Vacation Rentals by Owner

SAD TO LEAVE

Guest: Doreen and family
Date of Stay: 11/30/11 Review Submitted: 12/24/11

Aloha Margaret, Sad to say, but our Hawaiian vacation is now behind us. We had a lovely time, made better because of the great accommodation, and look forward to going back again to see all the things we didn't have time for. We spent so much time on the balcony and around the pool and it was very relaxing, but we did take in some of the sights. One highlight was seeing the surfing and the huge waves on the north shore--unbelievable!--especially for us "prairie" people. I will be passing your info on to a friend of mine who is interested in going to Ko Olina again and is looking for a condo to rent. Thanks again, and we look forward to our next visit.

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Hawaii Wedding

Guest: Barb (Minnesota)
Date of Stay: 08/29/11 Review Submitted: 09/07/11

We just returned after attending my son's wedding in Hawaii. The Beach Villas worked out perfectly for our family. Some days we were out exploring the island and it was good to come back to such a wonderful condo. Other days, we hung out at the Beach Villas. This was my first experience renting through VRBO and Margaret's description was completely accurate. All of the rooms are beautiful and no detail was spared. Anything you would ever need is in the unit. The grounds of the Beach Villas are beautiful and we found ourselves taking the long way to stroll past all of the pools and the koi ponds. The landscaping is breathtaking. Margaret is very professional and wonderful to work with. Consider yourself lucky if she has weeks available for you to rent!

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

The best vacation ever!

Guest: Kristen (Scottsdale, AZ)
Date of Stay: 07/28/11 Review Submitted: 08/11/11

My family of 5 just returned from one of the best vacations we have ever had. Unfortunately, we were only able to stay a week in Oahu at Margaret's condo, but we are still reveling from the experience. Aside from the fun that we had exploring the island and visiting all of the beautiful beaches, staying at this condo made our trip. It is a beautiful, comfortable, detailed space and there was nothing that anyone in my family felt was lacking. We hosted a dinner for 12 one evening and there were plenty of seats, utensils, pots and pans, and items to cook with. Even a pizza cutter!!! The bedrooms and bathrooms are over the top comfortable and my children (13, 10, and 5) never got in each other's hair. There were beach toys and chairs for our use, music and televisions in every room, a gorgeous lanai for soaking it all in.....it is a perfect place. My husband and I even wound up renewing our vows in a beach wedding on Paradise Cove Beach with dinner afterwards at the Paradise Cove Luau. It is within walking distance of the condo, and was fantastic. Margaret was wonderful to work with; professional all the way. The staff at the resort was likewise very friendly and accommodating. After a busy day of sightseeing around the island, it was always wonderful to come back to the condo to relax with a swim in the pool or lagoon, a drink from the bar, and a gorgeous sunset. This is the place to be.

Owner response:I've been to the Paradise Cove luau and thought it great fun but--what a wonderful idea to have a "vow renewal" there!!

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

Guest: Family of 5
Date of Stay: 07/28/11 Review Submitted: 08/10/11

Hi Margaret, I just wanted to thank you so much for the use of your condo. It was an absolutely perfect size for our family and is so comfortable and beautiful. Also, I couldn't believe how thoroughly you thought through what would be needed as it came to the kitchen. The pizza cutter, even!! :) We all agreed that this was the best vacation we have ever taken. Our days were busy exploring the island, then we would come back to the condo and exhale. The pools were relaxing, the bar was a perfect touch, and the sunsets were stunning. My husband and I even wound up renewing our vows at Paradise Cove Beach (15 years!), with our reception being the luau! Some good friends of ours and their children wound up making their vacation at the same time, so they were able to join us along with our sister and brother in law who live in Kapolei. All in all, it just couldn't have been better. Thank you.

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Two Weeks in Paradise

Guest: Canadians (Alberta Canada)
Date of Stay: 07/14/11 Review Submitted: 08/03/11

Our family of five had a wonderful stay in this beautiful unit. We loved the set up of the condo and the wonderful kitchen as we did prepare most of our own meals. We took full advantage of the fitness facility and the pools. We also loved our lagoon and went snorkeling several times. We saw turtles right in the lagoon on several occasions during our two week stay. We also tried stand up paddle surfing in lagoon four - very easy and very fun! Also lots of nice restaurants within walking distance and a short drive to some great beaches for boogie boarding and bigger waves. The staff at the Beach Villas was wonderful- so helpful and friendly. We also had great communication with Margaret. I would highly recommend this unit at the Beach Villas!! The Bosch Family

Owner response:Love that you enjoyed yourselves. That's what vacations are for! I am particularly happy to hear that you made excellent use of all of our beautiful lagoons. There's nothing like them. I will pass along your compliments to our wonderful staff.

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Memorial Day Vacation 2011

Guest: JB (Austin, Texas)
Date of Stay: 05/28/11 Review Submitted: 06/13/11

We REALLY enjoyed our 10 day stay at the Beach Villas at Ko Olina! What a wonderful place to stay. The complex is extremely secure and we felt right at home. The pool area and beach were our morning paradise every day and the kids couldn't get enough of it. We utilized the poolside grills. The support staff were very helpful. The gym was a great place to get that workout in, as well as the lap pool. Ko Olina is a very close drive to all the major attractions on Oahu. We had a 12th anniversary dinner at Roy's on the golf course and the food was extraordinary! Margaret was very attentive to us before and during the trip and communication was probably better than anywhere we have stayed. Thank you very much for helping us have such a memorable vacation! We would definitely book this property again, and recommend to others without hesitation. Mahalo, The Barkley Family

Owner response:So very glad that you and your family enjoyed your stay. We are fortunate that our guests have full access to the front desk staff as well as our wonderful fitness center. My mouth is watering as I read about your special dinner at Roys!! Hope you can come to see us again.

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

Pete and Pam ( Ontario, Canada)

Guest: Pam (Canada)
Date of Stay: 04/29/11 Review Submitted: 04/13/12

This was our first visit to Hawaii and what a perfect condo and area to stay in....the condo was excellent and had everything we needed plus plenty of room for ourselves and my daughter and her family....everyone had a bedroom to escape to at night and we all loved the extra ammenities of shampoo, conditioner, body wash, kleenex etc. The kitchen and appliances were great to work with and the use of a washer and dryer was wonderful. I miss eating out on the lanai and watching the gorgeous scenery and every day.....we visited as many places as possible in Oahu and loved the garlic shrimp lunch plates going up to the north shore and watching the waves come in the north shore beaches....we went to the Polynesian Centre for a guided tour and prime rib dinner and the evening show and it was wonderful. My grandson tried his hand at surfing and we spent many hours down by the lap pool and lagoon soaking up the sun and swimming and snorkling.....the weather was just perfect every day. Margaret was very thorough in the instructions she sent us and we knew everything that was necessary to know...thank you again for a great holiday and a great place to stay

Owner response:And thank you for taking the time to write this! Glad that you enjoyed the "litle things" that our on-site housekeeping staff provides during their mid-stay cleaning. Not all owners subscribe to this extra service.

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

April 16 review

Guest: Marcia (Washington, DC)
Date of Stay: 04/16/11 Review Submitted: 04/23/11

My 2 adult children and I had an excellent time. Very nice private accomodation with every amenity. We also highly recommend Waikiki.com Tours & Travel, also known as Ko Olina Activities, which is owned by a nice young couple who gave us excellent personalized service arranging a private island tour, scuba and parasailing. We will definintely come back, hopefully next January.

Owner response:We look forward to seeing you in January!

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

Barbara and friends (Snohomish, Wa.)

Guest: Barb (Snohomish, Wa.)
Date of Stay: 04/02/11 Review Submitted: 04/13/11

My four friends and I thoroughly enjoyed our stay at Margaret and John's Beach Villa at Ko Olina. The accomodations were airy, clean, well decorated, and very spacious. We slept well in very comfortable beds and three bathrooms for 5 females was greatly appreciated. I wish we were more high tech for those awesome appliances but we managed to eat well while we were there. We snorkeled in the lagoon with the turtles every morning and basked by the pools in the afternoons when not exploring the Island. The Staff were very friendly and assisted us in anything we needed. It was also nice to have housekeeping do a mid-week cleaning to freshen up the place. The experience was amazing and only have high praise for Margaret who kept in contact with us to make sure we had all the information we needed to make our stay enjoyable. Thank you Margaret! I highly recommend this experience to anyone who wants a quiet, restful experience at Ko Olina. We had a wonderful time and hope to return some day soon - Aloha!

Owner response:Thanks for writing. I love hearing about swimming with the turtles!

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

A luxury vacation

Guest: Jennifer (California)
Date of Stay: 12/08/10 Review Submitted: 03/04/11

We stayed at Margaret's place this past December and had a great time. The unit is by far the nicest rental that we've ever had the pleasure to stay in. Very roomy- plenty of space for 4 adults and 2 kids. Everything totally up to date. The location is fantastic- beautiful beach on a calm lagoon. Very quiet and peaceful. The staff at the resort were friendly and helpful. Nice restaurants within walking distance- Roy's is amazing, of course. We took a snorkeling trip from the nearby marina, where the Black Pearl is docked (from Pirates of the Caribbean- this is where they film the movies!). The photos and description are right on and Margaret was so friendly and easy to work with. I would recommend this rental to anyone and I hope that we can go back someday!

Owner response:Jennifer--it was a pleaure to work with you as well. Thank you for your kind words and I am so glad you were able to take advantage of our nearby snorkeling as it is a real treat. Come see again when you can.

Recommended for:Families with young children, romantic getaway.

Best family vacation!

Guest: Sarah (Victoria, B.C. Canada)
Date of Stay: 10/25/10 Review Submitted: 11/13/10

We just returned from our week stay at Ko Olina, and wish we could go back. The condo was the perfect option for my husband and I, our two kids (ages 6 and 8) and my brother and sister in law. There was lots of room for privacy, and the lanai was a great spot to chat and enjoy each others company. The condo exceeded our expectations, and we all fantasized about moving to the Beach villas. The beds were more comfortable than ours at home, and it was great to be able to have use of the washer and dryer. The pools and beach were quiet and clean and we got lots of use of the water toys that were made available to us. We felt extremely safe at the resort, and enjoyed eating at Roy's and Just Tacos, as well as we used the market several times. The weather in Waikiki was rainy for most of the week, but not at Ko Olina! The best part of the Leeward side of the island is that it is so dry, so we enjoyed being on the beach or at the pool every day. My kids were upset that we would miss Halloween back home, but the local Kapolei mall had trick or treating, so the kids were thrilled to dress up in Hawaii! Kapolei had every store any good suburban family could want, Costco, Target, Safeway, as well as a multitude of fast food chains and a couple of Starbucks. The Wet n Wild water park is just one exit away, which was great for my thrill seeking son. We will definitely return to the Beach Villas. Thank you Margaret for all of your help and your great directions and instructions in the information booklet. Your condo is beautiful and well taken care of. We couldn't have asked for a better home away from home.

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

Guest: Our Prior Guests
Date of Stay: 10/07/10 Review Submitted: 10/07/10

Please see reviews for listing #228545. This is the same property.

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Great Reviews!!

Guest: The Happy Owners (Kapolei, HI)
Date of Stay: 09/27/10 Review Submitted: 11/02/10

Aloha--this is a new listing on "Homeaway" Please go to www.vrbo.com/228545 to see many great reviews for this same property. Happy to answer any questions, Margaret and John Sheehan koolinahawaii@aol.com

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

EXCELLENT PLACE TO STAY!

Guest: Janet (San Francisco, CA)
Date of Stay: 08/08/10 Review Submitted: 08/16/10

My family and I were so lucky we found and rented Margaret's amazing property. The pictures are accurate. The condo was beautiful. Each of the bedrooms were comfortable and quiet. The six of us had plenty of space to move around. Everything was convenient..swimming pool, beach and even the parking space...what more do you need. I will miss our meals on the lanai, morning time at the pool and beach time at sunset. It's a very kid friendly place and though there were mostly families there, it never was crowded or noisy, which was really nice. Margaret was amazing to work with. She answered emails quickly and even called me on our first day when I had a question. The property was great and everyone who worked their was extremely friendly. Oahu isn't typically the island I think about going to however given my experience with Margaret and Ko'Olina I will need to reconsider for the next trip. Thank you Margaret!!!

Owner response:Janet--so very happy that you had fun. Thank you for your kind words and come back again!

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Best Vacation Ever!

Guest: Adriana (Seattle, WA)
Date of Stay: 07/08/10 Review Submitted: 09/12/10

My husband and I and our 4 kids (15, 10, 8 & 5), spent 1 month this summer at Jon and Margaret's condo. We've traveled quite a bit, Hawaii more than 10 times, Europe, Caribbean and Mexico. The condo was one of the nicest places we've stayed at. The condo is very spacious, we had lots of room even with 6 of us. The bed in the master bedroom is one of the most comfortable bed I've slept in. The 3 bathrooms were a big plus and they are gorgeous. The kitchen is so nice and well stocked that I actually enjoyed cooking! The dining table on the lanai was wonderfull, along with the two VERY comfortable lounge chairs. It was so nice starting out the day having our coffee out on the lanai. The resort itself is great for families, we had a blast. Plenty of room around the pools, chairs are very comfortable. The beach is very close and easy access. The kids loved the lagoon, very calm water. We were very happy we chose the "Villas" rather than one of the other properties at Ko'Olina. Having the beach within walking distance is a big plus, especially with small children. Margaret was great to work with, any question I had she responded right away. The entire family agrees that this was the best vacation we've had and Jon and Margaret's condo is the main reason for that. Thank you so much for sharing your home with us and we look forward to returning!

Owner response:Adriana--I'm so very happy you had a good stay. So kind of you to take the time to write as I know you are a very busy woman!

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

Family Reunion

Guest: Mike and Victoria (Florida)
Date of Stay: 02/26/10 Review Submitted: 03/26/10

Spent a week in February with my wife, my two sisters and their husbands. We had a ball! The place is really beautiful as well as comfortable. Each couple had their own bedroom with TV, so we all had privacy. Made lots of trips to the local Safeway and Costco and most days ate at least 2 of the 3 meals in the unit or down by the barbeques. My wife was in the pool every day and my sisters liked the snorkeling in the lagoon. We all toured Pearl Harbor/USS Missouri, the North Shore and the Polynesian Cultural Center and went out on a whale-watching catamaran which left from the nearby marina. I can understand why families would like it here but we 6 adults really enjoyed it too. Hope we can come back next year and stay for more than a week. Thanks for everything.

Owner response:We stay here ourselves at times and know that adults can really enjoy all the activity and nearby sights.

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

Guest: Angie and Brian (yakima)
Date of Stay: 02/04/10 Review Submitted: 02/04/10

We had such a wonderful time at your beautiful condo. The pictures of the place do not do it justice. It is so much more beautiful. We stayed for 6 nights in January and it was perfect. We brought our 3 young kids and my brother and his baby. Our parents came too but stayed that the time share/hotel just a walk away. The kids were asking to go down to the heated lap pool before breakfast and we stayed down there most of the day. It was great to be so close to the ocean and the lagoons were perfect for our 6,3,and 2 yr old since the waves weren't very big. Our oldest even got so snorkeling time in, which buy the way was outstanding. We visited this same area several years ago and the snorkeling is markedly better. Coral is starting to plant itself on the rocks which is bringing in the fish. None of the pools, hottubs or lagoons felt crowded. The unheated kiddie pools was too cold to stay in for long amounts of time but the lap pool was perfect and we seemed to gravitate there once they got too cold, but I would expect it to be much warmer in the summer times and be quite nice for the kiddos. The condo have a nice view of the ocean and the sunsets were spectacular. We spent most of our time with the lanai doors open and lounging on the comfy outdoor seating. The whole place was so incredible and everyone was so kind and helpful. With the little kids we didn't eat out (our choice) but made a trip to Safeway and Costco for groceries. We BBQ steaks and burgers on the BBQ's by the pool and made Strawberry Margaritas every night and drank them while watching the sun set. AAAHHH! It was so relaxing. I left for Hawaii depressed and deflated and came home from Hawaii completely energized. We will definitely come and stay again. Thanks so much for making your place available. It was a true delight.

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Couldn't be better

Guest: Brian (Anchorage, Alaska)
Date of Stay: 12/07/09 Review Submitted: 06/18/10

I'm late posting, but my wife, son and I stayed for 30 days this past holiday season. The pictures are beautiful, however, the place is even nicer. We travel to Hawaii at least once a year and this is by far the best place we have stayed: quite, secure, and convenient. The unit, complex, and surrounding area are meticulously maintained. Management was great, our security deposit was promptly returned, and the on site staff is wonderful. We have and would recommend this place to anyone interested in a relaxing hassle free vacation.

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

Guest: Trent and Family (Bothell, WA)
Date of Stay: 06/10/09 Review Submitted: 06/09/09

Thank you for allowing us to stay in your beautiful condo from 5/22 – 5/29. The place was perfect and we hope to be able to stay again next year. I’ve been meaning to send you a note of thanks – we really appreciate it. The pool was fantastic for the kids and the beach and snorkeling was ideal out in the lagoon. It was nice not having to worry about big waves or undertow – very safe area.

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Guest: Janna Miller (Big Rock, Tennessee)
Date of Stay: 06/06/09 Review Submitted: 06/06/09

We just arrived home from our wonderful Hawaii vacation at this luxery apartment. Our stay here was wonderful! I cannot say enough about the beautiful apartment. The rooms were large, and the kitchen was state of the art. The housekeeping came daily which was great! The towels and grills by the poolside were also an extra added bonus. The apartment overlooks the pool area with a nice view of the ocean. The pool area and lagoons were not crowded during our entire stay. It was almost like having a private oasis to ourselves and was very relaxing. We would definately stay here again.

Owner response:Dear Janna--You are so very kind to take the time to write this comment. I am so pleased that your family enjoyed their vacation. Hope you are able to come back in the future.--Margaret

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Guest: Margaret S. (New York City)
Date of Stay: 05/30/09 Review Submitted: 05/30/09

Aloha all. We are the owners and frequently get asked "who rents here?" or "will my teenagers like it?" You know your family better than we do but thought you'd like to know who has booked a week or more this Summer. So far we've had 3 family groups come through. One held a "family reunion" of sorts with their 3 grown kids in various stages of college/grad school/first job and their youngest child of 10. They reported loving being active all day and then having long "family meetings" on the lanai at night. The 2d group brought the grandparents to help out with their 7 and 9 year olds so that they could get some dinners out alone. Then came the couple from Tennessee with their 6 and 7 year old children who decided to bring Grandma after they had booked a hotel in Waikiki. Realizing that a spacious apartment would give everyone more fun and the parents peace-of-mind, they called me and I was able to fit them in for a week of family fun. Next up is a hard-working woman taking her recent high-school graduate, her best friend and the younger brother for a trip in June. After making the booking, mom asked if her own good friend and her son could join too. We sleep up to 6 people so that's fine and no extra charge. Feeding 4 teenagers makes the close-by Safeway and Costco a real savings. Later on in the Summer, another multi-generational group is headed out for a 2-week stay. I'm sure they are looking forward to it. So far all are happy and my on-site manager reports that my guests are being well taken care of. Come join us!

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Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 05/19/09 Review Submitted: 05/19/09

Please enter your comment here. Mahalo!

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Guest: Trish Herrity (New York, NY)
Date of Stay: 04/25/09 Review Submitted: 04/25/09

Spent a wonderful week with family in March at this condo. Expected to just lounge by the pool but also did so much--great massage at the Ihilani, snorkel cruise right from the Marina, Luau at Paradise Cove, swam & snorkeled in the lagoon right outside our front door, drove to the North Shore, shopped, ate at Roy's and watched spectacular sun rises from my bedroom. Wo quiet and peaceful--just what I needed. I was surprised at the luxury and services at the complex--more like a hotel than a condo--towels at the pool, hot tubs, etc. Can't wait to come back next year. Would definitely recommend it.

Owner response:So glad you had a good time. Please do visit us again! Mahalo

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Guest: Sandi, Sam, Lee & Richard
Date of Stay: 04/04/09 Review Submitted: 04/03/09

Aloha, all. We are new to VRBO so likely no comments yet. But our 4 friends came to "test out the accommodations" recently and all 6 of us had a grand time. Lee, an avid swimmer, adored the hugh "lap pool" and said the intricate mozaic tile encouraged her. The rest of us lounged in the hot tubs (we have 3!!) while she worked out. OK--I did drag them all to the fitness center which is FABULOUS. Very large, light & bright overlooking the lap pool with every machine imaginable. The guys particularly liked the steam room and sauna. Couldn't rouse them for the 8am classes (only $15) with deceptively sweet looking Jill--she's a killer. We swam in the lagoon, took walks, did a little shopping and had a great dinner at Roys. Mostly we complained about the stock market and gossiped. With 3 comfortable bedrooms and a large lanai, everyone was happy. Hope you'll be able to write your own comment soon.

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