This was, as my husband mentioned many times during our stay, one of the best vacation rental experiences we have ever had.
Mike and Madaline's place is exactly as pictured... but there is something about actually being there that pushes the experience way over the top. The view in itself is amazing. We could watch the sun rise AND the sun set from the grass right outside. Having the lanai and the grass extended the size of an already really large one bedroom unit. We spent most of the time we were "home" hanging out outside. We never tired of the tropical breezes, floral scents and bird songs - they were almost enough to make us never need to venture out and explore.
We of course did plenty of exploring, and it was set up to make that as easy as possible. There is a closet full of toys. Boogie boards, beach chairs, snorkel equipment, umbrellas, kids sand toys, beach towels, etc. There is a free shuttle that took us back and forth to the beaches each time we went. The walk to the multiple amazing beaches is short and not bad at all- it's a gorgeous area with walking trails going in each direction. The only reason we took the shuttle sometimes is because we had our 2 year old with us, and the shuttle was very exciting for him, and so convenient for us. The unit comes with a covered parking stall that is just steps from the front door. The area is very quiet, the other guests were very friendly and respectful.
One of the best parts of our stay was being hosted by Mike and Madaline. They were from the beginning warm and welcoming and totally relaxed. The kitchen counter had a welcome gift of snacks for us, the bathrooms each had small shampoo/conditioner/body wash. Before staying at Mike and Madaline's place, we stayed in a different condo, on a different part of the island for the first half of our vacation, and dealt with another owner who had a much less warm attitude and it made a slight impact on our stay. It was worlds away here. We felt very welcomed, and would love to return any time we are back on Maui.