Ke Iki Beach Bungalows, Reviewed

Fees, parking, times and pet rules from the property’s FAQ, checked Sep 27, 2026. Cleaning fees are not published; check the booking screen.

Best for

• CouplesGreatBeachfront decks facing the sunset, free morning yoga and 10 p.m. quiet hours.
• FamiliesGoodFull kitchens, laundry and free parking, but no pool, cribs or lifeguard.
• FriendsGoodTwo-bedroom beachfront units sleep five or six, each with a grill.
• SoloSkipThe one studio rents by the month; the smallest nightly unit sleeps four.
• GroupsGreatWhole-property buyouts for weddings and reunions.

Herb and Helen Talbott laid out the property as a family home and beach cottages in 1952. Today it has 12 bungalows, from a studio to a three-bedroom, all with air conditioning, Wi-Fi and a Bali daybed or two on the deck. Four book by the night: Lilikoi, the largest beachfront unit (two bedrooms, sleeps six); Bird of Paradise and Hibiscus, two-bedroom beachfront units that sleep five; and Gardenia, a one-bedroom that sleeps four. The other eight, including the second-story Orchid over the beach and the garden-view units, are listed as 30-day rentals booked by phone. Square footage is not published.

Most of the North Shore is zoned residential, where the city allows stays under 30 days only with a grandfathered certificate. The city’s list shows four such certificates on this property, which matches the four units the site sells by the night. The rest rent by the month, with 10% off for kamaʻāina and military. For other options, see North Shore vacation rentals, and check any listing for a registration number before you book.

Every bungalow has a full kitchen with cookware and dishes, plus its own barbecue grill and outdoor dining area, and there is a guest laundry on site. There is no restaurant, bar or cafe. Foodland Pupukea is about half a mile away, and free beach cruiser bikes get you there.

There is no pool, spa or gym. Instead, guests get free yoga on the Monkey Pod Yoga Deck at 9 a.m. on weekdays and 9:30 on weekends, a red-light sauna and a cold plunge (a waiver is required).

Ke Iki Beach is public, and the bungalows open straight onto it. There is no lifeguard tower here; the nearest are at Rock Piles (tower 27) and Shark’s Cove (tower 28). In summer the water can be calm enough to swim and snorkel. From about late October to April, North Shore swells bring one of the heaviest shorebreaks on Oahu, and Civil Beat counted at least five drownings here in three years. Stay well back from the waterline, and check whether it is safe to swim today.

Shark’s Cove is about a 5-minute walk, and Waimea Bay about 15. The Banzai Pipeline is a 5-minute drive and Haleiwa town about 13. In winter, where to watch big waves on the North Shore covers the surf spots and road closures. For a full resort instead, the Ritz-Carlton at Turtle Bay is about 6 miles east, with four pools and restaurants but $48 a day to park. More in what to do on the North Shore.

• Ritz-Carlton O’ahu, Turtle Bay is the full resort on the North Shore: four pools, a kids’ pool with two slides, Nalu Spa, and surf lessons on site, with $48 parking.
• Ocean Villas at Turtle Bay suit families who want a kitchen and a pool: book a villa through the resort and the Ritz-Carlton’s pools and activities come with it.
• Paradise Bay Resort suits a solo traveler or couple who want a quiet studio with a kitchen on the windward side, with kayaks, paddleboards and snorkel gear in the resort fee. There is no beach.

• For a short trip, look at four units. Lilikoi, Bird of Paradise, Hibiscus and Gardenia book online by the night; the rest are monthly.
• Watch winter surf from well back. Swim in summer, and use guarded beaches at Shark’s Cove or Waimea Bay.
• Stock the kitchen at Foodland Pupukea. It is about half a mile away.
• Bring a travel crib. The FAQ says there are no cribs or rollaways; ask first.
• Book firmly. Half is due at booking, the rest 60 days out, and only Visa and Mastercard are accepted.
• Need a ride from the airport? The property arranges a $150 one-way transfer for the whole party.