The description of this place is accurate. You will discover a slice of heaven in a tropical paradise. This private gated community welcomed us from the moment we arrived with kindness and hospitality at the front gate to beautiful views off the balcony of Penny and Cannon's place. The grounds were lush with tropical plants, elegant peacocks, and playful cats.
Check-in was a breeze with the information provided by the owners. The private parking spot was a bonus and close to the condo. We rented a car making our travels around the island easy. While the home is on the west side and you will probably want to see the whole island it is crucial to note the traffic speeds will be slower than you are used to at home and the roads are packed with vehicles during rush hour. However, we found driving relaxing and scenic while we moved along. Drivers in Hawaii are not in a rush, frequently make room for lane transitions, and rarely honk. We found it easy to get around the island and planned our expeditions according to post morning rush hour.
The condo was perfect for our family. Everyone found the beds extremely comfortable and the rooms accessible. The temperature of the space was kept cool by the powerful ceiling fans and the use of the two space air conditioners. We made breakfast every morning and enjoyed sitting around the large granite island planning for the day. The kitchen was well stocked with supplies to prepare meals. Perhaps one of the things we used the most was the half gallon Coleman water coolers. They were perfect for filling each day with ice and water as we headed to the beach and around the island. Not to mention Penny and Cannon had a closet full of beach supplies.
The bathroom offered double sinks so we could have several people getting ready in the morning and evening. The shower was refreshing, and we never had a problem with all four of us having hot water. We did find visiting the pool shower after being at the beach helped to power off the sand, besides a quick dip in the pool was refreshing.
More than once on the trip, my husband said, "Makaha Valley" is a hidden treasure. The west side of Ohau does have a more local feel, but out of all the beaches we visited none beat Makaha beach where the sand is so fine you sink three to six inches with each step, and the break gives you waves to play on and the perfect sound to enjoy during a nap on the sand.
We often ate dinner while we were out and about, but the area near Aluani had multiple spots to eat. Our advice is to try the local cuisine, we enjoyed the food trucks and if you get to the North Shore Warehouse Poi. We made it a point to visit all around the island ziplining at Kualoa Ranch, hiking Diamond Head at sunset, watching the Friday Night Fireworks at the Hilton Village from Waikiki beach, discovering history at Pearl Harbor, viewing surfers on the Pipeline, swimming under the waterfall at Wailelel, stand up paddleboarding at Haleiwa and shaved ice. Since we are big Elvis Presley fans, we chased his history of movie making and concerts around the island. We even saw his former house on The Surf Bus tour of the North Shore.
This condo was perfect, and staying for a week gave us all the time we needed to relax, and site see. Now with Southwest's cheap island to island flights we know we will be back here to visit again, and perhaps add another island, too.