Vacation Rentals by Owner

perfect

Guest: Happy in Hawi (Berkeley Ca)
Date of Stay: 03/17/12 Review Submitted: 04/06/12

We spend a great 8 days at Jim and Leah's guesthouse while I attended a conference at Hapuna Beach. The accommodations were great and Jim and Leah were very helpful for the logistic questions we had. Hawi isn't a beach town, but part ot the excitement of the Big Island is the diversity of biozones - we were happy to be staying in the transition to the lush, tropical side of the island, and for the days we wanted sandy tropical beaches the ride was a lovely and brief car ride away. Highly recommended

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, families with teenagers, families with young children, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Peaceful aloha spirit

Guest: GaryTX (Austin, TX)
Date of Stay: 02/02/12 Review Submitted: 02/02/12

We stayed at Jim and Leah's ohana this past summer and loved it. The place is beautiful and the outdoor shower is great. The ohana's layout is perfect with lots of room. The kitchen has everything you could need. Plus, if you just have to deal with THE WORLD, they have wi-fi. When the most sound you hear is the occasional children's laughter from across the lawn, you know this is a special place.

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, families with young children, girls getaway, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Excellent place to relax

Guest: James (Delaware)
Date of Stay: 12/22/11 Review Submitted: 12/31/11

Thanks to Jim and Leah my wife and I had a wonderful week on the big island. There is so much to do outside of the typical resort areas. Hawi is a great place to start out and easily reach many beautiful parts of the island. Thanks again!

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Definitely worth staying in this part of the island

Guest: Elaine & Ted (Vancouver, BC)
Date of Stay: 11/21/11 Review Submitted: 12/05/11

This property is a great place from which to explore the uncrowded beauty of Kohala. We enjoyed taking Saddle Road to Mauna Kea and loved the drive to Waimea. The studio is amazingly well-equipped and we immediately felt at home. Bird-watching was fabulous and Beach 69 is a MUST for snorkeling. We also enjoyed happy hour at the Bamboo restaurant and mac nut tropical dreams ice cream. Peaceful, beautiful, friendly, informative .... what more could you want. RIP Joby.

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, families with young children, pet owners, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Great jumping off point

Guest: Maryruth (Hilo)
Date of Stay: 11/11/11 Review Submitted: 11/17/11

We enjoyed the 'Ohana atmosphere of this VRBO. We had all the privacy we needed, the studio kitchenette was well equipped for cooking all of our meals and the queen bed quite comfortable. We didn't use the outdoor shower because it was raining the first day and we were to exhausted after some fantastic diving--we had already showered at the beach! We found the location to be wonderful for exploring this 'corner' of the Big Island and all of the local knowledge gleaned from talking to either Jim or Leah was great. The property was clean and well maintained. You've got to ask for and try the raw mac nuts--Wow! what a delight! If you want to feel like a local and get a reasonable extended stay experience, this is a lovely VRBO in which to do so.

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, families with young children, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Our vacation in Paradise!

Guest: Craig & Sandi (Bandon, OR.)
Date of Stay: 04/08/11 Review Submitted: 04/25/11

Aloha Jim & Leah...we have been gone from Paradise 1 week...& we miss you & the sweet cottage. EVERYTHING was just like your pictures showed...except the shower was much better than we expected.....what a "haven" it was to come to after a day of traveling over the island..the swimming beaches were just minutes away....the Farmer's Market was outstanding... One of the best things we liked about our vacation rental was your immediate response to us after we contacted you the first time, your hospitality was great...your advice was very helpful....we would highly recommend the property to a friend or relative....we look forward to seeing you again!! .

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Relaxing time...

Guest: Pat & Lucy (Martinez)
Date of Stay: 10/03/10 Review Submitted: 10/18/10

We had a great and comfy time at Jim and Leah's studio. Roomy enough, clean, modern, and nicely appointed & decorated. Hawi is a nice little town and a good launching point for either side of the island, and only about 90 minutes from Hilo at the far end of the island. This is not for the crowd that requires Hiltonesque travel to professionally designed resorts, but rather for the couple or small family that prefers to experience what it might be to call the real Hawaii "home" for a week or so. The climate in Hawi Town is so ideal that the thought of a heater or AC becomes preposterous, as it only takes a day or so to fully appreciate the warm loving caress of the gentle trade winds. The unit is not isolated on the property. You are a few steps from Jim and Leah's home, but there is plenty of privacy, and your hosts are eager to help with advice and insider info should you desire. Highly recommended. We'll be back.

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, families with young children, girls getaway, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Very nice place! Thanks for the hospitality.

Guest: Margaret (Northern California)
Date of Stay: 08/06/10 Review Submitted: 08/29/10

Jim and Leah's bungalow is a beautiful, well kept and peaceful place. If you like a rural, laid back atmosphere with good access to some of the nicest swimming/snorkeling beaches on the Big Island, hiking, Waimea (but warmer!) you will enjoy this place. Hawi is small but has good eats and amenities. Jim and Leah are wonderful hosts; eager to answer questions, suggest outings or ignore you depending on your preference. For us it was a 5 of 5 but we seek out rural settings and pace that may not appeal to all.

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, romantic getaway.

My time in Hawi

Guest: Hiten (Bay Area, Ca)
Date of Stay: 05/31/10 Review Submitted: 08/11/10

Jim and Leah's studio bungalow is a wonderful and relaxing place. They are warm and welcoming couple who live next door on the adjacent property and are available for suggestions or to offer help. They happily share their lanai for use by their guests. The landscape is just beautiful all over. The studio is well appointed. The one thing that i would like to mention is the outdoor shower which you should keep in mind if privacy is an issue. Jim fixed it with a shower curtain which made it more comfortable. The town of Hawi is charming and is everything that i expected from my big island experience. Overall, a very enjoyable and relaxing experience.

Owner response:Mahalo to Hiten for the thoughtful review. Regarding the outdoor shower and privacy it should be made clear that it is located in a very private spot in the yard. The shower has an enclosure and a curtain. However, the walk to the shower does require some form of cover up.

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Mahalo Jim and Leah!

Guest: Cory and Jenn (Grand Forks, ND)
Date of Stay: 05/26/10 Review Submitted: 05/01/11

We really enjoyed our stay with Jim and Leah. They're place is very nice and well-furnished and they are very accomodating. What we were most impressed with is that they have two small kids of their own, and are therefore well-equipped to accommodate guests with small kids like ourselves. They were able to provide us with a pack and play, high chair, and baby backpack which made our vacation a lot easier and more enjoyable. Again many thanks, and we hope to see you again!

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, people with disabilities, age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Guest: Deborha (Ft. St. John, BC)
Date of Stay: 08/31/09 Review Submitted: 08/31/09

Jim & Leah's beautiful home caters to all of your needs and then some. My family and I fell in love with the quaintness of Hawi. We found the people to be truly filled with the Aloha spirit. Our favourite beach was 20 minutes away and the local snorkelling spot was wonderful. The quiet pace was just right to unwind. Cy the friendly onsite host was a wealth of information. Maholo! We would definitely recommend this place to stay to others.

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Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 08/13/09 Review Submitted: 08/13/09

This is a lovely home and you even had Wifi and a Scrabble game, which we forgot to bring from home. A great weekend with our favorite beach only 20 minutes away.

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Guest: Mila1 (San Francisco, CA)
Date of Stay: 04/07/08 Review Submitted: 04/07/08

I wanted to let you know how very much we enjoyed our stay in Hawi. Your home is lovely,and it was a special treat to have the opportunity to live in such a beautiful home for the week. We were very comfortable. There truly was everything we needed to sleep comfortably, cook efficiently, bathe, and recreate. We loved the layout, finishes, lighting and decor. It was great to have Cy around. He was available to socialize with and respond to questions as they arose. Wonderful hospitality. I realize that Cy has done some of the the work in developing the yard area, and I do want to say that it really adds to the whole ambience - the landscape is similar to what I have experienced at very expensive hotel and residential properties, and it really made a difference. We enjoyed Hapuna Beach, Spencer Beach Park, Pololu and Waipio Valleys. Hawi town for daily doses of shaved ice (pm's) and Kona brew (am's). Local Takata market was all we needed for groceries. Thank you again. We would love to visit again someday and would refer friends without hesitation. Mahalo and Aloha.

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Guest: Pikake and Kevin Kimata (Honolulu, Hawaii)
Date of Stay: 02/24/08 Review Submitted: 02/24/08

We had a wonderful time in your beautiful home. It had everything we needed to make our vacation hassle free. And the kids enjoyed it, too! So did my parents who joined us from Hilo. The property is beautiful and conveniently located from Hawi town and the neighboring areas. Thank you for having such a beautiful place for others to enjoy!

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Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 02/12/08 Review Submitted: 02/12/08

If you want a true feel of old time Hawaii, this is the place for you. It is close to beaches, waterfalls, snorkeling, whale watching, kayaking, golf, restaurants & anything else you might want to do on your trip. However, we do recommend you plan some time just to hang around the beautiful garden & the lovely lanai. It is the most relaxing and beautiful place you will ever visit. Cy is awesome! He can give you tips on places to go & things to do you won't find on any travel site!

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Guest: Mary Calcagno (Exeter, CA)
Date of Stay: 08/03/07 Review Submitted: 08/03/07

Aloha! My husband and I had a marvelous time at this great hale. We are looking to come back...so there you go. Cy is to die for :-) Note to folks it does not have an ocean view but you are minutes from the ocean and seconds from an ocean view. We loved the home, the gardens..all lovely.

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Guest: Dennis & Margo Walsh (Gig Harbor, WA 98335)
Date of Stay: 08/03/07 Review Submitted: 08/03/07

If you want to experience 'Old Hawaii', or at least 'plantation' Hawaii, there is no better place than Jim and Leah's bungalow. It is a remarkable property full of friendship, fragrance, and serenity. The charming town of Hawi is a stone's roll down the hill, and by itself offers hours and evenings of delightful quaintness and peace. Jim and Leah's place is a refuge from the frantic pace of our mainland life. They have taken great care to provide an atmosphere of wonderful comfort and convenience in a setting that takes you back in time. If you have the pleasure of caretaker Cy's company, all the better. Mahalo.

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