Vacation Rentals by Owner

Makaha Paradise

Guest: John and Nancy (Florida, USA)
Date of Stay: 04/22/12 Review Submitted: 05/25/12

We had the pleasure of staying at this studio apartment on Makaha Beach from April 22-May 4, 2012. We have had the opportunity to travel through much of the world & can highly recommend it as one of our favorite places. The studio was spacious, attractively appointed, very comfortable: full kitchen & bath with a great shower, roomy living area, free access to a washing machine, and Internet connection. The setting was outstanding with the lawn overlooking a private beach, Ke’ana state park a short drive away, Tamura’s supermarket close by for a full selection of groceries & deli/take-out possibilities. We also enjoyed getting to know the resident pet cats. Makaha is a great launching place for exploring Oahu, within an hour of Honolulu but away from the bustle of the city. The owners have a large collection of snorkels & boards for guests interested in water activities but just being in the studio or on the grounds offers peace, serenity, and stunning views of water & waves. We’re hoping to arrange a family gathering, using her other apartments, if we can wrangle everybody to get to Hawaii from other parts of the States. We plan to return ourselves on our next trip toward the Pacific, the best recommendation anyone can make.

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

Warm and Comfortable

Guest: Brian and Jennifer (White Lake, Michigan)
Date of Stay: 02/10/12 Review Submitted: 02/27/12

Perfect for 2 people! This rental was warm, comfortable, clean and spacious. We were welcomed personally by the owners and they made sure we had everything we needed. The property is nestled between the mountains and ocean giving you constent beautiful views. We enjoyed sitting on the beach watching the surfers during the day and in the evening we warmed ourselves by the fire while watching the sun go down. Picture perfect in every way. We highly reccommend this property and if we ever make it back to Oahu we will definately be calling the Baileys! Thank you again for everything. :)

Recommended for:Romantic getaway

Perfect getaway!

Guest: Jan & Rob (Manchester, NH)
Date of Stay: 12/04/11 Review Submitted: 12/10/11

My wife and I spent a week here and had a phenomenal time. The place was cleaner than any hotel we've stayed at. We were able to watch local surfers from the patio out back, with the fire pit going of course. Just up the road is the tip of the island, with a pristine beach that we had almost all to ourselves, plus hiking trails to the most amazing views. The property is within an hours drive of almost anywhere on the island. If you want to be away from the crowds of waikiki, yet still close enough to enjoy all the island has to offer, this is a great place to stay. Carolyn was a most gracious host, and we look forward to staying here again.

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

Peace and Quiet

Guest: Ellesweet (Molalla, Oregon)
Date of Stay: 10/29/11 Review Submitted: 11/07/11

We wanted to spend our vacation in a less touristy location and this property fitted us perfectly. The beach was secluded and had beautiful views either sitting in the sun or under the coconut trees. A short walk away is a local beach that the local surfers use and it's great to spend a few hours in the sun watching them. The ocean is safe enough to float around in as well. Our room was very comfy, clean and had most everything we needed for our week-long stay. Our hosts were nearly invisible yet readily available and gracious whenever we needed to ask a question. Definitely at the top of our list for our next visit to Oahu!

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, romantic getaway.

excellent

Guest: great times (Vernon BC)
Date of Stay: 09/27/11 Review Submitted: 10/30/11

My wife and I just returned from great week at Makaha, the weather was perfect.We want to thank Carolyn and Joe for their help and hospitality. The suite was clean and well maintained,with all the amenities,and the great beach right in front,sunshine all day and a beautiful sunset, a fabalous place to be married on the beach,thankyou again,Roger &Penny

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

Fantastic!

Guest: HDM1 (Missouri)
Date of Stay: 09/18/11 Review Submitted: 11/04/11

The family's first visit to Hawaii was made most memorable staying in Makaha/Waianae. The area was out of the hustle and bustle of the main tourist venues but close enough to all points of interest. The home where we stayed was great. The ocean view is phenomenal. Joe and Carolyn are gracious and accommodating hosts. I will come back and have already recommended their rentals to friends.

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

Fantastic Time! We will return with the Family! :-)

Guest: Jo (Paw Paw, Michigan/USA)
Date of Stay: 04/22/11 Review Submitted: 12/19/11

My husband & I spent our 30th Wedding Anniversary @ Carolyn & Joe's Vacation Retreat. It was relaxing compared to the hustle & bustle of Waikiki & Honolulu. Loved hanging out at Makaha beach watching the locals surf & bookie board. The ocean was very clean and clear compared to the waters in Waikiki & Honolulu. Best Kept Secret on the island of Oahu. Carolyn & Joe treated us like family. They made sure our needs were taken care of. We were able to utilize the water toys, grills, boogie boards, beach chairs, umbrellas, etc. etc. etc. in which Carolyn & Joe provided. Enjoyed going to the front yard and watching the ocean surf, sunsets, sunrises, & surfers off the shore line. There were local grocery stores just down the road in Makaha. When we didn't feel like grilling or cooking for ourselves, we just went to the restaurants down the road. There is a new K-Mart about 20 minutes south of Makaha for those extra necessities the local stores didn't carry. We plan on returning with our children and their families and taking advantage of the other rental properties at Joe & Carolyn's Vacation Spot. Mele-Kalikimaka & Mahalo Carolyn & Joe Until We Meet Again!

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

Paradise!

Guest: Diana49 (Chico, CA)
Date of Stay: 03/12/11 Review Submitted: 03/17/11

I was looking for a quiet, restful location to spend some downtime, whale watch, and explore on a budget during March 2011. This studio met all of that and then some. Carolyn graciously helped me pack my things up the stairs as I have bad knees. I found I could manage the stairs just fine during my stay, I saw whales, watched surfers, and enjoyed the magnificent ocean view right from the backyard. I wish I could pack that view in my suitcase! It is remote and removed from tourist areas which is a plus for me. The Bus stops right out front, but I recommend renting a car. The studio itself is charmingly decorated Hawaiian and is quite large. All essentials are provided. The studio was very clean. I will recommend this rental to my family and friends. I plan to stay here again soon!

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, girls getaway, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Great place

Guest: Mark (Spokane WA )
Date of Stay: 03/10/11 Review Submitted: 03/20/11

Owners are great and our stay here was amazing. Just a walk from the main beach and snorkeling adventurers right out the door.pictures are true. If your looking to get away from the big city this is the place to stay. It's definately not a tourist trap. You do need to drive thru some poorer run down neighborhoods but don't let that fool ya. Amazing surfing right out the door...would come back time and time again

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

Great for R & R !!!

Guest: Kona Kai (Kailua Kona, Hawaii USA)
Date of Stay: 12/28/10 Review Submitted: 01/11/11

This studio apt. was everything we had hoped for. We live on the neighboring Big Island of Hawaii and usually stay at one of the hotels in Waikiki. But what we needed this time was not only a place to stay while visiting family for the holidays, but a place to rest & relax. This was the perfect place! We'll be recommending it to honeymoon friends and small families. The owners were very friendly & helpful. And yes, the owners really are kid friendly as noted in the listing too. Our 8yr. old son really enjoyed the nearby tidal pool (that they recommended)where he could jump off a rock into the pool over & over again. I simply walked in and it's a great place to swim when the winter waves are too rough. Beautiful beach, clean lovely apt. as pictured. Staying at this property was the best part of our trip. We are recommended it to all our friends & family. Just don't expect a lot of night life or activites aside from water sprots or hiking. Get your groceries on the way from the airport because the closest thing around is a local market & a 7/11. But you will find several fast food chains & some local eateries in the area. The Bus stop is right on the street in front of this property so that's convenient too. Great place to stay if you want to get away.

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, families with young children, girls getaway, tourists without a car, romantic getaway.

Cyril and Cecilia (Marysville, WA)

Guest: Cyril and Cecilia (Marysville, WA)
Date of Stay: 12/09/10 Review Submitted: 01/02/11

We spent a wonderful week at this beautiful studio. It was completely relaxing and the setting was gorgeous. The studio was very clean and comfortable and had all the ammenities of home. The hosts were very hospitable and friendly. We would recommend this to anyone we know and in fact already have. Our hope is to return again.

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

Exactly as Pictured

Guest: Ron, Ricki, and Hunter (Phoenix, AZ)
Date of Stay: 10/11/10 Review Submitted: 10/19/10

Myself and 2 teenage daughters stayed 3 nights. Room and area are exactly as pictured. Owners were great. This was our first trip to Oahu. We have been to all the other islands. We decided to stay at 3 locations on the island in the 10 days we had. The idea was to be able to visit most of the island without alot of driving. When we come back we will just stay on the west side and hopefully this place will be available again. If your looking for quiet, almost deserted beaches this is the place.

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

An absolutely wonderful vacation suite, area and accommodating hosts! Will definitely return...

Guest: Troy and Danielle (Nelson, British Columbia, Canada)
Date of Stay: 08/08/10 Review Submitted: 09/09/10

My fiancee and I were looking for the perfect location and accommodation for our honeymoon when we stumbled upon this add. We were quite impressed right away with the look and feel of the suite and sorrounding views. After getting some more information about the place from the owner, we decided to give it a shot. Well, we absolutely made the right decision! We were quite happy to see that everything was exactly as they appeared in the online photos. The suite was beautifully decorated and inviting; It was bright, tidy and well-kept. The ocean was so incredibly close that we slept to the sound of the surf. We even went beach combing at night and saw all sorts of interesting sea life in the tidal pools at low tide. Our hosts (Carolyn and Joe) were amazingly accommodating with snorkling gear, boogey boards and even a sea kayak for us to use. They gave us lots of useful advice on the best places to eat, visit and shop on the island and they were quite right too. At the same time, they made certain to allow us the privacy we were looking for on our honeymoon. We had such a fabulous stay there we decided we'd come back again even before our vacation was over. If you're looking to experience the real beauty of Hawaii, the people, the culture, the lifestyle, and two wonderful hosts all at an affordable price, then we definitely recommend staying here. Thank you Carolyn and Joe for making our stay an enjoyable and memorable one. Aloha and Mahalo

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, girls getaway, tourists without a car, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

We'll definetely come back!

Guest: Al (Indiana)
Date of Stay: 06/20/10 Review Submitted: 07/04/10

It was our first trip to Hawaii and I think we were really lucky to find such a great place to stay. Excellent experience! Studio owners are very nice people and let us use anything we asked for, though we saw them at home just couple of times - looks like they are very busy and work very long hours even on weekends (at least when we were there). As for the place itself - very clean and nice apartment. Furniture and everything looks like new. Very quiet and peaceful location. But what was just phenomenal - the beach, the ocean & mountain views and access to the ocean. Just 15-20 steps and you stand at the edge of the Pacific. Small sandy beach in front of the house or, if you want, big Makaha beach, 100 feet walking distance to the left. We were with our 3 year old kid and small ponds (volcanic lava formed ponds) was just exactly what we needed. Volcanic stones perfectly protected those ponds from big ocean waves. We went to many other beaches on the island, but loved our house beach more than anything else. It's still a surprise for me, why one of the most beautiful locations on the island attracts so few people. The only reason I think, it is relatively far from Honolulu. It takes about 30-40 min to get to the city. 40-50 min to the North shore area and more than an hour to the East coast. Sometimes traffic is an issue, so add 10 min. to the 'normal' times above. Since it was our first trip to Hawaii we wanted to check out as much as we could and spent more time in driving, than initially planned. Anyway, next time, when we come back to Oahu, hopefully this great studio will be available and we just stay longer on the beach at home. This place has everything you need - sun, sand, ocean, SUPER VIEWS and almost nobody around!

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

Absolutely Terrific!!

Guest: Russ & Caroline (Jacksonville, NC)
Date of Stay: 03/19/10 Review Submitted: 03/25/10

Our stay was wonderful! Our hosts were very gracious and friendly--from sharing their home with us to pointing out good places to catch a bite. The studio was nicely decorated with everything we needed. Falling asleep at night listening to the waves crash on the nearby beach was so soothing....slept like a baby every night! We sunbathed, beachcombed, whale watched and surfer watched all from the back yard--awsome! The few days we first spent in Waikiki were fun but the weekend in Makaha was the most like "living" in Hawaii, can't wait to tell all our friends and especially can't wait to go for another visit!

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, romantic getaway.

Guest: Dede L. (-)
Date of Stay: 02/24/10 Review Submitted: 02/24/10

We just returned from another beautiful vacation in Hawaii. Our stay at this studio was great. Everything is modern and clean. Our hosts were gracious and willing to give us access to all beach toys and their washer and dryer. They were very helpful but also let us have our privacy. It's also located to one of the best beaches in Ohua (Makaha Surfing Beach). We definitely would come back again and rent their cute studio! The price was right too! Thank you!

Recommended for:

Great place right on the beach.

Guest: Larry & Barbara (Clio, Michigan)
Date of Stay: 02/22/10 Review Submitted: 03/27/10

We had a wonderful time here. With a great surfing beach right by us. It was so cool to watch them surfing right from the yard. It is a bit of a dive from the city but we liked it that way to be away from the hustle & bustle of the city. The place was well cared for with a wonderful ceramic shower. When we return to Oahu, Carolyn would be the first person we call for a place to stay.

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, girls getaway, pet owners, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Guest: Ken and Lisa 1 ( Boulder, CO)
Date of Stay: 02/06/10 Review Submitted: 02/06/10

We visited here for 10 days the last week of January 2010. We are the typical couple who needed an affordable vacation AWAY from the kids! But we had no idea we could go to Hawaii and stay right on the ocean- not blocks away or even across the street- right ON the ocean (it's in your backyard!) at such an affordable price! Every morning we walked out our front door, down 14 stairs, viewed the shining surf and asked eachother, "Can you believe we're here?" Then we either sat under a provided umbrella on the sand, put on our snorkels (they provide those too) and explored the colorful fish and corral in clear pools right there off the property, swam in the natural protected sand bottomed pool a short walk up the coastline, grabbed provided boogie boards and rode the waves on Makaha Beach next door or enjoyed the spectacular golf course 5 minutes up the valley (nice place to eat dinner too). Plus, the North Shore was an easy drive to 20 foot waves and professional surfer watching on Bonzai Pipeline and Waimea Bay- those guys are crazy! The studio was so extremely clean- it looked like it had just been built last month! Nice stone floors, full equipped kitchen, very comfortable queen bed and generous sitting area. Way bigger than a hotel room at a fraction of the hawaii hotel prices! We drove to crowded Waikiki one day for surf lessons and could hardly find a spot to sit down! Makaha is one of the most beautiful beaches on Oahu (we saw most of them) with a mountain backdrop, gorgeous curling surf and virtually NO people. We shared it with maybe 20 other people- even on weekends! The west coast beaches are a secret to the Honolulu/Waikiki crowd-and that's a good thing! I'm writing this in Colorado watching it snow- can't wait to go back to Paradise!!

Recommended for:

Guest: Joan36 (Ridgeway,Ontario)
Date of Stay: 01/20/10 Review Submitted: 01/20/10

We have just returned from our dream vacation in Hawaii. We started with a week on a cruise and then a week at this studio. This was my favorite week! The studio was perfect..super clean, very tasteful tropical decor, modern, kitchen was well equipped (micro with grill, sink garbage disposal)...well surpassing our expectations. It was very thoughtfully designed, sparing no expense to create a special home away from home. The location is private and the beach setting breathtaking with spectacular sunrises and sunsets. Keep your camera with you...the surf, lava rocks, beach, sky...breathtaking! There are grocery stores (Costco!), restaurants are limited but we found a great local diner that we enjoyed. Studio owners were friendly and anxious to make our stay super enjoyable. I did my shopping and this is the best deal in Oahu. Would go back in a heartbeat!

Recommended for: