Hale Ko’olau

We rented a 5 bedroom house on the beach from Dave at Hale Koolau through VRBO. We were a large group. 12 total, mostly kids aged 16 to 21, plus my wife and I, and the mother-​in-​law. WARNING! This is not a luxury hotel but a beach house. Yes, the woo on the deck has some soft spots. (The blue Pacific breaks on it at high tide!) Yes, the nails on the siding have rust stains around them. (again, you are ON THE BEACH) and yes, we saw a bug or two. Even a couple of small green Geckos in the house. (Awesome). All in all, this house is very clean, homey, comfortable and has the beautiful benefit of incredible proximity to the ocean, awesome views. Quiet North shore living,. The local community was unbelievably friendly to us Haoles. We were so close to good food, snorkeling, sightseeing, not too far from Honolulu and we could not have been happier with our stay. Thanks Dave. we hope to come back again.

GO SOMEWHERE ELSE! This place is awful! It smells so bad, there are bugs everywhere, it’s filthy, the list goes on. But what really makes this place suck is Dave, the manager. He’s so rude and aggressive. I was absolutely floored at the way he spoke to me… another review mentioned he was irate and when I told him about that he lost it… pretty ironic. All in all, just a terrible experience!

We stayed at the Hale Alii at 54 – 231. We had a problem with the handyman while we were there. The owner called me the following week and apologized for him. The owner was very kind and extremely disappointed that one of his employees would be rude to customers. I would definitely give it another try because the owner is so nice!

This is by far the worst place I have ever stayed. Dave, the property manager is the rudest person I have ever talked to yelling at me saying that I am annoying him by trying to get a hold of him since he never picks up his phone. The place smells like mold and urine, has no blankets, wifi doesn’t work, filled with bugs, and by far the rudest customer service I have ever experienced. Dave needs to be fired and learn how to deal with customers nicely. Don’t stay here! There are other places near by just as affordable and in way better condition.

I stayed in the Molokai studio for a friend’s wedding. The group of us rented out several of the houses, but mine was by far the worst. As soon as you open the door, the smell of mildew and urine are overwhelming. Tried opening the windows for the length of my stay to no avail. The smell was so rank that the entire contents of my suitcase reeked when I got home. The «kitchen» is so tiny that the refrigerator and oven cannot even open all the way. And the mattress was riddled with what I think is mold (see photo). Ewwww!!! This place is disgusting. Other rentals in the complex had their issues as well. Would not go back to this place, nor recommend to anyone else.

Our family of four spent one week in October at this property. We chose this property for its proximity to the beach, views, price, and number of bedrooms.
The location is about 45 minutes from the airport, and not marked clearly from the road, so be sure to keep your eyes peeled when you are in the area. We drove past it a few times.
The unit was not quite ready when we arrived, which was understandable, but Dave took us up to the unit to show us where it was located and explained the very convenient keyless entry system which was very convenient the whole week. We didn’t have to worry about losing keys, or who had a set of the keys, etc.
The property was as described and met our expectations. There were some changes to the furniture from what was pictures, but that was fine.
The views from the lanai are killer and if a view is what you’re looking for, this property and this unit in particular has it.
The kitchen was great. Ample counter space and plenty of dishes provided for preparing our own meals. I might suggest some tupperwares or storage containers for food however, because we frequently had leftovers and no real way of storing them other than a bowl with a plate over top. Other than that, the kitchen was fantastic.
The beds were comfortable. We were also pleased with the water pressure and other items like that which can sometimes be disappointing when traveling.
There were a few maintenance issues during our stay, however, each of them were addressed quickly.
The first night both of our children were devoured by mosquitos. Dave was great because he provided us with bug spray and some tips for keeping the mosquitos away, including keeping the windows closed and the AC on. After that, we had no mosquito problems.
Parking for this unit and the one beneath it seems to be tighter than the other units. We had trouble getting in and out every time. Dave explained that he does it all the time and that he has never had an accident. We were fine, but a few times I had to get out of the car and guide my husband so that we didn’t risk hitting a wall or a fence. It was manageable though. Just don’t rent a car larger than a medium size sedan, or you may have difficulty.
There is a rooster next door that makes sure you are up for sunrise. This was quaint and fine with us as we enjoyed the sunrise each morning.
We took advantage of the hot tub on a number of nights. The hot tub is clean, very warm and large enough for the four of us to sit comfortably. Nice amenity.
Dave and his staff was friendly and accompodating the entire time.
For us, the letdown was the beach itself. This is not the fault by any means of the management. However, the beach was a little rocky for our liking. I understand that there have been storms recently and this can not be controlled. I also understand that the rocks washing up on the beaches impact some parts of the island more than others, however, we found ourselves in search every day for sandier beaches. The good news is that Hale koolau is located within 15 minutes of sandy beaches, and it was a convenient and pretty drive. We enjoyed the beach at turtle bay, despite the crowds, and this is about a 15 minute drive. If you want more privacy, we also enjoyed the beach at Mokuleia, however, that’s about a 30 minute drive. It was nice though, and not very crowded.
Overall, for the price, this is a good option is you’re looking for a family friendly rental in Hauula. It’s clean, the staff is friendly, and there are laundry facilities available ($ 2.00 for a wash, and $.25 per 5 minutes of dryer, so bring or buy plenty of quarters). It is conveniently located on Kamehameha Hwy, so you can access almost anything you want conveniently. Also, there are restaurants and grocery stores very close by, as well as fruit stands, bakeries, pharmacies, etc. There are stretches of the island that don’t have these conveniences close by.
I read all the other reviews before deciding on this property and I want to say a few things about the complainers. When reviewing a property, or any business for that matter, the review should be based on things the owners have control over. These owners have no control over bugs around the island, rocks that may wash up on the beach, or traffic noise. Dave and his staff clearly take pride in their property and do their best to keep it maintained. There is rust and wear and tear, however, this side of the island is very humid. Everything is always wet. Of course there is going to be rust and wear and tear. The maintenance it would take to eliminate these problems at all times would drive up the price of the rentals. This is a family owned business and I’m sure their budget is not as expaansive as major hotel chains. That is also why we get a 2 bedroom house for the same price as a small hotel room in Waikiki.
Unfortunately, we likely won’t return to this property because we found in our travels around the island that we much more enjo

Stayed at Ko’olani Kai 2 bedroom 1 bath, oceanfront the view was beautiful, however the customer service was sub par. Dave the owner needs to have better customer service. I checked in on a late Friday night and the moment I opened the home it was a overwhelming smell of lemon pinesol cleaner I needed to air out the home for a few hours and still did not dissipate until the next morning. I read through the guest rule binder which said it was a allotted 1 stall unit however if there was a need for more our group of 4 would need to purchase a guest parking pass. I called after work to comply with Davids rule and I informed him because we all live on the island we each had our own cars and asked him for two stalls for a total of 3 cars at the home.
Dave became VERY irate although not yelling at me he spoke to me as if I were a little child thinking that I would throw a huge party just because I called him to comply with his rules… I spoke very patiently with Dave trying to calm him down and telling him that it was only a total of 4 (all over our 40– 50 years of age) of us and welcomed him to stop by to check, he still went on insisting that people ALWAYS tell him that and they always end up throwing a party… I work at a hospital and all I wanted to do was unwind in a stress free environment. …not deal with a insecure owner. After about 10 minutes of ranting from Dave I was able to calm him down and he advised me that I could park on the street by the private school. Thats all he had to tell me…
See the pictures and the house itself has seen better days. Drywall ceiling damaged from water and poorly repaired, drapes in the rooms had red looking blood stains, missing wall cover for the old telephone hookup exposing telephone wires, drawers that are unable to open fully because it hits refrigerator and the most basic of all chipping paint by the headboard of the bed. I would NOT recommended this place to anyone. For Dave the manager learn to have better customer service and not sterotype all locals as party animals.

I stayed at this vacation rental and chose to have my wedding at the Nani Kai Hale House. I personally rented a one bedroom for my fiancé and I to stay in and between family and friends 6 other accommodations were rented out as well. We had the unfortunate luck of having our wedding a midst 3 different hurricanes circling Hawaii. Because of the crazy weather we were flooded out of our one bedroom — this was very uncharacteristic weather for the islands (I know this well as I lived here for much of my childhood). The staff at the vacation rentals were gracious enough to help us out because of the flooding (it got into our clothing and luggage) and basically ruined much of the one bedroom we were staying in. Without much else to do we thankfully were able to stay in our family and friends’ rented homes until we could be put into another one of the accommodations two days later.
They helped us pay to do our laundry, refunded us a good portion of our stay and upgraded us to a two bedroom accommodation for the duration of our stay. The process to check-​in and get everyone into their housing was smooth and easy. All of the homes were very comfortable to stay in, there were no complaints from our guests who were staying for the wedding. The air conditioning in everyone’s homes worked well and was just what we needed with the weather being so humid and hot (again uncharacteristic for this time of year and likely due to the hurricanes circling the area).
Important things to note if you do stay here — there are many hot tubs on the property and barbecues to use. There are also common areas with lounge chairs etc that allow you a great view of the ocean. You can even see the sunrise every morning if you wake early enough. There is a cat that roams the property who is very friendly, though she will walk into your house if you leave the doors open.
The beach that the property is on is very rocky, the property does provide aqua socks if you choose to use them (or bring your own). There are also lots of items to rent if you need them, our friends rented snorkels, kayaks, and boogie boards from here very easily.
Parking is limited, so if you are having multiple people stay in a house it might be difficult if everyone has a car. It is also on a very busy stretch of highway so it may take up to 15 or 20 minutes to pull out of the lot, so make sure to plan in that time.
Reading through some of the other reviews on here, it’s important to remember you are staying in a vacation rental house, it’s not the same as a hotel in Waikiki. The houses are on the ocean, so there is definitely going to be some rust and wear and tear on the houses — they are beach front. However, the houses were made very comfortable, they are equipped with all the things you would need for cooking your own meals instead of needing to eat out. There are grocery stores just up the way that you can pick up what you need from.
The property also was an amazing place for a wedding. The Nani Kai Hale house had a very large yard where I was able to setup a tent and also have our ceremony on the side yard under the tree. Even having the highway nearby didn’t seem to be an issue. All of the homes were quite beautiful and I definitely believe I made a good choice in having my wedding here.

Terrible place! So disappointing! I arrived here and tried to accept the fact that it was nothing like pictured on the online photos. It was dirty, dated and frankly scary. I was asked to sign a waiver in case I was confronted with rats, bed bugs, roaches. (A definite first in all my years of traveling) Again I tried to accept this and remind myself I was on a island and these things could happen. It only got worse I then was notified that they had a sewer back up and I would be moved to a room I hadn’t booked. Wow the room?!! no screens, floors so dirty I had to wear flip flops so my feet wouldn’t stick. Customer Service the WORST EVER Cousin Dave? Wow that individual has no business working with people!!! Please save yourself a horrible experience don’t stay here!

The worst experience ever! Do not stay here at all. Everything is rusted and rotted out. They moved our belongings into another house without telling us and are the rudest people. Spend your money somewhere else and don’t give it to these people because their rudeness does not deserve it.

Terrible customer service. Ruined my vacation. Verbally abusive staff. Unfortunately I have to write my first bad review. I stayed at hale koolau twice. My first experience was so incredible I brought my mother back for her birthday with the family 2 years later. We were «upgraded» to a room because the sink was broken in our room upon arrival. The place has not been taken care of since we had been there. The floor was dirty we kept our sandals on the entire time. The doors walls were cracked and there were no screens on any windows, there was no safe for precious items and we had no tv for the first night because it was also broken. The women who greeted us told us we may or may not have to move rooms in 3 or 4 days depending on if someone else was saying in our «upgraded» room when the sink was fixed. (Btw, she showed us the room we payed for and it was way nicer we were looking forward to moving) No one ever called or came over to notify us of the room change and when we got back all of our belongings had been packed and moved and new people were in our room. We had hidden items of value we had I hope were still there in the old room with the new visitors. The man Dave was very angry at us for inconveniencing him. He thought we were lying about not knowing to move. He yelled at my mother and called her names. Watched us leave and sent an angry emails about how we weren’t welcomed. We had to find a new hotel mid vacation because we were so uncomfortable. Spare yourself an incredibly awful experience and stay somewhere else.

I had my wedding in the Nani Hale house and my wedding party and friends and family filled the other rentals. It was really nice having everyone on the same property for our event. Most of the hot tubs didn’t work but they fixed them within a couple of days. Some of the places were in need of maintenance but that’s expected when you are right on the water. It’s not a five star resort but a nice, clean place to stay on the North Shore if you want peace and quiet. They have equipment that you can rent and be aware that they are self sufficient rentals so if you need extra things like toilet paper/​paper towels, etc, you will be charged. Everyone was happy with their units, highly recommend.

Beach house at its best… just B E A U T I F U L. Reviewers that reviewed this place is spot on… We occupied one lot with two houses. one duplex (upstairs/​downstairs) and the other one is just one house. Held a very intimate wedding ceremony in the back yard with the view of the ocean… oops it’s not my wedding but my sister’s hehehe… It’s a place away from the hustle and bustle of Waikiki. this is the place to be for the Hawaiian feeling… so romantic… ocean breeze and the sound of the waves…

We had a thoroughly delightful time here. We stayed at the House of the Chief. The house has more than adequate storage and everything that you could possibly need to feel «home» away from home. This is a family owned establishment, and it’s obvious that they take pride in ownership. Upon our arrival we were greeted by Oti, who immediately made us feel welcome. She gave us a tour of the home. She was engaging and personable. The staff is readily available to assist you and answer any of your questions, which is truly appreciated in this day and age. The beds are very comfortable and I have to tell you, falling asleep listening to the waves is such a serene experience. We rarely used the air conditioner. It really isn’t needed, If you open the windows you get a wonderful cross breeze. The location, oh my gosh… The location is stellar! I was up every morning by at least 5 o’clock (and I am not a morning person) just to sit on the deck, «right next» to the ocean and listen to the waves. During the five days that we were there I didn’t miss one sunrise, and I recommend you don’t either! I would liken the setting to a retreat, a magnificent place to simply enjoy all that God has created. If you pay attention you’ll notice all of the little touches that are just about everywhere. Lush landscaping and beauty is everywhere.
Inside of the residence you sense that much thought was put into detail. There are shells and beach items placed above the cupboards in the kitchen and shells embedded in the walls. Take the time to look at the art throughout the home. And read the signage, (the one out by the hot tub cracked me up!) Read the guide that they leave for you on the kitchen counter, it’s full of useful information with a smattering of humor.
* Don’t miss looking down on the rocks at the interesting black crabs, as they skitter around.
* Even if you’re not a morning person try to watch at least one sunrise. It’ll soothe your soul.
* Use Google maps. You are within walking distance to a CVS pharmacy and a small grocery store.
* There is a great trailhead close to this property and the hike is wonderful.
* Take time to enjoy the hot tub.
* Bring a hair dryer, they do not provide one. But if you sit out on the deck for a while… your hair will dry rather quickly.

I had the awesome opportunity to stay here for 10 days. It was my first real trip to Hawaii, and I wanted to be far from Waikiki. Hale Ko’olau provided this distance and an incredible time to relax and see Hawaii in a most fantastic setting. The «Cousins» did not disappoint as the views are incredible and the tranquility was unlike anything I had experienced.
The house was furnished as described and was situated ideally on the shore – the sound of the waves all day and night was soothing for the soul. Getting to see the sunrise every morning was awesome – never have I ever seen a purple/​violet sunrise. The bbq was perfect to cook at while soaking up the eyecandy of the seascape. The house is located within walking distance of a local grocery store/​pharmacy. There is fresh local produce sold at the grocery!
Being so close to the Valley of The Temples was ideal for finding further peace & tranquility.
Being so close to the Polynesian Cultural Center was perfect after learning all day.
Being so close to the Waimea Valley is a relief after hiking and nature gazing all day. It is a short drive (all drives are short on Oahu) to Pearl Harbor or Kewalo Basin Harbor for scuba excursions.
Be aware that if you don’t prefer upstairs neighbors, you should request a studio or single floor unit. There is Wi-​Fi available. Cable TV is available, but I didn’t watch – no time with all that beautiful nature surrounding you! There was a full kitchen, an iron, an ironing board, and who needs a hairdryer – you’re on vacation… act like it!
The «Cousins» were always friendly, constantly kept up the yard with cleaning, and always had a smile and friendly approach and were more than helpful!
Thank you David & Cousins!

Great location for an authentic local experience. Hauula is a very quiet town, not a touristy location at all. If you are looking for lots of little shops and such, you will have to drive elsewhere on the north shore. This little rental was right on the water, with wonderful crashing waves to lull you to sleep and georgeous sunrises to wake you in the morning. Travellers take note, though, if you are expecting a hairdryer, iron/​ironing board, or travel shampoos/​etc, you won’t find them here… but who needs them? You’re on the beach… rinse and air dry, yeah? I loved waking up with the sun and walking to the nearby 7 eleven for their macadamia nut vanilla coffee. There is a coffeemaker in the room, but the walk was lovely and allowed us to soak up some local flavor. I will most likely stay here again the next time I’m on the island.

Nice vacation rentals in a small hawaiian village, away from the big city. Not far from The Polynesian Culture center, and a short scenic drive to North Shore. Ocean-​front property for nice walks on the beach. Can’t really swim here, as there’s reef aplenty, and you will scrape your ankles up just wading in knee-​deep, but no-​worries as there are plenty of great beaches within a short drive. The staff is very helpful and friendly. the studio apt and upstairs one bedroom apt above it are the cheapest on the property, and are right next to Kamehameha highway, and there is what seems like 24hr non-​stop traffic, and boomin’ sound systems day n’ night. Overall, though it’s a great vacation spot for couples, and families. I highly recommend Papa Oles restaurant right down the street in the strip-​mall. Get the Garlic Chicken, it’s amazing.

The view from the living room and outside deck beat any fancy touristy Waikiki/​Honolulu hotels. If you want to get away from the crowd and tourists, stay here. We stayed at Pukana La «Sunrise” – very appropriate name for this duplex rental. Not fancy by any means, but rustic and down to earth. Close to Polynesian Cultural Center, Kualoa Ranch, and Turtle Bay.