Vacation Rentals by Owner

Incredible getaway!

Guest: Brit & Brett (Indianapolis, IN )
Date of Stay: 04/02/12 Review Submitted: 04/10/12

Our stay at beachside was amazing! Martha was an incredible host, providing us with great recommendations on what to do and places to go to eat. The beach is so close and the beach accessories provided are everything you need for a great time. Kailua town is an easy ten minute walk down the street and has lots of great places to eat. Getting around the island is very easy to do from Beachside as well. It's a great getaway from the busy streets of Waikiki and Honolulu. It's a great place to stay whether or not you have a car, there is so much to do and we certainly did not have enough time to do it all. Will most definitely be back! Shawn and Martha were awesome and extremely welcoming! Thanks so much of sharing your piece of paradise with us!

Owner response:Thanks for your kind note. We really enjoyed having you. I can't tell you how rewarding it is to host our military friends. Thank you for your service. Because of your sacrifice, and the sacrifices of others in the military, we enjoy so many abundant privileges and opportunites! Take care of yourself and, when you're out there on the front line protecting our freedoms, stay strong, keep your head down, and know that we honor and appreciate who you are and all that you do. Aloha and Semper Fi!

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

Best Vacation Ever

Guest: Ryan & Genie (Nashville, IL)
Date of Stay: 02/01/12 Review Submitted: 04/23/12

I was just revisiting this page to see what the rates were to plan our return here next year. It was fabulous!!! My wife and I enjoyed the quietness and comfortable accomodations provided. It was better than described and the suggestion book was extremely helpfu; a godsend infactl! Thank you SO MUCH for telling us about Bacci Bistro and the "hole in a wall beach cafe" up by the PCC. They were both excellent! We are already planning a return trip and will indeed stay nowhere else in all of Oahu. Honolulu/Wiakiki is for those who don't know better; the best beach is Kailua, hands down! Look both ways as far as you can see and there MIGHT be 100 people total on the beach. Not too bad for a beautiful white sand creasant moon shaped beach eh? Stay here, you'll enjoy every minute! Once again, thank you for everything Martha!

Owner response:We were so pleased you had a great stay! This has been a busy year for all of us so, it was wonderful that you could get away from the hustle and bustle to join us that week. I personally was so glad you decided to make that drive to the North Shore and visit Huki Lau Cafe! It definitely is a little hole in the wall cafe...but, it serves some of the best home-cooking on our islan and is one of my favorite lunch stops. By the way, the popular Hollywood movie "Fifty First Dates" was filmed on location there and we loved it! Take care of yourselves. We look forward to seeing you again next year. ALOHA!

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

Charming hospitality!!

Guest: Mike & Kara (Naperville, IL)
Date of Stay: 01/26/12 Review Submitted: 02/01/12

We loved our stay at Beachside!! Mahalo for the use of your wonderful studio! Everything was so nicely done! When we arrived we walked in to a bright and welcoming room with hawaiian music playing and gentle breezes coming through the windows. So many little touches made us feel welcomed and relaxed. From fresh fruit in the fridge to the keurig with stocked coffees/teas...we couldn't have asked for a more pleasant surprise! The decor in the room is lovely and peppered with a few beautiful antiques that made us feel at home. We loved having beach towels provided and all the water sports equipment. Thank you for the small cooler to use - great for keeping the fresh pineapple we bought at a road-side stand, cool at the beach!! Great touches like this make it all the better! The beach is a 2-3 minute walk from the house...easy access and wonderfully safe! We explored the entire island and are so glad that we ended up at Beachside....it is by FAR the best beach on the island! Martha...thanks so much for talking with us as friends, suggestions of places to eat but also allowing us our own space. It was the perfect blend of everything! Next time in Oahu, we are skipping Waikiki and staying at Beachside the whole time!! Thanks so much for great place to make great memories of our anniversary!

Owner response:Kara and Mike, It's February already! Hearts afire! Everyone living at Beachside thought you were on your honeymoon, NOT celebrating your *** anniversary! Shawn and I are so pleased you had a good visit. Life is incredibly fast; so, slowing down to enjoy each other ALONE is always a great investment of time. Next trip, no romantic getaway will be allowed(except for a couple of hours)! Your kids should come along,too. Now that you know Oahu, surfing, paddleboarding, kayaking, and hiking can fill your next visit and tire out the teens, too! Please stay in touch and thanks for the kind words. Aloha, friends! Martha

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

A great location and wonderful hosts!

Guest: Joe and Dorothy (Boulder, Colorado)
Date of Stay: 01/12/12 Review Submitted: 02/16/12

My wife and I truly enjoyed our extended stay with Martha and Shawn. This rental was close to the beach, stores, and town center. We pretty much walked everywhere, and the hosts were very helpful yet discreet. The location was perfect, and the unit was very clean and prepared. Only weeks after returning to our snowy existence, we are already considering a return to Kailua and this perfect setting for a couple. We would recommend to other couples without hesitation. Thanks for everything, Martha!

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

Short Stay, Lasting Memories!

Guest: Neil & Yuko (California)
Date of Stay: 09/15/11 Review Submitted: 10/02/11

We recently stayed here on a last minute trip to Oahu. Martha was wonderful accommodating us in every way she possibly could even with her own busy schedule. This rental is in the best possible location in Kailua; literally a 2-minute walk to Kailua beach, close enough to everything you would want in Kailua town, yet far enough away to be peaceful. The place is exactly as represented in the photos, if not better. The house is newly constructed and spotlessly clean. We made this trip to do research for our move to Oahu next year. Martha provided us with great local information from everything from schools to real estate to traffic that would have taken us weeks or months to find out on our own. Whole family was very helpful and kind. We spent a lot of time on the road and it was wonderful to come back here every evening. Only regret was that we weren't able to spend more relaxing time here. Would love to come back again when it is just the two of us! This is a great rental for two. I will certainly recommend to our friends who visit Oahu.

Owner response:Hi Neil and Yuko! We ae so excited about your prospective move to Oahu! While you were so busy and didn't have much down time at Beachside, I hope your fact-finding mission was successful! If we can provide any additional information or help with your move to the islands next year, please call! We'd love to lend a hand. Beachside and Kaila are places of aloha and we are so happy you were in a position to receive a little bit of it. Happy travels! Please stay in touch. Martha and Shawn

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, tourists without a car, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Perfect!

Guest: Brian and Amber (Monticello, AR)
Date of Stay: 08/02/11 Review Submitted: 09/02/11

Wow!! That pretty much sums it up. Brian and I had a wonderful time celebrating our 10th anniversary in your little piece of heaven on earth. We couldn’t have asked for a better place to stay or more beautiful beach! There were several time we were the only two people on the beach! Thank you so much for sharing with us. It was so nice to have everything we needed right there. We especially enjoyed all the little extras. We really appreciated how welcoming you guys where! Hope to return soon! - "Your Arkansas People" - Brian and Amber Hairston

Owner response:Hi Amber and Brian! I am so happy to hear from our Arkansas 'kinfolk'! As I write this, I'm looking at that terrific family photo you left behind...such a beautiful family! Thank you. All is well here. We've had a busy month with two major cross-country races near and at Kualoa Ranch on the North Shore. Do you remember Jurassic Park? Many parts of it were filmed here in Oahu. Anyway, this past Saturday, our daughter ran in a race that went straight through some huge 12' X 20' dinosaur tracks that had been created in Ka'a'awa Valley just for the movie!! Do you remember the scene where all those ostrich-looking dinosaurs stampeded through the valley and the two children and the professor hid behind the huge log? Well, we were in that valley, reliving that same Hollywood chase scene. The only difference was that the stampede we experienced was 200+ high school runners from all over the country running through that valley...It was great fun! Come back soon. Our 'kin from Arkansas' always have highest priority! Aloha, Martha and Shawn

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Spic and Span and more

Guest: Jack (Tacoma)
Date of Stay: 07/21/11 Review Submitted: 10/01/11

The apartment was absolutely clean, with a fruit bowl set out, coffees to choose from, found exactly as advertised and more. We loved the comfort, independence, and privacy of the apartment. Very short walk to the beach. I walked from Kailua town back to the apartment once in the heat of the day - about 15-20 minutes, very enjoyable. Kailua is a great little town; we will be checking back with Martha if we can ever get back to Hawaii.

Owner response:Hi Jack! It is a small world, indeed! What a pleasure it was having the two of you stay at Beachside! Never in our wildest dreams could we imagine having close mutual friends in Washington. We're still enjoying the book you gave us; Shawn and I have had some good chuckles about our personality traits. Carol is quite the writer and we are both so impressed by her insight into people. Please come back soon. We give frequent visitor discounts, especially to those who know us so well!! ALOHA AND ENJOY THAT BEAUTIFUL PACIFIC NORTHWEST FALL WEATHER FOR US!! We're ready to make a quick escape to that beautiful church camp retreat of yours! Basketball, anyone?? Warmest regards, Martha and Shawn

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

Perfect Vacation in Kailua!

Guest: Amy (Nashville, TN)
Date of Stay: 06/22/11 Review Submitted: 07/04/11

Beachside was the perfect place to stay for our one week getaway in Kailua! The location is fabulous and the studio had everything we could have possibly needed during our stay. All the little details really made our stay complete. They had beach chairs, umbrellas, boogie boards, beach towels, etc. for us to use....and had fresh Hawaiian fruit and macadamia nut goodies waiting for us upon our arrival. My only complaint is that we couldn't stay longer! Martha was great to work with and we truly appreciated all of the amenities provided at Beachside. We are already daydreaming about our next vacation to Kailua and would definitely stay here again! :)

Owner response:Hi Amy! I'm so happy you had a good visit! From all outward appearances, it looked like you were never home! You guys were on the go from sunrise to sunset...Please come back again so I can get the chance to spend some time with you. It isn't often that I am away when we have guests but, I know Shawn enjoyed playing host in my absence. I trust life in Nashville will be good this summer...plenty of sunshine and an endless choice of counrty music festivals! So nice! Take care. A separate letter (via snail mail) will be on its way to you later this week. You were awesome guests....Aloha!

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

Quality Rental, Great Owners!

Guest: Richard & Joan (Colorado, U.S.)
Date of Stay: 04/26/11 Review Submitted: 05/18/11

We rented Beachside for 8 nights, & give it a glowing review! Great location! Extra-clean studio apartment overlooks the owner's home & beautiful garden. Onsite parking. Super-nice, large studio apt., well-furnished, decorated w/ good taste, & equipped very well. Everything in the apt. functioned well. Nothing inferior, broken, or annoying. Listing photos accurately reflect the rental's appearance. There's a deck with table & 2 chairs on it for sitting outside. Inside, it's spacious & comfortable. Everything is in like-new condition & well-maintained. Leather & wood furniture are in the living area & a very comfortable queen size bed, 2 night tables, & a book/towel shelf in the bedroom area. No divider, but that didn't bother us. Bathroom is separate, of course. While not huge, the bathroom is nice & functioned perfectly well. The fixtures felt new. Owners thoughtfully provided starting paper and cleaning supplies for both kitchen and bath. Linens are very good hotel quality. Air conditioner cooled entire place quickly, but needed only in afternoon. Breeze almost always blowing off the water. Enjoyed ceiling fan. Kitchen is well-equipped. No oven, didn't miss it. Microwave, 2 burners, toaster, coffee maker, deep electric frying pan/cooker. Plenty for baking or cooking almost anything. Gas grill. Full-size refrigerator w/freezer. Owners thoughtfully sent up extra coffee and some special treats. When we arrived, there were some delicious goodies in the fridge!. Martha & Shawn went above and beyond being helpful and accommodating some special requests we had due to allergies. Lovely people, very friendly & interesting, yet respectful of our privacy. 2-minute walk to the gorgeous, clean beach from the apartment, down a sidewalk past two houses, around the corner, a few more houses to the beach access. Owners considerately provide beach towels, beach chairs, cooler, etc. for the perfect beach outing. No washer/dryer, but open-air laundromat in town. Highly recommended! Would go back in a heartbeat! Be sure to have entry instructions into the apt. before you arrive! Much to do on Oahu, & everything is near. Great guide books in apt. All beach/water activities. 25-30 minutes to Honolulu and Pearl Harbor. Drive up coast to N. shore. Explore mountains, waterfalls nearby. Sea turtles up the beach! Fave restaurant: Lemongrass Vietnamese & Thai Cuisine. Very fresh! Excellent curry! THANKS MARTHA & SHAWN!!!

Owner response:Hi Joan and Richard! We hope your flight home was uneventful and that the weather in Colorado was beautiful once you returned. We enjoyed having you at Beachside...and, thanks for the glowing review! We look forward to having you back. The door is always open! Aloha, Martha and Shawn

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

'Our Romantic Retreat'

Guest: Precious (Prince George, BC, Canada)
Date of Stay: 04/15/11 Review Submitted: 05/18/11

Aloha, Martha and Shawn:) We are still day dreaming about our amazing 9 days with you. Your 'Beautiful Suite' made us feel right at home and everything that you provided us with, including your warm hospitality, was the icing on the cake. We will highly recommend you and look forward to staying with you again real soon:) Sending Blessings, Denise & Dwight

Owner response:Aloha Denise and Dwight! Aloha Denise and Dwight! Our family still talks about your big beautiful shiny blue Harley Davidson motorcycle......Shawn coveted it! While listening to your daily tales, we both agreed that your experiences on the island now rival those of any local resident. We are so glad you had a good time. And, we must apologize for that first day of rain....all of us were ovrwhelmed by that deluge! One very good thing resulted.....now everything is even more beautiful and green because of it! Have a great summer and please make plans to return. We'd love to have you! Warm regards, Martha and Shawn

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

Great Place to enjoy Kailua!

Guest: Marlene & Don (St. Louis)
Date of Stay: 02/08/11 Review Submitted: 03/07/11

We just returned home after two delightful weeks at the Beachside. This place has everything you could want or need for a stay in Kailua. The room was large, comfortable and equipped with all of the little extras that make it feel like home. We walked the beach every morning and made use of the furnished beach equipment. Martha and Sean are friendly and helpful, answering any questions that we had about our stay. The grounds are picture-perfect, the place is well-maintained and clean. The photos and description on the website are accurate. This was our ninth visit to Kailua Beach and Beachside was, by far, the most pleasant place we have rented. You will not go wrong by booking the Beachside.

Owner response:Hi Don and Marlene! Thanks for those kind words! We and Beachside survived the Tsunami and experienced no damage to the property or surrounding area. Our beach still looks grand and we even went boogie boarding on the Saturday morning afterward. The waves were great! Look us up next time you plan on returning. We sure did enjoy your visit and all the good wishes later. Did your daughter and her husband hear from their friends in Japan? They are in our prayers. Aloha, Martha and Shawn

Recommended for:Age 55+, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

The Perfect Wedding Retreat

Guest: Jeff (North Carolina)
Date of Stay: 09/18/10 Review Submitted: 09/14/11

It's hard to put into the words how fabulous this place is. Martha and her family were simply the nicest people we have known and feel like we have made new friends. Me and my wife (Kimberly) got married on the 22nd of Sept., 2010. Marthe had the place ready for us when we got there (I believe we were the first couple to get married and stay in this studio). I will never forget the morning of our wedding. It was raining and Martha and her daughter were taking our wedding pictures. We were all soaked but it was the most joyfull experience of our lives. Martha even got up before sunrise again the following Saturday to take more pictures. They came out beautifully and we will never forget the friends we have made from this stay. We hope to come back very soon and stay again. I know it has been a year and I am not sure why I haven't put this in sooner. Our 1st aniversary is coming up next week. If you are looking for a Romantic getaway our a fabulous place to stay I would HIGHLY RECOMMEND this studio. To Martha and Family, thank you for being a part of our wedding and our lives. Best wishes always and we can't wait to see you again (I don't think we will be able to wait until our 5th anniversary), Jeffrey and Kimberly Grove

Owner response:Hi Jeff and Kimberly! Oh my! I just found your review this morning on the website. Thanks for the kind words. Christi and I remember your wedding like it was yesterday. In that little beachside grotto, you had one of the most beautiful and intimate ceremonies I have ever had the opportunity to witness...rain showers and all!! I still chuckle about our second attempt to get some sunny sunrise wedding photos and then running into the Honolulu Marathon 13.1 mile training race....So much for our well laid plans that second morning! Weren't there 1000+ runners between us and our 6:01 AM sunrise photo shoot?? Oh well, it's a story to tell! I hope all is well with you. We look forward to having you back at Beachside someday soon. Aloha, Martha

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Perfect vacation lodging

Guest: Rhonda T. (Colorado Springs)
Date of Stay: 09/04/10 Review Submitted: 09/11/10

We just arrived home from a week at Beachside. Martha and family are warm, attentive, and hospitable, and the apartment itself was comfortable, clean, well designed, and supplied with everything we needed. Beachside is located only a short walk from a large, beautiful beach and is in a safe neighborhood. Also, we loved the town of Kailua. It was a restful and refined setting compared to the hustle, bustle, and constant noise of Waikiki. We were able to easily reach day trip destinations like the North Side, Diamond Head, snorkeling on the West Side, and a special dinner in Honolulu. Thank you, Martha. We hope to visit again!

Owner response:Hi! It was such a pleasure having you stay at Beachside. Maybe you'll return to Hawaii next year and take us along on all your adventures! Every time you pulled away from the property in that snazzy convertible we just wanted to jump in and join in all your fun. You seemed to have a corner on the "happy-go-lucky" meter. Come back soon! We've still got the lights on and Hawaiian music is playing! Your orchid leis are hanging in the plumeria tree! Aloha, Martha and Shawn

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Navy Reservist Enjoys Stay in Kailua for Annual Training!

Guest: Mary (St. Louis, MO)
Date of Stay: 06/20/10 Review Submitted: 08/01/10

I am truly grateful that there was no lodging available at Pearl Harbor for my annual training!!! I stayed in this beautiful and relaxing studio for my two weeks of annual training and enjoyed a stress-free and easy commute to Pearl Harbor and the beautiful Kailua beach during my off-time. I had my own parking spot and access to beach equipment (chairs, kayak, towels, beach mats) and a bbq grill. It was truly unbelievable and a much better experience than my colleagues had staying in Waikiki! What was even better was the incredible hospitality of the owner, Martha. From when I first contacted her to even after my stay, she made sure that I had everything I needed and did everything she could to make my stay perfect. I have already recommended this property to my family and plan to return to it the next time I am visiting Hawaii.

Owner response:Hi Mary, Hooray! You'll be back! It was our pleasure hosting you during your reserve training period with the military! Now that you've returned to the mainland, I hope everything has settled into place with your new career and relocation. As for Beachside, life is still grand in paradise and we look forward to hearing from you again. Our door is always open! Again, thanks so much for your sweet note. Best wishes and aloha, Martha

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

Kevin & Donna

Guest: Kevin & Donna (Jacksonville NC)
Date of Stay: 05/25/10 Review Submitted: 06/10/10

It is hard to put in to so few words how wonderful our stay at Beachside was. We spent 10 wonderful days there. Everything was just as described and more. Martha took very good care of us right down to giving us tips on where to see the green sea turtles,which we're amazing, to having all our needs met as soon as we arrived. I can not imagine staying anywhere else when we return. Anyone thinking of visiting Oahu and being only a few minute walk to the most beautiful Kailua beach you must stay at Beachside. It was clean, comfortable and so cozy and only a short walk to Kailua town where there are restaurants,coffee and shopping. We are looking so forward to our return to Beachside. Mahalo Martha and your family for sharing Beachside with us and your beautiful little piece of paradise. Kevin & Donna

Owner response:Kevin and Donna, You are both too kind! We are so happy you had a good stay and we look forward to having you return. As for me, I can no longer drive our coastal road and visit Turtle Beach without thinking of you guys, that snazzy camera, those sunburned feet, and the many hours you spent befriending our honu!! Warmest regards and much aloha, Martha

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

Guest: Lee25 (Fairfax, Virginia)
Date of Stay: 02/09/10 Review Submitted: 02/09/10

Lee Fairfax, Virginia My compliments on your beach house web site. The description and pictures are lovely and are excellent examples of Hawaiian hospitality. The setting on one of the prettiest beaches in Hawaii makes it very inviting. I am glad I found your address, and plan to ask for a reservation my next visit to Oahu.

Owner response:Thanks so much! We are excited about the prospect of your visit from Fairfax!!

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Guest: Flint and Colleen (Portland, OR)
Date of Stay: 02/01/10 Review Submitted: 02/01/10

We had a fantastic stay. The studio was clean. We had easy beach access and top notch hospitality from our hosts. These all made our visit very memorable.

Owner response:We're so happy you had a fun stay! Hope you come back soon!!

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Guest: Julia & Raymond (Sunnyvale, CA)
Date of Stay: 12/06/09 Review Submitted: 12/06/09

This is a great place to stay. The property is super new and super clean. The owners are very friendly and thought of EVERYTHING we might need. The location is very central - 5 houses from beach access, a few blocks to kayak rental shop, deli, shaved ice, etc.

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Guest: Joey & Sharon Bonnot (Ganado, TX)
Date of Stay: 10/12/09 Review Submitted: 10/12/09

This property is a wonderful place to be! The owners are exceptionally hospitable, the facility is especially nice, and the beautiful beach is easily accessible. If you are looking for a great place to stay, either for business or pleasure, this is it! Aloha!

Owner response: You'll have to come back real soon. Your New Jersey relatives are already making plans to visit. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you for the recommendation!

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Guest: Christi5 (Cambridge, MA)
Date of Stay: 10/01/09 Review Submitted: 10/01/09

I loved my visit to Beachside! The property is gorgeous and located within a block of the beach. I give it two thumbs up!!! :-D

Owner response:We're looking forward to your return visit this March!!

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