I'm soo happy I decided to book this apartment! It was magical! I'm a young woman, I was traveling by myself and didn't rent a car, to give you some context. First, about the apartment: The view is STUNNING!! Sunsets from the Lanai (balcony) were breathtaking! You have the ocean right in front of you with views to the beach and the mountains to the sides too! The living room has mountain views. The place was super clean! It was very well equiped: beach chairs, cooler, beach umbrella, snorkel sets, beach boards, beach towels! It was awesome that they left 3 sets of keys in case you're more than 1 person. The condo has a door that takes you right into the beach! You don't need to get out of the condo to the street to get to the beach which was very convenient! I've been all around the island, and I think the beach where this condo is located is one of the most beautiful beaches in Oahu. It felt like a private beach because it never gets crowded. The sea can be more rough some days and calmer some others but it was clear, beautiful, and warm (I was there in July)! The sunsets and the color of the sky were stunning each day, and right in front of your Lanai (balcony) or you can head to the beach and see it from there. You can hear the ocean waves from your bedroom and you can even see the ocean from your bed! The place is very luminous! The living room faces also the hallway but people are very respectful and friendly.
Melissa was so nice! Replies fast if you ever need anything or have any questions.
I felt safe because you need the key fob when entering the condo, then again when entering the door to get inside the building, and then the key fob again for the elevator!
ABOUT NEEDING A CAR: ideally, it's much better renting a car and I would highly recommend it so you can move around easily. It's hard to get an uber in the area because it's away from crowds and more isolated so keep that in mind. During the morning (7-8:30am) it can be much easier to find some uber driver nearby (you're very likely to find one) than in the afternoon / evening ;-) This being said, I didn't rent a car! I took the bus to move around and some ubers every now and then. Especially if I was coming back at night. If you're planning on taking the bus, try to buy the HOLO card before going to the condo and you can then recharge it online. Cause it can be harder to get that bus card in this area, especially if you don't have a car. Or you can pay the exact amount in cash! So bring change ;-)
If you read reviews about the area: "Makaha" it's true that it's more of a "rough" area,
and yes, there are some homeless tents around the area but the fact that they are homeless people, doesn't mean that they are bad people. They just unfortunately don't have a home and some have very big hearts! The place where I saw more homeless tents was in Maili. Near the condo there were only a few tents but everybody minds their own business and I would come back again because the view you get and the sunsets are magical and breathtaking and the condo has security cameras and you need a key fob at every step of the way. There's a beach really close called "Makaha Beach" that was also very beautiful to visit too! Keep in mind that in the month of July, you won't be able to see the sunset from Makaha Beach because of the direction of the sun in Summer months but you can definitely see them from Melissa's place and the beach where it's located :) Everyone in the building was really nice! The apt has a couple of fans and it felt really nice and kept the place with a nice temperature.
One last thing: the closest grocery store that was the best one to go was Tamura Supermarket. The bus takes you there! If you can go to Costco or Whole Foods is better and a cheaper too!
I worked from the apt and also explored the island. I already miss Melissa's place so much and the magical view of the sunsets and the stars at night!