amy s.
June 2024
We have stayed at this condo building many times over 20 years. Quiet, swimmable beach with gorgeous views. This was our first time in this unit. Typically opt for higher floors but now have a new favorite floor (4th) - puts you right at height of the palm trees and above the beach but not too far up. This unit is comfortable and has both big indoor and outdoor tables to seat the family comfortably. Well equipped kitchen. Comfortable king bed. Beach chairs & sand toys. It is not an updated unit but has been kept well & was clean. Owner very responsive with questions & has a housekeeper that can meet you on arrival. Definitely recommend!
Nan M.
May 2024
We love the beach here and the lack of tourists, but the property is getting very run down. And while most of the furnishings provided in the unit were adequate, the tv service was unacceptable. Certainly, we don't go to the beach to watch tv, but we had several days of storms plus a short illness, so were stuck inside more than usual. The tv service is Google tv and the slow wi-fi connection makes it impossible to watch anything for more than 2 minutes without it freezing to buffer and often just drifting away. It was highly annoying and very disappointing.
Katie R.
December 2023
Think long and hard whether the risk of a discounted condo is worth the risk!
We checked into this condo and immediately gave notice that we were going to check out the next day.
Facts (with pictures as evidence):
-The fold-out futon style twin bed has stains and is unsanitary.
-The fold-out couch mattress is the thickness of a folded towel. Whoever says that it is comfortable is lying through their teeth, which makes me question all of the favorable reviews.
-The owner did not warn us that the complex was replacing concrete hallway floors (jackhammer sounds all day)
-There is a homeless encampment within 500 yards of the beach entrance.
-Most cabinets were musty and moldy smelling.
-The dishes were half-clean.
-The floor had hair and other dirt on it.
-The gauges on the stove are painted with nail polish.
More facts regarding our horrid engagement with VRBO and the owner:
-We contacted the owner, per VRBO policy, and he replied back with a picture of the thermostat, which we hadn’t complained about.
-I called VRBO no fewer than four times during my vacation.
-The owner only reimbursed us a portion, so we paid over a thousand dollars for one night
I have told countless family and friends about this experience and have heard several similar horror stories. VRBO does not have our best interest in mind and they will definitely lose more money from our lost business than the amount that they profited in this situation.
Chester L.
November 2023
We enjoyed how the property was situated on the beach which was long enough for a nice walk. My daily swim was great and I even saw fish while doing so. The sunsets were lovely. Security was excellent. Grounds were kept up. We appreciated having a walk-in shower in the unit. We ate most all meals in the unit which we enjoyed but the stove and oven proved somewhat of a challenge as dials were worn.
Andrew B.
September 2023
Lovely location on a beautiful beach. There was some deferred maintenance but otherwise good.
Katie B.
August 2023
Location to the beach and it’s views could not be beat! It is not as updated as some, but the price reflects that. Condo is well stocked with beach gear and most of what you need in the kitchen.
Jason and Tess W.
August 2023
My husband and I have stayed at the Hawiian Princess before, in a different unit, and loved its location. We had similar expectations for this condo, and we were disappointed. The biggest issue was the air conditioning. It was not clear in the description that the only air was a temporary unit in the bedroom only. It is barely adequate for that space. The rest of the unit was unbearably hot, especially in the afternoon. Having the glass doors open and allowing the breeze to come into the living room area only helped marginally. It was honestly uncomfortable enough that we ended up staying only two nights, the first night we checked in and one other night, then renting a different condo in Honolulu. The second night we stayed we spent the day on the north shore and when we returned the temporary air unit vent had come undone while we were out and wasn't able to cool the room, so we had to wait a few hours for it to be a comfortable temperature. We contacted the owner to let them know we were unaware of the air situation and were told it was stated in the rental agreement (which is only sent after final payment, and for some reason wouldn't allow us to click the link) so there was nothing they could do. There were so many specific instructions with notes on light switches etc, making everything high maintenance. Also the unit was not cleaned well. The shower was very dirty. Overall, we were unhappy, but mostly felt misled by the description on VRBO.
Marvin F.
July 2023
We thoroughly enjoyed our stay. Comfortable, great view! We were able to relax, listen to waves and watch amazing sunsets! Very quiet beach this time of year, children and adults playing and laughing, having a great time. This is definitely a “ Do it again!”
Nikki C.
July 2023
Even though our location was an hour away from most things, I wouldn’t trade it for anything. The peace and quiet and very few people was just what we were looking for. The view from the balcony was perfect. The snorkeling right out front was perfect and watching the sea turtles along the rock wall or swimming right by us was incredible! We will definitely stay here again with our family of 5 if we return.
Amanda K.
June 2023
We loved our time in this unit. The wraparound lanai and spacious bedroom and living areas gave us unending sounds of ocean waves, allowing us to breathe deeper. The unit was well stocked with towels, sheets, as well as toiletries and detergents. The view from the 4th floor is lovely as you are at eye level with the palm trees and it's a short elevator ride too. We are really looking forward to coming back and staying here again. It was wonderful and exactly what we needed. Thank you!
Laura R.
May 2023
We really liked the views and the quiet of our stay. We were very happy of how everything went so easily and the amenities that were available.
james k.
March 2023
This is on the beach with beautiful view and gorgeous sunsets. It has all you want for cooking, and going to the beach. The Beach House restaurant is on the water and food is good. Also an organic farm is a short ride for lunch. If your into golf there is one here but just coming out of bankruptcy and needs some work
brandi w.
February 2023
We have stayed in this building 6 times and we love it. We love staying away from the hustle and bustle. This was our first stay in a corner unit. The corners are well worth the money. This particular unit lacked in amenities. The knives in the kitchen barely cut your food and the toaster oven makes terrible toast. Being so far out there isn’t the luxury of going out to eat so be prepared to make all your own food, which we enjoy but having subpar kitchen amenities was annoying.
Tami R.
January 2023
We enjoyed our week-long vacation. The Hawaiian Princess' location on a quiet beach was just what we needed. Despite having just 1 bedroom, we were able to sleep 5 comfortably using a futon and sofa bed. We appreciated Ed's friendly tips on sights to see in the local area.
Phillip A.
October 2022
Very good!!
Kay S.
September 2022
The views / sunsets were amazing. We stayed Sunday to Sunday. We used the BBQ for a couple of dinners and cooked a few other dinners and most breakfast there. We plan to come back.
Dana F.
August 2022
Our family went to Hawaii to visit family and attend a 60th wedding anniversary. The condo was perfect for our family of 4. Plenty of space, full kitchen, beautiful lanai to drink out coffee. They were stocked with everything you need in the house, including beach chairs, snorkel gear and water toys. Check in was flawless. We would definitely stay here again. Thank you
JEFFREY F.
August 2022
Nice property. Great corner location.
Beth M.
July 2022
Truly, everything we needed was there in the unit. The beach chairs and boogie boards were so nice to have. Our housekeeper gave great recommendations of places to eat and places to see. I appreciate the chance to stay here. It made for a perfect quiet stay.
scott d.
July 2022
Your place was just as described. The view was beautiful. That bed is the most comfortable I have ever slept in on vacation. I slept like a baby ever night. The kitchen and main bathroom are dated and need to be updated, but everthing works great. I had no problem with anything. The only reason I didn't give an overall rating of 5, was the beach in front of the condo is not very good for swimming. Even still I would still stay again. There are two beaches within 10 minutes that are great for swimming.
Anne Marie S.
July 2022
Very enjoyable place for our family reunion. We rented 3 different places on 3 different floors and all agreed our view on the 4th floor was THE BEST!!! The air mattress on the sofa bed was less than desirable!! Grandson chose to sleep on the floor!! The heating elements on the stove could not be regulated (off or high!!!!) Made great use of the bar be ques and picnic tables outside and down to beach area!!! Everything very clean and everyone friendly!!! Weather great; sunsets beautiful; felt very safe and everyone enjoyed themselves so much!!! Many, many “thank you’s and let’s do this again!!!!”
Ewa K.
June 2022
Starting with my initial inquiry renting from Ed and Gail was the best experience! I received a very prompt approval reply and after completing the booking couple days before our trip we received a text from the property manager Noeha asking about our arrival time which was very thoughtful. After arriving she met us at the property and gave us a tour of the rental. The property is about 40 minute drive from the airport so a car rental would be highly recommend. We prefer to stay away from the crowded touristy areas so it was perfect for us. The apartment decor is a bit dated but the appointment is clean, very spacious with 2 bathrooms and the views from the wraparound lanai are absolutely stunning. We loved that the beach is literally steps away and not crowded like the beaches in Honolulu! It’s not a private beach but it felt like one. Beach towels, beach chairs, snorkeling masks and even sand toys were all available for us at the rental. Additionally there were kayaks and more beach toys available for the guests at the building. Lastly the washer and dryer in the unit was a huge plus traveling with kids! We were able to wash our clothes and towels daily.
Ed was a great host and checked in with us during our stay. The property manager was great and available to us if we needed anything.
I highly recommend this rental!
LATASha A.
May 2022
Such a great experience for my children for their first time visiting Hawaii. They were able to experience the culture outside of the city. Everyone was so kind and pleasant. Definitely will book again
Nicki T.
May 2022
My husband, sister, daughter and I thought the unit was PERFECT! The owner is so wonderful and even contacted me right away after I booked to assure me that all was set.
The pictures are accurate and what "feels like a private beach", can not be beat! Sun, fun and views all day long. I spent many hours sitting on the lanai listening to the ocean, what a treat. Some of my best pictures are of the moonlit beach, although the sunsets are just as spectacular. We enjoyed visiting with the other tenants, some were long time residents of the complex, others were on vacation. The building had security and maintenance on grounds and available. The only downfalls for me was the traffic (it can take 5 minutes to go one mile during the busy times) and the local area didn't inspire me to want to take a walk around the neighborhood, something I really enjoy while on vacation. Hard to complain as walking on the beach was not a bad second choice for a morning walk!
I would definitely stay here again, just keeping my trips to the city to a minimum.
Karen M.
January 2022
Great unit. Bigger than expected. Perfect view. Whales every day. Pull out couch not too comfortable but otherwise great place.
Teresa T.
November 2021
We had the pleasure of staying in Gail & Ed’s unit Nov 1-18, 2021. This is a corner unit, with an unbeatable view of the ocean in the front, and very nice views of the hills from the north side. The entrance is through a security gate, which made us feel very comfortable in leaving all the doors wide open 24 hours a day. The unit itself is nicely equipped, although the range is in need of an update as the temperature markings for both the stove and oven are worn off…. so temp is a bit of a guessing game. We really appreciated the newer washer and dryer, makes traveling light so much easier! Nohea is the housekeeper for this unit, and having her greet guests as they arrive is brilliant. Overall, we highly recommend this unit to anyone who is looking for an older, comfortable place to stay that just happens to have possibly the best views and beach access on the island!
Robin G.
November 2021
This unit is right on the beach. We listened to the surf day & night. We didn’t use the air conditioning, as it was only for the bedroom. This was our first trip to Oahu so we were out seeing the sights during the day. The unit could use some renovation & a deep cleaning. We still enjoyed our stay. Thank you Gail & Ed.
chase B.
October 2021
This place was great for a family. Perfect beach for kids and not crowded at all.
Paul C.
October 2021
Beautiful views, quiet beach with few people. Communication with owner and manager were excellent. Best restaurant very close by is Beach house 604.
Mike C.
September 2021
The Hawaiian Princess was a great place to stay and we enjoyed it thoroughly. The access to the beach and the amenities (gas BBQ grills, tennis courts) were just what we were looking for. Very secure and very safe and we felt that way the entire time we were here. The unit was exactly as described and we knew what to expect and had a great time. Plenty of chairs and umbrellas for the beach. The breezes through the multiple sliding doors in the unit were great. Temps did get a little warm during the day, but the A/C in the master bedroom was perfect to sleep at night. Loved it so much we did not want to go home and are already planning our next trip.
Doris C.
September 2021
I had read all of the info and reviews of the property, so I knew what to expect. The unit is older and could use some TLC, but still very comfy and had all we needed. We loved the bed, which was super comfortable! We cooked a number of meals and everything worked just fine. Looking forward to visiting again! Ed and Nohea were very helpful and easy to work with.
Kc N.
August 2021
We have visited the island multiple times in the past decade and always find that we return and love the Waianae region of Oahu.
This condo's location is located on a beautiful beach. The views of the turquoise color waters and golden sand are mesmerizing, the sunsets cannot be beat. You can hear the surf clear into the bedroom, we slept so good during our stay.
The condo is a well equipped end unit and was perfect for a few home cooked meals. The views from the living room onto the surf or side view back to the mountains are stunning.
You will need a rental car here as this location is a minimum 45 min drive down the coast to the freeway and access points to anywhere on the island.
The location is situated In rural Hawaii, and not a tourist destination. Be kind and respectful when vjsitjng
Cynthia M.
August 2021
Perfect for relaxing on the beach away from crowds. I was pleasantly surprised with how "private" the beach was. It was so nice to have space to relax! Neighborhood is a little rough, so I wouldn't walk too much, but parking is safe and easy at the condo and the beach is perfect.
Gloria L.
August 2021
The Hawaiian Princess condo was perfectly located for our needs. We wanted a condo ON the beach and that is what we got. The beach is clean and beautiful and met all of our expectations. The wrap around lanai gave us an amazing view of the sunsets and moonlight on the beach. There were umbrellas, beach chairs, boogie boards and anything else we needed for a fun day on the beach. We felt very comfortable and safe. We plan to return very soon and will book with Ed again.
~The López Clan
August 2021
Great place with all the amenities that you would need.
Patty J.
July 2021
The location of the resort was great, had a private feel. The condo was in need of a little TLC and updating but the 2 sided balcony made up for it! Would stay here again.
Jim D.
June 2021
We wanted a place that had a beach you could use with out stepping on someone, and was more like Hawaii once was, but on Oahu. We found it.
One thing to keep in mind is this is an older complex. It has been well maintained, but if your hunting a Disney World like experience, this isn't it. If what you want is a large sand beach, that isn't crowded, with a rock point that is a nature preserve jutting out making the beach a relatively calm area with beautiful blue water, this is your place( If you want an even more private beach, you just drive north and you have your choices of many). There is plenty of life support nearby for your shopping needs and Honolulu is appx 45min to and 1hr away.
Inside the condo, its a bit dated in appearance, but very clean. All the furniture is clean, comfortable and functional as are the beds. The pull out couches mattress has to be INFLATED to be effective(Yes we found this out the hard way). A couple of minuses we came across were the lack of basic cooking items such as mixing bowls and pitchers. The blender came straight from the set of "I love Lucy". It works, but you need ear plugs. My pet peeve is the lack of storage space due to the large number of pillows in the closet. I believe I counted 41 bed pillows in the condo total. Ed, some of these need to go, as it blocks luggage and clothing storage.
Two final things, The description of the condo is accurate and yes it has no AC to speak of(except main BR), but with two walls of sliding doors and being on the 4th floor, its easy to manage the temp. I not sure why people complained about it, we never had an issue. Make sure you use the shade on the deck in the afternoons to prevent radiant heat. One note, with doors open, things may feel sticky. This is normal.
The second items is people complaining about locals. The town of Makaha is across the main road. This area is a large half moon bay with rock points on each end. The Hawaiian Princess and another condo are on one end, then the remainder of the beach is occupied by homes. There is a public access walkway between the two condos. I saw very few locals utilizing the beaches. The ones that did were generally families and were very well behaved and if you didnt see them come and go by the walkway, you would assume they were guest at the condos. Locals were a nonissue, and friendly to talk to.
We encourage you to stay here, and know you will leave relaxed.
Brian W.
August 2013
We stayed at the Hawaiian Princess in number 408. The place had everything we expected and more. It was very clean, the view and location were great. Val, the housekeeper was wonderful and checked on us occasionally to make sure we were doing okay and answered any questions we had. We brought our 3 teenage children and we all had a wonderful time. We took advantage of the game room, pool and spent a lot of time on the beach. We really appreciated all the extra amenities available in the condo, including coolers, boogie boards, snorkel gear and more. Gail really thought about all the things a family would want on vacation and kindly supplied them for us to use. We were looking for a location away from the crowds, and that is exactly what we got. It is quite a drive to get to any of the tourist sites, but it was worth the drive to have a empty beach to relax at.
Lene K.
July 2013
We are a family of 4 (2 adults and 2 children of 5 and 6 years). We had been on a great adventure travelling around USA for 3 months. This apartment at the Hawaiian Princess was our very last week-long stay before heading home to Denmark. And we absolutely loved this place. The beach is amazing and the great feeling of being almost alone on the sandy stretch early in the morning was fantastic. We spend most of our days by the Hawaiian Princess and did some short tours around the island. But no-where on Oahu did we find the same tranquility. The whole process through VRBO has been great and with the frequent detailed communications/e-mails from the owner Gail prior to our arrival made us feel secure and confident that we had chosen the right place. The owner Gail, even called us the first morning to check that we arrived safely and she gave us a lot of great ideas for things to see. Luckily we found our way to the wonderful little hidden beach, where we were greeting by many big Honus. The apartment is great and we found all the amenities need for our stay. It was great to have all the beach gear like boogie boards and snorkels at hand. The housekeeper Val, was waiting for us at our arrival and gave us a nice introduction to the place and was very helpful during our stay as well. The big corner lanai is wonderful and the views to the beach as well as to the mountains was breathtaking. We give our best recommendations for this wonderful place and hope to one day return to this piece of paradise. A big thanks to the owner Gail for making us feel at home.
July 2013
What an amazing find....... this apt is even better than we had expected! We came to celebrate our 20th wedding anniversary with our 2-teenage kids. The service was awesome. From the beginning stages of the booking process, to a great housekeeper down to the owner calling to check on us during our stay and sharing the secret little beach with us! I consider myself so lucky to have found THIS amazing clean condo unit. This was an excellent value & the apt. has everything you would possibly need & then some! As well as an enviable beach, friendly locals & helpful staff. Also...several places to eat, grocery stores & gas stations nearby. Oahu is a beautiful island, but the best was coming back to "our place" at the Hawaiian princess in Makaha' after a day of touring. Nothing beats coming back to the apt. enjoying time with our family, hanging out on the incredible beach, seeing dolphins, sea turtles & breath-taking sunsets from the large private lanai [private balcony']. We all had an absolute amazing time!! We are SO very grateful to the owner Gail!! We will definately come back again very soon!! Thanks so much for letting us rent your little slice of paradise!! :)
July 2013
What a find....... this apt is even better than we had expected! We came to celebrate our 20th wedding anniversary with our 2-teenage kids. The service was awesome. From the beginning stages of the booking process, to a great housekeeper down to the owner calling to check on us during our stay and sharing the secret little beach with us!
I consider myself so lucky to have found THIS amazing clean condo unit. This was an excellent value & the apt. has everything you would possibly need & then some! As well as an enviable beach, friendly locals & helpful staff. Also...several places to eat, grocery stores & gas stations nearby.
Oahu is a beautiful island, but the best was coming back to "our place" at the Hawaiian princess in Makaha' after a day of touring. Nothing beats coming back to the apt. enjoying time with our family, hanging out on the incredible beach, seeing dolphins, sea turtles & breath-taking sunsets from the large private lanai [private balcony']. We all had an absolute amazing time!!
We are SO very grateful to the owner Gail!! We will definately come back again very soon!!
Marion H.
June 2013
We stayed a total of 10 days and enjoyed all that the unit and Hawaii had to offer. And it's the little touches that make this unit special. First you have Gail who makes the process easy and treats you like family. What a sweetie! Gail makes sure we have things like spices, laundry supplies, beach chairs, beach mats, towels and a boogie board! We even enjoyed the movies she has in the unit. Best of all was the incredible view! SUNSETS WERE AMAZING AND VIEWABLE from the lanai. What a treat! In a short walk you can go and see where the turtles love to hang out. Honu/Turtles=instant happiness. We also enjoyed the Faith's Place for a burger and Coquito's for some excellent Puerto Rican food. The Dolphin Excursion place was a real treat. Our teenagers (and us) enjoyed swimming with the dolphins. We took the 10 a.m. tour and the dolphins were plentiful. You can also make day trips anywhere on the island if you want to change things up, see waterfalls, snorkel on the North shore (Shark's Cove was way better than Hanauma Bay) for snorkeling, we even saw Puffer fish. You'll find great snorkeling right in your front yard too. This was our first VRBO experience and Gail made the process easy! Gail has an amazing lady (also a sweetie) who will greet you and get you to your unit. Favorite parts: Comforts of home, the view, snorkeling, watching our kids float up and down the waves, turtles, dolphins, and you can even hike the smallest mountain.
June 2013
This unit is just beautiful! The owner, Gail, has put a great deal of thought in providing her guests everything that is needed to have a wonderful vacation. The unit is extremely clean and everything is in working condition. The view from the lanai is incredible! We spent most nights eating out on the lanai enjoying the sunsets. We figured we could not find a better view at a restaurant then we had from the lanai. Standing in the kitchen, I thought I was on a luxurious yacht because I would look out the large sliding glass doors and all I could see was the beautiful, blue sparkling ocean. In the mornings we would sit at the gorgeous dining table and watch the sunrise over the mountains. Yes, you have views of both the ocean and the mountains. There are sliding glass doors on the side and back of the unit that allows for wonderful breezes to come through. You can see and hear the ocean from both the kitchen/living area and the bedroom. Along with the incredible unit and views, Gail offers extra touches such as having a greeter that helps you get settled and is just a phone call away if you have any questions. Gail also offers a lot of tidbits as to what you can do in the area including some directions to some hidden beaches that are awesome to visit. Gail even gave us a call during our stay to see that our vacation was going well. Upon our arrival, we were greeted by Val who was just wonderful. We called a little bit ahead of reaching the unit and Val was waiting to greet us at the entrance of the building. The building management team, security team and facilities team were also very professional and so friendly. They really demonstrated the Aloha spirit. We spent two weeks in the unit and when we left we felt we had made some really good friends in such a short time. We would have had a wonderful vacation with just the rental unit but it was made even more special by Gail, Val and the building staff at the Hawaiian Princess. I highly recommend this property for the wonderful unit, incredible views, comfortable surroundings,and fantastic people that made our vacation so spectacular. We hope to make a return visit as soon as we can.
June 2013
We spent 10 days and saw all parts of the island including Monk seals and big turtles. This unit has everythng you need including a wonderful beach right outside. The Hawaiian Princess staff and Val we very friendly, helpful and informative. We had great time celebrating our 25th anniversary at the HP. This is on the list for a repeat visit.
Peg T.
May 2013
My husband and I had a much needed relaxing vacation thanks to these stellar accommodations. The views exceeded our expectations - soo glad we stayed in this beautiful corner unit where we had both ocean and mountain views from the wrap around balcony. The beach was wonderful, not crowded. We won't hesitate to come back - we look forward to making this condo our go-to place on Oahu.
May 2013
My family and I stayed in a wonderful corner unit for 8 nights and enjoyed every minute of it. The view was spectacular from the huge balcony. The rooms were very clean and comfortable and the kitchen was well equipped with everything you could possibly need.Boogie boards, umbrellas, beach chairs,snorkel equipment, beach toys and more, were all included in the unit. Check in was simple and the Housekeeper welcomed us and answered all of our questions and concerns. Having a BBQ on the property was a bonus, and we used it quite a few times throughout our stay. It was nice to come back from our busy day trips, and have peace and quiet on the beach without the crowds. Photos on the web page are beautiful, but seeing the views in person, was spectacular.Diamond Head, Waikiki Beach, Sea Life Park, Horseback riding and Chiefs Luau were some of the activities we enjoyed and were from 1 hour to 11/2 hour drive. The staff were very helpful and friendly. I would recommend this unit, and if we come back to Hawaii, this is where we will return to. Great memories. Mahalo
Clark B.
January 2013
If you are looking for a relaxing get-away from the hustle and bustle of Honolulu and Waikiki, then Makaha is the place to be. In particular, this corner condo is a wonderful place to enjoy Oahu at your own pace. The listing is accurate in its detail but can't accurately describe the beauty of enjoying a Hawaiian sunset from your own quiet beach or lanai. Although we extensively explored the island during our week in Oahu, it was always a true delight to return to the condo and fall asleep to the sound of the surf. Gail was extremely helpful throughout the booking process and provided many helpful hints concerning activities and resources in and around Makaha. Dolphin Excursions just 10 minutes down the road to the south in Waianae and a hike to Ka'ena Point just 20 minutes up the road to the north are just a couple of the must-do activities nearby. If you prefer the major tourist attractions like Pearl Harbor, Diamond Head, Waikiki Beach and Honolulu, they are only an hour away. Thanks Gail for all your hospitality and allowing us to enjoy New Years in Oahu at your wonderful condo.
Use the "Visit Owner's Website" link to read more reviews from the reservation site, including the latest reviews submitted by recent guests.