If you are looking to avoid the hustle, bustle, and noise of Waikiki or Kailua and to live like a local, Melissa and Thomas’s ohana in Waianae is for you. Instead of traffic, you will hear birds in the trees. Instead of crowded beaches, you will have what seems like your own private beach - unless you are sharing it with the sea turtles that frequently show up there, of course! Instead of crowded and overpriced restaurants, you should be prepared to make the most of the kitchen - not a problem since there is a market 3 miles away. (If you don’t want to pay 15¢ for each grocery bag, you might want to pack a reusable shopping bag or two.) Another tip I wish I had known before staying is to plan our arrival outside of the busy rush hour (approx 3:30-6:30pm M-F). There wasn’t a huge delay getting there, but after flying 13 hours, it was kind of a drag to have to be stuck in the car. All in all, though, we really enjoyed our stay. Melissa and Thomas were friendly and easy to talk to, but not obtrusive or interfering in any way. We would definitely like to stay there again - and soon!