Nihilani at Princeville

The grounds are nicely landscaped, and the community pool is a plus. Inside, the unit is roomy and has two levels, with the living space and kitchen downstairs and the bedrooms upstairs. The faux wood flooring is easy to clean, and there are granite counters and simple decor. The kitchen has the usual amenities, though some of the dishes are a random mix and the knives are blunt. New cutlery would be a good idea. A couple of practical things worked well: there’s a balcony off the downstairs area and balconies from two of the three upstairs bedrooms. The soaking tub was nice, but the plug didn’t seal properly. The washing machine is on the upper floor, which makes doing your own laundry convenient. Unless you pay for extra maid service, you’re responsible for changing linens and cleaning your room during the stay. There were some issues that kept this from being a five-star stay. The bedroom TV didn’t work, though we don’t watch TV in bed, so we didn’t report it. Some towels smelled funky, and the ones under the sink smelled like urine. Two of the three rooms were missing the controls for the blinds. You can hear neighbors and their TVs. Bring your own toiletries, since only small glycerin soap bars are provided.

The owners gave us excellent directions, and we’d definitely return. Our family of five found the condo comfortable and well cared for. Having AC at night felt great after spending a hot day in the sun.

We spent a pleasant, relaxing September in this neighborhood. It’s a beautiful area, with beaches for swimming, surfing, and boarding, plus a golf course nearby. Queens Bath is within walking distance and is a must-see, especially for spotting turtles.

The condo was clean, nicely maintained, and well stocked. We enjoyed unwinding at the beautiful pool, hot tub, and BBQ area in the evenings. A few things were frustrating: the hot water ran out every night, and we couldn’t adjust the temperature inside because the setting was fixed. Getting to many activities meant a lot of driving. The luau was an hour away, the port for scuba and snorkeling was about an hour and a half away, and the airport and helicopter tours were over an hour away. Waimae Canyon took almost two hours. Construction on the island’s only road made the commutes much longer, so check your activity locations and construction before making plans.