The reason to give Cheryl's place a '4' instead of a '5' is mainly due to the exterior appearance of the building. It's an older, Hawaiian building, so don't go expecting it to look like the Ritz. Nothing on the east side of the island is glamorous or fancy. I was a little nervous as we pulled into the parking lot and initially saw the building.

Having said that, Cheryl's condo was terrific and quickly put us at ease. It was clean and the kitchen has been updated so it's quite comfortable. The only interior "issues" were some visible rust spots on the lighting fixture and washer/dryer due to the ocean breezes that flow through the condo (the breeze is awesome by the way!), and the dryer took a while to dry towels. But these were very minor issues. The bed/futons were comfortable and the view (that picture with the view of the ocean from the lanai/balcony is exactly what it looks like!) was a great way to start the morning sitting on the lanai with coffee. Also, being an older cinder block building does have the advantage of being quiet. You never hear neighbors at all.

It's not the best snorkeling beach on the island for coral and fish, but due to the reef that protects it, it is never rough, even when the ocean is kicked up. So it's great for kids to get out and swim. As a swimming alternative, the pool was clean and pleasant.

One of the best points about Cheryl's place is the location. If you want to pay big money to go sit on a fancy beach for a week, eat at fancy restaurants, and do expensive shopping, go to Waikiki. On the other hand, if you want to get out to see and do things, this place is perfectly located between the north and south ends of the island. We only spent 1 day in the Honolulu/Waikiki area visiting Pearl Harbor, etc... The rest of our time was spent between the north and south shores doing activities, snorkeling, etc..., and Cheryl's spot was ideal. There's also great food up and down that side of the island. I'm talking shrimp trucks and authentic places, not coat and tie restaurants.

Bottom line is, don't be put off by the exterior. I wouldn't hesitate to rent Cheryl's place again. Cheryl was very pleasant and easy to deal with. Her place is a great value and leaves you with $$$ to spend doing other things. Thanks Cheryl!