wug

People say you don't need AC on the north shore. Is that REALLY true? When we went to Belize, so many of the homeowners renting their houses said the same thing. We opted to search for AC and found that we really needed it at night. Hawaii may be different. Is this true?

We are from Texas so are used to heat, we just can't sleep at night if it's hot and/or humid. During the day, no big deal.

pianogirl

My husband and I went to Hawaii in March, but we had AC everywhere. However, my parents went in October and stayed at a B & B on Kauai. The weather was unusually hot while they were there, but they were told not to have the AC on when they weren't in the room. When they came back that evening they said the room was very hot and wouldn't cool down. I guess you never know, it depends what time of year you go, too.

Budman

We stayed at a B&B efficiency on the North Shore in May of 2004 and told that we didn't need AC. That was a bunch of crap. Because we were on the ground floor, we had to close the drapes to the door, slider, and window for some privacy and only had the warped ceiling fan which was inadequate. It was not comfortable sleeping. Go for the AC.

RichinPA

It all depends where your room or condo is located. We stay at The Cliff's in Princeville and stay in a 3rd floor unit and have never ever needed AC. Being on the 3rd floor, we can always have the scrrens open and get full effect of cooling breezes.

I also stayed across the street at The Makai Condo's, on the first floor and down in a valley and would not have made it without AC. If you are in a ground floor unit, you will have to have windows and doors closed, so you will not be able to take advantage of the usually cool breezes.

iamq

Our experience is much the same as Rich's. It really depends on the orientation to breezes and what kind of flow-through you have. Our cottage rental in Hanalei did not need a/c. The ample windows that caught the breeze, room fans and ovehead fans cooled it enough at night. It was a little warm, but we slept fine.

Last summer we went the St. John...and there we REALLY did need a/c! We never turned it off.

-Bill

aloha

I have stayed at Hanalei Colony Resort a couple of times and did not need a/c at all; these visits were in the fall. That is the only N. shore location at which I've stayed.

Other Kaua'i locations I've experienced: Stayed at Kalaheo Inn one September and did not miss a/c there at all. Stayed at Islander on the Beach one May and did need the a/c, largely because we had to keep the sliding door shut; there was even a card warning occupants to keep it shut to prevent anyone from trying to break in.

wtm003

I agree that it depends on the location of your condo. We stayed in a 3rd floor condo at Kiahuna Plantation in late October. The unit would get very warm by late afternoon. Nightime was very comfortable, though, with the sliding glass door and windows open to allow the cooling breeze along with the ceiling fans.

Shar

Certain times of the year you need it but very few have it. When you do have it, it is delightful but without it the trade winds help cool it down. Have been there when there were no trade winds and it is pretty sticky but who cares when you are in Paradise!

olesouthernbelle

We stayed in a condo w/o A/C ( we had been told they had it, but NOT )and really did not enjoy the experience at all!

It was so hot (July) that we were sweating just lying there coverless, under a ceiling fan and with the sliding glass door completely open. We were directly on the beach, so it was breezy, but still VERY humid and hot!

Barblab

If you are going in the summer you will need it.

starrsville

We did fine in a cottage at Waimea Plantation - but I agree, it depends on the unit.

MaiTaiMary

I stayed at a townhouse right on the cliffs at the Northshore and felt we REALLY needed a/c, especially in the afternoon.

cassiesmu

I'm from texas too...you need A/C.
Stayed in hawaii for 2 months with no A/C and we had to go shopping and movies everyday just to esacpe the heat. It's not texas hot but its still hot all the same. If your'e like me and you have to have wind blowing on you at night...get an A/C room!

philsbert1

We were near Princeville in spring of last year without A/C, and we wished we had it. We did not see many places in the immediate area that did have A/C, though. There were some decent breezes at times, others not, but in general it was often uncomfortable even at night and the humidity was extremely high. If we had considered purchasing a time-share there, it would have HAD to have A/C. We had a terrific vacation nonetheless...beautiful island, warm friendly people, wonderful seafood.

elsiemoo

May through October, absolutely get A/C in Hawaii. It's not worth taking a chance ... Other months I might consider no A/C. The hottest and most humid I ever found Hawaii was the first couple weeks of October one year!

wug

Thank you, thank you! We're definitely opting for ac. I've found some nice things and think I've decided on one. Just curious, anyone have any gems that maybe I haven't found yet. Either one or two bedroom places on the north shore. House, condo, cottage, etc.

thanks everyone.

Kal

A/C in Kauai is like a college education..it's better to have it and not need it and need it and not have it.

Like Aloe Vera after your first day there.

y,
I was looking at some of the covers of the magazines in the grocery check out line yesterday and one cover caught my attention.
It looked really familiar: http://tinyurl.com/25q99l

Care to elaborate? :-"

starrsville

We really enjoyed Waimea Plantation Cottages.

Also loved Cheney Bay in St. Croix.

The cottages at what was the Hilton Jalousie in St. Lucia (with private plunge pools) were incredible.

Can't believe I've only been to one out of their list of 10. Okay, a new "to do" list. Thanks, Kal!

pvrlover

All of the Hawaiian Islands can be unpredictable. We spent two weeks there in September. Trade winds weren't blowing during the first week and it was very hot. Second week was same temperature, but with the wind always blowing was very comfortable. Get AC to play it safe!

anneofingleside

When we went to Kauai last year, we looked for a place that had A/C, which severely limited our choices since it seems like many on the island do not have A/C. Because there are so many uncertainties (what the weather's going to be like, where your room is located, how breezy it will be that day), we decided we shouldn't take a chance hoping all of these factors will go our way. I like the way Kal put it...