Reviews for Captain Cook Vacation Rental - VRBO 362208 - 2 BR Kona Coast Estate in HI, Kai Ea 'Breath of the Sea' Sweeping Ocean Views!

Wow!

Guest Sam
Date of stay 04/23/13
Review Submitted 05/07/13

What a place! We were stunned! The pictures on VRBO are great, but multiply that by 10!! We have always had good luck with VRBO, but this place has to be THE nicest place we have stayed in on many trips to Hawaii. It's really a private villa with fabulous views, meticulously cared and prepared for guests to enjoy. To add to other comments of recent reviews, I agree that the multi levels can be tricky, especially after dark where I tripped more than once on the lanai. Watch it after a Mai Tai or two! I would highly recommend this property to those looking to get away from it all. For us it was a bit remote, i.e. 30+ minutes to Kona. Dinner one evening at Mauna Lani Resort was a 3 hour round trip in the car. The main road to and from Kona and finding the entrance to the house, can be challenging after dark and when its raining. As for nearby beaches, they are beautiful, but rocky. We did not attempt to swim there. If you are looking for a white sand beach, plan a day trip. Overall, Kai Ea was a wonderful and enchanting place to enjoy a stay on the Big Island! Thank you Dennis.

Recommended for: Adventure seekers, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Owner response: Mahalo for your comments and glad you enjoyed Kai Ea. I did want to stress that there are a variety of great beaches for swimming nearby. And also many fine restaurants within a short drive (Keei Cafe) or even Kona (Huggos on the ocean) with 30 minutes. But, it is a Big Island and it is all good! Dennis

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My Favorite Place!

Guest comment entered by owner

My Favorite Place!

Guest Rich and Marnita, Buckley, Wa.
Date of stay 04/17/13
Review Submitted 04/26/13

Hi Dennis, We had a great time, the house is my favorite place that I ever stayed. Right now we are staying at a house on a cliff close to Waipio Valley with an amazing view, but my heart is at Kai Ea! Thank you very much....we hope to return.... Note: This is Rich and Marnita's second stay at Kai Ea and he wrote a great review last year. So, mahalo nui loa! Dennis

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Perfect get-away!

Guest Brandon
Date of stay 03/20/13
Review Submitted 04/04/13

My girlfriend and I stayed at Kai Ea for 8 days, and couldn't have been more impressed! The first thing we said to each other when we arrived was that we wished we could share the place with our friends and family! I've stayed in several vacation rentals on the Big Island over the past few years, and this is the first one that I've felt compelled to write a review of. First off...the pictures don't do the property justice. It is spacious, and airy, with lots of natural light. The kitchen, dining room and living room constitute the main living area, all with amazing views down the hill to the ocean below. The master bedroom has amazing views as well. You can see the water while laying on the bed! There is one other, cute, smaller bedroom on the back side of the house that doesn't have a view. The property is very private, located at the end of a long driveway off of the main highway. The only sounds we heard were the many birds that start chirping as the day began. Everything was well maintained and clean... stocked with towels and kitchen utensils/appliances. Unlike some of the places I've rented from, there were no beach supplies. We left a couple of body boards that we bought at Costco for the stay. Overall, it's an amazing, peaceful place to stay while on the Big Island. We thoroughly enjoyed the time we spent just relaxing "at home"... eating breakfast on the patio and lounging around, reading. Keep in mind, the location is fairly remote. You will need to drive 20 minutes to get to the nearest grocery store or restaurant. It is close to some of the Island's best snorkeling and The Place of Refuge. Buy groceries in Kona on your way from the airport. All in all, this place is amazing! If the Captain Cook area interests you, I would highly recommend staying at Kai Ea. One caveat...The living room and bedroom are "sunken," and there are steps that need to be navigated. It looks nice, and isn't an issue... except at night. If you are one that gets up in the middle of the night to use the bathroom, leave a night light on someplace. The steps from the bedroom into the bathroom can be particularly hazardous!

Recommended for: Adventure seekers, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Owner response: Aloha, Mahalo for taking the time to write such an extensive review of Kai Ea and glad you enjoyed the home and the natural beauty. Sorry you missed the beach equipment that is stored outside. We do try and make clear about "trade off" of the steps that are necessary to capture the incredible views. We do have an abundance of nite-lites also that can be moved to where there are needed.

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Paradise found!

Guest Hawkeye
Date of stay 12/21/12
Review Submitted 01/07/13

I stayed at this property for 10 days over the Christmas and New Year holidays. It is an amazing place just as the owner describes it on the VRBO website. It is a large, beautiful, well-maintained property perched on a cliff overlooking a huge expanse of the Pacific ocean. It was very quiet during our visit with only the sounds of birds singing and the occasional bleating of some of the wild goats roaming through the vast lava fields below the property. We spent most of our time sitting outside on the huge lanais which wrap around the property just looking at the ocean and listening to the crashing of the waves. The owner took care of every aspect of the rental transaction in a prompt manner and returned our deposit within a day or two of our leaving the property. I recommend this place if you want to relax without the hassle of Kona and the other tourist areas. Pebble Beach is at the bottom of the hill in Kona Paradise as well as another deserted black sand beach a 10 minute walk north from there. There are also hiking trails through the lava fields with some amazing views to the south of Pebble Beach. I took about 2,000 photos during the 10 days I was there. Captain Cook is about 20 minutes away by car over a road with little traffic. There are numerous restaurants, a farmer's market on Sundays, a nice supermarket, used bookstore, and loads of interesting shops and beaches to visit nearby. This was the best place I have ever rented on any of the Hawaiian Islands.

Recommended for: Adventure seekers, girls getaway, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

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Sitting on top of the world

Guest Barbara
Date of stay 10/29/12
Review Submitted 12/13/12

My husband and I spent four nights at the "Breath of Sea" and there are no words to describe the beauty, peacefulness, serenity that captures this lovely home. We spent hours sitting on the terrace, morning and evenings, watching the skyline, the sunsets, reading, playing ukulele and taking numerous photos every five minutes. My dream is to stay there for a month! Please keep this our secret, Dennis, and don't change a thing! Mahalo, and Yours truly, Barbara Plaut

Recommended for: Age 55+, romantic getaway.

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We felt like millionaires for 8 days....

Guest Canoesmith
Date of stay 10/04/12
Review Submitted 11/08/12

We love privacy and quiet and being alone and long views and quality surroundings. We got them all here. Incredible place to stay. We hit Costco on the way from the airport, bought huge ribeyes, giant shrimp, lobster tails, and cocktail fixings. We ate like kings and felt like the rich and famous on the very edge of a hill overlooking the ocean - unobstructed views and complete privacy. I brought my spotting scope and tripod, and we watched the fisherman and the dive boats and the goats. It was a lifetime memory.

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

Owner response: Wow, mahalo for your great comments and always appreciate them. I think you totally "got" the Kai Ea experience and we are always so glad for that. Keep the memory! Dennis

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Amazing for a Big Island Honeymoon

Guest Christine
Date of stay 05/20/12
Review Submitted 06/19/12

The view from Kai Ea is simply breathtaking. We spent one week at the house for our Big Island honeymoon. For the price, we thought for sure the pictures and description were too good to be true. However, we were pleasantly surprised when we found everything described on vrbo.com was incredibly accurate! We found the house to be well-equipped for two people including beach towels, a cooler, and enough kitchen utensils to last us a week. The house does not have air conditioning, but we never needed it! The ocean breeze was wonderful and ceiling fans sufficient. We thoroughly enjoyed the relaxing panoramic ocean view while sipping morning coffee and evening cocktails on the lanai. There is a small house close by (you can see it from the long driveway) so the acreage isn’t as totally private as we thought, but we never heard or saw any residents so it wasn’t an issue for us. The location of Kai Ea was great. All of the attractions we visited during the week were easy day trips. We would definitely recommend Volcanoes National Park, Black Sands Beach, Akaka Falls, Rainbow Falls, and Waipio Valley. Make sure you stop by one of the local fruit stands close by and rent some snorkel gear! Dennis was amazing to work with. We only spoke via email and mail, but we never had a need to contact him otherwise. His directions to Kai Ea were extremely helpful and detailed. We received our deposit in the mail just a few days after we returned home. What a wonderful experience!

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

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A Perfect Hawaii Experience

Guest Chris
Date of stay 03/08/12
Review Submitted 03/17/12

The perfect vacation home for those who want awesome views, peace and quiet and a unique setting. The views are incredible and the house nicely appointed. Loved the outdoor shower. Not a lot of night life near by (fine by us), but had the ideal setting for enjoying the views (which are incredible) and "chilling" after visiting beaches or touring the island. No confining feeling in this house. A great place to spread out and lose that jet lag. Saw tons of birds, wild goats and fantastic plant life around the property. No issues at all. Great service and directions from the owners. As noted, not for young children or mobility limited folks. Active seniors would be fine, just watch for the many levels. We'd come back in a heartbeat.

Recommended for: Adventure seekers, girls getaway, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

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Amazing House, Amazing Views

Guest Janis
Date of stay 02/29/12
Review Submitted 03/15/12

As another reviewer stated "Wow" from the driveway on down. My husband hadn't seen the photos on the website and thought we were at the wrong address. He keep saying "you are kidding". The house is so quiet without only the sounds of birds and goats passing down in the valley. The walk to the water was great excersie for us. We did it everyday in the evening. We would come back to Captain Cook just to stay at the house.

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

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WOW !

Guest beerfeek
Date of stay 02/24/12
Review Submitted 03/08/12

Wow! is the what you'll say from the time you go down the driveway. till the time you have to leave. My wife and I spent 4 days in the house, because that was the minimum, what a mistake. We both had a hard time leaving this place, and wished that we could have stayed a lot longer. The pictures on the web site are great,but can't even come close to how unreal the view is from this house. Loved the privacy! Loved the kitchen! Loved the sound of the surf and the birds, but the VIEW! WOW! Dennis was great to work with. I think our deposit beat us home. Can't wait to stay there again!

Recommended for: Adventure seekers, romantic getaway.

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Stunning

Guest BT
Date of stay 02/17/12
Review Submitted 03/01/12

Kai Ea lives up to its billing. My husband and I were in awe from the first moment we stepped onto the property. The view is so mesmerizing I could scarcely read two sentences in a row without looking up to drink in the vista. We were regularly visited by saffron finches, doves, turkeys and goats, not to mention the passing whales that swam below us. We regretted not bringing binoculars to give them a closer look. The interior of the house is filled with beautiful art and objects worthy of a museum. The property has a zen-like kharma that is very relaxing. The house was immaculate and we found everything we needed to be comfortable during our stay. The immediate grounds were beautifully landscaped and flowed naturally into the surrounding cliff. The architectural details both inside and out were lovely, but the steps and levels do require attention. We spent a lot of time snorkeling at the excellent nearby sites, and visited beaches, some north of Kona. We even took in a local theatre group performance. At the end of every day we looked forward to heading "home" to enjoy the sun setting on the ocean that spread at our feet like a silver shawl.

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

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Great view, great house, great location

Guest Pdx Motorcyclist
Date of stay 01/30/12
Review Submitted 02/12/12

We spent 2 weeks here in Feb '12 and had a wonderful time. The view is truly stunning, and it was easy to lose track of time just sitting on the lanai staring at the ocean. Sunsets are amazing. It really is a 180-degree view, and on a clear day we could see Maui on the horizon. There are a variety of seats on the lanai and choice of sunny or shaded areas. There were colorful birds (Saffron Finches) right off the lanai, and even goats grazing down the hill. The sound of the surf below is wonderful and with the sliding doors open you can hear it throughout the house. The house itself is very comfortable and beautifully decorated. The master bed was quite comfy and there was plenty of storage space in the closet. The kitchen is very nicely done and has all major and minor appliances. But while the kitchen itself is "gourmet" we did not really consider it "well equipped," more like adequately equipped. We are foodies and love to cook, but found only 1 cutting board, lame prep/chef knives, and limited utensils and spices/seasonings. We were surprised to find only a basic model MrCoffee since we were in Kona Coffee country. At least there is a bean grinder. The open floor plan is nice, although split level with K & DR above and LR 4 steps down. The advantage is awesome views from the kitchen even though it is behind the LR. The steps run the width of the room but only railing is on the far wall so limited mobility people will have to watch that. High ceilings and ceiling fan in K & bedroom keep the rooms cool even on hot days. Outdoor shower was nice not just for after beach but also for showering with a view. The location is quiet and secluded. Only 5 min to Pebble Beach, but in Feb the surf there was pretty rough so we didn't go in. Hookena beach and Two-Step (at Place of Refuge/Honaunau) are within 15 minutes and provide easy beach and snorkeling access respectively. Beach chairs, towels, and cooler were great. The downside of being so secluded is that it takes longer to get to activities further north - we found it was about 90 min to Waikoloa for the helicopter tour there, and about an hour to the airport. Definitely plan your shopping well since it is a 20 min drive to the grocery store if you forget something. The good news is the ChoiceMart in Captain Cook is excellent. And if you are visiting Volcanoes NP it is only 90 min around the south end of the island. On the whole we enjoyed it very much, and would recommend it to family and friends.

Recommended for: Girls getaway, romantic getaway.

Owner response: Aloha, Ironically, some people go on vacation to avoid the kitchen! I guess we all agree on the expansive ocean and coastline view, sunsets on the horizon and sounds of the waves in a very peaceful environment. There is always room for improvement and will take your suggestion to upgrade knives and additional cutting board and glad to do that for our future guests. The kitchen is so large, I think you actually missed the drawers full of condiments and spices and other utensils (there is even a pizza wheel). So, we feel the kitchen is very adequate and practical for a normal short stay. There is also a small local store about ten minutes away for convenience items and are also very lucky to have such a great store as Choice Mart just 20 minutes away and yet have total privacy and quiet when at Kai Ea. Glad you enjoyed your stay and that you would recommend Kai Ea. Dennis

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Loved this house!

Guest Bill & Kristi
Date of stay 10/15/11
Review Submitted 11/03/11

Kai Ea is a wonderful place to stay. The home is modern, open and spotless. The grounds and driveway have beautiful landscaping. The location is great, with ocean views, sunset views as well as views of the slopes around the home in both directions. The wall of windows and the lanais facing the ocean are in the living room and master bedroom, providing nice breezes. It is fully equipped wth cooking supplies as well as lawn chairs, coolers & beach towels to take exploring. The owner was prompt in returnng our deposit. If we return to the Big Island, we will definitely stay here again! It has become a part of some lifelong memories.

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

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Stunning view home in a beautiful part of the island

Guest darcitananda
Date of stay 07/27/11
Review Submitted 08/07/11

We had a wonderful time at Kai Ea. We arrived at night, and Dennis' instructions for getting to the house were great and we found it with no trouble, despite the more secluded location. The next morning we woke up to the most spectacular view possible. 180 degrees of gorgeous coastline, and that kind of quiet that you just don't get in a city. Only sounds are the faint surf, birds, and wild goats in the distance. The house itself is extremely well appointed with high quality antique and ethnic furniture and an Asian art collection of gorgeous wood carvings and paintings, so it doesn't have the kitschy feel of many "Island homes". A full kitchen with pots, pans, good knives, a blender also made proper cooking available. The materials on the floor and appliances are all high end as well, but the house still feels homey. We immediately settled in to a routine of coffee on the lanai each morning, listening to the birds, and seeing many unique species. Then another little perk is the outdoor shower. I never took a shower inside! There is something about bathing alfresco with orchids and birds singing and then drying off in the sun that is just divine. The location, probably about 1500 feet above sea level, also kept the house comfortably cool with the Trade winds, so we never had to turn on a fan! Amazing climate. The sunsets from the lanai were some of the most beautiful I have seen, and became our nightly ritual as well. The location of the house is also great. It's about 45 minutes from Kailua Kona, so far away from the touristy bustle of "downtown", though we did make a few trips into town. We were well located for some of the less known places like Pebble Peach, and the secluded sights of the South such as Mahana (green sands). It was also convenient to take a day trip to Volcanoes National Park, which is clearly a "must see" and other famous locations like Kealakekua Bay (kayaking and snorkeling at Captain Cook was also a highlight). Just 5 minutes south of the house is a really cool "honor system" fruit stand where you leave money and take the fruits you like. So cool! The entire transaction with Dennis was a pleasure, he was in communication immediately every time I had a question, and the house is truly a beautiful home. We had everything from magic sunsets, spotted exotic birds, and were visited by tiny baby goats on our last morning, which looked at us with curiosity and then dashed away. Mahalo for a wonderful stay. We will definitely return

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

Owner response: The comments are much appreciated! Darcy wanted me to mention that the home is actually at 800' elevation. We also have a great new by-pass road making the trip to Kona about 30 minutes.

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Awesome sunsets and gourmet dinners at Kai Ea

Guest Andrew
Date of stay 06/26/11
Review Submitted 07/13/11

We stayed here for a week and absolutely loved it. The first day I woke up to a sweeping view of the coast from my bedroom. I can't say enough about two great features, the view of the coast and sunsets and the gourmet kitchen. We cooked many amazing meals and there are several local fruit vendors on the highway nearby to add some local flavor to the food. Make a drink, make a meal, and relax as the sun goes down and your troubles melt away at Kai Ea. We will definitely be back...

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

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Vacation Rentals by Owner

Kai Ea 'Breath of the Sea' Sweeping Ocean Views! [#362208] | View Property

Traveler Reviews (15)

Wow!

Wow!

My Favorite Place!

My Favorite Place!

Perfect get-away!

Perfect get-away!

Paradise found!

Paradise found!

Sitting on top of the world

Sitting on top of the world

We felt like millionaires for 8 days....

We felt like millionaires for 8 days....

Amazing for a Big Island Honeymoon

Amazing for a Big Island Honeymoon

A Perfect Hawaii Experience

A Perfect Hawaii Experience

Amazing House, Amazing Views

Amazing House, Amazing Views

WOW !

WOW !

Stunning

Stunning

Great view, great house, great location

Great view, great house, great location

Loved this house!

Loved this house!

Stunning view home in a beautiful part of the island

Stunning view home in a beautiful part of the island

Awesome sunsets and gourmet dinners at Kai Ea

Awesome sunsets and gourmet dinners at Kai Ea