how because we were busy enjoying the beautiful Island.
Kapaa is perfectly located in the center of the island, so its a great base location to travel north or south for the day.
Its certainly not a resort, but for the price, what do you expect.

The worst, most bizarre experience in 20 years of backpacking worldwide.

We arrived to an eerily empty hostel. We waited a while. The 'manager' arrived and was instantly hostile; what were we doing on his property? He wasn't expecting anyone to check in today (I had made an online credit card booking). After assuring him we had booked, he gave us an intense, intimidating speech about the house rules and what sort of behaviour he would and wouldn't accept (we're in our thirties, for goodness sake!).

He proceeded to show us the rooms. It seemed the place was empty and the rooms were FILTHY. Apparently, guests have to do all the cleaning as he doesn't (won't) employ cleaners. The place was very very run down and decaying.

Then he told us that we didn't have to stay, in fact we should just go and he wouldn't charge my credit card. He was becoming increasingly hostile, even though we had barely spoken up to this point.

We turned on our heels and fled and never looked back. It was growing dark and thankfully the Beach House across the road took us in (as they do others).

After reading other reviews, I can believe this man is unstable and potentially violent and I wonder why he has not been removed from his position? Particulary if the police are aware of his behaviour?

Also, why is Hostelling International Honolulu still recommending this place? It used to be part of the HI chain (I stayed there 10 years ago when it was), but surely it isn't any more????

I arrived to a abrupt receptionby the "manager", he literally threw a key in my hand and informed me he was watching a program and couldn't be bothered until after 8:00 pm. I arrived around 6:15 pm, he did take a moment to tell me me the RULES. 1. he doesn't clean the rooms, it is the responsibility of the guests. 2... 3... and so on... he finished his Litany with "if you don't like the rules you can leave, if I don't like you... I will ask you to leave."

After changing into comfy cloths, I went to the "community room" and inquired about a place to pick up some supplies. He said he was watching his program, instructed me to walk through Bubbas parking lot and head "that way" he indicated with his hand.

I returned with my supplies and went to get my sheets. Mine were on the stool, but I noticed that the love seat and 3/4 of the couch were covered with sheets and pillow cases, this left room for one guest to be seated, the Chair was the "manager's" he was watching the Ultimate Fighter, I indicated that this was one of my favorite shows to watch with my husband, would he mind if I watched with him, and I offered to "help out" by folding the clean linens. I was told that it was his policy that guests NOT watch TV, in fact he takes the cable to the TV with him when he is not on the property. He relented and allowed me to stay as long as I was Quiet and "put good energy" into the linens as I folded. At every commercial break, I was informed of the GREAT jiu jitsu skills that he "the Manager" possessed in a very very very hostile tone. It was quite UN-nerving!

A German woman "young lady" arrived to check into the female dorm, he handed her the key and her sheets, he barked the rules finishing with his usual "if you don't like it... if I don't like you..." and pointed to the building and said "your room is up there, I am watching my program, we will settle up when it is over." Noticing the confusion on her face I offered to show her the room, since I was in the same one. While I was in the room with her, she asked about the Internet access, which is advertised on the website affiliated with the International Hostels. I told her that I had not asked yet, but I would like to know as well.

We returned to the "community room" and inquired about how to obtain the Internet access and what the "small extra charge" was. His response was to BARK at us that the property was NOT equipped with Internet access, so I asked where the closest Internet cafe or business offering access was, the German woman added that she had to accomplish some work online while on holiday. She was told if she wasn't satisfied with the property she could LEAVE! She left to go sit on the patio with another guest.

I sat down and started to fold linens again. During a commercial, I asked if I could change the station for a moment and see what was happening on my program and he said ... NO... "I don't have to let you watch TV at all, in fact I make the rules and if I say lights out at 5pm then it is lights out, and you have to go to your room." I then inquired as to why the web site advertises that the hostel has a "community room" with "TV" and "Internet access at an extra cost" he instructed me to be quiet and quit trying to engage him in a fight. I apologized for leading him t believe that I was trying to be confrontative, that from a business owners stand-point I was only curious as to why he didn't change the site? I again apologized and told him I meant no offense, he then told me that I was trying to start a fight, at which point I apologized again and told him I did not want to fight at all, AGAIN he yells your trying to start something, I very calmly explained that I was sorry that I was giving him that impression, I was not trying to give that impression. By now I was growing very uncomfortable with his tone and his body language. He told me to get out of the building, I was not welcome there... I asked him if he was kicking me out of the Hostel, I was not sure what he was trying to say... He began yelling and moving in my direction, he informed me that I was to get out RIGHT NOW!

I went to the patio and sat down with the German woman and the other guest ( a male) I was VERY shaken and starting to hyperventilate, I was having a panic attack. The manager heard me hyperventilating and came out screaming at me to quit making him look bad to the guests. He requested my CC so he could refund me, and I was to leave the property. I was crying at this point and reminded him that he had been watching his program and had not gotten my information yet. I asked where I could go (it was after dark and I had heavy luggage) I was not familiar with the area. He screamed that I could stay for free for the night, but I was to be gone by 10am. He then instructed me to leave the patio, and not to show my face to him again.

I went to the "woman's dorm" when I entered I was crying, hyperventilating and having a full out panic attack. I was in fear for my safety and not sure what to do. I knew I couldn't leave in the dark with no idea where the closest accommodations were, not to mention I didn't have the $ for a full price hotel.

Two young French girls were in the room, and they tried to help calm me down. After about 20 minutes I had calmed down enough to tell them what had happened. The young woman informed me that they had been afraid of him since they arrived and avoided him. They were leaving the Island for Oahu the next day because of it. (TWO days early).

Around 8:45 pm, two woman (a mother and daughter) arrived to the room. The mother said to the daughter "I am not going back to talk to him in 1/2 hour, if he wants our $ he will have to come find us, or you can go talk to him, I don't like him." I asked if they were talking about the manager, and they said yes, he had given them the keys, linens and RULES and told them to come back in 1/2 hour when his program was over to "settle up." I told them what had happened to me and the daughter said she had read online (trip-advisor) that the manager was "insane" but they were only there for the night, then off to a resort.

At 7am I awoke and set out to find new accommodations, I left my bags behind (I was packed for a long stay, by brother in law was arriving in 2 days and we were going to his time share for a week.)
I found the Coral Reef about a block away from the Hostel, and went in to inquire about price... I told them that I had a bad experience the night before. The hotel manager inquired if I had stayed at the Hostel, and I said yes. She informed me that they received MANY inquiries from guests who were either put out by, or afraid of the manager. They often booked rooms from the inquiries. I booked a room for 2 nights.

I returned to the Hostel, gathered my belongings and (with fear and anxiety) went to the "community room" to find "Max" and turn in my key and linens. He was not there, I left the property on the counter and on my way out took notice that the cable from the TV to the adaptor on the wall was indeed gone. I bumped into the German woman on my way out and she said he was at his training to become a jui jitsu teacher at the moment. I offered to let her stay with me at the hotel, and she said max had demanded her CC right after I went to the room the night before, she had paid already, but she had informed him she would only be staying 2 nights instead of the originally planned 4 or 5. She had made that decision after his volatile behaviour towards her and myself the night before. In 12 hours I met 3 woman who were LEAVING the island of Kauai because of this man.

I stayed at MANY Hostels in Europe and never had a bad experience.

Max treats his guests as BAD Children and beats the rules into them. His comment about "lights out at 5pm" is very telling, not to mention that he actually removes the cable to the TV when he leaves the property.

This property is not what the Internet portrays it to be, I was not greeted by a garden within a garden, I saw an overgrown mess when I entered the rickety old gate. The ROOM WAS FILTHY, I feared the shower, would not even entertain getting in it with my flip flops on, gross... I looked for the serene setting to do my yoga and meditation and couldn't find any spot on the property where I would be willing to put my matt down.

I IMPLORE you to read the comments that indicate "WHY" this establishment has a -76 rating.

I will also be submitting this letter to the International Hostel Association, EVERY newspaper and news channel in Kauai, and the chamber of commerce. Max is running people off the island of Kauai, which is a shame.

This establishment carries the nick name "the hostility" with the locals (yes, I heard that more than once while relating what had happened to me, Max's reputation precedes him" ) I would love to see Kauai have a clean safe environment for the budget traveler to count on. Kauai is not an island to be missed.

BTW, I waited to send this letter AFTER my vacation was over, my experience of Kauai after leaving the Kauai International Hostel, was 5 star, and I wanted to be present for it, and not dwell on the horrifying experience I had with Max. I could not, however, in good conscience allow him to get away with driving people from this Island of Paradise.

Regards,

Shelley

We had previously booked online a few weeks before. We arrived to the hostel at 11:45 pm and we rang the bell and entered into the garden. The manager came to our encounter. Before we could say anything he started to say:

"Get the hell out of here!" in a very aggresive way. We were surprised and thought he might took us for burglers.. so I clarified him that we had a booking and that our plane was delayed. He repeated very rude "I said! get out!! get out from here!!! He said there was a rule of no acceptance after 10pm (which I haven't found clearly stated in their webpage afterwards..) I insisted, "No, you dont understand, we have already booked the room and our planed was delayed" But instead of listening to us he increased the level of aggresivity and repeated "GET THE HELL OUT OF HERE!!" So being unable to have civilized conversation with him we decided to leave..
therefore, we found ourselves kicked out with nowhere to stay at midnight and forced to wander around until we found no better option than sleeping in the car..

We came there looking forward to enjoy the atmosphere, the 'aloha spirit' stated in their webpage and instead of that, we were treated very badly and kicked out like dogs at midnight after a very long and tiring day..