Poipu Kai

We booked 1BR garden view in Poipu Kai resort for the last week of August. Most reviews about this resort are positive. Our only concern is that these condos have fans and do not have air conditioning. We called resort office, and very nice lady told us that average temperatures in August are in low 80s durind day, and high 70s at night ,and that the breeze from the ocean makes the lack of air-conditioning more tolerable.

Did anybody stay in this resort during summer and was the fan%26#39;s ventilation sufficient ?

Poipu Kai

Airconditioning:

For 12 years we stayed in Poipu Kai, in the different sections, during june-july time frames.

We never needed the A/C, just used the ceiling fans, and opened the louvered windows, and when up and home had the L/R slider open.

Well, same for now as residents, except we live in Puhi. Open the windows and doors and turn on the fans.

One thing to understand, is that our electricity is not produced by huge hydroelectric power projects, nor do we have back up grids like the mainland.

We have an electric generating plant that is powered by fuel.

Also, our electric bills work like this. There is the normal charge for power used....then they add in an ADJUSTMENT charge, and that nearly doubles the total cost.. We have a small 750 sq ft. condo, and turn off the hot water heater, and watch the usage.

Our bills run about $ 150.00 to $ 180.00 per month. What happens a lot with air conditioned rental ( visitors ), is that they just leave the A/C on all the time, and those bills will be horrendous.

So, most of us who live here, do not have air conditioning, and most of the rental vacation units are the same.

Open sliders and cieling fans are what we use. I do know that when the trades quit, if we had air we would use it....but, we dont.

So, we just go with the flow. Also, saves us lots of bucks.

Denny

Poipu Kai

Aloha from Kaua%26#39;i!

I live down here in the Po%26#39;ipu Beach area and from working at the Sheraton Kaua%26#39;i and now the Grand Hyatt -- I can tell you that no condos in the area have a/c -- it is just not needed. The only places that do have them are hotels like the Sheraton and the Hyatt.

Just like 99% of the homes here, the condos rely on the (just about) constant tradewinds to cool our homes -- we have ceiling fans, jalousie windows and screened lanai doors -- all of which can be used to keep the trades flowing through.

Unless you are someone with a severe problem to no a/c -- I wouldn%26#39;t worry about it.

Malama Pono,

Janet

Air conditioning is a personal thing. Some have no need for it and others can%26#39;t be without it.

I know for a fact that more and more homeowners, who rent out their units, are purchasing portable air conditoners that are good enough to cool off a master bedroom for sleeping. So it is NOT true that no condos have air conditioning. It is just not publicized. In fact, if you give the major player at Poipu Kai a call (I won%26#39;t give their name as that may be against the rules here) they have studio condos that have wall air conditioner units and they advertise them as such. Although it is not advertised online I know for a fact that there are at least a handful of larger units that do have air conditioning and, if you are willing to pay the daily surcharge, you can make a request for one of these. Some owners have purchased a/c units for their own use and will make it available to renters on a special request basis. As Denny said, electricity is incredibly expensive on Kauai and owners who have made a/c available shoulder huge electric bills for that. So be willing to pay the surcharge if it is important to you. I personally do just fine without it but I%26#39;m there in the winter months. Summers are hotter and more humid.

In case you decide you really want a/c, you could go to the Suite Paradise website, as an example, and look at their chart for resort amentities. It states that a few Poipu Kai and Nihi Kai condos are air conditioned but you must call for rates for those. Good luck in your decision.

Thanks, Napaguy, for the reality check.

Fact is, the islands can get downright unbearable during the months of August, September, and sometimes even into October if the tradewinds die down, which they are more likely to do at this time than any other time of the year. When the trades die down and Kona conditions prevail it can be rough on those who are intolerant of saunas.

We have six ceiling fans in our rather small home on Oahu. One air conditioner in the master bedroom. We only use the a/c when the conditions become as mentioned above and we make no apologies.

If I were visiting the islands in August I would look for a unit with a/c, just in case those beloved trades decide to die down.

FYI: We just got back from staying at the Regency Condos at Poipu Kai, and they DO have central air.

Liramar,

Interesting to hear that the REGENCY at Poipu Kai have central air..they are the new units that have been more recently constructed. The first units were right at the corner of Poipu and Pe%26#39;e road.

From our staying in Poipu Sands, Kahala, and Manualoha sections, we did not at ANY TIME have A/C. Nor did we need it.

August and Sept, can get a bit warm, if those trades quit, but we never had a problem in July.

So, if you want to pay for the A/C you will probably have to change condo sections, or units. The 1 b/r garden view, will likely be in the kahala section.....if you ordered Deluxe 1 Br garden view, you will be in poipu sands or manualoha sectons..

The Regency with the air conditioned units, to me are in the least desireable area, plust they are now expanding, with the new buildings on what once was an open green belt. That will have some of those units across the access drive from some of the manualoha units.

But, those new condos as well as other Regency units are crammed in pretty tightly together. They are however, much newer,and several are still underconstruction at this time.

Best to call suite paradise, or who ever you choses, and re-book an air conditioned unit if it is important to your comfort.

Denny

Ebalmom - you%26#39;re correct. I had forgotten about the Regency section of Poipu Kai. And yes, some of them ARE central air-conditioned. There were 2 phases to this development and they have all the bells and whistles of modernity. I believe it is the Phase 2 that has central air conditoning. Yes, they are setback more from Brennecke%26#39;s and Poipu Beaches. It only stands to reason because Poipu Kai developed first close to the water and then back from the water as time went on. The upside is these are great units (many are 2-story with a loft bedroom upstairs). Don%26#39;t forget though that this location actually makes you closer to the Hyatt Regency and the nice paved walkway over to there and shipwreck%26#39;s beach. One warning: if anyone asks for The Regency, make sure you don%26#39;t get assigned a unit right at the corner of Pee and Poipu roads. Noisier. In fact last winter a car jumped the curb and plowed right into one of them. The car was sitting right in the kitchen.

Aloha from Kaua%26#39;i!

I believe the theme to this discussion is: ';if you need a/c -- ask the rental agent specifically if there are any units that have it'; -- obviously there are some that are not generally advertised.

Malama Pono,

Janet

Family has stayed at Poipu Kai before and going there again in a few weeks, no A/C, no problem. I know that here in NY, you must have A/C but that is because of the serious humidity and stagnant air that visits us every summer. I am not worried about not having A/C in Kauai.