Tradewinds Ranch

We were hoping that the bad reviews were a situational issue but we also had a TERRIBLE time w Cheryl. Six months ago we booked and paid deposit for 2 on-​site cottages in addition to the barn venue for a reunion party (previously listed on VRBO and allowed events for a fee). Just 3 weeks before the event, Cheryl EMAILS me to tell me that she rented out one of the cottages to a long term renter, that one of the cottages is no longer available. She confessed that her vacation rentals were ILLEGAL, tried to belittle me when I complained and threatened «you’ll be in tears if I end up cancelling this event altogether.» I was originally delighted to have our family and close friends stay on-​site for the party, it was the main reason we booked with Tradewinds Ranch. Despite pleading with Cheryl for some consideration given the major turn in events that she caused, she refused to compensate us for the trouble. She was more than willing to allow us to walk but keep our deposit, which she in turn claimed was only for the barn reservation and not the vacation rentals.
We decided that we were better off finding other venue/​lodging options for our event rather than staying in this sinking ship. She is unprofessional, uncompassionate and single-​handedly nearly ruined our planned reunion. She doesn’t accept any responsibility for her actions and was quick to insult and threaten us. IMHO, there’s either mental health and/​or drug/​alcohol issues going on here. This is not a safe venue for your loved ones. She appeared very accommodating and cordial then suddenly verbally abusive and offensive. Please don’t make the same mistake that I did, look else where for your own sanity. I’m about to file suit in small claims to get my deposit back.

My fiancé and I found out about this venue at a wedding expo last year (2014). We were unsure of this place and had been leading to other more established venues on the windward side, but we decided to take a gamble, and it has really paid off.
After visiting the site last year shortly after the expo, we immediately fell in love with it and the owners. So, it was a no-​brainer that we would go on to choose this site to host our special day.
With that said, my fiancé, wedding coordinator, vendors, and I have worked with Cheryl and her family for over a year planning our wedding, which is in June 2015. While there are still two months until our special day and a lot of planning that has to happen between now and then, Cheryl has been such a generous and gracious host, and we are so excited to be working with her. Since we picked this place for our wedding, we have been out to the ranch over six times, and Cheryl has given us her full attention each time being patient with all of our questions/​concerns and always being available and timely in her replies.
She is very flexible, which helps to facilitate the planning, but she also can be very proactive with the coordination: on one occasion we were running late for a site inspection with one of our vendors. As we drove in, we saw the vendor driving out. We were naturally upset about missing our meeting, but when we saw Cheryl a bit later, we found out that she had taken care of all of the coordination with the vendor for us! Over this past year, we’ve found this to be the case over and over! It has really been a pleasure working with her!
It’s obvious that she takes a lot of pride in what she does and in her ranch, and we are privileged to be able to share our special day at Tradewinds Ranch.
We just completed another site visit, and as we are getting closer to our day but also have been working with her for so long, we thought it appropriate to give some positive feedback now. Thus far, we are so please and satisfied with our experience. And, of course, we will write an update after our special day!

Awful owner — what started out as looking like an awesome venue was soured by the owner’s rudeness to the bride, making her cry the night before her wedding, not allowing elderly, wheel chaired relative that flew from the mainland to attend to be dropped off closer to the wedding, although the driver told them he will come back out to park… instead insisting that they park far away and wheel her in… and then blocking the way for them to either drop her off closer… or turn around to leave… that one got to be against the law because they told the owner they have a person in a wheel chair and can. t be wheeled on a dirt rocky road that far… so they ended up not attending at all.
So many instances of unprofessional behavior… the venue was rented for two days to allow set up… but the night of the setup insisted they leave and turn off the generators early, and then decided the day of the event that she wanted the wedding to end at 9pm… and freaking think someone of her group actually pulled the plug on the stage and one of the tents… in the middle of the wedding dance… even though the vendors were paid til 10 and on her website and contract it says 12am! …Despite her best efforts to ruin the wedding it was a beautiful one with awesome food… then the day after turned around to say one of the wedding guests spray painted a neighbors gate but with it ending at 9… seriously doubt it as there was another party still going on strong in the area at a different house when the cleanup was done…
HORRIBLE, HORRIBLE CUSTOMER INTERACTIONS… Liar, contract breaker, and refused to accommodate an elderly handicapped person.
BEWARE​.as you may be burned going thru this venue unless they get a different owner!

Just returned from a 2 night stay at Tradewinds Ranch in Punaluu. My brothers, sister and their families stayed at the beautiful vacation rental house. It is a working ranch/​farm and for «city folk» like us it was a fun experience feeding carrots and apples to horses, piglets, shetland ponies, goat, and bread to the chickens and roosters. What was especially heart-​warming about this staycation is that we were all able to visit with each other, and bond. We cooked our own meals, and grilled steaks and fish for dinner. Tamura’s and Longs is a short 10 minute drive north into Ha’aula. The house provides towels, sheets, cute little hotel type soaps/​shampoo, and all the conveniences for the kitchen, including a Cuisinart coffee maker. It would be nice if the downstairs living area and bedroom also had ceiling fans like the ones upstairs, and the bedroom with the 2 beds had bed frames that were very squeaky. Everytime a person moved in his or her bed, the squeaky noise would wake the other one up. Other than that, the owners Cheryl and Dave were super nice and accommodating. Punalu’u Beach is just 5 minutes away — sandy and blue water. A very fun time for all!