Splash

Guest: Scott (Raleigh, NC)
Date of Stay: 09/28/11 Review Submitted: 10/09/11

Splash is right. The property description is misleading. It's not oceanfront, it's IN the ocean - and I mean that as the biggest compliment possible. I could not have asked for a better place to stay. Relaxing and oceanfront is what I was looking for and this very much exceeded my expectations. When I booked the house I figured I would get out and do more exploring, but once I stepped foot onto the rear deck, I did not want to move. There was no need to. The mountains to the right were gorgeous and constantly changing in appearance thanks to the angle of the sun and clouds. I took new pictures of them several times a day and no picture turned out the same. Amazing. As for proximity to everything, you can walk to a very well stocked grocery store in two minutes. There are also two restaurants in that complex and a dominos. All of my meals but two were cooked in the well equipped kitchen with great ingredients from Tamura's. Across the street is another little market and korean bbq place. Driving up and down the main road brings you by many outdoor markets and shrimp trucks. And about a three minute walk up the beach brings you to the most picturesque piece of sandy beach I've ever come across. Trees line the edge of the sand and it's a wonderful place to enjoy shade from the sun. Hospitality here is also unrivaled. I was to arrive quite late my first night and asked Darcelle if there was a place to buy a bottle of wine on the way home from the airport. Since everything was going to be closed she asked what I wanted and had a great bottle waiting for me, just beside two glasses and a wine tool. She was amazing throughout the visit checking to see if I ever needed anything. She even brought over food she had cooked one night (and it was delicious). I did take a twirl all around the island and the whole island is beautiful, but if you want to relax, regain perspective, and clear your mind, you won't want to leave her patio. I say thanks to Darcelle for such a well equipped house and the best view in Oahu. I will definitely be back next year.

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

Thoroughly enjoyed our stay

Guest: Gary (St. Louis, Mo.)
Date of Stay: 08/17/11 Review Submitted: 08/26/11

Thanks to Darcell for help making our stay much better. If you like privacy and quiet it would be hard to beat this place. One of our favorite things to do was watch the sea turtles from the back porch.Always an awesome sea breeze blowing to keep things cool. The only down side is that it is a bit of a drive to Honolulu/Waikik but Haleiwa isn't too far at all. For a peaceful quiet place to stay I highly recommend it. I also want to say Darcell is a wonderful person. She was so very helpful and nice it made our vacation so much better. Gary and Lisa

Owner response:Aloha Gary and Lisa.....thanks for staying with us. It was great to meet all of you. We are glad you enjoyed the turtles and the fresh trade winds blowing off the ocean. We look forward to seeing you again.

Recommended for:

We loved our stay and would recommend staying here to everyone!

Guest: Roy, Dawn, Danielle, Cody and Madison (Camrose,Alberta,Canada)
Date of Stay: 06/29/11 Review Submitted: 07/27/11

Thank-you Mike and Darcelle for sharing your beautiful bungalow with our family of five. We loved our stay! Everything we could need was there. Plenty of towels, beach towels and beach toys. It was so nice having the use of the washer and dryer. Having two bathrooms was very nice. The bungalow is very clean and comfortable. A good sleep each night. The trade winds kept us cool. We loved hearing the sound of the ocean. It was so nice sitting out on the lanai and soaking up the sun and relaxing! Just talking about it makes me wish we were there right now!! It was nice to be able to phone home ( free of charge) and let our families know that we arrived safely.Thank-you for providing that. The kindness that you show Darcelle, is truly appreciated. You made us feel very welcomed. Each of the kids, more than once, commented about how nice you are. Thank-you! It was nice knowing that you were only a couple of houses away. I would definitely stay here again! I will also recommend staying here. We really enjoyed eating at Papa Oles, it was delicious! Within walking distance. Also a grocery store.We enjoyed our visit to the Polynesian Cultural Center (close by), as well. Thanks again. Roy, Dawn, Danielle, Cody and Madison

Recommended for:Age 55+, adventure seekers, sightseeing, girls getaway, romantic getaway, families with teenagers, families with young children.

Even better the 2nd time around!

Guest: Orchitt Family (Anchorage, Alaska)
Date of Stay: 06/20/11 Review Submitted: 07/09/11

My family of four stayed at the beach house for the second time, and it was great! Our boys could not wait to return to the "Hawaii house." The owner is very nice and accommodating with all your families needs. It is a great location for families because there are plenty of restaurants and a grocery store not far from the beach house. If sight seeing is what you are looking for, there are plenty of beautiful sights near the house, or a short drive away. We saw turtles on the shore! I will recommend this location to all my family and friends and I cannot wait to come again! I am hoping to make this a family tradition, memories that we can share for life with each other. Thank you, The Orchitt Family

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

Family Vacation

Guest: Washington family Vacation (Naches washington)
Date of Stay: 08/10/09 Review Submitted: 06/08/11

My parents, brother and my family of 5 had a great fun time. This quiet house was perfect for my brother and parent while the wife and three girls and I stayed out in the boat house. Enough room for all of us and a great central point for all the fun away from the busy life of the tourists. The ocean breaks right on the back yard wall and you get a great sprits. The Kokololio park just down the road was perfect for body boarding and beach playing for the kids. Huge park with BBQ and grass, trees and flowers. The owners were great to work with and very nice, helped with any questions and directions to the best places to go for site seeing. Thanks for the great stay and we will be back.

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

Super relaxing!

Guest: Judy&Paul (Anchorage, AK)
Date of Stay: 04/14/11 Review Submitted: 05/16/11

We enjoyed two weeks at the two bedroom cottage with our son and his family in April. (4 adults and 1 baby) It was very quiet and relaxing and we had lots of privacy. We had plenty of room. We enjoyed the sound of the ocean and being able to see all the activity out on the water. We observed whales and turtles galore as well as a multitude of fishermen. It is a clean and tidy place with everything necessary for an easy stay. It is located in a non-touristy area and there is a grocery store and several restaurants within walking distance. The sandy beach just north of the house is, in our opinion, one of the best beaches on the island and within walking distance if you like to walk. It is doable to walk on the rocks to the sandy beach when the tide is out but can be slippery. However, we did it lots of time with no mishaps. If you are on the fence about this one, don't be, it is a lovely spot!

Owner response:Aloha Judy & Paul. Mahalo for staying at our peaceful bungalow. It was wonderful to meet you and your family. I hope it provided you the privacy and respite you were looking for. I look forward to seeing Paul's artwork of the ocean and Koolau vista. Mahalo for staying with us and we look forward to seeing you again soon.

Recommended for:Age 55+, sightseeing, girls getaway, romantic getaway.

Iowa group

Guest: fun in vegas (Shell Rock, Iowa)
Date of Stay: 02/04/11 Review Submitted: 02/26/11

What a great place to stay! Even though it was only a quick week, it was definitely worth it. The house was great, and the views spectacular, but most of all the hospitality and service were outstanding!! Thank you so much, Darcelle, for giving us all the suggestions on places to go and eat. Every experience was great. I just wish we would have had more time to relax and enjoy the house, and the views. Thanks again for your great hospitality. Mahalo, Randy

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

Paradise on the North Shore...

Guest: carolyn.n.john (Sacramento, Ca)
Date of Stay: 12/15/10 Review Submitted: 12/25/10

We stayed at this Beachfront secret for our Christmas Hawaiian Vacation, and it was quite the retreat. The house is cute and charming. Upon our arrival, we were immediately drawn to the backyard of the house where we were in awe of the view of the ocean that literally was steps away from us. We sat on the lawn chairs for about half an hour, soaking in the sun and enjoying the sounds of the crashing waves. We then realized we had yet to see the rest of the house! The 2 bedrooms are cozy and the 2 bathrooms are fully stacked with towels and needed toiletries. All you need is your toothbrush and toothpaste! The master bedrooms' lanai is right against the ocean. We sIept with our patio door open every night just to hear the waves. We already miss listening to the sounds of the waves at night! The living room has a queen sized futon and 2 twin sized futons. More than enough space if you plan on taking kids or if you have more people (we had 2 adults and 2 kids). The kitchen is well stocked with everything you need. Pots, pans, dishes and silverware. Just supply the food! And what better way to wash the dishes but with a view of the ocean?! For activities, there are Boogie Boards and Beach mats that are available, so you don't have to purchase your own. Also, there is a storeroom with a washer and dryer so that you can do laundry as needed. All the luxuries of home were at our fingertips. Darcelle was VERY accommodating and welcoming. We felt right at home and like one of the locals (which I actually was mistaken for several times!) Any problems or questions we had, she was quick to answer or resolve. Definitely a 5 star rating! We will definitely be returning to Hawaii in the future, and look forward to staying with our newfound "cousin" and her awesome beachfront home.

Recommended for:Sightseeing, girls getaway, romantic getaway, families with teenagers, families with young children.

Loved it!

Guest: Lynn (Chapel Hill, NC)
Date of Stay: 08/14/10 Review Submitted: 08/30/10

We wanted a place away from Waikiki, and this was perfect. I picked this place because of the reviews and couldn't agree more. It's a short, beautiful drive from Honolulu and the north shore, with everything we needed close by. Mike and Darcelle were wonderful hosts and made us feel like old friends. The house is clean and airy and right on the water a short walk to the beach in either direction. We were able to make some food for ourselves, with tons of fresh fruit from roadside stands, and there are great local restaurants within walking distance or a short drive. My only regret is that we actually got on the plane and came home. I'm ruined for life and intend to come back early and often. Thank you Mike and Darcelle! I do hope we see you again soon. Much love, Lynn & Dave and Dave & Karen

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

Absolutely lovely!

Guest: Hannah (Cleveland, OH)
Date of Stay: 08/10/10 Review Submitted: 08/22/10

My husband and I stayed in the bungalow for a little less than a week - it was just a lovely place to stay. It was quiet (except for the roaring ocean - how cool to have the ocean splashing right up to your door!), but on a main road and close to the North Shore and the very cool eastern shore towns. Darcelle is incredibly kind and welcoming! Thank you for creating such an inviting and calming environment!

Owner response:Aloha Hannah, It was wonderful to meet you. I hope your overall visit to our islands was enjoyable. I definitely agree with you...overall our place is very peaceful but the sounds of the ocean waves is constant. I am glad you enjoyed our little bungalow by the sea. Please come visit us again. A hui hou!

Recommended for:Age 55+, sightseeing, girls getaway, romantic getaway, families with teenagers, families with young children.