Overview

by Julie Bielenberg

Timbers Kauai is the second newest of the luxury brand’s properties and certainly Kauai’s most high-end offering. Just a five-minute drive from the island’s only airport in Lihue, tranquility and kid heaven awaits families from chauffeured vehicles at the airport. The 47 two-, three- and four-bedroom residences were created with children at the forefront of design and luxury in all the detail. The property skimps on nothing and is a true oasis and paradise for children of all ages. This is not a large resort with kids’ slides and pool floaties everywhere; rather this is the new evolution of family-friendly travel with a sophisticated approach to multigenerational vacation opportunities.

The residences are expansive, loaded with views, terraces, patios, outdoor grills, seating and more. The kitchen has every gadget needed on vacation, including stocked coffee and other fun delights daily. The bathrooms are massive, with tubs included for an easy soak after the beach or pool. There is even a child’s step stool in the bathroom! The residence is five-star throughout and contains more luxury than most homes.

Children will be wowed by the bike room loaded with the best of toys for adventure. There are bike trailers and helmets for those too small to pedal, and appropriate size bikes for all ages. There are pool toys, a wagon and other items to enjoy on property.

There are two pool options: one overlooks the ocean with poolside service and the other is enclosed with palm trees, chaise lounges and a poolside bar and restaurant. The property is also known for its golf course, which houses the longest stretch of continuous oceanfront golf in all of Hawaii at the Ocean Course at Hokuala, named “Hawaii’s Best Golf Course” in the 2018 World Golf Awards. And, if you are not a golfer, it’s still worth a guided drive through the course to see the incredible vegetation and stunning Rainbow Eucalyptus trees that are memorable and almost surreal.

Onsite dining is easy at Hualani’s Restaurant, offering cuisine inspired by sourcing ingredients from the islands and the Farm at Hokuala, where kids can bike to and farm with resident farmer Cody, and harvest some of their own dinner.

The keiki club (kids’ club) is clean, bright and loaded with toys. Daily programming is varied and the activities are endless at the property. Counselors fit the day’s schedule to the group’s interest with an array of activities from Koi fish feeding to lei making. Integrating play with culture, kids learn through art about endangered Hawaiian monk seals and Nene (Hawaii’s state bird), and through crafts about palm frond weaving and haku lei making like Native Hawaiians of old. It’s impressive, and the adult programming is even more incredible, with everything from kayaking to yoga retreats to cooking lessons.

Our Editor Loves

Incredible residences with expansive views
Chance to harvest your own dinner at farm
Lush gardens and pools

Family Interests

Bicycling
Hiking
Horse Back Riding
Museum/Cultural
Water Sports

Family Amenities

Babysitting
Children Programs
Connecting Rooms
Cribs
Family Room 5+
Free Breakfast
Free Wi-Fi
Game Room
Kids' Theme Meals
Meal Plan
Onsite Dining
Pool

Reviews

Beautiful property with a few kinks to work out.

by TwinComanche

We stayed in a unit facing south looking out over the bay where the cruise ships come in. We could look left from our lanai and see the sunrise each morning. Let's go through some of the issues that have been raised:
1) Room comfort - wonderful. No complaints at all about the room.
2) Breakfast - $14 for the hot side buffet; $20 for the cold side; $30 for everything. The items available are nothing special - pancakes, omelettes, cereal...nothing you can't easily fetch at Safeway...but the pricing is reasonable.
3) Dinner - might be available, might not....depends on whether or not the dining room is open on any given night. On one night recently the restaurant was closed due to catering to a group that was on site. We found this odd since it left everyone else staying at the resort to go off and fend for themselves.
4) Noise - The hotel is right beside the approach end of runway 35. If the wind is such that aircraft are taking off and landing on 35, you hear very little. If, on the other hand, they're taking off on 17, you hear every takeoff, even though the planes turn out toward the ocean immediately after departure. More of an issue are the constant helicopter overflights. Helicopters take off from the airport and fly directly over the resort every few minutes throughout the day. If you're inside, you won't notice. If you're sitting outside, you can't help noticing. Some units also have exposure to a garage entrance where they hear trucks backing up at various times during the day.
5) Staff - Wonderful, well trained, helpful...no complaints at all here.
6) Beach access - there are two beautiful little beaches between the resort and the nearby Ninini Point Lighthouse. Unfortunately, there's no real walkway to get to either one. Both required skidding our way down a steep rock-lined path after first walking along the side of the golf course.

First of many

by bborden

Timbers Kauai was the most amazing place! The service was incredible led by Michael K in sales and Kaylee Q in Hualanis for dinner. I've never met a staff so genuinely excited to see their customers and her level of engagement is second to none. Franklin was also amazing for breakfast. We spent 2 days here before heading to Poipu for 5 days at another resort. The second place did not compare to Timbers so we extended our stay for another couple of days and on very short notice we were placed into the most amazing villa to finish our 9 day vacation. We loved this place so much that we are going to be investing into the fractional ownership opportunity that Timbers provides. I can't see ourselves not wanting to go back here as much as we can.