We spent three weeks in Hawaii on our second honeymoon (25th anniversary). We stayed in four different places, three condos and a hotel on Waikiki. This condo, in Ko Olina, was by far the BEST place we stayed. Why?

1) The heated 25 yard lap pool. We are swimmers and swam 18 miles over the course of three weeks. None of the other lap pools were heated. One was 71 degrees. None of the other pools was in the resort. The pool is a little shallow but works. You can flip at both ends. Best of all it is just downstairs. You can see it from the lanai.

2) The unobstructed view from the lanai is spectacular, especially at Sunset. This condo has the BEST view in the tower.

3) Snorkeling. There is no need to go anywhere else. We got to know the fish, and the water was warm. We saw humuhumunukunukuapua'a, purple and green blowfish, etc. We snorkeled all the coves.

4) Food. Alfred and Deanna pointed us to lots of great, reasonable eats, nearby. But the best food was food we cooked in the amazing kitchen and ate on the lanai, everything tastes better with a view. My wife even said she doesn't mind cooking if she can see the ocean. The nearby Safeway has everything you could want, and there is a really NICE ABC Village market across the street for any last minute things and really excellent salads (you tell them what you want and they make if for you).

5) We like to walk and found plenty of places to go, beach, marina, and even Paradise Cove, famous for turtles. We used the public beach access on the east end of the cove, and got to see some of the native long canoe action.

6) Quiet. Best of all, unlike Waikiki, which we also love, but is a wild and busy crowded place or Kaanapali which feels like walking in a mall on Saturday night, the beach, pools, sidewalks in Po Olina were never mobbed. We could always find a shady spot on the beach and plenty of open sand if we wanted to be alone.

7) Friendly. And we met friendly neighbors, about half and half visitors and owners. By the end of the week we had several new friends.

8) Check in and out was a breeze. Alfred's sister met us, gave us the tour and her cell number. The condo is well equipped, plenty of towels, beach gear, etc.

It couldn't have been nicer and I doubt there is a better place to stay anywhere in Hawaii. We have looked. Mahalo.