The Grand Hyatt is great. kauai.hyatt.com - Seth

Tried out a couple of places (the Sheraton and the Hyatt Regency) when we went back in '05, but they weren't remarkable. Too bad there isn't a Four Seasons or Ritz on the island. I like those two hotel chains. - April Buchheit

Ok, great but unremarkable. ;) How could you not love the pools and the waterslide? - Seth

The Hyatt did have a pretty nice spa. We might stay there again just for that. - April Buchheit

I recommend renting a condo, for more space and convenience. Some (most) cater to tourists and get housecleaning service a few times a week. - Tudor Bosman from email

St. Regis Princeville near Hanalei Bay and Napali Coast entrance. - Eric Logan

Also: the north side (Princeville) is beautiful and lush, but rainy. The south side (Poipu) is dry and less expensive. The east side (Kappa, Lihue) is busy and overpopulated -- this isn't what you're going to Hawaii for! The west side is, for the most part, a gorgeous national park. - Tudor Bosman from email

My friends the Palekas in Kapa'a. I can crash there anytime. No pool though ;) - Josh Haley from iPhone

http://www.vrbo.com/vacatio... - Jason Wehmhoener

We stayed here and it was beautiful (Marriott) http://www.marriott.com/hotels... - Jen (SquirrelGirl)

I am sitting on a veranda overlooking the Wailua River canyon. Only greenery meets my eyes as I look out over the river. Pigs snorting down below, roosters crowing, so many birds and the ground is littered with bright blue gumball sized fruit containing rudraksha beads; the pigs love the blue part. Behind me are houses and roads but in front is primeval; at night there is not a single light as far one can see. So I suggest looking for place on the Rim; beaches, such as Lydgate, are five minutes away. - Michael Muller

Don't stay at the princeville!!!!! Unless you golf there is very little to do and it is very removed from most island activities. - Rachel Lea Fox from iPhone

The ocean side of the Poipu Sheraton is fabulous! http://www.flickr.com/photos... - Michael Hocter

Rachel: you can drive from one end of the island to the other in less than 90 minutes. Nothing is "very removed", and some of my favorite beaches were on the north side (Tunnel, Ke'e). - Tudor Bosman from email

I think rachel means that while the Princeville is very close geographically to some of the most beautiful parts of the island, there aren't roads that connect directly and you have to drive completely around the island to get to a place only a few miles from your hotel. If I'm on vacation, 3 hours roundtrip to get to the forest I'm interested in is considerable, and worth being aware of. Also, I personally found the Princeville to haughty and overpriced. - Kevin Fox from iPhone

Kevin and Rachel: Can you hike from the Princeville to those places? - Daniel Dulitz

Tudor you have to drive to everything!!! Through the golf course taking 15 minutes at least for doing anything. There beach is tiny. You have to leave the hotel even for a massage (unless you are having it on the beach but they only do a few of those). Nothing leaves from the beach, you can't walk or hike to anything. You have only 2 restaurant options unless you drive and they are both over priced. It's beautiful but not comfortable. This is of course unless they changed things in the last 5 or 6 years. It's not convient or worth the huge amount of money they charge! - Rachel Lea Fox from iPhone

Daniel , not when we stayed there. It's surrounded by golf course and wetlands - Rachel Lea Fox from iPhone

I have to agree with Rachel. We found the north side as one big golf hellhole and we generally like being close to lots of points of interest (e.g., shops and restaurants or a lively downtown), within walking distance is best, short driving distance close in second. - April Buchheit from iPhone

Tudor: I'd only consider renting if we were bringing the kids, but this trip will just be for Paul and me. I personally prefer staying in a hotel. Nothing says vacation better than room service. :) - April Buchheit

April: okay :) I thought this was for all four of you. Have fun on your Hawaiian getaway! - Tudor Bosman from email

Daniel: the Kalalau Trail is not for the faint of heart :) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki... - Tudor Bosman

My wife and I split our trip between Poipu and Princeville. We stayed at the Sheraton in Poipu and the Hanalei Bay Resort (http://www.summitpacificinc.com/hanalei...). Hanalei Bay Resort is just down the hill from The St. Regis Princeville Resort. Not nearly as upscale but a lot cheaper. Like others have said, the northern part of the island is more remote but it's also much more scenic. We did about 5 miles on the Kalalau Trail and also did a great boat ride along the Napali Coast. - Mike Doeff