AUTOMNE 155 $ EXT BLDG RÉPARATION REDUCTION Hawaiian Princess! SMACK DAB SUR LA PLAGE

We loved staying at your condo in Makaha. The views are spectacular from your lanai. The sunsets were amazing. Slept well every night with the waves crashing. Didn't need the air conditioning with the breeze coming through. Place was well appointed and clean. Pool and hot tub were well kept up and access to beach and snorkeling just down below. We were hoping to swim with the dolphins in at Makua or Yokahama beach down the road. Maybe next time. Fish at Makua and beach in front of condo were diverse. We were lucky to have gotten some snorkeling in before the swell came in but enjoyed watching the surfers at Makaha Surf beach that day. Loved the local Hawaiian feel of the area and how peaceful, quiet and beautiful the beaches were with the mountain range as backdrop. Such a nice getaway from the hustle and bustle of Honolulu. We will be back.

Hawaii may be paradise but finding a reasonably affordable condo to stay for an extended stay was tough. Since we were there for a work contract we didn't want to break the bank on a rental so that we could spend our dollars on surfing, sand, culture, food, and relaxation. Upgraded, clean, full-sized one bedroom (full kitchen/bathroom) and beautifully decorated Hawaii accommodations are generally extremely expensive. Boy did we pick the right place! Steering clear of Honolulu and Waikiki to live in Makaha was the smartest move we could have made. Our condo was immaculate and modern. Each morning I drank my coffee perched on one of our kitchen stools overlooking our balcony. With our private tranquil beach filled with rolling waves, by the time the whale migration began we were set. We watched them surface and breech every morning. It was unbelievable! Afternoons I would take a dip in the pool. Our owners made themselves available to us when needed, which was rare given the excellent set-up of our tastefully tiled and decorated condo. It had all the beach necessities, fully modern kitchen with all up to date appliances, and AC that we really didn't need as the breezes blowing on this side of the island are wonderful. Shower and bathtub excellent with great water pressure. Short drive, or walk even, to amenities, shopping, and little restaurants; and further up the road to one of the most spacious, under-used beautiful white beaches in Hawaii. I cannot say enough about our experience, both with our residence and the owners. In a time of corporate shuffle, overpriced tiny hotel rooms, and impersonal accommodations, we picked the best all around way to experience Hawaii when we picked this place. We called this place, our second home :) Five stars!!!

This is my honest appraisal of this one-bedroom Hawaiian Princess condo on Makaha Beach, written for the benefit of future renters. I was there for 11 nights in February 2015.

The 180+ degree unobstructed view from the lanai is Truly Spectacular. The broad, deep beach is one of the best on the island. That includes 5-star sunsets! The beach has clean, golden brown “sesame seed” sand and was practically deserted. Very Few people were out on the beach the entire time I was there, and about half were surfers I watched from my lanai.

The condo is on the small side, approx 450-550 sf, but was completely comfortable and adequate for 2 adults. The kitchen was extremely clean, well-equipped and perfectly maintained. Furnishings were attractive and in fine condition. Plenty of linens and beach gear. Condo and lanai were private, in terms of both sight and sound. Wifi was fine for email and there was an option to upgrade the internet service, for a small fee. If you need a wired connection, router is in the unit. There is a large, flat-screen TV with HDTV and HDMI inputs (I used it as a computer monitor).

Staff and owners were personable, responsive and helpful. Owners live elsewhere. Facility included secure entry, tennis courts, an outdoor pool and toasty warm outdoor hot tub.

The surrounding area had only a few good attractions and restaurants; however, I recommend visiting “Kahumana Farm” (~3 miles away) for locally grown, organic groceries and restaurant. Try to go for dinner on the First Friday of the month, if your trip dates coincide, for a fun night of free live music and other entertainment. They also offer inexpensive daily yoga classes. For other groceries, I liked Tamura Market.

Traffic entering and leaving the Makaha/Waianae area was frequently heavy. For this reason, I would Not recommend this condo as a base for sightseeing beyond the immediate area.

There were zero insect, noise or privacy problems here.

I am an airline employee and of course get free travel perks. My favorite place to go is Hawaii because it’s WARM & SUNNY plus only a short hop from Oregon. I go a lot! I never even thought about going anywhere but Waikiki until a friend, who just returned from a Hawaii trip, told me about Makaha and these particular owners’ condos. I decided to try Makaha—WHOA! never knew such a piece of “Old Hawaii” could still be found on Oahu! The beach is unbelievably beautiful and not crowded at all—like having your own private beach (on Waikiki Beach, I could roll over and touch the folks on the next beach towel). Makaha locals are very friendly and filled with the “aloha spirit.” Building has excellent security--important to me since I often travel alone. These owners’ condos are all SUPER CLEAN, well maintained, and have all the little extras that beachlovers want: chairs, umbrella, cooler, mat, snorkel gear, and boogie boards. The rates are less than I paid for a tiny hotel room 2 blocks from the beach, and the condo has so much more to offer—even a washer/dryer in the unit as well as FREE PARKING AND INTERNET (I have been paying $35 a day for parking and $15 a day for internet). Bottom line: I will be back as soon as possible—no doubt that this is where we will stay! Mahalo nui!

Rosie

Portland, Oregon

December 2014

We had the good fortune to spend 5 wonderful days at this condo and very much wish to return. The location on the beach is glorious; we enjoyed listening to the rhythmic surf and watching sunsets from the lanai. The amenities of the condo were perfect for us (e.g., binoculars to watch the "green flash", a fully equipped kitchen and plenty of beach chairs and equipment, and a big comfy bed). Can't wait to "slow down" Makaha-style again again.