We stayed at Maliko Retreat over Christmas and it was a truly awesome experience. Sydney made us feel welcome and comfortable throughout the entire experience -- from the original booking until our last day. The house is charming, very comfortable, and contains everything we needed for an enjoyable, relaxing, and adventure-filled vacation in Maui.
Before we arrived, Sydney answered all our questions quickly and pleasantly and provided excellent directions on how to find the venue. She welcomed us when we arrived and showed us around the house. Sydney was always available to support our vacation -- she even gave us a very interesting tour of her amazing extended property on Christmas day. She showed us trails, fruit trees, the tea house overlooking the stream, pictographs, swimming holes, an ancient road she is refurbishing and explained much history surrounding all of these things as well as history of Maui.
The property is located in a non-tourist, more residential setting in Makawao. We really felt like we were "coming home" after a day of exploring rather than just staying in room or a facility somewhere in between activities. It is set in a beautiful rain forest, complete with a tumbling waterfall, with gorgeous views of the Haleakala crater on one side and the ocean on the other. Just sitting on one of the 2 large lanai's was rejuvenating in itself. Sydney made us feel like her personal guests with whom she was not just happy but excited to share her wonderful piece of paradise. We would most definitely return.