Ahi Hale

We'd rented yurts, tiny houses, and cabins before, and we're usually pretty easygoing, so this chaotic stay was unusual for us. The room was tidy and comfortable once we finally got in, but the listing and communication were badly off. We thought we'd booked a private studio, but it was really a master bedroom in a shared apartment. The other guests hadn't realized it was shared either, so we had an awkward run-in in the living room that clearer information could've prevented. The landlord hadn't prepared the room. We had to track her down for the entry code, and she sent several different ones before we could get the right information. About an hour after check-in was supposed to start, I called to confirm the room number and code. She said we could go over, but she'd come clean in about 30 minutes. Even when we arrived two and a half hours after check-in, there were no towels, the trash was still full from the previous guests, and the shower clearly hadn't been touched. The comforter smelled of smoke, and the smoke detector had been removed from the wall. She gave me two codes on the phone, then two completely different ones by text when I asked her to confirm. The building was hard to identify, too. When we came back that evening, the driveway was packed with cars. We didn't know where they belonged or why they were there, and worried there might be noise, though it didn't end up disturbing us. I texted to check on our parking spots, and she replied rudely, blaming the number of cars on the race of the guests in the back apartment. The whole thing felt sketchy. We would've stayed elsewhere if we could do it again, and would gladly spend extra for another place. The booking agreement needed to be clearer so we didn't have to keep playing telephone with the landlady. Anyway, enjoy the island.

It's cheap and close to the airport, so I keep coming back, but don't expect much. You get a bedroom to yourself and share the bathroom and rest of the house with strangers, unless you've booked the bedroom with an ensuite. Getting in isn't always straightforward. I've even had to call the owner for other guests who arrived from Japan or somewhere in the middle of the night. Be prepared for whatever happens.

The lanai has a nice view, and the host was kind and kept in touch by text. The room had a window AC unit. The bed was smaller than the listing said, though it was comfortable enough. The cleaning fee makes a one-night visit expensive, but for a few nights it's worth the price. No complaints from me.

We stayed in four other places on our trip, and every one was nicer and cheaper. When we called about the mattress we'd reserved but hadn't received, the owner was very rude. I'm giving two stars because a guy noticed and took the phone from her to help us, and he was nice. The listing said 'double', meaning a double bed, not a big room. The bed takes up most of the space.