Vacation Rentals by Owner

gorgeous location, quiet complex, and romantic atmosphere!

Guest: OrthopedicPrincess (San Diego)
Date of Stay: 04/18/12 Review Submitted: 04/23/12

My boyfriend and I spent four wonderful nights here at 1-302! Our only regret was that we didn't stay long enough. We arrived to a well-maintained, roomy condo with everything we needed. Though we spent very little time in the condo, it was equipped with beach chairs, noodle, towels, and even coolers for beach days. Word of warning: when we arrived, all of the beach chairs, etc were stacked neatly on the lanai. We awoke the first day to loud banging on the door and rudely informed by Kona Makai staff that our lanai was in violation for having things outside. It was simple enough as we moved it inside, but certainly gave me a scare for something I didnt do! All in all, wonderful stay! I enjoyed a clean setting that felt like home. Watching sunsets and getting up early to drink coffee on the lanai was so relaxing. We would come back in a heartbeat and are longing to be lulled to sleep by the sound of the ocean again! Thanks Peter and Darla! Mahalo.

Recommended for:Age 55+, romantic getaway.

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Guest: pk (TN)
Date of Stay: 03/21/12 Review Submitted: 03/25/12

The Kona Makai condo was beautiful. The ocean views were spectacular! The master bedroom is romantic and very roomy with a wonderful ocean breeze coming through screened windows. The kitchen and bathroom are updated and provide ample room and basic necessities. The living room adjacent to the kitchen was comfortable for two. The staircase leading up to the bedroom loft was very pretty; however, it was not as cool and breezy on the bedroom loft side and tended to be uncomfortable for sleeping, according to my teenage boys. Would do well to add a working air conditioning to the unit if bedroom loft is used. Also, need to probably update DVD player, It seemed to not recognize the RedBox, newer movies that were rented and would hesitate several times during the movie, which can be quite irritating when watching a movie. Overall, this is an ideal condo for a couple wanting to spend a relaxed and enjoyable time in Kona.

Recommended for:Romantic getaway

Awesome Condo

Guest: Will Hoag (Portland, Oregon)
Date of Stay: 04/06/11 Review Submitted: 04/15/11

Bravo to Peter for providing such a nice condo at such a reasonable price and providing such a pleasant experience. The photos provided are a good representation of the condo, lanai and views from the condo. The complex is very well maintained. Would recommend and will likely go back, it was hard to leave.

Owner response:Mahalo Will! We're happy to have provided you a great place for your vacation, and look forward to hosting you again. I'd have to add "Bravo to Darla," for she gets the credit for the eye to decor and detail! Aloha, Peter

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

Best Condo to Stay in on the Big Island - Great View, Beautiful Home!

Guest: Jenna (Champaign, Illinois)
Date of Stay: 10/18/10 Review Submitted: 10/28/10

My husband and I just spent our honeymoon at Kona Makai this past week and it was a wonderful experience. This is the second time I've stayed at this condo - the first was with my mom during college. The listing is very accurate though it and the photos really don't do the space justice. The view from the lanai is an ocean front view and it was so peaceful to sit out there in the morning. Every morning we woke up to the sound of the ocean. The bed was the most comfortable bed I've ever slept in. The property was clean and decorated nicely. There are marble counter tops and huge ceiling fans and the loft is very unique. It's the perfect vacation spot and I've already promised some friends of mine that I'll give them the contact info. Peter was incredibly helpful and even let us check out late on our last day. He answered all of our questions and was very wonderful to work with. Kona Maka is in the perfect location - it's just a bit south of the main city of Kona which meant that we were able to have some privacy and that the setting was even more stunning than if we had stayed right in the city. It was still close enough to the city, shopping, restaurants, farmers markets, and a ton of other exciting things that we didn't feel like we were missing out. It was wonderful and we will definitely be coming back!

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

Fall asleep to the sound of the ocean!

Guest: Traveler (Highland Park,IL)
Date of Stay: 08/04/10 Review Submitted: 08/24/10

We stayed in this lovely condo for a week in August. The condo was very clean and well equiped. We ate breakfast on the lanai looking out on the ocean! Every night we fell asleep listening to the wonderful sound of the ocean.tThe condo complex is beautifully landscaped and there are lounge chairs overlooking the ocean in addition to those at the pool. The owners were very helpful in answering any of our questions.

Owner response:Mahalo David and Diane. The lull of the ocean waves and the peaceful, beautiful views of the ocean were what drew us to this condo at Kona Makai. Aloha! Peter and Darla

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Spinner Dolphins off the Lanai!

Guest: Fiona and Andrea (Vancouver)
Date of Stay: 04/30/10 Review Submitted: 06/01/11

Yes, we really did have spinner dolphins with our morning coffee off the lanai! This was a beautiful property right on the ocean and was perfect for our needs. The condo is even more lovely than the photos, and Peter and Darla have taken great care to attend to every detail. If staying somewhere quiet, private, modern and convenient is important to you, then this is an excellent choice. We also really appreciated that Peter and Darla responded immediately to all our questions before arriving in Kona, and also during our stay. We loved that they had provided all these great extras that we did not have to rent or purchase, and were not expecting, such as: beach chairs, cooler, snorkel gear for one, boogie board, and beach towels. We also appreciated the extensive list of recommendations for restaurants, tour companies, excursions, markets, and especially BEACHES that the owners provided. The property itself is also very well maintained. We used the pool, weight room and whirlpool, and all were in great shape. The gardens are gorgeous. We would recommend this property to anyone, but particularly those looking for a romantic getaway.

Recommended for:Age 55+, girls getaway, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Guest: Dan & Miranda (Surrey, UK)
Date of Stay: 11/24/09 Review Submitted: 11/24/09

This is a wonderful beachfront condo, conveniently located in a quiet area just a short drive away from shops and restaurants and providing a great base for touring all that Big Island has to offer. We thouroughly enjoyed our stay here thanks to the thoughtful touches that Peter and Darla have added. We especially enjoyed the peace and quiet, the sound of the ocean, the spectacular sunset views from the balcony and the lovely gardens at Kona Makai. Our booking was very efficiently handled by Peter & Darla, who were very helpful, with near instant responses to our many emails. We would definitely recommend Kona Makai 1-302 to anyone looking for quality accomodation in Big Island (and the rates are great too!).

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Guest: John & Rosemary Hannabach (Villa Rica, Georgia)
Date of Stay: 09/24/09 Review Submitted: 09/24/09

Aloha & Mahalo, Darl and Peter. We loved our two week visit to Kona Makai and condo 1-302. We celebrated our 50th wedding anniversary at this gorgeous facility. The views from the lanai are spectacular from the morning waves crashing on the lave rocks below to the magnificent sunsets nearly every night. The condo is completely furnished for a home away from home - even ample clothes hangers! This has to be among the best condo sites on the island. Friendships around the pool were priceless among guests and residents. Loved our anniversary visit!

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Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 04/12/09 Review Submitted: 04/12/09

My husband and I have stayed at Peter and Darla's condo twice--during January and February--and we LOVE the place. We echo what many others in this guestbook have said. The Kona Makai complex is beautifully landscaped, well maintained, and quiet, with a swimming pool and workout room. It's not far from the village. Peter's upper-level condo is very close to the ocean, so the views are spectacular (we sit on the lanai and watch whales), and the sound of the ocean is mesmerizing. Love to go to sleep with that sound. The condo itself is clean and beautifully decorated. The beds are very comfortable. Since the lanai faces north, it is always shaded and cool. The cross breezes through the condo eliminate the need for air conditioning. We will continue to stay here for years to come.

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Guestbook Comment

Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 01/01/09 Review Submitted: 01/04/09

This condo is just the perfect place ever! We were completely delighted. The condo is beautifully decorated and the view is amazing. We could not have asked for a better location!

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Guestbook Comment

Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 12/01/08 Review Submitted: 12/25/08

Our nine day stay in December was our 4th time in this wonderful unit. We have a son who lives in Kona, and we now try to visit at least once a year. Every time we walk in, it feels like we are returning to "our" home. We rarely use the AC as we sleep to the sound of the surf. As always, we hated to leave, but we will be back - many times we hope! Mahalo to Peter and Darla for making us always feel comfortable.

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Guestbook Comment

Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 12/01/08 Review Submitted: 12/21/08

My husband, teenage son and I stayed here in late November 2008. We loved the unit, it was located close to the ocean, had a beautiful view from both the master bedroom and the lanai, and was decorated in a fun, tropical style. The upgraded kitchen was well-equipped, and it was nice to have a washer/dryer in the unit as well. We appreciated that there were several ceiling fans in the condo (even one on the lanai!) to help circulate the air and a/c in the late afternoon. I agree with an earlier comment that a screen door on the front door would be helpful for keeping bugs out in the evening, although it was certainly not a problem. Kona Makai is ideally located within walking distance of downtown Kona (approx. 1.5 miles), and the gardens at the complex are absolutely gorgeous. This unit does not get ANY road noise from Alii Drive, which is a real plus. The only "noise" is the sound of the ocean, which we miss already! Thanks so much for sharing your lovely home with us!

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Guestbook Comment

Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 08/01/08 Review Submitted: 08/03/08

This is a very comfortable condo that is beautifully furnished. I loved being this close to the sea. A safety screen front door would be perfect for great ventilation.

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Guestbook Comment

Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 07/01/08 Review Submitted: 07/11/08

We had the pleasure of staying here in April. The place was clean, comfortable, and well situated. We pretty much fell in love with it. The facility is VERY quiet, and the hosts have made sure you have everything you need to have a great time. We saved a fortune in food costs alone, by buying at local stores and bringing it home. And it really did feel like home. We will be back!

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Guestbook Comment

Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 08/01/07 Review Submitted: 08/22/07

HAving been a previous owners in Kona Makai, we really can appreciate the remodel of this unit. Fantastic location in the complex. I say at the top portion of all units available. I only suggest a front screen door install. The breezes are fantastic and a must but couldn't leave the door open at night due to moths. We recommend this place.

Owner response:We will be installing (another) screen on the front door during our quarterly maintenance visit to Kona in September 2007. Aloha, Peter and Darla Auburn, CA 530-913-9235

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Guestbook Comment

Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 02/01/07 Review Submitted: 02/24/07

Peter & Darla Well another fabulous vacation at the Kona Makai is behind us. Great sunsets, wonderful diving and the accomodations are first class as always. I can't believe this is our fourth year staying here. Well I guess when you find a good thing you'd better stick with it. We've been coming to the islands for about 15 years now and have never stayed at the same place this many times. Time to start planning our 07 trip.

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Guestbook Comment

Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 05/01/06 Review Submitted: 05/19/06

Just wanted to write a tell you how much we enjoyed staying in your condo at Kona Makai. The location was awesome and the accommodations were exceptionally nice. We especially enjoyed the little touches - the blue "guide book" became our bible for discovering the island, and we were introduced to "Iz" because of the CD's you made available to us. We also truly experienced one of the most beautiful sunsets I've ever seen from the lanai. We will certainly come back to stay on our next trip to the Big Island. Thanks once again. Ron Grubb -

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Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 04/01/06 Review Submitted: 04/18/06

We had a terrific time. The condo was great. We appreciated the there are still people who will take the time and effort to upgrade a property to lthe wonderful level of the location. Some of the little things that we really appreciated were the cd's of local music and an ice maker. A really great condo at a great location.

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Guestbook Comment

Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 11/01/05 Review Submitted: 11/11/05

10/4/05 Darla & Peter, Thanks for an awesome time at Kona Makai! Your condo was well-appointed and was more than we had expected, and we were expecting alot! We loved our time in Kona, snorkeling everyday, seeing turtles, eels, and more fish than we could believe! We kayaked at Capt. Cooks Monument ... it was like swimming in an aquarium! We summitted Mauna Kea --Spectacular! Thanks for helping make our 15th anniversary so special! We highly recommend this condo to anyone! Mahalo, Andrea and Pete Utah

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Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 10/01/05 Review Submitted: 10/23/05

September 22, 2005 As we had hoped your condo is wonderful. It has all the comforts of home & then some. WHAT A GREAT PLACE !!! The view from the lanai is spectacular. It makes the morning cup of Kona coffee all the better! We were able to view the dolphins and watch kayaks training for the Ironman races from the comfort of the chairs. We have pictures of the sunset to cherish & remember forever. The condo is centrally located to all the major attractions, yet far enough away for quiet evenings & mornings. We would recommend your place to anyone! Just save us some time for our next visit. Phil and Lou Ann Anzaldua Phoenix, Arizona

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Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 02/01/05 Review Submitted: 02/11/05

We would highly recommend the Kona Maki. The grounds and pool are very well kept. The furnishings were beautiful, the bed very comfortble and the whales swimming by close enough to view from the lani. We will return.

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Guest: Sherri Brinn
Date of Stay: 10/13/04 Review Submitted: 10/12/04

Peter, Just wanted to tell you how much we enjoyed your Kona Makai home last week!!! It was such a great place place to stay and you really make your guests feel so comfortable there. Those sunsets were quite special!!! Our vacation on the Big Island was terrific..... Thanks again for the great accommodations!!!!

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Guestbook Comment

Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 10/01/04 Review Submitted: 09/30/04

The owners of this beautiful unit have done a wonderful job of decorating it. It really has the aloha spirit. The canopy bed was awesome. The mattress and pillows were super comfortable and combined with the sound of the ocean right outside of our bedroom gave us some of our best nights sleep ever. The property is beautifully landscaped and meticulously cared for. We loved our time here and would highly recommend this wonderful place.

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Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 08/01/04 Review Submitted: 08/18/04

WOW!!! Our 5 night stay at this condo was exceptionally wonderful, extremely relaxing and far exceeded any expectations. EVERYTHING WAS JUST PERFECT.....nothing generic here; beautiful and comfortable accommodations, thoughtful and carefully chosen furnishings, everything imaginably needed from beach towels, cooler for food/drinks, delightful Hawaiian CD's, completely stocked kitchen (beautiful set of dishes and glasses!) and items for barbeque....I could go on and on! One of our MANY favorite things to do at the condo was to sit for a meal on the lanai....the table and chairs are elevated to provide maximum viewing of the ocean without rail interference. I could have EASILY spent all the days and more just enjoying the condo and grounds at Kona Makai without going ANYWHWERE. If you want a truly relaxing and comfortable vacation, THIS IS IT!! You won't regret it!

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Guestbook Comment

Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 07/01/04 Review Submitted: 07/28/04

We had a wonderful time on the Big Island, and so enjoyed coming "home" at day's end to #1-302 at Kona Makai. The unit is VERY nice, with all the comforts of home -- and some we DON'T have at home -- and is beautifully furnished with unique pieces. The unit is just the second back from the water, providing wonderful sunset views (in fact a cove wraps around the back of the building, so there's a terrific water view from both the front and the back!) The photos don't exaggerate the assets of this unit, and the owners are extremely pleasant and helpful. We were very happy during our time at Kona Makai, and we recommend this rental highly.

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Guest: Jean, John & Dean Alteri
Date of Stay: 04/19/04 Review Submitted: 04/18/04

We had a wonderful stay in Hawaii. Your condo is beautiful, matches the feel of serenity of the island. We say dolphins from the balcony...very exciting! It was great to awaken to the sounds of the waves. We will return!

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Guest: Cliff and Marsha
Date of Stay: 04/15/04 Review Submitted: 04/14/04

Thank you for the stay. The view is fantastic, we watched spinner dolphins form the deck. The snorkeling is great, water warm and clear. We appreciated the quiet and beautiful flowers. All in all, a great stay! We can't wait to return. Aloha, Cliff and Marsha

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Guest: Dave & Mary Averill
Date of Stay: 03/29/04 Review Submitted: 03/28/04

Wonderful time, quiet. Everything we needed to cook was here, we only brought food. Sunset views from patio are spectacular, the view even changes from one end of the lanai to the other. We drove 2 1/2 hours to the lava flows...fantastic! We saw streams of lava pouring down he hills. WE hope everyone has as great a stay as we did. p.s. We were worried about the mattress as we sleep on an air mattress, but we had some of the BEST SLEEP EVER!

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Guest: B&B Miller
Date of Stay: 03/17/04 Review Submitted: 03/16/04

What a great place! A home away from home. We'll certainly record the room number and location for the future. We are now off to Kona Village and wedding bliss! March 24th the big day! Thank you, your attention to detail has been so truly appreciated!

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Guest: Peter & Darla
Date of Stay: 02/05/04 Review Submitted: 02/04/04

Aloha and welcome to our Kona Makai guest book. The comments that we have entered into this book were transcibed from our guest book that is kept in the home. We hope that you will find this guest book informative. Wishing you a visit to Kona filled with Aloha! Peter & Darla

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