Vacation Rentals by Owner

Perfect off-the-beaten path Hawaii vacation house

Guest: Jennifer M.
Date of Stay: 04/07/12 Review Submitted: 04/13/12

Our extended family with grandparents and kids ages 7 and 11 LOVED the Pagoda House. The landscaping and pool area are really beautiful and allowed for us to really enjoy our "down time" days while on our Hawaii vacation. The house is also extremely spacious and airy, just like a giant screened porch, and we all really enjoyed that "tropical tree house" ambiance. Kitchen is wonderful for relaxing dinners at home, fully equipped with subzero fridge, island cooktop, deep farmer's sink, disposal, compactor, etc etc etc. Weather in April was very comfortable, in the high 70s/low 80s most of the time, getting down to around 70 degrees at night. We found K-Bay to be the perfect home base for an active vacation - took day trips to Mauna Kea, Hapuna Beach park and Volcano. We also rented kayaks for the week, and would probably only recommend that if you have two or more large/strong people in your group to haul them back and forth from the launching area. Although its only a block away, the kayaks are HEAVY! Easier to just rent from the place right on the bay each day. Recommend the Coffee Shack for breakfast -- views are really amazing as is the ono benedict. Also, Kona Mike's surfing lesson up in Kailua Kona was the highlight family activity -- great instructors and the beginner area is calm and friendly. Even 42-yr-old Mom with a bad knee managed to stand up and surf a few times! If you prefer a more low key vacation, just sitting in the hammock reading, walking out to see the dolphins in the morning with a fresh cup of Kona coffee, and listening to the birds, this house is great for that too. My parents (in their late sixties and seventies) found it to be fabulous and relaxing and want to come back again soon...

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Beautiful Home!

Guest: Kathi (Olalla, Washington)
Date of Stay: 03/22/12 Review Submitted: 03/30/12

Loved the Big Island experience and really enjoyed our stay in the Pagoda House. The home is impeccable and has all the amenities one needs. You are close to the beach and not far from any of the Kona activities yet far enough away to relax and unwind. It was truly a wonderful experience and we would highly recommend staying here and would definitely return in the future!

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

WOW What a Wonderful Vacation Home

Guest: Harv (Chula Vista, CA, USA)
Date of Stay: 02/04/12 Review Submitted: 02/17/12

The photos and video virtual tour of this property were excellent, but our first impression was, this property is actually better in person! The first floor is like one immense open lanai with a TV area, dinning room, two island kitchen, and spacious living room. The 3 first floor bedrooms were roomy with great bath facilities. The upstairs master suite and bath were spectacular. We were concerned about the lack of AC but had been assured by the owners, and they were correct, that AC would not be a problem during our stay, the first week of February. The daily breeze and multiple fans were more than adequate during the day and fans were not necessary at night. The beautiful pool and lush grounds were enjoyed by our party throughout our stay. The location was great. Kayaks were available just down the street, a very short walk. We found snorkeling at Captain Cook Monument to be the best we had ever experienced. Additional snorkeling was available a short drive south next to the City of Refuge. The City of Refuge was also a very interesting and informative National Park to visit. The Pagoda House is a wonderful property, you will not be disappointed, and our whole group highly recommends this vacation home.

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

Paradise on the island of Hawai'i!

Guest: Nandini (Toronto, Canada)
Date of Stay: 12/22/11 Review Submitted: 01/01/12

I have just returned from a week at the Pagoda House, and am so glad we found this gem of a home! Jennifer and Bill have created a true oasis of peace and relaxation in Kealakekua Bay. The home exceeded all expectations; pictures cannot do justice to it! The small touches were very much appreciated, such as the basket of fruit and coffee on arrival. We can't wait to return!

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

Surpasses Expectations

Guest: Woody and Becky (Dallas / Fort Worth, Texas, USA)
Date of Stay: 07/11/11 Review Submitted: 07/22/11

My wife and I are experienced travelers, and have had opportunities to stay in some wonderful resorts and villas all over the world. When we decided to take our three children to Hawaii, we decided early on we wanted the privacy and comfort of a rental home by the sea.  We stayed at the Pagoda House for 10 days, and with three kids, that's plenty of time to get over the initial fun of a trip and determine if a rental lives up to the promise of it's online profile. I can tell you honestly that Pagoda House surpasses what it promises.  The house is beautiful, open and airy, with fantastic landscaping and a wonderful pool area. If you are bringing a large family or entertaining friends, it's perfect. The large and well equipped kitchen was great for us, as were the multiple living areas and three bedrooms downstairs. the master upstairs was really great, with wall to wall ocean views. The sounds of the ocean and the birds created the perfect island ambiance. We had a very busy schedule of excursions and activities and the Pagoda House was a wonderful oasis to return to each day. Bill and Jennifer have done a great job here, and we were thoroughly impressed.

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

Wonderful Pagoda House

Guest: Curtiss (Seattle, WA)
Date of Stay: 04/26/11 Review Submitted: 06/24/11

Dear Bill and Jennifer, We simply loved the two weeks that we stayed at your beautiful Pagoda House, and genuinely could not have asked for a better experience. From the moment we walked in the front door we knew our vacation was going to be special. We particularly enjoyed the open design of the home, and how it seemed as if there were no walls; everywhere we looked while inside the house we were able to see the outside paradise of Hawaii. Waking up in the morning to the sound of the ocean and birds singing was the perfect way to start each day. We were especially taken with the gorgeous landscaped yard and the unique design of the pool. We spent a lot of time at the pool! The property sitting so close to the water was such a luxury. Whether we were inside the house or by the pool, the view and sounds of the ocean were always with us. When we did venture away from the home, we found so many wonderful things to do and see. Some of the best snorkeling we've ever experienced was just minutes away. Great food and friendly people were to be found all round the Captain Cook and Kona area. When we did venture out to explore Hawaii, we always looked forward to getting back to the Pagoda House. We look forward to coming back to Hawaii and staying in your beautiful home again. Thank you for a truly magical experience! Curtiss, Leslie and Matilda

Recommended for:Families with teenagers

Pagoda House

Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 04/16/11 Review Submitted: 04/26/11

We have stayed at many exceptional homes around the country from Florida, Maine, Wyoming, and California. We try to find a home that reflects the area that we are staying in. This home is the essence of Hawaii. The open floor plan and the screened lanai feeling of the house was very calming. There were six adults,a two year old and 11 month old in our group. The eleven month old learned to walk on the wood floors. The group kayaked with the dolphins, zip lined in the forest, deep sea fished at Honolua Harbor, took ultralight flying lessons at the Kona airport, toured a coffee plantation just up the road, and lounged and barbecued by the pool. Sounds like a frenetic 8 days but the house always welcomed everyone home and the meals together talking over the days adventures made the trip a very relaxing one. My most heartfelt congratulations to the owners who have created a place which captures what Hawaii is supposed to be. Beautiful, quiet, natural, family oriented. Thanks again. We hope to return soon.

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

Lovely Spot

Guest: Lori Beth (Portland, Oregon)
Date of Stay: 03/14/11 Review Submitted: 03/28/11

I just returned from a 10-day stay at the Pagoda House where I went with my husband, 6-year old son, mother, and 17-year old niece. The house was amazingly beautiful and spacious, with plenty of personal space for everyone. The kitchen was well-equipped, which was important to us because there are no restaurants within walking distance. When we discovered the blender was not working, the owners had another one down to us within 12 hours - they were very attentive. We found the house to be quite clean and well-kept. The pool was lovely as were the gardens. Even though the tsunami made a mess of the lower garden wall (we arrived 4 days after it struck), it was virtually hidden from the house and poolside. Our only disappointments were the fact that Kealakekua Bay still had some debris in it that made swimming there less desirable and that the closest nice sandy beach was a 20-minute drive away. It made for more driving than we had expected. Still, the snorkeling at Honaunau was really nice, and we swam with the dolphins there as well as Ho'o'kena to the south. It was a truly peaceful spot that I would recommend to anyone who wants to get away from the regular tourist madness for a real rest.

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

Perfect for taste of old Hawaii. Close enough, but far from the crowds

Guest: BoarderMom (San Francisco Bay Area)
Date of Stay: 12/18/10 Review Submitted: 12/31/10

We stayed here for two weeks over Christmas 2010. We've rented a number of places over the years, including a house in Mauna Kea. Pagoda House lives up to its description. It was beautiful, comfortable, clean, well maintained, with all the amenities. We enjoyed feeling part of the neighborhood and yet being away from the craziness of the north. We would definitely recommend this rental to a friend and to others.

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

Really Great

Guest: M (Canada)
Date of Stay: 10/04/10 Review Submitted: 12/12/10

This is a beautiful home in paradise. We really enjoyed staying in this authentic Hawaiian tree house. The pool and the proximity to nearby kayaking and dolphin watching made our stay unforgettable. We had all the comforts of home. The owners were very friendly and attentive to our needs.

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

Pagoda House

Guest: Shamrock (Santa Barbara/Ojai California USA)
Date of Stay: 06/11/10 Review Submitted: 06/24/10

My family has traveled quite a bit and had the good fortune to stay in some wonderful places... but Pagoda House was fantastic! We loved this beautiful home and the owners were perfectly helpful and great to work with at every turn. All members of my family love to cook and we found the spacious kitchen delightful! We also spent a lot of time reading in the hammock, swimming in the pool, & snorkeling in the amazing bay. The Pagoda House gardens are lovely from every angle, especially when the mango we were eager to eat fell off the tree~ it was so delicious! The Master bedroom (upstairs) was so inviting and relaxing, private yet cozy. This home allows the guests to have time to themselves if they want it, yet has large spacious living rooms, and a lovely dining room for great times as a group. The big island temperatures were perfect, day and night, rain or shine. Laying in bed listening to the rain at night was fun and waking up to the sound of the assorted beautiful birds was wonderful. Hearing the ocean waves was comforting and relaxing. Our experience was so nice that we are having a hard time adjusting to California time and we all look forward to returning soon :) :) :)

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

Family from Poland

Guest: Marek (Poznan, Poland)
Date of Stay: 05/09/10 Review Submitted: 07/06/10

Fantastic place. Comfortable house for 5 people family - four adults and one teenager. Close to ocean, cayacs and snorkeling. Owner send us very detailed information about all possible atractions in the surranding area - where to buy good wine, rent cayacs, go to restaurant etc. We want to recommend this property.

Recommended for:Age 55+, families with teenagers, tourists without a car, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Guest: Robert
Date of Stay: 12/19/09 Review Submitted: 04/06/10

Your place was amazing, much better than the pictures. We intend to write some glowing reviews of your place on a few websites. I was able to snorkel from the kayak launch and Manini beach is underrated given the tide pools and unique rocks. We spent a sunset there with a bottle of wine and your plastic wine glasses. The surf was high and the crashing waves were very picturesque. It was nice to be away from the hustle and bustle of Kailua. I couldn't imagine a better location than your place. Open air was an excellent choice. Thanks again.

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Guest: Kate & Barry
Date of Stay: 12/01/09 Review Submitted: 04/17/12

Pagoda House lived up to and beyond our expectations! Thank you for the added bonus of the flowers and fruit. We enjoyed them tremendously. It is hard to leave, particularly for those of us going home the cold and snow. Hope to be back next year. Kayaking, snorkeling with dolphins and the beautiful coral was fantastic. Aloha and Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

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Pagoda House - Kona

Guest: Roy & Deb (Appleton, Wisconsin)
Date of Stay: 01/24/09 Review Submitted: 02/04/10

Our experience here was the best ever. The house exceeded our expectations. We had everything we needed for our week and were very comfortable. The snorkeling was the best at Capt. Cooks. We got to kayak around the spinner dolphins right by the beach which was the best experience for all of us. We loved the privacy the property allowed. We definitely will recommend this property to our friends and relatives.

Recommended for:Age 55+, tourists without a car, romantic getaway.