Kauaʻi Is One of the Hottest Travel Destinations in the World, and This Boutique Poʻipu Hideaway Is Still Flying Under the Radar

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Editor's note: Kauaʻi is still recovering after Hurricane Lowell hit the island in early September. Koʻa Kea Resort is open and welcoming guests back, but check the resort's latest updates before you book. Sending our love to Kauaʻi.

Welcome to Kauaʻi

Kauaʻi has a law that no building can stand taller than a coconut tree, which is roughly four stories. That means the tallest things on this island's skyline are trees, while the picture-perfect coastline is filled with jungle and cliffs leading straight down to beaches with nothing built up around them. It turns out that's exactly what luxury travelers are chasing this year, since bookings to this specific Hawaiian island are climbing faster this summer than almost anywhere else on the luxury travel map, according to Chase Travel's summer booking data. That means even the Amalfi Coast and the Maldives crowds are looking for something a little less manicured.

And on Kauaʻi's south shore, that's exactly what travelers will find. Koʻa Kea Resort on Poʻipū Beach is equal parts adventure and luxury, and the arrival makes the case before you've even checked in. Pulling up to valet, the hotel looks almost small, tucked into its corner of the coastline, and it stays that way until you step into the lobby, where it opens straight onto the palm trees, the lava rock pool, and the beach beyond.

As a travel journalist, I've stayed at my fair share of beautiful hotels, but this one still managed to surprise me, mostly because of how close it sits to the water. Koʻa Kea is one of the closest hotels to the ocean on all of Kauaʻi, and it shows: the beach is just a few steps away, and it stays in view from nearly every room, the pool, and the restaurant. That proximity turned out to shape almost everything about the stay, starting with the room itself.

A Stay at Koʻa Kea

Koʻa Kea has 121 rooms and suites split across a handful of categories, from garden view to partial ocean view to full oceanfront, and every one comes with a private lanai and beautiful views. Guests can also enjoy a lei greeting at check-in, a bottle of private label wine, wellness classes, and boards and snorkel gear rentals. As for the best part? There's direct access to the beach, just steps from the property.

As for the rooms, mine was spacious, with a small deck that looked straight out over the ocean and the pool. The bathroom was marble, with a walk-in shower big enough to actually enjoy, and there was a Nespresso machine on the counter for anyone who wants coffee before a day in the sunshine. The bed was big and cozy, and some small touches added up fast: a lei waiting for me at check-in, and a bottle of wine from the hotel's sister property (The Meritage Resort and Spa in Napa), which I opened on the deck the first night during sunset.

The Beach and Pool

Koʻa Kea sits between Poʻipū Beach and Kiahuna Beach, and the surf break two minutes away turned out to be the best part of the entire trip. I went out in the afternoon, and a local surf school happened to be running a session at the same time, which meant small, very forgiving waves and great weather. Hoku Watersports runs the rental hut right on property, and the staff set me up with a longboard and pointed out exactly where the break was working that day.

The next morning, as I was walking along the shore, I came across a handful of sea turtles sunning themselves, completely unbothered by the small crowd that had stopped to watch. Being so close to the water made this a hotel I'll return to in the future.

For those who want to stay on property, the saltwater pool is a great place to relax. There are loungers, umbrellas, and a full bar with food and drinks. Be sure to get the mai tai, you're in Hawaii after all. There's also a lava rock hot tub that earns its keep once the sun starts dropping and the air cools off. I loved swimming in that pool and taking a quick soak in the hot tub after surfing.

Spa and Dining at Koʻa Kea

At The Spa at Koʻa Kea, treatments happen in either private open-air cabanas right on the water or in the spa treatment rooms. The ingredients are pulled straight from the island: Kauaʻi clay, kukui oil, locally grown coffee and sugar, and native flowers.

Dinner at Red Salt is a must. The menu leans local with incredible local catches, including my personal favorite: a seared mahi-mahi finished in Madagascan vanilla bean. Whatever fish is on the menu that night is the move, no debate necessary. The sushi bar is great for an appetizer, and the steak holds its own for anyone who needs a break from seafood. Even breakfast had its own highlight, in the form of a matcha good enough to get up for.

Around the Area

I booked a boat tour with Captain Andy's and spent the day circling the entire north shore by water. It started overcast, which somehow made the cliffs look even more dramatic, almost like a movie set, before the clouds burned off into full sun by midday. I spotted dolphins along the way, got in the water to snorkel, and had lunch right there on the boat, and the crew had everyone's names down before we'd even left the harbor.

If you have a few days on this side of the island, it's worth building in time for a few other spots too. Spouting Horn, a lava tube blowhole a few minutes down the road from the hotel, is an easy stop, best around sunset when the light hits the spray. Waimea Canyon, nicknamed the Grand Canyon of the Pacific, is about an hour's drive and earns the comparison with red cliffs, waterfalls, and viewpoints worth the early start. And for something slower and less trafficked, the National Tropical Botanical Garden and the Māhāʻulepu Heritage Trail both sit close enough to Koʻa Kea to fill a half day without taking up too much time.

Where to Eat

For dinner beyond Red Salt, the south shore has a strong lineup: the Beach House Restaurant for an oceanfront sunset table that's been winning local awards for two decades, Keoki's Paradise for open-air dining and live music surrounded by waterfalls and gardens, and Merriman's at The Shops at Kukuiʻula for an upscale night.

Worth the Trip

Kauaʻi isn't a secret this year, and it's easy to see why once you're standing on Poʻipū Beach. Between the surf sessions, the sunset swims, the food at Red Salt, and the beautiful review, it was one of the best stays I've had in Hawaii, and one I'd book again without thinking twice.