While we’re all still reeling from The White Lotus finale in Thailand, I wanted to take us back to those beautiful vibes in Hawaii from season one. But we won’t be travelling to the same island where they filmed (Maui), rather to the fourth largest island in Hawaii, also known as “The Garden Isle”.
At the very end of last year, I was able to stay at one of the most stunning resorts in the U.S. State, on the Island of Kaua’i. I spoke at length about this Island earlier in the year, and it’s quickly become one of my favourite spots in the paradise destination. And this hotel is a lot of the reason why.
Just five minutes from Lihue International Airport, the 356-room Royal Sonesta Kaua’i Resort Lihue opened in March 2021 following a refurbishment, taking over from the Kaua’i Marriott Resort, which had been in operation there since 1995. It’s renowned for having the largest single level pool in the entire state, and boy is it impressive. But that’s only the tip of the iceberg in terms of what’s on offer here.
From comfortable rooms, to beachfront access and incredible views, read on for the full review of our stay.
Getting to Kaua’i and the Hotel
There are few direct flights into Kaua’i, so chances are, especially if you’re coming from Australia, that you’ll fly into Honolulu on the island of Oahu. From there, you can hop on a 40 minute service from either Hawaiian Airlines or Southwest Airlines. Though as I was coming in from the U.S. mainland at the time, I was able to get a direct from LAX right into Lihue International Airport with United Airlines.
With their hotel only five minutes from the airport, they offer a free shuttle to and from the resort. So, if you’re not planning on travelling around the island too much, and just want to soak in the relaxing vibes of the resort and its surrounds, don’t worry about renting a car.
However, if you are planning to explore the island more broadly, a rental is a must. We used Discount Hawaii Car Rental, with an easy pick up from the airport. For $30 plus tax, you can park overnight at the hotel.
However, we didn’t rent our car until the second day, so we called the hotel once we picked up our bags, and the shuttle was there to pick us up about five minutes later. We would use the same shuttle the next day to pick up our rental car, which they were happy to cater to. So keep that in mind if you’re considering just renting a car for the day. It’s terribly convenient.
When you arrive, you’ll be greeted upstairs by the valet and concierge, and led down a hallway to an elevator, or a set of escalators, down to the check in lobby. With a massive Koi pond sitting near the bottom of the escalators, and giant Roman columns perched around it, the scale of the resort becomes immediately clear here.
Christmas was just around the corner when we stayed, however the festive decorations didn’t extend any further than the lobby, as part of a beautiful centrepiece that sits opposite check in.
After an easy check in with the hotel’s wonderful staff, you’ll very quickly feel the “wow” factor of this place as you start walking to your room. Below is the first view we had of the pool – the largest single level in the State of Hawaii. You see beautiful fountains, plenty of lounging area, and a stunning view right out into the neighbouring Kalapaki Beach and ocean. It’s simply breathtaking. And the hotel is kept in a pristine state.
Access to your room is via a wristband, given to each guest, that acts as your room key. You also use it to access some on site amenities.
The Room
Our room overlooked both the pool and the ocean, with two chairs and a table sitting on the balcony. In the header image of this article you’ll see our view of the pool. Below is our view of the beach, and nearby mountains and vegetation. There are few better views than this to wake up to.
Our spacious room came as advertised with two queen beds, and that stellar view. Though the beds were on the softer side, they were very comfortable. I loved the longer pillows, too (take note TWA Hotel!). They were fantastic. We slept very well here – and as I feel I always say when I’m in Hawaii, it’s a difficult decision when you have to choose between keeping the sliding door open to the balcony to hear the ocean waves, or keep the air conditioning running. But I tend to lean towards the former.
Like most beachfront hotels, there’s no carpet in the room. They know you are going to run salt and sand through the space. But it feels very homely all the same. The design added to the comfort, with blues and whites and browns running throughout the space.
There was also art in room that matched the art in hallway – lots of flowers, basically. I love to see that sort of consistency through a hotel, and they’ve done a great job here. I also loved the headboard lights, which you can turn on via switches next to the bed.
There’s room to hang 12 pieces of clothing in the cupboard, which also has an ironing set. The Keurig coffee machine has local Kauai Coffee capsules provided, as well as a couple of bags of tea. I appreciate any hotel that lets you brew a coffee or tea in the comfort of your own room – I’ve seen too many take them away of late.
The massive TV has Netflix built in (and was logged in), and there’s an information about the hotel, plus plenty of live TV channels available.
The bathroom, meanwhile, is well designed and had everything you need. Signaling the eco-conscious mind of the hotel and the island it calls home, refillable Anatomicals hand wash and body lotions sit by the sink. While shampoo, conditioner and shower gel sits in the shower. There’s plenty of room for your toiletries, and there’s a hair dryer in there, too.
The shower has an adjustable rain shower head and a handheld, with a lot of space to move. The toilet doesn’t have a separate door, but is divided from the rest of the bathroom space.
They only would service the room every other day – another eco-conscious decision I can get behind. But if you needed anything at all, they’d bring it up. The only thing that was missing were any robes! But other than that, we had everything we could possibly want or need, and slept very well. Those waves do help.
The Pool and the Resort Facilities
The centrepiece of this property is without question the massive pool that sits beach level. With a max depth of four feet, it’s a relaxing pool with plenty of space to swim, wade or float, for the whole family. There’s also those animals on the centre island, who shoot out water during set hours of the day. Perhaps take some time under that stream for a bit of a massage?
On the left side of the pool – from the angle you see above – you’ll see five hot tubs that sit surrounded by the resort’s recurring Roman pillars. You need to swim to three of the five, while the two of the edge can be accessed from dry land.
Towels are readily available for guests – they’re included in the resort fee. However you need to register that you’re taking them, and then register that you’ve returned them, using your wristband.
The sunsets down here are truly extraordinary, and then there’s a whole other life out here at night. Tiki torches light the property and the poolside restaurant Kukui’s at night, giving new energy to the resort. And given you can enjoy the pool and the spas until 10pm, this is very welcome indeed.
While Kukui’s is wonderful, restaurants aren’t the only places to eat at on site. They also have an outdoor BBQ area, should you want to head to local supermarkets and get grilling. They even made the set up appealing for night time cookin’.
There’s so much care into everything – there was even a truck keeping the beach tidy early in the morning. And someone who sets up the volleyball net, which hotel guests and locals alike seemed to be using while we were there.
Elsewhere in the resort, you’ll find a gym, the Alexander Day Spa and Salon and four on site dining options, which we’ll get to now.
On Site Dining
The hotel’s flagship is the pool side restaurant Kukui’s. We first ate their for lunch, with pool side service. Most of the dishes are served in a bamboo steamer, and my sandwich with sweet potato fries was delicious. It was charged to the room, and costs were very reasonable, especially given the quality and the location. One of the guests I was travelling with had a fantastic salad for $12.
If you are dining there at lunch, a 10% discount is offered as part of the hotel’s resort fee, but you need to show a small piece of paper to get that discount. Since everyone staying at the hotel is presumably paying this resort fee, the fact that the discount wasn’t automatically added when you charge it to your room was a bit frustrating. I even had it on me, I just completely forgot to show it. When you’re charging US$45, plus applicable taxes, per night, the piece of paper system feels pretty archaic.
We also had dinner at Kakui’s on a Saturday night. The dinner menu is a bit pricier, which is no surprise, but the quality is top notch. This was one of the best meals I’ve had in my time in Hawaii. We shared their three fish dishes – all of which explored different flavours. One was served with saffron rice, like paella. The chili oil fish was divine bringing in Korean and Japanese flavours with delicious rice. It’s the fusion food they do the best in this part of the world. But it was the sweet potato mash (Poi ‘Uala) that was the highlight of the meal. it’s essential to eat with every bite of the fish, they balanced each other perfectly.
A side of Brussel sprouts with bacon is a must, and the spring rolls are excellent. There’s a great cocktail list, and they made espresso martinis on request.
The bar at Kukui’s hadn’t opened at the time of staying there, but I understand is open now. It was the last part of The Royal Sonesta’s ongoing renovation.
About a year ago, this renovation also saw them open a new sake and sushi restaurant on site, as part of The Royal Lanai. This restaurant and bar, which sits above the hot tubs, looking over the pool area, also has a grab & go dining option in the mornings. For $14, we got our hands on a ham, cheese and egg sandwich from here one morning.
In the evenings, the sushi offerings were on the expensive side, but the quality was solid. And it was a great place for takeaway beers. On Mondays, Fridays and Saturdays they offer live music, featuring local performers, which adds positively to the ambience of the whole resort.
The other two restaurants are Duke’s Kauai and Cafe Portofino, which sit attached to the Marriott Vacation Club, the time share property that is leftover from the original owners of the property.
Duke’s offers some great Hawaiian meals, and they have a fantastic Sunday all-you-can-eat brunch for $49 a head, from 9am to 12pm. If you’ve ever been to any of the other Duke’s in Hawaii or California, you’ll get much the same here. Though the interior of the “Canoe Club” is something particularly special. Check it out even if you’re not having a meal there.
About The Area
A short five minute walk away from the hotel, over a bridge, you’ll find a small centre, the “Harbor Mall”, with a variety of dining options. We had a great meal at the Lilikoi Bar and Grill one of our nights at the resort. There’s not too much within walking distance, so definitely keep this place in mind.
Also a small trip away from the hotel is Hualani’s, which they recommended at the hotel for a fancier meal. They even offered to take us there in the shuttle! The Ocean Course at Hokuala is also right near the hotel, offering a golfing option for those who partake.
Speaking of golfing, if you have a car, I would also recommend a 25 minute drive to the Poipu Bay Golf Course, where you’ll find the Kauai Poke Co., who offer some incredible Poke with a spectacular view. Which, let’s face it, no trip to Hawaii is complete without. They offer a Sunday brunch as well. While we were there, we enjoyed a local performer doing Hawaiian version of classic Christmas songs.
If you want to add a new friend to your experience, one of the most unique offerings on Kaua’i is made possible thanks to the Kaua’i Humane Society, less than 15 minutes away from the hotel. Their dog fostering program allows you to take one of their dogs, currently looking to be adopted, out for a day of adventure. They call this their “Field Trip” program.
There are some restrictions on where you can take the dogs, but for the most part, you’re free to bring the pup with you on your adventure for the day. We spent some time on the water with him at the hotel! Learn more about the Kaua’i Humane Society HERE.
But if you don’t have time to look after a dog, you’ll probably meet some chickens. Much like New Zealand’s sheep to person ratio, Kauai has six chickens for every one resident on the island. That’s approximately 450,000 chickens to 80,000 residents, for those playing at home. So you’re going to see plenty of chickens throughout the property, and on the beach and the beautiful landscaping of the grassy surrounds. And that’s something that holds true for the entire island.
Final Verdict
As is so often the case in Hawaii, those views, and that beach, are worth the trip alone. But there’s little not to love about this incredible resort, set on a pristine piece of beachfront property, just minutes from the island’s main airport.
If I had never left the surrounds of the resort, I would have still have had a wonderful stay. They pack the resort, and the confines of the area, with so much to enjoy. Though – I will be honest – you do need to find your way to see the sights, it’s spectacular.
I will flag my only critique, which was in regards to the difficulty of taking advantage of some of the inclusions in the resort fees, which really do add up. When you’re charging $45+taxes a night, I shouldn’t need to carry a piece of paper around to access the benefits. But this is not an issue exclusive to this location, and speaks to a wider issue around resort fees and the expectations that come with it. But they are in a position to streamline some of these add-ons, especially given we’re all walking around with a room key on our wrists. So I hope they consider that.
But outside of this, there was nothing to complain about. The pool is fantastic, the food delicious and the staff were phenomenal. We loved our stay, and if you ever have the chance to get out to Kaua’i, I can’t recommend staying at Royal Sonesta Kaua’i Resort Lihue enough.
FOUR AND A HALF STARS (OUT OF FIVE)
To book your next stay at the Royal Sonesta Kaua’i Resort Lihue, head to their official website.
Royal Sonesta Kaua’i Resort Lihue
Address: 3610 Rice St, Lihue, HI 96766, United States
Phone Number: +1 808-245-5050
All costs are in USD and were correct at the time of printing. The author stayed as a guest of the Royal Sonesta Kaua’i Resort Lihue for three nights in December 2024. All photos by the author.
