When planning this trip, my wife and I were keen to avoid all the commotion of Waikiki and we were prepared to stay on the east side of the island to do this.

We arrived in Hawaii from Australia early in the AM. Jet-lagged and keen for a quick nap to correct the body clocks, we turned up at Yao's hours in advance on the off chance that we might be able to check in a little earlier than scheduled. Fortunately for us, Yao was more than accomodating and was so kind in showing us around her home. (Note: You might not be lucky enough to enjoy this luxury if there's already someone checking out of the room on the same day you arrive, but it's worth asking Yao if you're in the same boat)

Yao is an amazing host! She knows all the hot spots of Hawaii and definitely gave us some good advice for navigating around.

As for the home, it's a ripper. You're literally a few steps away from the Bay, which is a safe place for anyone looking to swim, paddle-board or kayak. Best of all, Yao has all of these available for any guests to use. It didn't take us long to get out on the water and fall in love with the bay.

The home is split into a number of small studios, but they're clean and cute. Everything that you'll need whilst on holiday can be found in the studio. We stayed there while all the studios were full with other people, but it never felt overcrowded or full. It's a well thought out space.

It's actually close enough to everything that you need not worry about its location. There's a bus that runs right to the house, but we'd still suggest a car for anyone staying here. The amenities were all very clean - so don't worry about any of that.

The morning views here can't be matched. Being from Australia, waking up to water isn't all that foreign to us, but these views were definitely something else. The hammock is a nice touch. Be careful, it's comfortable enough that you might also fall asleep in it.

We'd recommend this studio to anyone. It's perfect for couples, but it'd still be good even if you're travelling with kids. It's unlikely we'll ever come back to Hawaii without coming back here.

Thanks Yao for a great stay!