Vacation Rentals by Owner

Loved it!

Guest: AKfour (Alaska)
Date of Stay: 05/02/12 Review Submitted: 05/10/12

This was an excellent place for our family of four. Quiet neighborhood, good location, comfortable and clean. We will definitely be going back!! The upstairs is gorgeous too, we got to take a peek our last day and would love to stay up there next time. Go see uncle Bryan if you want to surf, they were professional and kind. Thanks to all the wonderful people on the North Shore. Can't wait to go back!

Recommended for:Families with young children

Heart of North Shore

Guest: Birdie (Bellingham, WA)
Date of Stay: 02/09/12 Review Submitted: 02/21/12

The best thing about this place was its perfect location on the North Shore. Accommodations were clean, but worn. Toaster, D/W and laundry facilities all sub-par. We felt mislead about the number of people staying in the unit. There were two people staying in a converted (laundry?) room behind our bedroom, and 7 people staying above our own 4-6 person unit. We heard every footstep and sneeze. The price was great and perhaps we overestimated what our accommodations would be. I have rented with vrbo a dozen times before this and felt, for the first time, mislead. Owners intentions seemed good, and working with Cacia was a pleasure.

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Aloha Danno Book this one

Guest: rick allen kbzy radio salem, oregon (salem, oregon)
Date of Stay: 01/31/12 Review Submitted: 02/11/12

our home away from home, or i wish this were our home, location is everything, if coffee on waimea bay is your cup of tea, or breakfast on the lanai overlooking surf spray on big surf waves is to your liking, or a comfortable place to fix dinner from foodland is what you are after...be here...aloha

Owner response:Aloha Richard! Thanks so much for the great review. So glad you enjoyed your stay, again!

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

Great location and nice place to stay

Guest: Traveler from Boulder (Colorado)
Date of Stay: 08/29/11 Review Submitted: 09/04/11

My husband, baby (15 months) and I stayed here for one week during early September 2011 and we really enjoyed the house. The kitchen had everything that we needed and combined with the grill on the lanai, we ended up cooking at the house every night. We walked to Waimea Bay every time, since the parking lot was always full. However, it wasn't ideal walking with an infant on such a busy highway. But, luckily the walk was short, and it would not be a big deal at all with adults walking to the beach. The only complaint I have was that during part of our stay, the upstairs house had about six people staying there and we could hear everything. From people walking, so talking, to the music playing. It sounded like people were stomping upstairs every time they walked! Since we had our baby taking naps and going to sleep pretty early, we had the fan blasting in his room to cancel out some of the noise upstairs. But even so, it was a little annoying that we could hear so much above us. Overall though, this place was a great place to stay for one week. If we come back, I think we'll try to rent the house upstairs instead!

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

A few days on the North Shore

Guest: John M.
Date of Stay: 07/05/11 Review Submitted: 07/13/11

Nice rental, exactly as described and pictured. Comfortable beds and plenty of room for 4 people. Kitchen has everything you might need. The washing machine and dryer are in a small structure on the backside of the building and are shared with anyone else who might be renting the top half. We used the washer and dryer a few times and had absolutely no problems. No air conditioning, not a problem. We were out doing activities during the day and at night slept with the windows open and fans on and we were all comfortable (stayed in early July). DO NOT MISS - Breakers restaurant, Pizza Bob's, & Haleiwa Joes all in Haleiwa. Giovanni's shrimp truck, Haleiwa or Kahuku. Try a half order of scampi and a half order of Hot-n-Spicy, Eat here daily. Man Its Good!! Kahuku super sweet corn on the cob from one of the vendors along the North Shore or buy some fresh, soak in water for 20 minutes still in the husks, cook on the grill and enjoy! Matsumoto's and Aoki's shave ice in Haleiwa, both delicious. Be sure to get with ice cream in the bottom, you won't regret it. For best results, be sure to eat at least 1 shave ice per day, you'll thank me later. Hawaii Shark Encounters- Unique activity, friendly staff and an awesome time! Kualoa Ranch 2 hour ATV ride. Not an extreme adventure but tons of fun, unforgettable experience & one of the most beautiful places on earth. John M., Rogers Ar.

Owner response:Thanks John for the great review! Sounds like you all had a wonderful time. Makes me want to go have a shave ice immediately. Glad you all lived it up and enjoyed the North Shore. Aloha!

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, families with teenagers, girls getaway, tourists without a car, sightseeing.

The Best 2 Weeks on the North Shore EVER!!

Guest: Bruceo (Victoria, BC, Canada)
Date of Stay: 12/18/10 Review Submitted: 01/19/11

My wife, 15 year old son and I spent two weeks in Carolyne's house over Christmas/ New Years 2010/11 and we had an absolutely wonderful stay! It rained a fair bit this year, but there was also lots of sun and I can't think of a better place to have spent our time. The house is great - clean, well appointed and as close to home as anyone could ask for. There are lots of good books, games and the bikes/beach toys made our daily trips to Waimea Beach (5 minute walk) a major fun experience! This property is DEFINITELY THE BEST VALUE ON THE NORTH SHORE for a family experience that you will ever find. If you're going to go book soon, there's a lot of demand for this property.

Owner response:Aloha Bruce! Thank you very much for your great comments! It is encouraging to know we are doing a good job and offer comfort and value for our guests. Mahalo, Carolyne

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

Guest: Kara Hebb (-)
Date of Stay: 01/20/10 Review Submitted: 01/20/10

We LOVED this property! Steps away from Waimea Bay, it's perfectly located to enjoy the North Shore with a breathtaking commute to the city. Thank you for the helpful tips and for making it so easy to call this space our home for a week!

Owner response:Thank you for you response. We are really glad you enjoyed your stay and took such great care of our place. See you next time. Much Aloha!

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2nd. time better than the first

Guest: Fred from Ontario (Ontario, Canada)
Date of Stay: 03/06/09 Review Submitted: 01/05/10

2 Adults & 2 Teens made this great value rental our home for the 2nd. time. We love the North Shore. It is so laid back compared to Honolulu. Our kids are big fans of LOST, we visited the beach set for LOST, along with the "OTHERS" camp, which are all nearby. My wife and daughter even ran into John Locke (Terry ODonell) at the local Starbucks one morning. There are so many beaches to choose from on the North Shore, some almost deserted. The rental was perfect for us. everything that you would expect to be supplied is there and even some extras, such as coffee beans from John's coffe shop in Haleiwa. We went on many day trips, and took in many of the sights and activities available on the Island. We had to make daily visits for shaved ice in Haleiwa! Can't wait till our next visit to Oahu!

Owner response:Wow! Thank you for the great comment. North Shore is a very special place.

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

Guestbook Comment

Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 02/01/09 Review Submitted: 02/14/09

The beauty of Waimea Valley, seven miles of North Shore beaches and a beautiful setting make Iliohu our home away from home. Three trips in 12 months and we are working on the next trip already. John, upstairs, is always a gracious host and has become a family friend. I highly recommend this rental. For a vacation in Hawaii, this is The Place. Mahalo and Shaka for a great trip. See y'all this summer.

Owner response:It is good to know our home is your home. Thank you for the great comment.

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Guestbook Comment

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

Our flight got delayed, we got stuck in Chicago, showed up 4 days late for a 10 day vacation and... we would do it again in a heartbeat. Our family of 5 stayed comfortably in this wonderful home. The gentlemen upstairs were extremely helpful (they also happen to own the best coffee place in Haleiwa), and we had a blast. This area is surprisingly quiet considering how close it is to highly sought after surf beaches. They even had a pack n play for our infant. The kitchen was stocked allowing us to save some money by making a trip to the nearby grocery store. Our kids were too young to surf, but boogie boards were available, and we even grilled some steaks on the gas grill. We will be back again, and we will definitely stay at this wonderful house again. Thanks for everything and Aloha.

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Beauty, waves, sunsets

Guest: Woolly (Pontypridd, Wales)
Date of Stay: 10/13/08 Review Submitted: 10/23/08

We stayed for 4 days in the middle of October 2008. This is autumn before the winter waves and whales but the Hawaii weather was comparatively inclement and we had several hours of rain and cloud over the 4 days. This proved to be great news for us however as we had 2 days of huge waves in Waimea Bay. The sea temperature was around 80F and these waves are tremendous fun even if like me you don’t surf. The description of the accommodation is accurate and very clean with a large fully functional kitchen, comfortable beds, cable TV, music centre, iron. The bathroom is fine with an excellent shower; you will need your own shampoo etc. There’s no air conditioning but there is a ceiling fan which keeps you cool enough without any problems. John upstairs was helpful without being in anyway obtrusive and supplied us with coffee beans from his store. The walk to Waimea bay is possible along the front (with a bit of cliff climbing) or along the road (no pavement so not the safest). The car park at the bay is nearly always full. We went shark diving (7 miles), sky diving and acrobatic gliding (12 miles) so there’s plenty of adventure out there. We ate in the house each evening so I cannot comment on restaurants or nightlife but my impression is that this is not the place for a stag weekend!! I would recommend this accommodation to anyone and would love to come back one day.

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

Guestbook Comment

Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 10/01/08 Review Submitted: 10/02/08

Another great stay on the North Shore. This was our second time to stay at the vacation rental. Everything was great! The two bedrooms provide plenty of room and the large lanai was great! Take a walk across the street and down the trail for a great view of Waimea Bay from the rock cliffs to the south. We are planning another trip next spring and we hope to stay at Iliohu.

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Guestbook Comment

Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 07/01/08 Review Submitted: 07/24/08

Date of stay: March 2008. We loved this place. Great location, and awesome scenery. Found the beach set for lost (kids loved that). Everything in the unit was as stated. No problems with anything. We will be back in 2009!

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Guestbook Comment

Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 05/01/08 Review Submitted: 05/10/08

A great stay on the North Shore! The rental house was as described, maybe better. Everything was great. We are already planning our next trip. Good value and great location.

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Beautiful Location and Great Place

Guest: StevenR (San Jose, CA)
Date of Stay: 04/23/08 Review Submitted: 05/15/08

The location is great!!! We thoroughly enjoyed our stay here. As a previous reviewer stated, be prepared for heavy traffic on Kamehameha Hwy, especially on weekends, I expected this having been to the North Shore before so it wasn't a big deal. The description provided for this rental is spot on, it is very clean and well maintained. We felt like we were home, I have been to Hawaii before and have never stayed in a Hotel so this is the way to go. It is definitely recommended and we'll definitely be back!!!

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

Guestbook Comment

Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 04/01/08 Review Submitted: 04/24/08

We just returned from 7 very relaxing nights at this property on the North Shore. It was everything that was advertised and more. The house suited our family (2 adults 2 kids) very well. John and Ray (upstairs neighbors) were both extremely helpful and gave great advice on places to go and things to do. We absolutely loved our stay here and would thoroughly recommend it to others.

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Beautiful Location

Guest: R H. (Central Ohio)
Date of Stay: 03/01/08 Review Submitted: 03/11/08

We thoroughly enjoyed our stay at this property. Excellent value for the location. There wasn't a single day we didn't spot whales from the shore and if surfing is your "thing" or just watching like us you can't pick a better spot. You need to be prepared for heavy traffic on the Kamehameha Hwy., but we expected it. We were blessed with the most gorgeous weather and couldn't have enjoyed our week more. The landlords are helpful if you need them, but otherwise allow you to enjoy your privacy. We have traveled a great deal including three previous trips to Hawaii and have not had a more enjoyable time anywhere. The description provided for this rental is totally accurate and as stated before, we felt it was a tremendous value. We could not have stayed in a comparable hotel for twice the money. Definitely recommended.

Owner response:Thank You, It is so great hearing such compliments. We try to make our vacation rental just what we would want when traveling. Comfortable, reasonably priced, safe, clean and well kept. Much Aloha!

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

Guestbook Comment

Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 10/01/07 Review Submitted: 10/21/07

We enjoyed our stay in this holiday home. It is the lower level of a 2 level home with 2 bedrooms, 1 with twin beds which suited our children, fully functional kitchen, bbq out on the verandah & an outdoor table setting. Ray upstairs lent us all the snorkelling gear we needed which was very kind and he also helped carry in our luggage and gave us a rundown of the area. There is a range of chairs, boards, air mattresses on the deck for you to use at the beach if you want, along with a cooler so you can pack up your food & drinks and take them with you as you discover the beautiful beaches nearby. There is a good supermarket about 5 minutes drive north. Waimea Bay is a beautiful beach and only 3 mins by car. A great place for a family of 4 to stay. Will have to get back here to see the big surf one day.

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Great Place !

Guest: TulsaChris (Tulsa, Oklahoma)
Date of Stay: 06/01/07 Review Submitted: 07/16/07

The property was very clean and well maintained. Location is ideal, and the North Shore is the place to be. I have never rented over the internet from an individual before, and quite frankly, Carolyne was most gracious and she wants your experience to be pleasant. Very refreshing, and you really get the Aloha spirit . We'll be back !!

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Guestbook Comment

Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 03/01/07 Review Submitted: 02/28/07

I can't recommend this rental high enough. The kitchen is well stocked and has what I think of as extras as the powder for the dishwasher as well as the washing machine (out back). The bedrooms are lovely and beds extremely comfortable. Bathroom small, clean and functional. It just felt as if that extra bit of care is taken at the place by the owner to make it feel like home. Would defintaley stay there again - just remember to take my own hairdryer as it was the only (and yes I mean only thing) I found that was not supplied. There are even boogie boards, beach mats etc that other guests have left behind for you to use. Compared to palces I've rented in Engalnd this was and is 5 star.

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Guestbook Comment

Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 01/01/07 Review Submitted: 01/05/07

This vacation rental is a steal! What a pleasant surprise after staying in a Waikiki hotel. The unit feels larger than the 650 square feet it is supposed to be. It is actually a two unit home with easy to sweep tiled floors, very modern, well-equipped and yes, the gentlemen upstairs are the best - quiet and helpful. We were at the rental for three nights and there was more than enough room for the 20 or so relatives who joined us for lunch on New Year's Day! You can eat out on the balcony or indoors. The home is located in an upscale area one street before Waimea Bay but you can watch the surfers by walking out to the private point through the path at the empty lot across the street. No beach access here but what a wonderful place to read a book, picnic, or paint. Mosquito spray would be helpful going through the grasses. If you saw the line of cars coming out to watch the surfers, you would see why staying on the North Shore is a big plus. We drove out to The Banzai Pipeline and Sunset Beach where the big waves are. It is a very easy commute to and from the Honolulu International airport using the HI/H2 freeways and parking at the home and on the street was no problem. The Foodland supermarket is just on the other side of Waimea Bay there is a Starbucks next to it. As in most vacation rental houses, bring your own personal shampoos and bath soaps. The home has a laundry in back. Enjoy!

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Guestbook Comment

Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 05/01/06 Review Submitted: 05/29/06

Only stayed here for 2 nights 5/23 thru 5/25/06. House was exactly as discribed. Close to ocean (as discribed). Close to the Polynesian Cultural Center, Dole Pineapple Plantation and several beaches. The brothers upstairs are extremely helpful with any questions or concerns. This was a nice close to our Hawaiian vacation wish I had planned more time here!

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Guestbook Comment

Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 04/01/06 Review Submitted: 04/09/06

The "gentlemen upstairs" are brothers in case that last comment sounded a little funny......Aloha!

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Guestbook Comment

Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 04/01/06 Review Submitted: 04/08/06

Our family of 5 spent our spring break here for 5 days, and wish it could have been more. Our hosts were able to help us with directions and the best place to go for things. Did I mention they own a great little coffee shop down the street? Wonderful vacation, I hope we can come back soon!

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Guestbook Comment

Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 02/01/06 Review Submitted: 02/01/06

The place is sensational and the value is fantastic. Very friendly hosts meant that we were accommodated not only in shelter but in warmth and things to make life pleasant. Definitely recommended - however we want to book it again next Winter so maybe look somewhere else! Thanks to the owners for a wonderful stay!!

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Guestbook Comment

Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 01/01/06 Review Submitted: 01/04/06

This place is awesome. You get an ocean view and it is also very calm and serene. Definitely a MUST SEE!

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Guestbook Comment

Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 01/01/06 Review Submitted: 01/02/06

We lived in the vacation rental for 4 nights and absolutely loved it. The house was perfect and done very tastefully.It was really relaxing and felt just like home. There is a nice patio with a perfect garden around it and a great view of the ocean. I would really recommend this place to everyone who wants to live in the beautiful northshore of Oahu.

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Guestbook Comment

Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 01/01/06 Review Submitted: 01/01/06

We found this two BR unit to be delightfully clean, comfortable and child friendly. Brew yourself a fresh cup of coffee (grounds from the locally owned Coffee Gallery are provided with the unit) and sit on the wooden front porch to watch a community of clownishly cute java finches congregate at the bird feeders in the front yard. Loved those coffee mugs - beautifully designed and substantial. The beds were comfy, and our 2 younger kids liked having their own beds and TV set. The futon in the living room converted into a large and very functional bed that suited our teenager just fine. Beaches, great waves, whale watching spots, and shopping areas were very accessible. All told, this north shore unit and neighborhood provided us a nice quiet place for escape from the hub-bub of Honolulu's urban core. And at a great price. Thanks for everything.

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