Kuilima Cove Condo at Turtle Bay, North Shore Oʻahu
A ground-floor one-bedroom in Kuilima Estates West, beside The Ritz-Carlton Oʻahu, Turtle Bay (the former Turtle Bay Resort). Sleeps 4, AC in both rooms, in-unit laundry, a screened lanai looking across the open fairway of the former Fazio course, and a 10-minute walk to the sheltered beach the condo is named for. Registered short-term rental STR-2352.
Book on AirbnbRated 4.99 from 353 Airbnb reviews. Airbnb Guest Favorite, top 1% of homes.
- LayoutGround-floor 1 bedroom, 1 bath, 658 sq ft, five steps down to the door, no stairs inside
- Sleeps4: king bed and a queen Murphy cabinet bed
- ClimateSplit AC in the living room, window AC in the bedroom, ceiling fans
- BeachKuilima Cove and Kaihalulu Beach, about 10 minutes on foot
- ParkingOne free assigned space with gate pass, plus visitor parking; gated, 24/7 security
- SharedThree pools, charcoal BBQs, tennis and pickleball courts
- LegalHonolulu STR-2352, Hawaiʻi TA-164-934-4512-01
- Check-inContactless self check-in from 3 PM, checkout 10 AM
The condo
Bedroom
King Casper mattress, 100% cotton sheets, bamboo duvet, blackout curtains, ceiling fan, its own AC unit, closet and dresser.
Living room
Sectional sofa, smart TV with cable and Netflix, Bose soundbar, split AC, ceiling fan. A queen Murphy cabinet bed with a foam mattress unfolds from the cabinet under the TV for two more guests. It is a real mattress, not a sofa bed.
Kitchen
Full kitchen with bar seating for 4: refrigerator with filtered water, stove and oven, dishwasher, microwave, garbage disposal, Nutribullet blender, Keurig with complimentary pods and tea, French press and coffee grinder, rice cooker, electric kettle, toaster, baking sheet, wine glasses, pots and pans, oil, salt and pepper. An extra set of plates and BBQ utensils for cooking at the pool grills.
Bathroom and laundry
Walk-in shower with a rain head and a handheld wand; shampoo, conditioner, body wash and hair dryer provided. In-unit high-efficiency washer and dryer with detergent, iron and drying rack. Wi-Fi at 500 Mbps.
Lanai
Screened lanai with a dining table, looking across the fairway of the former Fazio course, which is maintained as open green space. The grass behind the lanai is open to walk on and gives kids room to run.
The building
658 square feet, completely renovated in 2021, then repainted throughout and refurnished in 2026. Both AC units are professionally flushed and cleaned on a regular schedule, in addition to routine cleaning.
Pools, courts, gear
Access codes for Kuilima Estates West's three pools, the charcoal BBQ areas (bring your own charcoal) and the tennis and pickleball courts; the nearest pool is under a minute from the door. Boogie boards, two snorkel sets, two beach chairs and an umbrella, beach towels, two adult and two kids' tennis rackets, four pickleball paddles, and a hose at the front garden for rinsing off sand.
Where it is
Kuilima Estates West is a gated condominium community at the entrance to Turtle Bay, at the northern tip of Oʻahu's North Shore in Kahuku. Kuilima Estates is next to, and not part of, The Ritz-Carlton Oʻahu, Turtle Bay. The resort's restaurants, gym and fitness classes, spa, pools, golf, surf school and horseback riding are open to the public for a fee; pool and spa day passes are sold through ResortPass and prices vary by date (see turtlebayresort.com for current rates). Surfing, the coastal trails and the beaches are free and public, and the resort has free beach parking.
Surf and golf
The point in front of the resort has a mellow wave that suits first-timers and experienced surfers alike. The Jamie O'Brien Surf Experience at the resort offers lessons for all ages, paddleboarding and board rentals. Turtle Bay Golf's Arnold Palmer Course, a public championship course, starts at the clubhouse a 5-minute walk from the condo.
On foot
| Place | Time |
|---|---|
| Nearest pool and BBQ | Under 1 minute |
| Lei Lei's Bar & Grill and the Palmer Course clubhouse | 5 minutes |
| Kuilima Cove (sheltered swimming, snorkeling) | About 10 minutes, 0.5 mile |
| Kaihalulu Beach | About 10 minutes, 0.5 mile |
| Resort lobby, restaurants, spa | About 10 minutes |
| Coastal trail to Kahuku Point | Starts at the resort |
By car
| Place | Distance |
|---|---|
| Kuilima Farm Stand (open daily) | 3 minutes |
| Kahuku food trucks, Kahuku Superette | 6 minutes, 3.5 miles |
| Sunset Beach | 7 minutes, 3.9 miles |
| Ehukai Beach Park (Pipeline) | 9 minutes, 4.9 miles |
| Shark's Cove, Foodland Pūpūkea | 12 minutes, 6.3 miles |
| Polynesian Cultural Center, Lāʻie | 13 minutes, 6.7 miles |
| Waimea Bay, Waimea Valley | 15 minutes, 7.1 miles |
| Haleiwa town | 23 minutes, 11.7 miles |
| Honolulu airport (HNL) | 36 miles; about an hour in light traffic, up to 1.5 hours in heavy traffic |
Seasons
November to March is big-wave season at Sunset Beach (7 minutes), Pipeline (9) and Waimea Bay (15), while Kuilima Cove stays calm behind its reef. May to September brings flat, clear water along the whole coast for snorkeling and swimming.
Groceries and markets
Kuilima Farm Stand, across from Kawela Bay just before the resort, is open daily. Kahuku Superette is 6 minutes; Foodland in Pūpūkea and Foodland in Lāʻie about 12. Farmers markets: the North Shore Country Market, Wednesdays noon to 5 PM at Liliʻuokalani Church in Haleʻiwa town, and the Waialua Farmers Market, Saturdays 8:30 AM to 1 PM at the Waialua Sugar Mill. TheBus Route 60 stops at Kuilima Drive and West Kuilima Loop and at the resort. Bikes and mopeds rent by the day or the week and can be delivered to the condo's front door; a moped is the easy way to reach Sunset Beach, Pipeline and Waimea Bay, where parking fills early in winter.
Questions guests ask
Is it a legal short-term rental?
Yes. Kuilima Estates sits in the North Shore's resort zoning district, where stays under 30 nights are permitted under Honolulu's short-term rental ordinance. The condo is registered with the City and County of Honolulu Department of Planning and Permitting as STR-2352 and holds Hawaiʻi tax ID TA-164-934-4512-01.
How far is the beach?
Kuilima Cove and Kaihalulu Beach are each about a 10-minute walk (half a mile). Lei Lei's Bar & Grill on the golf course is a 5-minute walk. By car, Sunset Beach is 7 minutes, Pipeline 9, Shark's Cove 12 and Waimea Bay 15.
Can kids swim on the North Shore in winter?
At Kuilima Cove, usually yes. A reef protects the cove, so it stays calm for swimming and beginner snorkeling even during the winter big-wave season at Sunset, Pipeline and Waimea. Always check conditions and lifeguard advice on the day.
Does the condo have air conditioning?
Yes. The living room has a split AC unit and the bedroom has its own window unit, plus ceiling fans in both rooms.
Is there parking?
One free assigned parking space with a gate pass, plus visitor parking.
Are there stairs?
Five steps down from the parking area to the front door; no stairs inside. The condo is all on one level.
Can we use the Ritz-Carlton's facilities?
Yes, for a fee: restaurants, gym and fitness classes, spa, pools, golf, surf school and horseback riding are open to the public. Pool and spa day passes are sold through ResortPass and prices vary by date. Surfing, the coastal trails and the beaches are free, with free beach parking at the resort.
Can we surf or golf nearby?
The wave in front of the resort is mellow enough for first-timers; the Jamie O'Brien Surf Experience at the resort offers lessons, paddleboarding and board rentals. Turtle Bay Golf's public Arnold Palmer Course starts at the clubhouse a 5-minute walk away. Pipeline is 9 minutes by car and Sunset Beach 7 for winter surf watching.
How many people can stay?
Up to four: two in the king bed and two in the queen Murphy cabinet bed, which has a real foam mattress.
Do I need a car?
A car is the practical way to get around, and the condo has one free assigned parking space plus visitor parking. Without one, TheBus Route 60 stops at the complex and the resort, and bikes and mopeds can be rented by the day or the week and delivered to the front door.
Check-in and checkout?
Contactless self check-in with a smart lock from 3:00 PM; checkout by 10:00 AM.
Pets, smoking, quiet hours?
No pets, no smoking or vaping, no parties. Quiet hours 9 PM to 8 AM; residents live in the complex.
From Airbnb reviews
The apartment had everything we needed, was thoughtfully organized, and came with clear, easy-to-follow instructions.Priya, San Jose, October 2026
We felt very safe within the gated community and the condo was just like the photos and exactly what we needed.Clare, October 2026
It was a great base camp for checking out everything the North Shore has to offer. Comfortable and well stocked with everything we needed for days at the beach.Scott, Mesa, August 2026
4.99 average from 353 reviews. Cleanliness, accuracy, check-in, communication and location each rated 5.0.
Your hosts
We're Jamie and Erin, the owners. We've lived on Oʻahu for more than 25 years and in Pūpūkea, about 10 minutes from the condo. Jamie works as a marine scientist, so ask about the reef, the turtles, and where the water is calm that week. We answer messages within the hour and can point you to the right beach for the season, the food trucks worth the stop, and hikes that fit your group.
Why we bought it
We chose this unit for the North Shore, for the ground floor, and for the open grass behind the lanai, where our kids have room to run. We also chose it because it is a legal vacation rental. We are long-term residents of the North Shore, where unpermitted short-term rentals take long-term housing from the people who live and work here. Kuilima Estates is the one district on the North Shore zoned for short stays, so a stay with us supports this community instead of displacing it.