Puamana 9C

Princeville’s central location was the best part for us. The photos also made the place look appealing, but we had trouble with several practical things. Our assigned parking space was taken by other people most of the stay, and the villa had no parking permit, so we had to use other spots. It was pouring when we arrived, and the windows were already open. They were hard to close and didn’t work well, so rain came inside. The shower leaked, and it was so hot that we kept the fans running the whole time. I called and emailed property management about our concerns, but never heard back. At least now we know what to look for, and what to avoid.

The place itself was gorgeous, with three bedrooms, three bathrooms, and pool access. What they don’t mention is that there are thousands of flies all over the outside. There’s no air conditioning either, and inside felt hotter than outside, probably around 80°F.

Princeville is beautiful, but our experience with the Airbnb management and property owner was deeply frustrating. The bathroom was dingy, old-fashioned, and unclean. The listing and management booklet also said nothing about BBQs being prohibited. My husband and I brought a small portable grill and started cooking on the porch. An older woman spoke to us rudely and threatened she “might just do something about it.” We contacted the Airbnb coordinator, Angelica, who told us BBQs weren’t allowed, so we stopped. We left the grill on the porch to air out, and it was gone the next morning. Angelica said she’d contact the owner, the man who took it, but she never did. When we messaged her about our property, she replied that she “wasn’t happy with us barbecuing” and “wasn’t happy about neighbor complains,” apparently referring to the older woman. We had followed the rule once we were finally told about it, so I don’t see how management could justify taking our belongings. We called the police to file a report. The officers were kind and understanding, but also told us honestly that at a facility run by one demographic, if you’re not of that demographic, you may not get a say or win even when you’re right. The older woman next door came by in the morning with her younger daughter, who had been pleading with her mom or grandma to stop bothering us. The woman said she also disagreed with the owner taking our grill. After being so rude the night before, I assumed she was trying to show support. I’ve known Hawaiian culture to be kind and welcoming, as is my own, so the hostility and unprofessional handling of this were hard to understand, especially after we complied with rules management hadn’t bothered to list. There are better places in terms of amenities, accommodation, and customer service.

We loved the neighborhood and our stay. The daily noise from equipment the property managers used to clean the grounds was the one problem. We were living here and trying to work from home, and taking calls outside was impossible. I’d have gladly put up with a few leaves in the yard for quieter days.