The Westin Princeville Ocean Resort Villas
Overview
The Westin Princeville Ocean Resort Villas perches dramatically on a cliff edge overlooking the Pacific on Kauai's North Shore. This is the Hawaii you see on postcards — lush green mountains, rugged coastline, and views that stretch across Anini Reef to the open ocean. The resort's 346 villas occupy one of the most scenic positions in all of Hawaii, with two cliff-side plunge pools that look like they're floating above the sea.
Princeville's location on the North Shore makes it the ideal base for exploring Kauai's most spectacular scenery. Hanalei Bay — that crescent of sand backed by emerald peaks — is just a 10-minute drive. The Na Pali Coast trailhead at Ke'e Beach is 30 minutes away. The resort sits within the master-planned Princeville community, a 9,000-acre development with its own golf courses, shopping center, and botanical gardens.
The Westin brand brings reliable standards: the Heavenly Bed program means genuinely comfortable mattresses, the WestinWORKOUT fitness studio operates 24 hours, and the overall service level is polished without being stuffy. It's a vacation ownership property that books like a hotel — and the villa-style rooms with full kitchens give it a practical edge over traditional resort hotels, especially for longer stays.
Accommodation Options
All 346 units are villa-style accommodations with full kitchens or kitchenettes, the signature Westin Heavenly Bed, and private lanais. Studio villas feature a king bed, sofa sleeper, and kitchenette with mini-refrigerator — comfortable for couples at roughly 550 square feet. One-bedroom villas step up to 850 square feet with a private bedroom, separate living area, full-size kitchen with standard appliances, and a washer/dryer.
The two-bedroom villas are the sweet spot for families, combining a one-bedroom villa with an adjoining studio to create up to 1,310 square feet that sleeps up to eight. Every unit includes a Westin Heavenly Bath with premium bath products, flat-panel TV, DVD player, Bose Wave radio, whirlpool tub, and bathrobes. Air conditioning and free Wi-Fi are standard throughout.
The cliffside location means many units offer ocean views — request a higher floor in the buildings closest to the cliff edge for the most dramatic vistas. Units facing inland look out over the golf course and mountains, which is still a stunning view. The lanais are generously sized, big enough for morning coffee or evening cocktails while watching the sun set over the Pacific.
Pools, Beaches & Activities
The resort features four outdoor pools, each with a different character. The two cliff-side plunge pools are the stars — small, warm, and positioned right at the cliff's edge with unobstructed ocean views. They're the most photographed feature on the property and an unforgettable spot for a sunset soak. A larger main pool serves as the social hub, with pool umbrellas and loungers arranged around the deck.
A dedicated children's pool with a small slide and rubber turtle flotation toys keeps younger kids entertained in a safe, shallow environment. Cabanas are available for rent at a surcharge. Twenty barbecue grills are scattered throughout the grounds, and the resort hosts poolside activities and events on select evenings.
The nearest beach, Anini Beach, is about a half-mile from the resort and accessible by the complimentary shuttle that runs within a 2.5-mile radius. Anini's protected reef makes it one of Kauai's best snorkeling spots. Sea Lodge Beach, a secluded strand at the base of nearby cliffs, is a 15-minute walk for more adventurous beachgoers.
Spa & Wellness
The Westin Princeville offers open-air cabana massage services rather than a traditional enclosed spa facility — which, given the setting, is arguably better. Professional massage therapists offer a range of treatments including Swedish, deep tissue, hot stone, and lomi lomi Hawaiian massage. Face and body treatments using tropical botanical ingredients are also available. Sessions are conducted in private outdoor cabanas with ocean breezes and garden views.
For wellness beyond massage, the resort provides a 24-hour WestinWORKOUT Fitness Studio with yoga and water aerobics classes, a sauna, and a steam room. The resort has mapped out 3- and 5-mile jogging trails through the Princeville community with pocket-sized trail maps available at the front desk. Guest passes to the nearby Princeville Makai Recreation Center provide access to additional pools, tennis courts, and fitness facilities.
Dining
Nanea Restaurant and Bar is the resort's signature dining venue, located on the first floor of the clubhouse. The name means "relaxation" in Hawaiian, and the restaurant delivers with island-inspired cuisine using fresh local ingredients — farm greens, local catch, and seasonal produce. The outdoor terrace seating offers distant ocean views and is the preferred spot for dinner. The menu covers breakfast through dinner, with fresh fish preparations and farm-to-table salads as standouts.
Princeville Bistro and Market serves as the casual counterpart — a grab-and-go spot offering Starbucks coffee, breakfast sandwiches, acai bowls, sundries, and local Kauai products. It's the spot for quick morning fuel before heading to Hanalei. Wailele Bar rounds out the options with handcrafted cocktails served poolside — the sunset happy hour here, overlooking the cliff-edge plunge pools, is one of Kauai's most scenic drinking experiences.
Golf
The Westin Princeville is surrounded by two championship golf courses. Princeville Makai Golf Club, designed by Robert Trent Jones Jr. and recently renovated, is a par-72, 7,223-yard masterpiece that's consistently ranked among Hawaii's top courses. It features dramatic ocean-cliff holes and mountain-backdrop fairways. Green fees run $250-$325, with the resort shuttle providing complimentary transport to the first tee.
The Princeville Prince Course, also Jones Jr.-designed, offers a more challenging layout at 7,309 yards with jungle ravines and ocean panoramas. Green fees are comparable. Both courses are within a 5-minute drive of the resort. The resort's complimentary shuttle service covers both courses, and the concierge can arrange tee times and club rentals.
Nearby Attractions
Hanalei Bay is 10 minutes by car and the North Shore's crown jewel — a 2-mile crescent of golden sand backed by 4,000-foot emerald peaks. The charming town of Hanalei has excellent restaurants (Tahiti Nui, Hanalei Bread Company), surf shops, and art galleries. The Hanalei Valley Lookout is just 1 mile from the resort and provides one of the most iconic views in Hawaii — taro fields stretching to the mountains.
The Na Pali Coast, Kauai's most dramatic natural feature, is accessible by hiking the Kalalau Trail (30 minutes to the trailhead at Ke'e Beach), by boat from Hanalei or Port Allen, or by helicopter. Limahuli Garden, a National Tropical Botanical Garden site, is 25 minutes from the resort and showcases native Hawaiian plants in a stunning valley setting. Tunnels Beach, one of Kauai's premier snorkeling spots, is 20 minutes away.
Within the Princeville community, the Princeville Center shopping area is less than a mile away with grocery stores, restaurants, and shops. Anini Beach (5 minutes) offers protected reef snorkeling, and Queen's Bath — a dramatic tide pool formed in lava rock — is a 15-minute hike from the resort grounds.
Tips & Good to Know
Request an ocean-view unit on floors 3 or 4 for the best views — the cliff-edge buildings offer the most dramatic panoramas. If you're flexible on views, garden and golf course-facing units are significantly cheaper and still beautiful. The two-bedroom lockoff units (one-bedroom + studio) are the best value for families of four or more, as the studio side can function as an independent unit.
The North Shore receives more rainfall than the South Shore, especially from November through March. Pack a light rain jacket, but don't worry too much — showers are typically brief and followed by rainbows. The best weather months are May through September. Self-parking is $18/night plus tax; valet is $20. The free resort shuttle covers a 2.5-mile radius, useful for reaching Anini Beach, golf courses, and the Princeville Center without moving your car.
Stock your kitchen at Foodland in Princeville Center (less than a mile away) to save on meal costs. Nanea Restaurant's happy hour offers good value, but for a splurge dinner, drive 10 minutes to the St. Regis Bar's sunset cocktails or Hanalei's restaurant row. Book Na Pali Coast boat tours and helicopter flights well in advance — they sell out weeks ahead during peak season.
Location
3838 Wyllie Road, Princeville, HI 96722
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