Tamara's cottage is so cute! If you see this spot open to rent, take it! Tamara and her family made us feel so, so welcomed. It was a magical experience to stay there, and I'm sure you've seen the word magical used to describe things often in Hawaii. The Airbnb has everything you'd want, from comfortable beds, laundry, a shower with hot water, and very tasteful and stylish decor. Most of the Airbnb I saw in Hawaii had some questionable decorations, but Tamara's spot has such a charming interior with really cute vintage finds and accents so it felt super comfortable to stay there. Also, the Tamara's chickens are so sweet and cute, and surprisingly funny to watch. If you're lucky, you'll also spot retired polo horses walking around in the forest adjacent to Tamara's property, as there's a ranch nearby! Seeing the horses at the fence was seriously so memorable and unexpected, but I'm so glad we were able to watch them for a bit.
Haleiwa is pretty calm at night so it was so nice to wake up early, make breakfast, spend the day exploring the island, and then return to the cottage.
You're close to main tourist spots in the North Shore but it's easy to drive to more local areas too. I would definitely encourage getting a rental car for this spot since it looks like it would not be easy to walk down the hill to the main road! Having a car is helpful too because Tamara has some beach gear you can use during your stay, which really helped us enjoy the nearby beaches. From seeing sea turtles up napping on the beach to eating delicious seafood and shave ice to enjoying fresh eggs from Tamara's chickens, we honestly had the best time. Also it was a great spot to work from, the wifi was fine for 2 people to work (although the hammock outside is a big distraction from work, haha!)
Mahalo nui loa, Tamara!