Reviews for Hauula Vacation Rental - VRBO 231505ha - 4 BR North Shore Oahu House in HI, Big Family Home/Beach Access

This Place Sweats the Small Stuff - and It Makes a Huge Difference

Guest Kristin
Date of stay 04/10/13
Review Submitted 04/25/13

We stayed for 1 week at this property in mid April 2013. It was a huge place for our small family of four, but we very much enjoyed the ample space. The other reviews are apt in their descriptions: the outside is non-descript and a bit deceiving: the inside is much bigger than it would seem from the exterior, and though nothing is fancy, it's definitely warm. We arrived famished and late at night and were delighted with the welcome bag of local popcorn, a fresh pineapple, some nuts and some coffee beans. The book shelves were stacked with (current) Oahu guide books, restaurant reviews, maps, and all kinds of fiction and movies -- hugely fantastic to have. The pantry had everything from olive oil to pancake mix and all kinds of spices, and the fridge was stocked with lemon juice and sauces -- a benefit to owning a very popular rental house. We mentioned we had a baby when we booked and asked if they had a crib. They did- and it was not only accessible but totally set up with blankets and sheets when we arrived -- wonderful. You don't think much about snorkel gear and stocked beach towels when booking a family vacation - at least we didn't - but the availability of all these things made a huge difference. There was even an extra new swim diaper in the bathroom, and a new bag of elastics. There was detergent in the washing machine area so we could wash our sandy bathing suits. We didn't have think about little details on anything, and it made a huge difference to us, giving us time just to enjoy each other. The only cons: not too much within driving distance except for the beach. The nearest 7 11 is not within walking distance and there's not any real town nearby. A rental car is a requirement. This home is not in a touristy area, which we liked but some might not. But we weren't there for the slurpees, and the beach is surprisingly quiet and very beautiful immediately across the street, and stretches for quite a ways. Chinaman's Hat and the North Shore are all beautifully accessible little jaunts. We'd come again for sure. Thanks, Willow and Jim.

Recommended for: Families with young children, romantic getaway.

Owner response: Thank you Kristin for taking the time to give our home your review! We love hearing from our guests & hope we get the opportunity to share our home with you again! We try to think about the little things that may make traveling easier for our guests! Aloha, Jim & Willow

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Rural Vacation Rental

Guest Mara
Date of stay 03/31/13
Review Submitted 04/11/13

My husband and I recently stayed here for a week with 3 other couples. Some of the pros and cons: Pros - main area of the house is very spacious, clean and updated. Kitchen is well equipped and has a dishwasher. We only saw one lizard and a few spiders inside the house. We loved having air conditioning and flat screen tvs in every room. Wireless was very handy. Welcome basket with coffee and treats very nice. Met with Willow the day after arrival to review alarm, garbage/recycling, ask questions, etc. Access to beach chairs, kayak, boogie boards, snorkel gear, etc. No cleaning/laundering required when departing. Close to Polynesian Cultuaral Centre and the best shrimp trucks. Cons – bedrooms dated and not very clean – spider webs in corners, dirty under beds and dressers, stained carpet. Laundry in carport and only motion light for lighting. Noisy peacock and roosters next door. Tenant above carport. No ocean view. 45 minutes to Haleiwa and about an hour to Honolulu so be prepared for a lot of driving.

Owner response: Thank you for taking the time to leave a review on our vacation rental. We always appreciate our guests input & constructive criticism. We will address the issues you mentioned immediately. I hope this did not prevent you & your party from enjoying your vacation & stay in our home! We look forward to the opportunity of having you stay with us again! Aloha, Willow (property manager)

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Fabulous North shore home in Haula

Guest Jane H.
Date of stay 07/01/12
Review Submitted 09/15/12

Jim's home has everything you need to enjoy your Hawaiian vacation. If you need information or anything , Jim either has it or will find it. The location is ideal. The house is spacious, well equipped and very functional. Jim has thought of almost everything to enhance your stay. We enjoyed a trip of a lifetime in Jim's house. It was an absolute pleasure for all of us.

Owner response: Thanks for the great review! It was a pleasure meeting your whole family! Jim

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Perfect vacation home and location.

Guest Troy R.
Date of stay 05/20/12
Review Submitted 06/03/12

This place was great for our group: four adults, six teens, and two babies - much better than I expected even. Here's the break down. Pros: Located in rural area Simple drive into Honolulu (45 minutes) One road to North Shore (35 minutes) Large main room Three showers Very Clean Few bugs Easy walk to beach Comfortable for all ages Safe for toddlers Tons of beach gear provided (including a kayak) Security system Many necessities were available that were not expected in the kitchen. The owner and the caretaker are VERY nice people. Cons: tight parking, but manageable for our two minivans No clocks on the walls. Seriously, that is it for Cons. We love this house and I am picky about performance. It was such a relief to come back from our adventures to a beautiful, furnished, comfortable house. I would highly recommend this rental...unless your dates conflict with mine. =o)

Owner response: Seriously Troy...clocks on the wall??? Everything here is on Hawaiian Time...it happens when it happens... Thanks for the Great review! It was a pleasure having you and your group! Jim/Willow

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Excellent

Guest Janie
Date of stay 03/30/12
Review Submitted 04/06/12

My family stayed here for about a week (March 30, 2012 - April 5, 2012). The house is spacious and well stocked with beach towels and toys, dishes, spices, etc. The beach across the street was very private and perfect for my 3 and 5 year old to play at. Jim was friendly and helpful, even to the extent of passing along Groupon deals. When the days of our flights changed, he also modified the dates of our stay at no additional charge. The welcome basket was a wonderful treat, too. Very convenient and friendly and I would stay here again without hesitation.

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

Owner response: MAHALO! for the great review. It was a pleasure having you stay at our house. Hope to see you again! ALOHA! Jim Franklin Willow Grabner

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Fun Times

Guest RB
Date of stay 02/02/12
Review Submitted 02/27/12

We stayed during early February, and found the location and amenities to be really great. We had our extended family, and there was plenty of space for everyone. It's also a real benefit to have all of the beach toys, chairs, umbrellas, etc. available for use. Jim was so easy to work with, and perhaps most importantly, we would definitely stay at this property again!

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

Owner response: Aloha! and Mahalo for the nice review! Hope to see you again! Jim

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Family Reunion

Guest Linda
Date of stay 01/25/12
Review Submitted 02/26/12

We had a three generation family holiday starting January 25th. The house was fantastic! We were a party of 8 - and had tons on room. The common area (living room, dining room, kitchen) is warm and inviting. Not fancy, but very warm and quite large. We found some puzzles and set up a separate table just for puzzles (quite nice NOT to have the TV going all the time). Appliances all worked just great - and we shared cooking duties. The beach is just across the street - quiet, very swimmable and has tons of coral and seashells on the beach. The house is well stocked with snorkel equipment, beach chairs, towels and a kayak. There were many books in the house that referenced local hangouts and maps. Two master suites- how great!! I know the house is booked about a year in advance - but if you can get in, you won't be disappointed.

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

Owner response: Many Mahalos for your nice review! ALOHA! Jim

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Fantastic Vacation

Guest Terri G.
Date of stay 01/09/12
Review Submitted 01/19/12

Our family of 12 stayed at this house last week... and it was GREAT! Plenty of room for everyone without feeling crowded with the open floor plan, yet room for privacy if needed. The kitchen is stocked with every kind of gadget you can imagine, and the beach toys, lawn chairs, ice chests, and snorkel gear are plentiful. The kayak was a HUGE hit! Having a laundry facility was plus for us... especially sine we had small children with us. Plenty of parking for our 4 vehicles, the house is located near Laie, North Shore, the PCC, and just a few steps from "our" beach where we spent a lot of our time. We had a relaxing vacation.... and we will be back! Thanks Jim.

Owner response: Aloha! Thanks for the great review! See you next year? Jim

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Great Place for a Family Vacation!

Guest Herb
Date of stay 07/16/11
Review Submitted 08/08/11

We rented this lovely house for 8 days in July 2011. We had planned a family vacation (daughter, 2 grand daughters, 3 husbands and 4 great grand-children) for over a year. We compared litterally hundreds of options (including condos as well) before settling on this home. We could not be happier. Though it is on the north shore, it is an easy drive to anywhere on the island. Part of our group had a tour on the east shore (about as far away as you can get on the island) and had no trouble getting there. It is very close (5 mi) to Polynesian Cultural Center, so you can easily utilize their free return visit and not need to cover everything in one day. We visited many beaches nearby, but the kids enjoyed the beach right accross the road (Punaluu Beach Park) so much that we spent part of almost every day there. The house is right on Kam Highway, but there is plenty of parking (we had 3 cars and had no problem). The large open area is great for the whole family to get together, but the separate BR's allow "away" time as well. There are plenty of beach toys for free use, including snorkeling gear, beach chairs, a kayak, etc. Jim Franklin is a great host, readily available, but not intrusive. Don't miss his gallery at Sunshine Arts - he has lots of beautiful island art. We were very happy with the whole vacation rental experience. Great value and great experience!

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

Owner response: I always enjoy all the new people I meet who stay at my house. I try to make things good for everyone including the keike's.(children). If there is anything required for your stay I make sure you have it! (within reason)...I look for ward to seeing everyone again...and to meeting my new renters! Aloha! Jim

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Awesome Vacation House!!!

Guest Gilda & family
Date of stay 04/28/11
Review Submitted 05/02/11

We've been to Oahu several times, but this was by far the best experience we've had. The house is awesome in a great location! The pictures on the website do not do it justice. It's comfortable with more than enough room for a large family - there were 11 people in our group and all of us were comfortable with plenty of room to spare. The kitchen is well equipped and we used it every day to cook breakfast for our large family - this was a big money saver for us. The beach across the street was great...it's very private and safe for swimming. My two boys (ages 5 & 10) and my two-year old Godson had a great time swimming and building sand castles there. We would definately stay there again...Jim, thank you for letting us use your house!

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

Owner response: Thank You Gilda! I look forward to your next visit. Aloha! Jim

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Wedding/Vacation

Guest Malia from Cali
Date of stay 03/24/11
Review Submitted 04/07/11

We came to Hawaii for our friend's wedding. There were a total of 10 adult guest that stayed in Jim's beach house. I could not have asked for anything better!! This house was amazing. The location is what makes the house so great. It is a short walk (across the street) to the beach which might I add makes you feel like you have your own private beach. With the exception of the casual dog walker and fisherman, the beach was all ours!! And Jim makes sure you have enough supplies for the perfect day at the beach! Chairs, towels, umbrellas, sand toys, snorkel gear and not to mention a kayak!! There are lots of coral where we were able to see lots of fish. It was nice not having to go rent gear to experience this! The house is also filled with lots of bath towels, extra bedding and futon beds. The kitchen had lots of appliances and a pantry full of paper goods and extra spices!! The house definetly feels like home when you are there. Its very cozy and beautifully decorated. The house is very spacious. All the bedrooms were a good size. We had 20 people in the house getting ready the day of the wedding. Even though the house is a little ways from the downtown area, the drive is worth it. You get great views of the ocean and the 2 lane hwy is lined with beautiful tropical trees!! The house is also about 25 mins from the Turtle Bay Resort. This was the best location to watch the sunset. There is a grocery store and gas station like 5 mins from the house. Overall our trip was amazing and having this great house helped make the trip even more amazing. We were all sad to leave and have already talked about making plans to come back. Jim was very nice and helpful! I emailed him about a dozen times prior to our trip and he was kind enough to answer all my questions!! Thank you Jim for sharing your great house!!!

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

Owner response: Thank you for the Great Review! (and the piece of cake you left me in the fridge) Hope to see you again! Jim

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Great vacation!!!

Guest Jess
Date of stay 07/13/10
Review Submitted 08/16/10

The house has everything mentioned and more!!! It was well maintained and very clean. Jim was great in answering questions and anything you needed for the house. This house is great for everyone (including children and elderly. I have already recommended this house to others and would return again to rent it. *Thanks again Jim!*

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

Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 3/3

Loved our stay here!

Guest maternal instinct
Date of stay 05/29/10
Review Submitted 06/09/10

We loved our stay here. It was perfect for our family group. The kitchen/great room was especially nice and roomy. The kitchen was stocked with everything we needed to prepare our meals: cookware, condiments, paper towels, dish soap, etc. There were plenty of towels. The location was great; the beach right across the street was wonderful and the mountains in the back were beautiful. There was even a 2-man kayak there for our use. We loved taking it across the street to the beach and even saw turtles swimming. Jim was great and so accommodating. We were able to reach him any time we had a question. We would love to stay here again.

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

Owner response: Thanx so much Jessica! It was great having you and your family! Aloha, Jim

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We loved the location!

Guest Happy Alaskan
Date of stay 04/22/10
Review Submitted 05/06/10

We loved the country feeling of this part of Oahu much more than Honolulu. The beaches are beautiful and all the locals we met were very friendly. Tumara's market was a short drive North and had all we needed. The house was a great space and we appreciated the beach gear and the kayak as part of the deal. The location allowed us easy access to trails and beaches. We recommend the Hau'lua trail behind the Congregational Church. The North Shore was only a pleasant twenty minute drive away. The only negative was that one of the neighbors had two peacocks that made their peacocky screeches very early in the morning. But after the first night we just made jokes about it. One caution for seniors would be to note that the main area has a small step in and out of the kitchen/dining area that could be a trip hazard. But overall the many positives outweighed the negative and for us it was an excellent experience.

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

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NO KA OI (Is the best)

Guest Hiwahiwa
Date of stay 01/07/10
Review Submitted 01/18/10

We were having a family reunion/birthday party on Oahu and rented this house and couldn't have been more pleased with our choice. Don't let the exterior fool you. It doesn't look like much when you pull on to the property, but once you open the doors - WOW! It's beautifully furnished and decorated, yet felt like I was walking into a family member's home instead of a rental. VERY comfortable and welcoming. The kitchen is perfect for entertaining. Beds were comfy and lots of extra pillows, blankets and floor mattresses for extra guests - the ones who loved the house and just couldn't leave! Fo da locals - not too much outdoor party area, but get da beach park across da street fo dat! Mahalo Jim for opening your home to our ohana! We'll be calling you!!

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

Owner response: Mahalo...It's always fun to meet the locals! Thanks for staying at my house...and thanks for the good review! Jim

Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 5/5

Guest Bill & Jeanne Tiedeman
Date of stay 12/28/09
Review Submitted 12/28/09

What a wonderful property for a large number of family or friends. Jim has provided a vacation home that has ALL the comforts of home! It's a beautiful place, (Jim is accurate when he states the outside of his home doesn't do the inside justice!) with all the amenities of home! With the beach across the street, it was like the whole Pacific Ocean in our back yard! Our family would not hesitate to rent Jim's home again!

Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 4/4

Guest Jeff Cundick
Date of stay 10/11/09
Review Submitted 10/11/09

I've not rented a vacation house online before, so it was with some trepidation that I made the final arrangements with Jim, the owner of this house. As it all came together, I couldn't have asked for a better experience. I can highly recommend this rental as a great value and positive experience in every way. Jim the owner went out of his way to make sure everything was ready and the rental experience was easy and painless. We found the house to be in tip-top shape. The kitchen had everything we needed to cook and BBQ, including gourmet pans, and available condiments. The air conditioning and satellite TV worked great. It's truly only a couple hundred feet walk to a nice sandy, private beach. Jim has a large cache of water toys - kayak, snorkles, fins, etc. for you to use. The house is central to everywhere you want to visit on the North/East shore. Out in the country where things are less hecktic. We could contact Jim for anything we needed and he was very helpful with questions, storing our luggage the last day, etc. I also recommend visiting his art store for some unique gifts from Hawaii.

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Don't pass this incredible home up!

Guest S Bee
Date of stay 10/10/09
Review Submitted 10/24/09

Nine of us recently stayed at this home for a week. We loved it! It was very spacious, comfortable and clean. Having 3 bathrooms helped us get ready and out the door quickly in the mornings so we could enjoy the day. The kitchen was fully stocked with every gadget, utensil, spice and condiment we could have wanted. We saved a lot of money by cooking breakfast and dinner at home and just eating lunch out. We had plenty of bath towels, beach towels and extra linens. Plus a huge selection of beach toys that we used to explore the beautiful beaches on the island. There is a washer and dryer plus detergent which was great. The art work was amazing, the owner had thought of everything to make it feel like visiting a friend's home, not just a vacation rental. He was also a great source for information on driving directions and things to see and do. There is so much to do on this side of the island we hated leaving, but we did visit Pearl Harbor which is a must, and Waikiki Beach in Honolulu, Hanauma Bay and of course Costco for groceries. One of the highlights of the trip was 2 tours at Kualoa Ranch. We also visited the Dole Plantation, they have beautiful gardens and ponds. Some of our group did a luau at the Polynesian Cultural Center but felt the value for their money fell short. We toured the town of Haleiwa and had a really good Mexican lunch at Cholos. We had two different meals at Haleiwa Joe's, a brunch on Sunday and a lunch and both were worth the price. I would so recommend this property to you, if fact we are looking forward to another visit, hopefully in the next year.

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

Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 24/24

Guest Anonymous
Date of stay 09/06/09
Review Submitted 09/06/09

The house was spacious and well- provisioned. We had ample room for eight adults in privacy and had a ball. Jim's well-equipped kitchen allowed us to prepare gourmet meals and save lots of money as well.

Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 1/1

Guest Sam31
Date of stay 07/05/09
Review Submitted 07/05/09

I love Jim's home in Punalu'u! It was such a wonderful experience to have my whole family there to share the beauty of the islands in such a beautiful home. With the rental right across from the beach, it couldn't get any better. Jim is such a nice person! Thanks for everything and we look forward to our next stay!!! Malama, Sam

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Guest Bill Colebeck
Date of stay 07/04/09
Review Submitted 07/04/09

This beach house was fantastic. It added to the enjoyment and memories of a wonderful vacation. The sleeping arrangements were perfect for the twelve of us. The three bathrooms also met our needs. It is impressive that most of us could take more than one shower a day and we never ran out of hot water! The location was great too. More than once we commented on how we enjoyed the scenery as we drove to/from the house. As we headed home we began making plans to return to Hawaii and stay at this beach house again. --Bill

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Vacation Rentals by Owner

Big Family Home/Beach Access [#204753] | View Property

Traveler Reviews (21)

This Place Sweats the Small Stuff - and It Makes a Huge Difference

This Place Sweats the Small Stuff - and It Makes a Huge Difference

Rural Vacation Rental

Rural Vacation Rental

Fabulous North shore home in Haula

Fabulous North shore home in Haula

Perfect vacation home and location.

Perfect vacation home and location.

Excellent

Excellent

Fun Times

Fun Times

Family Reunion

Family Reunion

Fantastic Vacation

Fantastic Vacation

Great Place for a Family Vacation!

Great Place for a Family Vacation!

Awesome Vacation House!!!

Awesome Vacation House!!!

Wedding/Vacation

Wedding/Vacation

Great vacation!!!

Great vacation!!!

Loved our stay here!

Loved our stay here!

We loved the location!

We loved the location!

NO KA OI (Is the best)

NO KA OI (Is the best)

Don't pass this incredible home up!

Don't pass this incredible home up!