Vacation Rentals by Owner

Wonderful time by all

Guest: AH (Pa)
Date of Stay: 03/26/12 Review Submitted: 04/10/12

Our family just spent 9 days here and enjoyed them all. We had extended family and the house setup made it possible for young and older to sleep or play at the same time. The owners were helpful but gave us our privicy. Thanks so much.

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

This house has everything!!!

Guest: Judy (Prince George, BC Canada)
Date of Stay: 01/06/12 Review Submitted: 02/06/12

Perfect!!! The house and Melanie were absolutely perfect!!! It was really nice having Melanie so close (lives in a house on the property) she had great advice for sight seeing and if we needed anything (which honestly we didn't because she has taken care of everything) she was right there. We stayed for 9 nights and there was 7 adults and 4 children under the age of 5. The house is a great size for large groups. We had such a great time. The location was perfect, only 3 minutes to Hanauma Bay and 30 minutes to Waikiki Beach. Costco and Safeway were 5 minutes away which made stocking up very easy. I would definitely recommend a car rental. Each bedroom had ample privacy from the other bedrooms and all but the single bedroom had air conditioning. The house is fully stocked!! From beach towels, beach umbrellas, coolers, snorkels, sun screen, laundry soap and shampoo/conditioner. She has thought of everything. The kitchen has everything from a crock pot to a massive coffee/tea thermos. Spices, tin foil, plastic bags....I could go on and on!!! The pool and outdoor area was wonderful and great with the kids. The house is located in a great neighborhood on a quiet street. The house, grounds and pool were very clean and well maintained. I would recommend this house to my family and friends. Such a wonderful place to stay and I know we made some wonderful memories there...thank you Melanie!!

Owner response:Dear Judy, Your family is so wonderful and it was a joy for me to have you all here this year. Please keep in touch and bring your darling family back again. Aloha, Melanie

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

Excellent property and amenities, great hostess

Guest: therose (Austin, Tx)
Date of Stay: 10/30/11 Review Submitted: 11/15/11

Great Location! This property is well furnished and had all the comforts of home. The grounds and pool are very well kept. The house is stocked with full size toiletries and the kitchen is completely stocked with all the utensils to prepare big meals. There was literally nothing we needed after purchasing our groceries. All the beach supplies were neatly stored, clean and ready to use, including the nice beach towels. The covered porch made it easy for the 14 of us to leave our shoes at the door. The owner takes pride in establishing a comfortable relationship to make your stay more relaxing. Staying here was a great experience for all of us. We would definately recommend this house to families that enjoy staying together.

Owner response:Thank you. I enjoyed your whole your whole family too.

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

Best Week Ever!

Guest: RAB (Nashville, TN)
Date of Stay: 03/04/11 Review Submitted: 03/20/11

I had the opportunity to visit this property for over a week with great friends for a relaxing vacation - it was so much more. The property itself was perfect for our group, but would also be great for families, etc. We cooked meals daily, sat poolside for breakfast and enjoyed the beautiful scenery and comfortable setting. The location is exactly where you'd want to be to experience Honolulu -close to great dining and amenities like grocery stores, etc, action packed beaches or quiet/untouched havens are moments from your doorstep and the neighborhood is where I would live if given the chance. I would return in a minute were it not for having to return to the real world which after more than 10 minutes, you'll never want to do again! AMAZING. MUST RENT!

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

Perfect!

Guest: Colin (Nashville)
Date of Stay: 03/04/11 Review Submitted: 03/19/11

I just spent nine days in this house with eight friends, and it was absolutely perfect for our needs. The house itself is beautiful, spacious, and clean, not to mention fully stocked with enough towels, dishes, and linens for a large group. The pool is located directly on the side of the house and is easily accessible through the living room. The outdoor patio next to the pool has a large table and a grill, which offered a perfect location for relaxing over drinks or dinner. The house is on a quaint, dead-end side street that doesn’t get a lot of traffic, but is still only a short drive to supermarkets, gas stations, and a number of scenic views. The owner of the house lives in a separate home behind the rental house and was a huge help with navigating the area and finding things to do. She has been in Hawaii for over a decade and is familiar with all the local hikes, beaches, and dining spots. During our stay, the earthquake in Japan triggered a tsunami warning for Hawaii, and the owner of the rental home was extraordinarily helpful with getting us evacuated and finding a safe place for us to go for the night. I would highly recommend this house for a single family or even multiple families looking for a relaxing and fun vacation.

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, people with disabilities, age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, pet owners, sightseeing.

Great property for multiple families

Guest: Kirby and Katie (Minnesota)
Date of Stay: 10/05/10 Review Submitted: 10/16/10

Stayed for a week with 2 grandparents, 8 children and in-laws, and two grandchildren. It's a perfect property for this kind of adventure. The pool is wonderful, coupled with the outdoor lanai right outside the living room door. We ate several evening meals on the lanai; barbequed our meats on their nice gas grill; it was perfect. They also supply equipment for the beach activities; beach towels, coolers, chairs, unbrellas, and kiddies pails and shovels. They have a washer and dryer too, which is great for big families like ours. Highly recommend this property.

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

Absoutly Wonderful!

Guest: LouD (West Jordan, UT)
Date of Stay: 04/21/10 Review Submitted: 05/17/10

We stayed with Mark & Melanie in April/May 2010 and had a wonderful time. There was 10 adults & 2 small kids (4,7) and there was plenty of room for everyone. There was actually a queen bed and king bed that was not used. The kids love going to the beach during the day and coming back to our Hawaii home and swimming in the pool. The house was very clean, plenty of towels, laundry soap, shampoo, conditioner etc. Also coolers, body boards, beach chairs, tons of beach towels, beach bags to use, stroller - which came in handy when we went to the international flee market as well as the swap meet & pool toys. Right around the corner from Hanauma Bay. Like other guests have said in their comments Mark & Melanie were there when you needed them to be and gone when you did not need them. I would stay with them again in a heart beat. Excellent hosts and answered any questions that you had. Alot of times you rent a house and then if there is a problem there is no one to contact to fix the problem. We did not have any problems but if we would have, it would have been fixed quickly. Close to lots of stores & to Costco. We loved Waimanalo Beach which is just 12 minutes away. Great beaches & great place to body board. Hawaii Kai is a very nice area and not busy like Waikiki but close enough to visit and then come back home. Mahalo!

Owner response:Thank you, we enjoyed having your family too.

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

Perfect location for multi family vacation

Guest: Haroldski (Kamloops BC)
Date of Stay: 11/23/09 Review Submitted: 12/19/09

Everything is as promised, the owners where wonderful and very helpful. The location is so convenient to get anywhere on the island. very nice, safe neighborhood. We loved the pool. We had our friends come and the house was big enough for two families, I could go on and on, evrything was perfect. We will be back to this house again.

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

Family Wedding and Vacation

Guest: K&C Family (Calgary, AB, Canada)
Date of Stay: 06/29/09 Review Submitted: 07/26/09

Our group stayed at this home for one week in July, 2009 with a party numbering up to 11 people as we prepared for and celebrated a family wedding held nearby. The group consisted of family members and some of our son's wedding guests. The house has five bedrooms and additional beds in the family and living room areas that provided sleeping flexibility for everyone. The home is in good condition, well landscaped, and consistent with the listing detail. The owners of the home live in a cottage at the back of the property and were extremely helpful throughout our stay. They made us feel like family without being intrusive, and we quickly felt like the house was really our home away from home. They offered help with shopping, directions, transportation, and several other personal items that made life easier and expedited our wedding preparation and related events. We found this home to be well equipped, including extra cutlery and dishes, which was well used for our group meals. Many beach items such as coolers, toys, towels, umbrellas, mats, etc. are available. Our diverse group used many of these as they engaged in a variety of recreational activities during our stay. The pool is nice for quiet recreation and relaxation on the property. We accessed the home with a rented car. The home is well located for shopping, access to beaches, and golfing. Waikiki about 15 minutes away, and Hanauma Bay 5 minutes. We recommend this home for families looking for a friendly, relaxed, and comfortable vacation.

Recommended for:Families with teenagers, families with young children.

Fun for all ages in Hawaii

Guest: nancygirl (Salem, Oregon)
Date of Stay: 07/22/08 Review Submitted: 08/10/08

This was a great property. There were 12 of us in our group ranging in ages from 11 years old to 75 years old. This house was big enough that we never felt under each other's feet. The property was clean and well cared for and just as described in the advertisement. The location of the house is central to everything on the island, nothing seemed too far away. Safeway, Costco and other amenities were literally a few blocks away. The owners Melanie and Mark were great! They were attentive when needed and invisible when not. Some our family members visited Pearl Harbor, golfed, went to the Swap Meet, learned to surf at Waikiki, snorkeled at Hanauma Bay and toured the Dole Pineapple plantation, but most of the time we checked out a new beach everyday. The swimming pool was great to come back to in the afternoons. We ate all our meals at the house and that cut down on costs a lot. We barbequed almost every night. The house had everything we needed for the beach. They had 5 or 6 boogie boards, 6 beach chairs, beach mats and an endless number of beach towels. The washer and dryer made it easy to bring less clothes along now that the airlines are charging for the second checked bag. Each family had their own rental car and we had now problem parking three cars at the property. In the evenings we played games or watched TV. I would definitely return to this property the next time we visit Oahu. Everyone had a wonderful time and went back to the Mainland with great memories.

Recommended for:People with disabilities, age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, sightseeing.

Very Happy w/Our Choice

Guest: Barbara C. (Los Angeles, CA)
Date of Stay: 03/29/08 Review Submitted: 04/11/08

We had three families stay at this house in Spring 2008, incl. six children ages 5 and under and one person in a wheelchair. We all had a great time! The house is very comfortable and convenient with plenty of space both inside and outside, and very close to shopping and restaurants. The owners are very hospitable and provided special items such as a booster chair and a shower chair, as well as fresh mangoes from their tree. The only down side was that the interior doors are rather narrow, so the guest in the wheelchair could only get to the main downstairs bathroom, bedroom and living room by going outside to the pool deck. Nonetheless, a very nice vacation, and we would recommend renting this house!

Recommended for:Families with young children

Perfect!

Guest: Kimbo (Seattle)
Date of Stay: 02/01/08 Review Submitted: 02/26/08

This property is very clean, fully stocked, and perfect for 8 adults, 2 young children and 2 babies. I would highly recommend this property and plan on staying there again in the future. The home is located in a quiet neighborhood and is only a 5 minute walk to the beach - perfect for children to play in the sand and look for hermit crabs! We were no more than a 5 minute drive to Hanauma Bay, Costco, local grocery stores, and plenty of restaurants. The owners live on site and are only there if needed. They provided a large binder full of places to eat and things to do. We took some of their suggestions and went on the whale/dolphin excursion and had a fabulous time. I highly recommend this home for anyone traveling with a large group or have children. You can't beat the price by staying at hotel or condo - especially with the private pool, laundry room, barbeque, kitchen, total privacy and location!

Recommended for:Families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, tourists without a car, sightseeing.

Guestbook Comment

Guest: Allison_HAC101921 (Sacramento, CA)
Date of Stay: 08/01/07 Review Submitted: 08/16/07

Mark & Melanie's lovely, spacious home was perfect for our 3 families traveling together (10 people). There was plenty of room for everyone. The space is situated with bedrooms tucked away in areas separate from the dining/lving room, so we had privacy with the ability to cook, dine and socialize together. The kitchen is fully equipped with utensils, a coffee maker, rice cooker, pots/pans, and BBQ tools. Also provided are beach towels/ bags/mats, sand toys, boogie boards and ice chests. There is a large-capacity washer/dryer which was very convenient. The private, heated pool was wonderful for the kids to play in while we barbecued on the brand new grill. Hawaii Kai is close enough to Waikiki to visit without having to stay in the heart of all the noise and chaos. We spent several days at beautiful Waimanalo and Bellows beaches...only about a 10 minute drive from Hawaii Kai. These beaches are cleaner and much less crowded than Waikiki beaches. Being so close to Hanauma Bay, we got there early and snorkeled before the big crowds arrived. We did all our food shopping at Costco and Foodland...both only a couple minutes away. We would absolutely recommend this home to families/friends traveling together. Thank you Mark & Melanie!

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Guestbook Comment

Guest: Lisa Smith (Twin Lake, MI)
Date of Stay: 04/01/07 Review Submitted: 04/15/07

We had a group of ten, needed many bedrooms, and a pool. This is often difficult to find. After looking through many houses on-line, we were referred to this house by another realtor. We were not disappointed at all upon our arrival nor during our stay. Mark and Melanie were gracious hosts. Making sure that we had what we needed and respecting our privacy. This is definitely a great location. Close enough to Waikiki, but far enough away from the hecticness of the city. There are also many restaurants and grocery stores available close by. We had three separate families sharing the home. One family had small children and one family had teenagers. Everyone had enough privacy when they needed it. We found that the home could have easily slept more than the ten of us. You are close to golf courses, Hanauma Bay, Sea Life Park and other beaches. The only down side was that we eventually had to leave our piece of paradise and come home to snow. We would definitely recommend this home and would also come back if we found ourselves in Oahu again.

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Guestbook Comment

Guest: ellen liu (Toronto, Ontario, Canada)
Date of Stay: 08/01/06 Review Submitted: 08/06/06

Thank you Melanie and Mark for the wonderful stay in your home. To Future Prospective Guest: Do not hesitate, or be worried, this is a very good home, in a very good affluent and safe area in Hawaii Kai. It is not far from Waikiki or the beaches. This home has all the amenities of home, the only thing missing if you need it is a blender. This is a home, not rural or cottage like, or rustic looking. Great mango tree in the back, a real treat for us, fresh mangoes to eat all day long. We looked at the other area such as the north shore and Kailua, we concluded that this was the right home,absolutely wonderful. We were a combined family of 11, and found the home spacious enough for everyone to have their own down time. There is a good bbq, pool, and enough bathrooms for us all. If we can in the future, we will come back. If you have any question email me.

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Guestbook Comment

Guest: Diane & Hugh Barlow (Salt Lake City, UT)
Date of Stay: 02/01/06 Review Submitted: 02/16/06

There were fourteen family members from 8 months to 69 years old that spent a week in this lovely home. This prime location is tops for convienience to shopping, restaurants, travel, beaches and safety. The house allowed plenty of privacy for the couples and the children. The furnishings and household goods were in top condition and plentiful. We did not want for one thing. The arrangement of the kitchen, washer & dryer, storage for groceries and dining area were efficient. The pool is lovely and CLEAN and with a barbeque and tables we enjoyed our diner by the pool a few nights. Melanie and Mark were great hosts and made us feel relaxed and comfortable with the 6 children. We have traveled the world and I would say this home, plus, Melanie Mark, made us place this particular vacation as one of our best. We hope to put together another trip at the same spot in the future.

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Guestbook Comment

Guest: Adam Linicus (Pawcatuck, CT)
Date of Stay: 08/01/05 Review Submitted: 07/31/05

My wife's family and I (12 of us, in all) recenty stayed at the beautiful Portlock estate. We can all honestly say that it was one of the greatest vacations of our lives - thanks in no small part to Melanie and Mark and their PERFECT home in "paradise". The location was perfect, the hospitality was second to none (Melanie made some fantastic suggestions!) and the convenience and privacy of our own house was exactly what we needed after our action-packed days on Oahu. The pool was the perfect oasis for us all and the house itself provided more than enough room for our large group. I would highly receommend this house to anyone looking to experience Hawaii.

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Guestbook Comment

Guest: Mike and Kelly (Culpeper,Va.)
Date of Stay: 02/01/05 Review Submitted: 01/31/05

As a once upon a time resident of the beautiful state of hawaii I would recommend the portlock residence to everyone,,, especially to those with children,, it is a very safe neighborhood,,, and "PORTLOCK" is the address to have.It was almost as if we went on vacation and took our house with us,, It had everything we have and more,,, we dont have a cable modem,,, it does.. Mahalo

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Guestbook Comment

Guest: Sylvia Chang (Not Specified)
Date of Stay: 01/01/05 Review Submitted: 01/18/05

We had a family reunion total of 14 people stayed in the Portlock residence from 1/8/05 to 1/15/05. The house provided everying we are looking for including toliet paper...The owner Melanie and Mark are very friendly and helpful. We all enjoyed the stay in the place. I would highly recommend this house to others.

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Guestbook Comment

Guest: V. Ton (London)
Date of Stay: 01/01/05 Review Submitted: 01/13/05

We stayed at this property for three weeks over the Christmas and New Year holidays. It was spacious and comfortable, furnished in island style decor, with air-conditioning and cable televisions in most rooms. Part of the master bedroom is a bit dated and three of the other bedrooms have to share one small bathroom. However, those slight inconveniences are more than compensated for by the rest of the house and the beautiful, large solar-heated swimming pool. The kitchen was also well-equiped even though we didn't have to cook due to our proximity to local eateries. The property's location was great -- near shopping centers, Hanauma Bay and beautiful sandy beaches further on. The owners live behind the property and were very friendly and responsive to our needs. We would not hesitate to return to the property and would definitely recommend it to friends and family.

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