Vacation Rentals by Owner

Home away from home!

Guest: jessica (Rohnert Park, Ca.)
Date of Stay: 10/15/11 Review Submitted: 10/30/11

We loved our stay in this unit! You cannot beat the value of this place. It has a partial ocean view, was very clean, and had most everything we needed. The beds are quite firm, i was very comfortable with the many pillows provided but my boyfriend had some trouble sleeping. The only problem we had was with the coffee maker. The pot was a different brand and didnt fit properly so i had to rig it by placing a butter knife underneath it to press up against the spring release. If you forget it's a mess!! But no big deal :) The grounds are beautifully maintained and the pools and lobby were very nice. The castaway cafe is very convenient, though we didnt think the food was all that great. They make an awesome bloody mary though! And the employees were wonderful and full of great advice. If we make it back to maui any time soon we would definitely love to stay here again. Thank you Heather!

Owner response:We got a new coffee maker!!! :) ahhhh....I NEED my coffee in the am (I'm obsessed-I roast my own beans), so had I known it was broken, I would have fixed it STAT!! I'm sorry that you had to go to such measures for your cup of joe! ;) Please any future guests, let me know if there is anything broken/missing so I can fix! Thanks, glad you had a nice stay overall! :)

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, tourists without a car, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Great Value

Guest: Sue F. (San Diego, CA)
Date of Stay: 10/12/11 Review Submitted: 01/04/12

A wonderful value for being at such a nice resort right on the beach in Maui. Our friends rented through the front desk and paid double what we did; and their kitchen barely had anything in it. Our unit had more nice touches. The owner was so easy to deal with, a few emails and we were set. The new pool is very nice and of course the weather in Maui is always lovely. We went for drinks at the Ritz up in Kapalua and it was very nice. Also recommend going to the Plantation House for lunch or dinner, great view. Overall, we were very pleased and will book this unit again (in fact, I've already emailed her). :)

Recommended for:Age 55+, families with teenagers, romantic getaway.

Very pleased with our experience!

Guest: nwray1 (Sequim, WA)
Date of Stay: 09/14/11 Review Submitted: 09/26/11

The great thing about this unit, is that it is exactly as described. After viewing the website and information provided, you know exactly what you're going to get, and what you get is a great condo in what I think is the best location on Kaanapali beach. Great swimming off the beach, great reef snorkeling a short walk away, great pool, mellow atmosphere. The owner, Heather, was easy to communicate and deal with, and very professional. You can rent this condo with alot of confidence.

Recommended for:Age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, tourists without a car, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Great time at MKV!

Guest: Nathan W. (San Jose, CA)
Date of Stay: 07/29/11 Review Submitted: 08/05/11

This is me and my wife's 4th visit to MKV over the last 8 years. This time we took our 4 children and we all had such a great time! We stayed in this unit for 7 days. I loved the fact that this unit sleeps 6. Two queens in the humongous BR slept our 4 children and we slept on the pull out couch in the living area. The pull out couch was surprisingly comfortable, no issues at all with sleeping arrangements. It is sometimes difficult to find affordable accommodations for 6, so we were especially grateful for this unit's availability. The furnishings were all updated in tropical Hawaiian theme and were very nice. The BR and BA spaces were huge and I felt that the living area was perfect. Our family spent a few nights sitting together watching latenight movies in the large living area. The BA closet had a boogie board and ice chest. I thought this was a nice touch. There were also extra towels which came in handy. We cooked lots of our meals inside and the cookware and appliances were great and got a lot of use. I cook a lot at home and I was grateful that everything I needed was provided. As others have noted previously, there are small issues with a few minor things but not worth mentioning IMO. The one thing we did miss was wireless access to the internet although we were able to connect using the ethernet cable that was provided in the unit which was quite adequate. To be fair, I'm not completely sure if the unit was setup for wireless access, but a small informational card on the table indicated that if you preferred wireless access that you could use a code but we could not find the code or find the unit's SSID when we searched for it. We had 4 laptops and a couple ipods. Most of us were able to connect to unsecured surrounding units but a couple of us could not and had to use the ethernet cable that was provided in this unit. Adequate for our needs. The A/C worked really well. We didn't need to use the A/C until the last night. But when I turned it on, the kids commented on how quickly the temperature changed. It was an immediate noticeable change in room temp which was very refreshing. I also want to mention that the owners were very friendly and I enjoyed the booking experience. They even took credit cards which I was grateful for. Overall, we had a great vacation and we loved our stay at this unit!

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, families with teenagers, families with young children, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Perfect Paradise

Guest: Lucia (Palo Alto, CA)
Date of Stay: 05/16/11 Review Submitted: 01/15/12

Great location, amazing beach (even better than I imagined!), great condo- not brand new, but clean and spacious. We had an amazing trip, great snorkeling, do the zipline! The owner was easy to work with, just a few emails and we were booked. The pool at the resort is brand new and the grounds are beautiful...VERY relaxing and mellow. We booked our zipline and a dinner cruise through the concierge, she was very nice and helpful. I got a massage at the spa--awesome! After browsing some of the other spa menus online, I am sure I got the best deal and the girl was really good! We talked with some people at the pool and they had paid way more than we did and they were in the tower too! The two front buildings on the beach rent for double or triple what we paid and we still got all the resort amenities! Highly reccommend Lahaina if you are an art lover---tons of galleries and in such a relaxed atmosphere, it was really cool. All in all, the condo was wonderful, Maui was amazing and we hope to be back very soon!! Aloha!!

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, girls getaway, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Very good value

Guest: Coco (Elk Grove, CA)
Date of Stay: 03/31/11 Review Submitted: 05/12/11

This is a very spacious unit and we enjoyed our stay tremendously. I felt the unit was clean, and it had new carpet. I really feel this is one of the best values around the Kaanapali area. I loved how much storage there was so we could really unpack and feel at home. Some minor issues arose, but a quick call to Heather took care of that. She leaves a stack of business cards--so call if anything comes up. Unfortunately, my husband and I did not find the beds comfortable. We must like them a little less firm. That could just be a matter of personal preference.

Recommended for:Age 55+, families with young children.

Not a bad price but this unit needs improvement overall

Guest: Rebecca (Delta, BC)
Date of Stay: 02/01/11 Review Submitted: 02/05/11

We found the amenities at the Maui Kaanapali Villas to be great and well maintained (pool, lobby, cafe etc). But we were quite disappointed in a number of aspects of this unit. First of all there is a distinct musty odour upon entering the unit and in the kitchen (which is very outdated). The bathroom had a few issues as well - the walls appear to be in need of a thorough scrubbing, the toilet is extremely slow to flush, the shower doesn`t drain very well and the grout around the shower tiles are discoloured and look mildewy. The microwave door doesn`t work properly, and the light over the dining room table doesn`t work either. Also, note that there is no dishwasher in this unit. In reading through the guest book on site, it became apparent that previous guests had encountered some of the same issues (general cleanliness, the microwave, etc). We reported the odour and plumbing issues to the owner so hopefully those issues will be addressed soon. I would book another stay at the MKV, but would not likely book this unit again.

Owner response:I just wanted to respond that we have addressed these issues. We plan on re-painting the bathroom and putting in a new toilet upon our next visit. We had a plumber come in and fix the slow drainage. Please understand that I do not live on-island. I don't know what people are writing in the guest book unless someone calls or emails me. This is the first we've heard of these issues. We were just there in November, and everything was working fine. We try our hardest to make sure everything is working in the unit. MKV is one of the original resorts on Kaanapali and we are trying to update the unit slowly, as we are able to financially. BUT the upside to this is, we rent out our unit for cheaper then the resort rents out the same room for! This is YOUR advantage and part of the plus/risk that you take in renting directly from an owner. We put in all new carpet last year and got new bedroom furniture. Please understand everything in Hawaii costs WAY more than the mainland. We looked into redoing the kitchen with a contractor who was redoing many of the units. To re-do the kitchen and the bathroom was around a hundred thousand dollars!!! My husband is a contractor, so we are planning to come over and he will do it himself and hopfully save ourselves a bundle! All in all, please understand that we love our condo and try to keep it as nice as we can. If there are ever any issues while you are there, I will get someone in there that day to fix it. Sometimes its just that you are in a tropical enviornment. The A/C unit has a little musty smell if no one has been in the unit, but it goes away once the unit is aired out for a couple minutes. It doesn't bother my allergies and I am extremely allergic. Our unit is a really good value for being on Kaanapali beach in Maui! Mahalo, Heather

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MKV501

Guest: Chris & Josee
Date of Stay: 11/18/10 Review Submitted: 08/31/11

First time on Maui, absolutely loved it and will be back annually...hopefully! Many thanks to Heather and Joey for letting us use your condo. Best all-round holiday we've both been on, beautiful, relaxing, lots to do! Mahalo for everything!

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Guest: Thoesen Family- Omaha, NE
Date of Stay: 04/09/10 Review Submitted: 02/21/11

We came to Maui to celebrate my sister's 40th birthday. We had a wonderful time! We have 2 little girls (and 7 children in our group) so we stayed close to MKV- lots of time on the beach and at the pool. Breakfast at the cafe was awesome as were the drinks at the pool. We snorkeled, went whale watching, and shopped at Whalers Village. Overall a relaxing and fun week. Thank you for having us in your home!

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Guest: Callie2 (Seattle, WA)
Date of Stay: 03/09/10 Review Submitted: 03/09/10

My husband and I stayed here last year for our honeymoon, and are looking to stay here again. It was perfect! There are cabannas on the beach you can rent and the restaurant was really good (and reasonable compared to other places we ate). We originally wanted to be near Whalers Village (a friend reccommended) but MKV was much more affordable and there is a free shuttle every 1/2 hour! We only ended up going over there twice because it's kinda like a mall and we wanted to be on the beach. But there are two good restaurants there- the Hula Grill and Lelani's- which were fun to have apps and drinks at. The condo was great and comfy- almost too big for the two of us! The only bummer is the porch is not very big and we would've liked to sit out there, but all we could do was stand. oh well, most nights we walked down to the beach with a cocktail to watch the sunset and see the whales! Can't wait to get back!

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Guest: Meredith Gavlick (Hermosa Beach Ca)
Date of Stay: 03/08/10 Review Submitted: 03/08/10

We cannot thank you enough for sharing your beautiful vacation home with us. My family had the most relaxing time....it was the most perfect getaway!

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Guest: stephen f.1 (san diego, ca)
Date of Stay: 02/25/10 Review Submitted: 02/25/10

this was a great condo, perfect location and accessibility for us. thanks a lot!

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Guest: Kelly124 (-)
Date of Stay: 02/25/10 Review Submitted: 02/25/10

This is a wonderful place to vacation. We felt very comfortable in the condo and loved the pool. Thank you for a great vacation!

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Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 02/25/10 Review Submitted: 02/25/10

What a wonderful place to stay! My family felt at home and enjoyed every moment of our trip staying here. The owners were easy to work with and I will recommend this rental to all my friends and family!

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Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 02/25/10 Review Submitted: 02/25/10

Kaanapali Beach is the most beautiful beach we've ever been to. The resort is very kid friendly, but not too kiddy, for adults without kids. The white sand beach is very swimmable- no reef, like other places we've staying on Maui. The condo is great--very roomy. My husband and I and three kids didn't feel like we were on top of each other. The kitchen is very well stocked- which was nice for me. We made a lot of meals in to save money. The new bbq's were great!! Nothing like grilled fish in Maui! The beds were comfy and the pull out couch was even comfy, my daughter said! All in all, I would definitely stay at Heather's condo again...she was very nice and reccommended several restaurants and even helped us pick a rental car company. She knows the area pretty well, so pick her brain. We hope to get back to Maui in the next couple of years! Thank you again for lending us your house Heather!! :)

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Guest: Lisa Gonzalez (San Diego, CA)
Date of Stay: 02/25/10 Review Submitted: 02/25/10

We stayed Feb 8-14 and had an amazing time. The room was very clean and spacious. Heather (owner) was organized and accomidating. Snorkeling was great, right off the beach in front of the complex. We will definitely be back.

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Guest: Margie C. (-)
Date of Stay: 02/25/10 Review Submitted: 02/25/10

we loved staying at mkv #501 it very spacious clean and very comfortable. the beach is great and to have the castaway cafe to eat if great. the condo is perfect much better that a hotel and location is ideal. very relaxing.a great vacation stop.so beautiful. heather is very easy to work with. alohaa and mahalo

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Guest: Herman & Jane- British Columbia
Date of Stay: 01/27/10 Review Submitted: 02/21/11

Hello Heather, Thank you for letting us use your condo unit. We really enjoyed being here in Kaanapali. The weather was generally good, beaches were beautiful. We did the sunrise on Haleakala, snorkeling at Molokini and turtle arches, on the way back from trip we had spinner dolphons (8 or 10) swim the wake of the catamaran (very cool), seen many humpback whales. We really enjoyed the island, hope to come back,

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Guest: Joy & Debra, Alaska
Date of Stay: 01/12/10 Review Submitted: 02/21/11

We had a wonderful mother daughter trip. Personal favorite this we did: O'o Farm, town and fresh lunch, Alii Kula Lavender farm, didn't do the tour, but did the scavenger hunt, romed the grounds and relaxed in the secret garden and Alii Landing. The lavender cookies are the best. Feast at Lele, over intimate and wonderful food experimentation!

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Guest: Jim112 (Sausalito Ca)
Date of Stay: 09/24/09 Review Submitted: 09/24/09

Stayed here Sept 17-20. MKV is great location and #501 was clean, roomy and quiet. Heather (owner) is easy to work with. Great experience. Snokling best about 150 yds down from hotel in coral reefs. Dont bother with Blackrock unless you go early b/cause of crowds. Saw more here. Overall rating-5 of 5.

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