HotelChatter

North Shore Style
Up on the isle's North Shore, considerably more leafy, green, and rainy than the rest of the island, is the tony hamlet of Princeville, overlooking Hanalei Bay.

This is home to majestic mountains that are the beginning of the Napali coastline (famously used as a backdrop for Steven Spielberg's "Jurassic Park"), nearly deserted beaches, organic hippie hangouts, and high-end hotels with breathtaking views.  

THE PRINCEVILLE

Our hotel tour began at The Princeville Resort, with its monstrous lobby, oversized potted palms, and a (random) portrait of Captain Cook dressed as George Washington.

There's a series of indoor fountains and pools delectable enough for a swim -- but we walked the 191 steps down to the pool and Puu Poa, a reef-protected curl of a beach with clear blue water warm as a bath and with staggering views of the surfers at Hanalei Bay. Guests--and non-guests--can splash their feet in the chilly cold mountain stream that empties into the Pacific, or sign up for an oceanside massage.

Drink Time
A must here, though, is a sunset drink. You'll get a clear view of the Napali coast, and when the sun begins to set behind the mountains, you'll be singing "Bali Hai" into your Mai Tai in no time.

Cost
Rates here run from US$245 to a whopping $4,000 a night for the Presidential Suite (we hear Al and Tipper Gore enjoyed it!)

HANALEI BAY RESORT

For another great hotel experience, wind your way back through residential streets to Hanalei Bay Resort, perched atop a cliff with yet another killer view of the Napali coast.

Here, the vibe is less much less stuffy -- the lobby's Happy Talk Lounge was bustling with families and a duo performing an electric-acoustic Hawaiian sing-along, while the bartender busily churned out Blue Hawaiis and Coco Banana drinks adorned with giant slices of pineapple (and those gratuitous little umbrellas).

Free Apps and a Killer View
There was hardly a seat left in the bar upon our arrival at 5:30pm--word must have gotten out that the resort serves free pupus (appetizers) because there were none left by the time we showed up.

Lucky for us, we landed the best seat in the house: two cozy couches with a view down to the pool. And this is no ordinary pool. Streams burbling down a magnificently landscaped hillside trickled into the organic-shaped pool, which curled around a corner to reveal a bubbling, steaming hot tub that was fed by another incredible mini-waterfall.

Drink Time
As the sun set and lit up the sky in hues of mango and lemon, and we swilled the last of our dark rum Mai Tais, a waiter came around and offered us a free plate of crab cakes with a papaya salsa in a lip-smacking curry sauce.

Cost
The Majestic Mountain view starts at $205 while a Hanalei Ocean view will cost $410.

Annie0007's Bottom Line
Heaven. Happiness. Hanalei. Hawaii.

[Photo of Princeville Resort: Goldie Mack]

[Photo of Hanalei Bay: TripAdvisor Member]

Related Stories:
· Princeville Resort reviews [TripAdvisor]
Hanalei Bay Resort reviews [TripAdvisor]