Kahala Nui

The info is current as I know it, but could change in the future.
My mother moved into Kahala Nui in 2015. She was on the waiting list for I believe over 3 years. The current reviews on KN provide some info, but I decided to enter my review and provide as much info as I currently understand it without going over what others have written. Note that my wife and I are planning on applying to KN in 2016 (we are in our early 60s). Note that there is no tipping for any services, including when eating in the restaurant, transportation service, room cleaning, etc. A reviewer had mentioned about a Summer Sale, I believe this is where residents make or buy things to sell where the money goes to the staff as a thank you for their service.
The rooms are like condos, with a full kitchen with washer/​dryer in the room. The bathroom is configured for «assisted living» where they are wide to accommodate wheel chairs and no tub, only a shower. I believe some of the multiple bedrooms units has a bathroom with a tub in one of the bathrooms. KN comes into the rooms once a week to wash your towels, sheets and vacuum. KN website provides info on the different types of rooms and cost info. Transportation is provided to doctors, markets, malls, etc, even the military PX if you have access to it. All transportation services must to arrange beforehand. KN pays for utilities, etc except for cable.
There are a lot of activites and entertainment every so often. Some activities might have an additional cost such as flower arrangement. There is a pool and exercise room.
The restaurant is excellent and the chef is supposedly well-​known in the islands. The reason my mother wanted KN was because of the food. It is a full course menu, there are generally 2 – 3 type appetizers, soup, salads, 3 – 4 entrees including a veg-​type entrée, various desserts. Sometimes my mother would get papaya or a root beer float for dessert. If you have left overs, resident bring containers with them for the leftovers. I think once a week there is a buffet where you can not take leftovers. There is dress standard for dinner that is different for lunch. There is a takeout area, where food choices are different from the restaurant. You can also get room service for an additional fee-​$ 4. Every resident gets the equivalent of 1 free meal/​day for the month. Currently the meal allowance equates around $ 21. The month may start on different days depending on when you become a resident. You lose any unused meal «tickets» at the end of each month, so it is best to plan ahead and use them all by monthend. My mothers uses her extra meal tickets to invite relatives over for lunch or dinner. If a menu item is popular it is best to go for lunch or early dinner, since they may run out of the item during dinner. This is especially true when they have chateaubriand. Also, if the meal is special like lobster, there maybe an small additional fee.
When you submit your application, you can select 2 room types and be on 2 waiting lists. The waiting period can vary a lot depending on the popularity of the rooms. Averages can be 3 years, but some might be a lot less or longer. You can pass on a room when a room is available, but you then move to the end of the waiting list for that room. You can only pass 3 times. So if you waited 3 years for the room, pass on it, you may wait another 3 years for that room type. You have to submit a refundable deposit of $ 5k, with your application. When you are accepted, you will be told what «numbers» you are on the waiting lists for the 2 rooms that you selected. KN has different quantities of each room type, so for example there are only 7 Lehua units while there are 48 Ginger units.
When you get notified that a room is available, you have 5 days to accept or pass. If you accept, you have to submit a revise financial statement. KN also requires a medical report. I believe the medical report is primarily to check to see that you don’t have dementia. it can get really expensive if a spouse has dementia and has to move into the memory unit. Monthly cost for the memory unit I believe is over $ 11k a month and you still have to paid the monthly cost for the person living in the condo unit. Note that resident can request to move into a smaller unit (cheaper monthly cost) and therefore the resident is placed as #1 on the wait list for the smaller unit. You have to pay the full price if you accept. I believe you have a few months to pay total amount. Generally people sell their home and use the money, along with savings to pay for the unit. You get back 90% of unit price you paid when you leave KN. I believe KN will allow the use of the 90% funds to help pay the monthly memory unit cost.
In terms of finances, I think the most important factor is your monthly income not assets to qualify for KN. I believe KN wants to make sure you can afford the monthly fee and future fee increases for the condo. Ending now, ran out of space.

I’ve been to Kahala Nui numerous times to visit family and friends. It is always nice and clean and the staff is friendly.
From what the residents say, there are lots of activities and the staff is kind and helpful.
I attended their «Summer Sale» last Saturday with a friend. They had a nice complimentary wine, cheese and fruit bar set up outside the sale. The sale was full of things the residents made and lots of wines as well as a raffle for prizes. this was a fundraiser. Very well run and lots of nice offerings.
If I had to go to a senior residence, I think I’d pick Kahala Nui!

It is a really relaxing place to go to. When you walk in it feels like a hotel. The staff is really friendly and everyone is very accommodating. My grandparents love this place!

My in-​laws moved in to Kahala Nui about 10 years ago, when it was brand new. It was expensive, but appeared to provide for the eventualities of their last years. The place is beautiful, and activities are well programmed. There is shuttle bus transportation available, a variety of menus each day, full time staff. They enjoyed many years in their independent living unit. As they aged, and encountered various health challenges, they moved to higher levels of care. This required them to give up more and more possessions, as the living space decreased. The living units increasingly resembled a hospital. There was a period when my mother-​in-​law required significantly more care than my father-​in-​law. She was moved to a different part of the complex, and for some time they lived in the same complex, but different rooms. This wasn’t something that we had anticipated. They were reunited when my father-in-law’s condition deteriorated. They lived together until he passed away, recently. My mother-​in-​law had to move to another room for a single person. The staff has been most helpful, friendly, and compassionate throughout.
Now that the facility is 10 years old, it has been well kept up. It provides an attractive alternative for living late in life, if you can afford it.

This is not a nursing home! This is high end resort living for wealthy seniors.
I have a confession to make. We take tours of open houses and look at resort condos that right now we can’t afford. Our intentions are good. There is a quote that sums it up from the movie Flash Dance. «when you give up your dream you die! «
We do not dream of wealth we never did. However sometimes we dream of doing things that you have to have money to do. We have done things you usually have to have money to do for free or discounted prices.
My hubby is gifted at that. One of the things we do is look at condos that right now we can’t afford but maybe one day who knows.
We saw Kahal Nui. The monthly maintenance for a 3 bedroom (again not a nursing home) is $ 7,481 and that is just the monthly fee. To buy it the price is $ 1,063,810.
This is from their site about the location. «Situated in one of Honolulu’s most desirable neighborhoods, Kahala Nui offers residents all of the benefits of a central location that is convenient to Kahala Mall (with more than 90 specialty stores, 28 restaurants and eateries, and an eight-​plex movie theater), as well as places of worship and healthcare facilities. Kahala Nui is also in close proximity to the Waialae Country Club, The Kahala Hotel & Resort, and Waialae Beach Park.»
It’s beautiful! maybe one day! I can dream!
Here are some of the amenities.
Set on beautifully landscaped grounds with water features and open-​air garden courtyards, Kahala Nui’s gracious atmosphere gives rise to its array of community areas and distinctive amenities.
Main Living Room
Diamond Head Room & Terrace
Library & Business Center
Garden Lanai
Heated Pool & Jacuzzi
Meditation Garden
Media Room
Kahala Terrace
Art Studio
Card Room
Pool Lounge
Piano Lounge
Fitness Club
Ali’i Dining Room
Beauty Salon
Private Dining Rooms
Massage Studio
Casual Dining
Great Lawn
Parking Garage

I’ve always been very impressed by Kahala Nui. It really is like a resort for the elderly. And the food is surprisingly delicious! I got seared ahi, and it was perfectly cooked. Everyone who works here is so pleasant, and our family friend who lives here has zero complaints. I enjoy visiting and eating good food!

This is a lovely nursing home. There is a waiting list, and now I know why. The facilities are well kept and absolutely beautiful with very caring and well trained staff. There are lots of activities and the food is actually good! Lots of support for those who are still very independent, to those who need extra care.

this is a review for the restaurant, not the retirement home.
yup, i ate at a restaurant in a retirement home. my aunty lives here and invited my family for dinner. the food was awesome. the service was perfect. the décor was nice and the restaurant was quiet. what more can you ask for? it was nice to spend time with my aunty (don’t get to see her much because i live on the mainland).
the restaurant is pretty fancy, so you’ll want to dress up. aloha shirt and long pants for the guys. a dress or nice blouse and pants for the ladies. i had steamed fish (Chinese style), with rice and steamed veggies. it also came with salad. yumm… of course i ate everything and left with a happy stomach. and a happy heart, since it was sweet of aunty to treat us to dinner. :)

Retirement Home. Elder Care.
Have you ever spent a week searching for a place for you family members?
Have you ever called other places and asked for a better place, their competition, those that charge more than they do for a better retirement residence?
Have you ever just asked, ‘What is the top of the line in retirement care in the area, someplace better than you?‘
Every time I have been referred to Kahala Nui. Likely the best place in the Islands without going to the West Coast. I have done lots of research, I have taken lots of tours as well. This place is someplace I’ve found where I may want to stay.
Ask for Darren for a tour. The amenities appear to be top notch. I anticipate putting my parents on the wait list as This place looks great.
Thanks to the staff at Kahala Nui for the visit.