Anita W.
July 2024
We loved the historical nature of the house and the beach being so close. Unfortunately it wasn’t really well cared for. The beds and bedding were older and not very comfortable. The shower curtain was moldy and the pillows were old with some staining. There’s a big difference between a rental where they have thought about your comfort and go the extra mile and a rental like this that seems like an afterthought. I wouldn’t book this home again.
Randi S.
July 2024
This property is very close to the beach but it is not waterfront as the listing implies. There is a house being constructed in front of it that impedes the view. Also, the house is NOT air conditioned even though the amenities list says it is. There is 1 ac unit in the 1 upstairs bedroom but none of the common spaces nor the 2 downstairs BRs have A/C. The house needs updating. I expected a lot more given the cost.
Kristen C.
June 2024
This property was absolutely what our family wanted for our Hawaiian Vacation. The layout was perfect for our multigenerational family offering everyone from the oldest (72) to the youngest (10) plenty of space. The location to the beach, shops, and town was exactly what we wanted. The lack of AC throughout the house was a shock to the system, but only for a bit. The position of the house offers great breezes. I was even grabbing a sweater at nights by the end of the trip. The house is full of character and charm, which we absolutely loved. It was also well stocked with a lot of those essential items you don’t want to have to pack including blow dryer, flat iron, curling iron, plenty of beach towels/chairs/toys and more. Great water pressure and hot water for our large family. Quick, easy communications with the property manager. My only comment that is not a complaint would be that this house is a historical island home with a lot of those neat touches, but also quirks and difficulties. However, the notes around the house were so helpful when getting your bearings in a new place. We honestly can’t wait to return one day!
Craig H.
June 2024
The property is a few steps from Kailua Beach, a 2.5-mile beach that, except for some weekend days, has very few people. Staying here is like staying on an outer island but with the conveniences of Honolulu when you want them. Great for long, peaceful beach walks.
It is about 30 minutes from the airport. There are many nearby good restaurants for dine-in or take out. Grocery and other stores are convenient.
Theresa B.
May 2024
Great location.
Brian R.
April 2024
Family from New England visiting my family who lives in the north shore of Oahu. Perfect location.
Stanslaus M.
April 2024
The house is spacious, clean and right next to the beach. The beach is secluded and quiet. The amenities are all you need for a family vacation. I'll recommend this place all day!
Amy F.
March 2024
My family and I really enjoyed our stay here. The property location was perfect! It is just steps from the beach. It is also very close to Kailua Town with lots of spots to eat and shop. We would definitely recommend it and would stay here again!
dale n.
March 2024
We stayed a week, was on the road everyday but one seeing the sites of the Island. Great beach time, very close to the ocean. What a lovely location. We will be back again.
Susan M.
February 2024
This house is beautiful and well maintained. It matched the description well, both as to the house and the location. The house is well supplied with everything needed for fun at the beach or for making dinner. The beds are comfortable, the tables and chairs are too. We loved being there and would be happy to come again. The host, Crystal, was quickly and completely responsive to the very minor issues we brought to her.
Greg K.
February 2024
Property was great. No driving to beach, we were there. Enjoyed sunrise every morning except one because of clouds. Would definitely stay here again
Suzanne M.
January 2024
Nice older home. Well stocked. Proximity to beach was fantastic!
Monica Q.
October 2023
Nice family home, beautiful beach.
Karen K.
October 2023
We totally enjoyed our stay! Great place and great location!
Donna K.
October 2023
Comfortable and beautiful home, very clean, easy access to beach, quiet neighborhood, close to stores and restaurants. We enjoyed our stay very much.
Lisa M.
October 2023
The house is one house off the beach in a residential neighborhood. It was great to be able to walk to the beach every morning and afternoon. We were unaware that the refrigerator was not working so we bought groceries. There was a small college type refrigerator near the regular refrigerator. The next morning we realized that the regular refrigerator was not cold. Our host had sent us a message while we were flying but we didn’t see it, nor did she text me that information. She stated that someone who be in to fix it in a few days. Okay. The contractor came but did not fix it. It was inconvenient to try and keep all of our food in a college like refrigerator. We were told that the refrigerator had been having issues for weeks and the repairman had been out more than once. I have a friend on the island and asked if this was normal. I was told that it was Not normal and they could have easily replaced the refrigerator. When I asked to been credited for the food that we wasted and the fact that we had to eat out much more than planned for, I was told NO. I did like the house, but I am unhappy with the way I was treated regarding the refrigerator issue. The house was fine.
Tracy H.
October 2023
Enjoyed this property located a minute walk across to the ocean. Nice quaint little relaxed town. The house could use a deep cleaning, the kitchen counter needs replaced as it's stained (Soaftsoap could fix that) but there's a horrible burn spot under the toaster, and the upper deck needs to be strengthened. It's very unsteady and weak. All in all it's a nice place to stay while on vacation. If you can get past the minor imperfections it's well worth the visit.
Ellen B.
September 2023
We could not have had a better stay! We had a toddler with us, and having the flexibility to walk back and forth to the beach whenever we wanted was incredible. The house was exactly what we were looking for - clean, comfortable, so convenient to the beach and to Kailua and beyond. It was well-stocked with everything we needed...plenty of beach towels, beach toys, well-stocked kitchen. And the views!!! We loved sitting around the table on the deck watching the sunrise or the stars. Perfect place to just hang out together. Hopefully we will make it back someday...
Mahalo Crystal and family for everything!
Jason Y.
August 2023
Our family is originally from Hawaii and visit as much as possible after moving to the mainland many years ago. Kailua Beach is our favorite beach and this home puts you a few short steps from the incredible beach. The most crowded time on the beach is 5:45am when many are walking the sands as the sun rises. Otherwise, you might have to share a quarter mile strip of sand with about 10 people. Kailua beach runs about 2.5 miles end to end. The popular beach park areas sits 1.5 miles from the sands backing up to this property.
We had all ages this trip (10 month old, 10 year old, teenager, and a few adults). Accommodations were great and as described. It's not new or flashy, but classic and beachy. Don't get hung up on the age of the furniture or cabinetry, sit on the deck and enjoy the ocean breeze. The convenience of ocean access is so nice. A/C in all the rooms would be a nice upgrade, but there's enough airflow to keep things comfortable.
Our Ohana loved the location and the house worked beautifully for relaxing and multiple trips each day to the beach. Highly recommend and we would love to come back!
Helen
May 2023
The location of the house is very close to the beautiful beach. The small town of Kailua offers all convenience and charm of living in a quiet, friendly seaside town.
The hostess, Crystal, is very considerate and responsive. The property manager is also super helpful and friendly. Some minor issues with the appliances were addressed in a timely manner.
We really enjoyed our stay in this beautiful, well-appointed property.
Helen
Nadiya S.
May 2023
The house is old, but the age only adds charm to it. The only inconvenience we experienced was low water pressure in the shower downstairs. Proximity and easy access to the beach is definitely a plus. We enjoyed our vacation in this house.
Tom S.
April 2023
We had a host cancel our reservation from another rental site 3 days before we were leaving for our trip, with no reason given. Needless to say, it created some panic. As it turned out, it was probably a blessing as this place had a last minute cancellation as well. This place was convenient to get to anywhere on the island, yet away from all the congestion around Honolulu/Waikiki. Being 200 ft from the beach was tremendous when having to pack up 7 people for the beach. Outdoor hot shower for washing sand off was great. Air conditioning is only a window unit in master bedroom as the description says, thus the rooms in the basement were extremely warm at all times. A number of fans were available and helped, but was still hot. For our first trip to Hawaii, it was nice having our own place and not having to get lost in the hustle and bustle of a hotel/resort. Overall, we were pleased with the amenities and location to everything.
Allyson O.
March 2023
The house was perfect for a friend/family gathering. We had plenty of room in the house and the yard was huge. The beach out back was quiet and the ocean was perfect amount of waves for all ages. We will be back
Mindi Y.
March 2023
The house worked out great, everyone loved the location.
Susan M.
February 2023
This Kailua house is beautiful and cared for in a loving and meticulous manner. The yard is beautiful with both ocean and mountain views; the house has antique hardwood features, comfortable beds, and is steps away from a beautiful beacch. Our family enjoyed our stay - there was plenty of room, toys for the kids and a warm outdoor shower. Beautiful all around.
Lisa C.
January 2023
Owner very responsive to all questions, thank you
Todd H.
January 2023
This home is ideally located for those who want a great beach vacation. Just steps away from the beach - the best beach on Oahu I might add, with a relatively short walk to town if you are so inclined. Our family loved this home and we would definitely return.
Reto J.
January 2023
Excellent location - easy access to beach; room outlay is very practical and homey.
Caveats:
- no investments in interior for a long time
- plumbing is not up to scratch - loose taps, water spillage, first floor bathroom - shower does not work
- very limited outside (porch and garden) furniture
- table on porch at the limit (rusty)
However: truly a paradise lime spot
Thanks
Christene L.
December 2022
We enjoyed our stay. I personally enjoyed sitting on the deck taking evening pics with the moon in the palms and the moonlit water. I enjoyed walking to the white sand beach from the property and riding the waves. The house layout was great for us and the warm water outside shower was very nice. We are grateful for our time together.
Leslie P.
November 2022
The house & property were wonderful. It was a bit difficult to initially find the house, as you can’t see it from the street. Recommend that after reservation confirmation that directions say that the house is behind the house at 33 Pilipu Place.
I was sad to see a house being built just past this house that will almost obstruct the ocean view that was so beautiful. Truly a shame.
The price was appropriate for the location and condition of the house. The deck may need to be renovated shortly.
C. Annette S.
November 2022
4 out of 5
Alex B.
October 2022
Great
Tami B.
October 2022
This home is set up well for a family. 2 bedrooms and large bathroom on the first floor and master upstairs. So close to the beach, it was an easy walk. Everyone I dealt with was so helpful. Wonderful experience for our family of 6 adults and 1 two year old.
Barbara T.
October 2022
This is a beautiful old home and perfectly laid out for our purposes as a family reconnecting to bring a loved one home. It's a very short walk down a sandy right-of-way to one of the most beautiful beaches on the islands at Kailua beach.
September 2022
This was our second time to stay in Kailua . This home ‘s location and ease of access to the beach was as promised . Travelled with Mom , husband and two Friends and the home was great. The kitchen was fully equipped and the long walk into town was just the right amount . Looking forward to coming back :)
Brandon S.
September 2022
Property was a historic residence so that is what you get; a little dated but charming feel to it. The only thing I would say about the property is that I had the impression it was on the beach based on the photo, which it isn't. A little deceiving but I don't think you will be disappointed. Just a short walk to the beach. They are currently building a residence so in time, the ocean view will be more obstsructed. House does not have air; only a window unit in the bedroom on the main living area. But that might be most houses in Hawaii, it was just a little uncomfortable sleeping if you are used to air.
Charlie W.
July 2022
The location, just yards from Kailua Beach and close to attractions in town, is excellent! The house itself is comfortable and has aged very gracefully.
Amanda Y.
June 2022
Beautiful location just behind one other house to the beach. The house between this and the beach is currently under construction, but it wasn't too loud while we were there. The host is very quick to respond and easy to communicate with. The person who cleans the house is very nice as well, we ran into her when we were checking out. We had a great time.
Han Q.
May 2022
Good experience staying at this property. Everything meet our expectations. You can find everything you need in kitchen, good decorating, feels like stay at home.
房子在Maui中部，离机场近，周围有ABC store ，面包房，咖啡店，对于短暂停留挺方便。房价稍高。
Katie H.
May 2022
We were in town for a memorial and two weddings. Busy family! This old, but updated, estate home gives you the feel of staying in Hawaii back in the plantation days. Tall ceilings, beautiful woodwork and a great view of the water. Sadly, this view will soon be gone as a home is being built between this house and the beach. Still, there is beach access! If you are familiar with Kailua, some “new” residential and commercial development has occurred over the years, but Kailua as a whole hasn’t really changed in over 30+ years. The house itself comfortably accommodated 3 couples with lots of space and wonderful lanais both upstairs and downstairs. We had a great stay!
Mike B.
April 2022
This was a super nice old house very close (30 sec. walk) to Kailua Beach. Super easy rental process. Great overall experience.
Cindy G.
March 2022
Yards away from the ocean and sand beach. Beautiful and limited use, particularly midweek. House was a charming older home with lovely landscaping, outdoor dining, and full kitchen.
Cathie R.
February 2022
Already spoke to Crystal and thanked her and the spirit of Hawaii for a most beautiful stay. Have family here and on big island. We had one of the most memorable times of our life.
Laura G.
January 2022
We spent a week with our family of 8 at this wonderful house with beautiful ocean views, just steps from the beach. House was equipped with everything we needed to make our stay one we’ll not forget.
Alexis L.
December 2021
Highly recommend home! The owner and house keeper were extremely accommodating to our group. They were able to organize an earlier check in last minute and provide helpful hiking recommendations.
Blair F.
December 2021
We had a wonderful time with our group of 4 kids, 3 adults. My parents were also supposed to come, but they didn't make it. It would have been a tight fit with more people.
The property is really beautiful and has everything you need for a beach vacation. The beds are also comfy and the kitchen has lots of dishes. The location really is steps from the beach and we also enjoyed the deck and yard.
Rodolfo I.
November 2021
It such a beautiful location! The view is something to wake up to each and every day! Thanks again
John T.
November 2021
First off, you can't beat this location. This beach is among the most beautiful in Hawaii, if not the U.S. and its location away from the concrete towers looming over Waikiki is a huge plus -- you can enjoy the restaurants and attractions of Honolulu and still have a quiet family beach without the rush of tourists.
The home is set on a beautiful property, with well maintained gardens and an easy quick path to the beach. If you're a family that has to carry tons of beach toys and chairs for your day at the beach, you'll love the proximity the beach. It's a super easy walk.
The home dates back to the 1920s and the original architectural details are largely intact. The home is showing its age though -- the deck needs replacing and the furniture 's upholstery could use an update, a ceiling fan needed repair, but those were not dealbreakers for our group. However, if you're looking for a luxury home with everything brand new, this is not for you.
But for our group -- friends who grew up in Honolulu and some first time visitors to O'ahu -- it was absolutely perfect and a great value for the money paid. I wouldn't hesitate to stay there again.
One important note: during our stay, there was a vacant lot between the home and the oceanfront, giving us a splendid and unexpected view of the ocean. However, while we were there, construction began on the lot. Before booking, I would check with the owners on the status of construction -- I don't think I would want to stay there with a house under construction -- that noise would be a deal breaker.
Chris G.
October 2021
I reserved this house for my family that was coming to visit Hawaii. I’ve lived on Oahu in Kaneohe (about 5 mins from Kailua) for the past 5 years. I’ve even spent about a year living in Kailua. The overall vacation rental experience was good, but there were just some odd things that gave the experience a strange feeling. First, I’d like to lend a bit of context that isn’t really given anywhere in the rental advertisement. The advertised house is a part of a 3 building property very close to the beach. It IS NOT it’s own stand alone property, but 1 of 3 building associated with the property. The entire property is not directly on the beach. It is 1 building away from the beach on it’s block. This isn’t a big deal, and is extremely common in Kailua. You can walk to the beach from this house in less than a minute.
Like most houses in Hawaii, there is no central air conditioning. This is not a big deal, as most houses in Hawaii do not have central air conditioning, and instead rely on window units and split level AC. A few of the complaints against this house in other reviews cite that the house is not well ventilated due to this. If you open all the windows, however, there is enough of a breeze from the ocean to make things feel comfortable. This is generally how it is in Hawaii, and I even leave all my windows and doors opened at my house. There were, however, windows without screens in them. When questioned about additional screen, the owners said there having windows or doors without screens in them is, “a Hawaii thing.” As stated previously, I’ve lived here for about 5 years in 4 different houses, and every single one of them had screens in every single window. Not having screens is not, “a Hawaii thing.” This is multi-million dollar property that is expensive to rent. Go to hardware Hawaii, buy some screens, and stop telling people silly things.
Finally, the house is advertised as a “Historical” property. While we were there we talked to the neighbors and the specific building you’re staying in was build in the 1980’s according to them. While some buildings on the property may be historical, and the entire property itself may be historical, the building you’re staying in, is not. That being said, the house is beautifully built and period correct. The house is interesting, wonderfully decorated, and beautifully built. It doesn’t matter if it is historical or not, I would still recommend it.
The house COMFORTABLY sleeps 3 couples (6 peo
Sybil C.
October 2021
We loved our stay at this comfortable home on a private rd. with a large upstairs veranda looking out to the beach. Great for taking a blanket at night to see the many stars. We especially appreciated how quiet the location is. Kitchen is well appointed. We also loved the koa wood cabinets and the touches echoing lovely turn of the century Hawaiian touches. Just a perfect place to relax, read, do artwork and Crystal Knish is a perfect host, responding quickly to any questions we had. And in addition was kind enough to suggest local places to eat - We tried 3 and they were terrific.
We have many warm memories of our perfect stay at this home in the Kalama tract, Kailua-Oahu.
Philip M.
September 2021
Can’t beat walking distance to the beach. But I hope they update the furniture (especially the sofa bed & air mattress as it wasn’t fit to be slept in) and downstairs bathroom.
Tim L.
July 2021
We had such a great week on Oahu! The location in Kailua offered us a quiet retreat away from the hustle and bustle of Honolulu. The proximity and easy access to Kailua Beach gave us a nice place to come relax after a busy day on the North Shore or a long day hiking. The house was beautiful and had all of the amenities you could ask for.
Debbie N.
April 2017
Great location. Great view. Short walk to the beach. Several amazing beaches within a few minutes drive. Wonderful ocean breeze at the house. Beautiful upper & lower decks. Manager made us aware of an issue with the washer/dryer, but they had it resolved within a few days. Overall very pleased with the rental & we rent a house on Oahu every year for a family vacation.
Marilyn S.
April 2017
Wonderful Kailua experience. You will be very close to Kailua beach. The master bedroom had an air conditioning unit. The owner is very responsive to any issues.
Jennifer E.
March 2017
Three bedrooms all had comfy linens and beds. Liked having extra twin in the giant master bedroom. Great views from porch, kitchen very well stocked. Downstairs bathroom steps a little precarious. Easy access to beach out backyard gate, short maybe 40' walk down path. Enormous closets. Close to town. Only small recommendation would be to replace inexpensive plastic chairs on lovely big porch with more comfy real deck furniture, as we opened all doors and windows and hung out there a ton in late afternoons.
Scott N.
March 2017
Beautiful beach just 1 minute away. Loved to hear the waves at night and watch the palm trees sway in the moonlight. We found many wonderful restaurants and stores nearby, but the kitchen had everything we needed to eat in. Three weeks in PARADISE!!!
Holly S.
March 2017
We had a great time at this loveley home! Only steps to the beautiful turquoise waters, we couldn't have asked for a more ideal location for our stay. Great for visitors of all types-
Gabe S.
August 2016
We stayed 8 nights and the experience was wonderful. We had ocean views from the big porch out back and it was just a couple minutes walk down the sandy path to the beautiful Kailua beach. We had 8 people and everyone had a bed to sleep on. We would stay at this spot again and recommend it!
Leslie K.
August 2015
Most anyone would enjoy the location and home. There are some stairs to navigate as the main house is on the second story which offers a beautiful view of the ocean through the palm trees. You can hear the rustle of the leaves while relaxing in the gentle breeze.
The house is tucked away from any street noise and has a convenient access to the beautiful sandy beach of Kailua Bay. There is most everything you could ask for in Kailua except the crowds!!!
i love kailua! Highly recommend staying here.
Michael E.
February 2015
We stayed here between Christmas and New Years. We had 4 adults and 2 children. This home was so lovely and relaxed. It is an old home and we loved the charm, beautiful woodwork and details plus the beautiful lanai and grounds. The space was perfect and the location was wonderful. We were 30 yards down a quiet sandy path to the most gorgeous beach. We explored Kailua, loved walking down the beach to get our morning coffee at the Kalapawai market, shaved ice at island snow, hiking to the pillbox. Our only recommendation is a a few more screens on the windows - not a problem in January but might be in summer! Also, a few more provisions would be nice. Overall though I would highly recommend Pilipu house.
Jason B.
May 2014
First, the property owner/manager was very professional, and all the technical details concerning the rental went smoothly. When we arrived, the home was clean and ready to go. This house is very close to the beach, maybe 100 steps. The deck/lanai on the upper level is great with a beautiful view of the ocean. Kitchen was a good size and appliances were clean and worked well. Living area was nice size and had a nice flat panel TV for winding down before bed. Bathrooms were large and hot water lasted a long time. The neighborhood is very nice and quiet and the closest neighbor was pleasant. I spoke briefly with her while taking the garbage out, but otherwise no intrusions from anyone.
The only real issues were lack of window screens on all but two windows, and there were quite a few small ants on the upper level. There were traps laid out, but didn't seem to help much. In all fairness though, I did not contact the owner regarding this. The windows screens would have been nice so we could have left the windows open at night. It got a little warm with them closed. We tried the first night, but after it got dark out and the lights were on in the house, a couple BIG bugs decided to join us. These babies had landing lights on them! So the ladies in our party said "close those windows".
Overall I would definitely recommend this rental. Being so close to the beach is the best. This was our second trip to Kailua and won't be our last for sure, and when we bring the whole family again, I will certainly rent this house.
Angela M.
March 2014
This was our second visit to this extraordinary property. I left a much more detailed review from our visit in 2009 and I give it the highest recommendation again in 2014. I just hope it isn't another five years before we stay there again! Thanks, Zach! We had a great time!
Use the "Visit Owner's Website" link to read more reviews from the reservation site, including the latest reviews submitted by recent guests.