Lanikai reviews

Guest Rating:

My family enjoyed a once-in-a-lifetime vacation thanks in large part to the Lanikai Beach Bungalow. Hawaiian Beach Rentals and the property manager for this rental were professional, attentive and very easy to work with. I am an experienced traveler and have dealt with many hassles in the past. There were no surprises or hurdles in this trip. We came to Kailua/Lanikai for a local friend's wedding and enjoyed being in a genuine Hawaiian town that offered many opportunities for activities, relaxing and experiencing a slower-pace to life. Lanikai is a fabulous beach and the Lanikai Beach Bungalow was a perfect pick. We loved being right on the water, seeing sea turtles, enjoying gorgeous sun rises and opening up the sliding glass walls to let in the ocean breeze. The house has a wonderful classic Hawaiian charm but is also very comfortable for 6 people. The location is unbeatable - I was concerned about the tide coming in and not having any beach directly in front of the house but it was actually an advantage. We could walk on the beach to get to the wider areas of the beach most of the time and not being on the main part of the beach meant we enjoyed privacy. Don't hassle with packing straw beach mats as there are several at the unit. If you come to Kailua/Lanikai, definitely check out the Lanikai Juice company, Cinnamon's restaurant for the carrot pancakes and body surfing on Kailua beach. The 2.5 mil loop around Lanikai makes for a great jogging route. If I had it to do all over again, I would definitely stay for 2 weeks instead of just 1!! Book your trip to the Lanikai Beach Bungalow without hesitating.

Sarah S., Broomfield, CO, 8.20.07

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Lanikai is the most beautiful place in the world! I loved it that we (6 of us) could celebrate mom's 70th birthday all together in a comfortable and relaxed place.

Jeanne J., Independence, Oregon, 8.17.07

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Aloha!This is actually Mike's wife Carol! I loved the the trip - from beginning to end! I loved the house and sitting at the dinning room table watching the sun rise each morning. The woman that we dealt with face to face - Sandy - was amazing! She even had her adorable dog Tasha
trained to NOT go in the house! When Sandy and Tasha would come to the house it was the best visits! The pool was a huge plus, the
lay out of the house was fantastic, the beach was a one minute walk away, the fresh plumeria flowers every morning was heaven, seeing
all the various geckos was fun - nothing to complain about at all! I loved having the deck to sun on OR go downstairs to the pool OR go to the
beach! People were friendly, the weather was gorgeous, nthe pineapple sweet and I would come back to this location in a heart beat! Mahalo!

Mike M., San Jose, CA, 8.14.07

Guest Rating:

What I liked best about the unit was the view!! It was a treat to see the sunrise behind the "mokes" from every room, especially from the two sets of big sliding glass windows in the front room. The setting is lovely...a peaceful, upscale neighborhood, ocean view, lovely breezes, and just minutes by car from the best beach on Oahu, Kailua beach. Kailua public beach was perfect for us with soft white sand and gentle waves.

The unit is comfortably furnished with nice personal things, like original oil paintings, and has a great reading and reference library. We relaxed the moment we stepped inside. The king-sized bed was comfy, the bathroom clean, and the walk-in closet had plenty of empty drawers, shelves, and hangars for our belongings. The stacked washer and dryer were especially handy. We appreciated: the beach basket complete with aqua socks and beach towels, the fresh tropical flowers, and the welcome basket filled with fresh fruit, coffee and Annies Hawaiian Sweetbread.

My only advice to someone else staying at this unit would be to bring your own hair dryer if you want adjustable speeds and heat levels.

Restaurant recommendations: Buzz's Steak House across from Kailua Beach Park couldn't be more convenient with good drinks and food; Keo's in Waikiki for Southeast Asian cuisine and they have valet parking (a plus in Waikiki); Wai'ole Tea Room in Manoa Valley (a beautiful setting); and the cafe at the Honolulu Art Academy (all need reservations).

Insider tip: The Honolulu Art Academy tour of the Doris Duke estate includes admission to all of the galleries. We loved the Japanese woodblock print collection and the Asian Art collections.

We are recommending this apartment to all of our friends.

Patti P., Berkeley, CA, 8.12.07

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Hale Moonrise was perfect for our family of seven people. The home was clean and well appointed except for outdoor furniture - only one chaise longue and several plastic chairs. We learned that this home was built for the Royal Family in 1929! So their spirits served us well. The layout gave everyone his or her own space while providing wonderful areas to be together. Of course, the view of the Mokalua Islands was outstanding! Julie provided great service on the day we moved in. We were able to snorkle out in the reef and swim with Honu (turtles) as well as rent kayaks and paddle to the island. rnHonestly, there is one major problem with the location of this property. Unfortunately, it is situated next to a public beach access.("Management Notes": all beaches in Hawaii are public and there are many access points provided by the state, where this might create more traffic it is a wonderful opportunity to meet local families and experience our Aloha.") Regarding furniture, it is planned to be updated in Summer 2008." Our best insider tip would be to snorkel at "Shark's Cove" on the North Shore - OUTSTANDING! Also, go to Chai's Island Bistro in the Aloha Tower (Waikiki side) to have a yummy dinner and listen to the best local Hawaiian music. rnAloha! rn

Michele M., Yuba City, CA, 8.6.07

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What I liked best about the unit I rented was the openness of the property. The customer service I received was very good. The best part of my trip was swimming at Lanikai and the other beaches we visited. The best restaurant I found was Buzz's and Zippy's. (we didn't go for restauraunts, but these were the ones we visited.)rnThe best picture I took was of me (us) (haven't checked them all out, yet.)rnI can't wait to tell all my friends that we rode horses in the hills along the North Shore. My advice to someone else staying at this unit would be take time to rest and relax, too! The part of my trip I would definitely recommend to others is on the Big Island, you definitely have to visit the Volcano National Park. The best "insider tip" I received while on my trip was buy gifts to take home at the swap meet. I didn't have time this trip, but next trip to Hawaii I'm looking forward to hiking.

Ryan R., Placentia, CA, 7.29.07

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Fantastic location and easy to find (and very private).rnrnThe unit was very comfortable and had everything we could have ever wanted - washer/dryer, lots of linens, wonderful cookware and dishes. It was really like home!rnrnThe owers were very friendly and helpful with restaurant and beach recommendations.rnrnExcellent rental!

Michele M., Kenmore, WA, 7.28.07

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The house had a fantastic veiw. There was lots of open space and yet good privacy for the bed rooms. There were enough bathrooms and they were very functional. The was very useable kitchen and it also had the view of the 0cean. The property manager was very congenial and helpful. The property was well located because of the great beach and accessable to other parts of the island.

Jerry J., San Antonio, Texas, 7.19.07

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The Ocean Treehouse was wonderful, the pictures on the internet are very accurate but the house and view are even more impressive when you are actually there. The beaches in Kailua are everything everyone says, the overall experience was great. The easy going lifestyle with close proxmity to the store for food and the full kitchen in the house made this a fantastic experience.

Leslie L., Bakersfield, CA, 7.18.07

Guest Rating:

We were amazed that we had "stumbled" by internet onto such a wonderful place to spend our time in Hawaii. It was like borrowing someones lovely home as opposed to feeling like a"rental". The kitchen was better epuipped than my own and the house had all the conveniences we could possibly need. The area was beautiful and Lanikai beech was indeed a short walk away. I was worried about having no AC, but the tradewinds were constant and cooling so we were quite comfortable. The pictures on the net don't do this place justice... it's even better than it looks. Be sure to enjoy every minute of relaxation on the lovely deck enjoying the breezes and the beautiful tropical surroundings. I would recommend this place to everyone.

Rick R., Arlington, Virginia, 7.8.07