Mokulē’ia Beach Houses at Owen’s Retreat

Mokulē’ia Beach Houses at Owen’s Retreat Overview

You know what? When I first pulled up to Mokulē’ia Beach Houses at Owen’s Retreat, I wasn’t quite sure what to expect – the North Shore doesn’t exactly scream “luxury resort,” and honestly, that’s exactly what makes this place work. These aren’t your typical hotel rooms; they’re actual beach houses scattered along one of O’ahu’s most untouched stretches of sand, where you’re more likely to see monk seals than tour buses. The whole setup feels like you’re staying at a friend’s family place rather than some corporate property, which I mean, after dealing with sterile hotel chains, was exactly what I needed.

What really gets me about this spot is how it sits right in that sweet spot between rustic and comfortable – the houses have that weathered beach charm you can’t fake, but the beds are actually decent and the kitchens work (trust me, I tested them). You’re basically in the middle of nowhere out here on the Mokulē’ia side, which sounds scary but is actually perfect if you want to escape the Waikīkī madness. The beach stretches for miles with hardly anyone on it, and on clear days you can see all the way to the mountains. I spent most mornings just walking the shoreline with my coffee, watching the locals surf breaks that don’t even have names. Fair warning though – this isn’t the place if you need room service or a concierge; you’re pretty much on your own, but there’s something liberating about that.

The whole area has this end-of-the-world vibe that grows on you fast. Sure, you’ll need to drive about twenty minutes to get to any real restaurants (though honestly, the little shrimp trucks and that farm stand near Hale’iwa make the trip worth it), and yeah, the Wi-Fi can be spotty when the trade winds pick up. But if you’re looking for that old Hawaii feeling – the kind where you fall asleep to actual waves instead of traffic – this is it. The rating of 8.2 feels about right; it’s not perfect in the conventional sense, but it nails what it’s trying to be. I actually found myself extending my stay because leaving felt like abandoning some secret I’d stumbled onto. Just pack some groceries and maybe download a few movies before you get here, because once you settle into island time at Owen’s Retreat, you might not want to venture back to civilization for a while.

Hawaii hotels range from charming beachfront bungalows in traditional Polynesian style to elegant oceanfront luxury resorts and modern accommodations with panoramic Pacific views.

Mokulē’ia Beach Houses at Owen’s Retreat Accommodations

Reviews of Mokulē’ia Beach Houses at Owen’s Retreat

• Adelaida from Lithuania (9/10)

  The location is amazing! It’s few steps away from the beach with jasmines blooming outside your kitchen window. The view is amazing 360 degrees as the other side of the property is facing the mountains.
  Staying here we really relaxed and felt the island chill vibe. Tike felt slower and we enjoyed every minute of it:)

• Sunhee from South Korea (7/10)

  The location was awesome, thought the owner said we cannot see the beach in the house(I booked beachfront two bedroom house), if I seat on the balcony or front door, or the livingroom, I could see the big wave out of the fence. It was awesome.

• Lorenz from United States (9/10)

  That the house was very clean and in a good status!

• Maureen from United States (8/10)

  The Location was what we expected .The bed was comfortable and the shower worked
  We did enjoy the turtles and Monk seals right off the beach

• Thomas from United States (8/10)

  The best part of this property were the location and how peaceful it was. It was far from the hustle and bustle of the city and the traffic.

• Tema from United States (8/10)

  Location on the beach was terrific. People very nice and responsive . However, perhaps we should have been informed that the property is adjacent to a landing field used by the military and others. As such, the first few nights were spent listening to helicopters fly in and out literally every so many minutes.

• Skytraveler from Hungary (8/10)

  Location, location and location. And before I forget, the location of the property is perfect.
  Literraly on the beautiful beach and very quiet.
  Ten min drive to a nice small town with many places to eat.

• Lucas from Switzerland (7/10)

  Great location, next to the beach!
  People on the property (Ruben and Bernadette) very nice and helpful.
  The house has a porch, very roomy house.

• Megumi from Switzerland (7/10)

  There is beautiful beach with many turtles close by and you can see sun rise and sun set and beautiful moon every day.
  There is a big kitchen with cooking utensils and fridge so if you like to cook yourself its good facility.

• Andrew from United Kingdom (8/10)

  Location! A millionaire location on the beach (White House) Sleeping to the sound of the sea. Turtles sunbathing in the break on the beach, sunset! Basically a private sandy beach. Close to shark diving and skydiving airfield.

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Facilities