The Crown Jewel of Kawela Bay! 30 day stay

The pictures don't do the property justice. You'll have an unforgettable experience in the bay.

Marilyn and Gary, we had a wonderful time at your place. It is the best for all the little ones we had with us. Over the time we stayed we had 5 of our six children and their families come and stay with us. It is so great to let them play on the beach and in the water without worrying about them getting knocked over by the surf. The house and cabin are just the best. They are so accommodating for our group. Marilyn, Jan and I had more time this trip to appreciate all your art work. It is amazing and we were even able to make it thru the month without any of the little ones breaking any of it. We love the North Shore. For us it is so nice to be so close to the PCC and the temple in Laie and be away from the crowds of the other parts of the island. We were able to attend church in Kahuku and feel the Aloha spirit of a different culture even though the church is the same as everywhere in the world. The Family is already talking about coming back but it will be at least two years before we are willing to consider it – it is a large expenditure when we pay for everything. It was sure worth it. Thanks Morgan and Jan Lynch

This was a vacation to celebrate my significant birthday year with our 3 married children their spouses and our 5 grandchildren. The 2 houses were perfect for 13 people. The location could not have been better...right on the ocean that provided swimming, paddle boarding and kayaking. Our families had the opportunity to further bond with each other creating memories that will last a lifetime. Kawela Bay ,a private protected location on the north shore was close to world surfing competitions and the wooded walk to the Turtle Bay resort and the historic banyan tree. We were also fortunate to witness the filming of the television series Hawaii -Five - O.

Our family flew in from all across Canada to spend a truly unforgettable Christmas here in 2014. We have stayed in many lovely VRBO's all over the world and this has to have been one of the best! Highlights: - Right on the beach - Old Hawaiian charm mixed with Marilyn (the owner's) personal art and antiques - Modern kitchen - Lots of water toys to use - Very private and safe (in gated area) -Marilyn and her housekeeper Irma were amazing to deal with. - Close to Turtle Bay resort for restaurants etc. - Morning jogs east to the resort along their paths and the beach - amazing! Don't wait to book this gem, we can't wait to go back one day!

After a lot of searching for a vacation place, we stumbled across the Crown Jewel of Kawela Bay. It seemed almost too good to be true -- a big home on a private bay, decked out with everything we needed to have fun. So much so, in fact, that a few in our party breathed a sigh of relief when we showed up and it was real... and even better than we imagined. The house is beautiful and easily slept 11 adults + 3 children at our peak occupancy. Although the house itself is old and has lots of characters, its fitted with modern appliances and comforts that make it almost too easy to stay there. A far stretch from the camping we used to do! But the best part of this place is truly the location. Kawela Bay is very unique on the North Shore. While most beaches are getting pounded by waves during peak seasons, the beaches of Kawela Bay remain calm enough for snorkeling, standup paddle boarding, and kayaking. It's so calm that every morning you'll see some folks from Turtle Bay coming over to Kawela Bay, because their own bay is too rough for beginners. When want to leave the gentle waves of the beach and surf, though, you just paddle to the back left (or right, if you prefer) of the bay and can catch some very consistent, non-intimidating waves for beginners to sharpen their skills and intermediates to have some fun. Want something bigger? Just paddle out a bit more and you'll catch some great waves breaking on days with a bigger swell. I could go on for a long time about what we liked, but I'm going to stop. Instead, to provide some balance, I'll offer a few criticisms: (1) I had to do some work on my computer when I first got their, but it was hard to do because the view from inside the dining room is too distracting, (2) Sometimes a big wave would wake me up in the master bedroom, and (3) I ate too much because I love BBQ food and the BBQ was awesome.

My wife and I wanted our family of 15, which includes 7 grandchildren ranging from 5 to 15 years old, to participate in a family trip that all would create great memories for the rest of their lives. Let me tell you, our plan was a great success! This beautiful home was amazing and it supplied us with everything we could ever need. There was more than enough space for all of us and we were all able to make it our home for the 9 days we spent there. Just as the other reviewers have mentioned, the home and grounds are absolutely beautiful! We mostly enjoyed how convenient and fun it was to be just a few steps from the bay. The bay is a perfect place for the kids to enjoy just about any water sport they wanted to participate in. It was a comfort to all the adults to be able to watch the kids from the beach or balcony. The kids were always in the water until dark. Irma is absolutely one of the nicest and most patient persons we have ever met. We have a special needs 5 year old grandson who can eat only certain foods and needed to get access to the refrigerator before the house was ready for us. She went out of the way to greet us early in the day as they were cleaning and allowed us to supply the refrigerator and spend time at the beach while they finished in the home. Near the end of our vacation our 12 year old granddaughter had to have her appendix taken out. She spent the last 3 days on the couch watching t.v.. Irma came over and greeted her with a card and gift. Boy, did that make her day! Thank you for everything Irma. Marilyn, the owner is absolutely correct when she says, "Kawela Bay is magical". She goes out of her way to keep you informed of the many things to experience in the area. As she mentioned, the Polynesian Cultural Center is a must see and all of us enjoyed it immensely. Kawela Bay truly is "magical" because my wife and I saw the "magic" in our families eyes the entire stay. Everyone was to the point of tears for the soul reason of having to end our wonderful vacation at such a beautiful property. We could not have asked for anything more to make our trip a dream come true. A very special mahalo from all of us to Marilyn and Irma.

My family and I had the pleasure of staying in Kawela Bay for 10 amazing nights in June. We have been to Oahu many times, my husband and I were actually married there. That said, this was by far our favorite vacation! After a long, delayed flight from Denver, we were greeted at the home by Irma and her friendly dog Duke. Irma was so welcoming, we instantly felt like we had known her for years. The home is so beautiful. The pictures do not do it justice. It has a shabby-chic, very homey feel, highlighted with Marilyn's gorgeous artwork. It is equipped with ABSOLUTELY everything you would possibly need. The garden and yard surrounding the home are beautiful as well. While lounging in the chairs or hammock in the grass, you feel so peacefully secluded, surrounded by trees and flowers and taking in the gorgeous turquoise water. We even enjoyed fresh mangoes from the tree out front. On our first morning, we were up before the sun. It was dark when we arrived to the home the night before, so we were anxious to see the bay. We were greeted at sunrise by a giant sea turtle, right in front of the home. This turned out to be a daily occurrence. The turtles rest on the beach daily, and we always spotted them swimming in the bay. This was such a special experience for all of us, but especially my 3 young daughters. There are endless activities to do at the house. We swam, snorkeled, paddle-boarded, kayaked, and fished everyday directly in front of the home. My little girls and I collected sea glass and shells every morning. We walked/hiked through the forest a few times, to the WWII pillbox and almost to Turtle Bay Resort. We even stumbled across a major movie being filmed in the forest one day. Kinda neat! We did venture away from Kawela Bay a few times to explore the island, however, we quickly discovered how good we had it at the bay, and most days, never left. (Unless it was to go to Giovanni's Shrimp Truck of coarse) :) Marilyn was a pleasure working with through the entire process. It was nice knowing Irma was just a call away if we needed anything. It was very difficult to leave. We will, no doubt, return to Kawela Bay soon. I can probably go on forever about the amazing time we had while staying at this home, but I'm not sure I want too many people to visit. ;) A big mahalo to Marilyn for giving us the opportunity to experience Kawela Bay.

Awesome Home!!! Loved every minute. Can't beat the location, view and accommodations. Highly recommend this beautiful family home.

We meet the owners on this magnificent property a few years back while visiting Kawela Bay. They were kind enough to show us around their home and shared with us that it was available for rent. That go the wheels turning. After one solid year of planning, we spent the month of January 2015. It was beyond our expectations. The property just can't be beat! EVERYTHING we needed was provided for us. We had several amazing cooks and took full advantage of the kitchen. The main house was fully utilized from early morning coffee in the living room, meal preparations in the kitchen, evening hors d'oeuvres on the deck or side yard and then dinners to die for in the dining room which overlooks the entire Kawela Bay. We utilized everything from the glass bottom kayaks to the art center in the guest house. The guesthouse accommodated the rest of our party and it meet all needs. My personal goal was to completely sink into the north shore vibe. I didn't have a need to go go go! Entertainment consisted of some tennis at nearby Turtle Bay, occasional trip to Haleiwa and spending a lot of time at the "Pipe" watching the world class surfers. All of these things are easily accessible from this property. At the property itself, sitting on the beach, snorkeling, kayaking and just relaxing filled many days. We had artists and musicians with us so the piano got used on several occasions as well as the art studio in the guest house. We even had our own Kawela Bay art exhibit! With a total of 11 adults, it was perfect. There are so many places on the property itself to drift off to by yourself or come together as a group. The owners are more than accommodating and the lady that more or less oversees the property while your there is terrific. I could go on and on but the bottom line is, this was just the best. Mahalo!

I had a fabulous time here. The house has amazing beach access, and there are turtles everywhere! THe house comes equipped with everything you need, and you'll never need to leave! Paradise!