The agent Steve Demesa disposed of the keys to my rental property without my permission and without even contacting me first Since then he and his broker have refused to pay or reimburse me now for the keys I had to make because of his conduct read more

Our stay at the Niihau 805 condo was amazing! Just steps from the beach, it was perfect for morning walks and stunning evening sunsets. The mix of modern comforts and artistic touches made it feel like the perfect getaway. We loved the spa-like bathroom, especially the rainfall showerhead. The beds were super comfortable, and the local artwork throughout the condo gave it a unique charm. The large windows filled the place with natural light and the lanai offered delightful partial ocean views. The kitchen had everything we needed to make us feel at home. Great restaurants and shopping were all within a very short walking distance. Although bus stops were conveniently located one street over, we loved having a parking space ONSITE for our trips to the other side of the island. Overall, it was a very enjoyable stay and the perfect beachside retreat in Honolulu. We left feeling refreshed and can't wait to come back! read more

Terese Hiram is super helpful and always eager to solve any problem I reach out to her with! I really appreciate the clear communication and assistance I get -I don't think there would be another individual so quick to assist. Quick with responses and on top of everything! Very thankful to be able to work with Terese. read more

Had an absolutely terrible experience with Joy. She was the one who showed the rental property to me. After being extremely difficult to work with to get a showing she "pre qualified" through email and saying in person "you know you have to make $xxxx per month to rent here". I re-arranged my work schedule to meet her showing time because she was not flexible with it whatsoever, so I arrived in my work uniform pretty dirty. Obviously I wouldn't be looking at a property if it was out of my budget. I asked simple questions multiple times through email to which I never received an answer. Even when mentioning I've viewed a unit in the building that she lives in she tried to talk down about that building stating that they're slow to fix problems (their pool is under maintenance) as to deter me from renting there as well, or at least that's how it felt. I asked about utilities included in the rental cost, she never got me the answer, only to tell me that she will be accepting another applicant for the rental unit that came after my showing. I've never felt more unwanted as a tenant in my life, only for her to hand me a paper flyer about rental discrimination and say " I have to give you one of these". Ironic as that's the most discriminated I've ever felt during a property showing. I've never written a bad review, I usually let these things go but the lack of professionalism and lack of communication was extremely disappointing, especially during an already stressful time of trying to find the right place to spend the next year+ of my life. I cant speak for the whole company but if you're considering going through this company avoid working with Joy. EDIT: after 11 days the initial listing is updated with a lower pricing and no contact from Joy letting me know that her signing fell through. I contact again asking why I wasn't notified only for her to reply stating "she is signing a lease for the unit and it's no longer available". I've NEVER dealt with someone so unprofessional in my many many years of renting properties. read more

Wish I could give a 0 star review. My husband & I toured a listing that we were super interested in. We met with Terese & we filled out the application, sent in all of our information including social security number, copies of IDs, proof of income, etc. then we never heard back! It's been almost two months & no follow up or update. We then saw the listing was taken off the market. Seems fishy to us & scared us to believe it's a scam. read more

Our Waikiki condo stay was incredible! Truly a Niihau Nirvana! Less than a block from the beach and surrounded by incredible restaurants and shopping. The blend of modern amenities and unique decor made it feel special. We enjoyed the luxurious bathroom, cozy beds, and partial ocean view from the lanai. The well-appointed kitchen was a plus. Having a designated parking space twenty feet from the elevator was fantastic! But if you'd rather use public transportation, not only is it extremely close, but there's transportation to almost anywhere on the island that you could want to go to! It was an ideal Beach Walk escape! read more

Great experience from beginning to end. Byron was very helpful. Beautiful views of Diamond Head and the ocean. We loved the fact that the room is right in front of the elevator. Room was clean and neat when we arrived. Had all the necessary items we needed to feel comfortable and definitely made use of the beach chairs and umbrella. Only less than 15 min walk to the International Marketplace and a short walk to the beach. Never had an issue with parking even though there's only 1 entrance. We definitely would book again next time around. read more

Captain Cook Real Estate - Balcony view - Vacation Rental Agents Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

We stayed at a vacation rental in the Niihau apartments (#805) and were totally blown away by the quality of the apartment (beautifully decorated and furnished), the service from Captain Cooks, and the location. it was convenient to the beaches, shopping, and restaurants...all within easy walking distance. As an added bonus, this rental came with a parking space at the Niihau complex (almost unheard of perk in the Waikiki area). read more

Very dissatisfied with Captain Cook. I went to Hawaii for month to relax. My thoughts were to work on the balcony with an ocean view. Waikiki Shores Condo was little over 10k for the month. The noise was horrible outdoor and indoor. There was jack hammering, street noise, and noisy upstairs neighbor. Without saying, it was not relaxing. Also, host was a hour late to check me in. I called and texted and he was MIA. Then he had the nerve to be sarcastic! Very unprofessional. When asked for 15% credit for stay, it was crickets. Then went thru Airbnb, and they said host denied because it was out of their control. Well it was definitely out of my control as well and since I paid high dollar, a credit should not be denied. If they know unit is noisy, pretty sure it's not the first time they got a complaint, then they need to be honest in the description to deter people who are looking for relaxation. I've reserved from Captain Cook before, but they have lost my business forever. read more

Five star paradise retreat for our family. Recently remodeled, clean, and comfortable...great location! Views of boats in the marina and sandy beaches on either side. Close to snorkeling, yacht clubs, and plenty of options for coffee, dining and grocery stores. My teens could walk to the mall easily for ramen and shopping. **Special thanks to Paul. He is an outstanding manager. When we needed help he answered his phone and kindly assisted us. Happiness! read more

Captain Cook Real Estate - Vacation Rental Agents Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

I was charged $300 for a cleaning fee that was not disclosed in the lease. I was also charged for damage to the exterior of the condo and for an item that was broken at the time I moved in. The realtor made no effort to fix the item, but then charged me for repairs. I absolutely would not rent from this agency again and would advise anyone thinking of doing so to have language about the cleaning fee added to the lease. The realtor, Steve de Mesa, made vaguely threatening comments when I voiced my concerns like "I should be glad it wasn't MUCH more." He was incredibly unprofessional. The man even had the wrong address printed on my lease. read more

Overall, the stay was extremely pleasant. The apartment was clean (they just cleaned carpets before our arrival) and had many things set aside to make the stay pleasant (plenty of towels, solid working washer/dryer with supplies, plenty of dishes and pans, etc.) We had some minor problems - cockroaches in several of the kitchen drawers and dishwasher (but they were kind enough to tell us about it up front), coffee machine had some issues, mattress in the sofa bed needing dire replacement, and some building problems which were not owner issues (the building shut off hot water at one point and had maintenance on our last day shutting water off at 9am). They were relatively receptive when we called with problems. I understand that the roaches are a common problem staying anywhere in the island, and at least they stayed in the drawers/ dishwasher and didn't get into our food -- the property owners left roach spray too which helped. Also the trash chute was a bit smelly -- our property #12B was located right next to it, but the smell didn't come inside the property which was key to making it not that big of a deal. They close the chute at 10pm which is nice to avoid any noise. The property was quiet and well maintained overall. Parking is a bit of an adventure -- the spots are really small and you have to be careful exiting the parking (use the mirrors!). They have guest spots on the first and second floor -- so if you have more than one car.. you can utilize them temporarily (no overnight though). Definitely convenient with the 123 store downstairs --- cheaper than ABC!! A decent pool which was small and we didn't visit but nice to know it was there. Overall we had a fine time - comfy stays for six adults. Would likely seek them out again in the future and may recommend. Definitely better than staying in an overpriced hotel and was comfortable enough to feel like home. read more

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Recently rented a condo at Four Paddle a few days ago. I had concerns and or questions about the condo. I received no reply from Steve or Paul. I don't know if this is the culture of the company but I find it unprofessional especially for a visitor in your beautiful island. Whether the concern is big or small, the customer should feel listened to. I emailed 2 other property management - I've been home for 5 days now and still no answer or acknowledgement of the email. Tsk tsk read more

I honestly cannot say enough about how much I LOVE this company. I started with them as property managers when we moved out of our condo. This year we decided to sell, and Terese Hiram handled the sale of our unit. She did a fabulous job. She is extremely competent and professional while at the same time kind and funny. Our unit was sold easily, she made the whole process painless, and always answered my numerous questions kindly. For any real estate needs on Oahu I would strongly encourage you to trust Terese. read more

We enjoyed our stay here and will definitely come again. Byron was awesome and we enjoyed his conversation while he gave a tour of the building. We appreciated Byron ensuring that the room our son would be sleeping in had the twin beds converted into a king bed. He loved it! The view of Waikiki Beach from our lanai was great! The kitchen was equipped with every appliance needed for family time when we decided to cook and stay in. Everything was in good working order. The bathrooms were both clean and equipped for our stay. The washer/dryer was a nice touch too. We utilized the pool/jacuzzi area and gym. There is a bbq area you can utilize but you must reserve it with bldg management. Next door to our condo was Eggs n Things and Kai Coffee which were a plus! WiFi worked well and a ton of cable channels satisfied all of us. The parking space was included and our car rental appreciated that. lol Our condo was also furnished with beach equipment which we gladly tested out! In closing this was one of our best trips and Captain Cook Real Estate made it happen. Thanks Wendy and Byron! read more

We have stayed at Ilikai Marina many times, but this is the first time in unit #1184 and renting through Captain Cook Resorts. It did not disappoint. The unit itself was well stocked, clean and comfortable with all the comforts of home and then some. The view of the marina and the fireworks nearby were wonderful. Any questions that we had were answered quickly by the agent on duty and everyone was so polite and helpful. We will definitely rent from Captain Cook again and hope that we can get this unit again too! read more

This was a great spot in unit 1480. An unobstructed view of the marina and the ocean beyond it. We watched fireworks, surfing, parasailing and much more from this corner unit and Polynesian styled condo. I found renting with Captain Cook resorts was seamless and professional. The unit is professionally cleaned and there are many activities and restaurants nearby. Parking is expensive at $28 per night at the garage connected to the condo. Kitchen is modestly equipped but you'll need to provide your own spices. The king bed is firm. I will rent here again! read more

Recently I couldn't get into my apartment and had to pay for a locksmith out of pocket, it was due to a lock malfunction. Terese Hiram from Captain Cook has always been helpful and gracious with her time. I contacted her and she immediately responded to me which resulted in me getting reimbursed for my troubles. I really appreciate Ms. Hiram and Captain Cook Real Estate, glad to be renting through a legitimate business. Thank you for your professionalism. read more

We are repeat customers that have enjoyed your services in the past. However, this last time will be our last. I was appalled of the lack of professionalism of your property manager, Paul Tucker. He was waiting for us outside the hotel so I walked up to him and introduced myself and extended my hand out to shake his. He refused to shake my hand and suggested a fist pump instead and went on to ask if I had kudies. I looked at him in disbelief... what are we 8 years old?!?!? He then handed me the parking card and I questioned him, how do I know you don't have kudies? His reply was unbelievable, "I probably do, I checked in a lot of Chinese (I think he meant Asians) earlier" I understand we are all on high alert with this Coronavirus going around but if you cannot remain professional, you should not be in sales/customer service. read more

Been going through this company for about 3 years now. I have never had an issue with them. Always accommodating and shares the Aloha spirit. Terese is a gem and always has my back. I had an AC replaced in a day. I was shell shocked. She even helped me find the unit I live in now. I'm honored to write this review. read more

Terese Hiram was a wonderful landlord to work with. I would love to rent from her again and captain cook real estate. Terese did a wonderful job of maintaining a professional relationship between landlord and tenant while making me feel at home. Communication was great and easy. Thank you! read more

We are currently renting a place through Captain Cook Real Estate. Upon viewing the place, it was cute and felt the price was reasonable. We didn't move in for a little over a month and the landmarks Steve De Mesa said "that's perfect, gives us time to do the final repairs" Fast forward a little over a month later, we came in and mother had been repaired. He then told me "this is an 'as-is' rental agreement that you signed. So when he told me that they were gonna do repairs, it was just all talk. I signed the lease expecting the repairs to be done prior to me moving in but they weren't. Fast forward 4 months later and most of the repairs still aren't completed and some of them haven't even been started. Additionally he told me the place was cleaned and that a cleaning fee would be deducted from our deposit upon moving out. There's no way the place was professionally cleaned because A) there was food left in the fridge B) stuff left inside the medicine cabinets and C) dust and dirt everywhere. I'm already stuck with this place til the lease is over but I would NOT recommend dealing with these guys. They don't follow through and don't even seem to care. The garage motor stopped working about a month into us staying here and it still hasn't been fixed. Steve De Mesa is aware of the motor issue but still nothing. We were told (on the lease) that we would have full use of the garage area til the completion of the back portion of the house (making it into a duplex), but today the people said we were asked to move our car so they could park. I'm so pissed and can't wait til the completion of this lease. There's so much more I can say but I'm sure you get the gis ----Update: Steve De Mesa is a good guy, he just got into business with a homeowner who is not always very responsive or accommodating. Steve is the property manager and unfortunately, the home owner makes being accommodating very hard for all involved. Because he is just the property manager, he is a third party in this situation. The homeowner is primarily responsible for maintenance and other things involved. So Steve can only respond to us as the homeowner responds to him. Our terrible experience is not all of his fault. I just think moving forward, this company should really look into the homeowners they get into business with and have a strong agreement on the timeliness of responses to maintenance issues, ensure the homeowner is not operating solar without necessary permits, make it clear that if a house is being added on to make it a duplex that the electric, water and hot water heater will be shared, etc. Better and more communication and just not doing business with a homeowner who isn't very good at communicating/cooperating would make for a better experience. The garage door was eventually fixed and we received remotes to it but now the duplex is done and has tenants, their cars are so huge that we can't close the garage so we can no longer store anything of value there. Although Steve said I could break my lease early without forfeiting my security deposit, it's not that easy or cheap to just up and move in Hawaii especially when you have a child and work. As helpful as Steve tried to be, my experience has been horrible and I can't wait to be able to move. read more

I was a customer of Captain Cook Real Estate for a little over two years. My realtor was Sydney Ritchie. This review entails information reflecting my time at the Villas on 400 Hobron ln. Pro's Sydney was always quick to respond to my messages and I felt most of the time she gave her best effort to help. She was always nice to me whenever we communicated. Con's -The first day I moved in the carpets were still dirty from the last tenant. -I had a hole that leaked water in my bathroom ceiling for two-three months. Three different companies came in to try and fix the problem. It was a HUGE ordeal. -My AC went out several different times. We had different people come in and TRY to fix the problem, but I felt most were not giving their best effort and the companies she was calling to inspect these problems were low tier guys that were working out of their vans. -Almost all of the amenities in this apartment were from 1974 when the building was first built. So when my sink disposal went out and she had somebody come replace it I was shocked that she sent me the bill for $90. -The secretary at Captain Cook Real Estate lost my rent-check for 1,400. In which I had to wait three months to recover and pull out another 1,400 to cover that months rent. (Difficult for a college student) Also, supposedly this wasn't her first time losing a tenants rent check. -Lastly, out of my $1,400 deposit they ended up taking over $800 dollars for "cleaning fees" which I felt was unjust. I left the apartment in far better condition then when I received it. I left them numerous of items that Sydney okayed and wanted, such as a brand new dinner table, chairs, microwaves, dishes, pots, and pans. I am a little upset that these problems occurred, but I guess it's business. I feel like in some aspects she took advantage of me because I was young. I was never late on my rent. Sometimes I even paid early. I wanted to write this review so future tenants are cautious and aware of these situations. read more

My experience has been great - Sydney Ritchie was my property manager for three years with no issues. She was extremely accommodating and personable, easy to contact if an issue arose. read more

Steve was best property manager. If looking for a lease look no firther than him. You'll be in good hands. Worked with us, was patient, very timely in fixing certain things in homes and kept up with the maintenance punctually. read more

Here's a great stay in the Aloha state! Close to Waikiki with all the comforts of home! Everything walkable or island driveable with parking! read more

I'd forgotten to mention in my previous review that the condo I reviewed was #1944 at the Ilikai Hotel in Waikiki. Thought this was important to note for others who might be considering renting it. read more

Let's face it. Living in Hawaii is expensive... sometimes it's hard to make ends meet. Captain Cook has always tried to be flexible and as accommodating as possible. Moreover, though, they're always just a phone call away and very quick to respond whenever an appliance malfunctions or something in the unit needs repair. I've been really happy, and have rented here longer than at any other single location! read more

We just signed a new lease with captain cook for our new place. the place is great, the owner is really nice, we couldn't be happier. JOY is our agent and I must say the service she and captain cook have provided us has been a cut above the rest. Joy is the best ! she really worked with us to get us in our new place and went above and beyond to help us. Thanks JOY! and thanks Captain cook realty. 2 very happy customers here. read more

Very disappointing! Agent found excuses to not come and check, and then they charge you a lot from your deposit after you move out.

this is a top firm I have used them for years as manager of my properties. Sydney Richie has provided top tenants and helped me maintain my properties. read more

Renting an apartment sight unseen from the other side of the country can be daunting. I contacted Sydney through Zillow and she called back almost immediately. She sent over a ton of pictures of the apartment from every angle so there were no surprises when I arrived. We completed all the paperwork via email and fax. Sydney met me on arrival, handed me the keys, showed me to the unit and how to get in and out of the building. Couldn't have been smoother. read more

I have to tell ya, it has taken me a year to write this review because I get peeved every time I think about the horrible way we were treated AFTER we moved out of our condo rental. We moved to Honolulu for a one year assignment with my husbands work. We lived in an expensive, yet small, condo in Waikiki. We were NEVER late with our rent and the place was immaculate when we left. I asked for a walk through but the agent said she was unavailable but trusted us....should have listened to the judges on those shows and insisted upon it. When we moved in my husband did a VERY accurate account of what the problems with the unit were, from dirty slatted doors to the horrible paint job done. When we moved out, the agent tried to bill us for ALL the things that were wrong with it when we moved in. Knowing we were on the mainland, they tried to tell us that out of a $2400 we would only get back $600. The place was cleaner when we moved out than when we moved in. I had offered to paint the place in exchange for a discount on rent but NOOOOOOOO....that wasn't allowed. Let me just say I am an anal painter. We had to fight to get more of our deposit back but still did not get what was rightfully ours. I hope JOY feels happy about the way she treated us upon our departure. She knew she had us over a barrel because we were no longer there. Too bad for her because the reason we came over is the same reason a lot of other folks are coming over for different assignments. She has lost out on ALOT of commission and I do not feel sorry for that. I have before and after pictures of the property and there was NOTHING out of place, broken or dirty when we left. All I can say is if you are currently renting through JOY, insist upon walk through and insist upon the full return of your deposit. Normal wear and tear is not something a landlord can charge you for but Joy went above and beyond, trying to charge us for things that were already issues, and noted, before we moved in. read more

My Husband, son & I stayed in Waikiki skytower #2904 condo for 6 days. It was perfect for the 3 of us! We loved every moment! From meeting Byron (who was so helpful & awesome) for key pick up at the condo & tour of the unit to the breathtaking views from the unit. Everything went smoothly & easy. The unit is exactly how it is pictured & we loved it! The futon couch was comfortable to sleep on. (Would have liked a real couch to sit on more comfortably) The bed in the bedroom was super comfortable! Having a washer & dryer & kitchen is a huge plus! This is a well kept clean unit. The toilet is totally an upgrade & thought that was cool! You are a 5 minute walk to the beach, grocery, restaurants & many shops. It's an excellent location. We loved that it also included parking for our car rental. We loved this rental company and their employees & also our experience & will be returning soon! Thank you so much!! read more

Pros: EASY to deal with! Repairs done FAST! Landlord super nice! Cons: No online rent payment Definitely would rent from them again! read more

I rented a condo in the Waikiki area. I was treated very well by the owners and the realator and always got things taken care of in a timely manner. How ever my biggest probelm i had was when I moved out they kept almost half my security deposit. I left this place in much better condition then when I moved in. The shower was filthy from dirt grim and grout on the tile, the toilet was stained from hard water along the sink. I cleaned it all up and left it 100% better then when I moved in. The bedroom screen was filthy with black soot and could not be cleaned properly. Here is the kickers. They hired a exterminator to come in and charged $188 in witch the building is infected and had been the whole time I lived there, then they hired a cleaning crew to come in and clean the screen and 2 bugs off the counter and chared me $90 an hour. Now the worst part it was an over sight on my part but would have been more then happy to take care of. I forgot the floor fan had a remote and so I forgot to change the battery and they charged me $10 for labor. The moral of this review is be prepared to lose half your deposit when you move out read more

Do not deal with these people. Rented property from them, house fell apart, had cold water for weeks. They never returned calls and they were always late to do the jobs. It took multiple phone calls and messages, and a visit to the office to finally get in touch with someone. Awful customer service read more