Vacation Rentals by Owner

Can't beat it!

Guest: Kris (Port Angeles, WA)
Date of Stay: 06/03/11 Review Submitted: 06/15/11

We just returned from a 7-day stay at Dolphin Hideaway. The apartment was perfect for the two of us, and other than food there was almost nothing we needed to buy in order to cook at least one meal a day there. Pat and Steve had ice chests, beach chairs, towels and snorkel equipment available, and Steve very kindly took the time to fit me with the proper snorkel mask. There's adequate room for cooking in the kitchen/dining area, and very comfortable couches and bed. Lots of linens, pillows, etc...really, everything you might need is right there. The location was perfect as we ended up doing most of our snorkeling at Two-Step which was I think less than 20 minutes away by the one-way road, though most mornings we went via the highway so we could get our fix at The Coffee Shack on the way. Also it was only a little over an hour to some of the prime Kohala snorkeling, and it took us 2 hours to get up to Volcanoes Park from the Hideaway. Steve and Pat were ideal hosts -- they always seemed available when we had questions, but weren't conspicuous the rest of the time. The grounds are really pretty, and we enjoyed the birdsong along with our fresh avocados every day. If we are fortunate enough to make it back to the Big Island someday Dolphin Hideaway will be the first reservation we get booked! Much aloha to Steve and Pat.

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

Paradise!

Guest: Christy Huff (Los Banos, CA)
Date of Stay: 04/14/11 Review Submitted: 04/25/11

Enjoyed a wonderful week's stay at the Hideaway. It was a perfect fit for us: beautiful tropical setting, so close to everything (including our favorite snorkel spot), stocked with everything we could have imagined needing, and very roomy! Thanks to Pat and Steve for providing us with information on the area, coolers, beach chairs, towels, and kayak. The highlight of our trip was the manta ray night snorkel with Steve and company. I especially loved sitting on our own deck enjoying the many birds and geckos. The fruit trees were a plus! We'll be back!

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

The Perfect Place to Stay

Guest: Long Beach CA Family (Long Beach, CA)
Date of Stay: 07/14/10 Review Submitted: 07/30/10

Staying at the Dolphin Hideaway with Pat and Steve was one of the highlights of our trip to Hawaii. The Hideaway is located just above Kealakekua Bay which is close to the bay where Captain Cook's monument is located. Near by, there are several historical sights. This area also offers what I consider to be the best snorkeling on all the Hawaiian Islands. All of this, but the Dolphin is still close enough to Kauila-Kona to hit the big city if your missing a little bit of "urban" atmosphere. Pat and Steve are the perfect hosts. They were available, helpful and friendly. They were that great! The apartment itself was absolutely lovely. Our incredible hostess, Pat, spared no expense. The apartment was richly furnished, but was still home-like (maybe even better than home). There was a wonderful kitchen so it was very easy to cook and make meals, comfortable places to sit outside and view the surrounding areas along with all types of extras that made traveling easier. Pat and Steve provided us with chairs, boogie boards, and even offered the use of a kayak. There is so much more I could say, but I think the best recommendation I could make for staying at the Dolphin Hideaway is that we will always try to stay there when we visit Kailua-Kona. We've stayed at several different places in Kona and none of them begin to compare with the Dolphin Hideaway. Go! Enjoy!

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

Steve, Linda , Gary & Sue from England. May 2010

Guest: Linda/Steve/Gary/Sue (Tempsford, England.)
Date of Stay: 05/08/10 Review Submitted: 06/07/10

This truely was a magnificent holiday and fulfilled every expectation. The accommodation is spacious, clean and very well equipt for all our needs. The garden provided us with fresh fruit for our breakfast every day and the hideaway was central for most daily needs. Shops were only minutes away as well as good restaurants and yet you felt that you were in total seclusion and away from the woes of the world. Pat and Steve were the perfect hosts, there if you needed them but not intrusive at all. This idylic hideaway is great value for money and the perfect place to unwind and enjoy a peaceful holiday. The beautiful colourful birds and various wildlife kept us enthralled with the wonders of nature that abound this almost natural hideaway. Thanks Pat and Steve for a wonderful holiday, we will be back.

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, tourists without a car, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Dolphin Bay Hideway

Guest: Monica_ (Petaluma, California)
Date of Stay: 03/16/10 Review Submitted: 04/20/10

I will definitely recommend this vacation rental to my family and friends! We stayed here for a week in March and had the most amazing time! The place is very cozy and peaceful and we certainly made ourselves at home. It has everything you could possibly need for a very reasonable price. We took full advantage of the FREE use of the kayak, snorkeling gear, boogie boards, beach chairs/umbrellas, coolers, etc, etc. We cooked & barbecued most of our meals there and ate out on the lani taking in the scenery. Pat was extremely helpful with assisting us with the kayak and sharing her knowledge of the island. We felt more like locals of the island than tourists. This beats staying in a hotel any day. I would definitely stay here again.

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

Favorite place to stay

Guest: Cathy and Brian (Ann Arbor, Michigan)
Date of Stay: 01/06/10 Review Submitted: 10/21/10

We have travelled all over New Zealand, Australia, Europe, Central America, the South Pacific and the Caribbean, and Dolphin Bay Hideaway on the Big Island is our favorite place to stay. We’ve been a bit hesitant to write a review because we don’t too many people to find out about it! We stayed there for the month of January in 2009 and for 6 weeks in Jan/Feb in 2010. Pat and Steve are absolutely perfect hosts --- they are gracious, friendly and are available any time you need them, but they give you so much privacy. We are both marine biologists, and Pat and Steve even let us set up aquaria in the garage for our research. We’ve never stayed anywhere that was as clean as Dolphin Bay Hideaway (DBH), and as well-stocked with plush towels and linens and absolutely everything you could possibly need in the kitchen. The house was plenty roomy, even when my sister visited us for a week. The comfy table and chairs on the deck provided us with a wonderful place to work on our computers, to watch the birds and geckos, to have drinks or eat meals, and to watch the sunset. It is hard to describe how peaceful it is to stay away from all the hubbub of the resorts along the ocean. Yet, the DBH is so close to the best snorkeling spots on the island. We loved foraging for fruits in the yard. The use of snorkeling equipment, coolers, beach chairs and a kayak made our visit so much more comfortable and enjoyable. I can not think of anything that Pat and Steve could do to improve the wonderful experience of staying at the DBH.

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

temporary resident vs. tourist feeling

Guest: tj and cathy (chicago area)
Date of Stay: 02/01/09 Review Submitted: 03/09/09

Pat and Steve are excellent hosts--helpful but respectful of one's privacy. The apartment itself is fantastic and reflects a restful, clean, well equipped, and functional area. Zero problems with the living space were encountered. If I was to critique our month long visit, it would be the driveway can be a bit difficult to locate initially, Terrific value for this property---for those looking for deluxe accomodations with beach at your doorstep, this is not it. If you seek a quite, non commercial, pretty rainforest environment for a reasonable price, then you will love this property. It is very convenient to Kona and the Captain Cook bay area, but offers a native neighborhood feeling. We felt like temporary residents of the Big Island vs. tourists!!

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

Guestbook Comment

Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 03/01/08 Review Submitted: 03/13/08

This is a great place -- clean as a whistle and really well stocked. The furnishings are very good quality, and everything we need is right here. (The bed is wonderful!) Pat and Steve are friendly and helpful but not overbearing -- really nice people. It's quiet and comfortable, a good place to relax and spend time when not seeing the sights. We've been here for two weeks and loved it --we recommend it highly.

Recommended for:

Guestbook Comment

Guest: Paul Stanton (Hamilton MT)
Date of Stay: 01/01/06 Review Submitted: 01/23/06

We loved our stay here! Being from rural Montana, we're used to peace and quiet, and we weren't disappointed. The noisiest things were the birds each morning, and them we didn't mind. Pat and Steve were perfect hosts--helpful with information and advice, but respectful of our privacy. They are very honest and professional in their business dealings with guests, and have made every effort for their guests' comfort. We've recommended their place to friends.

Recommended for:

Guestbook Comment

Guest: Lori Scuba Diver (Berkeley, CA USA)
Date of Stay: 03/01/05 Review Submitted: 03/21/05

Pat and Steve are the perfect hosts, and the apartment is really great! Very comfortable, well designed and outfitted, lovely deck to relax on, comfortable beds, EVERYTHING you might need thought out. PLUS if you're a diver, Steve can take you out! my husband had a great dive with him, learned lots and saw lots.

Recommended for:

Guestbook Comment

Guest: Robert Adams (Santa Cruz, CA)
Date of Stay: 10/01/03 Review Submitted: 10/23/03

My family highly recommends the Dolphin Bay Hideaway. We are frequent travelers, and always seek unique accommodations. Pat and Steve exceeded our expectations by providing a fully equipped private rental with many extra touches. They provided vast knowledge of the area. The kayak and snorkeling equipment was of great value. The location was ideal for exploring the entire Kona Coast. The rest of our Hawaii '03 vacation was great, but we all agreed our time on the Kona Coast was our favorite. Thanks Pat and Steve! Robert, Susan and Samantha

Recommended for:

Guestbook Comment

Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 10/01/03 Review Submitted: 10/23/03

Aloha Thanks so much for sharing your home with us. It was the best way to begin our holiday in Hawaii. We loved your place and the Kealakekua Bay area. It was a great. Your vacation rental was homey and relaxing. The snorkelling was by far the best we found on the Island. I can't believe we are sitting in Canada reminiscing about our trip already. We certainly have many fond memories to last through the chilly winter ahead. Thanks for your hospitality, Beth

Recommended for:

Guest: cindi Peltier
Date of Stay: 11/28/01 Review Submitted: 11/27/01

Overall Rating : Best It is a secret hideaway that I would highly recommend and return to for years. It's a home away from home. Everything you could possibly need for comfort is provided and top quality. The location is fantasic whether heading to town or the beach. The landscape is tranquil. The owners are extremely friendly and helpful yet respect your privacy. You can't beat the price for a peaceful mind in wonderful accomendations.

Recommended for:

Guest: Robert Potter
Date of Stay: 05/15/01 Review Submitted: 05/14/01

Overall Rating : Best If you are planning on staying on the Kona Coast of the Big Island, you must stay at this wonderful place. The value absolutely cannot be beat. Pat and Steve were great hosts. Their knowledge of the island was very helpful, and included in the rental price was the use of their first rate snorkel gear, dive tanks, and a great two person sea kayak that you can use to paddle across Kealakekua Bay to the Capt. Cook Monument for the best snorkeling on the Big Island. Those extra savings alone are worth the extremely reasonable price of the rental. Plus, the apartment is great!! It was so quiet that this city boy had a hard time adjusting at first. But then I had a much harder time leaving paradise. The property is extremely private, and the location cannot be beat. I cannot imagine paying an equivalent amount for an impersonal hotel in the middle of Kona when you can be closer to the good sights, away from all the crowds, with you very own tastefully furnished space for less money. This is a no brainer. I will definitely be back.

Recommended for:

Guest: Jeff and Sherry
Date of Stay: 11/30/00 Review Submitted: 11/29/00

Service : 10 - best Value : 10 - best Attractiveness : 10 - best Overall Rating : 10 - best Dolphin Bay Hideaway is a small treasure on an island of many treasures. It's quiet (except for the falling bread fruit!), picturesque (nice view of the ocean!) and truly a hideaway. It's close enough to the action at Kona yet far enough to feel secluded. We loved the drive up the Ancient Trail to the house. We half-expected King Kamehameha to appear amid the coffee and palm trees. The kayak is a bonus, providing the best access to the dolphins and snorkeling in Kealakekua Bay. Pat and Steve know the island. Two thumbs up from us!

Recommended for:

Guest: Marilyn
Date of Stay: 11/18/00 Review Submitted: 11/17/00

Service : 10 - best Value : 9 - outstanding Attractiveness : 9 - outstanding Overall Rating : 9 - outstanding This place is great!!! Good location, comfortable space and furnishings, nice view, quiet and peaceful. The kitchen is the best equipped of any vacation rental we've stayed in. The hosts manage to be absolutely nonintrusive, even though the rental is the lower floor of their home. They couldn't be more accommodating--besides the listed amenities, they even made a run to Walmart one evening when we discovered a need for one of the few items they hadn't thought to have on hand (a toilet plunger--not an item that could comfortably wait til morning)! We'll be back....

Recommended for:

Guest: Lanny Dyer
Date of Stay: 04/30/00 Review Submitted: 04/29/00

Service : 10 - best Value : 10 - best Attractiveness : 10 - best Overall Rating : 10 - best We stayed here in April of 2000 and had a super time. Pat and Steve are the perfect hosts; friendly, knowledgeable, and helpful, without being intrusive. The apartment is in the lower part of the house, which sits at the top of a long palm lined drive. It is very comfortable, spacious, and cool. The kitchen has everything you need. Like the rest of the apartment, Pat and Steve have filled it with quality furnishings. Included in the reasonable rent is the use of a two person kayak, dive tanks, and lots of other water and beach gear to add to your vacation. You will need a car. There is a hot tub, but no pool. Who needs one, when you can be swimming with the dolphins in Kealakekua Bay! Plain and simple, it's hard to beat the value you get here. Nice place, nice people, nice price. If you're tired of hotels, and want a place that feels like your home away from home. This is it.

Recommended for: