Hawaii reviews

Guest Rating:

We were very disappointed with this unit #48. The pics on the website were deceiving, it made the unit look a lot bigger. Also i was told that there was a BBQ but they did not tell me specifically that the BBQ was by the pool. It made it seem like we had our own BBQ in our unit. There was no guestbook or map illustrating where the pools and beaches were. We had to just explore on our own to find out where everything was. A guide would have been helpful. There wasn't enough room for my 2 kids to run around. The property managers Jeri and Mark were rude. I called Jeri on our first morning at 7am not knowing it was a personal number to ask where the hair blow dryer was. She was irritated by my call and spoke very rudely to me even though I had apologized. I didn't realize that hair blow dryers were not included because everything else was there. Then when I had realized that there was only 1 roll of toilet paper, I called Mark to ask if we could get more. He told me that it was not a hotel but a house that we're renting. He talked to me as if i was an idiot which I did not appreciate I've rented plenty of homes both in California and Hawaii before and they have always provided us with hair blow dryers and more than 1 roll of toilet paper. Lastly, I was very diligent in ensuring that the unit was cleaned up properly and followed all guidelines prior to our departure. I even called Mark to inform him of the linking refridgerator and broken ceiling fan in the kitchen to ensure that I wasn't responsible for these things. Before departure I called him again to clarify what we were supposed to do with the bed sheets and towels. One day after our departure, I received a call from Mark saying that we didn't leave the gate key for him. That was untrue!!! I made sure it was on the counter with the house keys and lock box. Now he says he will charge us $50 for the missing gate key. I can guarantee you that we left the gate key on the counter, I'd even bet my life on this. This experience from beginning to end was horrible! I would not recommend anyone to stay in this unit! It sucked! Even my friends who have stayed in the other units in the Kuilima Estates agreed that our place was unusually smaller and that it was lacking in many ways. I really would like to discuss this further with a manager of this agency or with the owner about not charging us for the missing gate key as it was not our fault! Anything could have happened from the day we left to the day Mark went into the unit.

Corinna W., San Diego, CA, 6.7.09

Guest Rating:

This was an excellent location--very close to a beautiful and uncrowded beach. It also was well located for all of the activities we pursued, from hiking to diving to golf. Audrey sent us to an excellent restaurant, Lucy's, and served up a mean smoothie as a little extra.

Deborah P., Wayne, IL, 6.6.09

Guest Rating:

There were many good things about the unit my husband and I rented, but I would have to say that my favorite thing was the huge shower. I recieved excellent customer service both over the phone while trying to book and once we arrived at the unit. The owner was on hand to answer any questions and to help insure we got settled comfortably. I really liked this personal touch. There were many wonderful things about our trip. For example the sunsets were, of course spectacular. But as far as the treehouse is concerened, it was wonderful to be able to come back to a place that made me feel at home and the bed was comfortable as well. Also, the location of the treehouse to shopping, beach, and restaurants was great. We never had to go too far unless we wanted to drive further. I am looking foreward to sharing photos and memories of my trip with friends. My advice to anyone else staying at the treehouse would be to take time out to ask Pam for a tour of her organic fruit, vegetable, and herb garden. All in all I would say that our stay at the Kihei Treehouse Cottage was a very positive experience and I reccomend it to anyone that is looking to stay at a wonderful, beautifully decorated place, with great amenities, at a very reasonable price.

Joey S., Kent, WA, 6.3.09

Guest Rating:

We loved Papaya Hale II! It was perfect for my husband and I and our 9 year old daughter. Everything we needed was available and we loved the garden, the beach and the location.

We recommend bringing basic snorkel gear (or purchase here, it is reasonable), beach towels and a small flashlight (for walking on the beach at night) as well as a mesh back for your gear--these were the only things that we added to the basic beach wear that we packed.

If we return to Oahu, we will definately stay here again!

Maureen H., Fairchild AFB, WA, 6.3.09

Guest Rating:

What I liked best about the unit I rented was⦠It's location. It was on the ground level with a very nice lawn for my kids (7 and 5) to play on. It was about 30 yards from the pool and it was also walking distance to the Queen's Court Shops (very convenient for food and other shopping)
The customer service I received was⦠Very good. To compensate us for a mix up with our baggage delivery, our "host" gave us a dinner voucher for the entire family, a really nice touch.
The best part of my trip was⦠Pool and beach time with the family. Helicopter ride over the volcano was neat too.
The best restaurant I found was⦠The Macaroni Grill was a great family place. Not romantic if that's what you're looking for, but definitely fits the bill for a family-type place.
My advice to someone else staying at this unit would be⦠The air condition unit did not work well in the master bedroom. I would make sure this is fixed, especially if you're going to stay there in the summer. Fortunately, it was cool enough without adequate A/C in the master bedroom during our stay.
The best "insider tip" I received while on my trip was⦠The Mauna Kea Beach was a great open-water swimming location
I didn't have time this trip, but next trip I'm looking forward to⦠Seeing more of the island's beaches. We only visited four during our 8-day stay.

Ben C., Ridgefield, Ct, 6.1.09

Guest Rating:

The unit was very well appointed, providing beach towels, chairs, cooler, snorkeling gear, washer/dryer, full kitchen... The view from the lanai was beautiful, the sunrises were exceptional to look at.
The unit has been fantastically renovated, the bed was very comfortable. It was perfect for a couple looking for a relaxing and romantic vacation.
It is about 20-30 min from Turtle Bay Resort where you can find great restaurants and a beatiful beach. It is nearby the Polynesian Cultural Center, the Kualoa Ranch and many beautiful beaches.
The only drawback is that there isn't anything really close by, driving is a must.

Martine N., Ottawa, ON, 5.27.09

Guest Rating:

This unit beautifully met the needs of our family of 6...comfy beds, attractive decor...nice size...incredible view of the mountains from the jacuzzi bath...offered supplies for family games and equipment for all ages. We appreciated the warm welcome of fresh flowers, nuts, etc. The neighbors were quite nice too. The best part of this unit is it's location- the view of both the lush mountains on one side and the serene ocean on the other. You do need to cross the "highway" to get to the beach but it's not very busy. Probably the only tip I'd give to visitors would be to not panic when you view the front unit of the shared address...look quickly to the "B" unit, just off the highway- much nicer. Also, we came in May and found the unit to be a bit hot (no air-conditioning), needing to have the windows open at nite, which also let in the car lights and sounds...for those of you who are light sleepers. This unit was a good value for the price. Thank you.

Shari R., Folsom, Ca, 5.27.09

Guest Rating:

My wife & I were very pleased with this unit and the location near Lanikai Beaches. We loved the beaches, the local restaurants,
the peaceful setting, and Kailua in general.

Thank you for recommending this site.

Regards,
The Arnolds

Tobias A., SEQUIM, WA, 5.26.09

Guest Rating:

From the moment you walk in the Makai home we relaxed knowing this was going to be one ofour best vacations ever. For all of us rising early and having an early morning swim, stretch, walk, or coffee on the beach began the day in the moment. For me,Mary, I sometimes awoke before daybreak, in the master bdroom, to watch the big dipper sink below the horizon.

Renting paddle boards is so much fun. Challenging your body's balance wheather on legs, knees or tummy allowed us to go out further into the sea and look back at the majestic shore and cliff line. Seeing turtles while on the boards was a bonus.

Definitely use the outside shower. A 360 degree view of beauty with fresh water.

We did our major shopping at Costco before coming to the unit. If you have a crowd that might work. Local markets were great too.

Going to the Nat'l Cemetery at Punchbowl was great. We hit this spot on Memorial Day wkend so especially beautiful.

One suggestion, is to rent a GPS system and plug in destinations for easy driving.

Leonard M., Saint Charles, MO, 5.26.09

Guest Rating:

Great home with a incredible view!!! The pool and hot tub are acually built in the ocean! We sat and enjoyed all of it and saw dolphins, whales, and turtles from the porch every day. We fed 4 different Morey eels daily, and acually named them all. I would come back to this house!! Highly recomended.

Grant G., Coos Bay, OR, 5.24.09