Overall, a great experience. We were shocked at how old (and kind of gross) the building was, but once we stepped inside Melody’s unit, all that faded away. She really did a nice job of modernizing the unit. I especially loved the great shower head, the fresh soft towels, and the comfy linens on the bed. She also left us wine and chocolate! WiFi and cable worked well. Kitchen and bath were well stocked along with some beach gear. Pool is nice, but we didn’t use it because the beach is the best place to swim! Laundry is in a common area and has to be paid for- kind of inconvenient, but nice to have the option.
The view from this unit is incredible! However, I would not recommend this building for light sleepers! The trade winds are extremely loud up there, and it’s downright scary sounding during a storm. The peacocks who roam the area are also very loud- but very nice to look at!
As for the location, be sure you know what you’re signing up for when you visit this remote part of the island. It’s not totally tourist friendly and has some really unsettling areas. The condo, however, is very safe up on the mountain and guarded by security. The only restaurants are fast food chains and some sketchy local dives (we usually like the local spots, but not here), so definitely make a trip to the grocery store on your way in. There is a market nearby but we opted to get most of our goods at Walmart on the way in from Honolulu.
Makaha beach, just down the road from the condo, is gorgeous. A great place for sitting on the beach and for swimming. Great fishing on this side of the island- my husband caught four huge yellowfin tuna! If you like to hike, get up EARLY and hike to the Kaena Point wildlife refuge. Great scenery and we saw lots of albatross, a mongoose, and a monk seal. We also did the pillbox hikes- steep incline and mostly rocky scrambl-ish, but awesome vantage point.
Major complaint:
Parking was extremely bothersome. They wouldn’t issue a decal because they were closed for an administrative day on the day we checked in, and they couldn’t refund our $50 deposit on a Saturday (check out day), so they had us pay for parking then operate on a visitor pass which had to be turned in and reissued every time we left the condo. This didn’t seem like a big deal, but every time we returned there was much confusion at the gate and we had to retell the whole story. No fault of the owner, of course, but inconvenient none the less.
If you’re a heavy sleeper, enjoy a stunning view over staying right on the beach, and don’t mind staying in and cooking your meals, this is the perfect property for you.