Sand Island State Recreation Area

Overall, the stay was alright. Could have been worse, could have been better. To start, here are the things we liked: - location was far from the most touristy places (i.e. Waikiki) - Quiet (for the most part) - free kayak usage, beach towels, etc. - friendly and helpful staff Here's why we would choose another place in the future: - $28 daily parking fee - Upon arrival, the bathroom smelled like urine. The front desk staff got it taken care of swiftly, fortunately. - The bathroom towels were dirty and clearly not washed with bleach. They had a bunch of different stains and discoloration from various substances. - Bed sheets were the same as the towels, with a stain that looked like old blood. Gross. - The shower never got "hot" and didn't feel satisfying after a long day hiking or at the beach. - The driveway to get to the lower portion is insanely steep and not paved in a way that offers much traction. Our rental started spinning the tires on our first (and last) ascent. We witnessed multiple others struggling too, whether in cars or trucks. - The kitchenette faucet would not retract all the way and if used as intended, would spray water everywhere. Paradise Bay "resort" is less a resort and more of an island motel, which isn't necessarily a bad thing, it's just not a resort like they'd have you believe. If the cleaning issues can be resolved, I wouldn't hesitate to recommend it, if for nothing other than the location and friendly staff.

A bit dated room but good location. Amenities are great and beach access was very close.