Okay I'll try to keep this short, sweet, fair and to the point as I know so many reviews go wayy to long. I've shared some direct feedback with RedAwning regarding concerns while also writing this so it may be amended once addressed, but here is a quick list of simple pro's and con's we encountered during our stay [2 adults].
Pro's:
+ Excellent location within walking distance of beach, hiking trails, etc. VERY close to the pool (up to 7ft deep) behind it and dual tennis courts just off to the side. Added bonus of access to restaurants & bars on the Turtle Bay Resort property where every night has an incredible sunset.
+ Much lower traffic compared to Waikiki area, only 15-20 minutes from awesome places like the Polynesian Cultural Center, Matsumoto's Shave Ice, Sunrise Shack, and Waimea Falls/Bay area.
+ Gated parking with numbered spaces and frequently patrolled by security. Also well-lit walkways with motion lighting at night.
+ Conveniently located on the quiet North Shore not far from a Foodland (Haleiwa) with all you need to stock your fridge for making your own dinners, drinks, etc.
+ Stocked well with amenities like dish soap, trash bags, paper towels, detergent for laundry/dishes. (They said it would last for 2-3 days but 2 people can stretch it for the whole week.)
+ Clean carpets, bedding, bathroom, and kitchen areas.
+ No disturbances from adjacent neighbors, even with the pool & tennis steps away - very peaceful.
+ Reasonably affordable stay prices by comparison in the area
Con's:
- We arrived on the Sunday before Memorial Day and the Turtle Bay Estates contact to initially reach out to did not answer when our gate code provided failed to work. We couldn't get anyone to answer so we parked down the road and walked in on foot to get the gate fob from the kitchen table before going back for the car. It took a considerable amount of time to get into the unit upon arrival as a result. Caution & check ahead for emergency contacts if traveling on weekends or holidays to avoid problems getting into the parking lot.
- There is a single window A/C unit in the bedroom (which is advertised) not forced air. During the day it can get very stuffy in the kitchen and living space. It's the bottom floor so it's not as bad as it could be, however the fans on the ceiling are single-speed (on low only) and do little to move air about. The A/C in the bedroom will run consistently to keep the temps comfortable.
- [As of when we left] There were ceiling leak problems in the bathroom from the unit above which resulted in a wet floor each evening. It falls on the rear of the toilet and creates a splatter than ruined a couple rolls of toilet paper and made the tile slick.
- We were careful not to leave food out in the kitchen, but did spot some bugs scurrying about the floor at night.
- There were some mechanical issues with the dryer. The sensor didn't catch on the door so it wouldn't turn on at times.
- Also appliance related, the refrigerator does not comfortably close and requires an extra shove to get it shut all the way.
This was our first experience with Air B&B and RedAwning. Overall, for a couple of easy going mid-westerners who have always enjoyed visiting Oahu and can look past some hiccups we had a pleasant stay. After all, it really is tough to be too upset when you're on vacation in Hawaii. We have stayed in better rentals, but we've also stayed in worse too. My wife and I agreed the location sold it even in spite of the issues we found when we got there. It was pleasant, however without knowing some of the problems have since been addressed since our stay, we would likely try our luck at different North Shore spot in the future.