Location: Kohala Estates, Kohala Coast, Big Island, Hawaii, USA (30 miles north of Kona-Keahole Airport) View Map
Accommodations: House, 5 Bedrooms, 3 Baths (Sleeps 10-18)
This 5-bedroom, 3-bath house sits on 5 acres of land in the North Kohala district of the Big Island. We specifically designed it as a family vacation gathering spot, and we built it ourselves in 1989. At about 300 feet elevation, it has terrific 180-degree ocean views. You can also see Mauna Kea, Mauna Loa, Hualalai, and most of the Kohala "Gold Coast." With luck and timing, you can also spot humpback whales (in winter) and the occasional green flash (at sunset).
Because the house sits in the rain shadow of the Kohala Mountains, days are typically sunny and breezy compared to Kona's humid overcast. We even have some "regulars" who come over from Hilo to enjoy long weekends in the sun when available! With high ceilings, 13 ceiling fans, and over 750 square feet of windows, the house has a very open and airy feeling.
The surrounding area is fairly rural in character, so you will find this a quiet place to relax after a day of sightseeing or reading a novel at the beach. (Dedicated party animals will probably prefer something closer to Kona.) However, several excellent restaurants are only 5 minutes away by car in Kawaihae, along with diving, sportfishing, and fine art galleries. Spencer Beach State Park (great for little kids, with shade and very gentle surf) is only 5 minutes from the house, and Hapuna Beach State Park (great for teenagers, with beautiful white coral sand and impressive waves) is only 10 minutes from the house.
You will find this to be a very comfortable home away from home; many of our guests come back for repeat visits.
Vacation Rental Features
- Amenities
- Washer: Washer is extra-sized and in the unit.
- Dryer: Dryer is in the unit.
- Linens Provided: Beach towels are also provided.
- Off Street Parking: Plenty of parking on the driveway.
- Parking for RV/Boat/Trailer
- Beds
- King Bed
- Queen Bed (4)
- Convertible Bed (4) : Three of the bedrooms have additional futons, and the living room has a hide-a-bed sofa.
- Crib: Crib is in one of the back bedrooms. It is on casters and can be moved to any other room.
- Entertainment
- Cable/Satellite TV: Forty-inch Satellite TV is in the living room.
- TV (No Cable/Satellite) (5) : Each bedroom has a TV monitor and a DVD player.
- DVD (6)
- VCR (4)
- Video Library: DVD library has over 100 titles.
- Kitchen
- Full Kitchen
- Cooking Utensils Provided
- Refrigerator (2)
- Dishwasher
- Microwave (2)
- Ice Maker
- Outdoor Features
- Gas/Electric BBQ Grill
- Lanai: Lanai wraps around the house. The ocean-facing side alone is 84' long and 10' wide.
- View/Location
- Ocean View: Unit has a sweeping view of Kona and Kohala coasts and wonderful whale-watching in the winter
- Mountain View: Mauna Kea, Mauna Loa, Hualahai, and the Kohala Mountains are all visible from the lanai.
- Communications
- Telephone
- WiFi (Wireless Internet)
- Other Amenities
- plenty of cooking utensils and linens, no-smoking environment, a good-sized library of hardback books, games, beach towels, beach chairs, boogie boards,sand toys, coolers, hammocks, binoculars, tropical garden, high chair, puzzles, children's toys, games, hair dryers, many small kitchen appliances, Enough dishes, flatware, glassware, and cookware to serve a very large group.
- Suitability
- No Pets Allowed
- Kid Friendly: toys, games, puzzles, sand toys, boogie boards, and kid-vids are available
- Smoking Not Allowed
- Activities (on site and nearby)
- Golf
- Tennis
- Shopping
- Sightseeing
- Restaurants
- Kayaking
- Sailing
- Boating
- Shelling
- Swimming
- Snorkeling/Diving
- Surfing
- Windsurfing
- Biking
- Hiking
- Fishing
- Hunting
- Spelunking
- Fitness Center/Gym
- Health/Beauty Spa
- Basketball Court
- Antiquing
- Live Theatre
- Horseback Riding
- Other Activities
- restaurant-dining, body surfing, boogie-boarding, golfing, picnicking, helicopter-touring, playing tennis, attending live performances
Rate Details (In US Dollars)
Normal rate is $240per night or $1600 per week, with off-season rates
of $200/night or $1250/week (Sept, Oct, Nov, May). Please add $5 per night
for each guest beyond 8 in number. Additional state VAT and bed tax
of 12.5%. Three-night minimum stay. Cleaning deposit of $200 is
fully refundable on departure if house is in good shape. We ask 25% of
the rental fee at the time of your booking to hold the reservation,
with the balance due one month before arrival. Booking deposits will
only be refunded if we can re-rent your time slot.
Note: Until confirmed, rates are subject to change without notice.
Map & Owner's Profile
Year Purchased: 1989
The Unique Benefits at this House
Hale Kephart is spacious and comfortable, but its greatest asset is its location. Tucked into the wind shadow of Mauna Kea and the Kohala Mountains, it enjoys almost a perfect climate. The front of the house faces the ocean and offers spectacular views of the Kona and Kohala coasts, which includes views of spinner dolphins, humpback whales during the winter months, and brilliant sunsets and fairly frequent green flashes. It is close to premiere beaches and within an hour's driving distance of Kailua-Kona, Waimea, and all of the towns of North Kohala. Hilo is only 90 minutes away and Hawaiian Volcanoes National Park is two hours away. Some of the best restaurants on the island are available in Kawaihae, Hawi, and Waimea. Golf courses, tennis courts, and boutique shopping are close by. One need only drive two miles to Kawaihae Harbor to charter a deepsea fishing boat, a sailboat, a dive boat, or a whale-watching boat. Also in Kawaiahe, one can rent scuba and snorkeling equipment as well as kayaks. Other close-by activities include bicycling, hiking, picnicking, geocaching, swimming, horseback-riding, ATV touring, zip-lining, and boogie-boarding. One can enjoy all of these activities and then come home to a hot shower, satellite TV, WiFi internet connections, a library of books and DVDs,and a comfortable bed in a quiet and safe rural neighborhood.
Owner's Map of Kohala Estates
When we were teaching high school in Long Beach, California, we visited the Hawaiian islands every chance we had. In 1988, we purchased five acres of land in the Kohala Estates. That Christmas we were vacationing in Kihei, Maui, and our family said that they would help us put up a house on our land if we could be ready by the next summer. So building the house became our summer project in 1989. In just nine weeks, we, a group of amateurs, completed the house. We used the house for a summer and Christmas getaway for family and friends and rented it out to vacationers when we weren't there. In 2003, we retired and completed a second house on the property in which we now reside. We are definitely here to stay. Each day we are grateful to live in such a beautiful place, and we are happy to be able to share it with our many guests.
Property Photos
- a view of the front of the house - Kamuela, Big Island, Hawaii Rental Accommodation
- a view of the back of the housea - Kamuela, Big Island, Hawaii Rental Accommodation
- View of entry area - Kamuela, Big Island, Hawaii Rental Accommodation
- View of entry steps
- View of front lanai
- View of kitchen area
- View of master bedroom
- View of bedroom #2
- View of bedroom #3
- View of bedroom #4
- View of bedroom #5
- View of back walkway
- View of back steps
- View of TV and entertainment area
- View of living room seating area
- View of one of three full bathrooms
Vacation Rentals by Owner Listing #18208
There have been 50653 visitors to this page since the counter was last reset in 2004.
This listing was first published here in 2002.
Date last modified - November 17, 2009
