We loved our stay at the river house. We didn’t want to leave. Mark was great! He answered all my questions and even had our kayak rentals waiting for us when we arrived. I love this location! Close to all of my favorite beaches and the best sunrise’s and snorkeling on Kauai. Perfect place to relax and enjoy the beauty. Everyday was a beach day!
Beautiful property and location. Well equipped kitchen with an air fryer. Ceiling fans throughout and a/c in each of the bedrooms. Mark is a very accommodating host who arranged for us to rent bikes and had them delivered. Lovely screened in lanai. Small market within walking distance. Had a great day on a short bike ride to Tunnels Beach where we snorkeled for the day.
A magical house on the North Shore of Kauai with easy access to Haena State Park for hiking, Tunnels beach for snorkeling and all that Hanalei has to offer (beach, restaurants, equipment rental, etc.). The kitchen is well-outfitted, the rooms comfortable and there are beach chairs, a boogie board and some floats available for use. The owner was super communicative and helpful. We would stay there again.
The river house was perfect for our group. First, it was immaculate. Literally sparkling clean. Second, the beds were comfortable (firmer mattress). Third, the house was comfortable and had everything we needed to cook meals. If you are looking for a different Hawaiian experience, one more authentic and away from the resorts, this home is perfect. It’s a short drive from the BEST beaches on the island (the North Shore is where it is at), a short drive to Hanalei town and Haena State Park (stunning). The house feels private and is peaceful. The only drawback (which is very small and I only mention because others did) is that occasionally, the dogs in the adjacent neighborhood really get going and become a barking choir for a few minutes. It never bothered us. Thanks for hosting us, Mark!
Property was as advertised and well equipped. The location is fairly tucked away on a small river with two beaches close by. There was a small general store and coffee shop close by which were handy to avoid extra trips to Hanalei. Mark was very responsive so check in and out were simple. Would recommend.
My family of six had a wonderful stay at the River House. Having access to the beach via the river was one of the reasons we chose this home, and that did not disappoint. Also, I enjoyed meeting Mark and you can tell from your first interaction that he really wants to be involved and help you enjoy his home. He had the kayaks and paddle boards that we had rented there and ready for us to get into the water when we arrived, and his concierge fee to do this for us was not too bad. The fresh, cool, clear water of the river was refreshing and almost each day of our stay we would make the 5 minute paddle to the beach. We enjoyed the freshwater side of the beach but the ocean side is not really a swimming beach (were told by several locals not to go on the ocean side due to this being called “Shark Beach.”) We rented houses on four different Hawaiian islands this trip, and the River House was definitely one of our favorites. I will agree with the other reviews that the dogs are very loud when they get wound up, but having AC in the bedrooms was fantastic, and when we shut the windows and turned in the AC you don’t notice the outside noises. I will also agree with other reviews that there are more rules with this house than any other we stayed at, but that did not hamper our enjoyment of this home. We got good at taking off our shoes before climbing the stairs! If you want an authentic island experience out of the hustle and bustle, I think you will great enjoy Marks place!!
Host did everything he did to accommodate us. Kids loved house geckos!
We stayed in the River house in May of 2025. Mark's property is very charming and isolated. House is a little dated but very well maintained and clean. He has a state of the art tesla power system and other mechanicals seem to be very updated. Location is great if you prefer privacy, dive to Hanalei takes 10 to 15 minutes over windy roads that are very dark at night. This is mentioned in other reviews but Kauai has a extensive population of wild chickens, and the rosters get very vocal about 3am. The neighbors either have a lot of dogs or are a kennel of some kind so be prepared for barking in the morning. We mitigated the noise by closing windows in the bedrooms at night and running the AC, noise machines were available in each bedroom but we did not use them.Mark has an extensive list of rules for the property and we did our best to be respectful and follow the rules to the point that it did not impede our comfort. Kid’s joked it’s like the “Nick Saban commercial.” Energy usage seems to be a big concern, and this is closely monitored, you will receive a call if abused we did, although it was apparently a false alarm.
A perfect vacation getaway nestled in an island paradise. Mark was a fantastic host.
Craig & Julie M.
May 02, 2025
Great location. Close to things in Hanalei Bay. Right on the river.
The River House was a perfect oasis for me and my family. Having visited Hanalei many times over the past decade, we were already very familiar with the area and choice of accommodations. While some condos have fantastic ocean views (which we prioritized when we first came to this area), we wanted more space (kids no longer little), air conditioning in the evenings, privacy, quiet, beauty and a convenient location to everything we love about Hanalei. We didn't miss the ocean view one bit - it was just a paddle up the river from the property. We had total privacy in the middle of a gorgeous tropical garden, beautiful scents after the rainfall, birdsong and peace. The house was spotless, the beds were extremely comfortable, and we had lots of room to spread out. We cooked some lovely meals and felt "at home". We were just a few minutes walk to the local shop for the basics - such friendly folks there, where you can also hop onto the Haena State Park shuttle. We were a few minutes' drive from our favorite beach (Lumaha'i) where the fresh water from the river meets a gorgeous surf, and less than 10 min drive from Hanalei town center. Mark arranged delivery of the paddleboards as well as the gear to attach to our rental car. Wi-Fi worked great. We wouldn't hesitate to return to pretend we were locals for just a few days!
What a WONDERFUL property. I have visited Kauai many times and appreciate the peace and tranquility of being at 'the end of the road' as the locals refer to this part of the island. There is a river running through the property that changes its nature daily. Every morning I sat to meditate in my room, opened the doors to the lanai and listened to the flow of the river. Deep peace and tranquility doesn't even begin to sum up the experience. Mark is a fantastic host and I hope you enjoy this property as much as my family did. Mahalo
I would like to tell you that this is a horrible place to stay... but it is not horrible. It is quite wonderful. Mark has arguably one of the best VRBO's my family and I have stayed at. Well appointed in every aspect. We prepared almost every meal during our stay and the kitchen has everything we needed.The bedrooms are spacious and the beds comfortable. Whatever amenity we needed was provided. This was the perfect place for us. Off the beaten path right down the river from the beach. From the sounds of birds in the morning, to the lush jungle smells of the evening, this is truly an oasis.Communication with Mark was great, and is what you would expect from a top notch VRBO host. Thank you for allowing us to enjoy your River Estate, Mark. We will be back.
River Estate is a beautiful home about 15 minutes (driving) from Hanalei. I chose this home because we wanted a quiet place to relax after a difficult year, and River Estate hit the mark. The house is beautiful and clearly loved. The kitchen is very well equipped (more so than most I've seen) with an air fryer, toaster, blender, microwave, food processor (most of which we didn't have a chance to use) and very complete set of dishes and glassware. Furniture is comfy, and we ate all of our meals on the screened lanai overlooking the river and the trees. Very relaxing! Bathrooms are well stocked with towels, and there are beach towels as well. We never had a chance to float down the river to the private beach but we could catch a glimpse of it from the road, and it would have been a great place to check out. Alas, when traveling with a little one walking on the road isn't a good option. There are only 3 houses on the property and we didn't actually ever see the people, it's very private. When arriving (especially the first day), be sure to use Mark's instructions, they were perfect. It really is JUST before the two bridges and you will miss it if you aren't watching. Mark was very helpful in solving any problem that came up for us. We were traveling with our 13 month old grandson (for the first time) and Mark was able to rent a crib and high chair for us, which was great, as we had enough stuff to bring for the baby without trying to bring those!We really enjoyed our stay!
This is a beautiful property, well stocked for all your needs. The owner Mark is amazing. He has great recommendations & was so helpful to book excursions for us. He has tons of information to help your stay be the best. He is a wonderful host. We look forward to staying again.
The North Shore is our favorite spot on the planet and we’ve been fortunate to visit many times. Mark was hands down the best host of any property we’ve stayed at and he has a beautiful, comfortable home with all the amenities you could hope for. We had a marvelous time and would gladly book again.
The River Estate Riverhouse was absolutely perfect for our small group trip to Kauai. Mark was extremely communicative and responsive before and during our trip. Check-in was super easy, the house was clean and fully stocked and a short drive to Hanalei Bay and Tunnels Beach which was awesome.
I couldn't recommend this property more. Our group had a great time.
Thank you Mark for the hospitality! We will definitely be back.
River House was a great place to stay with my family. The house was clean and inviting to stay in. Outside area is beautiful and private. Mark was a wonderful host and very helpful. Easy to communicate with. If we ever get the chance to come back, River House will be our first pick.
Our family of 4 stayed at River Estates mid to late October and enjoyed everything about it. This was our first family vacation and our first time on Kauai. We opted for the North Shore after reading about different areas and we are so glad we did. We travelled all over the island during our stay and found the North Shore to be the most beautiful. The house itself had everything we needed. The kitchen was fully stocked, Mark (the owner) was very responsive and helpful (the coffee maker stopped working our second day and he kindly brought a new one to the house within an hour), everything was in working order, it was spotless, there are tangerine and orange trees in the yard that we picked fruit from every morning, and most importantly the yard and location were breathtakingly beautiful. I can't begin to describe it and the pictures don't really do it justice. My children and I walked the driveway and neighborhood in the morning surrounded by beautiful plants and trees, a river running behind the property, and mountains in the background. The house feels isolated in a good way, being surrounded by nature, but is only a short drive from the center of Hanalei where we did a lot of our shopping and dining. We hiked Ha-ena State Park, which was close to the house and WORTH VISTING. We were close to several of the beaches we wanted to visit. In summary, this was a perfect location for us and the house was clean, comfortable and beautiful. We hope to be back!!!
Very nice place overall. Clean, great communication, just as advertised.
One thing not so much owners fault, there is a neighbor close by with dogs that bark a lot!
We just turned on the a/c in the bedroom at night and closed the windows.
The house is clean, comfortable, and decorated nicely. The beds are really comfortable and the kitchen had everything I needed. The house is off the beaten path and it was nice to get away from the traffic and crowds. Would definitely stay here again.
The property is absolutely stunning. If you’re looking to get away from people, this is the spot. You are secluded but close enough to Hanalei if you need anything. The floors are beautiful wood and the owner is very responsive and will take care of you.
The property and home are exactly as advertised. Beautiful and meticulously cared for. We didn't experience any concerns/issues, The owner (Mark) was readily avaialabe and quick to reply whem we communicated. Our family wanted to focus on exploring the north shore and found this to be a very convenient location for that. Although we were not comfortable walking the roads (except to the nearby coffee shop, which is great), everything we wanted to access was just a quick and easy drive. And when we weren't out and about, the lanai and porches were perfect for relaxing and reading.
Our stay at the River House was nothing short of extraordinary, earning a resounding five-star rating. From the moment we booked the reservations, Mark, our exceptional host at the River Estate, demonstrated an unparalleled level of professionalism and warmth. His communication was impeccable, ensuring that all our needs were met and that the property exceeded our expectations.
The River House itself was a masterpiece of comfort and convenience. We were delighted to find that the kayaks and paddle boards we rented were delivered right to the house ahead of our arrival, showcasing the seamless and thoughtful service provided. The location was ideal for our family vacation, perfectly situated to explore the stunning beauty of Kauai.
The kitchen was equipped with every amenity one would need, including a air fryer that proved to be incredibly useful. Every detail was meticulously attended to, making our stay not only enjoyable but also exceptionally convenient. For an unforgettable experience and a stay that truly feels like a home away from home, the River House and its remarkable host, Mark, set an unparalleled standard.
The pictures don't do it enough justice. The home and surrounding yard/driveway is unreal how beautiful it all is. You could stay at the house and never leave if you wanted to. The house had all amenities that you could ask for. There's a little country market store, coffee shop about a 5 minute walk down the road that is the essence of "true" Hawaii. If we ever make it back to Kauai, would definitely stay here again.
We stayed 12 nights at the River Estate and enjoyed every minute. The house is clean, the grounds were well kept and, in my opinion, the property’s greatest feature is the location. This property is perfect for families who want to disconnect from their hectic lives. The location just up the Wainiha river is quiet and peaceful. We found ourselves enjoying time relaxing by the river watching birds and the occasional group of fish swim by. The property was part of our vacation, not just a bed for the night. We planned many of our days with a ‘reset’ back at the house after a morning at the Beach.
An additional benefit to staying here, is the small market within walking distance. There is a place to grab a coffee, a shave ice, lunch or even groceries.
This was our 5th time to the north shore of Kauai and we have not stayed at the same property twice...next time we come, will be staying at the River Estate again.
An absolutely amazing property and location. The home was beyond clean, very well appointed, roomy and comfortable. Mark is very attentive and easy to get a hold of. He was very gracious with his time and help with all our questions. He set up having kayaks delivered to the house for our stay which was a huge deal with having a rental car as that would have been a challenge to go get and bring back. We so enjoyed kayaking to and from the private beach just fantastic. Will definitely pass info on the VRBO to friends and family. One of the most memorable vacations we have had. We have done many VRBOs and this one is tops on the list. Don’t pass this one up! Truly an amazing find. Thank you Mark for your time and attention to make our stay what it was.
Kauai is an extremely beautiful island, and the North Shore is the prettiest part. The home is in an area that is close to everything you could want. Princeville and Hanalei Bay are near; however, you have the seclusion of being near beaches and shops that are local's favorites. The house is extremely clean, and the beds are very comfortable. Kitchen is well stocked, and you are supplied with beach chairs, towels and supplies that are very thoughtful.
Awesome property, easy check in and a great spot to stay
If you want a great place to stay that isn't "touristy" and very secluded, this place is it. We stayed for 2 weeks and it was great. There are several local beaches for relaxing days, and it is an easy drive down to Lihue and other locations for more planned adventures. Although not on the ocean, this is located next to a river that goes straight to the ocean which is an easy kayak ride.
The host is very responsive and helpful. We had a bad stone come through and he was helpful to make sure we were prepared for it. Another great perk is this house is on solar, so when we did lose power, we actually didn't since we had battery and solar back up.
Excellent place to stay.
