I could retire here

Guest: cj (Los Angeles, CA)
Date of Stay: 05/24/11 Review Submitted: 09/02/11

I first stayed at the Coral pool House August 18-29, 2010. I could not get enough so I returned May 24-June 5, 2011. I will be bringing my parents June 27 - July 8, 2012. This house, the location, the tides, the sunrise, the tidepools, the lava, the rhythms of the days and the frogs all make this house the perfect location to get away from it all. After soaking up the house and the Wai'Opae tidepools get in your car, preferably 4x4, and explore the "Red Road", head south and at least a dozen tropical oases await you. There is a thermally heated, ocean fed pool five minutes down the road, Isaac Hale beach park features surfers, a beautiful coastline and a hidden hot pond amongst the palm trees just off the coastline. Further down the road, which itself is a beautiful menagerie of tropical plants and trees, is Kehena black sand beach. MacKenzie state park is not to be missed with its lava cliffs and crashing surf and if you look closely you will find a 4x4 trail heading downhill to a hidden lagoon oasis with the cliffs and crashing waves in the distance. At the end of the Red Road is Kalapana. Walk 10 minutes over the brownie batter lava and you will find yourself amongst 1000s of coconut trees growing out of the lava and a new black sand beach. Drive the highway north and have dinner at one of the lovely restaurants in Pahoa. Also not to be missed, the other way on teh Red Road through a lava field and a rainforest, Lava Tree State Park, Hamakua Coast, Hilo, Ken's Pancake House, farmers markets, the zoo, Volcanoes National Park, zip lining at Umauma Falls, malasadas on teh Hamakua coast, Waipio Valley, snorkeling with teh Manta Rays in Kona. Phew !!!! Can't wait for summer 2012.

Recommended for:Families with teenagers, adventure seekers, romantic getaway, age 55+, tourists without a car, sightseeing, families with young children.

Best Location/house in the area

Guest: LM (USA)
Date of Stay: 07/06/11 Review Submitted: 07/26/11

We stayed for 5 days early July 2011. We had stayed down the street in another property that was older and though had some charms this place was much nicer. Best part was the view, also nice furnishings, linens, kitchen nicely stocked. We were a couple and with a 5 year old. As other reviewers point out the rooms are separated, so he ended up sleeping with Mom in the master bedroom, Dad had his own room, but this was not a big deal for us. The jacuzzi was enjoyable, we also liked the grill. It is true that lots of visitors are about during the day, but also no big deal for us. I would stay here again. The one drawback was the Internet connection was really slow when we were there (fine at the other house in area we rented) so no Netflick shows but alos no checking in at work, which is a good thing, the satallite connection worked fine. Pahoa village has a great organic grocery store, and a couple good for Hawaii small town restaurants, especially Kaleo's Bar & Grill. Paolo's Bistro had good food too but the atmosphere was very quiet (perhaps as it is a BYOB?).

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

The best

Guest: Laura (Northern California)
Date of Stay: 04/17/11 Review Submitted: 05/23/11

This may be the first time I've ever stayed in a vacation home that completely exceeded my expectations. Usually the hype outstrips the reality. The location, features and beauty of this home make it an amazing place to stay. We snorkeled here everyday and it was the best we saw. We went on great adventures to the volcano, Hilo, South Beach, Lava trees, Kanapali and had a great time. But everytime we came back to the house I felt that my favorite thing was to be there. The snorkeling here was better than everywhere else including Richardsons. We saw a turtle and countless fish. What a wonderful place. No one will believe me when I tell them how wonderful it is. Thank you Jim and Gail. Mahalo. See my video at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tMsKRltO4NY

Recommended for:Girls getaway, families with teenagers, adventure seekers, romantic getaway, age 55+, tourists without a car, families with young children.

This place is beautiful!!

Guest: Karen K (Milwaukee, WI)
Date of Stay: 05/06/11 Review Submitted: 05/17/11

We loved our stay at the Coral Pool House. What a beautiful setting and a well equipped home! We loved the snorkelling right outside the house, and the mornings when you woke up to the lovely tidepools. it was a little cold and windy during our stay but the water was still fine! We saw lots of beautiful fish and several sea turtles. My son absolutely loved the hot tub and the views - so did we! A great way to explore a lesser travelled part of the island and Volcanoes National Park. We only stayed 3 nights but could have stayed all week! I will definitely come back! Thank you Jim and Gail! In a separate review, Dave accurately captured the things you may not like about the house, but they were only minor things. The one thing I would add is that the bedroom access is via an outside stairwell, and the two bedrooms are completely separate. This is ideal for couples but not for small children - I had to sleep with my son, but again, small price to pay for such a beautiful place!

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

Wonderful property for relaxing Hawaii vacation with THE best snorkeling at doorstep

Guest: KM Family (Alberta, Canada)
Date of Stay: 04/27/11 Review Submitted: 05/04/11

This property is everything described and more. The photos don't do it justice Ora adequately capture the majestic views from all rooms, the sound of the crashing waves liking you to sleep, the incredible snorkeling at the properties edge, or the star gazing in the black night sky. We spent a week here and found it to be a super base from which to explore the less travelled side of Hawaii and get off the typical tourist track. We snorkeled right here every day - exploring the inner and outer pools and reefs at high and low tides, marvelling at the changing nature of the pools and seeing many varieties of fish and marine life including a green sea turtle (in the pool just 50 feet from the house!) and an eel. Very few other snorkelers around, so it felt private and uncrowded at all times. Great balance here between quiet reflection and reading time, and interesting local sites and activities. We took in the Merrie Monarch parade in Hilo, Akaka Falls (fabulous), the drive along the coast to Kalapana with stops along the way at Isaac Hale beach park, and the new black sand beach at Kalapana, a day at Volcano and exploring in Pahoa. Local people we met were charming, laid back, and very interested in sharing their knowledge of the area with us. The house itself is very comfortable and well stocked with thoughtful attention to things travellers might need, including extra snorkel gear, beach towels and mats etc. Very comfortable beds with views that can' fully be described - especially from the master bed - amazing to wake up to. Although only two bedrooms, the layout is well planned and is really very spacious, with large covered lanias on two levels with amazing views - and offering protection from the sun and rain (which is not infrequent in this area). Full scale kitchen with all appliances, dishes and supplies (this is truly a home - not a cottage or basic vacation rental). We enjoyed our time here immensely and feel privileged that we had the opportunity to experience this house and the Kapoho area.

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

This place is paradise!

Guest: Dave2 (Fort Collins, CO)
Date of Stay: 03/14/11 Review Submitted: 04/25/11

What we loved most: - The breathtaking ocean view is even better than the photos can show. - Snorkeling in the tide pools is very good for both experienced and inexperienced snorkelers. - Warming up in the hot tub after snorkeling is perfect, especially with the awesome view. - The beds are all very comfortable. - The kitchen is nicely appointed, and has an amazing view. - The weather is the perfect balance between warm sunshine, cool ocean breezes, and brief rainstorms. - The atmosphere is very relaxed. - The hosts, caretaker, and neighbors are all very friendly and helpful. What some people may not like: - The restaurant selection is very limited until you get to Hilo, 45 minutes away. Bring lots of groceries. - Access to the house requires climbing lots of stairs, all of which are outside. - Geckos and other little critters live here, too. Typical of the tropics. Store food in sealed containers. - There is not much storage space for luggage, especially in the 2nd bedroom. Master bedroom has a decent closet. - A few of the fixtures (towel bars, light fixtures) look a little worn and rusty in spots. - Some of the other houses in the neighborhood look a little run-down. - The public access parking lot is next door, and the community is not gated. Some visitors may be noisy. - The lava around the tide pools is sharp and will cut unprotected hands and feet. Anyone with an opportunity to stay here should book without hesitation, and extend thanks to God, Jim, and Gail for sharing this beautiful place. In Hawaii, we have vacationed at some of the nicest resorts and rental homes in Waikoloa, Waikiki, and Wailea; but this house is the best place we have ever stayed. I give it my highest recommendation, and I cannot wait to go back!

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

Great Vacation House

Guest: Cindy (Northern California)
Date of Stay: 12/21/10 Review Submitted: 01/27/11

We had a wonderful time at the Coral Pool House and really hated to leave! The house was new, so comfortable and very well stocked. The views and ocean sounds were incredible. We snorkeled 16 days straight and were pleased every time with the calm water, fish, turtles, eels and huge coral beds. We would snorkel in the morning, then sit in the hot tub and watch the ocean and the other snorkelers in the tide pools. Lloyd, the caretaker who lived close by, was so helpful with information on local attractions and always easy to contact if we needed him. We felt very fortunate to have such a long stay, 18 days, which enabled us to totally relax and still have time for some sight-seeing. This is a premium property and house at a very reasonable price - you will love every minute of your stay!

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Can't wait to come back!

Guest: Maranda (Orange, Tx)
Date of Stay: 06/12/10 Review Submitted: 06/29/10

We spent a week in your beautiful and perfectly appointed house. It was the perfect place for us- a family of four and my parents also- to relax and unwind. The views were amazing and the open windows and songs of the frogs at night gave me the most restful sleep I have had in a very long time. The tidepools were AMAZING and the kids said it felt like they were on the Discovery channel. We had so much fun at the house, we didn't even do half of the things on our list. The area is off the beaten path so it may not be for the "party" traveller but if you want a peaceful, restful vacation with no unwelcome intrusions in a quiet neighborhood, this is the perfect house. The care taker was super friendly and gave us some great information about the local area and made sure that our stay was perfect. We also love Kaiboy! We fell in love with this side of the island, the culture, and the people so much, we got a relocation packet!! If we can't make that happen, we will definitely be back to visit as soon as we can. Mahalo to Jim and Gail for making this house the perfect vacation destination for us!

Recommended for:Families with teenagers, adventure seekers, romantic getaway, tourists without a car, sightseeing, families with young children.

Best on the Big Island

Guest: laid back on the lanai (chewelah, WA)
Date of Stay: 05/16/10 Review Submitted: 06/07/10

This place is amazing!! It is located on these incredible snorkel pools that are full of fish instead of people. This home has panoramic views in an incredibly beautiful setting. We were two couples so we each had great rooms with our own bathrooms. We loved the weather. These awesome squalls came through about eight times when we were there (one week). You can see them coming, it would pour rain for twenty minutes or so and then on it goes and the sun comes out leaving super fresh air. The kitchen and dining areas share the fabulous view. The Hilo farmers market is the best we have ever seen. The fish market in Pahoa is exceptional. Pahoa is a fifteen minute drive through a cathedral of abezia trees and ferns. Two miles away are thermally heated ponds that are a wonderful way to start your day (after fresh ground kona coffee on the deck). It was the perfect tranquil vacation until we spent three days in Kailua-Kona. There it was dry, busy, crowded, no parking, it felt like a real tourist trap. We were hoping for one of those wonderful squalls to come and take the vog away. We wished we had stayed the whole trip at the coral pool house. Thank you so much Gail and Jim for sharing this special spot.

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

Guest: Betsy and Mike Dowling (Newton, MA)
Date of Stay: 03/20/10 Review Submitted: 03/20/10

We had to delay our arrival at the Coral Pool House by one day due to the tsunami in February, and really wished we could have had that extra day! The house and the tide pools are a really unique environment, unlike any other vacation rental we've done. We kept commenting to each other what a great job the homeowners have done; everything was well thought out and well provisioned, furnishings, linens, kitchen equipment, reference information and lots of snorkel and swim gear to borrow. It was like another world, and a great one! Funny story --- my husband was chatting with the 'information officer' at the public access lot next door, and when he learned we were renting the Coral Pool House, his exuberant response was, "Dude, you scored! That's the best house in the area!" We agree.In addition to the tide pools, we really enjoyed taking our time to explore more of the Puna District; earlier trips to the Big Island were more focused on the volcano and the Kailua Kona area, but this time we enjoyed spectacular cliffs and crashing surf in several parks along the country roads south of Kapoho, sometimes deserted except for the 2 of us. For sure, we want to return! Mahalo, Gail, for an exceptional experience!!

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