We traveled with our 3 teenage kids and quickly settled into our new home for the week. Upon arrival the boys took the large master suite in the detached casita that features a covered porch and a eastward view of the ocean and the Mokes. We got the main-house master bedroom and our daughter the second bedroom. Each bedroom had powerful and silent AC, which we really appreciated on the sometimes warm Hawaiian nights. Massive patio doors open on both sides of the house. We'd typically have them open letting the gentle breeze pass through the main living area..great ambiance for the nightly TV ritual or winding down with a book on the front porch in the afternoon. The private backyard pool and patio area seemed brand new with beautiful deep-blue tile and comfortable, garden setting. We loved taking a fresh-water dip and cooling off after being in the salty ocean. The house, which sits up a bit from the street, feels private and airy and is about a block or so from the one of the best beaches on Oahu. The main town (Kailua) is only minutes away from the house by walk, bike or car. Super easy access to lots of low-key restaurants and stores like Whole Foods, Safeway, Target to stock up on sunscreen and rum.
We spent the first half of our trip exploring the island. Typical routine, we'd have a home-made breakfast on the back-porch, pack up some snorkel gear and head off to a beach somewhere on the island, be back early afternoon for a cocktail, whip up a simple, grilled home-cooked dinner...again on the back porch, take dip in the pool and a afternoon walk on Lanikai beach or a hike up to the pill boxes on the hills behind the neighborhood (great for a sunset ritual).
The second half, we spent mostly back "home" exploring Lanikai. With so much adventure out of the way we were able to setting in, relax and enjoy the local area. Being in the water all day for a week, all 3 kids got ear infections, but Kailua and Kaneohe had great urgent care, saw us in short order, Walgreens pharmacy...the usual care you'd expect in your hometown. We found a great body surfing/boogie boarding beach a mile away, and loved having such quick access to more causal walks/swimming/snorkeling/kayaking on our beach down the street. We rode bikes for a great final-night dinner at Buzz's to wrap up our stay. The only thing we'd do differently on our next trip...we'd take casita suite and lets the kids take over the main house.