The following executive summary is based on a comprehensive and impartial AI analysis of guest reviews. Keep in mind that all units are individually owned, and review scores among units can vary considerably.
Staying at Makahuena feels like classic Poipu: dramatic oceanfront cliffs, constant surf, and front‑row seats to sunrises, sunsets, whales, turtles, and even a small blowhole right off the point. Guests love the location—an easy walk or short drive to Poipu and Brennecke’s beaches, Shipwreck Beach, and the Maha’ulepu Heritage Trail—plus landscaped grounds with benches for sunset viewing. Condos are spacious and family‑friendly, many with multiple bedrooms/baths, full kitchens, in‑unit laundry, and thoughtful extras like beach chairs, umbrellas, coolers, boogie boards, and snorkel gear. The pool, hot tub, grills, and even pickleball/tennis are popular, and many reviewers praised responsive hosts/property managers and welcome baskets that make arrivals feel seamless.
Do note the complex is older, and units vary: plenty are updated and spotless, while others feel basic or due for a refresh. Air-conditioning differs by condo (some have none or bedroom‑only portable units that can be loud), and living areas can run warm without the trade winds. A recurring theme is stairs—no elevators, multi‑level layouts, and some longer walks from parking—so mobility and luggage can be a consideration. Several guests mentioned intermittent maintenance quirks (sticky sliders, fogged windows, appliance hiccups), occasional tropical pests or musty odors, and that the pool isn’t always heated and opens at 9am. Recent nearby construction and some on‑site balcony work have, at times, affected views or added weekday noise, though many still found the area quiet and relaxing.
Overall sentiment is very positive—many would “stay again in a heartbeat.” Makahuena suits travelers who want space and self‑catering in a prime south‑shore spot with big views and easy access to beaches, trails, and Koloa/Poipu dining. If you’re heat‑sensitive or traveling with older adults, choose a unit with AC, ask about stair counts and layout, and confirm current construction status and renovation level if views/finishes matter. Plan on walking or a quick drive to sandy swimming, and consider stocking up in Lihue (Costco/Target) on the way in. For wildlife watching, family convenience, and that crashing‑waves soundtrack, it’s hard to beat.
This summary is based on a comprehensive analysis of 1000 reviews
The view is amazing (though the table and chairs are clearly photoshopped to look a little nicer). Perfect place to watch the sun set.That aside, the amenities are rather modest. Cozy but certainly not modern. The A/C didn't work in one of the bedrooms, which was rather unfortunate because A/C typically costs a premium and no partial refund was offered. The cable TV also wasn't working throughout the stay (live TV only. Netflix worked). These two were known issues which we were informed of at check-in, but was not warned of prior to arrival.We WERE informed of ongoing construction, oddly right after cancellation period passed. This did not affect us at all as we were out all day during the several days that we were there, but if you were planning on relaxing at the accommodation during the day, this may affect you more.Other notes: electric stove. tide pods provided. loud washer/dryer. pool/jacuzzi very family friendly but can be a little loud.Overall we just needed a place to crash at night, with the added benefit of waking up to the sound of waves and being able to eat dinner at our accommodation while watching the sun set. For that it was great. But if you're looking for a modern accommodation with more modern amenities, I would consider other options, but if you are more like us, this accommodation will more than suffice (with the exception of the a/c being broken).
Daniel W.
April 2026
Overall very clean and well appointed.
Debbie E.
April 2026
Our stay was fantastic- everything from communication, to cleanliness of the condo and easy check-in. It had everything we needed for our stay, even beach equipment. The best thing about this condo is the view- it’s amazing.
Annie D.
April 2026
We had a great stay at this condo. It was very spacious and fully stocked for days at the beach. The location was great with being able to walk to Poipu beach and walking a path/trail along the water that leads you to Shipwreck beach. Would stay here again for sure.
Saara R.
April 2026
Rating Details:
The property manager was more than helpful.
The vacation rental was very dirty.
I was very happy with the location.
I was somewhat dissatisfied with the condition of the vacation rental.
Overall, I do not recommend this vacation rental.
Reviewer Comments:
Condo itself is old and it was pretty dirty. Also it rained a lot and the walls were leaking. Water was coming through the door jam and other parts of the master bedroom. Has to have towels and buckets on the floor for two days. As it constantly dripped. Called and management sent someone out later that day and they tried to fix it. Spent several hours waiting around for them to come and then a couple hours while they tried to fix that and the tv. Management was good to work with so we appreciated that. Just wouldn’t stay here again because it was old and really dirty. Food crumbs, dust, old crusty sock showers had hair in them, etc.
Chelsea A.
April 2026
Unit was clean and well appointed. Unit was dated. Grounds are very nice as is pool.
Tom T.
April 2026
The unit was very spacious, clean and had everything we could possibly need and more. Very happy with our stay and would do so again. Excellent location. We really enjoyed our walks along the ocean path to Shipwreck Beach. Communications we had with Kristen was excellent. Highly Recommended!
Kevin C.
April 2026
Very well stocked! Everything was clean and organized. The owner was very helpful and accommodating.
Becky S.
April 2026
Great place. Excellent location. Staff are very accommodating - let us check out late.
Panagiotis X.
April 2026
The location is fantastic! You can walk into the Poipu Beach area and to Shipwreck beach. We enjoyed watching both the sunrise and sunset from the point at the property. The kitchen was well stocked and the beds and linens were all comfortable. There are also several beach chairs, a couple boogie boards and snorkel masks.
Christy H.
April 2026
Great location and beautiful view. Condo had everything you needed!
Megan H.
April 2026
We lived our stay! There was a lot of room for our family of five and the kitchen was fully stocked with everything a person would need. I loved that they provided chairs and boogie boards for use at the beach. The pool and grounds were well maintained and just as shown in the photos.
Carrie R.
April 2026
The condo was even better than in the pictures! Kitchen is well stocked with utensils, pots and pans. We were able to walk to the Grand Hyatt on the path by the ocean and to Poipu Beach. Both were about a 10 minute walk. The snorkeling at Poipu Beach was amazing and the turtles and monk seals on the beach were so much fun to see. Saw whales spouting from the property. There was an issue with water in the unit below us and they needed access to our condo for a short bit, but it was well communicated and handled without interrupting our day. We will definitely book here again!
Alexis D.
April 2026
We really enjoyed our stay. We loved looking out the balcony to the ocean. Walking to Poipu Beach every night to see the turtles. Loved the pool and how hot the hot tub was. I would definitely go back and say there.
Bonnie G.
April 2026
Nice and spacious unit, very clean. Had all the amenities and parking was easy. Walked to Brenneckes and Poipu beach as well as a couple restaurants. Good walking path behind the unit. Would recommend.
Ken W.
April 2026
Views were amazing, close to the beach, pool (kids requirement of course). Everything was smooth in the stay from check in to check out. Would definitely come back. Not only that but the views were awesome. We say more than our share of turtles floating in the tides, a pod of 6 dolphins jumping by and a couple of whales out ont he horizon splashing as they surfaced. Overall, stay was exactly what we hoped for.
Craig P.
April 2026
Very nice condo with amenities. Property manager would not provide xtra shampoo and conditioner without an added cost. Paying over 800 per night some xtra toiletries seems like a good idea when requested. The dishwasher turned on spontaneously and would not turn off. The maintenance guy did not know how to fix it other than turning off the breaker. Quite frustrating. The main heater/air conditioning unit is on the balcony making the small deck really noisy which impacts the family room and kitchen area. The inside could use some updating.
Glen C.
April 2026
This place is amazing. Can't beat the sunset from the terrace. Confortable beds, beach gears for everyone with coolers. It felt like home in a better version after the first day. We used: hottub, pool, BBQ and I have no complaints.
Tommy P.
April 2026
Beautiful property. Excellent communication with the host
Greg B.
April 2026
Nice condo on the cliff in Poipu. Great location for a morning walk along the cliff out to Shipwreck beach. Easy walk to Poipu beach for snorkeling. Short drive to grocery store in Ko’ola for fresh poke’ every night. The air conditioning was invaluable especially as we had not one, but 2 Kona storms during our stay and the humidity outside was crazy until the Tradewinds returned! 3 full sized boogie boards, 1 toddler sized. Plenty of beach towels, nice chairs with backpack straps.
Heather C.
April 2026
Noce location, good pool!
sarah g.
April 2026
We had a wonderful stay. The view from the condo was amazing and we saw several whales. A suggestion would be to upgrade the living room furniture to something more comfortable and spacious. Susan our host was extremely responsive to a few minor issues that we encountered and the GM dealt with them immediately. The kitchen was beautiful and the location was perfect and close to everything. I highly recommend this unit.
Rachel S.
March 2026
This condo was overlooking the pool, with views of the ocean, which were lovely. The AC is only in the bedrooms, and they were a bit noisy, but essential for sleeping. We did have a bit of a problem with bugs getting in whenever we opened the sliding doors to the lanai. They did have lots of beach essentials for use, though, which were much appreciated: Beach chairs, snorkel and fins, sand toys, etc.
Gabi R.
March 2026
Beautiful condo with oceanfront lanai… We had 4 adults and plenty of room for all.Very close to Poipu proper - a short 15-min walk down the hill or easy car ride, 5 min.Nice pool on lovely property, quiet! We watched sunrise and sunset from lanai and saw turtles and dolphins up close in water below our lanai, whales a bit further out - every day! Thanks for a lovely stay on this stunning island!!!
Kathleen S.
March 2026
Unfortunate - but resolved! We had an unfortunate stay during an historic 20 year Kona Low, that resulted in several leaks in the ceilings. With that said, we moved on to another rental. As bad as this sounds, the host was very accommodating and quickly refunded all of our rent, without question.
Lisa T.
March 2026
Great condo with AC, community hot tub and a very responsive host.
Isaac G.
March 2026
I stayed for 4 nights with my husband and 2 kids. Everything was wonderful. Views were amazing. Each morning we saw whales, turtles, or dolphins from the lanai. Beds were comfortable and kitchen was well equipped. Trail adjacent to the property was a lovely hike. Enjoyed the pool and hot tub. Great place to experience Poipu!
Liz W.
March 2026
Location is amazing. Great view. AC in bedrooms was great. Spacious. Had everything we needed for our stay. I’m
Jan H.
March 2026
The location is great! We thought the pictures didn't do the view justice. You can walk to several beaches from here. It is an older property, so there is some wear and tear and doesn't have the amenities newer resort properties. Also, fyi that the upstairs bedroom can be a bit hot to start the night out but it was perfect for our family. We appreciated the welcome package with coffee and that it had beach chairs, towels and sand toys available for use. Loved it and would definitely consider staying again.
Rebecca F.
March 2026
Having the greenbelt path and the shore path nearby made it very easy to get a lot of walks in during our stay. The proximity to Brennecke's & Kalapaki Joe's made for easy access to lunch/Happy Hour/dinner.
We really enjoyed the views of the ocean while hanging out on the balcony during rainy periods. Unit was true to pictures & description. Great stay overall.
Andrea O.
March 2026
Loved our stay here. The walking path out the back door was amazing!
Trent S.
March 2026
We loved our stay! Home away from home! View and location. We would definitely stay here again!!
Walt L.
March 2026
Beautiful view! Comfortable beds! Nice decor! Well Equipped kitchen. Wonderful communication! Lots of stairs.
Kathryn S.
March 2026
We had an amazing time at this Hidden Gem! The condo was exactly what we needed to have a wonderful trip. The home was clean, the beds were so comfortable, there was plenty of room and the view was indescribable. I would stay their again in a heartbeat. Our host was responsive and so kind, he made us feel so welcome. It was just a wonderful experience all around. I have only positive things to say!
Lisa B.
March 2026
Beautiful condo with stunning views. We loved it! The only issue we had was finding the place when we arrived in the dark and rain. The building is quite a ways from the parking lot. Luckily there were two kind neighbors who escorted us to the building and helped carry stuff. Host was very responsive to all of my many questions. Nicely stocked kitchen, snorkeling gear, beach towels etc. I would happily return to this property.
Janet S.
March 2026
The host was very welcoming but only AFTER booking and paying did I receive notice that there was construction going on right outside the lanai. We were told it would not impact our stay but it did. I specifically booked this condo for my elderly parents due to the fact of it being ground floor and they could walk to the pool or to the ocean without having to use stairs. Upon arroval scaffolding was set up all across the lanai with caution tape so we could not step onto the grass. The scaffolding also significantly impacted the view. While I understand upkeep on buildings needs to be done we should have been informed of this beforehand or even offerred a discount if we wanted to book. The condo owner did not repond to my feedback. Due to all of this we ended up not extending our stay and instead moved elsewhere. Hosts and owners need to be transparent and tell of these things PRIOR to booking. We were very disappointed.
Jami L.
March 2026
Ideal location and perfect setup for a family of four. Lots of great additions like beach chairs, beach toys, cooler, beach umbrella. Management company was great to work with. Setup of the space was perfect. Kids loved the pool being right outside. Watched whales from the lanai. Amazing!
Megan K.
March 2026
![Makahuena 4304]()
Overall our experience at this property was okay.
We arrived to find the air conditioner exhaust broken, which appeared to have been broken for some time and had to have someone come in to fix.
Our white towels did not appear clean, and were rewashed upon arrival.
The bed frame in the main bedroom did not feel stable and could use reinforcement.
There were bugs and uncleaned areas on the floor near the fan in the corner. The curtains were also not clean.
The patio was also cover in some kind of black power substance around the edges.
The washing machine was plumbed backwards and I ended up shrinking a pair of shorts. When the machine was turned to cold it filled with hot water and when the machine was turned to hot it filled with cold.
Also, while I realize, the rain could have lead to this issue, we ended up finding mushrooms and mold growing from the tile behind the main bathroom door - quite telling about the cleanliness of the property.
I found the listing misleading by stating there was A/C - you had to read more carefully into the listing to find out they were window units in the 2 bedrooms with no A/C in the main space. Photos of the new construction is also not updated in the listing which blocks some what is a beautiful ocean view.
Luckily the kitchen felt clean and was well equipped but otherwise we were quite disappointed with this rental overall and would not recommend.
Kelly P.
March 2026
Unit was clean and well equipped. Lots of kitchen items we used along with the washer and drier. We saw whales and loved the hot tub and pool. It was extremely rainy so we weren’t in the ocean but still loved our time together.
LeeAnn M.
March 2026
We had a great time and loved the location . Check-in was smooth and everyone was great to talk with . Would go back again .
mike v.
March 2026
We stayed here with family for a week. We used the kitchen, laundry, and beach items. We found it cozy and am easy commute to the beach (5 min drive) and walking paths.
Heather P.
March 2026
Exactly what we needed :)
Jessica T.
March 2026
Amazing stay! Sophia was quick to respond to any questions that we had. A very comfortable place in a beautiful location. Short distance to a great hike along the shore one way and the Poipu beach the other way. Check out the lava arch adjacent the property, super cool!
Todd W.
March 2026
The pictures were so misleading for this unit. The ocean view no longer matches the listing. The kitchen cabinets doors were dirty around the handles and the floor needs to be replaced. The whole unit was a disappointment. It felt tired and not accurately represented in the listing.
Paula H.
March 2026
Comfy and well located, with nice access to the well-heated resort pool and hot tub. Easy jumping off point for the whole island, with many food choices a quick drive away. Plenty of room for our family of 5.
Zac I.
March 2026
Great condo and we love the location. Whale watching and the adjacent trail are definite pluses.
Norman K.
March 2026
Disappointed in this Vrbo. Very old and needs updates…. Not very clean and grounds needs help
Frank S.
March 2026
Great location, awesome view, very well stocked, great layout. Only surprise we had was the second bedroom had 2 small beds instead of a queen or king. We were 2 couples sharing the condo.
Ava B.
March 2026
Comfy bed, great location, beautiful kitchen!
Jodi S.
March 2026
Excellent location! Very safe. Short walk to the beach. Nice bedrooms - the kids had restful nights after adventurous days. Great view from the living room. I watched beautiful sunsets and enjoyed breakfasts on the balcony. The host responded promptly to our questions and requests.
Joanna K.
March 2026