Vacation Rentals by Owner

LOVED, LOVED, LOVED the home!!!

Guest: Soofia (Glen Ellyn, IL (Chicago suburb))
Date of Stay: 03/12/12 Review Submitted: 03/26/12

We stayed the week of 3/12/12 - 3/19/12 and had an absolutely wonderful time. The home is gorgeous and the pictures do not do it justice. It is open, full of light and when all the windows are open, the breeze that flows through the home is heavenly. It had everything we needed in the kitchen, bathrooms, bedrooms and entertainment areas. There was a group of 7 in our party and we had 3 bedrooms that were not even utilized. We loved eating dinner and having our meals in the lanai. There were 2 children in our party and we cooked most of the time we were there and the kitchen was well equipped. The decor of the home is tasteful and we can't wait to go back! Mark & Jenny were the perfect hosts. They were always quick to respond to my questions before we arrived and even during our stay. We have already recommended it to 3 families who saw our pictures and def want to stay here. Although it's a bit far from the "city", it didn't feel remote and the drive was 15 minutes to get to a lot of things we needed. We plan on coming back for a mini-reunion and will base our travel plans around the availability of the home. Thanks Mark & Jenny for the Hawaiian hospitalilty and allowing us the opportunity to enjoy your beautiful home! Thanks, Soofia & Family

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

We had a very nice time!!

Guest: Don (Seattle, WA)
Date of Stay: 02/25/12 Review Submitted: 04/06/12

We had a very nice time spending a week in this house at the end of February. The house is very modern and spacious, with plenty of room for the 11 of us to spread out. The house is very nicely decorated and very comfortable, and the media room was a nice touch with its overstuffed leather chairs and projection TV system. Between the comfortable chairs, the air conditioning, and the effects of being in the sun earlier in the day, this room more often became the "nap room" than the media room! :-) Another nice touch was the patio out back. We grilled our dinners during a few nights of the week, and it was very relaxing to kick back and spend time on the back patio looking out over the ocean during and after dinner. Again there was plenty of room for all in our group to be comfortable. We would highly recommend renting this house. It is not far from some nice beaches (perhaps 20 minutes off of the road to the airport) and it was very peaceful and quiet. It was the perfect relaxing vacation we were all looking for, and we appreciated being able to stay in such a nice place during our visit to the Big Island.

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

Paradise

Guest: Katie (Salt Lake City, UT)
Date of Stay: 01/13/12 Review Submitted: 02/04/12

This home was perfect for our large family. Our young children felt like we were staying in a mansion but we appreciated how affordable it was for 12 people. The bedrooms and kitchen comfortable accomodated 3 married couples, 2 teenagers, and 4 young children. The home and yard are beautiful and well maintained. After a long day at Hapuna beach, our kids were happy to come home and relax in the hot tub, climb the coconut trees, watch whales, feed the fish, and catch frogs. We loved cooking dinner on the grill and eating out on the patio. (The kitchen was wonderful, too.) Although we explored the whole island (Hiking at the volcano, waterfalls in Hilo, kayaking with dolphins and snorkeling in Kealakekua Bay, hiking to the black sand beach past Hawi, and Hapuna and Mauna Kea Beaches) our best family pictures are taken in the yard! We hope to return!

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

Beautiful Pacific Views and Wonderful Sunsets

Guest: Jo (Westport, Ct)
Date of Stay: 12/22/11 Review Submitted: 01/17/12

This house is perfect for family and friend get togethers as it is very spacious with bedrooms nicely separated. In fact, the photos can't capture the overall ambience. In addition, the patio is perfect for sharing home cooked meals. The kitchen is large and well equipped. As Kohala is a quiet, low light area, star gazing is amazing, yet beaches, restaurants and food shopping are easily accessible. Our family, ranging from grandparents to teenagers, found it difficult to leave. Our solution: return next year. Mahalo Jenny.

Recommended for:People with disabilities, age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, sightseeing.

No Limits Triathlon Camp

Guest: Todd M.
Date of Stay: 05/29/11 Review Submitted: 07/25/11

We arrived in Kona for our Triathlon Training camp in preparation for the Hawaii 70.3 triathlon and we very excited to see our house. It was beyond our expectations. The scenery from the house was amazing and the rooms were gorgeous. If you are a cyclist this turned out to be a great location to ride from as it is close to quite a few good rides. Be sure that you leave some room in the tank as the hill climb to the house is quite a challenge. Some of our favorite memories are sitting outside on the patio enjoying a nice dinner and finishing off the meal with some amazing Kona coffee. We are already counting the days until we return next year to do it all again! :) Thanks for renting out your house we were so spoiled for a glorious week in Hawaii.

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

Paradise Gained

Guest: John (Aptos,Ca.,USA)
Date of Stay: 02/19/11 Review Submitted: 06/30/11

After numerous visits to the Big Island over the last ten years, my wife and I decided to take our two grown sons and wife and girlfriend for a rare vacation together. Having previously stayed at various resorts in the area, we decided to spend most of our time in the Kohala district, mainly because of the relaxed, country feel and easy access to some beautiful beaches and snorkel spots we have grown to love. We also planned a trip to Volcano National Park, and wanted to visit the north coast and Hilo areas, which are convenient from there. Rather than stay at another resort, this time we decided to find a private home to rent. This has turned out to be one of the best decisions we have ever made on a vacation. The house was lovely and spacious, as the photos and other reviews attest. In fact, our party of six almost felt overwhelmed by the large,well appointed bedrooms and living areas that afforded everyone total privacy and a taste of luxury that was appreciated by all. The kitchen was beautiful and functional, and we prepared several memorable meals there. If you like to barbeque (who doesn't?), the two gas units outside served us very well. It was nice to be able to have home cooked meals with our family, and we saved quite a lot by not having to dine out every meal. There is a large patio table and comfortable chairs,too, and we enjoyed having the space to invite some of our local friends over for dinner. The ocean and sunset views just added to the great tropical feel of this home. This house has a home theater, which I am sure that many visitors will find a welcome asset; unfortunately, our party was generally too "pooped" to enjoy it. The koi pond was a delight, a nice welcome "home" from our outings. A much larger party than ours would find this home comfortable, and will find Jenny a delightful and accommodating owner to work with.Our stay here created some wonderful memories, which we will continue to fondly recall, "till the next time"!

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

Three weeks of serenity and beauty

Guest: Lolo (Ashland, OR)
Date of Stay: 01/14/11 Review Submitted: 02/12/11

We just returned from a glorious three-week vacation and am happy to highly recommend renting this property. It is a beautiful home that is large enough to allow couples to have privacy and yet has plenty of gathering areas also. The lanais are serene retreats to read, eat, watch whales & sunsets. We certainly didn't want to leave. The koi pond was a source of many photos and audio tapes of frog "voices". We thoroughly enjoyed the theater room After a long day at the beaches boogie boarding, snorkeling or hiking we would sink into the comfortable chairs to watch the movie of the evening, (yet very few of us stayed awake too long). A lot of great restaurants and beaches nearby. It is the literal meaning of the word VACATION.

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, families with teenagers.

Repeat Customers Back for More

Guest: Betsy (Walnut Creek, CA)
Date of Stay: 12/21/10 Review Submitted: 12/04/11

We really enjoy how much space this house offers. Even if you have a large party staying there, everyone can have some space to themselves if needed. The koi pond, coconut trees and beautiful views (including some incredible sunsets) give it the Hawaiian feel. We have rented this house twice and have just booked our third stay for next year. We look forward to our next visit to this great property!

Recommended for:People with disabilities, age 55+, families with teenagers, girls getaway, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Exquisite Kohala Coast Home

Guest: Susan (San Francisco Bay Area)
Date of Stay: 12/12/10 Review Submitted: 01/01/11

This is an amazing property. From the moment you drive up to the house, you will be treated to the best the Big Island has to offer. The home is spacious, airy, and bright, with magnificent views from all rooms. Everything you need for the perfect vacation is provided: bar-be-cues and comfortable seating on the lanai, a well-equipped kitchen, beach towels for your trips to the beautiful nearby beaches, a private spa, and a fabulous movie room for watching DVDs or TV after a busy day exploring the island. The bathrooms (and showers) are beautiful, and huge! The location is perfect--you will have peace and quiet at the house (except for the sounds of birds singing and palm fronds rustling in the breeze), but you can hop up to Waimea or down to the best beaches easily for shopping or snorkeling. Jenny, the owner, is extremely helpful and easy to work with. I could not ask for a better experience on the Big Island and I hope to return to this stunning vacation home soon. Mahalo, Jenny.

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

The most PERFECT home away from home!

Guest: lou (San Francisco)
Date of Stay: 09/16/10 Review Submitted: 09/29/10

Our group of 8 stayed here in September and we were all in tears when our vacation was coming to an end! The place is truly a dream come true. We were all in our late 20's to mid 30's and loved the idea of staying at a house where we did not have to deal with tons of families at the resorts. We chose this place because of the proximity to Hapuna and Mauna Kea Beaches (10 minute drive). These 2 beaches were absolutely breathtaking. About 25 minutes north was the town of Hawi which we had some excellent sushi at Sushi Rock. Also close by about a 5 minute drive is Spencer Beach, where there are ton's of trees to provide shade and tables and bbq areas. We went all around the island on our trip; from Volcanoes National Park to the top of Mauna Kea. We couldn't have wished for a more better place to stay. The owner Jenny was extremely friendly and helpful in answering all of our questions. The place had plenty of clean towels for us to use for our beach days, everything we needed to cook meals, and plenty of space for us to relax. When we arrived we even had a welcome card with a box of chocolates. I would happily highly recommend this place and will love to return soon!

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, girls getaway, sightseeing.

ABSOLUTELY THE BEST VACATION EVER!!!

Guest: Minden Girl (Minden, La)
Date of Stay: 07/17/10 Review Submitted: 07/27/10

Just got back from our wonderful week stay at this truly magnificent home. The pictures on the website do not do it justice. The views were breathtaking, and everyone had a great time. This was our first trip to Hawaii; however, it will not be our last, and we will definately stay at your home again. MAHALO!!!!!!!

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

Our first vacation rental

Guest: Rick (Richardson, TC)
Date of Stay: 06/22/10 Review Submitted: 06/30/10

The house is exactly like the pictures when you drive up. It is a very large two story home that sits high on a hill and overlooks the ocean. The sunsets are great sitting on the back lanai. We had a minor issue on arrival and the owners jumped on it immediately. Jenny was always quick and responsive and really wanted us to have a wonderful time. The house is on the northern part of the west coast. It was not a bad drive to Hawi town or Waimela. Cafe Pesto has wonderful pizzas and is really close. The upstairs master bedroom has a balcony with a view that will take your breath away. Beautiful home with lots of room and a huge kitchen. This was a great way to relax away from the crowds.

Recommended for:Age 55+, romantic getaway.

Breathtaking home in the perfect location

Guest: Mike (Traverse City, Michigan)
Date of Stay: 06/14/10 Review Submitted: 07/01/10

We spent a week in this lovely, immaculately cleaned house, and felt that it was the very best place we could possibly have stayed. The views are glorious, the home is breathtaking, and the location is ideal to beaches nearby and for trvel either north- or southward. The theater room was an important bonus during the NBA finals and the World Cup matches, and a great place for the kids to spend time in the evenings. The six kids (ages 9-15) had a great setting for hide & seek, fish to chase, palm trees to climb, and nocturnal reptiles to pursue by flashlight. Our best vacation together ever! – and this home was a major reason.

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

Aloha Spirit

Guest: William and Lori (Frisco, TX)
Date of Stay: 05/02/10 Review Submitted: 05/12/10

My wife and I had an absolutely wonderful time staying in your beautiful home. We were on the island for a my wife's conference in Waikoloa, and shared the house with a few other work associates. There was more than enough room for everybody to be comfortable, and still allowed for plenty of personal space. The Lanai was just incredible. We spent many mornings and evenings just relaxing in the cool breezes, and enjoying the beautiful views. We found two fantastic restaurants just a few minutes away, and some great beaches only 15 minutes away. I would recommend this house to anybody. Our stay could not have been better.

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

Guest: Carol94 (Edmonds, WA)
Date of Stay: 04/07/09 Review Submitted: 04/07/09

We really enjoyed the house (especially that theater room - Hello, Deb, Thanks again for the wonderfule stay! My youngest son has decided that a theater room will be required in any house he will buy - he's 15! Beautiful views and the setting couldn't be nicer. We really enjoyed all the space.

Recommended for:

Guest: Escaped Minnesota (Savage, MN)
Date of Stay: 03/29/09 Review Submitted: 03/29/09

I've traveled a lot and stayed in some very nice places, but this one tops all of them. This beautiful house is palatial, with four large bedrooms. My kids loved having their own huge rooms! The views from every room are incredible. In fact we saw more whales from the lanai than during our whale watching boat ride. Location is also a big plus. We were 5 minutes from two great restaurants and 10 minutes from magnificent, tranquil beaches. Everyone was a big fan of the home theater after our days outside. Relative to the price of nearby hotels, this house was a steal. I hope we can return again soon. Thanks so much, Deborah.

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Guest: Rachel Gustafson (Bloomington, MN)
Date of Stay: 03/18/09 Review Submitted: 03/18/09

We had an amazing stay here. As soon as we walked up the path and past the beautiful lilypad and coi-filled pond into the home, I felt my stresses melt away. The views were amazing and we could see whales breach right from our window. We spent our days snorkeling and boogie boarding at extremely accessible nearby spots, hiking the shore and shopping in quaint Hawi and resort area shops. My husband had a truly epic kayaking/snorkeling adventure right off the shore in which he saw whales, a shark, dolphins, manta ray and an octopus all in one day... But everyday, sea turtles were common and there was a great variety of colorful fish and coral. This was all within a few miles of the house. At night, we had wonderful dinners on the lanai or at cute local restaurants and then crashed to watch movies in the home theatre. What a vacation! I couldn't believe how inexpensive these lodgings were. It's truly a hidden gem.

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Guest: Jennifer G. (-)
Date of Stay: 06/26/07 Review Submitted: 06/26/07

I recently purchased this lovely home, after experiencing a magical feel about it. The ocean views are awesome, and I am sure guests will enjoy "de-stressing" while relaxing on the lanai.. I have a managment company helping to find people to share it, and I just want to say how much I hope everyone enjoys their stay - and I look forward to reading people's comments...

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