Beach House In Paradise

Sandy Beachfront. Thatched-Roof Tiki Bar. Hot Tub. Hawaiian Paradise.

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

 

Q: Is this property private, or shared with others?

A: The property consists of two separate vacation rental units - the bottom 2-bedroom/1-bathroom unit and the top 1-bedroom/1-bathroom unit - as well as the owner's unit in the back. Both rental units, of course, has its own separate entrance, and is completely separate from the other. The two units sit one on top of the other (hence, the "Top Unit" and the "Bottom Unit"). Both units face the ocean, and sit only about 25 feet from the ocean's edge.

Q: What outside areas are for our exclusive use, and what areas are for common use (i.e. shared)?

A: Both units have a dedicated lanai (patio) area for the guests exclusive use. The top unit has a 3' x 15' thatch-roofed lanai containing a table and chairs. The bottom unit has a portion of the terrace, containing a table, chairs, and gas grill, that is for the guests exclusive use.

Everything else - including the 7-person hot tub, tiki bar, outdoor mini fridge, dart board, gas grill (a second one), washer and dryer, terrace, chaise lounges, outdoor shower, kayaks, boogie boards, fishing poles, beach chairs and snorkel gear - are shared by all.

Q: What are the primary differences between the two units?

A: The bottom 2-bedroom unit has the following things not offered in the top 1-bedroom unit:

A: The top 1-bedroom unit has the following things not offered in the bottom 2-bedroom unit:

Q: Is there a sandy beach in front of the property?

A: Yes....and no. At low tide, there is about a 20-30 foot wide/deep (from our seawall to the water's edge) sandy beach in front of the property, and spanning several hundred yards each direction. At really high tides, most of the beach becomes covered by a few inches of water, but is still perfect for barefooted walks along the beach. Even at low tide, however, the sand rarely totally dries out. As such, it is not always feasible to lay down a towel and sunbathe (the provided beach chairs work great!).

If you're looking for dry sand, there are two beach parks within walking distance. The first - Aukai Beach Park - is located only about 200 yards to the north. The beach in front of our property is actually just an extension of this beach. In addition, there is Hau'ula Beach Park only another couple hundred yards further north. This beach park has many amenities, including a large grassy play area, brand-new restroom facilities, covered pavilion area, and several shade trees. You can view the "Location & Beaches" page for an Oahu map that plots our property location and illustrates our proximity to many other beaches islandwide.

Q: Is the beach directly in front of the property swimmable?

A: Yes. The ocean out front almost always has very minimal wave action, and the bottom is perfectly sandy with virtually no rocks. It is suitable even for most small children.

Q: What is there to do in the immediate area?

A: Hau'ula is primarily known for its quaintness, and for being one of Oahu's last unspoiled towns (the "Location & Beaches" page plots the property location on an Oahu map). The area has one beach after the next, several great hiking trails, waterfalls, lookout points, whale watching, etc. As such, the area is more about natural beauty than manmade structures and development (the "Anti-Waikiki," if you will). However, there are a few restaurants, grocery stores, convenience stores, gift shops, etc. nearby.

Almost directly across the street from our property is Hau'ula Gift Shop, which is great for little souvenirs and trinkets to take back home. A small liquor/convenience store is only a few hundred feet away. Also just across the street is a public park, which has a playground and basketball courts. About a 45-second drive or 5-minute walk is a 7-11, open 24 hours. There is a small strip mall - housing a market, Dominoes pizza, and plate lunch (local food) restaurant - only about a 2-minute drive away. At about a 5-6 minute drive, the strip mall in nearby town La'i'e contains a plate lunch place, Subway, Taco Bell, Pizza Hut, a Chinese restaurant, an ice cream/shave ice place, and Foodland supermarket. Next to that shopping center is a tasty breakfast/lunch place called the Hukilau Cafe, and Turtle Bay Resort (with its golf courses, spa treatments, multiple restaurants and bars, etc.) is just up the road at about a 12-minute drive from the place. The property is equipped with a house guide that outlines, recommends and offers directions to several of these stores and restaurants.

The Polynesian Cultural Center (PCC), "Hawaii's #1 paid tourist attraction," is located in nearby La'i'e at about a 4-minute drive.

For more information about Hau'ula, including the town's history, things to do and buy, and places to eat, check out this Hau'ula Brochure, prepared by the Hawaii Ecotourism Association. Similar brochures for Punalu'u and La'i'e - the towns to the immediate south and north, respectively - can be found by clicking the town name.

Q: What have previous guests thought of their stay?

A: You can view comments from previous guests at the following links: Bottom Unit Guestbook   Top Unit Guestbook

Q: Do guests receive a dedicated parking space?

A: Yes, guests of each unit are given one dedicated parking space. There is no fee for parking. There is only sufficient parking for one vehicle per unit. However, if guests plan to have more than one vehicle (or have visitors during their stay), there is plenty of available parking directly across the street.

Q: I am concerned about the logistics of arriving, checking out, etc. How does it work?

A: We recognize the potential for guest's coming and going at "odd" times of the day and night. As a result, we have established all processes and procedures to make our guests 100% self-sufficient during their stay. It all starts with the reservation - once the deposit has been received, we email a confirmation that includes the property address, directions to the property from the airport, parking instructions, the code to the lockbox that is mounted next to the front door (to let yourself in), and a phone number to call in the event of any problems. Once guests have arrived and checked themselves in, everything inside is fairly straightforward. However, there is a house guide to assist you in the event that you have problems finding something or figuring out how to use something. As for check-out, once again, guests are completely self-sufficient - simply hang up the keys, lock the doors, and you're off!

Q: I have friends living/staying elsewhere on the island, and would like to host a small gathering. Can I?

A: Out of respect for our guests in the other vacation rental unit, we only allow such a gathering when a single party is occupying both vacation rental units. Under those circumstances, we have absolutely no problem with a guest hosting a small gathering. Generally speaking, we try to limit gatherings to around 10 people, and noise needs to be controlled by 10:00 p.m. If you are considering reserving both units and are interested in such a gathering, please contact us with the specifics, and we can see if we can work something out. Please know that a nominal fee may apply, depending on the specifics of the planned gathering.

Q: What is the weather generally like at the time of year I'm planning to visit?

A: Hau'ula's monthly temperature and rainfall averages, found here.

Q: Aside from the listed amenities, what other little things might be provided?

A. We pass along various items that are purchased but not wholly used by previous guests, in an effort to both reduce unnecessary waste and to save future guests some expense. Our "pass along" criteria is basically this: if future guests may find the item useful - but not weird or odd - we pass it along. Examples include salt, pepper, seasonings, salad dressings, ketchup, mustard, mayo, soy sauce, jelly, butter, oils, shampoo, conditioner, lotions, etc. To be clear, we absolutely do not guarantee any of these items to be provided, but merely pass them along if they are left behind by previous guests.

We acknowledge that some guests may have personal brand preferences, and/or feel uncomfortable sharing some of these items. As such, and with unnecessary waste reduction in mind, we compromise by being highly selective in what we pass along. We trust that guests, whether they choose to use the items or not, will appreciate this eco-inspired practice.

Q: Are there mosquitoes on the property?

A: Only on the very rare dead-still evening are there mosquitoes (even then, you may notice only a few). Most evenings have a nice breeze, and you will not see a single mosquito.

Q: Is there a phone provided for our use?

A: No. At one time, we provided a land-line phone, but as time went on, we discovered that more and more of our guests were arriving with cell phones (with national plans). As a result, our provided phone was simply not getting used. Cell coverage is pretty good island-wide, and our guests seem to be getting along fine without a land-line phone.