Ohana Student Housing

If you have other housing options I highly advise you to avoid this place. My friends told me not to move into the Ohana dorm, but I ignored their advice and lived there from May-​August. I completely regret that decision. The 2 person rooms are far too small to comfortably fit 2 people. The staff is not stable because the management constantly hired and fired RA’s. The wifi is terrible. When you bring friends over they have to turn in their ID’s to the front desk. They constantly charge BS fees. And the worst part is that these scumbags didn’t even give me my deposit back!!!
AVOID THIS PLACE AT ALL COST

By far one of the worst places I’ve seen. They changed the name from ohia to Ohana so no one would find the bad reviews.
Wifi is bad, facilities are bad, rules are bad, and they don’t even give back your deposit.
Don’t ice here

I lived here during my junior year in college (2011 – 2012) and frankly I do not miss it.
It’s in the heart of Waikiki, so if you’re a night owl and don’t mind a bit of city noise ranging from cars/​buses to club goers and drunkards in dark alleys, i guess it’s ok. But come time for major exams such as midterms and finals — good luck.
First off — the finances. I didn’t understand why they had a monthly pay thing going on. But I heard that admin thought it was easier on students to divide their total payments like that. ~$ 700/​MONTH?! Seriously?! I feel like I overpaid my whole stay. It didn’t help when i saw that they were also renovating their whole bottom floor including the BBQ/​pool area in the back. What about the hallways?! What about the rooms? If you really think work needs to be done to a place, I get why they would start at the bottom — BUT THEY WENT ALL OUT. Well, there goes my money.
I think that was the biggest issue with me.
There’s a community laundromat that’s outside in the back. The only thing keeping it secure is that each resident is given a key to open the secured door going into the room, and a bar-​gate-​thingie (ha, I don’t know any other name for it) keeping out cars/​mopeds/​etc without a pin. I remember someone told me that there was a homeless guy once that was caught sleeping in the laundry room.
The rooms are way smaller than comfort. Many include three beds even though the size clearly calls for the two. The kitchenette then only looks like it could be used for two people over a weekend let alone a full academic year.
There are many students there that are all from different schools not only around the island but also around the world. And I will admit that the staff provides different activities to help facilitate a community environment.
There were some nights and weekends where I didn’t feel safe because of who was on call that night — or lack thereof. In the day, there was always at least two people at the desk. At night though, there was only one and then a security guard. Being in Waikiki, I imagined that they should have had more of a precaution like two people at the desk and a guard? Idk, maybe that’s just me.
The only reason why I’m giving this place more stars than they deserve is because of Tolo, Will (who sadly doesn’t work there anymore), Andrew, and the uncles in maintenance. Without them, I think I would have gone crazy in there.

I thought I’d leave a review about the Waikiki Paradise location since there isn’t a lot of information about this building.
The Paradise is on Prince Edward — right around the corner from the Ohia. It’s a small building of 11 or so studio apartments, but it’s run by OSH. I picked this place because they are known to be legit and I wanted something that was move-​in ready. I moved from Maryland to Hawaii and didn’t want to bother searching for a place.
The WP is in a great location for beach babies. Only 1.5 blocks away. However, if you’re a light sleeper, please beware that Prince Edward St. can get LOUD at around 7am in the morning and go until about 9 or 10am. There are always dump trucks and other huge vehicles doing whatever they do for a few hours in the morning. You will hear it all! Men yelling, the backing up beeping sound, stuff being thrown into the trucks, etc. Then it quiets down. I work and go to school at night, so it’s not pleasant for me to get home at midnight after a long day and then be woken up by the rumbling of trucks and yelling men at 7am. Earplugs, Unisom, and a loud air-​conditioner do little to stop the noise. It might be better in the units that are a little father away from the street, but I don’t know. If you decide to stay here and are a light sleeper, ask for a unit that’s NOT on the Prince Edward Street side just to be sure. The other side overlooks a small parking lot.
As far as the actual rooms go, mine has a huge dust problem. So much so that I tell people to leave their shoes/​slippers ON because they will walk away with blackfeet. Seriously. BLACK! No matter what I do, I can’t keep the place dust-​free. I need to buy stock in Swiffer. Also, the doors, drawers, and cabinets are shoddy. They don’t slide smoothly, get stuck often, and sometimes don’t close at all. The windows are ugly, collect dust, let the warm air in, and the cold air out. It’s clear OSH were as cheap as possible to increase profit. They really need to redo the rooms. I’ve seen a lot nicer for much cheaper.
It’s sad because the people who run the desk and answer the phones have always been really responsive and nice to me. I wish the units reflected the quality of staff that they hired. Honestly, if I did it another time around, I’d just look for another place somewhere in Waikiki. After my time is up here, I will not be coming back. The rates are good, but not low enough to make them really competitive, especially when you factor in the so-​so quality of the unit.

Since there aren’t many reviews for this place, I doubt many people will look here. However, if you do, do not live here.
If it’s the final straw with no place to live, I guess you have no choice, but do not live here. The rooms are quaint, the bathroom has mold and the wallpaper is falling apart, the fridge is too small for more than one person, and sometimes still small for one person. The internet is too slow to do homework, so have fun paying for internet from TWC. There is basic cable, but no tv. Waikiki is a cool place to live, but to eat around there is super expensive. Most of the staff is super cool, there are some that have some personal issues. Not to mention you might have a roommate that doesn’t even fit the description you want for a roommate.
From the other reviews, even after 2 – 3 years, they refuse to renovate the place, which means they’re money hungry. To even add to that, make sure you choose the right contract, if you don’t know, just do academic year. If not, they’ll change the rules on you and con you out of more money than just a cancellation fee. It’s what happen to me.
If possible, I’d give this place a 0/​5, maybe a .5 for the few staff that I made friends with.

If i had a time machine I would stop myself from ever paying a dime to this place. They get one star because I met a lot of awesome people and their RA’s are nice but thats about it.
To begin, a 2 person room costs «850» a month, if you actually add the tax and «fees» it comes up to 930 a month, per person. It’s smaller than most studios in Waikiki and it costs 1860 for both of you. At that price you can rent a 2 bedroom of the same quality or a really nice 1 bedroom apartment. This is a bought out hotel so your room is actually a hotel room that you’re supposed to fit your life in and share it with someone else. The bathroom is extremely tiny and the kitchen is a joke. P. s. your room will look nothing like whats on the website, thats the model room located on the 1^st floor and the prettiest room in the whole building. The wallpaper and carpets have mildew, the AC vents have a pelt of dust and most of your storage doors will be broken or will break.
To add to the cost, its super far from any campus so you’ll have to pay for transportation. The bus is convenient but a lot of times I find myself hitting my head on the back of the bus because of incompetent tourists holding up the bus, or the fact that the bus is packed to capacity but we still try to shove people in. I go to HPU and it takes from 30 – 50 minutes to get to class.
However if you want to get to class in 10 minutes, you’ll need a car or a moped and guess who doesn’t have free parking? The Ohana! Thats another hundred to two hundred bucks to your monthly bill.
They pride themselves on being the «only fully student housing option» but they use student pretty loosely. I expected no one over the age of 28 but there are a few 35 – 50 year olds in there and not that I have an issue with that but some of my friends were creeped out when some 50 year old man started checking them out in the laundry room. Also hawaii student suites (different company) has bigger rooms, 100% student (young students) and doesn’t have a b.s. no alcohol policy.
Finally what makes this review one star is the fact that I deposited 650, but only got 140 back. Why? because 450 is for the background check, credit check and fees that they provide before you move in (because a background and credit check totally costs 400 bucks…) and then I got fee’d $ 25 for a mattress topper that I never even got and 30 bucks for my fridge not being defrosted even though I never got to even use my fridge due to my roommates costco sized food. Also if I’m getting fee’d 30 dollars for not defrosting my fridge, then my roommate should have gotten fee’d as well and if thats true then it would cost 60 bucks because we didn’t defrost our mini fridge… I’m pretty sure you could buy a mini fridge for that price.
Pretty much everybody in that building couldn’t wait to get out. It was better before I lived there, or so I’ve been told. It was great to be able to meet people because I flew to Hawaii by myself and I’ve never been before, but this company takes advantage of people like me by over exaggerating the positives and hiding the negatives.

It seems that everyone around me nowadays absolutely HATES the Ohia. And on here it hasn’t been given above a ONE star.
Well for one, I had the scholarship which a local can get a lower price. IF it had been $ 700/​month there’s no way I would’ve done it, but since I got the lower price it was definitely worth it. However for a person living out of state, they should understand it’s not that bad of a deal because although you have a roommate, you don’t have to worry about their portion of the rent. Also, that’s $ 700 a month that ALSO includes bills. Which, believe me is A REALLY good thing. Not only that, you’re also paying for the LOCATION of where it’s at. And it’s better to start out at a place where you can meet people your age. Starting out in a random apartment (although much nicer) is still expensive and filled with an older crowd that might not have the same umm… interests.
Also, you pay for the college living… the connections to where the «party’s at,» dorm parties etc…
I’m sure it would be much different if you would be living someplace else.
Please take in mind that this review is based on me living at the Ohia in 2008. I have heard it has gotten much more strict, dirtier and worse.
My two-​person living experience.
The room is small so there was pretty much NO privacy,
However, the good thing about this place is that it has a balcony so you can at LEAST talk to someone outside. At some of the dorms at UH, you have to COMPLETELY get out of your room to be able to talk to someone. SO that’s a good thing.
My three person living experience.
Loved it
Beautiful scenery, across zanzabar
Great to party! Really fun and a little more spacious
You must be a people person to love the three instead of the two
Much harder to study
BENEFITS:
–Not that many dorms have a kitchen, and it’s perfect size for a college student (small but do-​able).
–Most rooms have BEAUTIFUL waikiki scenery
–In the heart of Waikiki, across from Waikiki Trade Center and near the «most happening» nightclubs-​zbar, playbar, etc
–Right in Waikiki (close to the beach, buses, ala wai for running, etc)
–Some form of security (since there’s weirdos in Waiks, you’re gonna need it even if most people complain that it’s a hassle)
–Your mail is downstairs and easy to get
–You can go to the top floor (public access) for an amazing view
–Although you have to pay monthly, there’s enough parking available
–Cute little lobby downstairs with TV and lounge area, pool, etc
–Easy come and go (never has a place been so easy to just come and go. About 10 steps out the elevator and you’re OUT the door)
NON-​BENEFITS:
–Since the beginning of time, I’ve heard the pool is dirty, people throw condoms and such. Which is why I’ve never ONCE even been in it. =(
–People complain about it ALL the time, lowering the value of the place.
–The place is kind of dirty and old. (However they should seriously see the apartments at UH)
–The place SHOULD allow alcohol although it doesn’t =(
–Place is expensive for dorms.
–They should have study rooms!

oh my gosh, i really hate the ohia. my friends have lived here, but they have all moved out. thank god. the facilities are ridiculous… and not in a good way. the rooms are small, and it’s pretty expensive considering the size of the room. the «kitchen» is basically just a stove, sink, and fridge. my friend’s fridge didn’t even work, and they never sent someone to fix it. my cousin stayed here, and her stove almost blew her eyebrows off. there are roaches all over the hallway. i remembering going down in the elevator, and a roach fell on my head. game over.

An okay off-​campus dorm, but for almost $ 700 a month for a 3 person room, it should be much better. Some rooms stink, the painting is lead based, and some of the air conditioning doesn’t work. Each room has a kitchenette, but the stove is electric and the «fridge» is too small. It has basic cable, but you have to provide your own TV. No bookcases. The Internet they provide is slow. The only two things that are good are that it is in Waikiki and the staff is nice. The biggest problem is that the rent is too high for what it is. The building used to be a hotel, and you can clearly see that. If you just want a place to eat, sleep, and study; then this place is okay. Other than that, then look some place else.