Everything about the stay was incredible, from before check-in to after check-out. Mark, the host, shared a wealth of knowledge and was quick to respond to any questions. While we did not use the service, he offered tons of help and coordination around activities/things to do and shared a list of recommendations from restaurants to activities to history. The house was even more spectacular in person than the pictures and waking up to the serenity of the house really put a cherry on top of the cake. Would highly recommend staying here!
We loved the fact that this home was very clean and loved being by the river. Hope to be back again!
Such a magical stay. Wish I could wake up to the river every morning!
We had a wonderful stay at this property. It is in a rural area and we enjoyed all the tropical sounds of birds, rain, chickens (yes, dogs but that didn't bother us) and of course the lovely little river behind the house. The property was very clean, well stocked with soft linens and comfortable beds. The owner Mark was just terrific, very responsive and helpful! Looking forward to a return visit :-).
The house is in a beautiful location, and it is a very peaceful and serene location. The sound of the River right next to the house was very soothing. House is beautifully maintained, deck is great, kitchen is well set up with utensils for cooking in. Absolutely loved our stay there. The only drawback was the steep stairs to navigate to haul our luggage up to and down from the house. But, as it is a house on poles (as clearly shown in the photos) it was expected. Owner was great to deal with.
We thoroughly enjoyed our peaceful private stay at the River Estate. We (two couples) all loved the real non-tourist Hawaii feel of the house which included everything we needed – 2 nice bedrooms, 2 baths, kitchen, and tasteful décor. It feels remote, up a private drive, but very near the great beaches, shops and food. We loved falling asleep to the sound of the river, waking up to the birds and walking into Wainiha for coffee and food. We had wonderful weather, but the house porch was a great place to spend one rainy day doing laundry. Also, having the beach chairs, boards, snorkels & towels to use was great, thanks!Mark shared great detailed information about directions, restaurants, activities, car and equipment rentals, helpful Noth Shore driving tips, instructions for access to Haena State Park and the Kalalau Trail and updated us about a heavy rain warning (which happily never happened).
This was, without a doubt, one of the most amazing vacations we’ve ever had. From the very beginning, our host Mark went above and beyond to make us feel welcome. He was incredibly kind, thoughtful, and always available to answer questions or offer helpful tips—while still giving us the space to fully relax and enjoy the experience. It was clear he truly cares about creating a peaceful and memorable stay for his guests.Every morning, we woke up to the soft sounds of birds singing and the rustle of the breeze through the trees. The house felt like a private sanctuary—surrounded by lush greenery, filled with natural light, and radiating calm. Although we were only minutes from the beach, it felt like we were in our own little world. That beautiful contrast—secluded yet close to everything—made the location absolutely perfect.We spent our days soaking up the sun, wandering the shoreline, and savoring slow mornings with coffee on the patio. Every moment here invited us to slow down, breathe a little deeper, and appreciate the simple joys of being present. It was exactly what we needed.We left feeling completely recharged and already planning our return. Mark, thank you for sharing this incredible place with us. You’ve created something truly special, and we’re so grateful to have experienced it.
Easy drive access to beaches and Hanalei but tucked away in garden river oasis. A great value and perfect for two, though another bedroom is available but house might not have been as comfortable asInterior seating better for two. We cooked many dinners at the house and once I got used to older stove, there was everything I needed. Nice to have a laundry too and Mark the host was attentive and very helpful.
Great stay in a jungle treehouse. A well-kept house that was very well stocked. Dog barking was the only challenge. Earplugs and sound machines did help some.
We had the pleasure of spending one week at the River House. The property is a beautiful little tucked away slice of heaven. The property was very clean, the kitchen well equipped for cooking, nice pots and pans and everything was super clean. The Lanai over looks the River and you could see a wide variety of birds. It was very peaceful and beautiful and we enjoyed our breakfasts there every day. The beds were comfortable and good towels and even some beach towels and beach chairs and a cooler for us to use. The owner was a super great host and very helpful with everything from helping to arrange a kayak to be dropped off at the property and helping to make dinner reservations our first night for a special occasion that we were celebrating. This place is very unique and we would definitely recommend it and would love to stay again when we come back 11/10 !Mahalo
We loved our stay here, and would definitely return! The home feels like a large comfortable treehouse in the jungle, beside a pretty babbling brook. We loved sitting on the veranda, listening to the birds and flowing water. The Tangerine tree beside the house provided delicious fruits too. The house is well appointed and the owner Mark, is both thoughtful and proactive. Eg. during the late January storm power outage we had he reached out to us to see how the Tesla Powerwall was helping - yes, there’s a Powerwall! Very handy and welcome.Something to note: Someone in the vicinity has some dogs that bark off and on at times. At first we thought that could be an issue for sleeping, but fortunately it turned out not to be. The dogs are evidently a recent development and Mark is still adapting to them. He thoughtfully dropped off a white noise machine (thanks Mark!) but it turned out we didn’t need it.The first night we closed the glass louvered windows - these are in place throughout the house and we really liked them - and turned on the quiet mini split AC in the bedroom, and that worked like a charm. With the AC in mind as a fallback, we opened the shutter windows the next night, and our babbling brook provided all the white noise cover we needed: idyllic! Such wonderful fresh air too. As
Great place to stay - will definitely try to visit again
This is a very special property! The house was extremely comfortable for all of us. We loved listening to the bird noises and watching the activity in the river every morning. We also enjoyed walking to the coffee shop just down the road, and the beach just over the bridge. It was a very peaceful.and restful retreat. And Mark was the consummate host! Definitely booking again!!!
The property is located right by the small river and is surrounded by lush plants and flowers. In the evenings, the smell of flowers wafts through the windows. The house is charming and well-made, beautifully appointed and maintained. I will miss the quiet life during our vacation in Kauai and wish we did not have to leave.
If I could give this place 100 stars I would. Our stay was absolutely perfect. We travel to Kauai often and the only downside to this place is that now I will never be able to return and stay anywhere else :) Our trip to the island usually consists of many excursions and being out and about. But for the first time I was most excited to come home and spend time at the river house. So peaceful! The river, the birds, the lush landscape, and the tucked away, cozy and plush abode were next level. This was definitely a trip of a lifetime and I can’t recommend it enough. Mark was great and so easy to work with. You won’t regret coming here!
Perfect stay. Stunning garden views and quiet.
The River Estate Guest House was nothing short of fabulous! The lush surroundings, the clean and comfy interior, and the sounds of the stream made for a peaceful and romantic getaway. Although we had no needs, as the house has everything one needs, Mark was responsive and pleasant throughout our stay. Having kayaks rented and delivered to the house for a trip down the stream to a secluded beach was a bonus, and I highly recommend doing this. Also, the estate, the area, and the island are a birders paradise! Thank you, Mark, for everything! I would love to return someday.
The Guest House was perfect for our family. My boys loved playing around the river and bridge jumping.
So close to Hanalei and Haena State Park. House was clean,
comfortable and well equipped.
Neighboring dogs were noisy but a/c and fans helped.
Will stay again. Mahalo!
The house was in a beautiful location. It had every amenity we needed and was quite comfortable. We will definitely want to come back to this one!
The setting for this property is truly spectacular -- it's back in the rainforest next to a small river/stream. We rented kayaks and took them down to the ocean and back. Unforgettable experience with the family.
The house itself is also in great shape, well stocked, and Mark was always responsive to any questions.
We would definitely stay at this home again.
The Guest House at the River Estate was the ideal spot for our family time on the North Shore. We happened to visit during an historic Kona low and there was a threat of flooding preventing access to the property, but Mark stayed in communication and all worked out perfectly. We enjoyed breakfasts on the lanai overlooking the raging river. The location between Hanalei and Haena is such an advantage. We were able to secure parking two mornings at Tunnels Beach, and it was only a 10-15" drive to Ke'e Beach. (We did have 2 reservations thanks to the quick finger of our daughter and her husband on the booking website) The property itself was gorgeous. The kitchen was well equipped. In fact I don't think I've ever stayed at a VRBO with a Cuisinart food processor which I used to make a macadamia nut encrusted mahi mahi with mango papaya salsa-yum. Other highlights included Hideaways Beach, Secret Beach and Na 'Aina Kai Sculpture garden. Everything was just magical. Can't wait to return. Sheila
We really enjoyed the peaceful and private surroundings of this home. The home is beautiful and well appointed. Very clean and comfortable. Sleeping with the windows open and hearing the sounds of the water rambling down the river was a bonus.
This was such a unique property in a cool location. Just minutes from Hanalei, this secluded property was super clean, stocked with everything we needed, and Mark was very helpful! I wish we could have stayed longer! We will definitely return.
Very beautiful setting, all the amenities you need! The Guest House is very comfortable and pretty. We had a little trouble getting in, as the key lockbox code had been changed, but Mark answered the phone right away and we got it sorted out. The only real problem was that some unknown (to us) person in the neighborhood has a number of dogs who bark, all together, at any time of the day or night, for long stretches of time. We took a video that Mark sent to the mayor, but nothing was done. It seems enforcement of noise abatement is lax. When the dogs weren't barking, it was as described online, a peaceful setting, with birds and river sounds. Mark was an excellent host and tried to help. But it seems a lot of people around there hunt wild boar and keep hunting dogs, who like to express themselves! So bring your earplugs.
The whole day was very nice. Our only complaint really was that some neighbors down the way had what seemed like 1000 dogs that would periodically bark in the wee hours of the night. But otherwise it was perfect for our small family.
