Makaha reviews

Guest Rating:

The couches in the main room are in poor condition and none of the adults could sit on them.
The rest of the house was fine
C P Riosenbaum

Charles R., Encino, CA, 7.28.09

Guest Rating:

We enjoyed our stay at the Turtle House. The house itself is very nice and great amenities. The location is the biggest drawback with lots of homeless camped on the beaches nearby and even in the city of Makaha. We felt like we had to drive to the other side of the island anytime we wanted to play in the ocean. The best part of this stay was having the ocean right out the door and we spent hours watching the waves roll in and the sea turtles playing in the waves. We would reccomend this house for families and those wanting to just relax.

Theresa S., Lincoln, NE, 6.22.09

Guest Rating:

We stayed at the Makaha house in January 2009. We found the house to be very well appointed and very clean. It was modern and spacious with large well-maintained grounds. In terms of the accommodation itself, we were very satisfied. The only caveat was that the house was advertised as having 1 king, 3 queen and 1 futon. We were unable to find a futon and the 3 beds did not appear to be queen size (as we understand it in Australia or Canada).

The house was a short walk to two beaches. To the North, Makaha beach is sandy and has surfing. There is a smaller, more sheltered beach at the South end of the street. There, we saw turtles on a daily basis. A short 5 minute drive took us to a nice sheltered beach (with lifeguard) that is very suitable for small children (turn off just North of the Post Office in Waianae).

In terms of the surrounding area, the house is indeed situated in a comparatively economically depressed area. En route you will pass areas where homeless are tenting on the beach. But this was still 10-15 minutes by car from the house. In truth, we found the locals to be friendly and did not feel unwelcome at all. Kids were playing on the streets. The neighbouring houses were largely residential, although there were also a number of holiday rentals.There is limited choice for dining and shopping is only of the grocery variety.

The house is fairly far away from Waikiki or other parts of the island. To get to the North shore, for example, it is necessary to head first to Honolulu and then up the middle (the more direct roads on the maps are military only). To get to Honolulu, one should expect at least 1 hour with moderate traffic. Renting a car is a must. This said, the house's location did not prevent us from seeing all parts of the island during our stay (we did not mind a bit of driving). Charter fishing and dive/snorkel operations also operate out of Waianae Regional Park wharf. (5 minute drive)

The weather on the Leeward side receives less precipitation than the Windward side during this time of year. We generally had sunny weather, whereas Kailua etc. were having rain. In theory, we were supposed to have bigger surf at this time of year than on the South/East sides of the island. We would recommend checking weather and surf trends for the time of year you wish to visit. For example, there is reportedly good snorkeling on the North and West shores. However, in the winter months this is not really accessible from the shore due to larger waves.

We would recommend the Makaha house for those people not looking for the hustle and bustle of Waikiki (been there done that). It was a great location for us to meet for a relaxing tropical stay with other members of our family.

Laurie B., Pemulwuy, New South Wales, Australia, 2.1.09

Guest Rating:

We really loved the layout of the house and that it was right on the beach. The house suited our 8 people wonderfully. Makaha is an "economically depressed area" but we had no problems with any locals. There were a lot of homeless camping on the beaches before we got to town, but supposedly that will be taken care of soon. Watch out for the rocks when swimming in front of the house. The next big beach past the house was a lot better. Be prepared to spend a lot of time in your car if you are going out to do things. The house is really far from things. Overall, the house was great!

Cynthia S., Shingle Springs, CA, 9.1.08

Guest Rating:

GREAT house. The view was awesome, the house was in good shape and tastefully furnished, and also very BIG. The only issue was that the house is situated in a very "local" area so if you are not familiar with genuine Island culture, this could be a draw-back. All in all, a really great experience.

Jennifer Y., Buffalo, OH, 8.15.08

Guest Rating:

This house is beautiful and very spacious, enough for our big family.
The quick access to the beach, great view of the ocean, and a nice size back yard to play and easy to use kitchen were some of my favorite.
We woke up early in the morning a few times during the stay to look at the stars, and it was gorgeous!
We also see many fish, enjoyed snorkeling. Just be careful for high tide and big waves.

I'll recommend this place for someone who would like to have a relaxed vacation to spend some time with your family.

The shopping was a little inconvenient. Tamura Supermarket was the closest, but you might feel a little uncomfortable to shop there. Just be careful, and don't go there after dark. Kapolei was the best one to sop, just about 20 minutes away.

I'll love to come back to this house again. ( I didn't want to leave!)

Satoko T., West Jordan, UT, 3.24.08

Guest Rating:

The Ochi family has given the home a very homely touch with their eclectic collection of furniture. It is very beautiful. The property manager was very informative about the history of the home and the area. My favorite spot was in the hammock with the beach view, but watchout for them coconuts. I will miss my stay.

-MSG oner

Alfred P., Pacifica, California, 10.24.07

Guest Rating:

This was a great house with some wonderful views and the sunsets were amazing. Everything was about 30 to 40 minutes away but allow a little extra time for traffic, just in case. The area was OK.

George S., Arlington, VA, 7.16.07

Guest Rating:

The views and the decor. Great Being there at the house it was an incredible house in an incredible location. prepare to relax Germaine's luau enjoy the Portuguese sausage more relaxation If you enjoy it half as much as we did, you will deem it a success.

Jim and Mary O., Madison, Wisconsin, 6.23.07

Guest Rating:

We loved the house and the beach but thought it was priced to high when compared to other homes closer to town and the North Shore. The house is very functional and we enjoyed the beach as well as the beautiful front yard. We were most happy when we stayed at the house instead of traveling around the island.

Molly C., PORTLAND, OR, 11.17.06