Oahu reviews

Guest Rating:

I loved the sound of the ocean at night and the cool breezes, as well as the beautiful, fragrant flowers in the garden and yard. The best treat was the acai bowl at the Coffee Gallery in Haleiwa--local honey, homemade granola, acai frozen yogurt and fresh mango and papaya--worth getting up early for! We had a great trip.

Krista D., South Bend, IN, 6.4.10

Guest Rating:

We have rented several homes on the islands from different companies. We go to Hawaii about twice a year. We have alot to compare with. It had a beautiful view but beach was not handy to walk to ( which was not mentioned ) The house was not in a neighborhood with like homes. We found the house not kept up or as clean as other homes we've rented. The rental company was friendly and nice to work with. Our deposit on other homes have always been returned within a couple of weeks not 60 days as quoted by this company. We would probably not return to this house but we did have a good time. The Culture center and show was well worth while and we enjoyed a full day there. Sincerely Dale Moore

Dale M., Grove, OK, 6.2.10

Guest Rating:

We really enjoyed our stay at Kiele Lani and rate it above any other hotel or cottage we have experienced in Honolulu.

The cottage, patio, lap pool and surroundings were perfectly "Hawaiian". The beach is just a short walk and seemed nearly private, except for the very friendly beach-walkers we met. Bring a mask and snorkel - not as many fish as Hanauma Bay, but when the beach is just a few minutes away, who can complain?

If you like malls and Whole Foods, Kahala Mall is very close. If you want to experience a local scene, drive to Kaimuki on Waialae Ave and have breakfast at the Victoria Inn or Zippy's and buy your groceries and beverages at Times or Foodland. Or go to the farmer's market at Kapiolani Community College, on the backside of Diamond Head.

All together a great vacation and we hope to be back!

Aloha & Mahalo,

Bob & Shannon

Shannon M., Burbank, California, 6.1.10

Guest Rating:

Hi Bronson, again you set me up with the best place for great price, location to the beach was a short walk and really ideal, even though I didn't do alot of eventful things I came there for the beach, tropical middle of the night down pour, and to read a book, (accomplished all 3), and all I had to do to find the Bitchinist spot in Hi was walk across the street, the unit was awsome, (I think the remote needs attention), 1 of the best features is how well the whole place was kept, (sprayed for bugs, minimum bugs), Geckos ok. Ill be back!

Don G., San Jose, Ca, 6.1.10

Guest Rating:

Enjoyed the quiet atmosphere of the condo complex. Used the pool several days, and we were the only ones in it! Made it feel like our very own private paradise. The condo was spacious, the kitchen well equipped. Great tradewinds flowed through the units two large sliding lanai doors. The area is remote so was a drive to restaurants and stores--but worth the beautiful drive. Had a great birthday dinner at Haleiwa Joe's, good food and good service. Also liked the Coffee Gallery, great coffe and wonderful desserts. Both agents we spoke with were friendly and very helpful.

Juanita R., Wooster, OH, 6.1.10

Guest Rating:

This was a trip of a lifetime for my husband and me. We had a wonderful time, the beach was beautiful and private. There were several great places to eat - The Crouching Lion, Jameson's by the Sea - just to name a few. The condo was quiet, secluded and had a killer view for sunrises. Real close to several other great beaches to watch amazing sunsets. If you are looking for a place to truly get away for some much needed R&R, we highly recommend this condo.

Judy F., Marion, IN, 6.1.10

Guest Rating:

Jill B. Albuquerque, NM May 15-19, 2010
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This house is absolutely amazing - I cannot say enough good things about it. This house has so much charm - our whole family felt like we were coming home. Everything was spotless - there were plenty of extra paper products in the downstairs closet and plenty of clean towels and linens in the upstairs closets. There is a washer and dryer in the carport closet - we packed light, so it was great to be able to do wash a couple of times during our visit. The kitchen was fully stocked with plates, glasses, silver, pots and pans. There is no air conditioning - but you won't need it - just open the french doors and enjoy the ocean breezes. Being right on the beach was amazing - the sound of the waves lulled us all to sleep every night. Our family spent a great deal of time using the kayaks available and snorkeling on the reef (which is right outside the back door) - remember to bring your water shoes because there are rocks and coral in the water. There is a Walgreens across the street from Windward Mall that sells water shoes and snorkel gear for a fair price. Our favourite place to eat was Haleiwa Joes Haiku Gardens on Haiku - the food was fantastic as were the waiter (Chris) and atmosphere. We made field trips daily to the aquarium, the zoo, Pearl Harbor, Diamond Head, North Shore Shark Adventures and the Dole Plantation on various parts of Oahu - it was wonderful to come "home" to this house. Thank you Joey Ann for allowing us to spend time in this wonderful house - we hated to leave, and we will be back! Aloha!

Jill B., Albuquerque, New Mexico, 6.1.10

Guest Rating:

The location was great. It was less than a 5 mins walk to the most beautiful beach in Oahu (in my opinion)! It was a fantastic location for a low-key vacation and away from all the hustle of Honolulu/Waikiki area. My dad fished at the shore, my nephew swam at the beach, and my husband and I layed out everyday. It was about a 30 mins drive to Waikiki and the touristy area. The house itself was quaint. It was hard at times with 6 people and 1 bathroom. The kitchen was somewhat spacious with 2 dining room tables. There are 2 small TV's in the house - but, when you're in Hawaii, do you really want to spend time watching TV? :)

There's a hike in Lanikai, the Pill Box, great hike with great views. We ate at Zippy's a couple times.. it's convenient, yummy, and cheap.

Janet Y., Alhambra, CA, 6.1.10

Guest Rating:

We've made numerous trips to Hawaii and have visited all but one of the islands. We love Kailua Beach because it offers a family frendily atmosphere, close proximity to good shopping and great golf courses, one of the best beaches in Hawaii -- and all the while maintaining a sleepy laid back atmosphere. (It's no wonder that the author of the Oahu Revealed book (a must read for any visitor) chose to live in Kailua Beach while he was writing his book.)

We've stayed in Kailua on one other occasion and during our first visit we learned a lot about the area and determined the best place to stay for our next trip. We found it in Lau Lea. The house turned out to be simply amazing and met or exceeded all of our requirements. 1) Beach access -- It's hard to get closer to the beach than Lau Lea. It's basically right across the street. Kailua Beach Park is one of the nicest beach parks on Oahu 2) Pool -- The pool was great with the kids and for cooling off after a day of golf or hiking. 3) High End Ammenities -- The house is brand new and completely buffed out. Granite counters, travertine floor, high end artwork, high ceilings, air conditioning (this was a big plus) premo lanai, plush landscaping, custom furnature, outdoor shower, 5 star kitchen and bathrooms (huge walk-in showers), big flatscreen TV, and even an indoor/outdoor stereo.

Other pluses: 1) Nice neighbors. The kept to themselves for the most part, and offered to let us use their kayaks and all of their gear. How cool is that? 2) A block away from Buzz's Steak House and Kalapawai Market -- We walked there every morning for our coffee. Great spot. 3) Also within walking distance to Lanikai Beach (nice, but overrated in our book), Kayak rental, and Hawaiian shave ice shop. 4) The owners -- Peter and Sue are life long residents of Kailua and they know everything to do in the area. They welcomed us when we arrived and were available if we needed them, but more importanly they never intruded and they stayed away unless we asked them to come by. They understand that people take a vacation to get away from others and spend time with family. We never felt as though we were being supervised or checked on. They really just get it. It was perfect. We will be coming back for sure!

Matthew L., Anchorage, AK, 6.1.10

Guest Rating:

What I like best was the privacy and environment - the location was quiet and secluded... perfect for a family gathering... and added plus was the ducks that gathered in the front yard in the morning... our 2 year old loved the place...

Adrienne D., Honolulu, HI, 6.1.10