This is a shabby chic cute one room cottage with a very comfortable bed. There is a nice outdoor shower with a tricky handle. (Pull it out first.) You are in the rainforest (beautiful view off the porch), and there are mosquitos, so bring spray. Citronella candles are provided. When we went, they were in the middle of a lot of bridge construction, which caused a few issues, but turned out ok. There was huge flooding and damage some time ago due to massive rainfall, and the community is rebuilding the roads and bridges. Make sure you know the status of these projects and how it will affect your stay before you go. We had to be back across the bridge to Hanalei each night by 7, 9 on Fridays, and the bridge was completely shut down over the weekend. We definitely had some logistical challenges, but there was a shuttle for the weekend, and with a little extra effort, it worked out just fine. Just make sure you know what to expect, because dealing with that unexpectedly on a vacation is no fun.
The neighborhood felt safe, and still private, with Dawn’s house being on the very end of the road and backing up to rainforest. The view from the porch is wonderful.
This is right next to Tunnels Beach, which we got to experience with a much smaller crowd than normal, due to the bridge closing. The locals, it seems, enjoy the bridge closing and sense of community and freedom.
It is within a few miles of the Kalalau Trail head. There is a shuttle that you can pre-arrange tickets for that will go to the Trail head. Parking at the Trail head is limited and requires a permit, as does hiking beyond Hanakapi’ai Beach on the trail, camping, or going to Ke’e Beach, so plan ahead. There is no overnight parking in the area, and cell service is absent at the trail head, so a pre-arranged shuttle, if you can accurately estimate your time, is a good idea, especially if you don’t have a parking permit. It is 2 miles in (with steep terrain) to the Hanakapi’ai Beach, but well worth the hike. A picnic on the beach is nice. Hike another couple of miles out to a giant waterfall, if you have the time. Bring bug spray and plenty of water and snacks. Wear good shoes, not flip flops. In the winter, the beach is mostly rocks and really rough surf. In the summer, the surf is still rough and swimming is not recommended there, but there is a sand beach and a little lazy river to cool off in. The views from the hike are amazing. Highly recommend.
This cottage is also a 10 minute drive from Hanalei, which is a great place to shop, eat, and hang out at the beach. We highly recommend Kalypso’s, and you can tell others do, too, because it is typically packed. The Dolphin Restaurant has a few pre-prepared delicious sushi rolls that you can pick up quickly at a deli counter at the back entrance. This is an affordable alternative to the fancy cuisine the restaurant is apparently known for, and super convenient. Everybody has good poke out there, even the grocery stores! There are surfing lessons in the area, kayaks and SUPs for rent right on the little river in town, and golf a few miles down the road at Princeville. The North Shore is a wonderful place to stay.