Imagine a family resort filled with awe and wonder beyond expectation. Where upon entrance you’re greeted by every staff member, who was anticipating your arrival and knew you by name. Where you crack open the door to your room and are welcomed into an oasis filled with incredible views and the salty smell of the ocean air. A room where the only obstructions of your windows are the palm trees flowing in the wind.
The children run through the space choosing what room to claim as their own. They quickly discover that there is no phone, no television and that mother nature and all of her magic will be the entertainment for the night. Where at the family dinner you need to raise your voice only so that it can be heard over the sound of the waves crashing against the beach.
Do you believe in magic?
It exists at the Hanalei Colony Resort.
Built in the 1960’s, Hanalei Colony Resort (HCR) is a unique resort with 48 two-bedroom suites, all beautifully appointed, with fully equipped kitchens and private lanais. The resort also offers beautifully landscaped grounds, which are surrounded on two sides by the Pacific Ocean. With emerald mountains on one side, aquamarine seas on the other two, it makes for some of the most amazing views on the planet! The kids loved the pool and jacuzzi, and the family barbecue area was a great place to wrap up the day.
Getting There
When they say that half of the fun is getting there, nothing could be more true than the trip to the resort. Located on the north shore of Kauai, it takes about an hour to get to from the Lihui airport. The drive on the small, two-lane road takes you through beautiful winding roads, with large overgrown forests on one side and the ocean on the other. On the journey you go past the quaint town of Hanalei; the historic Old Hanalei Schoolhouse, which is now home to boutique shops and restaurants; and the picturesque green Wai’oli Hui’ia church. The kids loved going over the seven one-way bridges, and as a driver it was interesting to learn how to take turns, share the road, and what the common local courtesy is.
Uninterrupted, Unspoiled, Unplugged
The Hanalei Colony Resort takes a lot of pride in being “uninterrupted, unspoiled, and unplugged” meaning there are no televisions, telephones, radios, or distractions. Recent requirements have led them to add WiFi, however once you’re there you quickly realize that your Facebook status updates can really wait.
Our family enjoyed reading the books, playing board games, and even hide-and-seek in our room. More conversations were had, and there were even times where we all sat in silence… something I can say we never do anymore. HRC offered us something that we really couldn’t have experienced anywhere else!
Best Room in Kauai
I’m pretty sure that we had the best room in Kauai. We practically sat on top of the ocean, with the sand being a mere 8 feet from our private lanai. Unless we were camping on the beach we couldn’t have been closer to the ocean!
Room For The Whole Family
Each suite at the Hanalei Colony Resort offers a master suite and a second space for two single beds. With a large living room, a full kitchen, two bathrooms, and the desirable private lanai, this suite has more than enough space for the whole family.
Ocean Oasis
This is actually the view from our window, a mere three feet from the side of my bed. It was amazing falling asleep in this ocean oasis, the sound of the waves crashing lulling us to sleep.
Mornings with Mother Nature
There was nothing more special then waking up on my birthday to this sunrise. Every morning was really amazing as we lay in bed andwatched the sun peek out over our toes. When we went out onto our lanai we quickly discovered that we weren’t the only ones with this idea, as many of the resorts visitors had headed to the beach to take in the incredible view.
Evenings were just as special at the Hanalei Colony Resort, as we tucked into our rooms after sunset and enjoyed the peaceful atmosphere, tranquil ambiance, and the sounds of the ocean as we drifted off to sleep.
Family Adventures While You’re at HCR
We were pleasantly surprised at the long list of things for us to do while we were at the Hanalei Colony Resort. Our favourite of course was beachcombing, where my son found this beautiful piece of coral. In our family we “take nothing but pictures and leave nothing but footprints” and so we had to stage a special photo shoot with my “good camera” to capture this special piece of coral for my son!
There are a ton of other things to do while visiting HRC, my top recommendations for families include:
Hanalei Bay
A short 5 minute drive to Hanalei Bay brings you to a protected bay and a perfect beach for a family swim. Walk down the long pier and enjoy the iconic bay that “Puff the Magic Dragon” was from.
Playing at the Pool
Conveniently located in between the outdoor BBQ station and the jacuzzi, is an awesome family-sized pool! It’s a great place to cool off or hang out and meet some new friends!
Explore a Wet Cave
Head to the site of where “Pirates of the Caribbean” was filmed and visit a wet cave! My kids were equally excited and a bit nervous to see if Jack Sparrow was going to peek his head out from behind the walls of the cave!
Luau
Take in the culture and history of Hawaii and spend an evening at a local Luau. There are several on the island to choose from and I loved getting recommendations from HRC’s concierge.
Other ideas
- Hike the world famous Na Pali Coast Trail
- Visit the Dry Cave
- Kilauea Lighthouse
- Tunnels Beach
- Ke’e Beach
- Aninni Beach
- DO NOTHING – Sit back and let the kids unplug…
Interested in seeing what reconnecting really looks like? Check out our behind the scenes video:
Is this a sponsored post?: While we received a complimentary stay, our words reflect our experience and we’re excited to share it with you.
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