We spent 15 days at Thomas' studio around Christmas and fully enjoyed every single one of it. The house is situated in a very quiet and safe residential area. It is only a five-minute-drive (by car) to two of the most beatiful beaches in the world - Kailua and Lanikai. The studio is very roomy and cozy, the kitchen is well equipped and we enjoyed the privacy that comes with booking the studio.

The pool area at the back of the house is charming as well and our daughter had a lot of fun in the pool, especially on days when it was too windy to stay on the beach. We can't understand why other guests complained they were disappointed by the pool. It's of course not an Olympic size pool, but for hanging around and reeding a book and for kids to play it is just right.

Thomas is a very nice host, he made sure we had a safe arrival while he was at work that day and could not welcome us in person. He gave us a lot of very useful tipps, eg where to find the best farmer's market in Kailua or where to go to buy good Poke, the Hawaiian fish speciality. You can rent bikes and boats from him and there are beach chairs and other useful beach equipment you can use for free. We thought that was an excellent service.

Thomas and his adorable daughter were not around all the time and the other rooms were all fully booked while we were there. We enjoyed talking to the other guests, everyone was nice and respectful and kind. Guests in the other rooms share the kitchen and dining/living area with each other and with Thomas if he is around. It seems like Thomas has a good feeling whom to pick as guests.

We rented a car, so we did not have any issues getting around. If you do not plan to rent a car, you can ride to the beaches and downtown by bike. But it makes sense to rent a car and drive around the island, because there is so much beauty to discover.

Kailua itself is a very beautiful, peaceful and charming community, no wonder President Obama spends his winter holiday here. To put it short: You can't go wrong with staying here.