Karen was so easy to work with and so accommodating to our needs! Even tho the owners are right next door, we hardly ever saw them, but if we needed something or had questions, they were right there to help!
The home was perfect for our needs! We had five adults and one toddler, and the home was the perfect size, we never felt like we were on top of each other, and the two full size bathrooms were wonderful to have! The kitchen had everything we needed to cook our own meals and there was enough seating around the table for five, but we ate outside on the patio table a lot. The living area is great with two couches, two large chairs, an ottoman and tables, plus a tv with the most dvd's available I've ever seen! The washer and dryer were awesome to have available!
Let's talk about the view! Amazing! The front door is actually where the kitchen/dining room is and the windows are where the living area is, so you are looking out at the ocean from the main part of the house! There is plenty of privacy, although the houses are very close together and you can sometimes hear the neighbors talking if they are outside. No big deal to us tho!
The beach is amazing and the snorkeling is good, it was hard to swim out past some of the reef with the waves, but some of us eventually made it out there. The coral is beautiful! It was greener and brighter than Hanama Bay, but not as many fish to see. There is also a nice sandy swimming hole just a few houses down.
I thought the location of this home was perfect! It's in a quiet neighborhood where everyone is friendly. We were able to drive almost anywhere on the island in less than an hour (except once when we hit heavy traffic and construction). That being said, avoid rush hour traffic at all cost! Some of our family got caught in rush hour traffic and it will take a lot longer to get to your destination! At first you think you are far away from everything, but if you don't mind driving a bit (I love the scenery), then the location is great. This home is in a quiet residential area, so if you want the hustle and bustle of Waikiki, this is not the place for you. There are plenty of restaurants, shops and grocery stores in the area. Walmart is 7 miles away (take your own carry out bags). There are quite a few local eateries if you are looking for good Hawaiian food.
Karen was an excellent host and we LOVED our stay at her home! I would recommend this beach rental to everyone!