We've now been to Hanalei 13 times and this was easily the nicest of all the places we've stayed. It's not just how wonderful the house is, with it's beautiful color-integral, hand-plastered walls, great layout, light and location, and wonderful family history, but it's in very large part to the house's wonderful onsite owner, Micco. Micco has been in Hanalei since the early 1980s when he founded Kayak Kauai (the model for all the other Hawaii kayak outfitters that followed) and is also one of the island's most passionate surfers, still winning international surf competitions for his age bracket. (He surfs the Hanalei outer break every single morning at daybreak.) But aside from being able to give you an insider's take on where to go, what to do and where to eat, what really sets Micco apart is his energy -- his tremendous passion for life in general and for life on the island. As well as coming home with some great memories from your visit, if you're lucky, you'll come home with some of that energy as well, and that's tough to beat.