I couldn't have hoped for a better place to stay for my first experience in Hawaii. In the two weeks I was there, Leilani and Nick practically became my aunt and uncle. Both of them were precious resources when it came to learning the lay of the island. Nick is like this maintenance monk; not only does he fix everything, but he is a soft-spoken encyclopedia of valuable knowledge and never steered me wrong.
At one point, I injured myself on a hike, cutting my hand on a piece of exposed rebar. Not long after I arrived home, Leilani went into Mom-mode and appeared with some hydrogen peroxide, Neosporin, and bandages; In my opinion, this is one of the huge benefits of staying in a sharehouse as opposed to a hotel. Everything you need or forgot to pack is most likely already in the sharehouse. Conveniently, there is a washer and dryer available for the same price as out in town.
There are plenty of other perks about staying in this sharehoue (quiet location, private/locking room, nearby park/pool) that I am not delving into, but my overall experience was amazing thanks, in no small part, to Nick and Leilani. They welcomed me as one of their own ohana and showed me that true aloha spirit I was curious about. I could not have dreamed of a better introduction to this beautiful place. Mahalo.