wonderful vacation cottage

Guest: Paula (Boulder, Colorado)
Date of Stay: 07/26/10 Review Submitted: 08/04/11

I just spent a week at the Tahatian Hut and had a fabulous time! It was even better than the pictures depicted--very comfortable with great attention to details (e.g., lovely furnishings and a well-appointed kitchen) that put this cottage heads above the average "rental." Angela & Gill, the hosts, are very welcoming and concerned about your comfort without being intrusive. The beach across the street is as pretty as any I've been on in Hawaii or elsewhere and easy to walk to. There are beach towels, chairs, fins, snorkels, etc. Ten minutes from the bustling town of Kailua and thirty from Honolulu, gives the hut the perfect location for travelers who don't want to be in the middle of it all but like access to more activity occasionally. I would recommend this rental without reservation and plan on returning. Aloha.

Recommended for:Pet owners, adventure seekers, age 55+, girls getaway, families with young children, romantic getaway.

Perfect personal setting in an ideal location on Oahu

Guest: Richard (Edmonds, WA)
Date of Stay: 06/26/11 Review Submitted: 07/19/11

Thank you for the opportunity to experience the windward side of Oahu. The spacious beach was wonderful to visit each day. The small number of people on the beach made the visit seem like we had our own personal beach. The small and friendly neighborhood setting made for the relaxing vacation that we were looking to experience. The accomodations were an excellent suprise to have as our base for our adventures. The reading comfort on the couch with a light breeze was a refreshing pause in the afternoon. The advice you provided and access to the beach equipment led to great enjoyment of the snorkeling, boogie boarding and sitting on the beach. I experienced the trip with my daughter, who enjoyed the proximity to so many areas, including the shopping in Kialua, climbing Mt Olamana, snorkling in Hanauma Bay, all within a short drive from our temporary home. I would recommend this property for couples and small families that want to experience Hawaii as a semi-private island with access to all of Oahu. Honolulu and the North Shore are a short enough of a trip to experience them as partial day trips. The return to the seclusion of the Waimanolo Beach allows for a refreshing pause from the day's excursion before preparing the BBQ for a pleasent outdoor meal. The only additional request that I would make is to have a second area for reading and relaxing in the breeze as the entry area couch. Racing my daughter for this area resulted in me looking for the 2nd best location.

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

Best kept secret on Oahu

Guest: Howard&Gayle (Vancouver, Canada)
Date of Stay: 12/14/10 Review Submitted: 12/26/10

If you are looking for the best beach in Paradise steps away from a spotlessly clean and comfortable country cottage, then this is where you will want to stay on your next trip to Oahu. The photos and video depict exactly what you will find at Gilles and Angela's property. Falling asleep to the sound of the ocean waves, and waking up to the sound of the many tropical birds in the trees will definitely relax you. Waimanalo is not Waikiki - this is not your spot if you are looking for lots of nightlife and to be surrounded by lots of people. This is your spot if you love body surfing, miles-long walks on an empty beach and quiet evenings BBQ'ing on the deck. Ena, the lovely resident Hawaiian German Shepherd, is also happy to engage you in a game of squeaky-toy fetch if you are looking for something to do in the afternoon. Serg's Mexican and Sweet Home Waimanalo are excellent daytime restaurants a few blocks away to satisfy your fish taco cravings after swimming. Kailua is a short drive up the road for shopping. We hope to return soon!

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

Wonderful stay at tranquil beach cottage

Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 10/26/10 Review Submitted: 11/21/10

We had booked the cottage for 9 nights and were not sure what to expect. Wow, we were more than pleasantly surprised. The cottage is wonderful. It is not a super luxury cottage, but the most cozy, intimate place, furnished with lots of love and decorated with Angela's beautiful paintings. The cottage is spotless clean and the bed incredible comfortable. We actually enjoyed that the cottage did not have air condition. You really don't need it! There are fans in the cottage but we did not even use them as the cottage is so quiet that we had the windows open all night, enjoying the nice breeze and the sound of the ocean. We also loved the beautiful garden (when lazing in the sun room, you look at palm trees swaying in the wind), and the closeness to one of the best beaches in Hawaii (turqoise waters, great beach for beach walks and boogie boarding). Thank you Angela and Gilles for a wonderful vacation! If you are looking for a quiet, tranquil place to stay, only a short walk from one of the most beautiful beaches in Hawaii, and super friendly hosts we can fully recommend this cottage.

Recommended for:Age 55+, romantic getaway.

Fourth Stay - Awesome as Always!

Guest: Tracey (Omaha, NE)
Date of Stay: 07/13/10 Review Submitted: 07/31/10

I will warn you that the photos for this listing do NOT do it justice - the beach is even MORE gorgeous than the photos and the hut is even better than you can imagine (especially since they installed a new shower that rocked our socks!). Gilles and Angela (and Ena) are lovely hosts and add to the beauty of your stay with their kindness and generosity. If you choose to stay here, be sure to eat at Sweet Home Waimanalo and the Ono Steaks wagon. Delicious. We fully intend to come back for a fifth stay - it's too beautiful to resist.

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

Amazing Waimanalo cottage

Guest: Pati & Mikel (Redmond, WA)
Date of Stay: 04/01/10 Review Submitted: 04/18/10

We just spend 15 days at this lovely cottage. It was a darling place in a amazing location. The beach across the street is our favorite in Oahu. It is beautiful and safe with very little use. We feel asleep at night, in the comfortable bed, to the sound of the waves and the wind in the palm trees. The cottage is well equiped with all you need. Gilles and Angela are so welcoming and a great resource for your stay on the island. We are trying to figure out when we can come again.

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

Guest: David & Sheila1 (Washington State)
Date of Stay: 02/12/10 Review Submitted: 02/12/10

We've been coming to Hawaii for many years since 1981 and we've stayed in many places hotels, resorts, condos and beach houses in many areas of the islands... but we stopped searching for the perfect place to hang our vacation hat, when we found this cottage by the sea in 2006. We've come back here every year and stayed for at least 6 weeks, but it's never enough time. The compound is secure and completely surrounded with tropical plants and palms... it is so private you forget you are in a neighborhood. The ocean puts you to sleep at night and you wake to the coo of doves in the morning. The art and decor is splendid, but comfortable and the beach is across the street. You can not find a better host and hostess than Gilles & Angela, who provide hospitality in a secluded environment, which feels better than home. I was born here in Hawaii and have been searching for the Polynesia of my childhood memories... family lost and a family found. We found the True Spirit of Aloha here, the lost soul of the islands, the elusive Paradise of Peace within your Tahitian Garden by the Sea. Mahalo Nui Loa to you... Gilles & Angela

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Guest: Jillion Anderson (West Chicago IL)
Date of Stay: 10/19/09 Review Submitted: 10/19/09

What a Gem we found in Waimanalo. We felt like we owned a piece of Hawaii for a few weeks. We cannot say enough about Angela and her family, we were treated just like family, and nothing like staying in a hotel. Hotels are so inpersonal. Instead we felt private, we could do as we pleased unlike a Hotel. The children played outside, we walked accross the street to a beautiful almost private beach, we had dinner on the deck or sat outside on the deck while the children were in the cottage napping or sleeping. We cannot say enough about this little Tahitian, Hawaiin cottage. We will definately go back.

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Guestbook Comment

Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 03/01/09 Review Submitted: 03/25/09

This place was great. The house was clean, beautifully decorated, and really celebrated the colors and warmth of Hawai'i. The house is moments from the beach, so if you forget your towel, no worries! Waimanalo is a great central location to everything on Oahu, and the folks we met in town were all really wonderful. Gilles and Angela were great hosts, happy to explain and recommend, but also happy to give us all the space and privacy we wanted. Highly recommended.

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Guestbook Comment

Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 08/01/08 Review Submitted: 08/13/08

We enjoyed 5 magical nights (7/29-8/3/2008) in this charming beach bungalow. Hidden amoung gorgous tropical plants and fruit trees, it is perfrect for couples (like us) seeking a romantic beach getaway. The bungalow is nicely decorated with all the amenities. Plus, an outdoor shower, a cozy lani, beach equipment, and postcard like views. When we could tear ourselves away from the amazing semi-private beach, we often drove the 7 miles of stunningly beautiful road south to Hawaii Kai. There were many "must see" stops along the way. Hawaii Kai offered everything we needed such as Starbucks, 24 Hour Fitness, grocery store, water sports rentals,and many little shops. Angela and Rosey were wonderful hosts who provided a wealth of useful information about the island. It was one of our best trips ever! We will be back for sure.

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