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"The Happy Seal" Oceanfront House, watch seals sunbath from our deck while BBQ

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Want to sing a love song to your loved one? feel free to use our guitar!
Property grounds
Outdoor shower
Bring a book, or read one of ours.
Room

Reviews

10 out of 10
Exceptional
3 bedrooms2+ bathroomsSleeps 81112 sq ft

Popular amenities

  • Dryer
  • Parking available
  • Washer
  • Barbecue grill
  • Air conditioning
  • Outdoor space

Explore the area

Map
Hauula, HI
  • Hauʻula Beach Park
    ‪7 min walk‬
  • Hauula Beaches
    ‪18 min walk‬
  • Polynesian Cultural Center
    ‪4 min drive‬
  • Honolulu, HI (HNL-Daniel K. Inouye Intl.)
    ‪54 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

3 bedrooms (sleeps 8)

Loft open to the living room

2 Single Beds

Master bedroom

1 King Bed

Portable inflatable mattress

1 Queen Bed

Small bedroom with half bath

1 Queen Bed

2 bathrooms, 1 half bathroom

Hallway Bathroom

Toilet · Shower only

Master bedroom bathroom

Toilet · Shower only

Small bedroom bath

Toilet

Spaces

Deck or patio
Kitchen
Kitchenette
Balcony
Separate dining area
Dining area

About this property

"The Happy Seal" Oceanfront House, watch seals sunbath from our deck while BBQ

[A legal rental of minimum 30 days]
This is the story of a little beach house doing its part in preserving a sanctuary on this stretch of sand for the endangered Hawaiian monk seals. For many years the beach in front of the house was known as the home of a famously beloved seal named Honey Girl (Google her). After her passing in the Spring of 2020, other monk seals have taken over residence. One or two of them come to bask in the sun for an afternoon every few days and can be clearly seen about a stone's throw away from our patio.

You and your family (especially the little ones) are asked to participate in our effort in Hawaiian sea life conservation! When the monk seals are here, please help by erecting signs (available) around them to direct people away from the seals.

Don't be surprised if a roosters' crow wakes you in the morning. Located on the spectacular North Shore of Oahu you are surrounded by the Kualoa Mountains (Kualoa Ranch/Jurassic World) and your front yard is a sandy crescent beach (swimmable, sandy bottom) protected by barrier reefs, and turquoise water-great for swimming and watching our sea turtle and seal friends!!

Our comfortably furnished living room opens to the oceanfront patio with spectacular views! A small country kitchen and dining room have an ocean view and we have seen seals and turtles swam by right outside the dining room window. When you are not enjoying the beach (we have life jackets, swimming fins, children's sandbox toys, boogie boards, floaties, freesbee, etc.) there is cable TV (on a 60 in. TV), Netflix, Hawaiian-themed Hollywood blockbuster movies on DVDs, music CDs, books, some toddler toys, puzzle pieces, and board games for your family's enjoyment. How about turning off the TV to gaze at the stars with the little ones (telescope provided). Check the moon phase calendar as you may even be able to catch a full moon rise over the Pacific Ocean (you would never forget the view)!

Bring your fishing rods or spears. You may fish right out front (please obey size and species restrictions) and grill it for dinner on the patio under the stars!

Yoga mats are also available.

When it rains in the afternoon be sure to look out from the deck for 180 degrees of a giant rainbow arch, sometimes even double arches. Let the ocean surprise you during your stay with: driftwoods, drifting coconuts, sea turtles, moon light shooting through the clouds onto the distant ocean, and more! Fall asleep every night to the sound of the soothing waves. Run down a few steps from the patio and jump into the warm ocean waves whenever you want (no life guards, no tourists). Every angle and every view is Instagram-worthy! (Best colors at noon.)

The master bedroom has a private full bath and an oceanfront French door that opens to the ocean that will make you want to stay in bed forever!! Master bedroom has a newly renovated bathroom with a shower with a peekaboo view of the ocean.

The small second bedroom has a queen size bed and a cozy half bathroom.

The open space-design elevated loft area adjacent the living room has two twin size beds, a comfy lounge chair, and a desk with a printer. Fabulous ocean view from this loft space.

There is an inflatable queen size air mattress (about knee-high) that can be deployed in the living room for extra people. In total it sleeps 8, but 7th and 8th person would be on the air mattress.

The full bathroom in the hallway and the master bathroom are newly renovated each with a huge walk-in shower and a soothing rain-shower head.

Mature plantation provides privacy from adjacent neighbors.

Across the street: small convenience store for beer, wine, liquor, cigarettes, charcoal, etc. 5-min drive north: Grocery store, pharmacy, Fish Taco, ice cream, 7-11, cold coconut stand, tiki woodcarving stand, and gift shops. 10-min drive: Famous Giovanni garlic shrimp truck in a field with 10+ other food trucks. 15-min drive north: fine dining, golf, spa at the Turtle Bay resort. 17-min drive north: Sunset beach, Banzai Pipeline, world famous surfing competitions (The Vans Triple Crown of Surfing, HIC Pro Sunset Beach, Vans World Cup of Surfing, Billabong Pipe Masters, Volcom Pipe Pro, Da Hui Backdoor Shootout & Da Hui Pipeline Warriors, Sunset Open & Sunset Pro Junior).

This is the ultimate Hawaii experience for the family!!

** Air conditioning in all bedrooms and the living room (except the kitchen and bathrooms). In addition, ceiling fans are available in every room and living space.

Property manager

Tony Chailoh

Languages

English
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Amenities

Kitchen
Washer
Dryer
Free WiFi
Air conditioning
Outdoor space

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House Rules

Check in after 3:00 PM
Minimum age to rent: 21
Check out before 11:00 AM
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Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17
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Events

No events allowed
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Pets

No pets allowed
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Smoking

Smoking is not permitted
Smoking allowed on the patio, outdoors.

Important information

You need to know

This property is managed by a private host (a party not acting within their trade, business or profession). EU consumer law, including the right of withdrawal, will not apply to your booking. The cancellation policy set by the private host will cover your booking.
Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
On-site parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Host has indicated that there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property
Host has indicated that there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher, a first aid kit and a deadlock
Property Registration Number TA-063-051-2128-01, 000054009028, GE-063-051-2128-01

We should mention

A car is required for transport to and from this property

About the area

Hauula

Located in Hauula, this holiday home is in a rural area and on the beach. Travellers eager for a bit of culture can stop by Polynesian Cultural Center, while those wishing to experience the area's natural beauty can explore Turtle Bay Beach and Sunset Beach. Kualoa Ranch and Senator Fong's Plantation & Gardens are also worth visiting. Kayaking and scuba diving offer great chances to get out on the surrounding water, or you can seek out an adventure with hiking and mountain biking nearby.
Map
Hauula, HI

What's nearby

  • Hauʻula Beach Park - 7 min walk - 0.6 km
  • Hauula Beaches - 18 min walk - 1.5 km
  • Kaluanui Beach - 2 min drive - 1.8 km
  • Kokololio Beach Park - 2 min drive - 2.0 km
  • Polynesian Cultural Center - 4 min drive - 4.3 km

Getting around

  • Hālaulani / Leeward Community College Station - 58 min drive
  • Honolulu, HI (HNL-Daniel K. Inouye Intl.) - 54 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Polynesian Cultural Center - ‬6 min drive
  • ‪Hukilau Marketplace - ‬5 min drive
  • ‪Giovanni's Shrimp Truck - ‬12 min drive
  • ‪Ha Breath of Life - ‬6 min drive
  • ‪McDonald's - ‬6 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is "The Happy Seal" Oceanfront House, watch seals sunbath from our deck while BBQ pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

What time is check-in at "The Happy Seal" Oceanfront House, watch seals sunbath from our deck while BBQ?

Check-in begins at 3:00 PM.

What time is check-out at "The Happy Seal" Oceanfront House, watch seals sunbath from our deck while BBQ?

Checkout is at 11:00 AM.

Where is "The Happy Seal" Oceanfront House, watch seals sunbath from our deck while BBQ located?

Nestled on the beach, this Hauula holiday home is within 1 mi (2 km) of Hauʻula Beach Park, Hauula Beaches and Kaluanui Beach. Kokololio Beach Park and Hau'ula Forest Reserve are also within 1 mile (2 km).

Reviews

10

Exceptional

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
Learn moreOpens in a new window
Rating 10 - Excellent. 91 out of 93 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 1 out of 93 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 0 out of 93 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 93 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 1 out of 93 reviews

9.8/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Check-in

10/10

Communication

9.8/10

Location

9.8/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Marcel Z.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great location, very nice house

We can just second everything said before - great house, great location, nice interaction with house owner.
Stayed 6 nights in Aug 2023

10/10 Excellent

Angela S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Beautiful relaxing home

Firstly I must thank Chailoh for being so lovely and considerate during our stay, nothing was too much trouble for her from start to finish, she patiently answered all my queries! Now the house, it is a little tired in a couple of places BUT it had everything we needed, very well equipped, beautifully clean and we all feel in love with the house and its location, we all found it very relaxing, it felt like a real home and we didnt want to leave. Sitting on the verandah eating our meals was a real pleasure .Unfortunately we didnt see the seal, but we saw turtles and found all the little crabs very entertaining. We cant wait to stay again, thank you Chailoh for making our trip so amazing ,you have a lovely home.
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2022

10/10 Excellent

Melissa B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Hauula

Excellent home with great ocean views. Second time here, will be back!!
Stayed 8 nights in Jun 2019

10/10 Excellent

Claiborne C.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great stay!

The house is nicely remote yet very near the Polynesian center and many beach areas. Everything was clean and nicely decorated. The host was a pleasure to work with.
Stayed 7 nights in Mar 2025

10/10 Excellent

Bracken F.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Perfect

If you want to stay on this side of the island, on the beach, and it fits your party size, don’t hesitate, this place is great. Sadie the seal visited 3x during our stay. Comfortable accommodations. Excellent communication with the property manager.
Stayed 5 nights in Feb 2025

10/10 Excellent

Catheryn L.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Amazing experience

We had a fabulous stay! We were visited by seals on our first day and went for dips in the beautiful ocean every evening upon returning from our adventures. The sound of the waves is amazing and this is a fabulous location to experience local Hawaii! Air conditioning works great and the host was amazing. Super kind and responsive. Would stay again 100%
Stayed 5 nights in Feb 2025

10/10 Excellent

Ruth A.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Wonderful time on the North Shore!

Perfect location to see the sunrise every morning and watch the waves roll in while enjoying a cup of coffee. Our favorite beach of the week was a suggestion of the owners just a few minutes down the road. We had everything we needed for a great stay and saw two different seals from the back deck. Quick drive to visit our snorkel spots on the north shore and my kids enjoyed swimming right off the back deck.Mahalo for such a great time!
Stayed 4 nights in Mar 2025

10/10 Excellent

Chelsea F.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Seal house

Our stay in Seal house was fantastic. We had 3 adults and 3 kids. There was plenty of room and the house had everything we needed. I really appreciated all of the beach towels, chairs, cooler, umbrella and sand toys. The house was clean and beds were comfortable. Getting in and out is a little hard but the location on the beach more than makes up for it.
Stayed 6 nights in Feb 2025

10/10 Excellent

brad m.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Heaven on the beachfront

Our stay was perfect..couldnt have asked for more..The house was on the beach..The Monk Seal was on the beach.We were on the Beach..Except for 1 big storm Our hosts could not have been friendlier.The house was beautifly appointed...All was Heaven
Stayed 13 nights in Jan 2025

10/10 Excellent

Julie E.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Stayed 8 nights in Dec 2024

10/10 Excellent

Angela D.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great place!

The view is great! The owner was great to work with! The house is very comfortable and fits all your needs! Everything was as described in description!
Stayed 8 nights in Jan 2025

10/10 Excellent

Karla M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Special Little Happy Seal House!

It was SUCH a treat to stay in this amazing beach home. "Sadie" the monk seal came to see us almost every day. The true gem of this home is the location on the beach. What a perfect little "backyard"! House had everything we could have wanted. Our family of four got to spread out and all slept comfortably in our own little areas. Convenient sundries store across the street to pick up ice, beer, etc. Amazing time at this amazing house. Thank you Tony for everything and for sharing your home with us!
Stayed 6 nights in Dec 2024

10/10 Excellent

Trish B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Excellent location and attentive host

We stayed for a week, and hiked, swam, and generally enjoyed our place that was 10 feet from the ocean.
Stayed 7 nights in Dec 2024

10/10 Excellent

Raffi M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

How to vacation in HI

Great place, you're literally off the water. So close, in the mornings the water came up to the back deck. Nice and quiet and easy access to the different parts of the island without the insanity of Honolulu. Tony was a great host and was always available to help. Couldn't ask for more.
Stayed 6 nights in Nov 2024

10/10 Excellent

Kortni L.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

The best location!

We enjoyed staying here so much. It was the best location. Not too far from the Northshore. We had a wedding at Kualoa Ranch and it was only about 15 mins away. It was so peaceful. We spent a day in Waikiki and were so happy to come back to the calmness around this house. I wish we had more time! The beach being in the backyard was perfect! The host, Tony, was so great with communication!!! We can’t wait to come back! 💗
Stayed 4 nights in Oct 2024

10/10 Excellent

nichole h.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Amazing Family Home

My husband, our 10 year old girls, 3 year old son, grandma and I all stayed here. It was A DREAM. The house is so well equipped with EVERYTHING you need to enjoy the beach with a family. They have chairs, a wagon, beach umbrella, snorkel gear, ample beach towels, well stocked kitchen, the list goes on. The owner was INCREDIBLE to work with. Very prompt answer to all Of my questions, very kind and generous. This was our first time in Hawaii and the location was an absolute dream. We swan in the ocean every morning right off our deck. There’s not a doubt we WILL be back.
Stayed 6 nights in Oct 2024

10/10 Excellent

Randel M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great house

Very clean and comfortable, love the view of the ocean. Great location and communication.
Stayed 5 nights in Sep 2024

10/10 Excellent

Zach B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Paradise

This house was amazing! Great location too! Private beach with a short drive to stores and restaurants. Right across from a small store with drinks and alcohol. We were lucky enough to see 2 seals during our week stay and plenty of turtles! The house was stocked well with everything we needed for the week. Awesome beach chairs and toys to make it even easier to hang at the house all day. Would highly recommend this stay for any family or friend trip. The pack and play worked amazing for our 2 year old and there was even a mattress pad for it. Tony was an amazing host who was very laid back and easy to communicate with.
Stayed 8 nights in Sep 2024

10/10 Excellent

Todd S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Amazing

Everything from location, property, upkeep and owner (Tony) was truly AMAZING. The property was well kept up and the pictures truly capture it. Being just step away from the beach ideal. Sadie, the seal, paid us a visit on two of out days which made it even more memorable. If you are looking to avoid the bustle of Honolulu, but yet be close to the terrific Oahu destinations this is the place to be. Tony is very easy to reach and helped us with some great recommendations. Next time we are on Oahu this will be were we stay again!!
Stayed 5 nights in Aug 2024

10/10 Excellent

Martin K.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Family from Europe enjoying Hawai

Overall house was the place where we gain an energy for short trips around Oahu, beach in front of the terrace was amazing. House was clean, kitchen well equipped, new wash machine and dryer did their job when we needed. parking place is for one car. Hope to go there again.
Stayed 5 nights in Aug 2024

10/10 Excellent

STEPHANIE L.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Stayed 6 nights in Jul 2024

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Paradise

Everything was just perfect! Very relaxing atmosphere. Pictures do not do this place justice. Bathrooms were spacious and the showers were huge! The shower outside was certainly a nice touch to take off the sand before walking to the deck. The monk seal showed up a few times and saw a couple of turtles while swimming. Caught a few Papios from the back deck! Parking is a bit challenging but the aloha is felt when drivers on highway stop to let you back up into the parking spot (making this a non-issue). This place has everything you need. Reponse to texts to Tony were instant; very good information provided when needed. Thank you so much for allowing to stay at your piece of paradise.
Stayed 11 nights in May 2024

10/10 Excellent

Linda G.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Very nice place!

We had a really nice time at this place!. It was a little smaller than I pictured it, but we all fit fine. There were 7 adults in our party. Three adults were able to fit nicely in the loft above the living area. I was concerned that we would wake up one of them that needed to rest more than the rest of us, but with the air conditioner running, it helped mute sounds so she still slept well enough. I have a bad back and usually have trouble with beds, but the bed in the master bedroom was very comfortable. Whenever we had a question or concern, we were answered quickly. They kindly let us stay longer on the day we were supposed to check out so that was exceptionally nice. That day it did not rain so we were able to finally enjoy the nice deck and beach. The reason for the 4 stars for the description was because it was listed as having a hot tub. They don't know how that happened but I'm sure it's been fixed by now. But, the person looking forward to it still had a wonderful time without it. There is much to do and see nearby. Our favorite place to eat was Papa Ole's, only a couple minutes away. The taco place near it has a great pina colada slushie/smoothie! It was rainy the whole time we were there but we still had a wonderful time.
Stayed 7 nights in Mar 2024

10/10 Excellent

Sara S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Beach house vacation

We loved staying in the beach house! We saw the Hawaiian monk seal on the beach almost every single day, took walks down the beach, went boogie boarding, snorkeling… Tony had everything we needed from shampoo and conditioner, to snorkel stuff, stuff for cooking, and plenty of ice in the freezer! We loved it there!
Stayed 8 nights in Feb 2024

10/10 Excellent

Andrea M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

A great visit to Oahu

The house was very clean and orderly when we arrived. We had great communication with the hosts and they answered my questions in just a short time. It was fantastic to be out of the tourist areas and be able to enjoy ourselves. Highly recommend!
Stayed 7 nights in Nov 2023

About the host

Hosted by Tony Chailoh

Host profile image

Languages:

English