The ISO

If you're in Kauai to hike, and not hang out all day at your hotel/resort, then this might be the best value in Kauai - where even the most run down hotel is $300 a night. For that price, you can get an ocean view here and fall asleep to the sound of waves crashing.

The hotel rooms are modern enough (they dont look terribly dated as of January 2023) though the bathrooms are quite small. The exterior wood is cracking in some places. If it had a better pool and garden area, this could easily be a 4 star hotel. While the rooms are accessed from the outside (motel style), this makes it extremely convenient to get to your car quickly. Also, the corridors outside are carpeted - I initially thought this was gross, but it dampens the sound of roller bags in the morning.

Location was great and staff seemed nice. However, several maintenance issues. We did not have warm running water for our entire stay. They had maintenance check our water pressure however it did not fix the issue. We came home to a large cockroach in our tub. The staff is friendly but I would not recommend this hotel if you are concerned about cleanliness and comfort.

Summary: If you can live without a hot shower, poles in your rooms and poor customer service(a mean receptionist) go for it.
I personally don't recommend it. Not worth to spend any money here.

Details
Good Part:
Free bikes and yoga class
Great location
Right on the beach

Bad Part
Poles in rooms - annoying long poles in rooms that restrict movement in
the room freely. Not kid friendly as we were worried about our son
bumping into poles.
Outdated rooms - even there deluxe ocean rooms were outdated and
broken
Mean and rude receptionist - old lady that serves during the evening shift.
Beach is not swimmable

Such a great location. From my
Understanding all the rooms are ocean facing which is a huge plus. No housekeep during our stay which we preferred to reduce waste and housekeepers time. Fresh towels and pool towels were readily available.

A great option and location to stay. 30 minutes from north shore and 30 min to south shore.

I stayed one night (with a friend), and although we were clearly in the oldest section, it was clean and well-priced, and from the balcony, we had a lovely view of the ocean. There was a free yoga class on the grass at 7am. A ‘grab and go’ breakfast offered apples, individual cereal bowls, milk/OJ/chocolate milk, granola bars, packaged muffins, and yoghurts.
Check-in was easy; the two ladies at the front desk were friendly, and we were gifted a water bottle that we could fill with filtered water from the cooler in the lobby. We didn't use the restaurant or pool but sat on the sandy beach at the waters edge for a couple of peaceful hours.
What was funny was the internal pillars in our room. The A-framed roof meant the posts were oddly positioned. One blocked entry to a closet, and another meant I couldn't climb out of bed that side... I wish we had stayed in the newer section, but ultimately, it was clean and suitable for our needs.

The ISO made for an amazing experience while on Kaua’i for honeymoon. They had everything we needed to enjoy the island, from the bikes to the pool it made for a fun time. Breakfast included is a plus and the location is in an amazing place for adventures.

Nice central location on the island for access to the North shore and the south-west side within an hours drive or less. The ISO has a stop light nearby for easy access to the main road and is a short drive from the airport. The ocean views are incredible. The hotel offers sunrise yoga, a 'grab & go' cold breakfast, & free use of bikes. The ISO is right on the 8 mile Ke Ala Hele Makalae bike/walking path, which offers incredible views & beaches not seen from the main road. There are also several restaurants in walking distance, as well as a Safeway grocery store across the street. My family and I enjoyed our stay at the ISO!

Reading the reviews it seems like there are two threads:

1. Those that understand the market rates for Hotels on Kauai, understand the fact that most hotels on island are dated, and have reasonable expectations because they understand they are choosing a budget option.

and

2. Those that want a resort experience for half the price of an actual resort on the island. (Resorts on Kauai start at $500+ a night, the ISO starts at $250) Hotels on Kauai are expensive. That's just the way it is.

The hotel amenities and breakfast will not match that of a 4 or 5 star hotel. It's a 3 star hotel. Expect decently comfortable beds, dated interiors, and modest amenities. The fact that they offer a fantastic location, super easy access to the beach and walking trails, and bike rentals is on par with the category of hotel. The breakfast is humble, yogurts, cereals, pastries, and boxed juices. Again, about what I would expect for the category. The rooms have air conditioning which isn't all that common on Kauai so that's another plus.

Whenever we stay there we ALWAYS witness entitled tourists treating the hotel staff extremely poor. Complaining that there aren't things like "fresh cut pineapple" (which isn't even really Hawaiian), or other amenities that a 4+ star hotel might have. Their reasoning is always the same. They paid a lot of money to stay there so where is all this stuff? Again, hotels in Hawaii are EXPENSIVE. There is no way around that. If you want a 4+ star experience for less than $500 a night - try the Caribbean. If the amount of beratings by guests is as regular as it appears to be I honestly feel sorry for the staff.

I'm sure its these same people who leave reviews complaining about the lack "aloha" spirit because the staff isn't bending over backwards for them, which is to be expected at a 3 star hotel and lower. If your looking for an experience where you every little need is attended with urgency and pleasure no matter how you behave - try the Caribbean - or be prepared to pay for what that experience costs on Kauai!

If you are looking for a modest hotel with a pool and access to the beachfront that has a pleasant staff (as long as you are also pleseant), updated interiors (for Kauai), air conditioning, and just overall good vibes then this is the place. You will have a relaxing stay! The only thing I would point out is that the double beds are small - so if you want extra room request a King!

Update to my review below: We were subsequently contacted by management who apologized and offered us a full refund. They also will be making changes to their security procedures.
Mahalo to Iso for reaching out.
We would consider staying again as the rooms are quite spacious and the prime rib at Bull Shed is excellent. Hint: get it grilled.

5 a.m., the morning of 12/28/22, i woke up to find a stranger in our room. Seriously.
By the time I came to my senses, the young man was walking out saying that he was security, which he was obviously not. Not knowing what to do, I tried to talk to him until I could ascertain whether he had taken anything, then he was saying he was looking for his girlfriend, and just left. Fortunately, he wasn't threatening or violent and we later found out he hadn't taken anything, so we were lucky.
Called the police but I couldn't really ID him since I didn't have my contacts on. Nothing was taken so I just left it as a report for their records.
All this time, I saw no hotel security and front desk was closed. When the front desk opened later, I reported what happened. Altough the clerk seemed concerned, there was no refund or discount offered. No follow-up contact from management. No apology.
In trying to figure out how he got in, we realized that the door was not aligned properly and did not securely latch unless you pulled it hard.
Also, above the toilet there is a window with glass jalousies and a simple screen which can be removed from the outside just by turning the pins with your hand. These windows open to the walkway outside. I did not check whether the jalousies were glued in, but if not, these windows can easily be entered. I told the desk clerk of these issues and can only hope they do something about it asap.
Once again, we were fortunate that nothing was stolen and thankfully no harm came to myself, my wife and my teenage son. Still, I think we deserved something, at least a heartfelt apology, for this horrible experience.

Simple place in a great location on Kauai, could use an elevator for sure but I would stay here again next time I visit, if you're looking for a luxury resort this is not that but it had beautiful sunrise views and our bed was comfortable.