Before I review Ray's place, this is just a plea to those who come to Maui and swim in the ocean there. Please, please, please use reef-safe sunscreen while you are in Maui (or any other ocean for that matter)!! It's a little more expensive than other sunscreens, but it helps protect the ocean life and reefs from dying. I loved snorkeling in the clear ocean waters, but to see the coral dead and discolored in most parts broke my heart. Check out Consumer Reports article entitled: "The Truth About Reef-Safe Sunscreens" for more information.
Ray's place is just what we needed for our 4-day getaway to Maui. Within a few hours of booking, Ray had contacted me via Airbnb to introduce himself, offer up favorite local beaches, restaurants, etc, and provide us with check in and check out information. He also explained the additional Hawaii tax that is not included in the Airbnb cost. We paid the additional tax via Airbnb's Resolution Center. This additional tax is required and the description of Ray's place on Airbnb clearly states it will be needed after booking the place, so it was no surprise.
Ray's place is furnished with everything you need to make your vacation a good one. Fully stocked kitchen, portable fans for the living room and bedroom, a copy of the 7th edition of Maui Revisited (which I HIGHLY recommend checking out to help you plan your trip), an assortment of beach gear, and goodies left over by other travelers. So awesome! I would recommend getting some anti-fog drops at the local scuba shop to help keep the masks from fogging up.
The pool is gorgeous, but we never used it because we were so close to so many beaches! I would recommend going out in the ocean early in the morning (sunrise to 11am or so) or in the early evening. The waters get really choppy between 11:30am and 3:00 or so.
We rented a DVD from Redbox and watched it on the TV/DVD combo. And we ran the fans while we slept, which was necessary and quite lovely. It got so chilly in the middle of the night that we ended up putting the thin comforter on for the remainder of the night. As stated in the description, there is no central A/C or window units. Only one ceiling fan in the living room and 3 portable fans. And it was really all we needed.
We were lucky enough to see Ray for a few moments on different days. And he was kind enough to let us have a late check-out time because of our flight being delayed. Ray was always very quick to respond to any messages through Airbnb from the time we booked to the time we left.
Lastly, do not fall into the trap at the car rental place that you NEED a 4WD vehicle to drive the Road to Hana. As stated in Maui Revisited, the Road to Hana used to be a lot of worse and local Maui people would drive it everyday in their compact, front wheel drive vehicles. It gets a little rough on the unpaved section, but that section does not last forever. If anything, I was more concerned about the one-lane sections of the drive and the narrow two-lane sections. As the driver, I did not enjoy it. My partner really had a good time, though.
In short, I highly recommend staying at Ray's place if you need a place to make meals, recharge, and sleep during your time in Maui! A+ Thanks for the aloha spirit, Ray! Mahalo!