Steps from Kona Coast's Best Snorkeling and Dolphins [#153298ha] | View Property
Kealakekua Bay
Accommodates two. One queen bed.
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Traveler Reviews (24)
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Great vacation rental
Great vacation rental
- Guest David H.
- Date of stay 03/06/13
- Review Submitted 03/15/13
My wife and I have been to Hawaii many times and rented condos and vacation rentals. This is the best furnished vacation rental we have rented, and at a fantastic location, just a few hundred yards from Manini beach, on Kealakedua Bay. The upstairs apartment has excellent architecture and construction and is well maintained. Many nice amentities, including beach towels, beach chairs, coolers, boogie board, washer and dryer, and outdoor shower with hot water.Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 0/0
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Beyond our expectations.....we hope to return!
Guest comment entered by ownerBeyond our expectations.....we hope to return!
- Guest Jack and Nancy, Scotts Valley, Ca.
- Date of stay 02/06/12
- Review Submitted 02/27/12
Aloha Dennis, Hale Lana was beyond our expectations even though we had read every other guest review. You have done a beautiful and imaginative job creating a lovely home away from home. Your attention to a welcoming environment and cleanliness was much appreciated. This was Nancy's first trip to Hawaii and Hale Lana played a major role in making it a wonderful experience. We both enjoyed the fact that Hale Lana is located in a friendly neighborhood away from the tourist bustle. What a gem!Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 0/0
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Snorkeler's Dream Vacation Rental
Snorkeler's Dream Vacation Rental
- Guest Lloy K.
- Date of stay 10/25/11
- Review Submitted 11/06/11
This was our second year to stay upstairs at Hale Lana (and we'll probably schedule many more visits in the years ahead. Initially, we were concerned about the tsunami damage at nearby Manini Beach, but Mother Nature often has a way of changing things for the better. Instead of the sharp lava rocks and coral to challenge your bare feet, there is now a gentle SANDY slope into the ocean. The fish were just as plentiful as last year, and the coral seems healthier. We were able to snorkel almost every day either at Manini Beach or Two-Step (4 miles away). (By the way, the local people did an amazing job of cleaning up the tsunami damage and Dennis was instrumental in providing new palm trees and plants to replace the ones swept away. Many thanks to all of you who helped). We appreciate the cleanliness and attention to detail at Hale Lana and our stay of 9 + days was very enjoyable, except for three days of construction noise from nearby houses being repaired from tsunami damage. We woke up to the sound of jackhammers and the "beep-beep-beep" of equipment backing up instead of the sounds of the ocean! Hopefully that will be finished soon. This property is well worth the cost of the stay. We can highly recommend it to anyone who likes to snorkel or swim, doesn't mind being off the beaten path, and can climb a flight of stairs. Thanks, Dennis, for making this beautiful place available. We'll be back. Lloy and Russ Keeling, Redlands CAOwner response: Aloha Russ and Lloy, Mahalo for taking the time to post your comments and glad you enjoyed Hale Lana and the great snorkeling again this year. We are humbled to have our beach and little community almost fully restored after some damage from the tsunami from Japan and sorry for the construction noise (although music to our ears). The organized community effort was amazing to see as well....past visitors and everyone here deeply loves the marine preserve of Kealakekua Bay and were glad to pitch in, with many spending days "on the job". Although close to the water, we are fortunate that Hale Lana is on a rise and higher in elevation and out of harm's way. The beach really is actually better, sandy, more beautiful, expansive and open and all the more precious to us! Mahlo nui loa, Dennis
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Grateful
Guest comment entered by ownerGrateful
- Guest Sherry and Jack Lafayett, Ca. and San Juan Island
- Date of stay 05/18/10
- Review Submitted 06/08/10
Dear Dennis, Jack and I are grateful to have found Hale Lana for our Big Island visit. Your design talents are evident in the lush grounds, well appointed hale and lovely architecture. Aloha and Mahalo!Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 1/2
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Definitely a Winner
Definitely a Winner
- Guest opabin
- Date of stay 05/15/10
- Review Submitted 05/25/10
A well designed, well equipped, and well maintained property in a excellent location that is very reasonably priced. While a car is essential, this is a great spot to explore the southern half of the Big Island. Would book the whole house next time and bring our adult children.Recommended for: Adventure seekers, age 55+, romantic getaway.
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Our favorite place in Hawaii
Our favorite place in Hawaii
- Guest Janet&Michael
- Date of stay 02/03/10
- Review Submitted 02/21/10
In February 2010, my husband and I returned to Hale Lana for the third year in a row and spent 8 days in the second floor unit of this beautiful house. Hale Lana is elegantly decorated in an Asian-influenced motif, and the architecture of the two-story ceiling lets the trade winds cool the house, keeping it comfortable day and night. The wrap-around lana’i is one of the pleasures of this house where we can sit and listen to the morning doves, the mynah birds and the waves at Manini Beach. The house is impeccably clean and very well equipped. The owners exude the Aloha spirit, they are extremely accommodating, and pleasantly businesslike in their management of this rental which is something we “New Yawkuhs” appreciate. The price of the rental is fair in comparison to the other rentals in the area and the location is wonderful. If you are into the night life and are coming to Hawaii to party, this is not the place for you, but if you want a taste of a quiet old Hawaiian neighborhood in a beautiful home on the ocean (ok, ok, so it's really a block or so in from the ocean), this is the place for you. (PS While we were there, I walked over to Auntie Margaret’s Massage School on Ke’ei Beach and had a soothing lomi massage while I watched whales spouting in the ocean. Very cool!) We are already planning our return in February 2011!Recommended for: Age 55+, romantic getaway.
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Three weeks of Bliss
Three weeks of Bliss
- Guest Linda&Steven
- Date of stay 12/13/09
- Review Submitted 01/10/10
My husband and I spent three glorious weeks at Hale Lana at the end of 2009. It was a perfect retreat from the mainland--relaxing at every turn. The one-bedroom upstairs area is completely inviting--great color scheme (a calming green) and well-equipped for preparing meals. The location is fabulous, just a short walk to Manini and Keei beaches, and an easy drive to Two-Step. Every detail made our stay perfect from the quiet neighborhood to the sound of the bay lulling us to sleep at night. We took advantage of amenities provided, taking the beach chairs and towels on all adventures. I would recommend this property to anyone wanting a Big Island adventure with many of the comforts of home.Recommended for: Adventure seekers, romantic getaway.
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Lovely Accomodations
Lovely Accomodations
- Guest Avid Snorkeler
- Date of stay 11/02/09
- Review Submitted 11/16/09
Hale Lana surpassed our expectations. Impeccably clean, spacious, and well equipped with everything we needed. With snorkeling so close by, we were in the water by 7:30 each morning when the reef is more active and before the crowds. The Kayak to Captain Cook is recommended as well as snorkeling at "Two Step". We saw dolphins occasionally in both bays, but had the honor of sharing their world at "Two Step" one day when they swam into the bay. What a fabulous spot near great snorkeling and yet away from the crowds. As we left were were already planning our next visit.Recommended for: Adventure seekers, age 55+, romantic getaway.
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Very Romantic!
Very Romantic!
- Guest Boatdan
- Date of stay 10/25/09
- Review Submitted 11/02/09
We had a wonderful stay at Hale Lana in the upstairs unit. The owners have thought of every detail for what you may need during your stay. The house itself is very new and is wonderfully decorated! When we walked through the door we were instantly overwhelmed with how nice it was and that feeling continued each time we would come home at the end of the day. DanRecommended for: Adventure seekers, romantic getaway.
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A little paradise - a space to breathe
A little paradise - a space to breathe
- Guest Marianka
- Date of stay 10/03/09
- Review Submitted 10/09/09
We loved the beautifull architecture of the house, which is also decorated with so much taste and experienced it with a special wellcoming atmosphere. Being so close to the most fantastic snorkel areas at "Caprain Cook" and "Two steps" and in the same time feeling the spirit of ancient Hawaii, being close to the Heiaus of Kealakekua Bay and Refuge was a nourishment for our bodies and souls. Thank you Dennis for this little paradise.Recommended for: Adventure seekers, age 55+, families with teenagers, girls getaway, romantic getaway, sightseeing.
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Hale Lana Stay
Hale Lana Stay
- Guest Gresham
- Date of stay 08/17/09
- Review Submitted 08/25/09
This is truly an amazing place to stay! The upstairs is truly beautiful and relaxing and all of the amenities were terrific. All of the other reviews have said exactly what we found and felt. You're 5 minutes from amazing snorkeling and the locals are very friendly and helpful. We recommend this to everyone who wants the peace and relaxation that can be found on Kona.Recommended for: Adventure seekers, age 55+, families with teenagers, girls getaway, romantic getaway, sightseeing.
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Hale Lana is beautiful!
Hale Lana is beautiful!
- Guest Cameron and Christine
- Date of stay 07/10/09
- Review Submitted 07/21/09
We stayed in the upstairs unit of Hale Lana last week (7/10/09-7/14/09). The house is exceptionally beautiful, spacious, well designed and super clean. Really nice bathtub and all the cooking equipment you could use. Snorkeling and kayak rental are a 5 min. walk away in a quiet, tropical neighborhood. The owner was very clear, fair and punctual. My deposit was returned almost before I got home. I would recommend this property to anyone who would like to be off the beaten path near Kealakekua Bay, home to the Captain Cook monument and a wonderful pod of dolphins.Recommended for: Adventure seekers, age 55+, romantic getaway, sightseeing.
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Deluxe accommodations in awesome spot!
Deluxe accommodations in awesome spot!
- Guest SnorkelingGirl
- Date of stay 07/04/09
- Review Submitted 07/11/09
My husband and I spent 6 days in this apartment following 1 week in the downstairs studio (which was also excellent). We completely love the Manini Beach area with its local vibe and excellent snorkeling (Captain Cook Monument, 2 Step, Manini Beach, Kealakekua Beach). Both upstairs and downstairs were clean and airy, very comfortable, and completely stocked with everything you could need to hang out or make a day trip: beach towels, coolers, well-stocked kitchen. We loved the convenience of the hot-water outdoor shower and clothesline. The ventilation was excellent with louvered ceiling, multiple ceiling fans, and sliding doors on all sides. We spent many happy hours hanging out on the lanai, and ate all of our meals outside watching the birds, geckos, mongooses, and the neighbor's cats. The owner was helpful and responsive to all of our needs. We couldn't have been happier with our stay at Hale Lana, and look forward to visiting again.Recommended for: Adventure seekers, age 55+, romantic getaway, sightseeing.
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A Wonderful Stay
A Wonderful Stay
- Guest ScottFromSTL
- Date of stay 06/01/09
- Review Submitted 06/29/09
We came to stay at the Hale Lana for a week at the beginning of the Summer in 2009. My wife just kept repeating "This place is perfect! Perfect!" The Hale Lana is clean, spacious, well-appointed, and comfortable. The neighborhood is quiet and residential, and the neighbors are friendly and welcoming. We couldn't imagine anything more that Dennis could have done to make our stay here more pleasant -- everything was thought out ahead of time. The only minor drawback to the experience was that the road to get from the Belt Highway down to the Hale Lana was fairly narrow and twisty, and was something of a nervewracking experience for us Midwestern types. The road was not atypical of the roads on the island connecting the coast to the Belt Highway, and was in fact better than several other routes. If anything, though, the trip down the road just heightened the sense of comfort and peace once we arrived at the Hale Lana. We can't imagine how we could have had a better experience with this rental location. You won't find a better place on the Big Island.Recommended for: Romantic getaway
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Wonderful place to stay
Wonderful place to stay
- Guest Rainforest crunch
- Date of stay 05/17/09
- Review Submitted 05/21/09
We stayed in the one bedroom apt. and absolutely loved it. The place is exactly as pictured and was extremely clean, very well decorated, even had beautiful cut fresh flowers in the kitchen. Literally all the considerate touches. Lots of birds to wake you up when the sun rises. We walked to the most beautiful beach imaginable from the house w/ incredible snorkling. Highly recommend this place.Recommended for: Adventure seekers, tourists without a car, romantic getaway.
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Loved Our Stay
Loved Our Stay
- Guest MargArt
- Date of stay 02/18/09
- Review Submitted 03/05/09
We just returned to the mainland after 2 weeks on the Big Island. This vacation rental was a perfect place to relax and have easy access to all the great activities the Captain Cook area offers. Hale Lana is immaculate, well designed, and asthectically pleasing. The neighborhood is quiet. We are happy we chose the upper level, as we enjoyed the bird's eye view of the neighborhood and the large lanai.Recommended for: Adventure seekers, age 55+, girls getaway, romantic getaway, sightseeing.
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We would return in a heartbeat!
We would return in a heartbeat!
- Guest JL & LL
- Date of stay 02/13/09
- Review Submitted 02/26/09
After many hours of research to find the perfect place to stay on the Kona side of the Big Island, we decided on Hale Lana. Our time spent searching was rewarded with this spectacular home. The house was even nicer than the photos on the website. Our first words in the door were "wow, this is SO BEAUTIFUL and SO CLEAN". We loved the wrap-around deck for our morning coffee and evening cocktail, we loved the endless windows providing spectacular light and cooling breezes. The house was well-appointed and had a calming island decor. The neighborhood was so peaceful and relaxing, we really enjoyed taking walks through the quiet narrow winding streets, enjoying the tropical flowers, birds and neighborhood creatures. Within a 2 minute walk, we were able to rent kayaks and snorkel gear to allow us to paddle across the beautiful bay for an afternoon of amazing snorkelling and kayaking with spinner dolphins. A most memorable experience! Dealing with Dennis has been a very pleasurable experience - response to all questions was immediate, friendly and professional. If we have the opportunity to return to the Big Island, we will waste no time in contacting Dennis to book Hale Lana again.Recommended for: Adventure seekers, age 55+, romantic getaway, sightseeing.
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Our second visit to Hale Lana was wonderful!
Our second visit to Hale Lana was wonderful!
- Guest Janavagt
- Date of stay 02/05/09
- Review Submitted 02/21/09
For our second vacation at Hale Lana, we wondered if it would be as fantastic a choice as we thought it was last year. Amazingly, it was even better. The webpage for Hale Lana makes it look pretty, but it just does not do it justice. The place is not just absolutely gorgeous but it is spotlessly clean. But what you can't see on the web is that we hear the sounds of the morning birds singing to each other throughout this remarkable house. And the sound of the ocean... and the palm fronds in the breeze, which is a very soothing part of our experience in this quiet Hawaiian neighborhood overlooking the ocean. The owners’ elegant touch is evident in the Asian themed décor that is just perfect for a couple’s romantic getaway. With its beautiful appointed kitchen, we have breakfast on the lanai in our pajamas but there are enough restaurants in the neighborhood that we don’t have to cook any meals at all unless we really feel like it. The jewel of the Kona Coast is just a few minutes up the road from Hale Lana. Chosen by Hawaiian royalty as The City of Refuge and called Pu’ uhonua O’honaunau, we visit at sunrise or sunset, which is so easy because it is only a few minutes away by car. When the tourists from Kona have left for the day, the City of Refuge is our own private Hawaii. So when our friends ask us, every year, “Which island are you going to this year?” we wonder, “Who would dream of going anywhere but the Big Island? And why would we stay anywhere but Hale Lana?”Recommended for: Age 55+, romantic getaway, sightseeing.
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When can we return?
When can we return?
- Guest Hale Lana Lovers
- Date of stay 12/29/08
- Review Submitted 02/06/09
We LOVED our week at Hale Lana and look forward to our next visit. The house is beautifully and simply appointed and has everything you need for a quiet retreat, a home base while traveling about the island or a place to hang your snorkle while using the very close and very beautiful local beaches. The kitchen is completely appointed and meals in were relaxing with the goods purchased from the stores at the top of the hill or fruit stands just down the road. Meals out were excellent as well. Our favorite part was being awakened each morning first by the neighbor's rooster and then by the neighbor's burro! Could a vacation get better than that??Recommended for: Adventure seekers, age 55+, romantic getaway, sightseeing.
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A joy to return to...
A joy to return to...
- Guest Tony-n-Easter
- Date of stay 12/20/08
- Review Submitted 02/01/09
We have stayed twice and are looking forward to the next visit -- I hope it is soon! This is a beautiful, tastefully but simply decorated modern home located close to the water, nestled within a small village, very close to the Captain Cook monument. We are active snorkelers, hikers, fruit stand devotees and great fans of the local cuisine -- sometimes. Which means we like the easy to use fully equiped kitchen, and also the easy access to nice places to dine out. The neighborhood is quiet, with almost no traffic - being well off the beaten path. We woule recommend it to any couple seeking a base of outdoor operations, a romantic getaway, or just some no-stress time. Have fun!Recommended for: Adventure seekers, age 55+, girls getaway, romantic getaway.
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Tropical Beauty
Tropical Beauty
- Guest kayak41
- Date of stay 11/07/08
- Review Submitted 11/16/08
Spending a week at Hale Lana was a relaxing treat for our stay on the Big Island. Open to the world, the upstairs was private while airy with tropical shrubbery visible all around. We especially enjoyed the very comfortable bed, modern kitchen, interior design with good ventilation, and the Shoji doors to the bedroom. There are some enjoyable architectural fine points such as the curved wood braces under the cap of the deck railing, Shinto type headers on the outside frames of the sliding doors, the "sun rays" door leading in from the back garden. Having an easily accessible outdoor shower was heaven upon return from kayaking or beach. Listening to the songs of the birds and sound of the surf upon awakening in this quiet community made this a memorable vacation. Jack and JodieRecommended for: Adventure seekers, age 55+, romantic getaway, sightseeing.
Owner response: Mahalo Nui Loa! We were very lucky to have been able to build a home in this very historic and "spiritual" piece of paradise....the site of Captain Cook's death and otherworldly marine life. The home's attention to detail and joinery is attributed the very talented boat builder craftsmen. Dennis
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True home away from home
True home away from home
- Guest Jill N
- Date of stay 10/26/08
- Review Submitted 11/12/08
We were fortunate to stay in Hale Lana upstairs unit 10/26-10/29, and I just can't say enough good about it. I've stayed in enough of the cheaply built, 'hotplate for a kitchen' rentals that this was a pleasant change. Very well designed with great airflow and ceiling fans. The kitchen is well designed with quality appliances, and well stocked, so cooking and eating in was a delight. The kayak across the bay in the early morning was a highlight of the whole trip. Place of Refuge is a beautiful place to visit and snorkel, and the Coffee Shack breakfast was worth the drive up the hill. Close enough to Kona that we could easily go there for other activities, like the night dive with Manta Rays. Definitely a quiet place at night, very relaxing with multiple shore access points within walking distance. Thanks for buiding such a nice rental Jill and Chuck Durango, CORecommended for: Adventure seekers, age 55+, romantic getaway, sightseeing.
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perfect place!
perfect place!
- Guest asclangl
- Date of stay 09/20/08
- Review Submitted 10/03/08
Hale Lana is a beautiful home and a perfect respite while exploring the Big Island. Kealakekua Bay is a treasure - we kayaked across the bay in the company of spinner dolphins to arrive at Captain Cook's monument and the best snorkeling ever! The bay is crystal clear, and there were a greater number and variety of fish than we could have ever dreamed of. The bay truly is just a few steps away! There is no air conditioning, but for the most part we were very comfortable and even used the blanket at night. Don't arrive for the first time at night - the road from the highway is 4.5 miles of switch-backs and the streets are not particularly well marked - we arrived at night, in the rain, and it was a challenge to find the house! Hale Lana is extremely well-appointed, and the views from the upstairs unit (where we stayed) were outstanding. Especially welcome was the beach equipment (cooler, beach chairs, etc.), and the washing machine was a big plus. I strongly recommend this wonderful home!Recommended for: Adventure seekers, romantic getaway, sightseeing.
Owner response: Mahalo for taking the time to review Hale Lana and our hope is everyone enjoys Kealakekua Bay and our relaxing home. Sorry that you did not have my "5 star" printed directions along that I always send beforehand. I would suggest anyone not rely on googlemaps. Under normal circumstances it is an incredibly beautiful road with expansive views down to sea level. Dennis
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Perfect vacation spot
Perfect vacation spot
- Guest Kiteflier
- Date of stay 09/14/08
- Review Submitted 07/28/09
This is the perfect vacation spot. We rented the whole house from 9/14/08 to 9/18/08. When we arrived the house was in perfect condition, absolutely clean, and nicely decorated with fresh flowers. It is nicely located off of the beaten tourist tracks in a quite location 5 minutes by foot from Kealakekua Bay. Twice we were able to snorkel with dolphins early in the morning before anyone else came down to the bay. A terrific experience! We can absolutely recommend this house and will surely be back!Recommended for: Families with teenagers, romantic getaway, sightseeing.
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