One thing you can immediately tell when you step inside The Aloha House is that the structure has been around for a while. Its redwood paneling, solid wood floors, and plantation-style architecture make you feel as if you’ve stepped back in time.
In fact, property records on file with the County of Kauai indicate the main house was erected in 1936. That makes The Aloha House one of the older houses still standing in all Poipu.
History buffs will be interested to know, though, that the main building didn’t always reside at its current address. Locals and their parents who grew up knowing the place say the house was moved to Ho’onani Road from elsewhere on the island. Where exactly its original footings stood remains a mystery—at least for now.
Prior owners of the house operated the property both as an inn and a bed and breakfast. Over the years, the place was known as the Kauai Beach Inn and also the Poipu Bed & Breakfast Inn.
During the months we spent renovating the house (Fall-Winter 2021), it was common for people to drop by and share memories of having stayed at the inn or having worked on the staff, serving breakfast or cleaning rooms.
We approached the renovation with the mindset of preservationists. Our goal was to save and stabilize as much of the original house as possible.
That’s why we didn’t paint over redwood paneling. Why we pulled up the carpet and refinished the original floors. Why, when the kitchen needed updating, we hired a carpenter to build additional cabinets in the same style as the old cabinets which were already there.
At the same time, we introduced modern features designed to enhance but not detract from the experience. We added air conditioning, a mesh WiFi system, and streaming T.V.s.
We also tried to maximize everything the property has to offer. For one thing, we converted the garage into a game room. And for another, we turned a neglected little out-building into a nice office space, perfect for remote work or playing video games on the large screen T.V.
The Aloha House offers visitors a unique experience in the Kauai vacation rental market. The location could not be better, and the tradition is unlike any other.
