Vacation Rentals by Owner

Pahoa home

Guest: tiare (Honolulu)
Date of Stay: 04/27/12 Review Submitted: 05/04/12

Spacious home and good location! Quiet neighborhood with very few homes on the dead end street.

Recommended for:People with disabilities, age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children.

Great location for exploring non-Kona side of Island

Guest: LB Cheryl (Long Beach, CA)
Date of Stay: 04/24/12 Review Submitted: 04/29/12

I have been to Big Island about 10 years ago, but can't recall a thing. If I had, I would have skipped Kona all together. Don't waste your time on the tourist/$$$ side of the island. If you want to experience a more authentic Hawaii, stay on the east side. On this trip, we stayed 4 days in Kona and then headed to "Hilo" to stay at this house. The home was just as pictured. It's SPACIOUS, clean and the beds are oh-so comfy. This house is listed as Hilo, but it's actually in Pahoa. I was disappointed when I passed thru Hilo to travel 20 minutes to get to the house for the first time, but that disappoint was VERY short lived. I prefer Pahoa now! I heart Pahoa!! Hilo may be better known than Pahoa, but I think staying in Pahoa is a MUCH better deal in terms of location. While staying at the owner's lovely home, we visited Akaka Falls (must see!), did a helicopter tour leaving from Hilo airport, checked out the Volcano and experienced the Ahalanui Park, aka Warm Ponds. The Warm Pond was the MOST amazing thing we did in HI and it's absolutely free. We went about 3 times we were so blown away -- AH*MAZ*ING. I enjoyed the beauty of nature, Hawaiian and Hawaiian identified people and good food in Pahoa. Definitely eat at Kaleo's in Pahoa. Fantastic. Back to the house, it's clean, centrally located to all that's needed for a proper vacation and perfect for multi-parties traveling together. We didn't even use the upstairs which has a sitting area, computer area, and rooms. The owner was communicative, quick to respond, professional and processed my deposit quickly. We appreciated the snorkel gear, toys and book of things to do in the area. My husband, mother, toddler and infant loved it. When we come back to Pahoa (and our Warm Pond), we'll definitely stay here again. Thank you.

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

AWESOME EXPEREIENCE!

Guest: Keano (Honolulu, HI)
Date of Stay: 04/11/12 Review Submitted: 04/16/12

I have to thank Joyce and her people that keep this vacation rental well maintained and equiped with everything for her temporary tenants. She was very quick in responding to every email and accomadated us to no end. The house was HUGE and very comfortable. It was kept well maintained, and although we did not need any of it, there were tons of recreational equipment for us to use. The location was easy to find and located in a nice neighorhood. If you are not a light sleeping morning person, don't sleep in the upstairs bedroom or loft above the garage, as roosters will crow from a property across the street. I could only hear them from those places and was never bothered by them. The kitchen was LOVELY!!! My sentiments are mutual for the rest of the living, dining, loft, patio and parlor areas. AMAZING!!! Bedrooms were so comfortable and bathrooms were well kept and clean. My ABSOLUTE FAVORITE thing was the Master bath and not one, but 2 walk-in closets in the Master bedroom... GORGEOUS!!! My only concern was that the hot water to bathe ran out by the time our 5th person took a bath, and we had 8 people. So the next few days we had to space our baths out so everyone could get a nice warm bath. We made do. But that was very do-able compared to the AWESOME experience we had. Again mahalo Joyce so very much for a wonderful accomadation! Aloha.

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

Hilo home vacation rental

Guest: anabanana (Los Angeles, CA)
Date of Stay: 02/23/12 Review Submitted: 03/07/12

This house is newer, clean and quite affordable compared to other listings. It's very large and is great for family get togethers. It's in a convenient location right off the main highway. You could easily get to the waterfalls or the volcanos with a short car ride. It is super rainy on this side of the island but don't let that stop you from doing things that you want to do because it will likely stop and then start again. Bring your ear plugs if you are a sensitive sleeper because there is a rooster farm across the street. I wore ear plugs and didn't hear them at all :) Joyce is super easy to work with. She responds very quickly to requests and was quite accomodating when I wanted to add guests on at the last minute. She also gave our deposit back very quickly (within a week). I would recommend this house to anyone wanting a nice, roomy place to stay on the Hilo side.

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

Great Place Great Location

Guest: Mel (Oklahoma)
Date of Stay: 02/12/12 Review Submitted: 02/20/12

Five Stars! We visited in Feb 2012 and can truly say this is a wonderful place to stay. You are very close to waterfalls, lava trees, coffee roasting plantations, orchids farms, macadamia nut factories, the magnificent volcano and the current lava flow viewing locations on the coast (15 minutes away), and of course Hilo. The house was large, beautiful and perfectly maintained. Great Master Suite! We thoroughly enjoyed our stay.

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

GREAT place to see the Parks

Guest: katchow6 (Greenville, SC, USA)
Date of Stay: 12/18/11 Review Submitted: 01/02/12

It's Hilo, not Kona - it's not the tourist side of the island, and you're amongst the typcial Hawaiian rain and chickens. With that said, if you're looking to truly explore the BEST of the big island, this a fabulous home base for it. A short drive to the Volcano National Park (which 2 days is barely enough time to truly experience), and close enough for a nice Mauna Kea day trip (you WANT to go for the whole day to see the sun set and stars there!). And it's the only place to really see the lava flows. Also has the best access to zip-lines and some great local parks!

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, sightseeing.

The Place to Stay in Hilo

Guest: Rayleen Egami and Family
Date of Stay: 11/03/11 Review Submitted: 11/10/11

Aloha Joyce, I have thoroughly enjoyed my stay at your beautiful home! I have already boasted your home as "the place to stay" in Hilo, and will continue to do so. I was amazed at how conveniently located to everything it was! I wanted to sincerely thank you for your quick response, and quick actions, as I know things were very last minute. I will definitely contact you if another trip to Hilo is prompted! Mahalo, Rayleen Egami and Family

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Roomy, clean, comfy Hilo home

Guest: John & Carol (Stockton, CA USA)
Date of Stay: 09/29/11 Review Submitted: 10/11/11

The rental process was easy, the location lovely and all the amenities as described in this modern and well furnished home. We enjoyed the big granite kitchen with patio dining for all our meals. The jacuzzi tub was relaxing after long days of touring the area. This was a fine place to call home during our time in Hilo, and we look forward to returning.

Recommended for:People with disabilities, age 55+, families with teenagers, girls getaway, pet owners, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Hawaii

Guest: Don (Willow Grove, PA)
Date of Stay: 08/15/11 Review Submitted: 09/14/11

We found the house clean and ready for use. The owner was very helpful and the property accurately described. It was quite large, expansive, and well appointed. There were seven in our family and we used it as a base to make trips to the eastern side of the island. It was located a short ride southwest of Hilo in a residential neighborhood. We enjoyed having our breakfasts on the rear patio and the weather was fine. The neighbor on the opposite side of the street was quite friendly and raised chickens for their eggs. I'd rate our experience as very good.

Recommended for:Families with teenagers, sightseeing.

A wonderful home

Guest: r (california)
Date of Stay: 08/02/11 Review Submitted: 09/24/11

My family and I recently stayed at the Hilo house in August 2011. It was wonderful! We were a large group of 9 and it fit us perfectly. The house is huge, updated appliances, very clean, and well stocked with supplies. The owner helped us through the process and was very helpful. We would definitely come back!

Recommended for:Families with teenagers, families with young children.

Thanks you so much....

Guest: Andrea (Honolulu, Hi)
Date of Stay: 07/20/11 Review Submitted: 07/27/11

Hi Joyce, Just wanted to thank you for giving my family and I a great experience in a beautiful and clean home. It was so convenient and neat. We look forward to our next vacation next year and hope that it will be available during that time. Once again thank you so much and until then, take care and god bless always. The Fonoti-Ulufale Ohana.... =)

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

Missouri visitors

Guest: Missouri visitors (Missouri)
Date of Stay: 07/12/11 Review Submitted: 07/30/11

The house and property were very well kept and matched the decriptions and photos perfectly! There were five of us and we could spread out and relax! We had everything we needed, except food, which was nearby in a Pahoa market! Joyce was great to answer all our emails and the notebook left at the house was helpful in locating what we needed. We were located in the middle of all the activities we wanted to experience on the east side of the Big Island! We had a great time at Volcano National Park, the black and green sand beaches, the zoo, and exploring the botanical garden, waterfalls, and zipline! We also went horseback riding in Waipio Valley. The trip to the farmers' market in Hilo yielded some awesome fruit! The house was much better than staying at a condo or a hotel!!! We would definitely recommend staying here!

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

Beautiful, Spacious Home

Guest: Peter (Arlington Heights, IL)
Date of Stay: 06/24/11 Review Submitted: 07/08/11

The house is huge, very clean, very nicely appointed. The kitchen is beautiful and equipped with everything we needed. Master bathroom is awesome. Backyard very nicely maintained, helpful neighbors, the area feels very safe. Very convenient location for exploring Volcanoes, observatories and the east side of the Big Island. My family of 5 had a great time during our 6 night stay.

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

Excellent Value in a Luxury Vacation Home!!

Guest: Sammy (Maryville, Tennessee)
Date of Stay: 06/13/11 Review Submitted: 06/28/11

This luxury home is just as described and the pictures are a fair representation of the property. We ( 2 adults, 2 children) were able to reach any point on the Big Island with ease and all necessary amenities were just a few minutes away. Our stay in this spacious house was quite pleasurable. There were no problems at all with the home and the owner answered my inquires promptly. I would highly recommend this property for anyone needing a roomy, well-appointed base of operations for exploring the Big Island. The affordable rental rate is icing on the cake.

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

Guest: Donna Lehmann
Date of Stay: 12/07/10 Review Submitted: 01/29/11

Hi Joyce. The house is beautiful and we will certainly keep in mind for future stays and recommendations to our family and friends. Mahalo Donna

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Guest: Aaron Lo
Date of Stay: 11/27/10 Review Submitted: 12/03/10

ALOHA! Thank you Joyce! That was hassle free. We very much enjoyed the stay and I sure will recommend your place to my friends if they ever to visit Hilo area. It is indeed a gorgeous house, really wish we could stay longer. Thanks! Best wishes. Aaron

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Awesome Huge Home

Guest: Waikoloa Strikers (Waikoloa)
Date of Stay: 07/31/10 Review Submitted: 08/02/10

Aloha Joyce we had a wonderful time in your beautiful huge home. Yeahhh our team took first place in the soccer tournament and we partly credit your home with allowing the team to bond and have a great rest. The neighbors are friendly and we all felt very safe and comfortable. Your home was very easy to find and in a great location being right off the highway, no need to drive in far. Plus there is county water not catchment. We all felt your home is very convenient and comfortable. Much Mahalo Kelly

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

Guest: Geoffrey Hunt
Date of Stay: 07/25/10 Review Submitted: 08/18/10

Joyce, I realized while staying at your house, that you were in Tennessee. Just wanted to say thanks. We loved the house and if ever back to Hilo, will definitely consider staying again. It was also nice to know that your relatives were near by. We felt that everything was well taken care of and had a higher sense of safety/security. Thanks again, Geoff Hunt and family (July 2010)

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Oustanding stay and a fabulous home!

Guest: Shelley (Bethesda, MD)
Date of Stay: 05/22/10 Review Submitted: 07/12/10

My family stayed here for a week, and I am impressed! First, the place is very spacious and stylish. My favorite was the kitchen! That is where we spent most of our time together as a family. Also, the master bathroom was elegant! The backyard was beautiful and well taken care of. My children loved playing outside while my husband and I barbecue/cook. Second, there were many things to do around the area. We went to the Mauna Loa Observatory, Panaewa Zoo & Gardens, and Akaka Falls, which were all within the 10 mi raidus from the house. We took a road trip to Kona to see more of the Big Island, and drove back to the lovely home we were staying at. Overall, we definitely enjoyed our time here and I highly recommend this vacation home to families, friends, or groups who just want to have a great experience of Big Island. Thanks Joyce!

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

Guest: Heather
Date of Stay: 04/08/10 Review Submitted: 05/03/10

Heather MacPherson (Hawaii) Emailed: April 18, 2010 Aloha Joyce, my ohana and I enjoyed ourselves immensely in your beautiful home. We enjoyed ourselves so much that we were wondering if you would consider renting it to us for the next Merrie Monarch Festival in 2011. My other daughter is considering running for soloist next time. Anyway, if you would consider us again, how soon can we secure it? I'm not sure when next years festival will be but, I'd like to prepare as soon as possible or know what my options are. I will probably have to consider other properties besides yours because I have other family members that may want to go next year. Once again, mahalo for giving us the opportunity in staying in your home and making this a pleasant experience for us. Much Aloha.......Heather MacPherson

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Guest: Lang
Date of Stay: 04/06/10 Review Submitted: 04/22/10

We had a wonderful stay in your very nice house. I think the location of your house is convenient for exploring the Puna area. We love the lava tree park and viewing the lava at evening time (although a little far now the hot lava is.) I wish we came a few months earlier to see the lava going into sea. Also, your place is not too far from the Hilo area. We went farmers market and watched some free Hula dance show in a nice hotel. (tickets all sold for the Hula show!) Of course we will look for your house first the next time we come to Big Island and I already forward your property to several relatives and friends. My 11 yr old son wrote the comments on your guest book.

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Guest: Norma Rice (Oregon)
Date of Stay: 03/02/10 Review Submitted: 03/02/10

Our party of 6 adults were delighted with the house, especially its spacious interior,and the style and quality of the furnishings. The kitchen was great for group meals with the formal dining room. The center island was great for breakfasts on the fly. The location is 8 miles from the volcano, and 3 miles from superb snorkelling. The location in a lovely community, Pahoa is like returning to the 1960's. The slower pace was wonderful, coupled with the latest in services also available. The Sunday AM farmer's market was top-rate and the people were so friendly. We felt very secure in the neighborhood and got acquainted with several of the friendly neighbors. We would recommend the house to anyone!

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