Lost in paradise!!

Guest: Kim & Josh, Colorado Spirngs, CO (-)
Date of Stay: 10/20/11 Review Submitted: 11/09/11

(Posted on TripAdvisor www.tripadvisor.com/hale_nalo) We just returned from a week in Zen. My new wife and I had planned our wedding and honeymoon in Oahu for a year. We took our time looking for the perfect place to stay. After narrowing down the area we found Hale Nalo and read the great description written by the care taker and other reviews we found written by guests. We felt it sounded like a perfect fit for us and exactly what we were looking for. We had high expectations and wanted everything to be perfect for our big day. ?After spending a week on the other side of the island we were thrilled to find Hale Nalo in a lovely and quite neighborhood. Upon opening the private and secluded gate we enter a very nice courtyard with ample parking. After that you find a nice lobby and shared beach supplies that saved us money on rental fees. The provided check-in procedures were very easy to follow and allowed us to start our vacation immediately. Even before arriving I felt like I knew exactly what we were getting into and we were never disappointed. ? The Zen tree house is amazing and well worth the cost and probably a lot more after comparing other options on the island. We felt very private and secure and were able to enjoy our time as we wanted. The other guests on the property were all respectful of each other and you barley knew anyone else was around. This is truly a piece of paradise and a wonderful glimpse into the real island life not found in a hotel on Waikiki beach. The beach is very close and it is beautiful. So beautiful we were married right down the way from the house. We visited all sides of the island and felt lucky that the best beach on the island is right out the door of where we were staying. ?I could go on for pages and repeat all the great things others have said but it is not needed. This is a wonderful gem in paradise. The pictures you see are accurate and you feel like you are stepping in to a magazine. We have nothing bad to say and consider ourselves very picky and hard to please at times. ?If you are fortunate enough to have a conversation with Herlinda consider yourself lucky. We feel that we have made a friend for life and felt privileged to have her share in our special day. She was extremely accommodating and helpful and only added to our wonderful experience. She provides a wonderful service and has great recommendations of things on the island. We can't wait to return to paradise and our new friend.

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Best vacation ever -- we're coming back!

Guest: SB & STB, Washington DC (-)
Date of Stay: 09/28/11 Review Submitted: 11/09/11

(Posted on TripAdvisor www.tripadvisor.com/hale_nalo) Dear Fellow Vacationer, We had such a restful stay here - the treetop level apt. is tastefully put together and has every comfort - trade winds sweep thru from the oceanside balcony to the mountain side balcony where we had all our meals( lots of fresh fish.) Great view of the mountains from one, little patches of sea appearing thru the palm trees from the other, sounds of birds in the trees, Lucinda the pet chicken strutting in the garden below. Only a minute walk past residential cottages to the unbeatable beach which is safe, sandy, with your personal palm tree for shade. You have the beach almost all to yourself as well. Our hostess Herlinda was the best. She could not have done more for us. I don't know what else to say except it was our best stay in Hawaii (out of a dozen) and we're coming back here! SB and STB, happy travellers

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A Lovely Place

Guest: Anonymous, East Coast USA (-)
Date of Stay: 09/23/11 Review Submitted: 11/09/11

(Posted on TripAdvisor www.tripadvisor.com/hale_nalo) We stayed in Zen for a week. It was a wonderful experience. The inn is in a quiet residential area apart from the highway. At night, many stars glitter surrounded in gentle wave sound from the beach. In the morning, we are awakened by lively birds' songs. The room is on the second floor, and the interior is coordinated in good sense. From the lanai, we could see the Ko'olau Range. It's view changed time-to-time, and rainbows appeared in a morning shower. It was so nice to have breakfast in the lanai with a nice view of mountains.

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...The most amazing vacation we ever had!!!

Guest: Angela & Michael, Wabush, Newfoundland (-)
Date of Stay: 08/27/11 Review Submitted: 11/09/11

(Posted on TripAdvisor www.tripadvisor.com/hale_nalo) 7 nights in Hale Nalo - The Zen Treehouse. It was the most amazing vacation we ever had!!! We went to Hawaii for our honeymoon and picked Hale Nalo for the quiet, relaxing atmosphere. It was beauiful, we loved the treehouse with our fresh fruit basket and a selection of Hawaiian drinks awaiting us. The room has everthing needed for the stay...from fully furnished kitchen, living room area with tv and dvd player and movies, to the most comfortable bed ever, lots of closet space and a beautiful bathroom. The walk-in stone shower was our favorite part. Herlinda (the house owner) was very accommodating and respectful of our privacy. It was like having our own private retreat. The views from our patios of the mountains were spectacular. The Waimanalo beach is only a 1 minute walk away. It is a gorgeous beach .

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Guest: "A hidden gem in an unbeatable location" (-)
Date of Stay: 02/01/11 Review Submitted: 06/02/11

(As posted on www.flipkey.com) Hale Nalo is truly a hidden treasure. Tucked away on a quiet street in Waimanalo, a small community on the Windward side of Oahu, this beautiful home offers travelers three separate suites with access to a lovely tropical garden. The home is a stone's throw from a beach that is every bit as beautiful as Kailua and Lanikai, but blissfully quiet and—when we were there—nearly deserted. It is close enough to the ocean to hear the surf, yet boasts a spectacular view of the lush and breathtakingly corduroy-ridged Koolau mountain range on the other side of the home. Serenity is the theme here, and is reflected in everything from the setting and the decor, to the interesting array of books that line the bookshelves. The suite we stayed in, the "ZEN Treehouse", was clean, well-appointed and enhanced by 2 private lanais and thoughtful touches like postcards and a handbook containing information about good local restaurants and interesting sights nearby. The owner was very friendly and accommodating. Waimanalo has real local flavour, and if you are looking for a less touristy, more authentic experience of Hawaii, this area fits the bill. If you want to spend some time seeing the sights in Honolulu, it is also only a 30 minute (very scenic) drive to the city. We were blown away by our experience at Hale Nalo in Waimanalo and would not hesitate to return!

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Guest: Leave Your Worries Behind (R and C, Rocklin, CA) (-)
Date of Stay: 05/24/11 Review Submitted: 06/02/11

(As posted on TripAdvisor www.tripadvisor.com/hale_nalo) This place brought back wonderful childhood memories. Not in the sense that one grew up on a tropical island, but in the sense of what childhood summer days are all about… absolute carefree days without a worry in the world. Take away the valet, bellman, maitre’d and all the pretentiousness of a regular resort and you get a beautiful private place to call home in a peaceful neighborhood on a long secluded beach. A beach with the finest sand on the island (literally, the sand in Waikiki is of a courser grade). This is a vacation of an elegant lifestyle from a simpler time, a time that we should all revert to if we could. Everything you need without everything you don’t. If I had to pick one thing that was missing, it would be a bicycle from days past to meander through the neighborhood as one did in younger years. Our hostess was gracious, professional and friendly in a way that a good neighbor of many years would be. It’s like staying with good friends, but having your own time and space to relax. This is a time to shed life’s issues without living in a fantasy environment. It is a cleansing of the mind as tranquility takes over that will bring back memories of your own. Re-think your next trip when you leave corporate America to stay in a corporate resort. You aren’t really escaping your current status. Dial back the years and leave your worries behind. Your memories of carefree days will humble you. Room Tip: Zen Treehouse is the one!

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Guest: "Absolutely the best week we have ever spent" (-)
Date of Stay: 04/10/11 Review Submitted: 04/15/11

(As posted on TripAdvisor www.tripadvisor.com/hale_nalo) The Zen Treehouse is the most beautiful, relaxing, peaceful place on the island! We came for our wedding/honeymoon and could not have asked for a more wonderful experience. Walking up the steps from the garden entrance, you feel the cool breezes from the 2 patios on both sides of the house with the ocean and mountain views and feel like you are truly in paradise. With the vaulted ceilings and fans, the air is always moving and you hear the ocean and birds. The decor is elegant, with many extra touches, from the red luxury sheets, to the open shower for two and the tile and hardwood floors. Herlinda has made this place a truly wonderful place to get away from the world, yet are so close to the greatest beach on the island and to all the things in town. She gave us so many wonderful tips on things to do, we had the time of our lives. We did the WildWest swim with the wild dolphin expedition and it was amazing! Swam with 80+ spinner dolphins and found a pod of 6 whales! We ate at Serg's almost everyday, the fish taco's are to die for! The beach is 2 houses down and we never saw more that a handful of people on it and it is 5 miles of gorgeous sand. We have to say we were totally blown away by the beauty, peace and hospitality of Herlinda and her wonderful treehouse. We have already booked our return stay for next year!

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Guest: "A Perfect Vacation" (-)
Date of Stay: 04/03/11 Review Submitted: 04/15/11

(As posted on TripAdvisor www.tripadvisor.com/hale_nalo) Waking to the sounds of birds was such a delight. So melodious, not annoying. My husband and I stayed in the Zen Treehouse for 4 nights at the end of our Hawaiian vacation celebrating our 30th anniversary. What a soothing place to just enjoy Oahu. This upper level apartment is an elegant surprise in a modest neighborhood, steps from the beach. Everything is appointed so well--the shower had a river rock floor and rainshower shower head. The bed was very comfortable as was the entire suite. Two decks, granite counters, lovely wood floors, washer and dryer--it was just perfect. Our host Herlinda was exceedingly helpful. Walking to a pleasant breakfast at Sweet Home Waimanalo was such a treat. . Several evenings we drove back to Waikiki to meet friends and the ride was just the perfect length. We even got to hang with the locals at a shelter during theTsunami evacuation! I'd stay here the next time we come to Oahu---away from the crowd, but close to everything, too. We'll be back!

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Guest: Escape, unwind, renew, far from the madding crowd (-)
Date of Stay: 02/14/11 Review Submitted: 03/23/11

(Posted on TripAdvisor www.tripadvisor.com/hale_nalo) This was our second blissful escape to the Hale 'Nalo ZEN Treehouse. Serene and smiling, the owner, Herlinda, has an extraordinary gift of making you feel welcome to your "own" neighbourhood beach house. Spotlessly clean and fresh, the tree house has two decks, a modern kitchenette, a comfortable sofa, and a great bed. The dressing area and bathroom are well designed, especially the walk-in shower. Hale Nalo is not a resort, but a lifestyle. Awaken to the birdsong in the tropical trees; fall asleep to the sound of the waves. Walk a minute from "home" and stroll for hours along a gorgeous beach where neighbours say a friendly hello. Honolulu is another planet. Thanks so much, Herlinda. We will return.

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Guest: Richard & Sara, Vancouver BC (-)
Date of Stay: 02/07/11 Review Submitted: 03/06/11

(As posted on www.flipkey.com/196555) "A hidden gem in an unbeatable location." Hale Nalo is truly a hidden treasure. Tucked away on a quiet street in Waimanalo, a small community on the Windward side of Oahu, this beautiful home offers travelers three separate suites with access to a lovely tropical garden. The home is a stone's throw from a beach that is every bit as beautiful as Kailua and Lanikai, but blissfully quiet and—when we were there—nearly deserted. It is close enough to the ocean to hear the surf, yet boasts a spectacular view of the lush and breathtakingly corduroy-ridged Koolau mountain range on the other side of the home. ??Serenity is the theme here, and is reflected in everything from the setting and the decor, to the interesting array of books that line the bookshelves. The suite we stayed in, the "Treehouse", was clean, well-appointed and enhanced by 2 private lanais and thoughtful touches like postcards and a handbook containing information about good local restaurants and interesting sights nearby. The owner was very friendly and accommodating.??Waimanalo has real local flavour, and if you are looking for a less touristy, more authentic experience of Hawaii, this area fits the bill. If you want to spend some time seeing the sights in Honolulu, it is also only a 30 minute (very scenic) drive to the city. We were blown away by our experience at Hale Nalo in Waimanalo and would not hesitate to return!

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