Ho'oilo House
Ho'oilo house is a lovely b&b located in the West Maui mountains. You drive up through a private road, and you are in a RESIDENTIAL community-funny, no one ever mentioned this before in any of the reviews.
We got lost while driving, so called Amy and Dan, but got Hal -Amy's uncle instead. Amy and Dan were quite busy as they just had a baby -however Dan was around but certainly did not go out of his way to introduce himself. Hal was very gracious as a host.
When my husband and I arrived we were amazed at the front of the house, the spacious open air living room, decorations and VIEW. This is THE best view I have ever seen.
We stayed five nights in the Kipuka room. The room was amazing, a gorgeous bed, tub and outdoor shower. The bathroom (toilet) had a sliding door, which was a cool idea, except the door did not close all the way! There is an adjuster in your room where you can listen to some hawaiian music if you would like. Hal gave us 2 souvenier Ho'oilo House water bottles that you are encouraged to fill up with water from the cooler. And a key..when was the last time you stayed anywhere where you needed a key? The door to our room was amazing, though-difficult to open and close at times.
We had a spacious lanai, but there really were no views from it. The chairs on the lanai were covered with bird droppings, and the floor was not cleaned the entire time we were there. Same went for the floor of the room-it was not cleaned ONCE.
The breakfast was very nice, though I cannot believe they only served coffee until 10am. Breakfast consisted of fresh fruit, even bananas from their own tree, coffee, tea, orange and guava juice, hard boiled eggs, cereal, oatmeal and a different variety of home made muffins that were all delicious. But it does not seem as if they put out enough breakfast for everyone.
The pool was great, and since there are only about 4? other couples max here, we often times had the whole pool to ourselves, there were nice large beach towels in our room for us to use as well.
The living room was stocked with books about Maui and the other Hawaiian islands, and really came in handy. There is also a computer with internet access which makes changing plans easy, and we even got to borrow a driving cd for our "road to Hana" drive. They even have a vhs (yes no dvds!) list of movies you can borrow to watch in your room. They also have a fridge outside your room with sodas in it. However, they did not refill the sodas on a regular basis. Hal, however was so nice that he packed us a "take along" breakfast one morning since we were leaving before breakfast was served.
One major turn off about this place was the BUGS. I mean sure, the living room and lanai are out in the open, but I am from New York! C'mon now- there were geckos iin the shower with me, and each night when we returned to our room from our activities, we would find ugly black bugs, spiders and my husband even found a flea on the bed. *there were not bed bugs, but the bugs from the floor would get into the bed-gross! We did see exterminators on property, but perhaps they need to cover up some holes so they cant come in.
Not to mention that after 10pm is "quiet time" ..which is fine except for the fact that when you drive back, it is pitch black where the parking is, and the lights are off in the living room.
Dan mentioned there was security there, though I did not see any.
There were also some things in the room that needed upgrades/replacements, the curtain holders were broken, and the lanai chairs look old and dirty.
Also they say "no kids" but when you come out for breakfast in the morning someones kid is there!
The location of Ho'oilo house is perfect, just about a 5 minute drive from Lahaina and Ka'anapali resorts and beach. Lahaina has all the shopping and restaurants, not to mention the historic sites. Also, even though it is a bit creepy coming back there at night, I looked up into the sky and have never seen so many stars clustered together in my life...it was amazing.
Another thing I found disturbing is my husband and I were in the pool one day, and a couple came to check in yet Amy Dan or Hal were no where to be found! Shouldn't someone be available all day?
I just think for the price Ho'oilo house charges, I expected everything to be top of the line. Things were broken and dirty, there should at least be a flat screen tv, there were bugs everywhere and when we mentioned we were there for our honeymoon they did not even bat an eyelash. Every other place we stayed in Hawaii gave us at least a bottle of champagne.
Overall, a great place to stay if you dont mind bugs and not having the amenities of a large hotel. I would stay again, though not for the length of my trip.
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Some tourist advice:
Drive or walk along front street, there is shopping food and even places you are used to like bubba gump, hard rock, etc.
Burger in Paradise, great burgers, good prices
Lahaina grill..not so great
Pacific Whale Foundations whale watching tours are good
Road to Hana is a crazy drive, but a little disappointing if you have ever been to Big Island (lots of the same stuff)
Reef Dancer underwater sub tour is horrible and should be avoided
ABC stores best place to get souveniers
Maui Tacos a great place for burritos and tacos, lots of choices of salsa too.
Iao needle and valley is beautiful, not too far away.
Sugar cane train is a big rip off, the steam engine train itself is cool, but it literally takes you no where-nothing to do with sugar canes!
Go to Haleakala Crater if you have not been to Kiluea volcano in the Big Island.
Wo Hing museum is a rip off too-the whole thing is about the size of a bathroom.
Whalers village has a free little museum with an actual whale skeleton outside, not to mention upscale shopping.
Did not go to-but the luau at the Hilton looks nice.
You have to see the Banyan tree-it is the largest in the US.
- This TripAdvisor Member:
- Liked — The proximity of Lahaina and beaches, gorgeous pool and room, good breakfast, helpful resources
- Disliked — The bugs, no flat screen, floors not cleaned, lanai chairs and floor dirty
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