Guestbook Comment

Guest: Mike and Bonnie Luebbert (Pittsford / New York)
Date of Stay: 05/01/07 Review Submitted: 05/11/07

If you are looking for the perfect Maui vacation get away set apart from the hustle of the tourist places - this is an excellent choice. The cottage is top notch, everything is high quality and the owners are very accomodating. The cottage is about 3 turns and a mile off the main highway. It is a 5 minute drive to the beaches and businesses / restaurants in Kihei. It is about a 20 mile drive to Lahaina (time varys with traffic) and 20 minutes to the Kalahui airport. The upstairs of the cottage is a great room combination of living room and kitchen with a 8 ft. sliding door to the 9X18 ft. lanai w/awning looking directly at the mountains / ocean / and sunsets. Also upstairs is a 1/2 bath and the laundry facility. There is a large fullsize refrigerator with ice maker, a dishwasher, and a gas grill to cook out with. There is air conditioning upstairs in the unit only - but we never closed the windows or doors the entire six days of our stay and never felt we needed A/C. The downstairs is a large bedroom with four poster bed, another wonderful view, and two sliding doors to another private sitting area. No A/C downstairs but who needs it? Also on the lower level is the full bath. Three ceiling fans in the unit (2 down / 1 up). Even the shower has a million dollar view. It is about 75 feet from your parking spot and down some concrete steps to the cottage, so it's not set up for wheel chairs or walkers (I had to add something that wasn't completely positive so you know the owners didn't write this) :-)) On a scale of 1 to 10, we give the hill top cottage a 9+! Feel free to email us if you have any specific questions. Mike and Bonnie - May 2007

Recommended for:

this is a gem

Guest: Ellen L. (Peachland, BC, Canada)
Date of Stay: 01/15/12 Review Submitted: 02/05/12

Keith and Marina's cottage is absolutely charming - a sometimes overused word - but in this case a perfect description. It was immaculate, the pictures are accurate, you get what you see. The views were spectacular, we watched whales jumping, all kinds of boating activity and Maui sunsets from the lanai. The kitchen is fully equipped and having a washer and dryer made life easy. We prefer being out and about during the day and spending our evenings at home for dinner and preparation was easy with the conveniences available. Going downstairs to the bedroom gave a nice separation from the main living area and we found the absence of a/c downstairs made no difference to our comfort. The ceiling fans were more than adequate. The bed is very comfortable and to have two bathrooms, one up and one down, also made life easier. Driving to various activities, snorkeling, the beach, shopping, restaurants was short and convenient, nothing is much more than 5-10 minutes away. We did not use the pool but it was lovely to view, just a bit too cold for us this time of year. However, the beach being so close made up for it. We will definitely be booking again next time we visit Maui and do not hesitate to wholeheartedly recommend it to anyone interested.

Recommended for:

The Perfect Couple's Getaway

Guest: Nance (Memphis, TN )
Date of Stay: 07/05/11 Review Submitted: 07/19/11

My husband and I stayed there for a week and all I can say is, it was simply amazing! The cottage was really nice and clean..only problem we experienced was the heat. Theres's no a.c downstairs, only ceiling fans, so during the daytime it got pretty warm, but at night time it was cool and comfortable. The A.C unit is upstairs and it kept the top floor cool, but the sun would sometimes beam through the sliding door windows and make it a little warm...Blinds would have been a nice touch to help keep the room cool during the day, plus it would keep the glare off of the T.V screen. There's only a dvd player upstairs, would have been nice to have one in the masterbedroom as well, but oh well, not a big deal. We loved this place, We would wake up every morning to the sound of birds and the ocean breeze. The landscaping was beautiful...Keith you guys are so lucky to have such a wonderful place to call home, I'm so jealous:) We had candelight dinner on the Lanai which was very romantic at night as we would watch the sunset over the ocean. The view of the mountains and ocean from every window in the cottage, both upstairs and downstairs will take your breathe away. If anybody is looking for a place to spend time alone in seclusion this is the place to rent. Though the sofa was very nice, it would have been great to have a larger sofa for two to snuggle up on while watching movies. We had access to the pool which was great if we wanted to take a dip. I'm not a big cat lover, but there was this cat that visited our Lanai every morning and night, it kinda creeped me out at the beginning, only because cats make me nervous:) lol, but he was really sweet. I was just concerned he'd polk a hole in the screen door with his claws because he always clawed at the screen door. The cabinets were nicely stocked...we had to go out and buy some things of course like sugar, cooking oil, and seasoning, might need to buy a new set of pots soon though. They had plates, utensils, coffee mugs, glasses, dishwasher liquid etc which was great. It was also nice to have access to a washer/dryer and have soap powder available to use. They had plenty of clean towels, clean sets up sheets to use. Might want to change the lightbulb by the front door, it's so secluded and dark at night, that its prob a good idea to turn the light on by the front door if you know you won't return until after dark. Overall, we enjoyed ourselves tremendously! Keith thank you for opening your home to us! See u soon.

Owner response:It's nice to hear that our attention grabbing phrase "great views in quiet seclusion" is appropriate and appreciated. Great TV and DVD convenience is not our prime goal, but we'll work on improving it! Hard to keep the neighbor's cat off our lanai, but hopefully the screens will hold out. ( And there's no extra charge if you want to sleep with a kitty cat! ) I guess the pots and pans are being used (new ones are on order), and of course, that's one of the advantages in having a fully equipped kitchen where one stays, with a private gas grill BBQ just outside your entry door. Mahalo to all our guests for their comments and suggestions. Keith

Recommended for:Romantic getaway, sightseeing, adventure seekers.

Great Place, Quiet Neighborhood, Friendly Owner

Guest: Lokela and Kukana (Hastings, MN)
Date of Stay: 02/08/11 Review Submitted: 03/29/11

For our 27th visit to Maui, we chose an off-beach location in a quiet Kihei neighborhood. It was as nice as it looked in the pictures. The hilly locale made for some great morning walks. The beach was less than 2 miles away. Five minutes by car. Just over an hour round trip (1260 ft total elevation change) for a great cardio workout. Avoid the Kihei traffic. Enjoy the quiet evening hillside breezes. Our six week stay included a tsunami, a first for us. We've done all of the tourist and adventure stuff so we were into serious beach time, reading and visiting friends. For book lovers, be sure to visit the Maui Friends of the Library in Puunene. The Bailey House Museum and the Sugar Mill Museum will give you a feel for early life on Maui. I worked for a few days on a Habitat for Humanity home in Kula. There is always time to do something meaningful for someone else. The road (clockwise) around the West End of the island is really more scenic than the road to Hana. Early afternoon sun angles are best for photos. Slaughterhouse Beach near Honolua Bay is great for body surfing if you are a good swimmer. The owners were helpful and friendly. The downstairs bedroom was always cool at night. Everything you need is right there. The pool was nice on those few days when we didn't go to the beach. We used the grill almost every night. We had a cute cat adopt us while we were there. I suspect it adopts everyone who visits. We liked LuLu's for burgers. Lahaina Coolers for Evil Jungle Pizza is easily the best on the island. Try Halli Maile General Store for lunch. Komoda Bakery in Makawao is pretty good. Try the shortbread macademia nut cookies. Makawao and Paia are worth your time to explore. The Siagon Cafe and Cafe O'Lei in Wailuku were worth the trip. Mama's Fish House is very expensive. $12 for a cup of coffee should give you a clue. Poolenena Beach Park is not where the resort visitors go. Polipoli Springs State Park has some great hiking including all the way to the top of Haleakala. Make sure it is open before you go. The Alii Kula Lavender Farm is a nice plce to visit. Be sure you stop the car and do some hiking. Don't just drive by and look. Make an effort to meet the people of Hawaii. Their history is amazing. Their culture is very special. They are friendly, lovely and proud of their heritage. You will be rewarded for learning as much as you can about Hawaiian history. Practice aloha!

Recommended for:Romantic getaway, age 55+.

Second Trip! We Will Be Back!

Guest: Chris and Anne In Massachusetts (Webster,Massachusetts)
Date of Stay: 02/16/10 Review Submitted: 03/07/10

Anne and I just finished up an 11 day vacation on Maui a few days ago. We have allready booked two weeks for January 2011. The cottage provides a beautiful place to stay on Maui. You awake to the sounds of birds in the morning. The cottage has everything you wil need for a great vacation. The area is residential so it is very quiet. It is like having your own home on Maui while you are there. Drive time to most South Maui beaches is 10-15 minutes, less for beaches that are closer such as Chang's Beach or the beach in front of the Old Maui Prince. The cottage is in a great location. The owners provide everything you will need. You have your privacy but you also know that if you need something they are just a few steps away. Keith and Marina are very nice people. We look forward to seeing them again next year! Skip the huge hotels in Wailea or the hustle and bustle of south Kihei road and stay at the Hale O Pa'ani. We are sure you will have memories that will last a life time. I've been to Hawaii many, many times since 1995 having been to all the islands but for Lanai. Maui provides the best vacation experience and the Hale O Pa'ani is a great place to stay.

Recommended for:Romantic getaway, sightseeing, age 55+.

Guest: Paul and Lindy Helzer (Castle Rock, CO)
Date of Stay: 02/17/10 Review Submitted: 02/17/10

We had a great stay in the Cottage and found the listing accurate. We were very pleased that any concerns we had (hardly any) were address promptly. The view out of the deck were great. We hated to leave!! Highly recommended.

Recommended for:

Wunderschoene Ferienwohnung

Guest: Elke und Bernhard (Germany)
Date of Stay: 10/09/09 Review Submitted: 11/09/09

We fully agree with all the comments made about this cottage. It's very beautiful, located in a quiet neighbourhood. For all the once which prefer a cottage closer to the sea: it's only 5 minutes to the next beach but being on Maui you would like to explore all those other beautiful beaches anyway, regardless whether you have one in front of your house or not. We would book this cottage anytime again!

Recommended for:Romantic getaway, families with young children.

Perfect for our Family

Guest: John and Sandra (Solon, OH)
Date of Stay: 07/21/08 Review Submitted: 08/12/08

Prior reviews attest to the location, cleanliness, basic supplies, etc., so I won't repeat because we agree. Only suggestion is a couple portable oscilating fans might have helped on calm days and reduced use of AC. In our minimal interaction with the owners by internet and caretaker was exemplary. Rolling out the retractable awning helps keep the upper deck seating cooler in the AM (just make sure you retract it before you leave because winds can kick up). Best meals: 1 Roy's of Kihei 2.Cafe Oh Lei 3.Pacifico Best Experiences: 1.The crater at sunset 2.Goofyfoot Surf School

Recommended for:Romantic getaway, sightseeing, adventure seekers, girls getaway, families with teenagers.

Most enjoyable stay

Guest: Oregon Ducks (Eugene Oregon)
Date of Stay: 07/04/08 Review Submitted: 07/21/08

Robert and Nancy July 4 2008 We have stayed at many different places in Kihei and this was the best of all. Everything was as the write up described. The cottage was clean and well supplied with the basic necessities and very comfortable to stay in. It was great to wake up in the morning to the sound of birds singing, then sitting on the upper lanai having breakfast with the beautiful view of the ocean and the island of Lanai. We had the wonderful experience of a nice rainstorm while sitting under cover by the pool. At night the sky was so clear we were able to sit by the pool and see the stars and planets. Even though it was July the cottage was cool and we didn't have to use the air conditioner. The owners were very accomodating and pleasant even though we made the reservation for the cottage a few days before arriving on Maui. We will definitly want to stay in the cottage on our next trip toMaui. Thank you Keith Robert and Nancy Eugene Oregon

Recommended for:Romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Hale O Pa'ani Cottage (south Kihei)

Guest: HawaiiTraveler (Kirkland, WA)
Date of Stay: 04/26/08 Review Submitted: 05/13/08

Absolutely true to the description- lots of privacy and away from the road so no traffic noise. Just the typical sounds of a residential neighborhood and lots of birds! The lanai is wonderful- distant ocean view and lots of flowering trees all around. The pool is a wonderful retreat too. Minutes away from some of the best beaches on the island, shops, restaurants etc. The cottage is well-maintained. Fully stocked kitchen. There is a barbeque so you can grill up fresh fish for dinner.

Recommended for:Romantic getaway, sightseeing, adventure seekers, girls getaway, families with young children, families with teenagers.