Keola La’i Condominium

Aloha … the low rating reflects the poor maintenance of the 3 large fans/​turbines facing Kawaihao Street. These fans/​turbines project an ear aching high pitched sound ²⁴⁄₇ … similar to steel rubbing against steel! I reported this concern to the Association Board about 6 months ago with no progress toward addressing the situation. Auwe!

Very nice place to live.
Pro’s: We have 24 – 7 security guards who are very friendly and helpful. Pool and hot tub. Small gym. Nice grill and pattio area. Parking garage. Pets OK. Very secure building
Con’s: if you are a smoker this may not be the place for you. You are not allowed to smoke anywhere on site. There isn’t much storage space available in the units, I don’t have a linen or utility closet which makes it very inconvenient to store anything.

Great condo for busy people!
Pro:
–very nice staff and management
–great location. Easy walk to Ward/​movie and downtown for unless new restaurants
–the grounds are well-​maintained with lush greens and flowers
–multiple entrances for getting in and out of building from all 4 sides
–and if you are lucky, the ocean and sunset view is breathtaking!
Con–
–need one more elevator during rush hour:)

I’ve been living here for 18 months. The security staff is very helpful and will go out of their way to make sure to take care of residents.
The pool and BBQ area are easily accessible and well equipped with top-​of-​the-​line grills and even an ice maker.
The gym is good for an apartment. It has the basic necessities and is convenient for quick workouts.

*review as a guest to Keola Lai’s BBQ & Pool area only*
A couple friends live here and hosted their birthday party at the BBQ and pool area.
Guest parking is located up the ramp on Queen street, remember to look at your stall number because you will be checking in your car with security.
Up to the 4^th floor, BBQ area is covered with 2 vending machines, full refrigerator, sink, ice maker and 3 large industrial gas grills. You need a key to get to– and from the pool area to any other place in Keola Lai, so security is something they take seriously.
I believe residents reserve BBQ time slots with their manager or security.
Pool is 4ft at the deepest with multiple stair entry ways. With a slightly warmed feature, its a comfortable temperature any time of the day.
This recreation center also had a lovely jacuzzi that has a bubble feature, very nice for relaxing.
Make sure to shower before entering their spa amenity.
The only downside to this BBQ area? WINDY AS THE PALI!
I think its the way the other buildings are structured around Keola Lai, but there is no break in the wind factor when BBQing here.

The staff is friendly! The property is well kept.
We also love all the entrances… pretty much one on every side of the building.
The walls contain sound well… so you don’t hear much from the neighbors.
High speed internet built in to the unit is a plus. More or less 20+ Mbps downloads!
Nicely maintained gym and a heated pool.
Convenient for bus riders; there’s several stops all within walking distance.
The only thing is the noise from the new condo coming up at 801 South.

5 Stars: for amazing mid-​level staff and personnel
Mid-​level staff/​personnel: (5 STARS)
They are by far very accommodating and great staff! Always willing to help, fob up your guest (with the residents verification of the guest being fob up), if they see you in distress w groceries, bags etc always willing to give a helping hand, & utmost very attentive to your every needs.
I am so sadden that after living in this condo for the past 3 years, it breaks my heart that 4 of our staff got let go by xmas! This was absolutely heart breaking and what more concerns me our yearly xmas donations we contribute… I wonder who got 4 of the let go staff’s portion of donations, I hope it wasn’t the new hired staff. :/​
I’m pretty torn about about the situation. :/​
5 stars for the great upkeep and new signs posted around the building… I. e no smoking, signs for the businesses below & property markings. I like that entrance gates on Emily St., Queen St and South St got fixed in less than a week (I can’t believe it)!!! Pretty impressed so far…:)
2 stars for not understanding how we lost such great workers and re-​hired new ones? :/.

Staff friendly and helpful with mail and FOB. Location and view can’t be beat. Most of neighbors sociable. However, management of building needs much improvement very soon before it will look like a low income housing project. Resident Manager is too immobile to see the daily grime the building endures thus filth goes untouched for weeks, months, years. Even if he does see it on his way to his car it’s ignored until a resident complains. Apparently no direction to staff regarding maintaining high quality. A condominium will be as luxurious as its management (Hawaiiana) — in this case there is none. And yet each year a begging notice is posted in every elevator for employee Christmas donations. They would receive more if the place was cleaner. I don’t get it, what happens to all the recycling funds.

My girlfriend almost bought her first place here and asked for my advice. Thank god she did. I hope this helps anyone else thinking of living here.
Not sure if I would call this luxury living. Its better than some but not the best. Ive lived in condos most of my life but im at moana pacific atm and enjoy the large rec deck with walking paths and playground. This place has a nice pool and bbq area and workout room but I can’t ignore the poor management… which MP isnt too far behind, but being forced to leave my apartment to have the entire building termite treated was ridiculous. I ended up breaking my lease because the benefits (paid hotel stay) would only apply to the owner not the tenant. Plumbing issues are the usual reasons i would have a negative opinion and can be a big inconvenience but at least I can stay in my apartment.

We live here so I may be biased… but Keola Lai is the best! The security staff are nice and friendly and über helpful. The pool is great, large and almost never full. The gym is so convenient! Location wise, we can walk to ward, downtown, and china town! Kaka’ako is an up and coming neighborhood and Keola Lai is in the center of it! Whether it be new cafes, to the monthly eat the street, there are so many things popping up! I have friends who live in other luxury condos and none of them compare to this awesome building

i cant say anything bad about this place… is centered in the middle of town… which many people can say is a good thing or a bad thing… be your own judge… but plenty of guest parking for everyone… swimming pool… ceiling to floor windows… central air… great security and friendly staff… nothing bad that i can say about it…

Best thing about this place? Friendly staff! The security guards are always so nice, and they don’t scowl or anything when they let me in the door if I have to wait for someone to come down to get me (I forget my keys a lot).
Kind of pricey, but the rooms are totally awesome inside. Spacious enough for 4 people to live comfortably in. Lanai with a great view. Pool area with an awesome BBQ pad. Oh, and the gym! Amazing! I love that I could possibly cancel my 24 membership
When I move out with my boyfriend I’ll be sure to tell him Keola La’i is the place for us :)

As a pseudo-​resident of Keola La’i, I admit, for the price it’s decent luxury living. Better than Moana Pacific, more spacious than 909 Kapiolani, no foundation shifts like Ko’olani, and no plastic PVC sewage pipes like über expensive Hokua.
Located in Kakaako on Queen Street, you cannot miss the gray and tint covered windows. The apartments are decent; although I must admit the living rooms are so much smaller than older buildings, but the amenities make up for it. Keola La’i offers round the clock security, a notary public, gym, pool, jacuzzi, and a pretty snazzy bbq area with three grills for those hardcore men or women who love to grill.
I realized once trying to visit my friend on the 22^nd floor, my cardkey would not let me select it; it only worked on my floor, the 19^th. The cardkey only works on the lobby, fourth floor (rec center/​pool/​bbq area), and your floor. I suppose it’s good that security limits your access, but it sucks that my friends need to pick me up in the building.
All in all, if you’re in the market for a place to live and have looked at the aforementioned buildings, I’d suggest Keola La’i.