Vacation Rentals by Owner

Happy in Oahu

Guest: GnC (Port Orchard, WA)
Date of Stay: 05/02/12 Review Submitted: 05/09/12

We enjoyed our stay at Coconut Grove very much. It was roomy even though there were 4 of us. The reference books proved to be very helpful. It was nice to have a full-size refrigerator and a bbq to use. It was a great family get-away.

Owner response:Thank you for your review! I am glad the guidebooks in the unit were helpful. We pride ourselves on providing an "in-house concierge" service by leaving information about the island, places to hike, snorkel and other things to do along with maps and The Bus guides right in the cottage. The cottage is quite roomy and well equipped for a family of 4 so I am glad you were comfortable. You and you're family are more than welcome to stay at the cottage should you return to the islands. I hope you will! Sheila

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, people with disabilities, age 55+, families with teenagers, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Coconut Grove cottage

Guest: Deenigirl (Pine Grove CA )
Date of Stay: 03/01/12 Review Submitted: 03/07/12

My husband grew up around the block from this cottage- which was the main reason we chose it. I would have prefered something closer to the beach- it was 2 long blocks away and there was alot of street noise in front of the house. The room was very spacious and clean but the blinds above the entry door constantly fell off- and so did the slider to the yard. The people staying in the main house were very friendly and helpful- they loaned us umbrellas which we needed for the most part of our stay.

Owner response:Hi Denise, Thanks for your review. I am so sorry to hear you felt our cottage did not meet your needs. We are indeed 2 blocks away from the beach and therefore are not on the busiest street as far as street noise goes. Our street is mainly used by locals going to work and therefore there is some street noise during business hours. However, our house is located at the back of the lot and when I've stayed there I truly enjoyed the peace and quiet at night that Kailua offers as compared to living just outside Waikiki. As far as the blinds, often times the previous guest has damaged something and did not let me know. It's usually a simple fix but I can only fix it if I know it is broken. Thanks for letting me know, the blinds and patio slider have been repaired.

Recommended for:

Kailua

Guest: almay (Redmond, WA)
Date of Stay: 12/15/11 Review Submitted: 01/15/12

We stayed at the cottage for 7 days around Christmas 2011. There are lots of things to do in Kailua area. Here is what we did: 1. Rented a windsurfer at Naish store and windsurfed off the Kailua park 2. Walked to the beach and boogie boarded (the cottage has 3 boards) 3. Walked to the shopping area and had a cup of coffee (it is about 10 minutes away) 4. Hiked Ka’iwa Ridge Trail 5. Hiked Kawainui Marsh Trail 6. Drove to Hanauma Bay 7. Saw the show at Polynesian Cultural Center 8. When it started raining one day at Kailua we drove to KoAlina lagoons where it was sunny Another tip: we cooked on an electric skillet outside of the house to avoid smells and a heat. There is an outlet at the back.

Recommended for:

cheap and cheerful

Guest: Lorelei S. (Playa Del Rey)
Date of Stay: 11/26/11 Review Submitted: 12/27/11

This little bungalow was just right for the price and location. Clean, nicely decorated, comfy bed and private. I was able to walk to the beach a little over 3 blocks and to the shops the same distance. Only draw back is there is no outside area that is cozy to sit in. The sliding door in back faces another yard and a chain-linked fence. I think there is much to be done as far as creating a more inviting outside sitting area. This is Hawaii and it's nice to be outside sometimes. So maybe some plants- bamboo- nice table and chairs-tiki light or torch. The front is a carport so nowhere private to sit there ad it faces the street. Otherwise everything was very nice. L. Shell

Recommended for:

Great for us

Guest: Ryan (Pittsburgh, PA)
Date of Stay: 10/05/11 Review Submitted: 10/17/11

We wanted to get a feel for the bedroom community of Kailua and this place served us well. Sheila was great! She was super responsive by email and very very nice. The location is pretty good - we walked to restaurants a few different times and it only took about 10 minutes each way. I thought the walk to the beach was going to be a tiny bit closer, but you must walk down a little bit to Kalama Beach Park (which has bathrooms, parking) to access the beach - the sidestreet accesses are marked private. It's still walkable though, and Kalama Beach Park is awesome. The town definitely has a more mellow feel than touristy places like Waikiki. Also it was very easy to get to the highway. As for the place itself, I thought it was very nice and well kept. We ended up being too busy to use the kitchen much, and we wanted to try the local food anyway. The wired internet (not wireless) worked well, and the cottage was large, more than large enough for two people and all our stuff. The bed itself was comfortable, but my only small complaint was that the sheets were very rough. It didn't bother either of us much because we were so exhausted from beach and hiking adventures. All in all, we liked the cottage and would definitely consider staying here again in the future.

Owner response:Hi Ryan, Thank you for the review! I am glad you got to enjoy Kailua and hope you also enjoy your stay in Waikiki and the advice I gave you about finding some "quieter" parts of the beach for surfing/paddleboarding. The proximity of our location is ideal since it only takes about 10 mins to walk to restaurants or to the beach. Kailua definitely is "more mellow" than Waikiki. We provide 300 count sheets but I will check to see if they are worn from washing and replace them. Thanks for letting me know. We want our guests to enjoy a blissful sleep on comfortable sheets. Mahalo! Sheila

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Charming cottage

Guest: manelle (Los Angeles, CA)
Date of Stay: 06/29/11 Review Submitted: 07/10/11

Would absolutely recommend this cottage! Very clean and spacious. Although I didn't bbq at the cottage, the kitchen was stocked well enough that I easily could have. Sheila was kind enough to have a goodie bag waiting for me when I arrived. The cottage was so private and cozy. I have tons of family on Oahu that I usually stay with, but from now on I will opt to stay at Sheila's. Location was perfect. Centrally located to groceries, eateries, etc. Farmers Market on Thursdays is a must. Beach is so close by, you can smell the ocean from the carport. If you really want to experience what Oahu has to offer, stay at Sheila's cottage. Mahalo nui! - Manelle

Owner response:Thank you so much for your review! I am glad you enjoyed our proximity to the beach and town. I hope you got to try out Cinnamon's restaurant for breakfast which is a couple of blocks away or Jewel's which has great smoothies etc. They both are within walking distance and serve great food. Be sure to get to Cinnamon's early otherwise you'll be a long line waiting (which shows how good the food is). Cinnamon's is worth the wait, but if you have to wait, just relax and enjoy their coffee on the patio. Sheila

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

Nice studio, convenient to town and beach

Guest: Three musketeers (Kailua, HI)
Date of Stay: 06/20/11 Review Submitted: 06/29/11

We chose this studio because we were moving to the island and bringing our pets with us. It's hard finding a pet friendly accomodation, so this place is great. This studio was accurately described in the listing and the photos accurately represent the appearance and amenities. The property was clean and well maintained and the home owners were very helpful answering our questions. We would recommend this property to a friend because of the convenient location.

Recommended for:Families with young children, tourists without a car, pet owners, sightseeing.

Great little spot

Guest: Tim & Nikki (Dublin, Ireland)
Date of Stay: 06/13/11 Review Submitted: 06/25/11

We had a brilliant time in this cottage, it was central,quick stroll to the beach and the shops,so you don't really need a car.Sheila made sure that we had everything we needed, nice touches like Hawaiian treats and bottled water in the fridge really made a big impression. The bbq was awesome, we cooked all our dinners on it, there is a cool little farmers market by Longs pharmacy that seems to be the place to go and stock up Thursdays i think, so worth checking out if you have a chance! To be honest we never touched the a/c what is the point in coming all the way to Hawaii and cranking the a/c? the fans and trade winds made it lovely and cool and the showers both inside and out were amazing. Little touches like beach towels made it feel like a home away from home,Sheila could not have been nicer, so as you can tell, we would recommend this place to everyone! thanks for a great stay

Owner response:Thank you for the kind review. I am glad you enjoyed our proximity to the beach and to town, it's the main reason we chose this location. I am also glad you liked the "nice touches" as I love leaving a little surprise for each guest and it is nice that they are appreciated! Mahalo.

Recommended for:Tourists without a car, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Guest: Mike & Kristi
Date of Stay: 03/23/11 Review Submitted: 04/06/11

Thank you! We had a wonderful stay. Mike & Kristi

Recommended for:

Guest: Charity
Date of Stay: 03/16/11 Review Submitted: 03/23/11

Hello Sheila, The cottage was great! The breezes are beautiful and the beach so clear and sandy with blues of many colors. Our children really enjoyed the outside shower. The town is quant and close. You should add the Crepe restaurant menu into you book. It has such a great small town Hawaii flavor to it. You need a can opener. I left the unopened cans of tuna. The beds were comfy. Thanks, Charity

Recommended for:

New Year getaway

Guest: Rob & Jay (London, United Kingdom)
Date of Stay: 12/27/10 Review Submitted: 01/30/11

We stayed at this property over the New Year 2010/11. The pros of the property were it's in a very good location within walking distance of a lovely beach and the town. You might even manage without a car. The studio was quite big, had a nice carport out front to avoid the rain showers and was in a relatively quiet neighborhood. The bed was comfy and there were plenty of towels etc including beach towels. The kitchen, although not containing an oven, had an ample supply of plates, cutlery and utensils and a large fridge/freezer. The cable internet was super fast. The TV had a good selection of channels. The cons were that there wasn't much natural light and the studio could feel quite oppressive at times. The dark beams of the lounge area did not help this and had an unfinished look so wasn't to our taste. The shower only ever ran luke warm in the morning and the aircon was out of action through the owners request because of the poor electrics and this did make the studio quite warm - we stayed in December so I can only imagine the hotter months. Generally the quality of the studio did not quite match the pictures. Overall the stay was ok. >

Owner response:Aloha Rob & Jay, Thank you for your comments. We continuosly strive to provide a comfortable place to stay with a budget friendly rate so your comments are appreciated. I am glad to hear you enjoyed our proximity to the beach and to town and that the unit was adequately supplied for your stay. I am also glad you enjoyed the amenities such as the fast cable internet and cable TV. We actually have plans to upgrade the unit with A/C in the near future. Our intent was to keep the unit as a traditional Hawaiian cottage and "Green" by utilizing the tradewinds as do most homes in Hawaii. The unit is not advertised as providing A/C but I understand that this is not for everyone so we will provide the option of using A/C. I am sorry the shower was not hot enough, I'd have adjusted the temperature had I known. We can always set it to a higher setting if requested. Decor is a matter of taste and quite frankly we absolutely LOVE the exposed dark beams. We think it adds to the modern Hawaiian cottage feel we were going for plus there are windows on every wall for natural light. Even with all the windows, the roof overhangs to keep the cottage cool and it can be dark so based on your comment we will add more lighting. Again, thank you for your comments, it really helps us in making sure we are providing the best unit possible for an enjoyable Hawaiian getaway. Mahalo! Sheila

Recommended for:Families with young children, tourists without a car, sightseeing.

Just What We Needed

Guest: J (Kaneohe, HI)
Date of Stay: 10/01/10 Review Submitted: 10/11/10

We rented the cottage for friends (two adults, two children) visiting from the Mainland just as a place for them to sleep. They were pleased with the accommodations--spacious, well located (walking distance to a beautiful beach, shops, and restaurants), many conveniences. Our dealings with the owner were pleasant and professional. I would definitely consider renting this property again in the future.

Recommended for:Tourists without a car

Guest: Johannes & Monika (Salzburg, Austria, Europe)
Date of Stay: 09/16/09 Review Submitted: 09/16/09

We had such a great time staying at your wonderful place and can only recommend it to anyone! Kind regards from Austria!

Recommended for:

Guest: Randy and Cynthia Drake (Tacoma, Washington)
Date of Stay: 07/17/09 Review Submitted: 07/17/09

Thank you Sheila for allowing us to stay at your cottage. It was more than we hoped for. The flowers were beautiful and the beach equipment was very handy for us. We also were thankful that you provided the BBQ. The hamburgers and pork loin were awesome! We will let any of our friends that plan to visit Oahu, know about your cottage. Mahalo! Till we meet again, Randy and Cynthia Drake

Owner response:Thank you Randy & Cynthia, I really enjoyed having you as our guest and am glad you enjoyed your stay. It was kind of you to leave some extra items for the next guest. Thanks again. I hope you'll visit Hawaii again sometime soon! Mahalo. Sheila

Recommended for:

Guest: Drake Family
Date of Stay: 07/15/09 Review Submitted: 07/14/09

Thanks for everything! We had an amazing trip! Always, The Drake and Gregor Families

Recommended for:

Guest: Drake Family
Date of Stay: 07/15/09 Review Submitted: 07/14/09

Thanks for everything! We had an amazing trip! Always, The Drake and Gregor Families

Recommended for:

Guest: Doug Rodewald
Date of Stay: 06/09/09 Review Submitted: 06/08/09

Note from Doug for all you coffee drinkers: 1) Go to Kalama Beach 2) Take a right 3) Enjoy the sunrise and all the joggers & swimming dogs 4) Take a right where the windsurfers launch 5) Walk 1 block to Kalapawai Market 6) Order coffee and enjoy on your walk "home" Perfect start to another perfect day in Paradise

Recommended for:

Guest: The Rodewalds
Date of Stay: 06/09/09 Review Submitted: 06/08/09

We can't think of anyplace more perfect to celebrate a significant birthday! What a lovely piece of paradise...Some favorites for our family of four: Kalama Beach! Morning walks & afternoon boogie boarding, North Shore-snorkeling at Shark's Cove and the gorgeous drive, Pearl Harbour & USS Missouri, Hanauma Bay-get there early & at low tide, Waimea Falls park for gorgeous gardens & fun swim but most importantly-the sun, water, sand and great family memories. Aloha-Mahalo and hope to be back! The Rodewalds, Doug, Melissa, Katie & Jonah

Recommended for:

Guest: Katie Rodewald
Date of Stay: 06/09/09 Review Submitted: 06/08/09

Thank you for the wonderful birthday gift when we arrived! It was very thoughtful and being here has been the best 16th birthday anyone could ask for! Thank you. Katie Rodewald

Recommended for:

Guest: Andy & Eleanor
Date of Stay: 06/01/09 Review Submitted: 05/31/09

Hi Sheila! Thank you so much for the welcome gift to your cottage. We love Kailua & your home. It was all simply beautiful! We are so happy w/this place that when we return to Hawaii sometime in the future, we would love to stay here again! Thanks for everything. You've made our 1t trip to Hawaii a memorable one! Mahalo! All the best, Eleanor & Andy P.S. We left a brand new toilet plunger just in case. Enjoy!

Recommended for:

Guest: The Baravelle's
Date of Stay: 05/11/09 Review Submitted: 05/10/09

This was the perfect place to stay. We loved all the small touches that made us feel so welcome. We couldn't have had a more fabulous time. The turtles underwater at Lanikai were one of the most incredible things I've ever seen. My 6 year old son can't wait to come back. You are blessed to live in such paradise. contact us if you ever visit Joshua Tree. See you again very soon. Peace, Love & Joy, Baravelle's '09

Recommended for:

Guest: Mark and Cathy
Date of Stay: 04/07/09 Review Submitted: 04/06/09

Do the pictures look too good to be true? They aren't! From the soft, comfortable bed to the short walk to the beach, everything in the add is just as described. Sheila, you thought of every possible need to make us feel at home. We loved our relaxing, pleasant vacation staying in the Cottage Studio Rental. Hope we can do it again. Mark and Cathy Law, Salmon, ID

Recommended for:

Guest: Patrick Sewell
Date of Stay: 03/28/09 Review Submitted: 03/27/09

Thank you so much for the gift basket. The girls loved the room to dance around. we enjoyed the great location! Many thanks, Page, Patrick, Katehrine & Emma Monte Vista, CO

Recommended for:

Guest: Rafael & Diana
Date of Stay: 02/04/09 Review Submitted: 02/03/09

It was the perfect start of 2009. Thank you. Rafael & Diana

Recommended for:

Guest: Elissa & Bernie
Date of Stay: 02/04/09 Review Submitted: 02/03/09

We are glad we made Kailua our base for exploring Oahu. Elissa & Bernie

Recommended for:

Guest: Sarah
Date of Stay: 02/04/09 Review Submitted: 02/03/09

Loved Kailua/Lanikai! Enjoyed the nice touches in the studio--fresh flowers, fresh pineapple, gift basket...Thank you! Sarah, Sean & the girls

Recommended for:

Guest: Bruce & Nathalie
Date of Stay: 02/04/09 Review Submitted: 02/03/09

Thank you for your hospitality which made our stay here very pleasant! If I could reincarnate, it would e in Oahu- Merci beaucoup- Brucie and the Frenchie Nathalie

Recommended for:

Guest: Vimal & Motoko
Date of Stay: 01/16/09 Review Submitted: 01/15/09

We had a wonderful time. Thanks for the champagne & chocolates. Cheers! Vimal & Motoko

Recommended for:

Guest: Vimal & Motoko
Date of Stay: 01/16/09 Review Submitted: 01/15/09

Vimal & Motoko, It was my pleasure to have you stay for your honeymoon. Congratulations!!! Sheila

Recommended for:

Guest: Jen Harwell (Houston)
Date of Stay: 08/12/08 Review Submitted: 08/12/08

My hubby and I stayed in the studio for 3 nights over the 4th of July and enjoyed our stay! Sheila was easy to work with and helpful. We felt the studio was actually nicer and larger in person than in the pics so we were happy! Convenient location, super comfy bed, and nice neighbors.

Recommended for:

Guest: Dana & Scott (Orange County, CA)
Date of Stay: 08/11/08 Review Submitted: 08/11/08

The Cottage Studio was quaint, cute, and convenient! We absolutely loved our stay here. It's just a very short walk from the beach AND from downtown Kailua, so we did not have to rent a car. The property is quiet and well-kept, with all the amenities we could have asked for (beach chairs, towels, internet access, and more). We would choose this property again in a heartbeat. Thank you so much for helping to make our vacation a special one.

Recommended for:

Guest: The Bird Family
Date of Stay: 07/22/08 Review Submitted: 07/21/08

Dear Sheila, Aloha & many mahalo's for allowing us to stay in your AMAZING property!! We loved every minute. Everyone was so friendly. Would stay here again. The Bird Family

Recommended for: