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Reviews of Stunning Oceanfront Estate w/Private Pool & AC: Hale Makai at Diamond Head

Stunning Oceanfront Estate w/Private Pool & AC: Hale Makai at Diamond Head
Honolulu, HI

Reviews

9.6

Exceptional

Rating 10 - Excellent. 31 out of 34 reviews" "
Rating 8 - Good. 1 out of 34 reviews" "
Rating 6 - Okay. 0 out of 34 reviews" "
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 34 reviews" "
Rating 2 - Terrible. 2 out of 34 reviews" "

10/10

Cleanliness

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Cameron C.

Liked: Cleanliness
Everything we HOPED for and MORE!!!!
Honestly we were so blessed by this amazing home and location. The size was perfect for our family (2 bedrooms and the Ohana was perfect along with the powder bath). From the moment we walked into this magical home we were amazing by the cleanliness, quality of finishes, and overall the amenities and location. The pool and ocean view was perfect. Coffee with the sunrise and dinner at sunset was magical. The location being just outside the city was perfect. We didn't want to be in the heart of all the action but loved the walkability (only 20 mins) to shops and coffee and dinner. The short walk up Diamond Head to the light house for the sunrise was epic and a highlight each day. The beach access just a few houses down the street was amazing. We loved the local beach and slow vibes. We stayed here for the Marathon and loved the location. It was so easy and really fun to watch the racers go by when we finished. The property managers were very attentive and the owner was great about replacing a few things that naturally broke when we were there (umbrella broke and a new showed up hours later). This is a 5 Star home and location. Thanks for allowing us to stay their!!!!
Stayed 6 nights in Dec 2023
Response from VrboOwner on 15 Dec 2023
Thank you for sharing your experience at this amazing home and location! It's fantastic to hear that the size of the property was perfect for your family and that the cleanliness, quality of finishes, and amenities exceeded your expectations. We're pleased to know that the property managers were attentive, and the owner was responsive to your needs. We're delighted to have hosted your stay, and we hope to welcome you back in the future!

8/10 Good

steve n.

Liked: Cleanliness
Family birthday
Overall great place, we experienced a minor electrical problem but other than that great time
Stayed 6 nights in Nov 2023
Response from VrboOwner on 2 Dec 2023
It's good to hear that you had an overall great experience at the place. Minor issues can sometimes happen, but it's nice to know that it didn't significantly impact your stay. If you ever return to that location or plan future trips and need any assistance or recommendations, feel free to reach out. Safe travels!

10/10 Excellent

Kat L.

Liked: Cleanliness
Stunning place with the killer sunset view
We stayed here for my family trip and it was just perfect. Everyone had a great time. I will definitely come back!
Stayed 5 nights in Oct 2023
Response from VrboOwner on 8 Nov 2023
We're delighted to hear that your family had a perfect stay! It's wonderful that everyone enjoyed their time, and I'm sure coming back for another visit will be just as enjoyable. If you have any more trips planned in the future or need any recommendations, feel free to reach out. Safe travels, and here's to more memorable family getaways!

10/10 Excellent

Larry M.

Liked: Cleanliness
Paradise
Our happy place in Oahu. Mahalo!
Stayed 7 nights in Sep 2023
Response from VrboOwner on 20 Oct 2023
Thank you for your great feedback. We look forward to seeing you for your stay.

10/10 Excellent

Jason S.

Liked: Cleanliness
tropical getaway!
the house and location were fabulous! the kitchen was stocked with everything needed for dining in. the garage was full of toys and chairs for enjoying the beach. the location is perfect for the island and my family, and I enjoyed this house very much. I highly recommend.
Stayed 7 nights in Sep 2023
Response from VrboOwner on 26 Sept 2023
We're thrilled to hear that you found the house and location fabulous! Thank you for highly recommending this property. Should your future travels bring you back to the area, we'd be delighted to host you again.

10/10 Excellent

Maria C.

Liked: Cleanliness
Family Reunion location
Had a great time at Hale Makai. Having the concierge service to contact with any issues was a great bonus. The views are stunning, the pool is a great alternative as you can't swim right out front. Easy walk to many places such as parks or down to Waikiki. We hosted a family gathering for my extended family from Australia one evening and booked the Private Chefs on offer for the night. It was brilliant! To bring family together in such a great setting was the perfect end to our family reunion.
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2023
Response from VrboOwner on 13 Jul 2023
Thank you for choosing Hale Makai and sharing your wonderful experience! We're delighted to hear that you had a great time and enjoyed the stunning views and convenient location. It's fantastic that the concierge service was a helpful bonus for any issues that arose. Hosting a family gathering and booking the Private Chefs sounds like a brilliant idea and a perfect way to bring everyone together in a memorable setting. Thank you for your kind words, and we hope to have the pleasure of hosting you again in the future.

10/10 Excellent

Carie Ann S.

Liked: Cleanliness
All the comforts of home with a view
Our family of 8 thoroughly enjoyed this home for 5 nights. The house is beautifully kept and had many extras that most others don’t such as beach chairs, a wagon, bikes, sunscreens, towels, all the little things. We enjoyed early morning coffee sitting at the stone wall watching the waves crash over the reefs. So thankful we got a chance to stay here for part of our visit.
Stayed 5 nights in Jun 2023
Response from VrboOwner on 10 Jul 2023
Thank you for choosing our property and sharing your experience! We look forward to hosting you and your loved ones again!

2/10 Terrible

Julie E.

Liked: Cleanliness
Hectic Trip
The home is stunning, but don't rent it unless they replace the cheap frig., stove and bikes--with quality items. I bought a bunch or groceries and they froze the first day. Someone was sent to fix the frig, but it wasn't fixed and our food stayed frozen the entire week. Instead of relaxing I spent hours everyday picking up food. I spent at least 4 hours every day trying to find parking and waiting in lines to get food instead of relaxing. Instead of walking on the beach watching the sun rise every morning--I was fighting traffic and waiting in lines. This was the most hectic vacation I've ever had and I paid a high price for luxury. And... I had to pick up my kids miles away after the old bike tires kept going flat.
Stayed 7 nights in May 2023
Response from VrboOwner on 10 Jul 2023
Thank you for sharing your experience with us. We apologize for the inconvenience with the refrigerator, stove, and bikes. We regret that the issues were not resolved effectively, disrupting your vacation. We appreciate your feedback and will use it to make improvements for future guests. We apologize for falling short of your expectations and hope to have the opportunity to provide you with a more seamless experience in the future.

10/10 Excellent

Nick H.

Liked: Cleanliness
Beautiful ocean view
Any issues we had were taken care of right away. Beautiful property highly recommended.
Stayed 10 nights in Apr 2023
Response from VrboOwner on 12 May 2023
Thank you so much for taking the time to leave a review of your recent stay at our beautiful VRBO property! We are thrilled to hear that you enjoyed your time with us and that any issues you encountered were quickly resolved. Providing exceptional service is always our top priority, so we are glad to know we exceeded your expectations. Your recommendation means the world to us! We hope to have the pleasure of hosting you again soon and making your next stay even more memorable. Thank you for choosing our property for your vacation!

10/10 Excellent

Jeff F.

Liked: Cleanliness
Awesome stay!
We loved everything about our stay here. The home itself is beautiful and the location is great. It’s close enough to the action but far enough away to have some privacy. It was nice to have access to beach gear and toys as well as bikes. We enjoyed hanging out at the pool and sitting in the backyard listening to the crashing waves and watching sunsets. Checking in and out was super easy and we had no issues, everything was great. We would definitely stay here again and highly recommend this property!
Stayed 7 nights in Jan 2023
Response from VrboOwner on 26 Jan 2023
We are so glad to hear that you enjoyed your stay and found everything to be great, Jeff! We appreciate the positive feedback and that you'd recommend this property. It was a pleasure hosting you, and we look forward to welcoming you back soon.

10/10 Excellent

Kendra D.

Liked: Cleanliness
Fantastic Family Vacation
Our stay was phenomenal. The property was beautiful, clean and everything that we hoped for. The location was ideal. The beach was just a few houses down with easy access through the gated walkway, restaurants, grocery and shopping was only a few minutes away. There was plenty of space for all 7 of us and every bedroom had it's own bath!!! Would definitely want to stay here again.
Stayed 5 nights in Oct 2022
Response from VrboOwner on 7 Nov 2022
Thank you so much for leaving us a 5 star review! We appreciate the feedback and value your input. We aim to provide a truly unique experience and are thrilled that we exceeded your expectations. We look forward to hosting you again!

10/10 Excellent

Claire A.

Liked: Cleanliness
Great Stay!
The house was perfect for our family, and was comfortable and easy.
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2022
Response from VrboOwner on 29 Jul 2022
Mahalo for leaving us a great review Claire! We value our guests' input and are happy to know that you enjoyed your stay with us! We look forward to your next visit to Hawaii!

10/10 Excellent

Holly C.

Liked: Cleanliness
Beautiful Perfect Hawaii
We had a wonderful stay here! The host was always available for questions and helpful information. The home was very clean and very well equipped. Beds were super comfy and there was lots of room for the six of us to be together or have some privacy, which ever anyone wanted. Pool was lovely as well as the backyard. Spent many hours gazing out at the gorgeous ocean. The waves breaking along the wall was dramatic and spectacular. Enjoyed each and every sunset! Great place. Great neighborhood. Close enough to walk into Waikiki but far enough out of town that it was peaceful 11 out of 10 would recommend :)
Stayed 6 nights in May 2022
Response from VrboOwner on 29 Jul 2022
Mahalo for leaving us a 5 star review Holly! We appreciate the feedback and value your input. We aim to provide a truly unique experience and are thrilled that we exceeded your expectations. We hope that you will consider staying with us on your next visit to Hawaii!

10/10 Excellent

Jim B.

Liked: Cleanliness
Amazing week
I loved the house. Perfect for a family get away. Grant the property manager was fantastic in providing local knowledge and responding to our requests. I highly recommend this property!
Stayed 6 nights in Dec 2021
Response from VrboOwner on 13 Jan 2022
Mahalo for leaving us a great review Jim! We value our guests' input and are happy to know that you enjoyed your stay with us! We look forward to your next visit to Hawaii!

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

Liked: Cleanliness
Amazing Propoerty
This property was amazing. Location can’t be beat. Privacy. Amenities were terrific. Outstanding view. Comfortable beds. Great pool.
Stayed 6 nights in Oct 2021
Response from VrboOwner on 13 Nov 2021
Mahalo for leaving us a 5 star review! We appreciate the feedback and value your input. We aim to provide a truly unique experience and are thrilled that we exceeded your expectations. We hope that you will consider staying with us on your next visit to Hawaii!

10/10 Excellent

Katherine S.

Liked: Cleanliness
Exceptional View in Diamond Head
There are so many wonderful things I could write about. The property management company and property manager for the house were helpful, very responsive and easy to reach any time we had questions from the moment we booked to the day we checked out. The house itself is clean, comfortable, and fully stocked to make staying a week or more with our family (incl 2 year old) easy. And the view off the grass is breathtaking. Equally amazing was the pool which we used multiple times a day. Highly recommend!
Stayed 8 nights in Sep 2021
Response from VrboOwner on 4 Oct 2021
Mahalo for leaving us a 5 star review Katherine! We appreciate the feedback and value your input. We aim to provide a truly unique experience and are thrilled that we exceeded your expectations. We hope that you will consider staying with us on your next visit to Hawaii!

10/10 Excellent

Heather C.

Liked: Cleanliness
Perfect home for vacay
Our experience was wonderful for our first visit to the island. The home was fully stocked, beautiful and the right size for a family of 6. We enjoyed being right off the beach and the pool was perfect for the kiddos. Property manager was also amazing and made everything very seamless. We would definitely stay here again and recommend this location to other family and friends.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2021
Response from VrboOwner on 11 Aug 2021
Mahalo for leaving us a great review Heather! We value our guests' input and are happy to know that you enjoyed your stay with us! We look forward to your next visit to Hawaii!

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

Liked: Cleanliness
Perfect Hawaii vacation
House is cleaned and fully stocked with everything we needed. The views and location are just amazing!! We were close to shops, restaurants and activities that we couldn’t do all we wanted. Will definitely come back!
Stayed 5 nights in May 2021
Response from VrboOwner on 29 Jun 2021
Mahalo for leaving us a 5 star review! We appreciate the feedback and value your input. We aim to provide a truly unique experience and are thrilled that we exceeded your expectations. We hope that you will consider staying with us on your next visit to Hawaii!

10/10 Excellent

Megan F.

Liked: Cleanliness
Wonderful spot!
This was a really great rental and made for a wonderful beach vacation. The house was clean, well maintained, and well stocked. Great for families that want to be at the beach but also need to stay close to the base for little ones. Would happily stay again!
Stayed 7 nights in Apr 2021
Response from VrboOwner on 25 May 2021
Mahalo Megan for leaving us a 5 star review! We appreciate the feedback and value your input. We aim to provide a truly unique experience and are thrilled that we exceeded your expectations. We hope that you will consider staying with us on your next visit to Hawaii!

10/10 Excellent

Jessica I.

Liked: Cleanliness
Ahhhhhmazzzing
The pics of this property are stunning, but seeing this property in person will amaze you. Grant was our property manager and we managed to lock ourselves out of one of the gates (because we didn’t read the instructions thoroughly). Grant came over right away and helped us out. He gave us a tour of the property and was easy to communicate with throughout the trip. He truly made the experience better than we dreamed! The kitchen was complete with all the appliances, utensils, and cooking needs. There’s a washer/dryer, bikes, floaties, boogie boards in the garage for use. Tons of beach towels too! The location is perfect because it is right at the beginning of Diamond Head towards the end of Waikiki. Convenience is everything. You don’t need to sacrifice choosing a home with a pool or beach because this property has both. We couldn’t help but take sooooo many pics in the backyard because it felt like every hour was “golden hour”. Will definitely be booking this place again, cannot wait to return.
Stayed 5 nights in Apr 2021
Response from VrboOwner on 21 May 2021
Mahalo Jessica for leaving us a 5 star review! We appreciate the feedback and value your input. We aim to provide a truly unique experience and are thrilled that we exceeded your expectations. We hope that you will consider staying with us on your next visit to Hawaii!

10/10 Excellent

Pam A.

Liked: Cleanliness
Amazing View
We enjoyed our beach getaway. This property has a grassy back yard that backs to a stone wall, with a walk way below that leads to a beach. The waves hit the wall and splash up. It is beautiful and the lower walk way gives you complete privacy. Only three bedrooms so perfect for a small family vacation. The pool was perfect and separate from the yard, which is great when you have a toddler like we did! Incredible sunsets. Manager was friendly and attentive, but from a distance, which is what we prefer.
Stayed 5 nights in Nov 2020

10/10 Excellent

Denise S.

Liked: Cleanliness
Amazing Location
Great home to enjoy family and allow for some quite time as well. The home was everything and more and the icing on the cake was the how attentive the property manager was. She checked in on a regular basis and it was greatly appreciated, even if we didn’t need anything, it was still a very nice touch. I have stayed in a lot of homes on the islands and this was a great experience.

10/10 Excellent

Debbie H.

Liked: Cleanliness
Loved it!
My family had rented this beautiful Tiki home just on the beach this past October. We had looked at many properties and kept coming back to this one. “Great choice”, said all after walking into the home! It was safe for our little ones (two stairs only which they learned to respect) and we felt right at home throughout our stay. It had all the amenities you could think of and a great pool! It was amazing to have the view of diamond head from the front yard and the splashing glistening waves in the backyard! In fact when some of us climbed to the top of diamond head we called the rest of our family to watch us wave to them at the top - they saw us waving our caps towards them -amazing!!! (By the way, you should start your diamond head climb no later than 7am. It gets very hot climbing!) If you wanted to leave the home for an outing, the Waikīkī aquarium was only a short 15 minute level walk from the house for us. You could also continue a leasurely walk (also flat) towards Waikīkī beach and the rest of the shops too, which may be another 30 minutes. Michelle, the property manager was wonderful! She helped us throughout this process of unknowns in renting the house and continued to assist us as we needed her during our stay. You won’t regret booking this home. It is quite memorable!
Stayed 6 nights in Oct 2019

10/10 Excellent

Tyler E.

Liked: Cleanliness
Can’t wait to go back!
We had an absolutely amazing time enjoying this wonderful property. The best part about it is the flexibility it allows you to enjoy during your trip. Feel like cooking? The kitchen is perfect. Does the thought of clean up and dishes on vacation send shivers down your spine? Well, Waikiki and all the restaurants are 10-15 mins away. Don’t feel like getting dirty? Enjoy the pool! And of course you can surf, paddle, canoe and snorkel at the small beach just down the walk. The only downsides are very small: 1. The gates and corresponding codes could be indicated more clearly. There was one gate we couldn’t get to work with any code. 2. The wall in the backyard is a little high and takes away from some of the views of the ocean while sitting or laying down. 3. A 10am checkout is not what we’re used to with 5star service. All that being said we hope to come back and would definitely recommend.
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2019

10/10 Excellent

Rachael S.

Liked: Cleanliness
Perfect holiday getaway
This house is perfect for more than one family. Private bedrooms, but exceptional gathering areas. Comfy lounge and well stocked kitchen. Best areas are outside with the ocean on one side and a great pool on the other. Everyone in our party would go back again.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2019

10/10 Excellent

Brent S.

Liked: Cleanliness
Worth every penny
Easy to check in, Clean property, helpful local management, ideal location for popular stops in Honolulu. Easily Earns 5/5

2/10 Terrible

Judy L.

Beautiful house but looks are deceiving
My stay 4-night stay was unsatisfactory. Studio: 1) One of the guests stepped on a piece of glass in the shower stall and cut her foot. 2) The bedroom and bathroom were dark because light bulbs were. 3) The shower was either cold of tepid.  4) The bathroom sink stopper got stuck in the closed position so we had to remove the stopper to prevent the sink from overflowing. 5) TV did not work. Master bedroom: 1) Bedroom smelled like mildew. 2) Bathroom tiles had mold. 3) Missing a bathmat in the tub, and one guest almost slipped and fell. 4) Only bathroom with hot water for showers, so all of the guests had use in the master bath if they wanted a hot shower. 2nd bedroom: 1) A noise sporadically emanated from the hall toilet, disturbing the sleep of guests in the 2nd bedroom. 2) The shower was either cold of tepid.  3) TV did not work, could not get reception. Hall Bathroom: Two guests got locked in the bathroom.  The guests simply closed the door and found it locked when they attempted to exit. The door could not be unlocked from the inside. They had to exit to the outside to get out of the bathroom. Living Room: The house was advertised with AC, so it was disappointing to find that it did not extend to the living room. The living area was hot and stuffy unless the sliding doors were open, which allowed insects to fly in. The fan did not sufficiently keep the room cool. The living room screens were not useful because they did not pull out easily and did not extend far enough to cover the open doors. Had I known AC was limited to the bedrooms, I wouldn’t have rented the house. General issues: It took about 30 minutes to open the lock box and 2 calls to the Manager (Michelle) to finally figure out how to open the lockbox. Instructions should have been provided. 2) The contract clearly states that the departure time is at 11:00 am.  On the morning of our departure, I received a voicemail advising me that my party should have exited by 10:00 a.m. and was charged $60 for late departure. Not a great experience.

10/10 Excellent

John m.

Second Visit
This was our second time staying at this property, and hopefully it won’t be the last. Great accommodation, central but private. The managing agent is very prompt with communication and a pleasure to deal with. You won’t regret booking this property.
Stayed 5 nights in Jan 2019

10/10 Excellent

tony m.

wonderful
fantastic house great location right beside best beaches in Oahu short walk to town or 5min uber will be back to stay again
Stayed 10 nights in Oct 2018