Aloha! We hope you enjoy your stay on the magical island of Oahu! Here's our owner's advice!

First, a few housekeeping items:

Ocean safety -- in winter months, the ocean can be dangerous for swimmers. Read the signs and use your wisdom.

When it rains and water is brown, stay out! Especially near rivers. There's a bacteria in the water that flows down from the mountains when it rains heavily and can make you sick.

ALL TRAILS -- hiking app, really helpful!

Be careful to lock your car and leave valuables in the trunk (or take them with you) when you're parking your rental car.

Snorkel/board rental -- there's a surf/snorkel rental at the bottom of the hill by the food trucks.

Recommended Physician: Jason Hughes

Recommended Pharmacy: Longs in Haleiwa or Hauula

LDS Church: Mililani Ward

66-842 Kaukonahua Road

Waialua, HI 96791

TOWN (Honolulu)

This is a "one and done" kinda gig for me. It's busy and fun to see but not somewhere we spend a lot of time! I recommend a one day trip to the city (an overnight stay cation is sometimes fun!) and that's usually plenty!!!

EATS: *Aloha Kitchen (go early) Cinnamon’s. alllllll the fancy pancakes (guava and red velvet are favorites!) or Eggs & Things. Duke's (hula pie). Leonard’s bakery (hot malasadas!) Waiolas shave ice. *Island Vintage Shave Ice is BOMB. Lilikoi heaven is my fave. Like this is worth a trip to town just for this! *Paia Fish Market is delicious. Like so yum.

ACTIVITIES: diamond head hike, sandy beach, Manoa falls. *Surf lessons at Waikiki beach. zoo, aquarium (lack luster in my opinion). Kids went on a field trip to Honolulu Museum of Arts and LOVED it. If you're in to that sort of thing.

Ala Moana shopping center, shops, all sorts of water activities (parasailing, boat rental, etc.)

Hilton Hawaiian Village has a lagoon where you can rent paddle boards, big peddle bikes and the sort. Super chill and fun.

We picked up the rental bikes and *scooters and romped all over town, it was really fun.

Kapolei/Ko'olina/Waianae (west side)

Kapolei--Target, TJ Maxx, Ross, Costco, Home Depot, movie theater with the reclining seats. Aloha Salads is fast and yummy. Cane’s chicken. There's also an outdoor mall with Cheesecake Factory, movie theater, etc. I go here when I need a "mainland" day.

Ko'olina -- Aulani resort and all the other resorts are on 4 coves. They're pretty nice and open to public. Monkey Pod, Roy's.

West side beaches: We escape to west side when it’s raining on the north shore! *Makaha, Yokohama. *Pokai Bay is super calm and protected…great place to snorkel! I think there’s some hikes over there too but I haven’t done any of them.

West side is the more local side of the island, just fyi. Not in Kansas, anymore :)

Activities: dolphin snorkeling tour http://dolphinexcursions.com/ @dolphinexcursionshawaii (instagram)

The *mermaid caves are also fun to explore (https://www.google.com/search?q=mermaid+caves+waianae&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&hl=en-us&client=safari#)

*Magic Mountain Shave ice is delish! I love the melona cream and horchata flavors.

Pearl Harbor/Mililani/Dole Plantation/Swap Meet

Pearl Harbor -- If you want to go to Pearl Harbor, you can reserve tickets the day before you want to go. So if you wanted to go on Tuesday, you would get up at 6:50 am on Monday. Stand by tickets are released every morning at 7am online. https://www.recreation.gov/showPage.do?name=landing&landing=/htm/pearlharbor/home.jsp&contractCode=NRSO&parkId=72369#phWalkuptickets

You can also just purchase tickets in advance. I hear the USS Missouri (big mo) is really worth seeing (not free like the USS Arizona is) but you can go inside the ship. Check on schedule and closures. *you can’t take purses or backpacks in, they make you put everything in a locker so we leave most in the car.)

Mililani -- Costco and Walmart, movie theater, chain restaurants. Waikele has shopping outlets, Leonards malasadas and magic mountain shave ice trucks.

Dole Plantation -- dole whip/treats, train ride and seeing the baby pineapples are highlights. Very touristy, go early if you go (opens at 9am)

Swap Meet https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g60982-d595643-Reviews-Aloha_Stadium_Swap_Meet_Marketplace-Honolulu_Oahu_Hawaii.html

Waialua

HIKES:

Kealia Trail (trailhead is at Dillingham airport parking lot. Turn in where the sky diving places are, keep going til you get to a hanger, road goes left, wind around and park in parking lot on right. Walk across the road there and you'll see a trail head sign on the left). This is a switchback hike and pretty on a clear day but honestly not my favorite. There's a half way point (picnic table destination, views are just on the way up, not the picnic table) or you can keep going all the way up.

Kaena Point trail is also pretty on a clear day, there are tide pools and it’s an albatross refuge so you can see wildlife. It’s best to go early since it’s not covered at all and can be very hot.

EATS: Pa'ala kai bakery, poke for the people.

ACTIVITIES: Sunday Polo matches (we have only been once but really fun to see, Polo field is right on the ocean!), Sunday evening music in the park (I think it's at 6pm)

BEACHES: Mokulea

Haleiwa

EATS: *Konos (breakfast burritos). Waialua bakery. *Haleiwa bowls (best acai bowls) Matsumotos shave ice. Beetbox cafe (mostly vegan). Teddy's burgers. Stortos. Tons of food trucks. Gelato shop. *Farm to Barn Cafe is so yummy…they have a shave ice place on their property called *Kula Shave Ice and it’s fresh fruit flavors. Mac nut ice cream, coconut whipped cream.

ACTIVITIES: *paddleboard the River (you can rent boards in the Tropical Rush shop right at the base of white Haleiwa bridge). Jump the bridge. Surf shops, art studios. Shops close up around 5pm so it's good to go early.

BEACHES: Haleiwa Ali'i, Puena (great for beginner surfers). Surf School: Uncle Bryan's https://surfnorthshore.com

*TURTLES: our best (secret) turtle spot is on Papai'loa road (GPS this address: 61-815 Papai'loa) There's a small parking lot there and public beach access. When you get out to the beach, head LEFT. You'll walk quite a ways, watch the water... there are often many turtles in the water and on the shore. And remember, this is a secret spot!!! DON'T tell your friends :)

Pupukea/North Shore

*BEACHES: you're in the heart of the North shore right here in Pupukea. All the most popular beaches within a seven mile radius (seven mile miracle)! You can't go wrong and you really should explore and experience them all!

Waimea

Three Tables

Shark's Cove

Keiki

Pipeline/Ehukai

Sunset

Kawela Bay (huge banyan tree, quite protected spot, fruit stand across the street is yum. park on the road)

Turtle Bay (protected bay, ok snorkeling)

HIKES: Waimea Valley Falls, *Sunset pillbox hike (trailhead is in sunset beach elementary school parking lot, there are two pillboxes, go on to the second one for best views! don’t go after a big rain it’s a muddy mess), Heiau Hawaiian temple lookout (great morning walk, it's right here close to the house)

ACTIVITIES: *Waimea valley activities, luau, *farmer's market (Thursdays), movie under the stars (Thursdays in summer). *Jump the rock at Waimea. *Snorkeling @ Shark's Cove. Turtle bay has many activities available (Segway tours, horse rides, bikes rentals, frisbee golf, golf, etc.) The sunsets are also very lovely, live music and bar open to public at Turtle bay.

EATS: food trucks, foodland Poke Tuna (if you're into that sort of thing), *Ted's bakery, *Pupukea Grill, Impossible Pizza (call and order early-- you can just tell him what time you want to pick up. cash only. open Thursday, Friday, Saturday. across from foodland) *Lei leis @ Turtle bay, Roy's. Turtle bay brunch/breakfast is also really yummy if you want to make a special trip. *Banzai bowls, *Thai truck @ chevron. *Kahuku farm (11am-4pm, closed Tuesdays) SO good, grilled banana bread with vanilla ice cream is a must). Seven Brothers at the mill (Mac nut shrimp, fish plate, burgers) Fiji Market (curry)

Laie/Kahuku/East Side

BEACHES:

*Malekeahana, Hukilau, Pounders.

EATS: Hukilau cafe, *Papa'oles. Food trucks at PCC, *mango otai at Elsies, ice cream at Sweet As. Baked goods at Pounders Bakery.

*ACTIVITIES: Temple, visitor's center, PCC. Laie point lookout (can jump off point)

*Zipline https://www.climbworks.com/keana_farms/. or Kualoa Ranch https://www.kualoa.com (ATV tour was a blast too)

*Polynesian Cultural Center https://www.polynesia.com/ -- really cool cultural experience, best luau on the island and amazing night show.

HIKES: Laie falls, Hauula trail, Kaaawa falls, Crouching Lion (not for kids), Chinaman's hat (paddle board out, climb up!) Secret Beach.

Kailua/Southside

BEACHES: *Kalama, Lanikai, Kailua, *Waimanalo, Bellows (marine base open on weekends) Waimanalo is also very local but honestly one of the most beautiful places and def some of my favorite beaches.

HIKES: *Luluhamu Falls, Pali lookout, *Lanikai pillbox, *Makapu'u lighthouse hike (paved).

ACTIVITIES: *Paddle/kayak to Lanikai moke islands. Hanauma bay snorkeling (costs to get in and they have weird hours so check the website) Thursday 4pm *farmers market near whole foods (my fave!)

Kailua town farmer’s Market Sunday 8am https://www.google.com/search?q=kailua+farmers+market&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&hl=en-us&client=safari#

Sea life Park is pretty ghetto but kinda fun (aquarium on 50 first dates)

Before you get in the hot tub please use the outside shower to rinse off! This will help keep the sand out (:

We have:

-snorkling gear

-beach chairs

-big umbrella

-beach towels

-bodyboards

-surfboards (these Wavestorm surfboards break easily, if they break please bring them back to the house and we will replace them)

THE YARD GETS CLEANED EVERY TUESDAY around 9AM. IF THIS WILL BOTHER YOU PLEASE PLAN TO BE OUT OF THE HOUSE ON THIS DAY. (This is their normal schedule but sometimes they will come at a different time).

It usually only take them a couple hours.

No ADDITIONAL CLEANS ARE PROVIDED (unless you notice something within the first 24 hours) if you would like a clean during your stay it will be an additional charge; please call AmeLia (707)494-3240 to coordinate this. PLEASE NOTE: As stated above you must let us know of a problem with the initial cleaning by your first afternoon in the house. This is so that the cleaner can come back to fix any legitimate complaint.

EMERGENCIES: CALL 911 You are located at

59-208 Alapio road Haleiwa Hi 96712

The closest hospital is Kahuku Hospital (approx. 5 miles to the east) 56-117 Pualalea St

Kahuku Hi 96731

(right out of the driveway, right on pupukea road, down the hill to the stop light. Take a right at the stop light go straight for about 5 miles and the hospital is located on your right, you will see the Blue hospital signs as well)

Utensils, pots, pans and basic cooking items are located in the cabinets. Please let Amelia know if any items are found broken or damaged, we will get them replaced. There is also a starter set of cooking oil and spices. PLEASE DO NOT PUT COOKWARE OR STEAK KNIVES IN THE DISHWASHER.

Please put all garbage in the grey can provided marked with a B. The cans are located near the carport on the right hand side. The caretaker will pick up the cans every Tuesday evening. If trash is overflowing please call right away to do a dump run. If you exceed the normal amount of dump runs (1 per 7 days), $50 will be taken from your deposit.

Please keep items from each house at their location (don't transfer from cottage to house or vice versa) so that you are not charged for missing items.