Myself and 3 other gals decided to do a girls vacation. I had never rented a home before and had always stayed in top rated hotels. Now, I know why people like to rent these homes instead. Claudia and Kevin were very gracious hosts. Soon after we arrived Kevin wanted to know if we wanted a tour of the gorgeous grounds and gardens.
We were shown the vegetable garden, many fruit trees and nursery plants and were invited to pick whatever we wanted. We made a salad with their home grown lettuce, ate yummy papayas and lots of eggplant too. The home is decorated with much charm and great comfort. Their gourmet kitchen is well stocked with lovely dishes and every appliance including a yummy espresso maker. Hale Mauka Makai is definitely top quality. In fact, I felt like we were on our own plantation. Very private with lots of lush landscaping and a gorgeous swimming pool to use as your very own and with a remote control cover.
Kevin gave us some great recommendations for restaurants. If you are there on a Monday night make sure and go to the restaurant with the Hula Honeys a wonderful music trio and yummy appetizers too. Hale Mauka Makai is a Very lovely place to vacation with family or friends. Claudia the hostess, became a wonderful friend in just a few short days while I was planning a last minute trip to the Haiku area.
We only had three nights to find a place before leaving to Molokai for our main trip. Claudia had responded to my request to rent their gorgeous home immediately and though she had planned maintenance scheduled for days we needed, she went out of her way to rearrange things and set up cleaning for us to have the home available when we needed it. She was so gracious and so understanding and helpful with our personal circumstances, I was blown away with her hospitality as she tried to fit us in to the few dates available which meant getting a cleaning set up over a weekend and having it in perfect condition for us.
Even though, we lost communication by email for a few days while I was travelling, she held the offer for us. With great regret, we had to pass up the opportunity to stay in this heavenly spot due to an unexpected invitation us to stay with friends nearby.. You could not imagine a nicer or more caring person to make your stay in Maui exceptionally beautiful..
We have vowed that we will come and stay at this property on our very next vacation to Hawaii. It is in an awesomely beautiful place on the island and knowing that the homeowners are so meticulous and caring about their home and their customers, I would not hesitate one second to book this vacation home. We really enjoyed their grounds; the pool was a delight and fresh papaya and oranges picked from their trees for morning treats was special.
Hale Mauka Makai, inside and out, is a setting for a glorious stay in Maui. My family, daughter, son-in-law, son, 3 grandchildren, and I spent time over the holidays at Hale Mauka Makai on the island of Maui. We could not have asked for better accommodations. From the first time I contacted the owners until the day we left, they were more than helpful. Because of the size of our party and the dates, special considerations were taken into account. That was a tremendous boon to us. We were given this recommendation from previous satisfied guests of Hale Mauka Makai.
The house is lovely from the polished wood floors to the beautiful decorations to the kitchen amenities. The entire house shone. The landscaping is so amazing, and the fact that we could pick fresh fruits, vegetable, and herbs only added to our enjoyment. After a day of driving and mixing with the other tourists or spending time on the beach, only minutes away, it was heavenly to return to the solitude.
Yet, we could run around and play football or barbecue outside and not feel like we needed to be exceptionally quiet. I would wholeheartedly recommend Hale Mauka Makai for your trip to Maui. The only problem with reading so many good reviews about Hale Mauka Makai herein referred to as "Claudia's Paradise" is that you have high expectations before you get there. Well, fear not, this is one of those circumstances where your expectations will be met, if not exceeded, despite the high benchmark you may have prior to arriving.
If you don't think this place is beautiful and the hosts wonderful then, frankly, it's you, not them! The immaculate house and wonderful gardens are simply beautiful. Anything you want to do around the local area or anywhere on Maui, they have great advice and suggestions. We didn't get around to doing many of the usual experiences that I'm sure many visitors to Maui do. Such as seeing the sun rise on top of the volcano, driving to Hana to see all of the wonderful apparently waterfalls and scenery.
We'll have to save those for next time. We read many of the reviews on the website before we left and got some good ideas. We also went to the Sheraton on the west coast of Maui one afternoon and spent this by the pool there and snorkelling out around black rock. We went surfing a few times over at Lahaina and once at Hookipa point.
Thanks to Kevin who lent me a board I was able to get a few waves despite many years absent from the sport. I must say I was most taken by the adult size turtles swimming around my rather than the good waves. Something the locals must be use to as they wouldn't even give them a second glance as they popped up next to them on their surfboard.
If you're not from the US then check out Sports Authority in Kahului for a massive range of equipment. We bought some cheap booties for all of us to wear in the surf to avoid reef cuts. Plus many more cool things we don't get back home. We ate at the local cafe at Haiku - you have to try their fish burger with cajun spice - beautiful.
You can't go past flat bread in Pa'ia for a good pizza too. You have to squeeze your own orange juice in the morning made from the oranges on the property yum. My character quota is running out so will leave it there.
Private, Luxurious Dream Home with Swimming Pool, - Hawaii Chee
Thanks again to Claudia, Kevin and Nohea for a wonderful experience. Until next time, Mahalo. Our family of five enjoyed our time in this lovely home. The amenities were perfect, everything ready to just start enjoying your holiday. The gardens and views added to the Hawaiian experience - we made our own orange juice each morning and snacked on papaya and passion fruit!
The private pool was enjoyed by all. From this location, we could see many of the sights of Maui - including Hookipa beach famous for surfing and windsurfing , the quaint town of Paia with fabulous gelato , the road to Hana, the Haleakala volcano sunrise, Baldwin state park beach and much more. We were close enough to dine in Lahaina and the airport is only 30 minutes away for quick trips to the other islands we saw Pearl Harbor.
We would definitely take another family trip to this lovely rental home. Aloha and Muhalo to the Hale Mauka Makai family for a great vacation. Having lived in Haiku for 4 years, I was being quite particular in choosing a vacation rental when booking a girls trip with my 1-year-old baby. What I found in Hale Mauka Makai exceeded every expectation the place is actually more beautiful in person and was an absolute idyllic setting for our vacation — getting to live more like locals than tourists at this home away from home.
They have really thought of everything! We picked fresh fruit off the trees everyday, ate fresh produce out of the garden, lounged in the pool with outdoor sound system using all the good toys, sunscreens, towels provided. Total privacy yet only minutes to restaurants and markets. A big thank you to the owners who share this piece of paradise!!!!!
It is a wonderful home on a beautiful secluded site. Fruit bearing trees allowed us to have fresh fruit any time of day. The private pool was most inviting 24 hours a day. We were close to town but far enough away. The only noise we heard were birds singing and ocean breezes.
The home is beautifully decorated but with a homey style that makes you feel like you are at home the moment you walk in.
Private, Luxurious Dream Home with Swimming Pool, Permitted
The gormet kitchen had everything needed to cook a delicate meal or an elaborate one. The view of the ocean is very serene. We will definately return to this wonderful Maui vacation home. It was more than I ever expected for my first visit to Maui. The home is gorgeous. The grounds are stunning. We were literally in awe of the beauty we saw around us. Cluadia and Kevin were so kind and welcoming it truly was a pleasure meeting them.
The kitchen was a chefs dream. The furniture and layout of the home was cozy and incredibly beautiful. We loved the private pool and gorgeous views surrounding us. I will definately be coming back to a this 5 star vacation home and look forward to seeing the hosts again. Thank you for making our trip so amazing and creating memories we will never forget. My husband and I spent 10 days in Kevin and Claudia's home. They made us feel so welcome.
This is best place we have ever taken our kids. We loved having our own pool. We used it every day. Claudia has everything in this home. From ketchup to laundry soap. It just made everything so easy. Kevin was so gracious with his time. He took my daughter and I to the beach and gave her a surfing lesson.
She really enjoyed that. Claudia shared her garden with us. We had fresh salad, tomatoes, and herbs the entire time we were there.
My girls loved picking the fruit from the trees. Every reccomendation they made, whether it was for a beach or a resturant, was a good one. We hope to visit again and again. I Highly Reccomend this to everyone, especially those of you with children. Thank you for the best vacation we have ever had. We had the pleasure of spending six 6 weeks at Hale Mauka Makai with family and friends. We found the property to be as listed in regards to the location layout, equipment and amenities. As we do a fair amount of cooking we found the kitchen to be reasonably well equipped and capable of producing meals that reflected the skill level of the cook's and chefs using it.
The house itself has a well designed layout. The island is not all that large, and with the property strategically located midway between Kanapalli and Hana you are not far from anywhere on the island. The defining difference of any rental property is the owners. Claudia and Kevin are very focused on customer satisfaction and intent on a great experience for their clients.
That coupled with the unique property aspects the fruit orchard and its product and the nursery itself add up to a unique and outstanding experience. We heartily recommend Hale Mauka Makai! Staying at Hale Mauka Makai was the vacation of a lifetime for our family. It was our first time going on a vacation to Maui and we wanted to stay somewhere that was as safe for our small children as possible, with minimal use of pesticides, etc.
We found this place on the the internet and from our perspective, took a chance in booking it sight unseen and sending all of the payment in advance. The risk was immeasurably rewarded, however, when we arrived in Maui and followed the owner's directions in the dark to an incredibly beautiful home.
It was not until we woke up the next morning, however, that we realized what an amazing paradise we were staying in, a gorgeous acreage with fabulous views of the ocean on one side and the mountain on the other. Staying at Hale Mauka Makai is a great way to experience Maui. You can conveniently drive to anywhere on the island and then come home at night to your idyllic retreat. Or you can just stay "home" for the day and enjoy the lovely home and beautiful grounds and pool, complete with pool toys for your children. Everything is provided, including plush beach towels, excellent laundry appliances and a brand new TV and entertainment system with satellite channels.
There is a wonderful kitchen to make meals in or all the delicious restaurants a few minutes away in Pa'ia. The owners are extremely friendly and helpful and great to deal with. We received our security deposit back promptly upon arriving home in Canada. One of the highlights of staying at Hale Mauka Makai was the ability to pick fresh fruit to eat or squeeze for juice and fresh vegetables for salads.
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Thank you to the owners for an unforgettable vacation for our family! Wanted a place away from the busy tourist environment. Hale Mauka Makai was that plus much more. Very private with beautiful grounds on several acres. A swimming pool all to ourselves. I won't even try to describe the interior of the home. Claudia is the ultimate host.
Very concerned that our stay was all that we expected. Only negative is that adult children would like me to take them back every year. My wife and I spent a week at Claudia's lovely home with my parents and two adult sisters. The home is beautifully located on private acreage surrounded by palms, hibiscus, lemon, papaya and various other plantings. We were amazed at how thoughtfully arranged the whole home is, thanks to the care and attention of the owner. Claudia, our gracious hostess, came by after we had settled in and gave us the grand tour of the property, and a friendly review of all that the house has to offer.
The home is expertly appointed with all of the conveniences of home, plus many unexpected perks. Every guest room has its own bathroom and all are charmingly decorated. We were most amazed at how quickly we felt right at home at Hale Mauka Makai. Dinners on the lanai, freshly squeezed lemonade from trees on the grounds, afternoon dips in the pool, cool evening breezes flowing through the home with scents of the sea The home is within walking distance of Haiku, which has all the basics of a small town, and only a short drive from Paia for those that wish to tackle some surf. All in all, as our first time in Hawaii, it will be difficult to ever top the experience and we will certainly be back as soon as possible.
The gods and godess mentioned above, are Claudia and her husband I believe. We wanted to come back for our son's Fall Break now in October, but, sadly, this beautiful house was already booked. The photos of the house, its rooms and the grounds caught my eye and piqued my interest.
But, we especially my husband were sold after reading the reviews posted by previous guests. They loved it and so did we! Hale Mauka Makai is quiet, relaxing and private. The house has every amenity, is spotless, lovely and comfortable. The grounds are just beautiful! Of course, our son loved the pool I like room service, but I did NOT miss it here because the kitchen is set up so well and is so spacious, that I totally enjoyed making my coffee so easy and delicous using their coffee-maker and toast myself. I also had fresh papayas, grown here, every day, several times a day.
My husband and son would drive off early every morning to walk one of three local beaches. This was their special time together and I had my own quiet time while they were gone. They sometimes brought home a treat from a bakery in Paia. We loved being in this part of Maui! We enjoyed feeling more like locals than tourists. However, we did do "touristy" things, such as going up to Haleakala, road to Hana, snorkeling at Black Rock, taking a flight to see the vocano on the Big Island, etc.
We ate in great restaurants, especially Mama's Fish House, our favorite it's such a short drive away and they park your car- so easy and relaxing. Claudia Ledesma, the owner of Hale Mauka Makai, was a phone call away if we had any questions or needed anything. Her family has made this house so special for those of us lucky enough to stay here.
We did feel lucky! We just settled in and had a proper Hawaiian vacation. I can just close my eyes now and feel transported. Thank you, Claudia Kevin was traveling, so we did not meet him. We hope to return soon.
Shangri La
When we saw the pictures of Hale Mauka Makai, we were enchanted. When we saw it in person we were speechless! The home is so beautiful, with lush grounds and comfy rooms. Everything you could want is already there, from shampoo and sun block to coffee and humongous towels. I've traveled extensively and this was by far the most luxurious and comfortable place I've stayed.
Claudia is a living doll and will do everything in her power to make your stay a happy one. My wife and I own a fractional ownership on the West Shore of Maui. We love the island and were curious about finding a spot that was somehow more peaceful and quiet. Well did we ever find it at Hale Mauka Makai.
The house is beautifully decorated with a fully equipped kitchen. The ocean views and the pool provide a relaxing, private place to simply enjoy the experience. Above all, Claudia and Kevin personalized our visits with their caring and quiet hospitality. We will be back again, and again. After spending two months on the islands of Kauai and Oahu in beautiful surroundings, we approached our month on Maui in February wondering how the experience would compare.
The property inside and out exceeds all expectations and can only be appreciated by being there. Additionally, the presence of the Ledesma family nearby on the beautiful grounds with their warm hospitality and tremendous knowledge of life on the island provides an immeasurable additional benefit to your stay. To awaken and walk outside to pick oranges from the trees on the property and then have fresh squeezed juice at breakfast is one of our many pleasant memories.
The view of the ocean and mountains is awesome and the star filled night sky containing celestial objects such as Arcturus, previously unseen by those of us from the higher latitudes, was amazing. We can only hope that life will permit a return to this idyllic spot. This was a fabulous property! Spacious, serene, gorgeous garden setting with expansive ocean view. Gourmet kitchen; poolside relaxation. It was the perfect setting for a girl party reunion -- three good friends traveling from different places for a week in sunny Maui. The property owners live nearby and are gracious and unobtrusive hosts.
You'll need a rental car as it is a bit remote. Easy day trips to volcano, Lahaina, Kihei, Kanapali Coast. I highly recommend it. It's hard to know what to add to all the raving reviews that have already detailed all the special features and experiences of this wonderful home and location, so we will try not to repeat them. Other than to say it is all true; this is a very special place, the house is outstanding, the hospitality of the owners is genuine, helpful, and unobtrusive.
They even set up a crib for our 6 months old from their own house. T he national historic register traces the Makiki mansion known as Greystones to , when Alfred Hocking commissioned the Queen Anne-style Victorian. The house was designed by architect E. Newcomb, in partnership with a young C.
Dickey, for the founder of Honolulu Brewing and Malting Co. Myrna Murdoch has lived at and cared for Greystones for the past decade. Murdoch says only a few modern features have been added to the home over the years. For example, when Crazy Shirts founder Rick Ralston restored the house in the s, he added the stained glass that faces mauka. But Murdoch says most of the house stays true to the original intent. Murdoch often coordinates with charitable organizations and community groups for events at the historic home. They include Edmund Lee—son of the second owner, Rose Lee—who celebrated his 70th birthday party there.
We all have to do that in order to be around tomorrow. Sharing the house comes back in numerous ways, she says, with people bringing photos, newspaper clippings and other mementos to add to her collection. And now she has gone ice sliding, too. The chimney has a split duct that goes to the large fireplace in the living room and acts as an exhaust from the kitchen stove. I n , Wallace M. Alexander built the beachfront home Haumalu for his daughter, Martha, and her husband, Dr.
It retains a simple elegance of time gone by. Tim and his wife, Maggie, both property managers, treasure family gatherings there: The house includes broad redwood siding, stained concrete flooring and a large chimney, moss rock walls and a cedar shake roof. The Twigg-Smith family has decorated in a comfortable Island style with vintage furniture and broad couches offering a welcoming feel. Gerbode, who died in , was remembered for her passion for a wide range of causes in Honolulu and San Francisco, including historic preservation, the environment, Planned Parenthood and the preservation of Alcatraz.
Twigg-Smith says his family was able to purchase about a third of the original parcel. He credits his neighbor, Dr. Twigg-Smith says it was clear that the couple could have built a new modern home for much less money, time and effort, or subdivided the property into multiple homes. It was real spooky. Even with the neglect, Twigg-Smith says, the house was actually in really good shape, which made it relatively easy to restore.
Twigg-Smith praised original owner Martha Alexander Gerbode for helping to preserve the neighborhood through the Save Diamond Head movement. Decades pass, as do the architect and the author. A couple—who had been actively searching for a home—stumble upon the midcentury modern house while out for a walk to soothe their teething infant daughter. The young dad recalls: It was NOT for sale. He and his wife, born and raised in Honolulu, pondered their next move only to learn the next day that the house just went on the market.
It almost sounds like a movie script but this tale of serendipity is true. Jordan and Rebecca Kandell. Jordan is a screenwriter and journalist. Rebecca holds a degree in architecture. Rebecca picks up the story: We are both artists and when you walk into our house, it screams Jordan and Rebecca. Before they could move in, they learned the termite-ravaged classic had to be rebuilt from the inside out. They used the original blueprints of the house as a guide, moving away from later changes, they said. Original redwood panels were removed, sanded and stained to the original green color.
And the Kandells wove a green and red color scheme throughout, finding furniture and artwork to complement the house and express their own aesthetic. The Kandells say that great houses reflect a respect for architecture and nature, a pride of ownership. While the couple made an effort to be true to the work of architect Preis, they also remember author Bushnell. But he also sometimes writes at a desk in the living room facing the ocean, the spot where Bushnell often sat to write. Even though the renovation took years, they agree that it was worth the wait and work. I n , prominent businessman Walter Dillingham married Louise Gaylord.
Louise Dillingham told people the home was not a copy of the Tuscany La Pietra which means stone or gem but a combination of features from several places they toured. Some staff and faculty members say they feel the presence and the history of the family who appear in photos and paintings at the school. The great lawn remains a prominent feature, complete with a sarcophagus that the school assures us is empty. Sign up for weekly newsletter. I agree to receive emails from the site.
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