Vacation Rentals by Owner

A perfect spot for a family get-away

Guest: Don (Alberta, Canada)
Date of Stay: 02/02/12 Review Submitted: 02/25/12

We spent 11 days at Nakapakea/Malaekahana in early February 2012 and were very satisfied with everything about the place. It was exactly as described in the information and photos provided. The house is very well equipped, and was supplied with just about everything we could imagine in the way of dishes, utensils, appliances, bedding, towels, etc. Everything was clean, in good working order and easy to use. Nancy and Bill were most helpful in answering our questions prior to booking and arrival, as well as one or two that came during our stay. We appreciated the quietness of the location - away from the busier, more commercialized parts of the island. It takes about an hour to drive to Honolulu so it might not be ideal for anyone whose plans were to spend most of their time in the city, although we did find the drive quite enjoyable on the 3 or 4 occasions when we did go there. The Polynesian Cultural Center is nearby and we spent an afternoon there. We had dinner at the buffet at PCC - they have 2 options: one for about $20 per person and a more elaborate one for about $45. We had the less expensive one and found it very satisfactory. Several in our group took surfing and paddle boarding lessons at Hale Iwa, about 25 minutes away, and were very happy with the experience. Everything we needed in the way of groceries and day-to-day needs were available in Laie. There are also some interesting shops and stores in Hale Iwa, and the Dole Pineapple Plantation is just a few miles from there. We were very satisfied with everything about the place and very much hope to return someday soon, and would definitely recommend it to anyone.

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

Family Holiday Vacation at Malaekahana

Guest: Ron and Ohana (Danville, IN / Minneapolis, MN / Denver, CO)
Date of Stay: 12/26/11 Review Submitted: 01/16/12

Our vacation in Paradise was Terrific! Thank you Nacy and Bill for a "Truley Fanatastic" vacation in Hawaii! Staying in a "Home" compared to a "Hotel" was a great thing! This place was wonderful! We visited the North Shore and the nearby "Local Restaurants" often to get the Local Flare! Forgot to mention that the views from both sides of the house were nothing short of Breathtaking! We spent New Years Eave at The Polynesian Cultural Center. We experienced the show, "Ha...The Breath of Life" and it was truely "Moving"! Visiting is a must and it's just minutes away! The waters were terrific! A little rough for me but our kids loved it! Not sure we would change a thing next time! We would deffinetly go back! Mahalo!

Owner response:Aloha Ronald Mahalo for the review and we're soooo glad you enjoyed your stay with us. Sounds like all of you had a wonderful time and packed in alot in 10 days. The 2011 winter did have some "funny" weather conditions compared to past years but even in Hawaii, we have a "winter". and it does change the water conditions a bit, but it least it did'nt snow ! We hope to see you again. Aloha and ahui ho, Nancy and Ohana

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

Christmas/New Year Holiday Family Vacation

Guest: Ron and Ohana (Danville, IN / Minneapolis, MN / Denver, CO)
Date of Stay: 12/26/11 Review Submitted: 01/15/12

Our vacation had been planned since spring and we were really pumped to get to the property. Although our flights was delayed over 6 hours and we didn't get to the property until after dark, we were exteremly happy with what we arrived to. The house was nicely arranged. Also we feel it necessary to mention the six legged gusests that we occasionaly encountered. Not alot of them just a few. The property was located on a stretch of beach that was almost deserted with the exception of the occasional walker and also occasional vist of a seal that had beached it self just down from the house. The location of the house on the property made it particularly diffecult in fact impossible for my elderly mother-in-law to get down to the beach. We wished the the other reviews had mentioned that. Also the beach at the house had a lot of coral and made it hard to get into the water there. We did just have to walk up the beach about 5 minutes to get to a real nice part of the beach were the waters were real nice. Also the time of the year we were there the waters were real rough and the wave and currents made it hard for the most more experienced swimmers and if there were swimmers that were not expereienced it would be dangerous. This, as I said, was becasue of the winter season I'm sure. One more thing to concider when staying at this property is the distance to attractions on the island. Although the distance is not far (Waikaii Beach, Perl Harbor, Diamond Head), the time to travel there, because of the speed limit (averages 35 mph), takes at least an hour to any of these places. Not a problem just so everyone knows. All in all, we would deffinetly go back to this property! Thanks Nancy and Bill! These folks were terrific to work with. They made the whole experience a great one!

Owner response:Aloha Ronald. Thank you for this first of 2 reviews. Apologies for the uninvited guests, but as we are in the tropics, even our "winter" does not get cold enough for a die off period for these pests and as you noticed, the home is clean and well taken care of. The sand burm off the yard to the beach could be difficult for the elderly so we'll try to remember to advise others of this fact, particularily at that time of year. Winter also has an affect on the beaches taking the sand out, and then replenishing it come spring. The winter weather also affects the water conditions in regards to surf and currents, and unfortunately, we had a bit of unpleasant weather during your stay. Hope to see you again ! Aloha and ahui ho, Nancy and Ohana

Recommended for:Families with teenagers

North shore beach property

Guest: Sarah (Seattle, WA)
Date of Stay: 12/17/11 Review Submitted: 12/28/11

Large home fronting beautiful and largely deserted beach on Oahu's windward side. Huge yard is great for kids of all ages. 5BR and 3 indoor baths plus outdoor shower provided plenty of room for our party of ten. Well stocked kitchen. Nancy and Bill were nice enough to outfit all of us with boogie boards and snorkel gear. They were responsive when small items didn't work or needed repair. Home was clean but does have a few of Hawaii's de rigeur bugs. We enjoyed north shore surfing, Hanauma snorkeling and a fabulous 50th birthday dinner at Turtle Bay. I patronized every local fruit stand several times during the week.

Owner response:Aloha Sarah and Ohana Sounds like you all had a wonderful time. I'm sure the boys enjoyed the Deserted Beach and the Big Blue Pacific and the local vendors really appreciate your business. Thanks for supporting them. Hope to see you all again. Maka hiki ho, Aloha Nancy and Ohana

Recommended for:Families with teenagers, girls getaway, sightseeing.

Spacious Oceanfront Property Really Delivers

Guest: Mya (Riverton, Utah, USA)
Date of Stay: 12/01/11 Review Submitted: 01/13/12

Aloha Nancy! We absolutely loved our stay the first week of December 2011. Our trip was a Company end of year bonus that turned out beautifully. All five couples fit comfortably in the very spacious oceanfront home. The beach was gorgeous, it felt very private. Take a short walk towards the Malaekahana State Park and the sands turn silky. Towards Goat Island we enjoyed talking to the local fishermen. We also loved exploring North Shore. We caught the last day of the Vans Surf Competition at nearby Sunset Beach, took a hike to Waimea Falls, had delicious shaved ice in Haleiwa and wonderful food at Ted's Bakery (try the Garlic Shrimp & Haupia Pie- to die for!!). We saw numerous turtles in the surf and sun-bathing in the sand at Laniakea and tons of brightly colored fish snorkeling at Shark's Cove. It was a wonderful vacation - only regret - not having a few more days to just relax at the home (too much to see!). I would definitely recommed this home to any one with a larger party, it is fully stocked and secluded - a fabulous location.

Owner response:Aloha Mya. WOW ! Sounds like you guys packed ALOT into your short stay, but sounds like you hit all the good stuff (Ted's is one of our "Must See" spots). Bet you needed a vacation to rest up after you got home. Yes, the property is close enough to get to all of these activities yet set back far enough from the maddening crowds to be secluded. Hope you all get another bonus so we can see you again where we will give you an updated list of new things to do. Aloha and ahui ho ! Nancy and Ohana

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

Family Vacation - 9 adults - 6 children ages 7-15 - 12 days of fun in the sun.

Guest: sunseekers (Victoria, British Columbia, Canada)
Date of Stay: 10/06/11 Review Submitted: 01/03/12

Our Hawaii vacation at Malaekahana was as close to perfect as one could expect. The beautiful white sands beach was very private and suitable for all ages. We spent most of our days playing in the surf, boogie boarding, body surfing and snorkeling. The house was comfortable and homey for our large group. Lots of space to spread out, play games and relax. We celebrated Thanksgiving and a 40th birthday at the dining room table but all our other meals were enjoyed out on the spacious back deck with a great view of the mountains. Close enough to all the amenities but far from the crowds. We enjoyed the pineapple fields, golf at Turtle Bay and snorkeling at Sharks Cove, but were most content when we were on our own beach. The owners were very helpful and accomodating. May be the best kept secret on the North Shore. We hope to return again soon.

Owner response:Aloha Donna, Larry and all of our new friends to the North. Mahalo for choosing us for your Canadian Thanksgiving and as a memorable location for a milestone birthday. It sounds like all of you had some good old fashioned family fun in the sun with a taste exploring thrown in. Glad we were able to accommodate all of you comfortably and we hope to see you again. Aloha and Hau'oli Makahiki Hou, Nancy and Ohana

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

Family of 12, stayed at property on August 12-19, 2011

Guest: Allison (Irvine, CA)
Date of Stay: 08/12/11 Review Submitted: 09/02/11

We absolutely loved our stay at this rental home located in Malaekahana. It is a large, spacious, and beautiful home located, literally, right on the beachfront. It's location is very quiet, calm, and serene, with a generous backyard that overlooks the ocean. The house comfortably fit all 12 of us staying there (three of them being small children), with plenty of room for even more. This home is a great location for longer family vacations and family reunions. Or, even get-togethers with friends who are looking to experience Hawaii. We spent a lot of time at the house just because it was so nice and had everything we needed. Plus, it was like we had our own private beach to ourselves every day. They had umbrellas, boogie boards, and other beach props readily available for us to use right when we arrived. There's also plenty of towels, dishware, and cooking utensils -- as well as a big grill on the back patio, which we used almost every day. Large picnic tables are placed in the front patio as well as the back patio, providing more than enough room for outdoor dining. The location is also ideal to travel to Waikiki (took us less than an hour) as well as North Shore. It's also close by Lai'e where there's a great hike up to a waterfall, if you'd like to experience a little bit more of Hawaii's beautiful natural environment during your stay. All in all, we loved the seclusion of the home, it's great location, beachfront property, comfortable and spacious layout, and convenient amenities. Only after a few days after returning home, we booked our time there again for next year!

Owner response:Dear "E" Ohana. Thanks for the Great Review. Maybe we should get you to write our advertising also ! Glad you all enjoyed the home, but still managed to tear yourselves away from the secluded beach to see the sights. Also VERY happy to hear you made it to the falls. It's such a Beautiful hike and really does show the true beauty of our Island. See you next year p.s. Smart of you to book early as we are filling up already ! Aloha, Nancy and Ohana

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

Beach House Dream-cation

Guest: Scot's Ohana Stay-cation (Honolulu)
Date of Stay: 07/16/11 Review Submitted: 01/08/12

Aloha Nancy & Bill. I believe this is our 7th year renting beach houses from you and of course it was awesome as usual. This is an excellent beach house for our growing ohana and we all love staying there each year. The front yard is sooooo big it allows the kids to play around and do whatever they please without any worries about cars since it is a private road. Baseball, football, bocce balls, chase, etc. We especially love the outside lanai area with the large picnic table where we have our ohana meals and the view of the valley reminds us that we're on vacation even though we live on the opposite side of the island. Of course the ocean right outside of the beach house has been so fun for the kids to surf and fish. They especially liked exploring Goat Island and all it has to offer. Our yearly ohana vacation is never disappointing staying there. Mahalo again...

Owner response:Aloha Scot and Ohana. Seven years it is ! We look forward to your yearly visits and its great to see how all the kids have grown. This property definately has enough room for them all to run around in and the house big enough to give your large group the space they need. See you again in July ! Nancy and Ohana, giving you more than a aset of keys !

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

A wonderful place for a family get-together

Guest: Diana (Vancouver, BC, Canada)
Date of Stay: 12/26/10 Review Submitted: 01/26/11

Our extended family gathered for the holidays in Hawaii for the first time this year and we were absolutely delighted with our stay at this house. As other reviewers have mentioned, the house is much bigger than it appears in the photos, and it is very comfortable and well laid out for a large group. The beach it fronts onto is very lovely, and the location of the house on a short private road in between two state parks means that it feels very private. The house was very clean and well-maintained when we arrived, and Nancy and Bill were most helpful in dealing quickly with any issues that arose (ie. replacing a battery in a beeping smoke detector.) I would highly recommend this house for anyone at all, but especially for larger groups of friends and/or family. The house could not have been more perfect for our group (8 adults and 2 kids.) The large, well-supplied kitchen made cooking for that number easy, and there was both an indoor and outdoor dining area large enough for us all to sit comfortably to eat together. Nancy and Bill were also were helpful in forwarding information about things to do and see in the area, and I would definitely recommend checking out the Polynesian Cultural Center, located just a few minutes away, as well as surf lessons from Uncle Bryan at Sunset Surrat surf school. And while the winter surf was a bit rough for snorkeling or swimming at the beach in front of the house, we had some good fun with the boogie boards provided. And we enjoyed watching the surf competitions taking place just a short drive away on the North Shore. The large property was occasionally visited by roving peacocks, which was delightful. However there were also roving chickens, which were somewhat less delightful - as the roosters crowed not just at dawn but at random times including the middle of the night. However, feral chickens seem to be something you'll encounter all over the islands, not just in this area or just on Oahu. (We also saw then all over Kauai.) My recommendation - bring earplugs if you're at all a light sleeper!

Owner response:Aloha Diana. Mahalo for the review. So glad you all enjoyed your stay and the home. Sounds like you covered alot of ground on your first trip. Not only did you get to watch the surf competition, but were able to get in the water with "Uncle B" as well. We'll be sure to let him know you mentioned his name so he remembers you next time. As for the chickens, yes, it's a statewide issue. Out here we have the "Annual Chicken Round Up" performed by the Boy scouts of America who capture the little buggers for a bounty of $5.00 each ! We hope to see you again. Aloha and Ahui Ho Nancy and Ohana

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

O'ahu Rapture

Guest: Harry B. (Honolulu)
Date of Stay: 08/18/10 Review Submitted: 09/05/11

Situated on spectacularly spacious grounds, this generous and welcoming home is the perfect setting for family and friends to gather for get aways, reunions, and loads of fun. Stunning vistas, the beach at your backdoor, and gentle seabreezes assure your days are comfortable and your slumber is sublime. We will always treasure fond memories of our stay in this special island home.

Owner response:Aloha H.B. Sounds like you folks spent most of your time at the house. And why not! Family and Friends all gathered together around a Bar-B-Que on a Big Lawn of a Beach Front Home with the kids playing in the Ocean. Can't get any better than that. Mahalo for staying with us and we hope to see you again. Aloha and ahui ho, Nancy and Ohana

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

An Awesome First Visit to Oahu and this House

Guest: Kirsten (San Diego, California)
Date of Stay: 07/31/10 Review Submitted: 08/21/10

We stayed in this house July 31st through August 7th, 2010. It was pure heaven for us. We came from California with another family from Pennsylvania and had an absolutely awesome time! The house is much bigger than it appears in the pictures. It was very clean and well laid out. I thought we'd spend most of our time on the beach side of the house but ended up hanging out on the lanaie many evenings. It was relaxing to bbq and watch the kids play ball in the huge front yard. The beach side of the house was pretty windy many evenings but we would just go to the other side of the house for some gentler tropical air. We liked the location as we like being further away from the hustle and bustle of the city. We planned day trips away from the house and it was so nice to be able to come "home" to our house each afternoon. We absolutely LOVED Waimea Bay. You have to go really early to get parking. The parking lot is tiny but if you can find a spot nearby it is so worth it. The kids snorkeled, boogie boarded and loved the water. We also went to the Hukilau cafe as featured on Man vs. Food. The Hukilau burger is what was featured on the show. We were also very close to Sunset Beach which is where the surfing contests are held each year. Nancy was so helpful and friendly to us and was always just a call away if we needed anything. She brought us a tide map early one morning so we could figure out if we wanted to go out to Goat Island. The beach was beautiful and the stars at night on the beach side were magnificent. I would highly recommed this house if you like having a house instead of a hotel or condo and have a large party of people. We will definitely go back when go to Oahu. Mahalo and Olaha!!

Owner response:Aloha Kirsten, It sure was a pleasure helping your family make you vacation a memorable one. Sounds like you enjoyed both the house and what the Island has to offer. We sure are glad you all had a Great time and we hope you come back and visit us again in the future. Mahalo, Nancy and Bill

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, families with teenagers, families with young children, tourists without a car, sightseeing.

Women In Need (WIN)Retreat

Guest: WIN (Waimanalo)
Date of Stay: 07/14/10 Review Submitted: 08/05/10

The WIN staff and their families enjoyed one of the most relaxing and joyful times ever! The house is immaculate, the view and beach awesome, the decor beautiful and the grounds incredible. We truly felt blessed to be in this paradise home for three nights. I would highly recommend this home above any hotel or resort!!!! The property manager and owners are down to earth, wonderful people!

Owner response:Aloha to ALL the WIN staff and Families. We enjoyed meeting you all. Glad to hear you all had a relaxing/fun/eventful time away from the everyday routines. We hope to see you all in the future. Thank you for the Great Review. Mahalo, Nancy and Bill

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

Awesome Beach House

Guest: Scot's Ohana Stay-cation (Honolulu)
Date of Stay: 07/11/10 Review Submitted: 08/25/10

Aloha Nancy and Ohana, Thanks so much for referring us to this beach house. It worked out just perfect for our ohana. The inside was very clean, comfortable, big, and spacious. The 4 bathrooms really came in handy. The big front yard provided an excellent place for the kids to practice their baseball, football, and play bocci balls. Access to the beach was easy and having so much sand was much more comfortable than the other house. The beach was awesome as it provided surf on the high tides. Both the kids and adults had a blast surfing out there or enjoying the shore break. Fishing was alright as we bagged a nice o'io and papio. And the kids had so much fun exploring Goat Island. Seeing so much birds nesting on the island and there was also a lot of nice shells there. Also, big Mahalos for letting us borrow your own kayak for us to use during the week. All in all this beach house was a great fit for our growing ohana and looks like we'll be back again. Highly recommend to everyone. Mahalo!!!

Owner response:Aloha Scot and Ohana. Thanks for the in depth review. Glad you all enjoyed the new place and everybody had a good time. This being your 6th year with us, we really appreciate your continued patronage and look forward to seeing you again and again. Aloha, Nancy and Ohana

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

Riese14

Guest: Alger (Brodhead Wisconsin)
Date of Stay: 05/08/10 Review Submitted: 06/07/10

We highly recommend this property for large groups. The views were great. Ocean views on one side and the mountains from the other side of this home. There was a large front lawn for outside activities, large covered deck with grill facing the mountains and patio facing the ocean. This home was well supplied with towels, dishes, outside water toys and more. The rooms were spacious and plenty of bathrooms for everyone. The beach area was great. There was an island called Goat Island for you to walk to. This was a great experience. Make sure you were water shoes when crossing over. The coral reef was very sharp. The home is just minutes away from the Polynesian Culture Center. About 1 hour from Honolulu. Bill and Nancy were very accomodating with any questions that we had. Bill introduced us to his neighbor who was a fisherman. We experienced fresh Mahi Mahi and Yellow Fin Tuna on the grill. I would definately come back to this home again and would highly recommend it to my friends and family.

Owner response:Aloha Alger. Mahalo for the wonderful review ! Nice to heear that all enjoyed their time with us adn that we were able to accommodate your friends and family. I'm sure Goat Island was an adventure, being on your own deserted isle and all, and yes, there si nothing like our fresh caught fish right off the boat. Enjoy being back at home and when them cold Wisconsin Winter breezes blow, throw a couple of Brats on the grill and think of your Hawaiian Island Vacation to warm you up ! Aloha and Ahui Ho Nancy and Ohana

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

Guest: Doug12 (-)
Date of Stay: 03/04/09 Review Submitted: 03/04/09

The home was clean. Its proximity to the beach was unbeatable. It really is nicer than the pictures show. We stayed there a week and really enjoyed the time there. The only downside I can even offer is be prepared for healthy winds (which is common on that side of the island). You will not be disappointed.

Owner response:Aloha Doug, It sure was a pleasure meeting all the gang. Glad everyone had a good time and enjoyed the home. This winter has been exteamly windy, unlike most years when winds are much lighter. Thanks for your kind words and hope to see you all again in the future. Mahalo, Bill and Nancy

Recommended for: