Aloha!! This house truly is a home away from home! When we vacation, we are not city or big crowd people and main goal of our vacation was to escape and find some tranquility. We are from Atlanta area and in-laws from New York City area.
The “mushroom house” really offers that feeling of peacefulness! The location couldn’t be more perfect!
We rented a jeep and it was truly a life saver! No long excursion bus rides or waiting for the north shore buses. This location is perfectly situated backed up to Kualoa Ranch where there are numerous things to see and do!! Across the street is great access to the beautiful Pacific ocean, but with high tides you gotta walk down just a tad and you’ll find a nice spot to soak up the rays and go swimming. But if you don’t want to swim, the rocks are a great place to sit on and meditate.
The location is nestled right in the perfect location that can get you some North Shore spots or south shore spots in no time!!
The personal touches were appreciated. This home is a family heirloom and has a history. With that in mind, don’t expect some high end marble countertop luxury suite. It’s a home!!
A cozy beach house on the North Shore windward side. The doors are perfectly set to allow a nice breeze. However, it can get hot and be sure to keep fans going or air gets muggy quick. There will be some bugs, but again, it backs up to a forest/jungle. Nothing that can not be dealt with. Keep lights dim at night and we used some citronella and it was doable. We even enjoyed a bbq on the lanai. Bugs enjoyed it too, but the geckos and chickens seem to help!
We are four adults but fell in love with the wild chickens and played with them often!
They greeted us every day and were never a nuisance. We had a name each one and I think “Brownie” was the family favorite. He sat at the back lanai door all the time. There are geckos in the house. However, they do not bother you at all. In fact they are natures exterminators. We let them be. Just do a wipe down of countertop or table before eating.
The personal touches were so appreciated. History of house, endless towels and beach gear. Maps, recommended places to see and eat. When at Kualoa Ranch they all knew the “mushroom house”! (Try and get Uncle Pete as jungle guide). Daily you can see horseback riders in the distance. But house is nestled down a 50ft dirt road off Kam. Hwy so privacy is great!
The area is truly breath taking!! It sits on west side of island so head out across the hwy (easy to cross) and sit at the tree on the rocks and you’ll be blessed with endless pictures of a colorful sunrise over the ocean. The back lanai is a great view of the mountains and jungle. Takes you away from the craziness of a tourist filled day. Waikiki is way to packed and modernized for our taste.
North Shore and Mushroom house carry history and culture. Something we value over anything. If you want to know and respect the true Hawai’ian culture this is the place for you. 2 minutes to Kualoa Ranch. 10 minutes to Polynesian Culture Center and 30 minutes to great North Shore destinations.
Now, for amenities: newer washer/dryer, beach gear, endless kitchen supplies, lots of bedding and towels, owners who are quick to respond, large open floor plan, quiet and peaceful even off a major hwy.
Things to have a heads up for: country/jungle feel, bugs (not many mosquitoes, it was like a black beetle type that loved light!), older home but well taken care of given the years it’s been passed down in generations, geckos in house - didn’t bother us guests (but clean area before cooking to be safe), No AC (but fans provided and it’s on windward side).
Honestly, I wouldn’t even call those cons because of the benefits that outweigh them all.
Can’t even speak of the amazing views and location enough to do it justice.
My husband and in-laws (who aren’t big fans of heat) even said they were so glad we chose this home over others just because of the tranquility and cultural experience it offered away from the tourist traps. To be immersed in the Polynesian culture is one we will never forget and Aloha truly is a lifestyle. This house reflects that.
If you need a peaceful, tranquil place this is the home for you. It has a cabin feel so expect that when it comes to nature. It’s clean, quiet, and just truly nestled in a perfect location - did I mention the views enough? Because that alone is worth every single dime.
Mahalo, to LaRonnie and her family for sharing this home with us. We miss it already, even “Brownie” our adopted vacation pet chicken.