Definitely stay here while on the Kona side!!!

Guest: juliette1417 (chicago)
Date of Stay: 12/09/11 Review Submitted: 12/26/11

My boyfriend and I LOVED this place! We stayed at a large resort prior & on the Hilo side prior to staying here and wished we had stayed here the entire time. I frequently rent condos when traveling and this place is my all time favorite. The condo was clean, roomy, and had just about everything I needed in the kitchen (a french press would've made this place perfect...and impossible to leave). The beds were very comfortable and the dishwasher and w/d were very convenient. As for the resort itself, I liked that it was gated and the pool & tennis court appeared to be in great shape. The location is convenient, it's quiet at night but close to the beaches, markets, shops, restaurants, etc. Definitely walk to the Outrigger for sunset drinks one night...and the rest of the nights enjoy the view from your own unit. The outside table is literally steps away from the ocean. The view is amazing and it was so nice to hear the waves crashing at night. The owners impressed me from the minute I booked this place and their tips for the area were some of our best experiences (definitely head to Rapanui). They have been very pleasant to deal with and I really cannot say enough great things about this condo, stay here and you will definitely not be disappointed!

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

Not much to add to all the great things that have been said.

Guest: WMcK (Port Chester, NY)
Date of Stay: 07/17/11 Review Submitted: 12/14/11

This condo has everything one would need, including the ocean right outside the door. The development has some important historic sites that are worth reading about. Kahalu'u Beach is an easy 10 minute walk, and Peter and Darla's Guide is very helpful. We've stayed at several other rentals in the area, but I think this may be our new favorite....certainly in the top 2!

Owner response:Aloha Wendy, So happy to hear you loved the place. Thank you for your glowing review! Peter and Darla

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

Not a place I will stay again

Guest: Bleve (Alaska)
Date of Stay: 11/12/11 Review Submitted: 12/11/11

Quite a few bugs, some sort of rodent once we put poison it didn't come back, lost quite a bit of food. Paint coming off the walls in a few rooms. Excellent view of ocean and close to shopping. First and last time staying at this property, will stay at another unit next year. Third time staying in KKSR other units I have stayed in much nicer.

Owner response:We're sorry Billy that our townhouse at KKSR did not meet all of your expectations. As you know, bugs and rodents are part of the fauna of the islands, and their presence seems to wax and wane with variances in weather and humidity. These pests are managed by the homeowners association through contracted pest professionals. We wish you would have contacted us or the resident manager at the first sign of a rodent, as the problem would have been addressed immediately (as it was when I called them the day I read your review). The problem is minimized if no food is left out and the trash is removed twice daily. The paint is buckling around the windows where ocean moisture has seeped around the window flashing. We've repaired this several times and are now working with the homeowners association to replace the windows. The moisture around the windows is much less a problem in other units that are not right on the ocean. It's important to us that our guests have a good experience and we appreciate your feedback. We would like to offer you a discount at any of our four Kona properties should you decide to stay with us again in the future. With aloha, Peter and Darla

Recommended for:

wedding guests

Guest: Wedding guests (Seneca, SC)
Date of Stay: 10/26/11 Review Submitted: 11/11/11

We just returned from a great stay in your condo while we attended a family wedding! The location is wonderful; seems to be in the middle for all sides of the mountain. Each day we drove either N, S, E, or W and did not feel pushed for time. We even spent time after dark viewing the glowing cauldera and got back to the condo in good time. The volcano is definitely the star attraction on the Big Island, but there are so many other interesting things to do and see. We enjoyed snorkeling at "Two-step" and the beach at Mauna Kea Resort. We did a lot of hiking all over the Island. We only used the pool once as there were so many great places to go and things to do. We also enjoyed eating at Jackie Rey's and many other restaurants. Mahalo, Peter and Darla for a great 2 weeks on the Big Island! John and Martha

Recommended for:Romantic getaway, sightseeing, adventure seekers, girls getaway, age 55+.

The Best of the Big Island

Guest: Annie (Bellingham, WA)
Date of Stay: 11/12/10 Review Submitted: 12/01/10

My two kids (ages 5 and 8) and I stayed for a week and a half at this gorgeous property. We plan to stay there again next year as it quickly became our home away from home. We spent most of our time while at the condo on the lanai watching the waves roll in and the paddlers pass by. We even saw a whale spout from the upstairs bathroom! Every amenity we needed was there. Beds are comfortable, decorations are attractive, great water pressure and a lovely pool close by. We only ate out twice. We bought fresh food at local farmer's markets and ate like royalty with fresh mangos, papaya, avocado garden salad greens and decadent Kona coffee. We way over packed; we did laundry in the washing machine daily, and did not need half of what we brought. We spent several days in the Kohala mega-resort region with friends and preferred our condo to their expensive one! Our location is ideal! We drove to the beach each day (our favorites were Magic Sands and Kahalu'u) There were turtles everywhere and fantastic waves to boogey board on (Thank you for having boogey boards for us to use, Peter and Darla!) We took a boat from nearby Keauhou Bay and went to the luau at the Keauhou Sheraton (neither is more than 5 minutes away), and a wonderful shopping mall is actually walkable up the hill! We got everything we needed from there and attended one of the hula shows which was a highlight for my kids. We went to the volcano overnight, and highly recommend that. We loved The Big Island and know you will not be disappointed at this property!

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

You can't get any closer to the ocean!

Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 07/09/10 Review Submitted: 08/15/10

We really enjoyed our 2 week stay at this oceanfront condo.This fantastic Kona property was just as described. It is updated, clean and comfortable. You literally could not get any closer to the water without actually being in the ocean!!! The bed in the master bedroom was one of the most comfortable I have ever slept on. Kitchen was well equipped. There was a nice supply of books for your reading pleasure. There is no a/c in the unit but there is a fan in every room and with the windows open at night you get the ocean breeze. The grounds are lush and impeccably kept. Peter and Darla were great to deal with. Peter's responses to our e-mails and phone calls were almost instantaneous. They had a lot of great information about Kona - beaches, restaurants, farmer's market (be sure to go there for fantastic fruits and veggies). Darla was very responsive when we had a problem with the dishwasher and it was immediately fixed. When you stay there be sure to walk over and see the blow hole on the edge of the golf course. It's great fun! Our son got soaked which made for a fantastic photo op ;- ) Wear good walking shoes though - no flip flops - as you have to walk across the lava. Hey, you gotta remember this is a volcanic island. Which is what makes it so unique from all the other Hawaiian Islands. If you have not been here before, be sure to invest in a pair of water shoes with good soles and wear them!. The lava and coral are sharp. The best snorkeling beach on the island is 5 minutes up the road. Be sure to buy some shave ice from the snack truck there for a cool afternoon treat.If you are a scuba diver, the Manta Ray Night Dive is a must. We enjoyed BBQ's and Mai Tai's while we watched the sun set out our back door every night. Save some fish for the resident cat named Tiger. He is an old timer with a limp. If you like cats, feed him and he will join you every evening.Cons: The kitchen and living area are rather small, but for the price it is a good value. You can rent larger units but will pay considerably more for them. If you are looking for a taste of old Hawaii with friendly staff, laid back atmosphere, and up close and personal with the ocean, you will be very pleased here. One caveat - if you have young children, I would NOT recommend you stay here. As the picture shows above, the small patio ends at the ledge of jagged lava and rough waves lapping at the shore. I would definitely stay here again.Thank you Peter and Darla for a memorable family vacation

Owner response:Mahalo Robin! Great feedback for future guests. We look forward to hosting you again! Aloha, Peter and Darla

Recommended for:Romantic getaway, sightseeing, adventure seekers, girls getaway, age 55+, families with teenagers.

Guest: SouthernOregonHawaii (Ashland)
Date of Stay: 04/01/10 Review Submitted: 04/01/10

Our family had an amazing stay at your beach home~ it was absolutely perfect. The location is outrageous, amidst extraordinary environmental and cultural sites that are educational and inspiring for all generations. Just a short walk outside can be a truly amazing experience, the tide pools are world class and so is snorkeling nearby (with incredible opportunities from beginner to more advanced levels of difficulty). Every walk, every outing to swim or snorkel in the ocean I saw rare and threatened species, it was truly beyond description, the purity and clarity of the waters off of Hawaiian coast are outstanding, some of the last best remaining coral in the world is in these sacred waters. This beach house served as an amazing base to this wonder, and we spent a great deal of time exploring other areas as well from outrageous beaches such as Makalawena to the accessible and kid-friendly Hapuna Beach to the extraordinary black & green sand beaches to nearby rainforest valleys and Volcanoes NP. The house is in a great location~ very close to central Kona but also just far enough away from Kona to be a little more private and also a nice location to jump over to Captain Cook from. The sunsets were simply outrageous, shared with the family during a dinner on the oceanfront. The house was very nicely decorated and beautiful and when we were not out exploring or taking in the stunning history of cultural sites of Hawaii we absolutely were in paradise at this house. It is well stocked with beach/Hawaii stuff- chairs, beach items, etc., and the owners clearly have put in a great deal of dedication to make this a truly wonderful experience. I thought the house had the best location of all the units in the complex- it is right across from the pool (which my kids loved) and tennis court area and also in an amazing spot for direct shoreline access (take care on the lava rock but it is amazing to explore down the shore). We absolutely recommend staying here- it was a beautiful, transformative and wildly educational experience for our family.

Owner response:Mahalo Joe for your wonderful comments. We're most happy when our first time guests to Kona and KKSR have the same memorable experience of the Big Island that we had, and continue to have everytime we are back in paradise! Aloha! Peter and Darla

Recommended for:

Guest: Katherine Steinbrecher (Olympia WA)
Date of Stay: 01/29/10 Review Submitted: 01/29/10

Greetings Peter and DarlaWe had a terrific and rejuvenating trip to the Big Island Dec 1-8 2009. Staying in your condo right on the water was beautiful. We each found time to really relax and be grateful for our surroundings(there were 4 of us). We very much appreciated how attentive the property manager was in communicating the possible need to close the storm frames… and we were happy it never really became necessary too. We were truly amazed at all of the preserved history even on the grounds of the condo … but of course the beaches were the best, great waves to play in, warm days with lots of sunshine, and snorkeling Captain Cook Monument, just recalling our trip brings a warm feeling and your hospitality is a part of that. Mahalo!

Recommended for:

Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 09/29/09 Review Submitted: 09/29/09

This is a beautiful, clean condo in a beautiful setting. We enjoyed so much seeing the sunsets from the patio.

Recommended for:

Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 09/02/09 Review Submitted: 09/02/09

Just back (sadly) from our wonderful trip, and I wanted to let you know how much we enjoyed your condo. The location was FANTASTIC, and the space worked out perfectly for the 4 of us. We appreciated how well-equipped it was. The kids really loved hanging out at the pool. Thanks also for all the tips on where to go and what to do! I hope that we’ll get to return someday soon.

Recommended for: