Guestbook Comment

Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 05/01/05 Review Submitted: 05/01/05

We recently returned from a wonderful stay at Mala Pua Hale in Kailua, HI. The property is exactly as represented in the photos and description and we would stay there again. The property manager was very helpful and the owners promptly refunded our deposit after our stay. We would recommend this property.

Recommended for:

Hawaii Vacationer

Guest: Kevin72 (Danville, CA)
Date of Stay: 08/03/11 Review Submitted: 08/31/11

This is my second time staying with this Kailua house. We have stayed at both rentals on property and this larger one is huge and great for a family. AC units throughout and very open inside and private to the outside world. I rarely have had a private garage, full size washer dryer and such a stocked kitchen in a rental. Having the full washing facilities were great for beach towels and a family and packing light. 5-10 min. from some of the greatest beaches in Hawaii and 2 min. to Safeway! Wish we could have stayed longer but had to get back to the real world. See ya next year! Warmest Alohas!

Recommended for:Sightseeing, adventure seekers, families with young children, families with teenagers.

Had a truly Magical Time! Did not want to leave.

Guest: Marlie (Montclair, NJ)
Date of Stay: 05/08/11 Review Submitted: 07/13/11

I don't know why I am so fixated on that Kona Sunrise coffee that the hosts supplied us with, but I have this beautiful impression still left in my head of sitting out on the lanai with a full pot of Kona in the kitchen and a colorful Hilo Hattie cup of black coffee next to my nose. So many memories and so many happy events. We had two generations with us, my wayward youngsters haven't started their own families yet. We talked so much at the table while popi performed miracles on the gas grill. Loved the garden, loved the lanai, loved the location and loved the hosts. So sweet. Loved walking down to "Obama Beach" as they called it. (Where Mr. Pres. stays in winter) All I can say is Mahalo, Mahalo, Mahalo and Aloha, Aloha, Aloha

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

Rented property 5/29/11 to 6/5/11

Guest: Paul (Clarkdale, Az.)
Date of Stay: 05/29/11 Review Submitted: 07/04/11

I began a review earlier, but ran out of space. Havng lived in Kailua, (on the beach) staying near the beaches is great as we have gone back 5 years in a row. This property is all that was available, and we felkt lucky to get a booking. bUt boy were we dissapointed when we got there. Shoddy furniture that requires throw pillows on top of lumpy sofas, i probably the biggest ripoff there is. We put up with the leaky roof (five pots caught the water) and Caroldid call ot a roofer to repair the rolled roofing (something I know alot about!) She was nice enough to treat us to a bottle of good champaigne, but she needs to take some of her overpriced rental money, and buy some decent furniture. Also, when I read a previous review, Carol said she had refurbished the kitchen cabinets. The cabinets are old, poor fitting, and the first cabinet door to the left of the stove hangs by one hinge. Why wouldn't a cleaning woman bring this to her attention? We would NEVER rent this place again!

Owner response:Sorry to hear that this family of four was unhappy with the furniture and feel that they were ripped off because of it. We haven’t raised the rent in 6 years. Most of the furniture in the house is koa and teak and woven natural materials from Bali. Shoddy is definitely not an accurate description. However, we will take a look at the rattan couch and woven chair in the living room with the throw pillows and see if we can’t find something more comfortable. Everyone has different taste in furniture and we certainly can’t second-guess what our guests will like or find objectionable. We can only do our best to make the house attractive and comfortable for families. We can’t apologize enough for the roof that leaked onto the tile floor during one of the most severe series of rainstorms we have experienced in 20 years. Our neighbor’s retaining wall collapsed and many people were flooded. We have had that leak repaired previously and this was just too much rain too fast. All is well again. Re: Kitchen cabinets. The cabinets were “refurbished” not “replaced.” Hinges get loose from time to time and then they have to be repaired which we did. Some people are harder on cabinet doors, than others, so hinges come loose. Our intentions are to always please our guests and hope that all will find our efforts satisfactory.

Recommended for:

What a wonderful week we had at this very comfortable home away from home!

Guest: Liz (NC)
Date of Stay: 05/13/11 Review Submitted: 06/24/11

This property was perfect for the eight of us while we visited for my daughter's graduation from the University of Hawaii. The house is comfortable and spacious, with a very well-equiped kitchen. The pictures online don't do the house justice! The owner lives close by and helped us with anything we needed. The house is clean and very well cared for. It was particularly lovely sitting outside having coffee every morning with the birds singing and the wonderful gardens surrounding us. The house is easy to get to and in a nice quietly relaxing neighborhood. We had three generations with us, my children and their significant others, my spouse, and my parents who are both in their 80's. The house is very easy to get around and quite comfortable. Not only would I recommend this house to friends but if we go back to visit we would love to stay there again. We had a wonderfully relaxing week.

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

Great for Kids, We'll be coming back!

Guest: The BeeBees from Boston (Massachusetts)
Date of Stay: 04/11/10 Review Submitted: 05/22/11

An amazing time at this "hale!" It was great for the kids (6 and 8) and it was so bright and airy. We had everything we needed to make our stay the best! Having boogie boards and snorkeling equipment made our beach experience so much more pleasurable. So great to not have to go out and buy things like beach chairs, beach towels, sand toys, etc. Loved our host, she told us so much about the history of Hawaii and local language like "hale" "keiki" "mahalo". We felt like real locals, living like Hawaiians. Town of Kailua was so much nicer than the brassiness of Waikiki. But we still loved hopping over the "Pale" to go there. We're coming back next year and I'm looking forward to this place feeling even more like home. There's something about parking your car in your own garage each night after exploring. Before I forget, ask host about local restaurants... Mahalo! everyone.

Recommended for:Families with young children, families with teenagers.

Not so Private Home, misrepresented in many ways

Guest: Diane (Seattle)
Date of Stay: 03/18/11 Review Submitted: 05/11/11

We stayed here for one week in March with two toddler girls and four adults. We were very surprised to find out after we got there that there is another rental unit on this property as well as the owners, so I would not say it was private. The pictures on VRBO are much nicer than in real life. The property needs much TLC. We were not informed prior to our arrival that there was "construction" going on, which was a ditch and the owners knew we had children in our party. Apparently there is an imaginary boundry of the Bougainvilla bush that is the cut off for the renters in the big house. We didn't know that the "lush garden" as described in the listing was only partially for our use. Carol, the owners mother informed us in a very aggressive manner. The other major discrepancy is the Gecko problem. I have been to Hawaii in rentals many times, and have never had a problem such as this house. The Gecko poop was not just a little, it was everywhere, so if you have young children in the house, I would not recommend it. It is very toxic. The screens were falling apart on the doors. The patio has a sad looking bamboo bar that's pushed up against some overgrown brush. The carpets are stained. The neighborhood is not in an upscale area. The upscale area is within walking distance, but for sure not in this neighborhood. It took over a month to get the security deposit back. When I complained to VRBO there was nothing they could do. I do not think they are licensed, which means they do not abide by the rules and laws of rentals. When I asked for a portion of our money back, they did not even respond to our complaints of the home. Rent at your own risk! We would have left if we could, just couldn't afford to pay for another place after paying for this place. There are many options to staying in Kailua, I would recommend looking elsewhere. There is a reason there are some bad reviews on this property.

Owner response:A 3-bdrm, 2-bath main house with 2 lanai (one 200 sq. ft) is at the front of the property. A 2-story guesthouse & lanai is at the rear of property with a 1-bdrm ground level apt. There are separate entrances & complete privacy to all. We advertise both on VRBO. Prospective renters are advised to go to our Web site where the 2 properties are plainly listed. We live in the upper level apt., the better to manage the property. Many guests say our presence makes them feel more secure. The main house & garden-level guesthouse apt. are often rented together. When this family arrived, they inquired how far back on the property their children could play. I explained that they could go as far as the bougainvillea (past it is the lanai for the garden-level guesthouse apt.). I also mentioned that there might be some workers repairing the City/County easement (some 50 ft back from their lanai). We didn’t know if/when the workers would be there. We were awakened at 7 a.m. 6 days into their stay by children playing & adults talking. The 2 women from the main house were sitting on the lawn & back lanai of the guesthouse having breakfast & talking while the children played. I told them that they were not allowed back there - it wasn't part of the main house and they were right under bedroom windows. It was not safe for the children because of the City & County easement. Later, this guest called to apologize & left a nice note in our guest book upon departure: “Thank you for letting us enjoy your house,” & sent a note: the front-door screen was “probably damaged by the overgrown tree.” The “overgrown” tree, a giant Bird of Paradise, did not tear the screen. We still repaired it & thanked her for telling us it needed work. The “sad” bar is happy again no longer pushed up against “overgrown brush” better known in Hawaii as tropical ferns & papyrus. The carpets are shampooed as often as time permits. This neighborhood consists of homes in the $750,000 to $1.3 million range; its residents are primarily professionals: doctors, lawyers, educators, etc. Professional? Upscale? Symantics. Once they received the damage deposit, they sent an e-mail asking for 1/2 their money back, implying that they would cause us trouble (such as this review). We don’t respond to threats. We don’t understand why they expect a refund. They did not pay for the guesthouse & its lanai. They paid for the 3-bedrm, 2-bath house with 2 private lanai, & somehow managed to enjoy the house for 7 nites.

Recommended for:

VERY NICE EXPERIENCE

Guest: The Oregonians (Springfield, Oregon)
Date of Stay: 02/16/11 Review Submitted: 05/06/11

Our group of seven enjoyed Kailuahouse very much. Comfortable spacious accommodations in a great neighborhood with close access to shopping centers, beaches, and highways to amazing sites. 15 minute ride to Honolulu. Highly recommended for a vacationing group.

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

6 week stay

Guest: Cathy (Aiea, HI)
Date of Stay: 03/31/11 Review Submitted: 04/28/11

We enjoyed our 6 week stay at this location. Close enough to walk to the beach and a wonderful quiet neighborhood. Carol was very helpful, making our relocation to Oahu much easier. Any issues were addressed quickly, with consideration of guests needs or comfort. We appreciated the supply of outdoor sporting goods (snorkling equipment, boogie boards, coolers) that are available without extra charge. Carol & John, thank you for a wonderful stay.

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

Filthy and needs upgrading& false advertising

Guest: Irv (Melfort/ Saskatchewan Canada)
Date of Stay: 02/24/10 Review Submitted: 04/22/11

This house was not what was described in the listing for our once of a lifetime holiday with our friends and child, I pondered writing something for a year, and finally decided I don't want anyone elses vacation ruined. I haven't looked at this listing untill today and seen that someone had the same issues as us with the Geccos. The 2 nights we spent there were the most disturbing nights of sleep I ever had.Coming from a rural town in Saskatchewan, Canada I have seen my share of mice and rats, but never in my home.... Now when Carol said there is nothing we can do as they are the natural pest of the island thats fine, but at home Mice are our pests and like I said I have never had a mouse in my house here, and in one night we counted up to 8 geccos on the wall. That was one thing but the gecco droppings were on the rug, on the walls, on the window sills, it was everywhere,We wouldn't even leave our suitcases unzipped. We were going to make a Pizza in the oven and when we opened it it was the most digusting thing I have seen. Also she excleded to tell us that the kitchen had a 1 foot drop off when she knew we had a 1 year old child with us. The room our daugter was to sleep in had ants crawling up the wall & the light socket crackeled & buzzed when we turned it on. We were scared of fire & did not want insects crawling on our 1 year old. Needless to say, we did not have her sleep in that room & slept with us instead. That was a let down to us, as we chose this proprty so we could give her a seperate room from us & our friends. The yard said it was enclosed & really is not. The house next door was under extensive renovations, so on day 3 we told Carol that we had enough and wanted our money back. She seemed shosked and said that it has never happened before, now I see on a difefrent review this wasn't the first instance. Anyway we got next to nothing $$ back ( for sleeping there 2 nights out of the 10) and we went and rented a way nicer place for a lot cheaper in the same area. We wrote Carol a letter when we got back and never recieved a response so I guess that is how much she cares .Since this has happened to others, it makes me wonder maybe this is what they want, what an easy way to make money. Rent out the place for 2 nights & keep 2/3rds of the money. Seems easy to me. Any way my word of advice is there is nice places for less money so keep looking. Don't let this place ruin your holiday like it just about ruined ours.

Owner response:When this family stayed in our home over a year ago, the house next door was under renovation. It was supposed to be finished. Eventually it was completed. Phew! RE: The dirty self-cleaning oven. Cleaning svc. forgot to turn a switch. I offered to have them return to clean whatever the family felt was dirty. The offer was refused. For the record, we have a new cleaning service. We didn’t answer this family's letter as we don’t respond to threats. The review implies that mice & rats were in the house (there was none) & compared them to geckos, small lizards that don’t hurt people, eat insects & poop. Gecko diapers? 20 years in Hawaii & we’ve never seen 8 geckos at once inside. Possibly they were outside? Outside lights attract insects which, in turn, attract geckos. The light switch (not socket) that crackled was replaced after their departure. If they had mentioned it right away, not in a letter 2 months later, it would have been replaced then. We expect renters will notify us if something is broken so we can repair it. We asked the renter to tell us if they saw ants in the house. Our pest control service addresses such problems in between regular service. No mention of ants until we got the letter. Note: The so-called one-foot drop from kitchen to dining area is a small, 5 ½ “-step. This family booked 9 nights (not 10) & paid a package rate less than the open rate. Our cancellation policy also applies to early termination. No refund unless we book the time period left on your rental. If we book the time period left we will prorate the number of nights you have stayed at the current open nightly rate for that time period. Any balance remaining would be refunded less cleaning fees and termination fee. Construction on adjacent properties or conducted by City, County or State is not reason for termination of rental agreement, nor reason for refund of any monies. Contact with insects, rodents & geckos and/or their droppings inside or outside of the house is not reason for termination, nor reason for a refund of any of your monies. Hawaii is a tropical climate in which these creatures flourish. We make every effort to hold your interaction with these creatures at an absolute minimum including regular professional pest control. We have welcomed 250+ families over the years. Less than a handful of complaints is testimony that we are responsible, honest homeowners. Most comment on how clean & quiet and like home the house is. Our advertising is not false.

Recommended for: