Any airbnb rental is mostly about managing expectations. Our initial reaction when we drove into the town of Waimanalo was one of.....this isn't what we were expecting.
Houses in the town where quiet dilapidated. There was a large area of homeless and the area looked worn. Initially we were concerned about our safety, personally and of our belongings. When we got to the property we were not expecting the owner to be living in an adjoining part of the house. We knew they were on property but not right there with thin walls. The town has limited "quality places" to dine. I say all this in perspective too as we had just come from the Sheraton in Waikiki. So our first hour or so was...should we go somewhere else.
So now the good and the really good. The host Kalama put us at ease with her kindness and care. While the house with thin walls and the era it was built gave us a little early concern we were very pleased with the care that Kamala took to stock it, clean it and all the little attention to detail she had gone too to make it homely. It really grew on us. We were concerned about safety on the nearby beach but it was only in our minds. The beach was great. Hardly any people and beautiful white sand and clear water we loved it. Miles of it.
After the first day going to nearby Kailua to eat as we thought restaurants were better we then ventured the next days into local "dive" places. We loved them. Onos and then Ohana Karaoke. The locals were caring and charming.
So from initial trepadition Kamalas place and the local area really grew on us and the six of us would go back for sure. In the end we absolutely loved the laid back feeling this home and town had. So the key with this place is give it a go. Embrace what it is, as many areas and towns have lost this real local feel. Even though having the host a thin wall apart, that you can hear each other, it was on the other hand great to have her there for information, help and any concerns.