4 stars for the apartment and 1 star for the check in process, so I chose 2 stars overall. I'll start with the positive.
The apartment was spotlessly clean. Not a speck of dust or sand to be found and a vacuum, mop and broom were available for easy clean up's.
The kitchen was a lovely amenity, even though only one pot was provided. Plenty of dishes and silverware, though. Large fridge.
Building felt safe and was well cared for. Pool and gym on 6th floor were a fun extra. Make sure you wear sneakers and bring a towel to the gym, otherwise, the security guards will come into the gym (yes, really) and tell you that you must get these things immediately.
Apartment itself is more dated than the airbrushed photos show, but still in good condition. Lovely wood floors.
On the not so great side, check in was awful. While I was able to check in early, at noon instead of 4pm, the host was in the apartment, finishing up her cleaning when I arrived at noon. No self check-in, as promised, and I was really caught off guard.
Instead of greeting me with respect and quickly leaving, the host began to talk incessantly:
"Oh hi there! So here's the remote, and here's how it works, and here's the pull out couch, make sure you pull forward and not up. And here are the blankets, in case you want extras, and here is the kitchen - make SURE you wash the dishes, and here is the dish mat - can you guess for what? Yep, for dish drying.
Here is the fan, you can keep this on instead of using the AC, and here is the old rug I wrapped up because it's a little old. Is it okay for me to leave it in this corner right here? Oh, I'm sure you're okay with it.
You know, the owners are Canadian and this was their residence for a while. We each have grandchildren and they get along great. It's so sweet! They really did a lovely job of updating this place, top to bottom.
I used to hire cleaning ladies and train them very thoroughly but they all left with the pandemic. It's unfortunate, but well, what can you do.
Here are the towels in the bathroom, I just left you 2 instead of 4 because you're just one person. I also need to finish cleaning something on the balcony here..."
She went on, and on, and on... the above is just some of what I remember she said. It took about an hour for her to stop talking and leave the apartment. I got a call from security (they require you to fill out a form with your personal info upon arriving) asking me to move my car, so when I excused myself to head downstairs to tend to that, the host said, "Oh I'll just come with you! And you can follow me to the exit so I can use the parking pass and then hand it to you from my car."
So she followed me downstairs, I got to take an elevator ride with her, and after watching her load some cleaning items into her trunk, she finally, FINALLY left. This was extra hard to go through because I am hypoglycemic, and was so hungry and tired I could barely think straight after that charade.
Once I got back up to the apartment and began to settle in, I got a knock on the door. She's back! She'd left her cell phone. So she let herself back in, grabbed her phone and left.
Final thoughts: there were little post its throughout the apartment providing "pointers." For example: "Don't put coffee grains down the garbage disposal, drain will clog and flood hallway." "Dont leave AC on while away from apartment in case of fire or explosion." "Don't move the bed or the bricks that are supporting the bed frame will fall and cause bed to be less supported. " "Don't leave food out or bugs will come for a visit."
Humidity was very high in the apartment, impossible to tame with AC, as the apartment had many little leaks where warm air got in. Bed was squeaky. Police sirens were overwhelming and loud most of the time (you're seconds from Waikiki, after all).
A few days before checkout, the card/key that allows you to enter the building from the garage stopped working. Lastly, the host sent me check out instructions for the 31st, instead of the 1st. I was worried she'd barge into the place before I checked out. When I brought this to her attention via text, she sent me a laughing emoji, and a quick sorry for the mix up.
I hope this review helps future travelers.