Vacation Rentals by Owner

The best vacation ever!!

Guest: vicki c.
Date of Stay: 03/06/12 Review Submitted: 05/02/12

Greg, Sorry it took so long for me to send you a review. We had a wonderful stay at your fabulous home! I couldnt have asked for anything more. My daughters hired a photographer to come and do family photos on the beach . They turned out amazing! We will all have wonderful family memories of our trip. Thanks to Dominique for all the arangements. She was so helpful! We will definatley come back and recomend the house to friends. Vicki C Santa Rosa Ca.

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Paradise Found!

Guest: NW Travelers (Olympia, WA)
Date of Stay: 01/01/12 Review Submitted: 04/30/12

This was a perfect spot for our family of 8 adults and 2 kids. The website info is very thorough and everything was even better than anticipated. Greg and Dominique were wonderful to work with and readily available. The location was fantastic and the concierge service made everything so simple from the airport. The pool kept the kids happy 24/7 and the guys made regular snorkel runs right in front of the house. It was a wonderful family trip and we hope to make it a tradition.

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, families with teenagers, girls getaway, tourists without a car, sightseeing.

Dear Greg & Jenise

Guest: Mi Di
Date of Stay: 08/05/11 Review Submitted: 10/24/11

We wish to thank you once again for the marvelous time we spent in your fabulous home in Kona. The pleasure and cherished memories our stay in Hawaii affroded our family will be recounted for years to come.

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A Wonderful Vacation Getaway

Guest: Cynthia M. (San Francisco, California)
Date of Stay: 06/19/11 Review Submitted: 07/05/11

We rented the house with my sister-in-law and her family. Four adults and 5 children. The listing was accurate and even more beautiful in person. There was plenty of room for everyone. The house was lovely, and very well maintained. The kitchen was well appointed. We did a lot of grilling on the back lanai. The pool was perfect, we spend hours playing in it. We loved hiking around the tide pools behind the house and fishing in the ocean. The giant glass doors open the living room to a wonderful cross-draft, and we had zero problems with bugs. The renting process was professional and hassle free. They even arranged airport pickup for us with rental cars dropped off at the house. The owner made himself available by phone and was able to help us with several minor issues. The local maintenance people were responsive and very nice as well. I would definitely recommend this house and would love to return.

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Dolphin House Vacation

Guest: Gary
Date of Stay: 06/09/11 Review Submitted: 10/24/11

Thanks Dominique. We had a wonderful time. The Dolphin House was perfect in every way: design, landscaping, furnishings, supplies. Everything was laid out perfectly and was right where you would expect it. And the location was amazing with beautiful views and an easy walk to town and lots of stores and restaurants. We’d love to stay again when we return to Kona. Gary

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My Dolphin House Vacation

Guest: Preston
Date of Stay: 05/07/11 Review Submitted: 10/24/11

Dominique, I am very sorry for taking so long to get back to you, but I was away on overseas travel (London, Hong Kong, Qingdao) as soon as I got back from Hawaii, and I just returned home. We had an absolutely marvelous time in Hawaii. It was one of the most relaxing vacations I've had in many years. We've all been to Hawaii many times, but we all agreed that this was the best place we've ever stayed. It was a fabulous house, and amazingly convenient to everything. One of us (Susi K) has a brother who lives near South Point, so we visited him a couple of times. We also snorkeled, visited the seahorse farm, drove to the wet side, visited Waimea for some horseback riding, visited Atsuka Orchid Gardens to buy some plants, and spent an awful lot of time relaxing around the pool with fruity tropical drinks!! Sorry, but we didn't take any pictures (as noted, we've all been to Hawaii many times). We'd each be very happy to rent from you in the future. The house was everything you promised - and more. Thank you so much. Warm regards - oops - I mean, Aloha Preston

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Fantastic Concierge Service and Beautiful Home

Guest: Al (California)
Date of Stay: 04/25/11 Review Submitted: 05/06/11

It was great. We got leis, cold drinks, snacks and help with our luggage. Sure beats wrestling everything over to the car rental and getting in line. The car was there when we arrived as you promised. The house is beautiful and how could we not have a good time. Thanks for all your help.

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

Heavenly Retreat

Guest: Jenny (Corvallis, OR)
Date of Stay: 08/14/10 Review Submitted: 09/03/10

It was an outstanding experience to stay at the beautiful dolphin house. There were eight people in our party including an elderly grandmother and two ten year old boys. Everyone was comfortable and there was plenty of space to be alone or gather. There are so many fun things to do in and around Kona and all over the stunning big island. But it was always a treat to return home to the dolphin house. The kitchen is completely stocked with everything we could have needed and with the gorgeous granite and ocean view cooking was a joy. Every evening we watched the brilliant Kona sunset from the deck while the waves crashed on the lava rock. I’d love to return to the Dolphin house with family and/or friends. It is a heavenly place complete with the most amazing view of the stars at night! Next time I think I’ll leave my laptop at home because there is a computer provided. So many things that we needed were provided—such as a huge basket of beach towels—and a nice selection of books and movies. We loved the tropical garden that surrounds the home. We are deeply grateful for the experience of staying at the beautiful dolphin house.

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

Great Family Retreat

Guest: Chicago Mom (Chicago)
Date of Stay: 06/23/10 Review Submitted: 07/22/10

We just returned from a great vacation on the Big Island at the Dolphin House, with two teenagers and two pre-teens, and we all had a fantastic time. There was something for all of us and the house is so lovely and well-outfitted for vacation. They really thought of everything and made our stay so simple and comfortable. Our favorite part about staying here is the location on the ocean, with a lava rock shorefront, tide pools, big waves, and the sound of the surf. The pool is small but we still had lots of fun in it. What heaven! Right behind the house is a large park which has tennis courts, basketball courts, a nice playground for littler kids, and plenty of room for a game of frisbee. The sports supplies are there, which made it easy for us to take advantage of the park fully. Thank you for the thought you have clearly put into the place, including the lovely garden. We would recommend it to any family or group of friends for a fabulous get-away.

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

So Impressed

Guest: B. Dornan (Austin TX)
Date of Stay: 05/15/10 Review Submitted: 06/01/10

Hi Cori, Just wanted to get back with you and tell you how much we enjoyed the stay at the house. What a beautiful setting, and great house. We were so impressed by the thoroughness of the house preparations and instructions. Thanks again, Bob

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The Perfect Family Destination

Guest: shopper (Kingston, WA)
Date of Stay: 04/24/10 Review Submitted: 07/13/10

From the moment we opened the front gate our expectations were already exceeded. The house is everything we could of hoped for. This trip was the first for our family of 9, our kids and 3 grandkids, ages 6 and twin 3 year olds. Space and amenities were very important to us since we wanted to be together without being on top of each other. This house more than met those needs. The master quarters were amazing and lots of room in the bed for the grandkids to sneak up and crawl in with us in the morning. The views from our room were great, we saw the full moon at night and watched cruise ships in the morning. Each of our children and their spouses had their own quarters and we put the little one's on a pull out couch right outside their bedrooms. Great for everyone and the kids loved sleeping together. The pool and outside dining area were wonderful. It was really hard for us to leave to do sightseeing and the kids would always run right for the pool when we returned. The house was equiped with everything you could possibly need. First aid stuff, plenty of pool and beach toys, lots of beach towels and plenty of dishes and glassware. We ate most of our meals in and we really did not want for anything when it came to cooking items. The kitchen was big enough for all of us to be in there working and everything worked. All the expected condiments were already there so check the place out before you do your shopping. The beach was just a short distance away and perfect for small children. With calm water and lots of tidepools for them to explore and a great old tree for them to climb on. The nice part is because of the location there were very few people around. We were there during a full moon and a high tide so our entertainment was watching the waves crash on the rocks right in front of the house. You are so close that at times you could feel the spray hitting you while you were eating. The response from the property manager when our internet went down was very quick and positive. Everyone involved with the house was great in answering questions and giving us suggestions on activites we might enjoy. Will we be back, yes. When we asked out kids where they wanted to go in 2012 they all said "back to the Dolphin House". So we will be booking again, but hopefully for a longer stay. Thanks again for living up to the pictures on the web site. Your place was actually better than what the pictures showed.

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

Guest: Lee Hitchner (Bala Cynwyd PA)
Date of Stay: 03/16/10 Review Submitted: 03/16/10

Our entire family spent a week in January at the Dolphin House. We had a fantastic time and the house was everything we could have hoped for. Plenty of room for four couples and a 2 year old and the pool and views were spectacular. The house had everything one could need and, equally importantly, things are clearly marked and directions for use are plentiful and accurate. I highly reccomend the Dolphin House for anyone spending time on the Big Island.

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Wonderful house in a great location with all the best available!!

Guest: Judy from MN (Buffalo, MN USA)
Date of Stay: 02/28/10 Review Submitted: 05/06/10

The Dolphin House is my favorite spot in Hawaii. We have been 3 times and it is a perfect spot for a family get together or just with a few people. The sunsets are unbelievable from the patio next to the pool. The furnishings and kitchen are great. I could live here! We cook when with a large group and everything in the kitchen is top of the line. Makes cooking fun. The location is great...Target, Safeway, Walmart, Macy;s, K-Mart, and Costco are all easy to get to. Great restaurants, activities, beaches are nearby. A massage therapist will come to the house if you desire. My husband gets a gym membership nearby for the 2-3 weeks we have stayed. I brought my 86 year old father and his friend 2 years and loved the flat walking area on the street and shade on lanai to read and relax. There is a great park within walking distance for kids or active adults desiring basketball, baseball or tennis. Everything is top of the line. the owner is great to work with and I look forward returning again!

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

Guest: Alta Jacoby (Woodland Park, Colorado)
Date of Stay: 02/27/10 Review Submitted: 02/27/10

Six of us stayed in Kona at the Dolphin House the week of February 13th. Frankly speaking, we were blown away by this beautiful oceanfront home. The house was so well appointed and cozy that we found it difficult to leave even to go to the grocery store. Virtually everything one needed was there. We loved the gated community with it's peace and quiet and lush landscaping throughout. We enjoyed morning walks to Queen's bath, the beautiful beach area within the neighborhood, and walks along the beach at the old airport. Whales could be seen from the house every day right off the shore. This was just a magnificent home in the most perfect location. Kema Nash and her team were just wonderful as well. We had a few appliance issues and made a call to her. The repairman, Ron, was johnny on the spot. We hope to have the opportunity to return and wouldn't hesitate a minute to reccommend this property to anyone.Jake and Alta Jacoby

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Guest: Fran & Bob S. (Silver Spring, Maryland)
Date of Stay: 12/14/09 Review Submitted: 12/14/09

Dolphin House definitely met our expectations. It was beautifully decorated and the layout was perfect for our family. We loved cooking outside, looking at the ocean and eating on the patio. The grandchildren loved swimming in the pool. The house was just perfect. It was also nice to find toys, beach towels, games, etc that the kids could use. There really was nothing we would do to improve the house--it was very well equipped. Since 2 of us live on the east coast, we aren't sure exactly when we would return to the Big Island, but we would definitely refer anyone we know who is going to the Big Island to rent the Dolphin House. Thank you for sharing your beautiful house with us.

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It was a perfect weekend!

Guest: L. Young (Vacaville, CA)
Date of Stay: 10/23/09 Review Submitted: 05/24/10

Thanks Gaskin Family for allowing us to celebrate Mom's b-day and Tiffany's 28th b-day at your beautiful home. The weather was fantastic! The house is so accomodating. First time my kids have all been together in a while. We will definitely be back. Thanks again!!

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Guest: C & B Halvorson
Date of Stay: 03/10/09 Review Submitted: 03/09/09

Dear Greg,We wanted to thank you for the use of your beautiful home on the Big Island! You wereright, it was the perfect spot for our family! We saw a breaching whale, beautiful beaches, snorkeled at Kealakekua Bay, spotted several sea turtles and visited the Volcanoes National Park. But our most enjoyable time was spent at your home with our sons & their families. We enjoyed the pool (a favorite of our 5 year oldgranddaughter) and our evening meals together on the patio overlooking the gorgeous Pacific!Again, our 10 days at your home in Kona were marvelous! Thank you for providing literally everything we needed while we were there.- Cheryl & Bob HPS Our youngest son, Kirk and girlfriend, Ami, were engaged while we were in HI!

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Guest: -Carole & Reggie Collins
Date of Stay: 05/09/08 Review Submitted: 05/08/08

Mr. & Mrs. Gaskin, Reggie & I wanted to say a BIG THANK YOU for allowing us the privilege of staying in your beautiful home. We had such a wonderful time. Your home is absolutely the BEST we've ever stayed in. We have been renting homes for the past 4 years in the Kona area...but none of them compared to your home. It was fully equipped with everything you could possibly imagine & more !!! One of the couples that stayed with us is a very good cook and loves to cook. He was VERY impressed with all the gadgets & kitchen appliances you had. We had asked Kema if your home was open for the same time next year. But she told us it was already rented....darn. Having access to the internet was a BIG PLUS also. It helped me keep in touch with all my friends and my kids. We have never been away from our kids that long. I got real homesick for them and they are 29 & 31 yrs. old!!! Well, thank you again so very much for allowing us to be in your home. It was the BEST vacation my husband & I have had in a long time!! It was so relaxing right there on the ocean. Sincerely,Carole & Reggie Collins P.S. Kema is just a wonderful and kind person to work with--she is a real sweetheart.

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