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KAUAI - the Garden Isle
House • Kapaʻa HI United States
Exchange types accepted
Statistics
Listed May 2023
Views 7369
General overview
Welcome to our home in Kaua'i! Built in 2018, our 3 bedroom home is in the center of the island, perfect for exploring!
Kauaʻi is Hawaiʻi's fourth largest island and is sometimes called the "Garden Island," which is an entirely accurate description. The oldest and northernmost island in the Hawaiian chain is draped in emerald valleys, sharp mountain spires and jagged cliffs aged by time and the elements. Centuries of growth have formed tropical rainforests, forking rivers and cascading waterfalls! Some parts of Kauaʻi are only accessible by sea or air, revealing views beyond your imagination. More than just dramatic beauty, the island is home to a variety of outdoor activities. You can kayak the Wailua River (5 minutes from my home), snorkel on Poʻipū Beach (35 minutes from my home), hike the trails of Kōkeʻe State Park in Waimea Canyon (known as the "grand canyon of hawaii'), or go ziplining above Kauaʻi's lush valleys. But, it is the island's laid-back atmosphere and rich culture found in its small towns that make it truly timeless.
Kauaʻi’s lush landscapes and pristine beaches are a feast for the senses. For those seeking a quieter pace, the island offers plenty of additional opportunities to explore local culture, history and more — including museums, historical landmarks, farmers markets and more. You can tour the film locations of more than 60 movies and TV shows.
While Kauaʻi is famous for its dramatic cliffs, canyons and rainforests, it’s also home to some of Hawaiʻi’s most picturesque beaches. The island is surrounded by 50 miles of shimmering white-sand coast where you can enjoy jaw-droppingly beautiful unspoiled views. Find activities for both daring and more relaxed travelers, from surfing Hanalei Bay’s waves in the North Shore to spotting whales and sea turtles at Poʻipū Beach Park in the south.
Not to be outdone by the famous beaches that ring the island, Kauaʻi’s lush landscapes are a feast for the senses. Whether it’s a leisurely horseback ride to a remote waterfall or an exhilarating zipline adventure through the jungle, the Garden Isle is a true adventurer’s playground.
Hiking is one of the best ways to discover the island, as 90% of Kauaʻi is inaccessible by car. Lace up your hiking boots and explore Kōkeʻe State Park and Waimea Canyon on the West Side, with hundreds of trails and breathtaking vistas waiting around every turn.
Adrenaline junkies will find plenty of thrills on mountain biking trails, flying through the rainforest on a zipline safari or traversing rocky ridges on an ATV adventure.
Kauaʻi is known for its lush scenery on land, but the waters of Kauaʻi offer many additional unique adventures. Kauaʻi is the home of the only navigable rivers in Hawaiʻi. The three rivers are the Hanalei River, Hulēʻia River, and the tranquil Wailua River, which is the most popular for kayakers. The breathtaking cliffs of the Nāpali Coast are best photographed from the panoramic views of a boat tour. For the less adventurous, Kauaʻi’s magnificent beaches offer plenty of activities from swimming, snorkeling and surfing lessons.
There are fun interactive night markets most Saturdays, as well as farmer's markets 6 days a week for fresh Hawaiian produce and goodies.
The space
We have a newer 3 bedroom, 2 bath home with a well equipped kitchen and lanai with lots of windows, daybed, large TV.
*Master Bedroom - Spacious room with King bed, walk in closet, walk -in shower, office area, Precor exercise machine, Large screen Smart TV
*2nd Bedroom - Bunk beds to sleep up to 2
*3rd Bedroom - Daybed with trundle pull out bed that turns into a Queen or can remain a twin
2 living room areas, including a daybed that turns into a Queen bed in the lanai, Large screen smart TV, kids art table, lego, art table, kids dress up closet
Second bathroom with Tub/shower combo
The home can sleep up to 8 people, but keep in mind that 2 would be in the bunks. We have a large trampoline & basketball hoop in the front yard, and lots of beach toys. Our home is well-maintained, while still being family friendly. We have a BBQ, pizza oven and Smoker to enjoy cooking outdoors with a covered gazebo. We have chairs with view of the mountains in the front yard. We just added fencing the front yard and added gazebo and sitting area to better enjoy the outdoors!
Guest access
Single level home, no stairs. Backyard is mostly fenced off for tenant. Front yard will be for your use and enjoyment.
Notes
We have tenants on the property, but they have private entrances and are completely separate form the main home. They will respect your privacy.
We have pets (cats & dogs). The cats will need to be cared for, as it's hard on our island to secure a kennel for them. We will have someone available to manage any issues that might arise so you don't have to (sick cat, etc). Since dogs are a lot more work and responsibility, ours will be with a sitter unless we are swapping with dog lovers who request to dog-sit (which would be a blessing to us, but not expected and would want to make sure it's a good fit)
We have a 2022 Honda Pilot that seats 8 we would possibly do a reciprocal trade with another car - perfect for exploring the island.
Cleaning preferences can be discussed and arranged for each visit depending on sim, non-sim or globe & individual preferences. We ask that the house is left the way it was found; and give the option for swappers to pay for cleaning if you would rather not clean on your vacation. In some cases, it would be required to pay the cleaning (back to back swaps when we can't be there to check things for example) and that would be clearly communicated ahead of time.
Electricity is very high here in Hawaii so we ask that you not use the AC or very sparingly. Thank you for understanding!
Features
Washer
Dishwasher
Clothes dryer
Oven
Microwave
Fridge
Hair dryer
Air conditioning
TV
WiFi
High Speed Internet
Bathtub
First aid kit
Smoke alarms
Bed sheets
Towels
Workspace
Toys
Gym
BBQ
Balcony
Garden / yard
Deck / patio / courtyard / terrace
Travel Styles
Long term
Adventure
Family
Romantic
Sport and leisure
Foodie
Relaxing
Eco
Mountains
Beach
Water
Remote
Tropical
Hiking
Cycling
Golf
Accessibility
House rules
Suitable for infants under 2
Suitable for children ages 2-12
Pets not allowed
No smoking
Allergens
Carpet free
Smoke free
Low allergen
Dates of Availability
Click on availability periods to see exchange types and descriptions.
Available
Neighbourhood
We live in Wailua Homesteads, which is centrally located on the island. It's the perfect launching point for all your explorations across Kauai!
To get to our house you pass the Wailua River, Opaekka Falls and we are near the base of Mount Waialeale. We are very close to several hiking trails and a waterfall, and yet only 5 minutes back down the hill to the nearest beach.
Since we are close to the mountains, it's cooler at our home than many other areas on island. We love it because it's a more comfortable temperature, but a quick drive takes you to a hot, sunny beach!
There is a country store with local goodies a 2 minute walk from our home, as well as a park. Grocery shopping, beaches and more exploring is a short 5-10 minute drive.
It's a small island, and since we are right in the middle, it's super easy to explore all the areas.
Lydgate Beach - 5 minutes
Wailua River - 5 minutes
Opaekkaa Falls - 2 minutes
Sleeping Giant Trailhead - 2 minutes
Kuila Trail & Loop Road - 5 minutes
Lihue Airport - 20 minutes
Kapaa Town - 10 minutes
Poipu - 40 minutes
Kokee State Park and Waimea Canyon - 1-1.5 hours
Polihale Beach - 1.5 hours
Some north shore beaches - 20-30 minutes
Princeville - 35 minutes
Hanalei - 40 minutes
Na Pali Coast, Ke'e Beach - 1 hour
Getting to my home
Lihue airport is the main airport on the island. Depending on where you are flying from, you may fly first to Honolulu, Oahu and then take another very short flight to Lihue, Kauai. It's a quick 15-20 minute drive to my home on our one lane roads to get to my house
Nearest airport
Lihue (LIH) airport is 20 minutes drive away. Honolulu, Oahu is the airport you will fly into if coming from further away, like an international destination. Then it is a quick 20 minute flight to Kauai.
Getting around
A car is needed for getting around. Uber is super spotty here. We have a 2022 Honda Pilot that seats 8 we would possibly do a reciprocal trade with another car - perfect for exploring the island.
Map of Approximate Location
People Like Us Local Guide
Happy to offer some advice to those traveling to the Hawaiian islands or maybe join you on a hike or beach day if you are here!
Feedback
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Karolyn’s home is an island gem. The location is perfect for exploring all that this beautiful island has to offer. Karolyn is a spectacular exchange partner. Her attention to details and communication is flawless. Karolyn’s home is perfectly equipped with everything you would need for Kauai adventures. We truly miss her energetic fur babies. The 3 cats had so much personality. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to Karolyn and her girls if Kauai is on your bucket list. Such a wonderful family🤗 -
We simply loved staying in Kauai. Karolyns very personal home situated in the middle of the island, was the perfect frame to explore the whole island . We spend the whole week exploring from south to north and enjoyed the breathtaking scenery and beautiful beaches. Karolyn was so helpful and really made a huge effort to ensure we had a perfect stay. From giving good advice to even bringing us a meal through her non profit organization. Her big spacious new car with room for 8 people was such a good treat. This place is super whatever you want a relaxing holiday or one full of adventures. Seeing turtles and monk seals on the beach and snorkeling with loads of fish and turtles.Zipping, surfing, golf, hiking, frisbee golf, kayaking, or as we also did fishing, where we ended up catching a big BLUE MARLIN which was one of the highlights of our trip. In other words if you get the chance to go here just DO IT. -
Karolyn was an amazing host. She did everything she could to ensure we were enjoying our stay and instructions and local guides were extremely detailed and helpful. Her home was in great shape and really made our stay very fun and easy. She is the ideal PLU member to have an exchange with! -
Karolyn has a great place on Kauai! It is conveniently located in a quiet neighbourhood in Kapa'a, close to the airport in Lihue. The house is comfortable and well set-up for guests, and Karolyn provided us with a fantastic guide, full of recommendations for places to eat and things to see on the island. When we had questions during our stay, Karolyn was prompt and very helpful getting back to us. And bonus: the house comes with three amazing, friendly cats! Thank you Karolyn for a wonderful week in paradise! -
Karolyn's home was perfect for our 3+ week stay in Kauai, which is paradise! Her home is really spacious, with a cozy and inviting feeling - very comfortable, with everything you need - including a large kitchen to cook at home. We especially enjoyed our morning coffee outside in the pagoda/ lounging area. We loved being in a 'home' in a pretty, green neighbourhood, uphill and away from the resorts-- but still just a short drive to everywhere. Her home is very central, and the island is small, so nothing is more than 30-40 min away --- up north to Hanalei, down south to the beaches with giant turtles and also to visit Waimea canyon, or just to head out to the many closer beaches, rivers, hiking, coffee farms, or charming Kappa'a town within 10-15 min. There is just so much to explore -- and Karolyn's home was the perfect base for everything. Karolyn herself was generous and thoughtful -- leaving us with beach gear and other amenities and a very special and delicious meal with welcome cards from her kids upon our arrival! She is full of information about what to do and where to go to have the best experience in Kauai. We communicated regularly and easily for months leading up to the swap - -and throughout our time there (she was in my home at the same time). We also did a car swap which was sooo helpful. And we took care of her kitties which was no problem at all - my son especially loved playing with them. This was my very first swap on PLU and it could not have been better. Very early on we felt a strong sense of trust and friendship that has only grown. If you're lucky enough to swap with Karolyn, go for it, and I hope you have as good an experience as we did! -
Karolyn has been a joy to arrange a swap with. The communication through the whole exchange was great. Her home was a perfect size for a family of 8 adults. It was close enough to fun activities for everyone’s taste. Karolyn left yummy makings for a local dish…so yummy. This swap was great, I hope we can swap again with Karolyn. . -
I am so glad that your family enjoyed their time in Kauai! We equally enjoyed our time in your lovely Idaho home!
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