Vacation Rentals by Owner

Tranquility

Guest: S&R (Whitehorse)
Date of Stay: 03/18/12 Review Submitted: 03/26/12

Our family loved this spot. We weren't sure if we would like being away from the beach, but this was great. The pools were right there for a dip whenever and we spent our last day with a big Honu! So lovely. Modern with all amenities. Great for teens and families, but couples will also love the hot tub and sunrises fom the Master bedroom.. Very close to the water may not be suitable for really young children. Wish we were here longer.

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

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

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:Adventure seekers, age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, tourists without a car, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

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

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

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:Adventure seekers, age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, tourists without a car, romantic getaway.

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

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:Adventure seekers, families with teenagers, families with young children, tourists without a car, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

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

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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Guest: Catherine S. (-)
Date of Stay: 02/18/10 Review Submitted: 02/18/10

This house is my favorite place that I've stayed in Hawaii. Right on the water on calm tidal pools. Unbelievably beautiful snorkeling and swimming. I highly recommend this house 5 stars!!

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Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 01/07/10 Review Submitted: 01/07/10

My family had the great pleasure of staying here over New Year's. We've rented many vacation homes over the years but this was by far the best. The pictures don't do this justice. It is not fancy, but the house is extremely well designed and has casual but quality fixtures and features; the owners of this house really built something special and take great care of it. The view and tide pools are really wonderful. We never tired of watching the changes through the tides and day. Beautiful at night, too. I think this is the best snorkeling on the island; think about using gloves though -- getting in and out of the pools is an opportunity to get scratched up.

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Best Vacation Ever

Guest: Steve and Doris (Vallejo, CA, USA)
Date of Stay: 09/14/09 Review Submitted: 10/09/09

My wife and I had a fantastic week at this spot. While we were not traveling to all of the lovely attractions on this part of the island, we spent our days snorkeling in these incredible coral pools. We had an underwater digital camer and got hundreds of photos of the underwater sea life -- even swimming with the sea turtles. Every morning around 6am we traveled about 2 miles to a state park that featured a thermal heated pool for our morning dip. This was a great backup to the hot-tub at the house. Be sure and have a real good pair of water shoes with the thickest soles you can find (Lewis and Clark is a good brand). Walking on the lava was challenging for this tender-foot (but well worth the effort). The home is beautiful, and the owners were very attentive to all of our needs. Thanks.

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

We Loved the Coral Pool House

Guest: Nancy & Tim (Woodland, CA)
Date of Stay: 09/06/09 Review Submitted: 09/26/09

The Coral Pool House was wonderful! We enjoyed the cool breezes from the east which were constant. The Rising sun or moon were always beautiful. The best snorkeling in Hawaii is right outside your door. The conditions are varied depending upon where you go. There is more varied wildlife in the outer pools, with tremendous snorkeling in the inner pools. I enjoyed to warm currents that were found to the right of the house. I had my closest encounter with a turtle in the outer pools on our last day. I also saw a ray in a short morning trip. I loved the quiet seclusion of the home at night! The home was perfectly equipped. The decks were both relaxing and scenic. I would love to return to your beautiful home. I would recommend it highly. The Kapoho pools are dramatically better than the champagne pond or Ahulani pool. Thank you for such a wonderful experience. The trip to the lava flows at sunrise was the thrill of a lifetime.

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

Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 08/25/09 Review Submitted: 08/25/09

What an incredible home in an absolutely fantastic setting! We had one of our best vacations ever at The Coral Pool House. The home was ideal for our family of four and it was heaven to be able to walk out our door and have fabulous snorkeling anytime we wanted. We loved being away from the hustle and bustle of tourists and we were able to completely relax in your beautiful home. We also enjoyed our hike at the Volcano and watching the lava flow into the ocean at night in Kalapana. We would love to return to Hawaii some day and would definitely want to stay in this lovely home again!

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Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 07/11/09 Review Submitted: 07/10/09

Thank you for making this wonderful and beautiful house available for our vacation with our two little girls. You have created an extremely comfortable home in a spectacular location. We were stunned by the amazing sweeping views when we first walked in the door and spent one of the best weeks ever in Hawaii, and most of it right at the house. The girls spent hours a day in the warm pool right out the back door. They were quite fond of the 'crab hole' as they called it where we watched crabs eating dinner at low tide, small shrimp with glowing eyes at night and small schools of baby fish at high tide. We snorkeled and explored all of the tidepools at all hours of the day, and every day! Truly one of the most enjoyable snorkeling areas we have visited. We spent hours gazing out the windows, from the decks, and from the hot tub watching the days slowly change from sun rise to the fading light at dusk and spectacular night skies. The night air, breezes and gentle sound of the surf made for many great nights of sleep, even for our little one who is generally a restless sleeper! We did manage to tear ourselves away for a few short excursions, the highlights being the Kalapana lava viewing area, Kaumana cave, a beautiful lava tube near Hilo (thanks for the large flash lights!) and the Hilo farmers market. The only bad part of our stay was the morning we had to leave! We look forward to visiting Kapoho again and again!

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Awesome house and unique setting--Highly recommend

Guest: Pat from PA (Pennsylvania)
Date of Stay: 06/03/09 Review Submitted: 06/16/09

We and our 2 twenty-something children spent 4 nights here. It is a great house--right on the oceanic tide pools. My husband and I enjoyed our first snorkeling experience, as did the kids though they had snorkeled before. The pools are really an incredible and diverse place to experience--so much aquatic life and beautiful living coral reefs just below the surface and protected from strong currents and surf. The house itself has an unusual "tropical" design and floorplan, with individual rooms accessed from outside lanai (might not work well for families with young children). It was well set up for a beach vacation, including a fully equipped kitchen, outdoor grill and hot tub on the upper (sleeping) level. Beach towels and slightly worn but serviceable snorkel gear were provided. Great views of the sunrise and cool tropical breezes also enhanced the experience. This is a good location from which to visit Volcano National Park, enjoy scenic drives through the rain forest and along the coast, and explore Hilo and Pahoa. The rain, a daily event, never lasted very long and was usually refreshing. The house is next to the public access to the tidepools--open during daylight hours, but we didn't find this to present any problems or disturb our privacy, and there were never more than 10 or so people at any one time spread out along the network of pools. All in all this house was a fantastic setting for our visit to the Big Island.

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

Guest: Alan and Holly Ward (Pueblo West, CO)
Date of Stay: 03/23/09 Review Submitted: 03/23/09

Staying in this beautiful home just steps away from the Kapoho tide pools, was incredibly relaxing and fun! We stayed here with our two kids(9&11)and we are glad we did!! This area wasn't crowded and the people around the community seemed very friendly. We spent lots of time hiking out on the lava rocks and snorkeling the pools. The snorkeling was the best on the island, in our opinion. We snorkeled Honanau Bay and were disappointed because of snorkeling here at Kapoho first. We appreciated the books in the house for identifying some of the fishes and birds we saw here. We felt this home had the best view of all the homes in this area. The owner's description and photos of their home is very accurate. The home was very clean, well decorated, and SO comfortable. We haven't slept so well in a long time!! One night we watched a lit up cruise ship pass by on the horizon right from the bed, and we would wake up in the mornings and just stare at the amazing views from our room and the lanais. The home has a well stocked kitchen that we put to good use to make some delicious Hawaiian dishes. Moonfish is yummy! The owners were easy to work with, very helpful, and communicated well with us on expectations. Once we made reservations, they even sent us a packet that included things to see and do in the area. We used this home as our hub to go and see attractions near by. We enjoyed staying here very much and would highly recommend this home to anyone who wants to rent a vacation home on the Big Island of Hawaii. We were thrilled that we were able to reserve this home, but I bet once the word gets out about this home, it will be booked solid!!

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our

Guest: Mike & Joanna (Benicia Ca.)
Date of Stay: 03/01/09 Review Submitted: 04/25/09

This is our “new” favorite place on the big island. On the road in we drove through a tree tunnel that I thought was prettier than Maluhia road in Kauai. The house is just as nice as it looks in the photos. Every thing is new and it was very comfortable. The snorkeling in the tide pools was wonderful. The coral was beautiful, a great verity of fish and on the last day we saw several sea turtles. Being able to go from the tide polls to the hot tub was a real treat. We stayed three nights at the coral house and it was the most relaxing 3 days of our trip. We had a small issue when we got in the first night and with one phone call the care taker was there in the morning to address our concern. He lived about a block away and had some great advice on things to see in the area, even pointed out the best of the tide pools to snorkel in. We plan on staying here again on our next trip to the big island.

Recommended for:Families with teenagers, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Million Dollar View!

Guest: Tina Marie (Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada)
Date of Stay: 02/02/09 Review Submitted: 03/05/09

Wow...love the place, clean, quiet....and the best snorkeling around. It was really amazing all the coral, fish, and turtles. The view has to be the best in the area. What i miss the most is leaving the windows open at night and having the warm air blow in and listening to the sound of the ocean....can't beat that. The house is very clean and has everything you need. I hope i get the opportunity to go back.

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

Wonderful vacation

Guest: Three Sisters of a certain age (Camarillo, CA)
Date of Stay: 01/07/09 Review Submitted: 02/04/09

The East side of the Big Island has dozens of wonderful attractions, such as Volcano National Park, the botanical gardens, waterfalls, the Orchid Farm, etc. The location of this home makes it a fine base for exploration. However, you may find yourself preferring to sit on the balcony all day. The view is spectacular and always changing with the tides, time of day, and weather. The house itself is comfortable, tastefully decorated, and well-equipped. Besides, there are interesting tidepools right in your backyard and good snorkeling down the fenceline. Not to mention a hot tub. If there are any negatives, it would be the sight of two flights of stairs between our luggage and the bedroom level. Once you have it up there you are home free. In addition, the neighborhood is safe and quiet, the caretakers are very responsive, and the owners could not have been nicer or more helpful. I would wish anyone as perfect a vacation as we had.

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

Snorkeling Fun

Guest: Jim, Cathy, Helen, and Jamie (Houston Texas)
Date of Stay: 12/27/08 Review Submitted: 01/06/09

The house is cute and well arranged, with great views from every room. Thoughtful touches, such as binoculars, towels in various places where you might need them, and nice dishes made it feel welcoming. The hot tub was especially cozy after a cooling snorkel. We really enjoyed the snorkeling right off the property. We saw MANY different fish, sea turtles, sea urchins, eels, sea cucumbers. Clear water, outstanding visibility. We went at various times of day and tide conditions. Do wear water shoes, tho, the rocks are tough. To go see the lava flowing into the water, there is a boat that leaves from Isaac Hale park, just a few minutes away. Try Captain Roy Carvalho for a small boat, personal tour. Also good was going to Pahoa's Farmers Market on Sunday morning to get cool fruits and veggies. Yum. Aloha! Jim, Cathy, Helen, and Jamie

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

FANTASTIC

Guest: ErikaJesse (Usa)
Date of Stay: 12/17/08 Review Submitted: 01/30/09

We had the pleasure of staying in this great house over the Holidays 2008. The small touches all over the house made it perfect, towels, books, everything you could imagine in the kitchen. We had an amazing time and enjoyed every minute of our stay. The views are incredible, you just cant get this kind of comfort at a Hotel. over Christmas we stayed home and did not leave the house for 3 days, as there was enough to keep us busy right there. It was BEAUTIFUL, GREAT JOB GUYS, I am sure many many people will enjoy! Thank you again.. Erika and Jesse

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

Guest: Mark Morgan (Camarillo)
Date of Stay: 10/14/08 Review Submitted: 10/14/08

Wow! Great house! Great place! My wife and I enjoyed a spectacular visit in late September/early October. The orientation of the house encourages a sense of isolation from the hoards of humanity, a prospect we always welcome. The ever-changing, up-close views of gorgeous Big Island nature - we delighted in many fantastic sunrises, and on clear nights, awesome star clouds - makes this property top notch. We recommend guests consult The Big Island Revealed guidebook to prioritize their must-see-and-do lists (or to find other helpful information). We recommend some things: Suisan in downtown Hilo offers great fresh fish (as does the fish market in Pahoa); if frustrated by high supermarket prices, check-out the organic market in Pahoa at the eastern end of town or the many farmers' markets; snorkel at Champagne Pond near Kapoho Bay (ez walk); snorkeling in Kapoho tidepools is a must-do, and you can rent equipment cheaply at Nautilus in Hilo; South Point also offers incredible snorkeling opportunities (day trip); the lava tube shut-down at the end of our visit (fun night visit if active), but we enjoyed a helicopter ride over the area (if you fly w/o heli-doors on, make sure you secure wallet/keys and wear warm clothes (very windy and noisy); if you hike in local rainforests, bring map, cell, water, light, ponchos and food (we got lost late one dark, rainy afternoon for 1.5 hours - under-maintained trail at Kalopa State Park - and worried about spending night).. ENJOY! We did. Thanks!

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Guest: Alicia Garcia (Alameda, CA)
Date of Stay: 07/03/08 Review Submitted: 07/03/08

Wonderful vacation home! Clean. Comfortable furniture. Beautiful surroundings. It was a Hawaii dream come true!

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Guest: Tom and Linda2 (Lompoc, CA)
Date of Stay: 05/08/08 Review Submitted: 05/08/08

We were privileged to be the very first guests at Kaheka Ko'a. We thoroughly enjoyed our stay at this uniquely designed brand new home.The area is wonderful and uncrowded. The snorkeling is so convenient and magnificent in the pools. We have snorkeled in many parts of the world and this is special due to the close proximity of the beautiful fish, coral and turtles. You can make your way from pool to pool - each one with ledges and deep spots - to make for an exciting adventure. You don't know what awaits you just out of sight.The house itself has 180° views of the ocean from both the living and sleeping levels. You can't be any closer or you would be wet. There really wasn't any need for air conditioning with the ocean breezes. It was comfortable any time of the day or night. There is no better sleep than hearing the sounds of the ocean and feeling the breezes blowing through an open window, and not being cold. I wish I could bring it home with me.The location is also great for day trips. We visited the Volcano Park, recent lava flow, Lava Tree Park, Hawaiian Botanical Garden, historic sights, and Hilo.Shopping is nearby in Pahoa and the local Sunday Swap Meet is great to get your weekly supply of fruits and veggies (and souvenirs) as well as a wonderful cultural experience with entertainment and many delicious choices for lunch.We would definitely recommend this rental. Enjoy!

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