Beautiful apartment with screened lanai, 2 blocks to the beach & the amazing oceanside bike path, close to many good restaurants & unique stores. Serene area in the rear with unobstructed view of Sleeping Giant mountain. Right in town, yet a "world away"! Whether you are visiting Kauai for a few days, a few weeks, or a few months, this charming apartment surrounded by tropical vegetation and whimsical statues and art objects will quickly make you feel settled and “at home’. It’s part of a small and friendly residential community full of Aloha spirit. You can arrive, move in, unpack and unwind -- or head straight to the beach. The Space: The apartment is ideal for two people. It’s compact but cute and comfortable - fully furnished and equipped, and artistically decorated with granite counter top, etched glass mirrors, indirect lighting, and marble floor inserts that will remind you of Italy. The kitchen, living room/dining area are open-plan with plantation shutters on the windows, a ceiling fan and (if you need it) an air conditioner. The kitchen is modern and fully equipped with dishwasher, microwave, full-size refrigerator, blender, coffee-maker, toaster, and cooking equipment. The bedroom has a queen-size bed, a ceiling fan, large dresser and closet with hangers. Off the bedroom is a private screened-in lanai (porch) with a rocking chair and a filtered view of Nonou (Sleeping Giant) Mountain. The en suite bathroom has a stall shower and art tiles on the floor. The Immediate Neighborhood: The apartment community has a unique ambiance. There’s an outdoor table and stone seats near the entrance among the trees where you can relax, drink coffee, or sit and chat with other residents. There’s a gazebo, barbecue facility, and open space in the field adjacent to the property. Recently we added a bathroom light that is "bluetooth" enabled so you can stream music from your smart phone or tablet and enjoy some music while you shower. We have not been successful in adding a filter to permit only Hawaiian music, but suggest it! If you are tech inclined, download the appropriate App and you should be able to make the light change colors! Several washers and dryers are on site; no charge for their use. Off-street parking is available. The Kauai bird As you may know, the entire island of Kauai has an abundance of wild roosters and chickens, and they love hanging around near the property. The roosters tend to be quiet in the evening after it gets dark (when they roost), but they are prone to wake up and crow at odd hours during the night. Some people sleep right through it from Day 1, others say they get used to it after 1-2 nights - especially if they have busy, active days and are zonked out by the time they go to bed. We can't do anything about the roosters' body clocks, but we do provide our guests with hermetically sealed packages of earplugs for sleeping! Also running the AC and/or fans during the night helps to block out the crowing sound. Some find the chickens and roosters charming (we've seen many of our guests photographing them!) Other people find them annoying. But they are a fact of life in Kauai. We ask our guests not to feed them or encourage them, but they are persistent birds. One reason the wild chickens and roosters are in such abundance in Kauai is that there were 2 hurricanes (in 1982 and 1992) and domesticated fowl escaped and bred. Unlike Maui and other Hawaiian islands, Kauai never let the mongoose (chicken predator) in to the island. OK now a warning: Kauai's chickens like to dig a hole to sit in. So where ever you walk be careful not to put your foot into a "chicken hole"- we know from first hand experience and the local hospital told us they get at least two patients every week who have seriously damaged their ankles by inadvertently stepped into a "chicken hole". Sprains take three weeks to heal but breaks take longer! Kapa’a: It’s the largest city on the island, although it is a “village” compared with any major mainland city. Kapa’a is centrally located, friendly and picturesque - as noted by recent articles in the Garden Island newspaper, Forbes magazine and the Huffington Post). At a pinch, you could get around without a car – walking, biking, or using the local bus service - but a car is important for real exploration at your own pace. You can walk to many stores, the Kapa’a post office, banks, pharmacies, Big Save supermarket, the beach, and restaurants. Kapa’a has numerous specialty and ethnic restaurants & cafes in all directions -- including seafood, burger places, coffee houses, food carts, Thai, Mexican, Czech and Indian restaurants - as well as local Hawaiian cuisine. The Island of Kauai: There is no shortage of guidebooks and good Internet resources describing this piece of Paradise – but you are invited to relax and discover Kauai at your own pace: “Slow down – this ain’t the mainland”. You’ll find a few recommendations in our Guidebook. After you book, we provide you with a detailed 27-page “Welcome” message to help you plan your visit, including our personal insights into unique Kauai experiences and local secrets. Interaction: We have knowledgeable local staff who can usually respond quickly to any questions or issues. If you have any questions about your booking, I'm also available always by email and sometimes in-person. Otherwise you will have the place entirely to yourself. We don’t disturb you (unless you have a problem), and we don’t put a chocolate on your pillow. The Price In addition to the accommodation charge and the cleaning fee, a 17.96% (since October 2021) Hawaii state and county "short term rental" occupancy tax is applicable, comprised of the General Excise Tax (GET) and the Transient Accommodation Tax (TAT). That tax is payable no matter where you stay in Kauai. Unlike many of the hotels and resorts, we have no “amenity fees,” no resort fees, no wi-fi fees, no “energy” fees, no fees for use of the bikes, no parking fees, no fees for using the laundry machines – no kidding. Access: Kapa’a is about 8 miles north of Lihu’e airport. After you have made your reservation, we will give you specific directions for finding this apartment since it’s well hidden. For days when you want to sightsee, you can drive easily to the north and south shores of Kauai. When you just want to relax, swim, or body-surf, you can walk to the closest beach (Kapa’a Beach Park) which is a beautiful crescent-shaped stretch of sand and good for swimming most of the time since it's protected by an offshore reef. Fuji Beach - also known as "Baby Beach" has shallow calm water and tidepools - great for young children to splash in. Or you can drive a short distance to Lydgate Park or Kealia Beach. Those are good nearby eastside beaches. But be careful -- Kauai is not the languid Caribbean - there are strong waves and potential rip tides at some beaches. Don’t miss the Kapa’a walk/bike path – Ke Ala Hele Makalae, the “The Path that Goes by the Coast” – there is a great 5-minute video on the web (hint: search Vimeo….). We have a selection of bikes available (see photo) that you can borrow and ride - at your own risk - for the entire 8-mile round trip to the far end of the paved path and back. Enjoy the experience of staying in Kapa’a, close to everything - but away from it all!   The Fine Print: • Check-in after 3:00 pm, check-out by 11:00 am. Depending on our other bookings, we may be able to offer a late checkout for a small fee, but you will need to arrange that with us in advance. And please: • No smoking anywhere in the apartment or the grounds, except in the gazebo at the far end of the field where cars are parked - and then only if there isn't anyone else present who might object to the smoke. Please extinguish all cigarettes and dispose of the butts in the trash container (don't throw them on the ground). • Follow local Hawaiian custom and remove your shoes when inside the apartment. Otherwise Kauai's famous red dirt will follow you in! • Be sure to turn off the AC, fans, stove, burners, and coffee maker when you are not in the apartment -- and also when you check out. • No parties or loud noise -- except in or near the gazebo at the far end of the grounds. • Don’t hang beach towels, swimsuits or other personal items anywhere outside your apartment. • Don't leave your door open for long - mosquitoes will likely find their way in if you do. • Don't feed or encourage the wild chickens and roosters! • Don't let any of the cats inside your apartment. You may love the kitties, but be considerate of guests who stay after you (many people are allergic to cats). • We provide bikes for your use at no charge (basic beach cruisers that show signs of wear including some rust on the metal parts), and you use them at your own risk. Our bike rules are posted outside the bike shed. • Notify our on-site team immediately if something needs fixing. It’s a complete self-contained apartment with its own kitchen and bathroom and separate entrance. There is a large field adjacent to the apartments (where cars park) with rocking chairs to enjoy the view of Sleeping Giant, a gazebo and a barbecue. Friendly on-site team with lots of Aloha and local know-how. It's conveniently close to Kapa'a town (you can walk everywhere) but tucked away with expansive views of open fields with grazing cows and Sleeping Giant mountain. Plenty of free off-street parking. We also provide bikes for your use (no charge). There is a bus stop nearby where you can catch a bus to Hanelei on the northshore or to Lihue. DISCOUNTS We offer the following discounts on your accommodation: • 7 or more nights 5% discount • 14 or more nights, 8% discount • 28 or more nights, 11% discount The discount will be automatically deducted from the cost of your stay. TRAVEL INSURANCE We strongly recommend that you obtain travel insurance for your trip. Airbnb now offers very good travel insurance to guests from the US, the UK, Germany, Spain, Italy, Ireland, Netherlands, Austria, and Portugal through a partnership with a major global insurance provider, AON, & its subsidiaries: Europ Assistance Group and Generali Global Assistance. Besides covering up to 100% of your non-refundable Airbnb costs, the insurance also covers other travel-related items such as flight cancellations, travel delay, lost or damaged baggage, and medical expenses. You can buy this travel insurance at the time you book your accommodation – in much the same way as when you book airline travel. The cost is a small percentage of your total trip price. The specifics of what the policy covers will be displayed to you before you buy it. You can review a general description of the coverage if you go the Airbnb Help menu and use the search phrase "Travel Insurance". CLEANING AND DISINFECTING BEFORE YOU CHECK IN This apartment will be deep cleaned and disinfected before you check in. It’s for your protection! It is a very thorough process taking several hours.