Kuilima Cove Condo A ground-floor one-bedroom at Turtle Bay, North Shore Oʻahu. Ten minutes on foot to the cove it's named for.
Our condo sits in Kuilima Estates West, a gated community at the entrance to Turtle Bay, beside The Ritz-Carlton Oʻahu, Turtle Bay (the former Turtle Bay Resort). The screened lanai looks across the open fairway of the former Fazio course.
Kuilima Cove, a reef-sheltered beach for swimming and snorkeling year-round, is a 10-minute walk. Sunset Beach is 7 minutes by car and Pipeline 9. It's a registered, legal short-term rental in the North Shore's only resort zone.
- Sleeps
- 4, in a king bed and a queen Murphy bed
- Space
- 1 bedroom, 1 bath, 658 sq ft
- Access
- Ground floor, five steps down to the door, no stairs inside
- Cooling
- Split AC in the living room, window AC in the bedroom, ceiling fans
- Laundry
- Washer and dryer in the unit
- Parking
- One free assigned space, plus visitor parking; gated, 24/7 security
- Check-in
- Contactless self check-in from 3 PM, checkout 10 AM
- Reviews
- 4.99 from more than 350 Airbnb reviews
- Registration
- Honolulu STR-2352, Hawaiʻi TA-164-934-4512-01
From your door, on foot
Kuilima Estates West is 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.
- 1 minNearest pool and BBQ
- 5 minLei Lei's Bar & Grill and the Palmer Course clubhouse
- 10 minKuilima CoveSheltered swimming and snorkeling, half a mile
- 10 minKaihalulu BeachQuieter, to the east
- 10 minResort lobby, restaurants and spa
- 10 minCoastal trail to Kahuku PointStarts at the resort
By car
- Kuilima Farm Stand, open daily3 min
- Kahuku food trucks and Kahuku Superette6 min
- Sunset Beach7 min
- Ehukai Beach Park (Pipeline)9 min
- Shark's Cove and Foodland Pūpūkea12 min
- Polynesian Cultural Center, Lāʻie13 min
- Waimea Bay and Waimea Valley15 min
- Haleʻiwa town23 min
- Kualoa Ranch35 min
- Honolulu airport (HNL), 36 miles1 to 1.5 hr
November to March
Big-wave season at Sunset Beach, Pipeline and Waimea Bay, 7 to 15 minutes away, while Kuilima Cove stays calm behind its reef.
May to September
Flat, clear water along the whole coast for snorkeling and swimming, including Shark's Cove and Waimea Bay.
The resort next door
The Ritz-Carlton'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; prices vary by date (see turtlebayresort.com). Surfing, the coastal trails and the beaches are free, with free beach parking at the resort.
Surf and golf
The point in front of the resort has a mellow wave for first-timers and experienced surfers. The Jamie O'Brien Surf Experience 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 away.
Groceries and markets
Kuilima Farm Stand, across from Kawela Bay, is open daily. Kahuku Superette is 6 minutes; Foodland in Pūpūkea and in Lāʻie about 12. The North Shore Country Market runs Wednesdays noon to 5 PM at Liliʻuokalani Church in Haleʻiwa, and the Waialua Farmers Market Saturdays 8:30 AM to 1 PM at the Waialua Sugar Mill.
Getting around
A car is the practical way to get around. 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 front door; a moped is the easy way to reach Sunset Beach, Pipeline and Waimea Bay, where parking fills early in winter.
Inside the condo
658 square feet, completely renovated in 2021, then repainted throughout and refurnished in 2026. Open a room for the details.
BedroomKing bed, own AC, blackout curtains
King Casper mattress, 100% cotton sheets, bamboo duvet, blackout curtains, ceiling fan, its own window AC unit, closet and dresser. Sheets and duvet covers are laundered for every guest.
Living roomSectional, smart TV, queen Murphy bed
Sectional sofa, smart TV with cable and Netflix, Bose soundbar, split AC and ceiling fan. For two more guests, a queen Murphy cabinet bed unfolds from the cabinet under the TV. It has a real foam mattress, not a sofa-bed mattress.
KitchenFull size, 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 laundryWalk-in shower, washer and dryer
Walk-in shower with a rain head and a handheld wand; shampoo, conditioner, body wash and hair dryer provided. High-efficiency washer and dryer in the unit, with detergent, an iron and a drying rack. Wi-Fi at 500 Mbps.
LanaiScreened, table for four, open green view
The screened lanai has a dining table and looks across the fairway of the former Fazio course, now maintained as open green space. The grass behind the lanai is open to walk on and gives kids room to run.
Pools, courts and beach gearThree pools, tennis, pickleball
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 in the front garden for rinsing off sand.
CleaningAC units professionally serviced
We disinfect high-touch surfaces before every stay and leave cleaning supplies for your use. Both AC units are professionally flushed and cleaned on a regular schedule, in addition to routine cleaning.
What guests say
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
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
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.
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). 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.
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.
Are there stairs?
Five steps down from the parking area to the front door; no stairs inside. The condo is all on one level.
Is there parking? Do I need a car?
One free assigned parking space with a gate pass, plus visitor parking. A car is the practical way to get around; 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.
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.
How far is Honolulu airport?
36 miles: about an hour in light traffic, up to an hour and a half in heavy traffic.
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 are 9 PM to 8 AM; residents live in the complex.
How long can we stay?
Any length, from a few nights to a month or more.