We originally selected this property due to the decent price point and relatively convenient location to some restaurants and bars we wanted to visit while on Oahu. Check-in was supposed to be at 3:00 PM. When we arrived, we were supposed to meet the housekeeper who had the keys. We ended up waiting almost half an hour for the housekeeper to show up with the key and parking pass. We found out later that the host was on vacation and this may not have been their standard protocol, so we can probably let this inconvenience slide. The directions for the parking and entry into the unit were a bit strange - but they were accurate. We ended up having to go down an elevator and transfer to another elevator to get to the unit. Not too inconvenient - just a bit odd.
However, when we arrived at the unit and conducted an inspection, we found the unit to be dirty and unfit for Airbnb standards. Here are the biggest problems we found with the unit we were in:
1.) The host selected black bedding- which appeared to have dandruff or lint on it. Black is not the best color choice because of how easily it shows dirt. We contacted the host immediately about this and were told the sheets were cleaned and if we wanted to, we could change the sheets with a clean set found in the bedroom. This would have been okay, but the new set didn't have any pillowcases with it. When it came to swapping out the bedding we removed the fitted sheet and discovered a huge stain / discoloration on the mattress topper. The mattress itself was in poor shape - which we assumed was the reason for the mattress topper.
2.) The bathroom appeared to have mold and mildew. When we contacted the host regarding this issue, they said it wasn't mold (just stains) and had been cleaned, and that they had painted over it when they bought the unit. Paint and surface cleaning can't fix mold issues - it just covers it up temporarily - which is exactly why the "stains" keep coming back even though they painted them. We were pretty upset at the attempt to cover up the issue and the attempt to allay our concerns. However, we determined this was a health hazard and brought it up to Airbnb support staff immediately.
3.) The ceiling areas right next to the HVAC vent were extremely dirty. It looked like it hadn't been dusted off / vacuumed in years. Again, we brought this issue up to the host and they said it was clean. We also brought this up to Airbnb support staff.
Some other issues we noted were:
1. ) The washing machine appeared to have mold in it. It was a front loading machine and the puddle of water at the door was black. This could be due to the door being left closed all the time.
2.) There were no baseboards between the wall and the carpet and it looked like they had been removed recently due to the holes left in the wall.
We had early dinner reservations the day we checked in, so we only had time to quickly wash up before we had to head out. The host was pretty communicative and tried to get the issues resolved while we were out. The housekeeper called and offered to drive back to clean the sheets, but she lived an hour away and while we appreciated this effort, we didn't think these issues could be addressed that night and that we didn't feel safe staying there. All we wanted was a clean place to stay - we didn't care about how modern or outdated the unit and furnishings were, we just wanted somewhere clean to stay.
The host also called us and told us the story of how they bought the unit and tried to fix some of the issues - but again, I don't think they were issues that can be solved with a coat of paint. They did say there was a "building malfunction" they were trying to work out (I assume poor ventilation). We understand the particular unit we were in may not be the one represented in the listing's photos. We did ask the host if there was another unit available that we could move to, but they indicated their other units were all booked up and this was the only one they had available. So, maybe we were given the most recently acquired unit that hadn't gotten the TLC their other units had. However, what was really upsetting was when the host said "you're only staying there for a few days".
Long story short, we ended up contacting Airbnb staff again but they were unable to help us that night, so we slept on the couch. The next morning, we ended up finding a last minute room at a hotel in Waikiki - which was a huge sigh of relief. Airbnb was able to arrange for a partial refund of our stay, after we sent them photos of all the issues.
The only good thing we can say about the unit we stayed in is that the host was communicative. I'm hoping they address the root causes of the problems in this unit, but we won't be staying there again.