Amala is a lovely studio - stylishly decorated with beautiful custom wood work throughout. The bed was very comfortable and we could hear the ocean waves at night. Jodi always responded quickly and was very accommodating to any request.
We really appreciated how eco-friendly Amala is -- it was the first Airbnb we've stayed at with composting! Amala is powered by rainwater, so it's important to keep water use to a minimum if possible (probably better to avoid doing laundry here if you can, but there is a brand new washing machine if you need it). You may also hear the water pump occasionally, but only if someone is using the water (it doesn't come on otherwise).
We used the studio as a base to explore Cape Reinga and 90 Mile Beach, which worked out great. The studio has a ton of natural light thanks to big windows, but we preferred to keep the blinds closed for privacy when we were there during the day. (Which wasn't often since there is so much to explore nearby!)