Every summer my family and I like to go on a tropical vacation, and after years of all-inclusive indulgences in Mexico and the Caribbean, we decided to try something different this year and visited Kaua’i, the Garden Island. I’d visited the island a few times before on FAMs, so knew what to expect and the sites I wanted to see but was really excited to vacation there with my husband and kids, ages 11 and 9. We had a busy week, touring all of the island’s popular sites and many fun activities. I was able to snag a great industry rate at the Hilton Garden Inn Kaua’i at Wailua Bay, and it was an excellent choice for our family.
The Vibe
This property is located on the east side of the island, affectionately known as the Royal Coconut Coast, and was a quick 10-minute drive from the airport — a welcome factor after the long flights from the Midwest. Even if you’ve stayed at other Hilton Garden Inns before and think they all fall under the same corporate umbrella and will have a similar look and feel, think again because at this property you definitely know you are in Hawai’i. The open air lobby features Hawaiian sculptures, a view of the tropical gardens and is flanked by koi fish ponds where guests are invited to participate in daily feedings. The resort was busy but not overwhelmingly crowded — just the right amount of energy for our family.
How I Felt
I knew I was in Kauai no matter where I turned at the property, thanks to the island’s ever-present chickens and roosters. Some tourists complain online about their early morning cock-a-doodle-doo’s but our room was soundproof enough that I never noticed them when I didn’t want to and thought they were fun to watch as they strutted their stuff! I loved all the tropical flowers in the gardens throughout the property and felt right at home — relaxed and comfortable.
The Digs
We stayed in a cottage that was just shy of 700 square feet — not enormous but definitely more elbow room vs. a traditional guestroom which we appreciated. Like all rooms at the property, it had a kitchenette with microwave, mini fridge and Keurig coffeemaker. This made it easy for us to have breakfast and snacks in our room or on our lanai. Our cottage was also close to Lydgate Beach Park which made it easy to go for a swim, and my kids enjoyed the impressive playground.
The Agenda
We were on the go in Kaua’i, enjoying all that the island had to offer on most days. Since the hotel is centrally located, it made it pretty easy for us to get to where we wanted to go quickly with our rental car. When we were at the Hilton Garden Inn, most of our time was spent enjoying the two pools on property, and we never found them to be too crowded. In fact, on several occasions we were the only guests using them. They were also open at night which was a fun novelty for my kids, and I really liked being able to swim and stargaze simultaneously.
The Eats
The hotel featured two restaurants, The Garden Grille for breakfast and Mamahune’s for lunch and dinner. Since we opted to have breakfast in our room, we didn’t experience The Garden Grille, but I did take a peek at the menu, and it seemed to be full of delicious sweet and savory options. We enjoyed the ocean view and tropical breezes at Mamahune’s tiki bar which had juicy burgers, fresh fish tacos and refreshing cocktails.
Our favorite on-property dining though was the Ahi Uila Fire Show which takes place every Tuesday and Friday night. It’s a luau-style buffet dinner loaded with all the expected favorites — roasted pork, island fish, macaroni salad, stir-fried vegetables and more. The story told through the dancers was very impressive, and at times we could not believe our eyes when we saw what they did with fire! My 9 year old daughter had a special treat when she was invited on stage to learn a hulu dance at the beginning of the evening — I hope she always holds onto her confidence and the happy memory.
Why I Would Go Back
If I find myself in Kaua’i again, I would not hesitate to stay at the Hilton Garden Inn because it offers a convenient location, pretty scenery and overall great value. The resort includes complimentary morning coffee and tropical fruit juice in the afternoon in the lobby, cultural activities like fish feeding, lei making and a sunrise ceremony, along with beach towels and mats, plus complimentary laundry. Since costs can add up quickly for a week in Hawai’i, these added extras were appreciated!
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