Vacation Rentals by Owner

We enjoyed your place ! (studio#1)

Guest: Po Shan
Date of Stay: 04/25/12 Review Submitted: 04/30/12

This was another note that was left by some happy tennants who stayed 3 days in our private studio w/queen bed. We also have a private studio w/ 2 double beds as well for just $48 per night for stays > than 2 days. PoShan paid $163.31 total for 3 days in our studio and was not charged a cleaning fee either. Hello Andre, we wanted to say THANK YOU, we really enjoyed your place. Po Shan China

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Guests From Iowa

Guest: LeSeef (Van Meter, IA, USA)
Date of Stay: 02/12/12 Review Submitted: 03/15/12

We stayed for two weeks at Coconut Palms and had a wonderful time. The house is nicely furnished and comfortable for an extended stay. Andre is a great person to rent from. He even took us out to see the lava flow one evening. This home is two blocks from a great local Saturday farmers market and about five minutes from a Wednesday night food and Hawaiian music fest. The neighborhood is quiet and about eight blocks from the ocean. You definitely need a car for site-seeing. It's about 40 minutes to Hilo and two and a half from the Kona area. The black sand beach is just down the road and the tidal pools aren't far. Everything is within driving distance. I would definitely recommend this place.

Owner response:Aloha you two ! Gee, thank you very much for the positive comments. We are glad you had a great time staying at Coconut Palms. You know, Miguel and I enjoyed taking you to the lava flow and I enjoy the hike every time. It is really a fascinating experience watching the lava come down the hill towards the ocean and it's a natural event that very few people on earth get to see - but you did. After you left, we had tennants that actually got a quide to take them within a couple feet of the molten lava and 'Judy' was able to put a stick in it...she was so excited and brave! Anyways, the ongoing lava flows are adding ground to Hawaii and it is growing in size...and you were able to witness this fascinating natural event. Hope you two come back, we enjoyed having you. Mahalo and a fond aloha !

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

Visitors from Iowa

Guest: Lisa and Marcella
Date of Stay: 02/12/12 Review Submitted: 02/25/12

These tennants came from Iowa and stayed in our private, fully furnished 3 bedroom home w/ spiral staircase @ $500/week. Marcella wrote a note on a napkin which was found on the counter and Lisa left a note on the stairway. Dear Andre, We had a great time ! Thank you for taking us to the active lava flow - it was a wonderful site and experience. We wanted to let you know that we washed all the sheets and towels for you..thanks again Andre!

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We are from Denmark and enjoyed our stay very much

Guest: Anders, Rosa and baby Sonya
Date of Stay: 02/07/12 Review Submitted: 02/14/12

This was a note that was left for me today from my tennants that came all the way from Denmark. Hi Andre, we've enjoyed our stay here very much, it's a wonderful place you have here! We've left a couple of things for you.... Aloha, Anders, Rosa and baby Sonya

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Excellent Winter Escape

Guest: Bernie (Canada)
Date of Stay: 01/15/12 Review Submitted: 04/23/12

My wife and I stayed in both Studios for 6 weeks each. We found the description of the studios very accurate. There were no surprises on our arrival and I found Andre, Susan and Miguel very friendly and helpful. We had no major issues while we were there and the couple of small ones were looked after immediately. We used the Studios as our home base and we toured the Big Island from one end to the other. We played golf in Hilo (45 minute drive) regularly and enjoyed the drive and the Golf coarse was the best value for my golf dollar ever. Many days we did not travel far as the snorkelling and whale watching close by were excellent. and the Market in Kalapana on Wednesday and Fridays were fun. The entertainment and ambiance there were great. We made several day trips to the other side of the Island. They were fairly long days but again very enjoyable. We visited Volcano National Park, Mauna Kea, South Point, Green Sand Beach, Punalu u Black Sand Beach and Akaka Falls, all easy day trips. We snorkelled with the Manta Rays on the Kona side and with Turtles at Kapaho Tide Pools, and spent endless hours by the Ocean. We hiked out to the Flowing Lava across the older Lava flows (with a guide and a few other people) and it was an amazing day. These are just the things I can think of off the top of my head. The house was a very pleasant place to sit on the deck and relax. We were never bored. We were off the beaten path but close enough to it to enjoy it all. Needless to say it was wonderful and many thanks to our hosts. I did make a couple of suggestions to Andre before we left and I am sure he will look into them.

Owner response:Well 'aloha' Bernie ! We miss you and your wife already. After 3 months, you were like family. We are so happy that you loved the studios at Coconut Palms and it's a testament as to how 'liveable' these units can be for the long term (3 months). That is a record ! We were glad to hear that you were able to see some whales off the coast along with the other sea life as well. Well Bernie, we hope that you come back to stay next year (perhaps the 3 bedroom house - eh?). We promise a deal that you can't refuse. Mahalo and aloha for now Susan, Andre and Miguel

Recommended for:Adventure seekers

Great money saver

Guest: Karen (Huntington Beach, CA)
Date of Stay: 01/10/12 Review Submitted: 01/20/12

What a great deal! We stayed in the studio and it was very clean and comfortable. We spent most of our time out playing, so we didn't need anything fancy and this place does the job perfectly. The location was awesome and there are so many fun things to do in the area. Andre was so nice and made things very easy and we would definitely stay here in the future. The farmer's market right around the corner is amazing if you are there on a Saturday.

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

Comfort, Cleanliness and Convenience at Coconut Palms

Guest: Ironmac (Wisconsin)
Date of Stay: 12/06/11 Review Submitted: 01/11/12

My wife and I stayed at Coconut Palms for over one month and enjoyed the clean and spacious three room section of the house. There are many great things about this place; I will mention three. (1) The third floor (tower) not only provides a great view but is a marvelous place to sleep at night (warm gentle breeze). Also, it is a nice place to watch TV late at night. (2) The second floor has a full refrigerator, microwave, stove, flat screen TV, bathroom (one of two in the house), a double entry to a relaxing lanai and a beautiful cherry wood spiral staircase to the third floor room/tower. It was clean and had all the necessities for cooking. (3) The first floor has two bedrooms, a full bathroom, and an all important (to me) washer and dryer. The washer and dryer allows us to travel light as we can wash clothes every few days. Besides the attributes of the house, Coconut Palms in located near the ocean (it can be seen from the lanai and tower). There are many things to do and see nearby. As my wife and I like hiking, we spent many days at Volcano National Park which was a mere 45 minutes away. With a little research you will find scores of visitor friendly places to visit in a fifty mile radius. Finally and IMPORTANTLY the owners are great people. Andre (and Susan) are friendly and helpful owners. Here is one example. During our stay the WiFi (router) failed. Andre did not hesitate to remedy the situation. Within a few hours he quickly had a new one was installed which help us stay in touch with job requirements on the mainland. We have visited and rented homes in Hawaii since the early 1980s. Please believe me when I say this is a very good deal as our stay at Coconut Palms was an outstanding one. Peace and enjoy Hawaii!

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, families with teenagers, girls getaway, tourists without a car, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Great home base for seeing the Big Island

Guest: Terry (Texas)
Date of Stay: 11/24/11 Review Submitted: 12/03/11

This house was great for seeing the whole Big Island. The house was very clean and well laid out.The two downstairs bedrooms were separated from the main living area so that we could have privacy. We thorougly enjoyed the washer and dryer. Being from Texas, we were a little concerned about no A/C. We never needed it since there was a constant breeze. The upstairs loft had a great view. The spiral staircase looked like an expensive piece of furniture. We loved the new black sand beach less than five miles from the house. I would definitely recommend this place to any one who wants to see the Hilo area.

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

We are referring our friends to Coconut Palms !

Guest: Khalid and Poly from Texas
Date of Stay: 10/05/11 Review Submitted: 10/10/11

This is a message that was left on our voicemail today from a couple who stayed in the private studio w/ queen bed facing the ocean. 'Andre & Susan, We just wanted to call and thank you so much. We really had a great time and we are already recommending your place to our friends. We are passing your business cards to everyone. We already have some friends that will be calling you in a couple days because they are going to Kalapana in the next few weeks. Thank you again and keep in touch with us.' Khalid and Polly

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We are referring our friends to Coconut Palms !

Guest: Khalid & Polly From Texas
Date of Stay: 10/05/11 Review Submitted: 10/10/11

This is a message that was left on our voicemail today from a couple who stayed in the private studio w/ queen bed facing the ocean. 'Andre & Susan, We just wanted to call and thank you so much. We really had a great time and we are already recommending your place to our friends. We are passing your business cards to everyone. We already have some friends that will be calling you in a couple days, because they are going to Kalapana in the next few weeks. Thank you again and keep in touch with us.' Khalid and Polly

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Wonderful stay,close to Everything we wanted to do

Guest: Guest from Atlanta
Date of Stay: 09/19/11 Review Submitted: 09/30/11

We stayed in one of the studio's. Wonderful stay, close to Everything we wanted to do. Spotless and comfortable. Great location, kitchenette had everything we needed, bikes and snorkel gear also available. Quiet neighborhood, and we could not hear the other tenants. Convenient to the volcano, Pahoa and the coast, beautiful location. Thank you for making this available!!!

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We stayed in one of the studio's. Wonderful stay!

Guest: Atlanta Guest Comment.
Date of Stay: 09/15/11 Review Submitted: 09/30/11

We stayed in one of the studio's. Wonderful stay, close to Everything we wanted to do. Spotless and comfortable. Great location, kitchenette had everything we needed, bikes and snorkel gear also available. Quiet neighborhood, and we could not hear the other tenants. Convenient to the volcano, Pahoa and the coast, beautiful location. Thank you for making this available!!!

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Kalapana

Guest: tweeks (Atlanta)
Date of Stay: 09/12/11 Review Submitted: 09/24/11

We stayed in one of the studio's. Wonderful stay, close to Everything we wanted to do. Spotless and comfortable. Great location, kitchenette had everything we needed, bikes and snorkel gear also available. Quiet neighborhood, and we could not hear the other tenants. Convenient to the volcano, Pahoa and the coast, beautiful location. Thank you for making this available!!!

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

Lovely Home - we were impressed !!!

Guest: Pennington
Date of Stay: 09/04/11 Review Submitted: 09/08/11

This was a note that we received after the customer left today. Dear Susan and Andre , Thank You so much ! We washed all the linens & towels for you. This is a lovely home - we were impressed especially with the circular stairs. Aloha Greg

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Everything was Super 10 0ut of 10 !

Guest: Marc-Andre' from Quebec
Date of Stay: 09/01/11 Review Submitted: 09/04/11

Thanks Andre. Everything was Super ! We will write you in a few weeks and we give you a 10/10 on internet. Marc-Andre' from Quebec

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Thank You Very Much For Your Hospitality

Guest: Koriatov family
Date of Stay: 08/22/11 Review Submitted: 08/27/11

Dear Susan and Andre Thank You very much for your hospitality. We enjoyed our stay at your wonderful house very much. P.S. the bedding and sheets are all washed Mahalo ! Koriatov family

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A QUIET AND BEAUTIFUL PLACE TO REST

Guest: Christina and Jacob
Date of Stay: 08/17/11 Review Submitted: 08/24/11

Thank you for providing us with a quiet and beautiful place to rest. We love being able to sit outside at night and not be bothered by the invasive sound of cars. This place is a perfect vacation spot. I never wanted to leave. I left you some beautiful flowers. It's the least we can do.

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Aloha Andre & Susan

Guest: Clayton and Laura
Date of Stay: 08/17/11 Review Submitted: 08/24/11

Our customers often leave notes and I found another today on the hallway wall. Aloha Andre, Thank You so much for a beautiful room, I will recommend your rental to others. Mahalo Clayton and Laura

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A BEAUTIFUL ROOM

Guest: Clayton and Laura
Date of Stay: 08/15/11 Review Submitted: 08/24/11

Aloha Andre. Thank you so much for a beautiful room. I will recommend your rental to others. Mahalo! - Clayton and Laura

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A quiet and beautiful place to rest !

Guest: Christina and Jacob
Date of Stay: 08/15/11 Review Submitted: 08/24/11

Customer left a note today (8/24/2011) about their recent stay in one of our studios at Coconut Palms. Thank You for providing us with a quiet and beautiful place to rest. We loved being able to sit outside at night and not be bothered by the invasive sound of cars. This place is a perfect vacation spot. I never wanted to leave. Enjoy these beautiful flowers, it's the least we can do. Signed Christina and Jacob.

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This is the best experience I ever had in renting

Guest: Mohit & Sabina, New Mexico
Date of Stay: 08/07/11 Review Submitted: 08/17/11

This is the best experience I ever had in renting a vacation room. It started with the first contact when I received a call from Andre the owner. He described and explained everything so excellent so would not get misled or a wrong expression. When we arrived he was very welcoming and helpful with settling into our short vacation right away. During his busy days he would take the time and help with everything from providing items we forgot to take or buy on our trips to the towns or discussing things to do. He immediately helped us out when we lost our key to the rental car on the last day. He made phone calls and drove us to to the rental car place in Hilo. He made our vacation the most wonderful experience. Thank you Andre!

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Pleasure in Paradise

Guest: Dan (Vincennes, IN)
Date of Stay: 07/07/11 Review Submitted: 07/27/11

We stayed 11 days and were very satisfied. The ocean breezes were consistent, the views gorgeous, the neighborhood friendly and colorful. The 3BR/1.5Bath unit is in great condition with plenty of towels and linens. The water filtration works great and the water is fine for drinking (although a big "jug" of bottled water was there as well) I'm looking forward to a future stay(and I lived on the Big Island for 10 years previously). We had a great time. Mahalo nui loa Andre.

Owner response:Aloha Dan, Thank You so much for the nice comments and it was a pleasure talking w/ you. We want you and your wonderful family to come back again soon...I know that you loved the barbecue so I will be sure to put a couple Ahi steaks in the freezer for you - is that a deal ! There will be another bike as well - promise ! Mahalo nui loa to you and family as well.

Recommended for:Families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Comfortable and Accomodating

Guest: talulaboola (Anaheim, Ca)
Date of Stay: 06/16/11 Review Submitted: 06/25/11

Andre was extremely accomodating. We had a booked at a hotel in Hilo, only to find out that is was not such a nice place to stay. I contacted Andre at 7pm and on the same night, we were arrived to this rental. We booked the two studios as the 3 bedroom was taken. None the less, we spent two nights here. The beds were comfortable. Lynn was very informative about things to do. They have information for local services like a personal chef, massuse, or tour guide available at the rental. We had a great time while we were there, and were much more comfortable staying here than the place we had originally booked in Hilo. The prices are unheard of. Our stay was very reasonably priced. A word about Hawaii... there are bugs and they are to be expected. If the lights are on, they will come. Lynn was nice enough to warn us about this. We quickly understood what she was talking about. If you are afraid of bugs, this is not the place for you. We were not expecting the bugs so it was a bit of a surprise for us, but we dealt with it by keeping the doors shut and the screened windows open. The rental itself, is clean and modern and comfortable. The beds were comfortable. We would stay here again. We had a great time. Thanks Andre & Lynn.

Owner response:Aloha, glad that you loved the place and you are certainly welcome back anytime. We always ask tennants to avoid leaving the outside lights on at night because 'everyone knows' that lights attract insects' any where that you go in Hawaii . Some people forget or disregard what they are told and find a few cane beatles outside on the porch lights. This is normally not much of a problem to most people as we keep our land cleared around the house. During the day, insects are not an issue at all. Please don't let a few harmless cane beatles scare you away from Hawaii because that would be a shame. LOL Mahalo and aloha.

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

Wow, I loved this place. It was so close to everything and the building is brand new and very clean.

Guest: adam (Portland, OR)
Date of Stay: 06/09/11 Review Submitted: 07/24/11

We stayed at Coconut Palms and had such a wonderful vacation. And it was so clean, which is very important to me. The building is just a year old so everything is in great condition. It had a full kitchen, fridge, sink, dining room and all. I would love to have this as my home all year round. Kehena beach is so close so we spent a few days suntanning and swimming there. One morning (go early) there was a pod of dolphins we swam with..that was a big wow for us. Kehena is black sand from the lava and so pretty. Andre, the owner, made all the difference as he is so helpful and really cares that we have a good vacation. I find this to be very unusual as most vacation rentals managers don't really care. The lookout bedroom (3rd floor) is amazing with all the windows and a 360 degree view, so when you come with family be sure to get dibs on this room! Another day we went to the Kapoho tide pools and snorkeled..another wow place. The fish and coral is so pretty. We loved what a great location Coconut Palms is to everything we wanted to do. Another day we went to the Uncle Roberts' Awa bar (local hawaiian family) and listened to hawaiian music and one lady even got up and did some hula that was so enchanting, from here we walked out to a brand new black sand beach as he lava created it just a few years ago. Be sure to be there on a Saturday morning if you can as we walked not a block to a local farmers market at a place called Space...how charming and we even had our breakfast there...be sure to ask Andre about it. Well, I just had to share all this with everyone as reviews help me so much to choose good places to stay. Thank you Andre.

Owner response:Hello Adam, I think I should hire you as my advertisement advisor. Gee, I appreciate the kind words and am really glad you all had a great time over here. Feel free to come back ANYTIME !

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, people with disabilities, age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, tourists without a car, pet owners, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Guest: Lahela(Waikane, Oahu)

Guest: Lahela
Date of Stay: 06/02/11 Review Submitted: 08/16/11

Date of Stay: 06/02/11 Review Submitted: 06/23/11 I wanted to be able to relax and cleanse from my Oahu life, for my 30th birthday. I couldn't have found a better place! Mahalo nui loa e Andre! We were truly "off the map", which is what I wanted. There was more than enough room for my ohana to be comforable. The value is beyond words! Only recommendation I have: darker curtains in the downstairs master bedroom. Other than that WE LOVED EVERYTHING!!!! Owner response:Aloha Lahela, Thank you so much for the positive comments and I agree that this is the best deal around. We will continue to provide 'the best vacation rental experience' for your hard earned money - as long as we can, and we love hearing that people really appreciate Coconut Palms and Kalapana.

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Wonderfully off the map!!!!

Guest: Lahela (Waikane, Oahu)
Date of Stay: 06/02/11 Review Submitted: 06/23/11

I wanted to be able to relax and cleanse from my Oahu life, for my 30th birthday. I couldn't have found a better place! Mahalo nui loa e Andre! We were truly "off the map", which is what I wanted. There was more than enough room for my ohana to be comforable. The value is beyond words! Only recommendation I have: darker curtains in the downstairs master bedroom. Other than that WE LOVED EVERYTHING!!!!

Owner response:Aloha Lahela, Thank you so much for the positive comments and I agree that this is the best deal around. We will continue to provide 'the best vacation rental experience' for your hard earned money - as long as we can, and we love hearing that people really appreciate Coconut Palms and Kalapana.

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

Good Deal, Great Location, Nice Home

Guest: jayceebee93 (Cleveland, Ohio)
Date of Stay: 05/27/11 Review Submitted: 06/15/11

Andre was so sweet to meet us at the house after our flight got delayed and we had trouble finding the place after dark. The home is very nice and a great deal. It was in the perfect location for us: close to the heated pools along the coast, the lava-covered beaches, and even for driving the Saddle Road and around Mauna Kea. Our HAWAII THE BIG ISLAND REVEALED was helpful in giving us some tips of local things to do! We loved the local market for a fantastic Ono fish breakfast. Be sure to stop at the Farmer's Markets to get STRAWBERRY MANGOs. We were disappointed that the balcony bed was a double (though we understood - since it's up spiral stairs), and that there was a plastic sound to the mattresses on each of the beds. (?) We awoke in the morning to tropical birds, a dog barking, and a child running up and down the stairs and stomping in the studio apartment in the house. Oh well. Still a great deal and a great location. Thank you for your hospitality, Andre. Congratulations on your wedding and mahalo again! Colleen

Owner response:Aloha Colleen, We are so glad that you enjoyed your stay. We are getting quite popular and more families with kids are staying at Coconut Palms and kids will be kids. Hopemyou return soon and thank you for the congrats..I feel blessed to have found this very special person.

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, sightseeing.

Aloha abounds

Guest: Spiralmom (Eugene, OR)
Date of Stay: 05/11/11 Review Submitted: 05/23/11

My party was in a jam for accommodations and Andre gave us a great rate in a pinch! His studio was clean and open with many options. The main house was beautiful, the huge porch was the icing on the cake. He was open and friendly and offered extras such as snorkeling gear and bicycles for rides to the beach. The only thing to improve on is the internet connection. He claims there is a sketchy at best connection (if you hold it in the right direction), though we were never able to successfully connect. Overall I would highly recommend it, cause we are definitely staying there next time we visit The Big Island!! Mahalo and Aloha

Owner response:Hi Eron, we really enjoyed you and the family and do hope that you come back. Your right, the internet 'was spotty' and I'm sorry that you never were able to get online but the problem is finally solved as of 5/28 as I have been working on getting a fast, dependable internet provider out here for years and finally found one. Coconut Palms now has a NEW internet provider w/ 'super fast internet' and it is guaranteed to be reliable for everyone to use - whether you are renting one of the completely private studios off to the side or the beautiful 3 bedroom house w/ the love loft. Susan and I hope you and your lovely family return here at Coconut Palms. Aloha and mahalo for now.

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

This place is an amazing deal!

Guest: Karen (Los Angeles, CA)
Date of Stay: 05/10/11 Review Submitted: 05/26/11

I have never found such a great deal on such a nice place anywhere. Andre did everything he could to be helpful, from providing detailed instructions to the house to stocking the kitchen to allowing us the use of the snorkel equipment in the garage. The snorkeling was fantastic, thanks Andre! Everything was really clean and we had more space than we knew what to do with. The gorgeous little bedroom at the top of the spiral stairs in the loft was a paradise. Going to sleep with the sound of all the frogs was super. If you rent with friends, be sure to call dibs on the upstairs room right off. The other two bedrooms are on the ground floor and each has it's own patio door. Tons of balcony space upstairs with comfortable patio furniture and an outdoor table for dining. Barbque downstairs, washer and dryer, big screen tv for down time. The place gets nice light and a pleasant breeze. The location was great, about 25 minutes from Pahoa. It's about 40 minutes to Hilo heading north, and I think it took us about 45 minutes to get to Volcanoes National Park heading west. Only about 10 minutes away is a great black sand beach and a cool little hippy colony with a cafe and a little bar. Snorkeling in the tide pools was about 20 minutes in the opposite direction. Running in the morning along the beach listening to the waves and seeing the flowers could not be beat. If you had told me I could find a place like this for the money we paid before I found this little gem I would have laughed at you. We are SO coming back here again.

Owner response:Well Aloha Karen, Gee whiz ! This has got to be one of the best reviews I have ever heard. Susan and I were 'very touched' by your thoughtful and comprehensive comments about your experience here - you really did love the place. You know, we do 'pay attention' to our customers comments and 'act on' any suggestions or feedback in an effort to improve Coconut Palms and the service we provide. We really do 'get it' and realize that if our customers suggest something - we better listen. Anyways, we hope you return and when you do, there will be a surprise waiting for you. Mucho Mahalo Andre & Susan

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

Aloha abounds

Guest: Guest: Spiralmom(Eugene, OR
Date of Stay: 05/05/11 Review Submitted: 08/16/11

Guest: Spiralmom(Eugene, OR) Date of Stay: 05/11/11 Review Submitted: 05/24/11 My party was in a jam for accommodations and Andre gave us a great rate in a pinch! His studio was clean and open with many options. The main house was beautiful, the huge porch was the icing on the cake. He was open and friendly and offered extras such as snorkeling gear and bicycles for rides to the beach. I would highly recommend it, cause we are definitely staying there next time we visit The Big Island!! Mahalo and Aloha Owner response:Hi Eron, we really enjoyed you and the family and do hope that you come back. Coconut Palms now has a NEW internet provider w/ 'super fast internet' and it is guaranteed to be reliable for everyone to use - whether you are renting one of the completely private studios off to the side or the beautiful 3 bedroom house w/ the love loft. Susan and I hope you and your lovely family return here at Coconut Palms. Aloha and mahalo for now.

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I have never found such a great deal!

Guest: Guest: Karen(Los Angeles, CA)
Date of Stay: 05/05/11 Review Submitted: 08/16/11

Date of Stay: 05/10/11 Review Submitted: 05/26/11 I have never found such a great deal on such a nice place anywhere. Andre did everything he could to be helpful, from providing detailed instructions to the house to stocking the kitchen to allowing us the use of the snorkel equipment in the garage. The snorkeling was fantastic, thanks Andre! Everything was really clean and we had more space than we knew what to do with. The gorgeous little bedroom at the top of the spiral stairs in the loft was a paradise. Going to sleep with the sound of all the frogs was super. If you rent with friends, be sure to call dibs on the upstairs room right off. The other two bedrooms are on the ground floor and each has it's own patio door. Tons of balcony space upstairs with comfortable patio furniture and an outdoor table for dining. Barbque downstairs, washer and dryer, big screen tv for down time. The place gets nice light and a pleasant breeze. The location was great, about 25 minutes from Pahoa. It's about 40 minutes to Hilo heading north, and I think it took us about 45 minutes to get to Volcanoes National Park heading west. Only about 10 minutes away is a great black sand beach and a cool little hippy colony with a cafe and a little bar. Snorkeling in the tide pools was about 20 minutes in the opposite direction. Running in the morning along the beach listening to the waves and seeing the flowers could not be beat. If you had told me I could find a place like this for the money we paid before I found this little gem I would have laughed at you. We are SO coming back here again. Owner response:Well Aloha Karen, Gee whiz ! This has got to be one of the best reviews I have ever heard. Susan and I were 'very touched' by your thoughtful and comprehensive comments about your experience here - you really did love the place. You know, we do 'pay attention' to our customers comments and 'act on' any suggestions or feedback in an effort to improve Coconut Palms and the service we provide. We really do 'get it' and realize that if our customers suggest something - we better listen. Anyways, we hope you return and when you do, there will be a surprise waiting for you. Mucho Mahalo Andre & Susan

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A very quiet location to relax and unwind

Guest: Guest: ilovehawaii!(caledonia ontario)
Date of Stay: 04/26/11 Review Submitted: 08/16/11

Date of Stay: 04/26/11 Review Submitted: 06/22/11 My husband and I rented the home from Andre. Not only was he very helpful with answering any questions about the location, but gave us excellent advice about where to go for sightseeing and some of his favourite places to shop (Pahoa fish market has the most excellent fresh fish!!!) Since this was my first time renting online, I was a little leary about what I was renting. But upon arrival, with Andre greeting us, and showing us around the place, I felt right at home. The home was perfect! Very clean, very spacious and very quiet -- It was great for star gazing at night, and enjoying a morning coffee on the balcony! Being in Kalapana, we were only a 10 minute drive to the black sand beach and only a few minutes farther to see one of the newer lava flow areas! You are less than an hour away from the Kilauea National Volcano Park, and the drive there is easy to do! I would recommend staying here for anybody who wants to get away from the city, so that you can relax and unwind.

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a very quiet location to relax and unwind

Guest: ilovehawaii! (caledonia ontario)
Date of Stay: 04/26/11 Review Submitted: 06/22/11

My husband and I rented the home from Andre. Not only was he very helpful with answering any questions about the location, but gave us excellent advice about where to go for sightseeing and some of his favourite places to shop (Pahoa fish market has the most excellent fresh fish!!!) Since this was my first time renting online, I was a little leary about what I was renting. But upon arrival, with Andre greeting us, and showing us around the place, I felt right at home. The home was perfect! Very clean, very spacious and very quiet -- It was great for star gazing at night, and enjoying a morning coffee on the balcony! Being in Kalapana, we were only a 10 minute drive to the black sand beach and only a few minutes farther to see one of the newer lava flow areas! You are less than an hour away from the Kilauea National Volcano Park, and the drive there is easy to do! I would recommend staying here for anybody who wants to get away from the city, so that you can relax and unwind.

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

Guest: Cindy from Alaska
Date of Stay: 03/18/11 Review Submitted: 03/28/11

Tennant from Alaska who stayed 9 nights in one of our private studio writes: Mahalo Andre - very sad to leave. Loved staying here! Thank You again and again for opening up your heart & home to me. Cindy

Recommended for:

Guest: Skye, Penny & Liz
Date of Stay: 03/18/11 Review Submitted: 03/28/11

A customer from Australia writes: Andre, Thank You for the use of Coconut Palms, we really enjoyed staying here.

Recommended for:

Fabulous place, Fabulous host!

Guest: Sarah (Arkansas)
Date of Stay: 02/18/11 Review Submitted: 07/25/11

I had a wonderful time here. This is a lovely house, clean and attractive, with lots of extras. Andre is just downright sweet and was very helpful to me. I will stay here every time i get the chance!

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

The best vacation spot for us. We'll be back.

Guest: Sabine (Santa Fe, New Mexico)
Date of Stay: 02/06/11 Review Submitted: 02/21/11

This was the best vacation rental experience I ever had, from the beginning when inquiring about the place to the very last minute. Andre was so wonderful in accommodating us every day. He helped us find the best things to do and took us even to some spots we would not have found. He helped immediately when we had a problem with loosing the key to our rental car in the ocean. We love to come back as soon as we can.

Owner response:Hi Sabine, glad that you and Mo had a great experience. You do have to come back because there is so much you haven't seen yet. Give me a call when ready...mahalo

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

Guest: The Clarkes
Date of Stay: 02/04/11 Review Submitted: 02/06/11

We love this place, Andre, can we stay another day? This is the best place that we have ever stayed at - it is PERFECT! Thank You

Recommended for:

Beautiful, clean, perfect in every way!

Guest: Kay (Louisville, KY)
Date of Stay: 02/03/11 Review Submitted: 02/20/11

We stayed in the studio apartment in the house, and it was perfect for the two of us. It was immaculately clean, and nicely decorated with 2 comfortable beds. The house is new and in an excellent location for exploring Puna. There is a lovely lanai around 3 sides of the house (from which you can see the ocean) with a table and chairs where we ate all our meals. In one direction we could see the sun rise over the ocean,and in another we could see the sunsets. On our last day there was a giant double rainbow right in front of the house. We loved walking in the safe, quiet neighborhood and shopping at the wonderful farmer's market (just a half block away.) Our host, Andre, was so welcoming and helpful. We loved the studio and Puna so much we cancelled two other reservations, so we could stay longer, In all we stayed at three other places on the island all of which were much more expensive and not nearly as nice as this studio. What a bargain! We loved the black sand Kehena Beach, and the Aloha spirit we found everywhere in the area. SeaView Estates is beautifully remote with wonderfully clean air which makes the stars seem so huge and bright. Most of all we loved the peace we felt there. We are planning to return as soon as possible. It was by far the highlight of our time on the Big Island.

Owner response:Aloha, Now, this one of the best reviews I have ever had. I'm very flattered by your thoughtful comments. I hope you and your daughter do come back. Maybe Susan and I can take you out to the Kalapana cafe' for an Ono Burger when you come back. Hope to see you again soon.

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

Beautiful, clean, brand new house with plenty of space

Guest: CJ (Grayslake, IL)
Date of Stay: 02/01/11 Review Submitted: 02/22/11

My wife and I loved the house and staying in Kalapana to see the lava flows as well as explore Kilauea. The house is large and everything is new, clean and maintained. The owner took several of our calls and emails with no problems. The night time walking lava tour is recommended, going to the local beaches and small towns like Pahoe.

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

Guest: Family who stayed in house and studio
Date of Stay: 01/31/11 Review Submitted: 02/06/11

Thanks, the accomodations were excellent for our family. We enjoyed this end of the island.

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Guest: The McD. family
Date of Stay: 01/25/11 Review Submitted: 02/06/11

Andre, we heard of it in Costa Rico but experienced it in Hilo, Hawaii. We took the extreme UF zipline experience this day. Our guides (Josh and Daniel) were great. We are in our sixties and a little pudgy. They handled us safely and respectfuly even when we needed an extra hand. Even the trip up the hill in the van was fun! I give 5 stars to you guys. for a chance of a lifetime and another experince crossed our bucket list. Kocur, Florida

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Guest: Robt K. and wife
Date of Stay: 01/11/11 Review Submitted: 02/06/11

We really loved the studio - it was perfect. Thanks for letting us use the bikes and snorkeling equipment. We had a blast. if you ever need a reference, they can call me.

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Off the beaten path, good rates, but not very clean!

Guest: David (St. Paul, MN)
Date of Stay: 01/05/11 Review Submitted: 02/02/11

With a good cleaning, the upper ocean facing studio could have been 5 stars. I made it a point to arrive before dark and found the property locked up tight. Had to drive back to the main road for a cell signal to contact Andre. He met me promptly, but seemed somewhat surprised by my arrival. At a glance, the accomodations looked good, but while getting settled in, I realized how dirty the place was. I can be comfortable in a tent as well as the Westin, but do expect lodging to be cleaned between quests. More than just hanging fresh towels and taking the trash out. Wiping down the counters, cupboards, refrigerator and changing the sheets seem like givens? Andre has a quiet spot a few minutes from the lava and beautiful sunrise shoreline, but when I find previous guest's personal belongings amongest the dust balls and grit under the furniture it's obvious the housekeeping standards are lacking. This place has potential, but didn't meet the mark during my visit.

Owner response:I would not take this renter too seriously for several reasons. He did surprise me by the way he projected himself upon arrival (angry, confused, frustrated, and alone). He appeared to have a challenging trip and clearly did not follow basic instructions that were typed out for him-which is unusual unless you are 'impaired' in some way. I found out very soon what the problem really was after finding 'several empty containers of alcohol' laying around the deck and in the trash can. One of these bottles fell off the side rail on to the cement deck below...which demonstrated total disregard for the safety of renters below . Anyways,I got the impression that this 'person' seemed to be looking for a better deal and was willing to go to extreme lengths to find 'something wrong' with the place so he actually moved beds and TV's to find some dust - because there was nothing else to find. This person clearly wanted a bigger discount and went to any length to try and get one - I believe. I can't regard this persons info as credible 'at all' considering the circumstances and alcohol involved. Please read all my other reviews and decide who you chose to believe. Coconut Palms is very popular and most people can't wait to get back here. I go out of my way to make 'everyones experience a happy, healthy, and memorable experience. Mahalo

Recommended for:Adventure seekers

Guest: Bob & Jolee
Date of Stay: 01/03/11 Review Submitted: 02/06/11

Thanks andre. We had a great time and we DEFINITELY will be back, this place is GREAT! Bob and Jolee

Recommended for:

Guest: Bob & Jolee
Date of Stay: 01/03/11 Review Submitted: 02/06/11

Andre, this place is great. We DEFINITELY will be back. Thanks Bob & Jolee

Recommended for:

Guest Comments

Guest: Multiple
Date of Stay: 12/01/10 Review Submitted: 08/05/11

Dan Vincennes, IN Review Submitted: July 27, 2011 Date of Stay: July 2011 We stayed 11 days and were very satisfied. The ocean breezes were consistent, the views gorgeous, the neighborhood friendly and colorful. The 3BR/1.5Bath unit is in great condition with plenty of towels and linens. The water filtration works great and the water is fine for drinking (although a big "jug" of bottled water was there as well) I'm looking forward to a future stay(and I lived on the Big Island for 10 years previously). We had a great time. Mahalo nui loa Andre. Sarah Arkansas Review Submitted: July 25, 2011 Date of Stay: February 2011 I had a wonderful time here. This is a lovely house, clean and attractive, with lots of extras. Andre is just downright sweet and was very helpful to me. I will stay here every time i get the chance! Coconut Palms is located in beautiful Kalapana, a great place to enjoy Hawaii. 5 Wow, I loved this place. It was so close to everything and the building is brand new and very clean. adam Portland, OR Review Submitted: July 24, 2011 Date of Stay: June 2011 We stayed at Coconut Palms and had such a wonderful vacation. And it was so clean, which is very important to me. The building is just a year old so everything is in great condition. It had a full kitchen, fridge, sink, dining room and all. I would love to have this as my home all year round. Kehena beach is so close so we spent a few days suntanning and swimming there. One morning (go early) there was a pod of dolphins we swam with..that was a big wow for us. Kehena is black sand from the lava and so pretty. Andre, the owner, made all the difference as he is so helpful and really cares that we have a good vacation. I find this to be very unusual as most vacation rentals managers don't really care. The lookout bedroom (3rd floor) is amazing with all the windows and a 360 degree view, so when you come with family be sure to get dibs on this room! Another day we went to the Kapoho tide pools and snorkeled..another wow place. The fish and coral is so pretty. We loved what a great location Coconut Palms is to everything we wanted to do. Another day we went to the Uncle Roberts' Awa bar (local hawaiian family) and listened to hawaiian music and one lady even got up and did some hula that was so enchanting, from here we walked out to a brand new black sand beach as he lava created it just a few years ago. Thank you Andre.

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Aloha Andre from Germany

Guest: Karl (Neuburg, Germany)
Date of Stay: 11/01/10 Review Submitted: 12/07/11

I stayed 7 days in November 2010 (excuse me I forgot to write the review) in Coconut Palms. It was a pleasure for me to meet Andre. He was a very friendly host. He even sent a device for my iPad that I forgot in the room to my home address in Germany. Thank you again. My room in the second floor was comfortable and quiet. I enjoyed my stay in a very interesting region. Hope to come back soon from Germany to Coconut Palms and Andre and his wife.

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

Lava watching, black sand, and tide pools

Guest: Ed B. (Boulder, Colorado)
Date of Stay: 10/21/10 Review Submitted: 10/29/10

My family and I stayed in the two bedroom part of Coconut Palms on Oct 21 as a one day diversion from our two weeks in Waikaloa (kept us from a night drive back across the island). It was a great central location for doing things in the Puna district of Hawaii. The lava watching was just minutes away (although most of trail was closed for us due to recent outbreak of lava, so we only saw from great distance), the picturesque black sand beach at Kaimu likewise is close, and the wonderful snorkeling at the tide pools in Kapoho is just a short drive away along the beautiful coast. The nearby hamburger stand at the southwestern end of Hwy 137 at Kaimu has great food at very reasonable prices. My wife had the best Ahi sandwich she's every had there. The unit is quite new, clean and spacious inside with a large 2nd level deck outside, featuring a nice view of the ocean and neighborhood . The kitchen is well equipped for all your cooking needs, and there are plenty of windows and fans to keep a nice breeze flowing. Having one full and one half bathroom is a very welcome feature. The only slight negative is the spotty internet reception, the TV, however, works well. Also, Verizon cell phones (CDMA) do not work at all in this area. The outside grill is a bit small for any serious grilling. Coconut Palms looks just like the pictures. Andre is a helpful and knowledgeable host, eager to make your stay enjoyable. Overall, we really enjoyed our stay at Coconut Palms and would stay here again if we're ever back in this area. We'd recommend this place to any friends.

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

Feel the Hawaiian breeze!!!!!

Guest: thaibinh (Chicago, IL)
Date of Stay: 10/18/10 Review Submitted: 10/25/10

This was my first trip to Hawaii. I went to Honolulu first for a wedding, then flew to the Big Island to get away from the hussle &bussle and be adventerous. Traveling with my 1.5yo daughter made me very aware of safety issues. With Andre's reassurance and my experience at Coconut Palms, it was the most pleasant portion of my trip. The air was so fresh, and the BREEZE made me melt into the seat on the deck. And the studio was very clean---thank you!!! If you drive down the road, there's a great warm pond to relax in. The times I explored the area was never over crowded. I met really friendly locals and enjoyed the fresh Ahi caught by fishermen everyday from the Pahoa fishmarket. The kitchenetts provided was more than enough to prepare quality meals!!! I made breakfast and dinner everyday day I was there. I'd recommend having a car to allow flexibility with exploring the beautiful drive around the whole island!!! When I have the opportunity to, I will definately come back with my husband (and maybe the two older children)!!! :)

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