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Please see Kauai for other available Kauai hostels and accommodations.
The Hostelz.com Review
The location of this small hostel is prime. It's close to one of the best boogie boarding beaches on the island (Anahola Beach) and a few blocks away from downtown Kapa'a, which is known for its good eats and cheap variety stores.
The hostel itself had a very "insidery" feel. Most of the folks there seemed distant and weather-blown, as if they've been there for a hundred years and intend to stay. The crowd is on the older side, populated with some leathery surfing folk in their 40s as well as a few younger hippie-types. The general vibe is friendly-ish but wary.
The buildings have sort of a ranch-feel; you drive up and park by a white picket fence, and the hostel is spread out right before you. The dorm-rooms are small with no frills, with bunk beds and a sink, and a teeny tiny bathroom with a shower stall that is not the cleanest. None of the rooms have kitchens; all cooking is done in the common building, which is a separate building. The hostel also has semi-private rooms, which are accessible through the dorm rooms and share the bathroom. These have only a bed; no dresser or table, and are a bit stuffy with only one small high window and a ceiling fan. The dorm walls are very thin, and noise easily penetrates.
The common areas are much more comfortable. The hostel has cozy couches and a TV/VCR indoors, and outdoors it has a pool table, a picnic table, chairs, and various board games and other amusements. The kitchen is rather large with ample counter space.
The hostel itself had a very "insidery" feel. Most of the folks there seemed distant and weather-blown, as if they've been there for a hundred years and intend to stay. The crowd is on the older side, populated with some leathery surfing folk in their 40s as well as a few younger hippie-types. The general vibe is friendly-ish but wary.
The buildings have sort of a ranch-feel; you drive up and park by a white picket fence, and the hostel is spread out right before you. The dorm-rooms are small with no frills, with bunk beds and a sink, and a teeny tiny bathroom with a shower stall that is not the cleanest. None of the rooms have kitchens; all cooking is done in the common building, which is a separate building. The hostel also has semi-private rooms, which are accessible through the dorm rooms and share the bathroom. These have only a bed; no dresser or table, and are a bit stuffy with only one small high window and a ceiling fan. The dorm walls are very thin, and noise easily penetrates.
The common areas are much more comfortable. The hostel has cozy couches and a TV/VCR indoors, and outdoors it has a pool table, a picnic table, chairs, and various board games and other amusements. The kitchen is rather large with ample counter space.
— Exclusive Hostelz.com Review
November 2004
Their Description
Kauai International Hostel Details
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Map
Location/Contact| Address | 4532 Lehua Street, Kauai (Kapaa), Hawaii, USA |
| Location | |
| Website | vrbo.com/861 |
| Telephone | +1 (808) 823-6142 |
| Fax | +1 (808) 822-3106 |
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Kauai International Hostel Reviews from the WebHostelz.com Guest Reviews
Vacation ruined ... go anyplace else! I am a solo traveler in my 50s and have enjoyed staying at hostels all over the world. Unfortunately, this was the worst experience in my life. Warning! It could happen to you!! I had a bed reserved for the week. I walked in, waited about 20 minutes in the empty front room when the manager Max or Mike (he used both names) arrived and said "What are you doing here?" "I have a reservation" I replied. Sounding angry and agitated, he proceeded to recite the rules (they seemed fine to me, no problem) then he growls "You can't stay, you don't have the right attitude, I could tell from the first minute you walked in here. I started to ask how he could say that, since I had just been standing there listening to him, and he says "Now you're getting argumentative, this PROVES you have a bad attitude. You are a troublemaker, get the f*** out or I'll call the police". I was kicked out for no reason. I have never had someone treat me so badly. I was in tears. I came with open mind and open heart to enjoy a week's vacation and this ruined my stay. He threw me out and I had no place to stay. He wouldn't even suggest another place to go. I slept in my car. I was better off. If I can save just one other person the stress and emotional upset of this experience, it will be worth it. Go somewhere else, or at least have a fall-back position! I did meet a girl who was staying there and she said he talked about himself and his problems for hours. He is unstable, verbally, and emotionally abusive. Run, don't look back! — Anonymous , USA (2011-09-04) Don't DO IT! AVOID! Manager is Insane!! Place is Filthy! I've stayed at a lot of bad hostels in my time, but this take the cake. Manager literally physically threatened us when we showed up with a reservation. We could not have possibly been nice and more polite when we showed up. We were literally standing there speechless. Guy seriously needs help, definitely a drug addict! Don't stay here until this freak is removed! Beds had never been cleaned, floors were absolutely filthy, water was turned off, NO INTERNET! — Anonymous , USA (2011-04-30) OMG, DON't DO IT, Buy a tent instead. I arrived to a abrupt reception, the "manager" literally threw a key in my hand and informed me he was watching a program and couldn't be bothered until after 8 pm. I arrived around 6:15 pm. He did manage to tell me the RULES. 1. he doesn't clean the rooms, it is the responsibility of the guests. 2... 3... and so on... he finished his Litany with "if you don't like the rules you can leave, if I don't like you, I will ask you to leave." After changing into comfy cloths, I went to the "community room" and inquired about a place to pick up some supplies. He said he was watching his program, instructed me to walk through Bubbas parking lot and head "that way" he indicated with his hand. I returned with my supplies and went to get my sheets. Mine were on the stool, but I noticed that the love seat and 3/4 of the couch were covered with sheets and pillow cases. The "manager" was watching the Ultimate Fighter, I indicated that this was one of my favorite shows to watch with my husband, would he mind if I watched with him, and I offered to "help out" by folding the clean linens. I was told that it was his policy that guests NOT watch TV, in fact he takes the cable to the TV with him when he is not on the property. He relented and allowed me to stay as long as I was Quiet and "put good energy" into the linens as I folded. At every commercial break, I was informed of the GREAT jiu jitsu skills that he "the Manager" possessed in a very very very hostile tone. It was quite UN-nerving! A woman "young lady" arrived to check into the female dorm, he handed her the key and her sheets, he barked the rules finishing with his usual "if you don't like it... if I don't like you..." and pointed to the building and said "your room is up there, I am watching my program, we will settle up when it is over." Noticing the confusion on her face I offered to show her the room, since I was in the same one. While I was in the room with her, she asked about the Internet access, which is advertised on the website affiliated with the International Hostels. I told her that I had not asked yet, but I would like to know as well. We returned to the "community room" and inquired about how to obtain the Internet access and what the "small extra charge" was. His response was to BARK at us that the property was NOT equipped with Internet access, so I asked where the closest Internet cafe or business offering access was, the woman added that she had to accomplish some work online while on holiday. She was told if she wasn't satisfied with the property she could LEAVE! She left to go sit on the patio with another guest. I sat down and started to fold linens again. During a commercial, I asked if I could change the station for a moment and see what was happening on my program and he said NO. "I don't have to let you watch TV at all, in fact I make the rules and if I say lights out at 5pm then it is lights out, and you have to go to your room." I then inquired as to why the web site advertises that the hostel has a "community room" with "TV" and "Internet access at an extra cost" he instructed me to be quiet and quit trying to engage him in a fight. I apologized for leading him t believe that I was trying to be confrontational, that from a business owners stand-point I was only curious as to why he didn't change the site? I again apologized and told him I meant no offense, he then told me that I was trying to start a fight, at which point I apologized again and told him I did not want to fight at all, AGAIN he yells your trying to start something, I very calmly explained that I was sorry that I was giving him that impression, I was not trying to give that impression. By now I was growing very uncomfortable with his tone and his body language. He told me to get out of the building, I was not welcome there. I asked him if he was kicking me out of the Hostel, I was not sure what he was trying to say. He began yelling and moving in my direction, he informed me that I was to get out RIGHT NOW! I went to the patio and sat down with the woman and the other guest ( a male) I was VERY shaken and starting to hyperventilate, I was having a panic attack. The manager heard me hyperventilating and came out screaming at me to quit making him look bad to the guests. He requested my CC so he could refund me, and I was to leave the property. I was crying at this point and reminded him that he had been watching his program and had not gotten my information yet. I asked where I could go (it was after dark and I had heavy luggage) I was not familiar with the area. He screamed that I could stay for free for the night, but I was to be gone by 10am. He then instructed me to leave the patio, and not to show my face to him again. I went to the "woman's dorm" when I entered I was crying, hyperventilating, and having a full out panic attack. I was in fear for my safety and not sure what to do. I knew I couldn't leave in the dark with no idea where the closest accommodations were, not to mention I didn't have the $ for a full price hotel. Two young girls were in the room, and they tried to help calm me down. After about 20 minutes I had calmed down enough to tell them what had happened. The young woman informed me that they had been afraid of him since they arrived and avoided him. They were leaving the Island for Oahu the next day because of it. (TWO days early). Around 8:45 pm, two woman (a mother and daughter) arrived to the room. The mother said to the daughter "I am not going back to talk to him in 1/2 hour, if he wants our $ he will have to come find us, or you can go talk to him, I don't like him." I asked if they were talking about the manager, and they said yes, he had given them the keys, linens and RULES and told them to come back in 1/2 hour when his program was over to "settle up." I told them what had happened to me and the daughter said she had read online that the manager was "insane" but they were only there for the night, then off to a resort. At 7am I awoke and set out to find new accommodations, I left my bags behind (I was packed for a long stay, by brother in law was arriving in 2 days and we were going to his time share for a week). I found another place about a block away from the Hostel, and went in to inquire about price. I told them that I had a bad experience the night before. The hotel manager inquired if I had stayed at the Hostel, and I said yes. She informed me that they received MANY inquiries from guests who were either put out by, or afraid of the manager. They often booked rooms from the inquiries. I arranged for my brother in law to pay for the room, and booked it for 2 nights. I returned to the Hostel, gathered my belongings and (with fear and anxiety) went to the "community room" to find "Max" and turn in my key and linens. He was not there, I left the property on the counter and on my way out took notice that the cable from the TV to the adaptor on the wall was indeed gone. I bumped into the woman on my way out and she said he was at his training to become a jui jitsu teacher at the moment. I offered to let her stay with me at the hotel, and she said max had demanded her CC right after I went to the room the night before, she had paid already, but she had informed him she would only be staying 2 nights instead of the originally planned 4 or 5. She had made that decision after his volatile behaviour towards her and myself the night before. In 12 hours I met 3 woman who were LEAVING the island of Kauai because of this man. I stayed at MANY Hostels in Europe and never had a bad experience. Max treats his guests as BAD Children and beats the rules into them. His comment about "lights out at 5pm" is very telling, not to mention that he actually removes the cable to the TV when he leaves the property. This property is not what the internet portrays it to be, I was not greeted by a garden within a garden, I saw an overgrown mess when I entered the rickety old gate. The ROOM WAS FILTHY, I feared the shower, would not even entertain getting in it with my flip flops on, gross. I looked for the serene setting to do my yoga and meditation and couldn't find any spot on the property where I would be willing to put my mat down. I will also be submitting this letter to the International Hostel Association, EVERY newspaper and news channel in Kauai, and the chamber of commerce. Max is running people off the island of Kauai. The Kauai International Hostel carries the nick name "the hostility" with the locals (yes, I heard that more than once while relating what had happened to me, Max's reputation precedes him" ) I would love to see Kauai have a clean safe environment for the budget traveler to count on. Kauai is not an island to be missed. I waited to send this letter AFTER my vacation was over, my experience of Kauai after leaving the Kauai International Hostel, was 5 star, and I wanted to be present for it, and not dwell on the horrifying experience I had with Max. I could not, however, in good conscience allow him to get away with driving people from this Island of Paradise. — shell , USA (2010-09-29) Good hostel We stayed 2 nights at this hostel in April 2010 and we had a wonderful time! I've traveled on and off for the last 6 years and been to lots of hostels, met all kind of people. I really think this was a nice place. Good location, and it was convenient to have free access to internet. Yes, there are rules -- like clean up after yourself and no drinking. So? It's cheap and bars are 2 minutes away! And as for the manager, we had absolutely no problem with him, he was friendly and of great help when we asked for advices. He's a bit eccentric ok, but definitely NOT a freak. Show respect and aloha, and you will have a good time there. — Karine , Canada (2010-04-29) Sh*t house! I have spent five years traveling extensively and have never come across a person as angry and disturbed as Mike the psych. I shudder at the thought of waikiki and came to kauai to hike the kalalau trail. kapa, with its amazing hospitable and comfortable atmosphere I thought would be reflected at the hostel, i was wrong! — soph , australia (2009-11-06) Run and go camping! The manager is really crazy. No, really! He will destroy your good mood. Spend some extra and stay at a real hotel or if you like to save some money, go camping. There you will also meet nice people and nobody will insult you or kick you out. Kauai is not an island for hostels. That's it! You can buy cheap camping gear at WalMart. — Paul , G (2009-09-24) Creep Great hostel, don't bother going until they change managers! — Ryan , Canada (2009-09-13) Scary experience Do not stay in this place. Just read the manager's obsessive house rules and threats to customers and you get a good taste of the bizarre atmosphere created in this hostel. I've stayed in many hostels which were cleaner and quieter than this place and didn't have the prison like rules and outright aggressive management. If you treat people like human beings they will generally respond in kind. If you threat people like dogs they will check out early and write bad review of your establishment all over the internet. — Cian , Irish (2009-09-12) Maikiki is like no other and yes, this hostel is not for all people. He did freak out quite a bit while I was there and even on me. But I'm a male, an experienced traveler, and can absorb all walks of life. Do I think he should be running a prime piece of real estate in paradise? No. I still wonder how he keeps the job there as he is not an owner. I'm sure that the owner is aware of his actions and to this day I'm a bit stunned that he's still there. From saying this all, I do not wish to attack Maikiki. I expect the very best for him and that he shakes his demons from the past. I do know that he's making a strong effort and perhaps this is not the career for him. Maikiki, I hope you find peace and happiness in your life and that you're able to focus your energies on all things positive. Much love my brother. — Kauai Love , U.S.A. (2009-07-17) Shocking I have been using hostels for years and have never had an experience as bad as this. Upon my arrival I was told to move on as the hostel was full, but once I had made clear my intention to pay cash, it transpired that there were plenty of beds available (in fact only two other guests). Anyway, the manager had seemingly taken an instant dislike to me, and was extremely rude and arrogant over the next few days. Despite this I remained polite and respectful, doing my share of the cleaning as I knew that there was nowhere else on the island to stay in my budget range. One day he just went all crazy and decided to throw me out. He confronted me and hurled some "gutter-talk" at me (which is apparently banned at the hostel?) in front of the other guests, who were horrified. There is absolutely no way this disturbed man should be allowed to run a hostel. — International Hosteller , UK (2009-06-30) The manager wastes this nice place I didn't pay attention to the comments about this hostel when I booked, but I should have. Since the first minute I got there, the manager made me feel uncomfortable talking about the very special poIicy in here == he destabilized me although I agreed about all he said but I passed out. I noticed his redneck attitude during the evenings but I didn't care. A few days later, he blamed me because I didn't use its luggage room (i checked out for one day). Although I recognize my mistake and was ready to "compensate" he roughly kicked me out from the hostel and I had to leave the island the same day. So I just deplore this prick is the owner because the place is nice in itself. — stephane , France (2009-05-19) Scary and violent I am so glad there is a forum where I can warn others of the maniac physco manager. Last year he chased me out of the hostel after he told me he didn't like my energy. That the island didn't like my energy. I had only requested a room. He said Leave Now! He chased me into the yard where my boyfriend was sitting and waiting. He yelled at me in front of my boyfriend and told us again that he didn't want my bad energy there. I literally had to run down the street from him and I spent the night sitting on the beach crying. This guy is mentally and spiritually unstable and hates women. Why on Earth he is in charge of that place still, I don't know! Camp instead and get permits. — FreeFromThatHostile , USA (2009-04-24) And he kicked me out too! I am a fifty-year-old woman traveling alone to a Canoe race and stayed here. After a very long day on the water, the manager stated I didn't say anything to him when I went to the womens dorm -- had my key and room for two days. He came after me and told me I was rude, told me to get out now or he would call the cops. I told him I would leave after I took a shower since I paid for the night. he almost threw me out of the bathroom and told me to get lost like I was a child and treated me like a criminal! Tried staying there again a few months later hoping for a better experience, right. no one was there to greet me or give me a room, Sign said come back at 9 p.m. right! Go somewhere else. — Dixie , USA (2009-03-23) Terrible! the manager is a maniac! I am from Canada but have lived between Canada and Hawaii for most of my life (my Dad is Hawaiian and lives on Kauai). My sister and I went to check out this hostel because we wanted to prolong our stay on the island but my Dad's place was being rented out. So, being very comfortable with the island and Kapaa, we went to ask about price, only to be greeted by the manager who is nothing short of a maniac. He claims to have the "island vibe" and be chill and positive, but when we asked what the hostel's rules were, he told us that people who don't "get" the "island vibe" aren't "worth the skin they're in" (this wording alone is proof that he has zero Hawaiian in him!). When my sister said "that's not really that positive" about his comment, he told us that we had to leave and kicked us out of his hostel, yelling that we'd be better suited to walk up the street and get a hotel, meanwhile we live here. I was so offended and insulted. This man is very rude and very sketchy and I beg all of you fellow travelers not to risk your safety by staying with such an erratic and unstable character. He is mean, and do not be tricked, he is nothing like all of the people on our island! Stay at the other hostel, or camp on the beach. This experience was shocking and I have never in all my life on any Hawaiian island encountered someone like this guy. — Carly , Canada (2009-02-22) This place rocks! Yeah the man has rules, but he's not a nazi as some spoiled brats might have you believe. Go with the flow and understand that sometimes life happens and things'll go great. Some people are complaining about Mike but honestly he's awesome. If you take the time to ask him instead of trying to confront him he can give you the lowdown on all kinds of local knowledge of the island. Mike made me and my wife's visit on the island extra special and he really went out of his way to be hospitable. But as a business owner I understand that there are some customers who want to negotiate until you're broke! Yeah, I'm sure someone's going to have a negative experience eventually, but if you're someone who understands traveling as a way to see and explore and you like nature than this is your spot. If you're looking for servants and a manicure than I suggest that you go to touristy Waikiki -- Kauai is for nature lovers! — Ed Lee , USA (2009-02-04)