Vacation Rentals by Owner

Highly Recommended!

Guest: Chelsea (Seattle)
Date of Stay: 03/25/12 Review Submitted: 04/11/12

We had 7 adults in our group and the house was perfect for us. There are 4 main bedrooms each have a queen size bed, plus all 4 rooms have a twin bed. There are a few other lounging/sleeping spaces set up throughout the home. 2 of the upstairs bedrooms share a jack-n-jill bath, and the other 2 rooms have their own bathrooms. The layout worked well, spacious & relaxing. We ate breakfast on the back patio area and spent time in the afternoon out front by the pool. The hot tub was fun at night with the light feature! We had 3 cars, but the space could hold 4 plus there is street parking nearby. The house is nicely surrounded in tropical plants & trees which create privacy from the neighbors. The owners live onsite in a house connected to the rental unit. Dave and Diane were so welcoming and offered helpful tips and island information. Although they live onsite, their space is separated from the rental space so we didn’t hear them or see them during our stay. There are plenty of towels, snorkeling gear, & beach chairs provided for use – not to mention a ton of other helpful household items not typically available in rentals. The house is about a 5 minute walk to Magic Sands Beach, which we didn’t go to since it was crowded, but location was great. Ali’I Drive is a nice street for a walk or jog and there are several places to access the water for a snorkel! There is a grocery store 5 minutes driving south which was handy. The location of the house was a nice distance from downtown Kailua-Kona (about 3+ miles). We were in town for a family wedding w/ a group of 50. Out of the houses and condos the wedding guests rented, Falling Waters house was definitely best in show! We left a phone charger at the house & Dave mailed it to us right away. We also got our deposit back about a week after our stay. Everything about the rental process was great & we hope to visit Falling Waters & the Big Island again soon! Mahalo Dave & Diane for such a pleasant stay! Comments from my group: It was fantastic, fun & comfortable- felt like it was well taken care of and would definitely return to stay there! The landscaping was great, it attracted birds & geckos and screened the neighbors in the nicest way, and rustled in the breeze. The home was a wonderful mix of hominess & luxury. I was sick & it made all the difference to have a beautiful place to hang for a couple of "down" days, where I still felt like I was on vacation even though I couldn't do much. Great vibe!

Owner response:First of all, we want to give Chelsea and Beth a Big Mahalo for taking the Time and Effort, to write this most Splendid Guest Review. This is one of our Best Reviews in the last 12 months ... and they took their time to write a Concise and Thoughtful description of their stay at our luxury level Villa ....... They've given a well-rounded detail of not only our listed amenities, but, also those great amenities that are there to exceed your expectations, and isn't that the whole purpose? To exceed our Guests expectations ..... in a well rendered manner! ....... The only correction that we would add is that most of our Beds are King size, not Queen, as listed on our vrbo page ....... The last thing to certainly mention, is the General Condition, that Chelsea and her group left our Villa in ....... Flawless ....... as if No One had ever stayed there at all, so their Guest 'Foot Print', was Negligible, the most Coveted result that Any Vacation Property Owner or Agent ....... could only Wish for! ....... You guys are most certainly Welcomed Here ....... Anytime ...... and we are certain that they will be back again! ....... Mahalo nui e' Komo Mai ... Dream Hawaii!

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

Family Reunion

Guest: jan (green valley arizona usa)
Date of Stay: 12/23/11 Review Submitted: 02/27/12

Falling Waters is a unique, homey Hawaiian home. Our family of 15 (8 adults and 7 grandchildren) enjoyed congregating in the well equipped kitchen-dining room while our "chefs" prepared wonderful Hawaiian specialties. Santa came to Falling Waters, so Christmas morning found us gathered in the living room where we found our stockings filled with Hawaiian treasures. Mornings on the pool deck (with our cups of freshly brewed Kona coffee) were spent making plans for each day. The grandkids loved boogie boarding at Magic Sands beach. Their favorite day though was zip-lining in the rain forest up north near the town of Hawi. I loved both our day at the Volcano National Park and kayaking to captain Cook Monument where spinner dolphins entertained us along the way and when we arrived at the monument the snorkeling was spectacular!! This was our family's 7th family reunion. I have rented 6 homes through VRBO. When I signed the rental agreement for this home in February 2011, it was listed on this site as a 4.25 bath, 5+bedroom home. Unfortunately, from February 2011 until our arrival on December 23,2011, it didn't dawn on me to question these numbers. Whenever I've rented through VRBO in the past, the numbers of bedrooms and bathrooms listed have always accurately reflected the actual number of bedrooms and bathrooms in the home. Upon our arrival at Falling Waters we found 3.5 baths, rather than the 4.25 private bathrooms promised and the 5th bedroom, described as a "mini-suite", is a converted closet IN the 4th bedroom. Since our stay, this site has been amended and lists the correct number of bathrooms. The descriptions of the bedrooms have been altered as well. . I would also recommend asking a couple of other questions early in the rental process of this property. If your party includes children under the age of 5, adults over the age of 70, or teenagers, ask if there are any pool or hot tub restrictions. Secondly, ask if the washing, drying and folding of all towels is included in the cleanng fee. In the end, all 15 of us had a fantastic Big Island vacation, and I did appreciate the commercial size washer & dryer, our extended check out time, and the return of my full security deposit in such a timely fashion.

Owner response:With over 20 years of Experience, with our family being Residential Home Builders, Sub-division Developers, Real Estate Agents, owning and operating Vacation Property's in Hawaii and the Mainland; ........ Every Once in a while, the Circus descends into Kona. This is the case in point here, where SomeTimes, there appears an Miss-matched union between a Vacation Property, Rules and Regulations and New Guests, no matter which Universe they are from ........ Here's Why ....... it's undoubtedly Certain, that at times, All Vacation Property Owners, will encounter Certain Families that Do Not Fit, Nor Vacation, Nor Play, Nor Live, Well Together, under Any Circumstances, Period ....... This is Not the Fault nor the Responsibility of the Owners or Agents, therefore, it is inconceivable to accept any fault ....... This Phenomenon is beyond our Scope of our trademark Hawaiian Hospitality ........ From a Pure Observation standpoint, If and When, you are met on Arrival Day, with a Family, displaying High Levels of dramatic Group Dissonance, and Toxic behavior, that is Fueled not by Oxygen, but, rather Ethanol ....... The Las Vegas Odds are that it’s Not going to be Pretty, for the rest of the Ride ........ Now you may multiple that by a factor of 18 and the Show is about to Kick Off ........ Enjoy the Popcorn!

Recommended for:Families with young children, girls getaway.

Our Long Anticipated Home Rental in Paradise!

Guest: Rachel (Seattle, WA)
Date of Stay: 07/02/11 Review Submitted: 07/17/11

This vacation was over two years in the making. It took us quite a while to find just the right vacation home to house our four families - but I know we found the perfect one! The house was spacious and cozy at the same time, with all the amenities you need to make it feel like home. We enjoyed watching the kids play in the pool, dinners out on the back lanai/deck, using the private upper lanai off of the pineapple room as my personal office -- getting to work in the early hours with the birds singing and the heady scent of the plumerias, gathering in the large kitchen/dining room to prepare meals and compare the day's adventures we all had. And did we ever have adventures! The house was the perfect starting point to our many trips: just minutes away from Magic Sands Beach for boogie boarding or Kahaluu Beach for snorkeling (all beach gear provided!) with many fish and turtles! A slightly longer walk to Kailua Village, the farmers' markets and other shopping. A two-hour drive or less got us to Volcano Nat.l Park, Hapuna Beach, the summit of Mauna Kea, and other destinations. But most of all I enjoyed relaxing, enjoying the views, and trading stories with family members that are far flung. Mahalo for the memories! Can't wait to return!

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

OUR FAMILY GET TOGETHER OVER THE 4TH OF JULY TO CELEBRATE LIFE, LIFE, LOVE & HAPPINESS

Guest: Tom & Marilyn (Conifer, Colorado)
Date of Stay: 07/02/11 Review Submitted: 07/16/11

Our long awaited trip to Hawaii was so overwhelmingly wonderful that I'm not sure where to begin. We were told the Kona airport was surrounded by mainly black lava etc., but to not be discouraged. South to Kona it was to got greener and more beautiful. We were amazed at how beautiful our house was at Kona Magic Sands with its lush palm trees. We felt that the house was so much more than the description as listed on VRBO. The house was so richly decorated, yet had an appeal about it of comfort, warmth and hominess. Diane met us and walked us through the house, explaining many of the features available to us. Diane and Dave were so accomodating - wonderful people. The kitchen was equipped with anything one would need. The bedrooms were beautifully decorated, clean, spacious and had great views. Every room was decorated with care and love, which to me made this feel so much like a home. The hot tub, pool, outdoor shower, barbeque pit, were used often as we frequented the close by beaches, (saw sea turtles), snorkeled, shopped at local vegetable and fruit markets, or the "Bite Me Fresh Fish" market, or just lounged around enjoying the beautiful Hawaiian fragances and listening to the local birds. There was much to do around Kona, but we also ventured out to "Hawai'i National Park" and hiked several trails, including walking through part of a lava tube, walking down to the coast line to see how the lava broke off and created cliffs, hiking out to see petroglyphs and also hiking out to see where the lave closed off a highway. Part of our group, consisting of 4 families, drove the Saddle Road to Hilo where they saw Rainbow Falls, Akaka Falls, Boiling Pots, Hilo, and then drove the northern coast home to Magic Sands. As a group we drove to Hapuna Beach, a beautiful sandy beach north of Kona. Definitely worth the drive. The kids and adults loved the use of the bogie boards, umbrellas, and snorkel gear that was provided to us from the house at Magic Sands. Some of us also hiked the "Captain Cook" trail. It was a challenge, but the snorkeling was awesome. I would recommend taking a boat next time-much easier to snorkel from a boat. Another group drove to Mauna Kea Observatory in the evening. We also toured "Pu'honua o Honaunau" national park. It was always nice to come home to Magic Sands, to relax by the pool or on one of the comfortable couchs by the many fans through out the house. We will miss our wonderful home in Hawaii. Mahalo e'a hui hou.

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

Our Christmas Vacation at Falling Waters was perfect for our large family celebration!

Guest: Robyn, Johnny and Alexa (Vancouver Island, British Columbia)
Date of Stay: 12/25/10 Review Submitted: 01/17/11

Our party of 14 had the perfect Christmas/NY's vacation at Falling Waters! The reviews from our group were unanimous with everyone saying it was the perfect place to relax, escape, explore, be active, become a real beach-goer, cook and eat like kings, and really enjoy our family time! There were four families in total, each of which found very comfortable, private rooms/bathrooms along with spacious, well-appointed shared living spaces, including the beautiful outside dining area which we really made use of to enjoy the wonderful weather. There are electric fans throughout the house, beautiful artwork, a well-stocked kitchen which even the pickiest chef would enjoy, the sound of exotic birds singing in the morning, beautiful views from the top floor, views of the sunset from the pool deck, and fabulous hosts, Dave and Diane, who were so helpful with questions and making sure we all felt comfortable, while at the same time ensuring we had our privacy, This is the perfect house for large groups as we could enjoy all the living spaces comfortably without being in each others way. The grandparents really enjoyed their own separate Pegge Hopper suite. With kids ranging from 3 - 17 years there was something for everyone, They (and the big kids, us adults!) all enjoyed the pool, grassy areas to play, beach toys and especially Magic Sands beach -- our favourite activities were boogie boarding and snorkeling there and all the gear was provided at the house -- we even saw a pod of dolphins on numerous occasions. It was nice to have the lifeguarded beaches so close by, and we made use of the outdoor showers at the beach and the house to get the sand out of our hair and suits. We also snorkeled at Kahaluu Beach and saw the turtles (a real highlight!) Running/walking along Alii Drive was also really convenient - and the luau Dave recommended at the Kona Resort was a great feast and show. The fireworks display provided by Dave on the street on NY's Eve was an added bonus as a festive way to ring in the new year! The house is in the perfect location to tour the Island - we found there was so much to see and do in the surrounding areas that we didn't feel the need to venture too far. Members of our party had fun experiencing the many golf courses, a horseback riding excursion, Place of Refuge,quaint shops in Kona, Hapuna Beach, the Queens Bath, and the farmers market for fresh fruit and veggies. We hardly scratched the surface and want to see more, so we will be back!

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

A Very Charming and Comfortable Residence

Guest: Kevin (Chapel Hill)
Date of Stay: 07/18/10 Review Submitted: 08/18/10

We were pleasantly surprised to find out that the villa was just as portrayed - beautiful, spacious, inviting, and private. We thought our large party (14?) of two families would have us busting at the seams, but the large format sleeping quarters gave us plenty of room. The kitchen was well-stocked and accommodated "mass-production" meals, and the large shaded outdoor dining area made the expansive back porch a legitimate part of the living space. The villa is just a couple streets off the main road, which keeps it very quiet, but not too remote for an easy walk to the beach or a jog to town. We felt very safe, and kept all our water toys outside on the soft grass day and night.

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

Guest: Jill and Bill (Incline Village, NV)
Date of Stay: 01/27/10 Review Submitted: 01/27/10

Our family of 11 (6 adults and 5 young children all under 7 years of age) stayed over New Year's 2010. The highlight of New Year's Eve for the kids were the fireworks done by the neighborhood in the cul- de-sac. The house is well designed for 2 families upstairs on each 'wing' with grandpa and grandma down in the Peggy Hooper Suite. This very clean house was well-equipped in the kitchen, washer dryer room, and the BBQ with spacious outdoor dining off the kitchen for even more convenience. Lots of pool and beach toys were supplied. We would highly recommend this home to anyone.

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Guest: Brent Greenberg (-)
Date of Stay: 09/14/09 Review Submitted: 09/14/09

For a group of 7 what a deal, plenty of room and what a fabulous location! This is a must book vacation home, I would do it again in a heart beat. The photos of the property just don't do it justice. Diane and David are wonderful people to work with. Thanks for the great memories!

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Fantastic Family Trip

Guest: Pez lover (Orland Park, IL, USA)
Date of Stay: 03/21/09 Review Submitted: 04/07/09

We just arrived home from a fantastic family trip and had a relaxing time at Falling Waters. We had more than enough room for our family of 11, meeting in Kona from Phoenix, Denver and Chicago. Many of the beds weren't even touched. It's a close drive from the airport, which was great after many hours in the plane. The property is well represented online. They had everything we needed for the 3 grandchildren. The property is beautifully maintained. Spacious dining both inside and outside. The pool and hot tub were nice when we weren't at the Magic Sands beach, which was awesome. We did have to take a vehicle to the beach with all our baby gear and coolers, but most of the adults and teens walked. The Main Road was also great for the runners and walkers in our family. Everyone got enough exercise. It's also just a short drive to great shopping, restaurants and the Catholic Church on the Kailua-Kona strip. We didn't see whales but we swam next to sea turtles and dolphins. Took the advice of other reviews and stocked up at Costco for essentials, but there are many stores to get supplies (Walmart, Kmart, ABC, KTA). Owner generously accomodated us with a late check-out since our flt wasn't leaving until 10:50p and we had kids that needed naps. Would highly recommend this property for family trips.

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

Guestbook Comment

Guest: RickR (Sacramento, CA)
Date of Stay: 01/01/09 Review Submitted: 01/18/09

Our family of 12 (7 adults, 5 children ranging 4 to 17 years) stayed at Falling Waters Estate over Christmas-New Years 2008-09) and had an experience very like those well described by previous reviewers. It was 100% positive. The owners are attentive and personable without being intrusive. The facility is well designed, maintained, furnished and supplied. The pool, though deep, was well provided with flotation devices and enjoyed by the children, including the 4 year-old. With only a two-block walk to the beach, the location is outstanding. We could not have made a better choice.

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Guestbook Comment

Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 01/01/09 Review Submitted: 01/14/09

Beautiful home, well equipped. We had our 3 children, their spouses, and 1 grandchild with us. Everyone had their own 'space' for privacy, and then family areas in living room and off the kitchen, plus by the pool and the lanai off the kitchen area. It was great. David and Diane are great hosts. The house is fully furnished with everything you could possible need! We highly recommend Falling Waters!

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Guestbook Comment

Guest: Leah Carroll (Austin)
Date of Stay: 10/01/08 Review Submitted: 10/13/08

Falling Waters Estate is the perfect getaway for a large family. The multi-level layout offers both privacy and plenty of areas to congregate. The infinity pool is right as you enter the property, and it's one of the most impressive entrances I've seen. Best of all, the owners are locals and are available to help with suggestions for area activities. Beyond that, they are some of the nicest people I have ever met. They have truly poured their heart and soul into this house, and they are ultra-accommodating to their guests. It was great to learn the history of the house and the area. Highly recommended!

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Falling Waters Estate is superb!!!!!

Guest: topnlady (Antelope, California)
Date of Stay: 06/28/08 Review Submitted: 07/31/08

Our family celebrated our 25th Aninversay at Falling Waters. The home was very well maintained, clean and the amenities were excellent and made our stay the very best ever. Our hosts were gracious and very helpful making our stay a wonderful experience. We like how close it was to the beach and easy to get to and from as we traveled around the area. We would recommend this home to any of our friends and would definitely come back again. Snorkeling in the area was fabulous and good snorkeling beaches were close to the home.

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

Lovely, Lovely, Lovely

Guest: J.B. (Minneapolis, Minnesota)
Date of Stay: 12/01/07 Review Submitted: 01/21/08

Our three families (12 people) stayed at Falling Waters over Christmas/New Year's 2007-08 and found it's layout to be spacious, lovely and very comfortable in accommodating our group. We made good use of the lanais, pool and hot tub, BBQ and outdoor dining. Very clean! The location is a perfect walking distance to great beaches and it was lovely to wake and hear the birds. We found everything set up in a thoughtful way with the guest in mind. Owners very friendly and helpful. We highly, highly recommend it!

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

Fallling Waters Was Wonderful

Guest: Wolf (Kelseyville,California)
Date of Stay: 08/01/07 Review Submitted: 09/02/07

We are an extended family of 15 including 4 couples and 7 children who had a wonderful Hawaii vacation staying at Falling Waters. The accomodations worked out very well for us as each couple had a private area for themselves and the children shared the large master suite. The home had a very well stocked kitchen and laundry room so we just hit Cosco had everything we needed to enjoy the week. There were plenty of beach and pool toys available and we all had a great time. I would highly reccomend this beautifully decorated vacation home to everyone.

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Guest: Sylvia (Fort Myers, FL)
Date of Stay: 07/01/07 Review Submitted: 08/06/07

Had plenty of room for all 8 of us, good layout, nice to have pool. Close to turtle beach where the snorkeling was excellent. Home was very clean and extremely well decorated.

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The most amazing vacation rental ever!

Guest: Garf (Houston, TX)
Date of Stay: 07/01/07 Review Submitted: 08/01/07

Three generations of my family stayed in this beautiful, comfortable house for week. Not only was it spacious, but the amenities were incredible. It was so nice of have the pool to come home to at the end of the day, and the view of the sunset from the front lanai were spectacular. We couldn't have been more pleased. The house was so well-stocked, and there was nothing it was lacking. The location was also perfect. The beach was within walking distance, and it was very close to shopping, etc. The owners were extremely nice and easy to deal with.

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Guestbook Comment

Guest: Susan Lash (Maricopa, Arizona)
Date of Stay: 07/01/07 Review Submitted: 07/22/07

Our family of 13 stayed at Falling Waters June 2007. The homesite was spacious for all of us. It was also well stocked and clean. The pool was an added bonus and all the kids and grandkids enjoyed it when we were not exploring the island. We would not hesitate to stay here again.

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Guestbook Comment

Guest: Brian Pargeter (Roseburg, OR)
Date of Stay: 03/01/07 Review Submitted: 03/22/07

We have stayed here twice. The first time with 7 adults and the next time with 6 adults and 5 kids. It is a great place, well equipped,a great pool and close to everything. We would not hesitate to stay there again.

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Guestbook Comment

Guest: Wenaas/Bailey Family (Calgary, Alberta, Canada)
Date of Stay: 02/01/07 Review Submitted: 02/23/07

We had the pleasure of staying here over Christmas/New Years 2006/07. This lovely home was perfect for the 3 families that stayed 2 weeks here (7 adults, 4 children) with enough room for all of us. Thanks Diane and Dave for the wonderful home and memories.

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