Vacation Rentals by Owner

Lovely stay at the Fairways at Mauna Lani

Guest: Lizbeth (Seattle, Wa)
Date of Stay: 03/17/12 Review Submitted: 04/05/12

Our stay was wonderful. We settled into a wonderful routine of beach and relaxation. I was very happy to drive as little as possible and having so much within walking distance was a huge plus. The nearby beaches are spectacular ... many turtles and even a few whale sightings. The condo was lovely and comfortable. Jan & Michael's restaurant recommendations were spot on. We managed a few meals out although the kitchen was marvelous. This was my first condo experience in Hawaii and it worked out very well. I would definately recommend it to friend or relative. We spent mornings and afternoons on the lanai looking over the garden and listening to the birds. I can't think of when I enjoyed a Hawaiian vacation more. I hope to be a return guest. We loved it.

Recommended for:Age 55+, families with young children.

Great spot for families

Guest: Emp (Los Angeles ca )
Date of Stay: 01/20/12 Review Submitted: 01/28/12

We had a wonderful time. The townhouse is spacious, and the master suite and bath were lovely. We were traveling with our one year old, so the washer dryer and dishwasher were key. We were able to walk to the Orchid for breakfast and went to the Mauni lani for lunch and beach. Thanks, Jan and Michael, for a lovely place to stay.

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

Christmas with the family.

Guest: Shelly (San Francisco,CA)
Date of Stay: 12/15/11 Review Submitted: 01/18/12

We returned to Jan's wonderful condo for a family Christmas holiday. We had 3 codos at the Fairways and I must say ours was by far the best equipped . Tons of dishware, glasses, kitchen gadgets and appliances, as well as an abundance of towels and beach toys.We love the island decor. The wide expanse of lawn in front of the condo makes for an ideal place for the children to play. This year, in the spirit of giving, we sponsored families moving into a new housing facility near Costco. We played games, crafts and enjoyed lunch with the parents and their children. We treated ourselves to a wonderful Xmas eve dinner at Napua, the dinner restaurant at the Beach Club. Some of us spent a day zip lining with Kohala zip line. A real thrill. The Fairways is an ideal place for a family gathering .We can't wait to return!

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

Excellent choice in Fairways

Guest: Tara (San Francisco)
Date of Stay: 11/06/11 Review Submitted: 12/09/11

I traveled here with my mom and young son in November 2011. The condo was perfect. Tastefully decorated yet child-friendly in a great location in the complex. It was stocked with pretty much everything we could ever think of needing on our vacation, including kitchen gadgets and sand toys for my son. The owner was very helpful and friendly. Highly recommended. Thanks for the great experience!

Owner response:Thanks Tara. We're empty nesters with grandchildren so we love to make our home "casually elegant" for our friends and yet child friendly when the kids arrived. We appreciate the respect our guests have given the care of our home so that all can enjoy it.

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

Relaxing Family Vacation

Guest: Liz (Tacoma, WA)
Date of Stay: 10/12/11 Review Submitted: 11/13/11

We stayed in the Fairways condo for three weeks this October and had the best family vacation ever! We have two little ones-a two year old and a three and a half year old, both small enough where most vacations aren't relaxing, except for this one! We had everything we needed-the condo is close enough to walk to beaches, great pool, kitchen for cooking all of our meals, washer/dryer, great shopping nearby and more. We met so many families staying at resorts that couldn't believe they were staying at a resort and not at this condo after we told them about it! They were miserable in the resorts because they couldn't cook for their kids and take care of them in a home environment while on vacation. Our favorite night event was walking to the Fairmont Orchid with our flashlights and resting on the beach while the sun was setting. The best snorkeling was at the Owner's Beach where we could use the cabanas and chairs right on the beach! Since Owner's Beach isn't in any guide book we saw, it wasn't swarmed with people. Great beach! We saw countless turtles and tropical fish at this beach. The walk between the Owner's Beach, Mauna Lani and Fairmont Orchid was breathtaking and all within walking distance with little ones (we are very active people). We ended most days with cocktails made in the condo and dining on fresh sashimi from Foodland Farms, the best store for convenient eating, and homemade mac & cheese for the kid. We also found the amazing fish shop up the road and dined on very rare spiny lobster and local fish. What a treat! If you aren't staying in a resort, at least you can make the best cocktails and dine on local fish at reasonable prices. Plus the kids can run around the yard and have fun while you relax. We never even went to Kona or Hilo in three weeks, there was enough to do on this coast to keep us and two little ones happy. The condo is perfect-beautifully decorated, well setup, great location and great owners. Thank you Jan for the best family vacation we have ever taken! It's going to be hard to top this one, so we may need to do it again sometime. Other plus-my husband worked for a week while we were there, the technology/internet access was great, no problems getting setup or online (we've had that issue at other places before). The sunset at Hapuna Beach and the snorkeling at Mauna Kea were both unbelievable! Everything was five minutes away! LOVED IT!!!

Owner response:Some of our best memories come from family vacations. We're very happy that our home help provide you with some good ones. Come back again. Jan

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

Mahalo

Guest: David G. (Valley Village, CA)
Date of Stay: 08/16/11 Review Submitted: 08/28/11

We felt right at home in Jan’s beautifully decorated Big Island home. My wife and I couldn’t ask for a nicer place to relax in tropical comfort. Outside our sliding door lay the lush, Hawaiian gardens and inviting, refreshing pool. The VRBO pictures do not capture the distinctive quality of this special townhouse. It has to be experienced. Dave Goldson, Valley Village Ca.

Owner response:Mahalo, Dave We love the tropical garden right off our lanai. Our wonderful gardeners have transformed what previously was just black lava rock into a habitat for mango, papaya and avocado trees. Just a few weeks ago, I helped my grandson pick papayas just steps from our door. If our guests don't care for tropical fruit, they usually enjoy the 3 plumeria trees that we had planted around our lanai. They bring the tropics right to our door. Jan and Michael

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

Excellent spot for families

Guest: Virginia Traveler (Virginia)
Date of Stay: 08/10/11 Review Submitted: 10/18/11

My family rented 2 units side by side in this complex and had a wonderful stay. This unit's kitchen is very-well stocked and patio with grill and lanai that looks toward pool is a plus. We loved being near the Fairmont Orchid and Mauna Lani. We would definitely come back!

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

Lovely townhome... Great Value!

Guest: Renergize (Bay Area, CA)
Date of Stay: 07/15/11 Review Submitted: 07/30/11

My husband and I had a delightful and peaceful stay in this lovely townhome. We usually rent only vacation homes because we do not like the noise and crowds in condos. We decided to give the Fairways a try and were glad we did. It was absolute peace and privacy. I was quite amazed by the beauty of the grounds and the tranquility of the area. The townhome is wonderfully equipped- especially the kitchen. We had a great time snorkeling in the area. I very much enjoyed the jacuzzi bathtub in the huge bathroom. So relaxing after a day of walking or snorkeling. We barbecued a couple of nights and that was easy and fun. Thank you to the hosts for a wonderful stay. Snorkelers tip: If it's windy, as Kohala sometimes is... try nearby Mau'umae Beach. We snorkeled there on a windy day and the waters were calm and clear. Lovely coral and fish! When it's calm, the Beach Club at the Mauna Lani has incredible snorkeling. The snorkeling at the Orchid (within walking distance of the townhome) is fun because there are turtles there.

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

Great place, Great location!

Guest: Jen and Mark (West Vancouver, BC)
Date of Stay: 05/30/11 Review Submitted: 06/13/11

My husband and I stayed with our 5 year old and 9 month old at this property. It is definitely kid friendly (we only had to put a few smaller items out of reach from an exploring 9 month old!) and our daughter loved having her own bedroom with a bathroom and a window seat. This was probably the most well stocked and well equipped vacation rental we have ever stayed at - down to little swimmer diapers under the sink, laundry detergent in the laundry room and an ice maker on the fridge. It was lovely taking a 6:00 am stroll to the grocery store (which opens at 6:00 am) just a short walk away, which is well stocked and reasonably priced. You cannot hear any neighbours and despite so many places close by, you definitely felt you had privacy even when on the lanai. Lots of suggestions in the guest book to head off for dinner. We highly recommend the Blue Dragon in Kawaihae where we caught an evening of big band jazz with the Olliephonics and had great food. Even the kids menu was terrific, our daughter had her favourite fish and rice. Head to Waimea to the KTA Market to do your grocery shopping - good selection and inexpensive compared to other markets. This townhome was also an excellent choice for participating in the Honu Half and I was a 7 minute walk to the Fairmont Orchid where the race was based to register, do training rides and runs, catch shuttles and finish the race. The location of the townhome puts you in a decent range to head to Hawi, Kona, Waimea and the eastern shore. Thank you for sharing your home Jan and Michael! Oh and one more foodie tip, the The Old Hawaiian Style Cafe in Waimea is fantastic for breakfast and for a traditional mixed plate lunch. A great local place!

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

Relaxing Combination of Local Adventures and Resort Activities

Guest: Bilbo Baggins (San Mateo, CA, USA)
Date of Stay: 05/07/11 Review Submitted: 05/19/11

We couldn't have asked for a more delightful respite from our work-a-day life. This condo is more than comfortable. I won't soon forget sleeping with the windows open to the perfect night temperature of Hawaii and waking briefly to watch the sunrise paint the clouds all the shades of gray, blue, and pink. The Mauna Lani Resort complex turned out to be a great resort for us. We did two SCUBA dives, learned how to paddle board, lounged and ate at the Beach Club, had pupus at the Fairmont Orchid - twice, walked the fish ponds, the archeological and petroglyph parks, and I played a round of the golf on the North Course. All on the Mauna Lani property. The location of the Mauna Lani worked well for us too. We got a lot of local "old Hawaii" time in; dinner at Luke's in Hawi about 25 minutes up the road with live music our first night and dinner at the Blue Dragon about 10 minutes up the road with live music on our last night. Being on the Big Island for a whole week gave us the luxury of spending a couple days driving to the far reaches. We visited Hawi, Honakaa, Hilo, Halualoa, Keolakakua, Captain Cook, and South Point. We drove the saddle road back from Hilo one evening at sunset and drove out of a cloud just in time to avoid 100 wild sheep crossing the road. We rarely vacation to the same place twice but the Big Island and this condo at the Mauna Lani might become an exception. We still need to get to the green sand beach and Volcano House.

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

Spectacular Mauna Lani Getaway - Spring Break 2011!

Guest: Greg and Marni (Seattle, WA)
Date of Stay: 03/30/11 Review Submitted: 05/15/11

While the Big Island is always incredible, our recent trip to Mauna Lani was truly one of the best because of our gorgeous accommodations in Jan's Fairway Villas condo. The pictures and descriptions can't capture the quality, ambiance and location of this property. The accommodations are well decorated with attention to detail (pictures, furniture, kitchen amenities, electronics including TV, Music, etc) and you truly feel like you are at a "home away from home". Jan helped with the details of our stay and so many great suggestions for the surrounding area including food, beaches and activities. We've been to Mauna Lani many times without our children and the condo proved to be a perfect combination of luxury and location. We easily fit our family of four with room for at least two more if necessary. I highly recommend this property and we booked our trip for next year BEFORE we left the last day. Truly a paradise made even better by the accommodations and hospitality!

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

Great respite from the cold mainland

Guest: Steve (Lake Oswego, Oregon)
Date of Stay: 01/17/11 Review Submitted: 02/03/11

We had an excellent vacation thanks to the well kept condo, that was well maintained. It was a plus to be in easy walking distance to the pool. The property is quiet, and is close to two great golf courses, a store, and the bonus was the access to the private beach club. All in all you cannot miss.

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

Great value and location

Guest: Duncan and Rowly (Vancouver, BC, Canada)
Date of Stay: 12/25/10 Review Submitted: 02/14/11

We spent Christmas and New Years here and really enjoyed the unit. It has everything you need and is located in an ideal spot, close to all the best beaches. If you like to cook, this unit is better equipped than most. We would stay here again. Most importantly, this is the driest place in the state. While other places were beinig rained out, we had sunshine. P.S. We do not recommend renting a car from National, as they don't stay open if your plane is late. Hertz and Dollar did stay open.

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

You will love this home! The owner was great to work with and it is more beautiful than the photos!

Guest: Nancy (Salem Oregon)
Date of Stay: 11/30/10 Review Submitted: 01/11/11

This property lived up to every expectation. It is well furnished, has comfortable beds and sofas, spotless maintenance, beautiful furnishings, and a kitchen equipped with every cooks needs!. The location was PERFECT since we could walk 5 minutes to the grocery, Tommy Bahamas, and other stores at the small mall, or 5 minutes in the other direction and find ourselves at the incredible beach by The Orchid Hotel which was where we went often. Although a town home, the property has plenty of privacy and is beautifully landscaped with grass and fauna leading to the pool about 50 yards away. Pool was far enough away that we could not hear the guests. We will definitely return to this wonderful oasis.

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

Wonderful Unit At The Fairways!

Guest: SkiBoston (Boston)
Date of Stay: 11/08/10 Review Submitted: 11/23/10

My wife and I stayed at this unit as the second part of our wedding anniversary. We have not stopped talking about the Kohala Coast and this unit in particular. The pictures do not do this vacation home justice. Coming from the Fairmont Orchid, we expected to experience a slight downgrade in accommodations….this was NOT the case as this unit and the Fairways complex overall are just beautiful. This home if fully loaded with everything you could possibly need for a wonderful vacation. The kitchen is by far the best equipped we have seen in a vacation rental. Little things like an ice maker, a coffee grinder (to grind your fresh Kona beans!), an iPod dock, beach gear including a cooler and quality linens really made the difference. We loved sitting outside on the lanai to enjoy our meals, taking in the gentle fresh breezes, and looking at the beautiful gardens with the pool/waterfall in the distance. The location of this unit is the best in the complex, with wide open garden views that do not look at other units. You can also see the Kohala mountain range from the upstairs balcony and the master bedroom suite. We took the time to check out a few other neighborhoods while we were visiting Mauna Lani and we were so glad to have chosen the Fairways. The Fairways is definitely one of the best, if not the best, landscaped neighborhoods. We also loved the architecture and style of the neighborhood. The owner Jan is very easy to work with and extremely prompt in answering any questions you have via email. I would highly recommend this unit and will be passing it along to family and friends wishing to visit Hawaii. The décor and thought that went in to furnishing this unit is just fantastic. No doubt…we will return. Thanks again!!!

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

Absolutely wonderful -- paradise, in paradise!

Guest: LLM (Pacifica, CA)
Date of Stay: 08/29/10 Review Submitted: 09/09/10

My husband, our 3-year-old daughter and I stayed here for a week in late August/early September -- this condo is SPECTACULAR (so nice, high-end everything and in top condition, but comfortable, not museum-like). Coffee out on the lanai in the mornings, a short drive to the beach club or another beach (taking the beach toys provided!), the pool in the afternoon, grilling on the lanai at night -- couldn't possibly have enjoyed ourselves or the place more. There are groceries, restaurants and shops a five-minute drive away -- everything you need is here. The owners are wonderful to work with, and I have already sent this link to five friends encouraging them to take a Kohala vacation.

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

Perfect Everything!

Guest: relaxed now (Oahu, Hawaii)
Date of Stay: 06/03/10 Review Submitted: 06/18/10

My husband and I stayed here with my parents in the beginning of June. As soon as we walked in the door we were thrilled. The home is inviting and perfectly situated for both adventure and relaxation. Everything from the kitchen to the bathrooms were designed for luxury. It was perfect!

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

Guest: Harv J (Edmonton,)
Date of Stay: 03/15/10 Review Submitted: 03/15/10

We hated to leave your wonderful condo. Everything in it and about it is TOP DRAWER. We even had fun with the tsunami evacuation.(Don't think everyone will have that.) I heartily recommend this "home away from home" to everyone. Don't miss it.

Recommended for:

Guest: Shelly Lyon (San Francisco, CA)
Date of Stay: 01/24/10 Review Submitted: 01/24/10

We enjoyed a glorious 2 weeks at Christmas at this family friendly Fairways unit. Our children, 2 and 6, loved the expanse of grass in front of the unit as well as the easy path to the pool. Everything from boogie boards to a coffee grinder was provided. We especially enjoyed the concierge service provided by Jan's local management team of Cathy and Scott. We can't wait to return!

Owner response:Thanks so much

Recommended for:

Guest: Amy + Garrick (-)
Date of Stay: 12/02/09 Review Submitted: 12/02/09

My wife and I stayed here with our 4-month old son for one month and absolutely loved it. The house itself is roomy, very comfortable, and tastefully decorated. We felt immediately at home. The kitchen and outdoor BBQ are also enjoyable places to prepare meals or fruit smoothies from the bounty we regularly picked up from the Big Island's many farmers' markets. The location of the property is part of the same development of two fantastic resorts: The Fairmont Orchid and the Mauna Lani Bay Hotel. We regularly visited each...especially the fantastic Mauna Lani Beach Club with some of the best snorkeling on the island. Staying at this property lends you access to this somewhat exclusive beach with helpful staff and cozy "cabanas" for guests. The owner of the property, Jan, was wonderful to deal with as well. If you stay here, you will be very happy.

Recommended for:

Guest: Judy Freedman (California)
Date of Stay: 11/16/09 Review Submitted: 11/16/09

I had the most relaxing week at your wonderful Fairway condo. I was delighted and surprised by the private beach access with the easily accessible snorkeling beach and ponds that we walked around and the wonderful swimming pool a short walk from your home. It was great for lap swimming and the hot spa was delightful. Do I sound like I am ready to come back? The short walk to that fantastic market could be a ritual for me in the mornings. Your location was central to everything that we wanted to do. The weather was lovely and the late night walks were a treat, you can't do that at home. I look forward to coming again, I miss the local fish market and those wonderful tropical fruits. Your rental is like a home, the art and furnishings are exsquisite.

Recommended for:

Guest: Sue Lewis (Santa Rosa CA)
Date of Stay: 11/03/09 Review Submitted: 11/03/09

Charming, quality condo, nicely furnished and overlooking wide open space of lush tropical plants and trees. Snorkling and a pretty beach were only 5 minutes away. I highly recommend this condo.

Recommended for:

Guest: Jill Southard (San Francisco, CA)
Date of Stay: 07/14/09 Review Submitted: 07/14/09

We spent 10 wonderful days at this beautiful luxury condo, which is perfectly located outside of the Kona vog belt and near all the best beaches on the island. The colors of the sky, ocean, trees, flowers and vistas are strikingly sharp and very much like Kona was 40 years ago. The location of this particular condo in the fairways development is also perfect, with beautiful green views of endless swaying palm trees, flowering plants, and the Kohala mountain range (which i personally prefer to views of the lava fieldsm which many of the other developments have, and many of the condos at this development as well). The upstairs floor sits almost at palm tree level, and the palms are full of beautiful and colorful little chirping birds to entertain you as you relax on the lanai, which is perfectly protected from any direct winds and has a peek-a-boo view of the waterfall at the swimming pool. The apartment is beautifully furnished, and it is obvious by the quality of everything in it that it was furnished as the owner's second home and not as a vacation rental. There is absolutely everything you could need, from the dishes, appliances, laundry, dishwasher and bath soaps to boogie boards and cooler in the garage. The owners were also great to deal with and the process was fast and easy. We highly recommend this condo for anyone looking for the perfect vacation getaway!

Owner response:The guest has inadvertently added her personal contact information. She requests that her privacy be respected. Thanks, Jan Gilman

Recommended for:

Guest: Jeanie1 (Kirkland, WA)
Date of Stay: 06/05/09 Review Submitted: 06/04/09

The rental was amazing and far exceeded our expectations. Everything was at our fingertips and the amenities were perfect. The pool at the Fairways was PERFECT. It's much bigger than what appears in the photo and quite a lovely place to spend the afternoon. The hot tub is also a dream. I highly recommend this rental and my husband and I will definitely plan on coming back. The rental is within walking distance (1/2 mile) to the foodland grocery and 3 or 4 restaurants. We dined at Dara thai and it was great. Highly also recommend the massages at the Fairmont Orchid.

Recommended for:

Guest: Lauren Newman (Santa Rosa, Ca)
Date of Stay: 03/29/09 Review Submitted: 03/29/09

This was like a wonderful home. Beautifully furnished, all the amenities... Sitting outside for meals was heavenly! We were near snorkeling, golf, and stores. We saw gorgeous coastlines, quaint towns, and great markets. What a wonderful place!!! Quiet,peaceful,and very relaxing. I will be back!!!

Recommended for:

Guest: Nancy29 (-)
Date of Stay: 05/24/08 Review Submitted: 05/24/08

We had a fabulous almost two weeks here, and did not want to leave. The condo is lovely, beautifully furnished with everything one could need. Close to excellent snorkeling, turtle watching, restaurants, etc. We will be back. This is truly a little slice of paradise!

Recommended for:

Guest: Brian in San Francisco
Date of Stay: 05/22/08 Review Submitted: 05/21/08

From a guest who visited us in May 2008: We had a wonderful time in Hawaii -- the place was wonderful! Everything was great, you really have a wonderful home away from home! My only suggestion, and take it for what it is worth, would be at some point to get a port-a-crib - we left a boogie board as a donation since it wouldn't fit in our luggage ! The lawn area for the kids to play is a big benefit for parents when you can sit in one spot and watch the kids run around. We have already recommended your place to friends, and will continue to do so! One other compliment -- we left a camera battery charge plugged into a wall. When we got back I called the South Kohala management office. They had already found it - I gave them a fedex number and we had it back in 2 days.

Recommended for:

Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 04/13/08 Review Submitted: 04/13/08

We had a wonderful stay! The location was very quiet and tranquil. The condo was equipped with everything you would need, and it was in fabulous condition. We enjoyed the beach club daily, with its lovely beach and beautiful snorkeling. We hope to return next year.

Recommended for: