A great place to stay in Puako.

Guest: frankie (Denver, Colorado)
Date of Stay: 12/12/11 Review Submitted: 12/23/11

We recently stayed at the Mango Hale, and our extended family loved it! Rick and Scott were super to deal with, and available if we needed anything. Puako is a funky place, although (unfortunately), the older homes are being replaced with McMansions. It served as a wonderful base for exploring the northern parts of the Big Island, with great snorkeling and swim beaches within either walking or 5 minute drive distances. The Mango Hale was very nice, with great bedrooms and a super new kitchen. We made almost all our meals here, and enjoyed the many lanai and peaceful setting. One suggestion is to bring food from the Hilo area (if you arrive on that side of the island), since food costs more on the west side. We would recommend this fine property to anyone in a heart beat. If you are into the resort experience, then Mango Hale is not for you. If you enjoy an off the beaten path, more personal experience, then we can't recommend this lovely spot enough.

Recommended for:Sightseeing, adventure seekers, age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children.

A charming house in a beautiful location!

Guest: Beth (Cockeysville, MD)
Date of Stay: 06/28/11 Review Submitted: 07/10/11

We spent three wonderful days at Mango Hale and wish we could have stayed longer. Puako is a secret gem of a location - a collection of beach cottages that has a much more authentic and "old Hawaii" feel than the Waikaloa resort area just down the beach. We were very comfortable in the 3 bedroom/3 bath Hale and loved the huge lanais, the outdoor shower, and the generous kitchen and living space. The Hale has been renovated with all the amenities, but without losing its charm and rustic feel. We looked right out onto Mauna Kea and could see the observatories from our lanai. The best parts were being able to walk right across the street to snorkel in Turtle Bay or zip down the road to Beach 69. There is also great scuba diving in the underwater caves at Turlte Bay as well - though we stuck to the snorkeling and loved getting up close to the turtles, eels, and dozens of fish we saw. The great beaches of Hapuna and Mauna Kea are also only a few minutes away by car. We also could walk down the beach path right from our front door and onto the resort area of the Fairmont Orchid in a few minutes as well to grab a fancy dinner or a tropical drink at the bar. Brothers Rick and Scott were great hosts, living right on the premises so they were easily accessible to give tips on the area and answer questions. They also provisioned us with extra boogie boards, beach chairs, and snorkeling gear that prior guests had left behind. They treated us to the most delicious mangoes right off the trees and a young coconut where the flesh is still soft - what an experience! We agree with the prior review that if you are looking for a resort experience, go elsewhere, but if you want a comfy quiet beach cottage where you are 30 steps from awesome snorkeling, this is the place for you.

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, families with teenagers, families with young children.

Wow! Wonderful place!

Guest: Joy (Tacoma, WA)
Date of Stay: 08/23/10 Review Submitted: 09/08/10

We are still dreaming of our recent week spent here and I just have to recommend Puako and Mango Cottage. We stayed in the cottage since we were just traveling with our daughter but the owner, Rick, was gracious enough to give us a tour of the larger home in case we need a larger home when returning (something we definitely plan to do!). The location is perfect for visiting the "end of the road" beach, early morning snorkels, or the shore access trail which seemingly goes for miles along the ocean. The cottage was perfect and charming, beds comfy, great kitchen with more than average cooking utensils, etc. The outdoor shower was our daily indulgence. But, most of all, I can't speak enough about the ambiance--the cottage is surrounding by trees that, in the evenings, lull you to sleep as the wind moves through them. Early morning birds signal the sunrise. As far as location, we think it's the best if you aren't Kona junkies (we aren't). If you like off-the-beaten track travel, authentic experiences, into water (diving, snorkeling, swimming, nature) then this is for you. If you tend to shop and prefer crowds, this definitely isn't the locale. If you have to shop in Puako, there is the wonderful general store that has anything one might need, and then some! Thanks Rick for your hospitality and kindness!

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

Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 03/16/10 Review Submitted: 03/16/10

My daughter and I experienced a wonderful and peaceful springbreak at this property. The owners are a delight to work with and provided a most comfortable and memorable stay. We definitely plan on returning.

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Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 02/11/10 Review Submitted: 02/11/10

A very enjoyable visit to the Big Island, which was made even better by the hospitality, kindness, knowledge and accomodations offered by the owner. A return trip to experience a quieter, more relaxed Old Hawaii is in order at the Mango Hale.

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Guest: The Biley Family (Niwot, CO)
Date of Stay: 08/21/09 Review Submitted: 08/21/09

Our family recently spent several days staying at peaceful Mango Hale before heading to Kauai for a family gathering. We were warmly welcomed by Rick and Scott upon our late evening arrival and settled into our comfortable rooms as the tropical breezes tempered the summer heat. We found the location perfect for exploring the western side of the Big Island both up and down the coast, but the most fun was the underwater exploration of the reef right across the street at Paniau Bay. With Scott as our guide to the best place to easily enter the warm water, we lost track of time as we marveled at the beautiful corals, fish, eels, and turtles. Mango Hale’s well-equipped kitchen allowed us to prepare meals we could enjoy in the lovely setting of mango and palm trees while watching the geckos and birds cavort around us. (By the way, the fresh-off-the-tree mangos there are far better than the Mexican mangos we get here on the Mainland.) We would definitely recommend a stay at Mango Hale to anyone looking for an affordable, non-resort setting for their trip to the Big Island. You will not be disappointed!

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Guest: Marti Gilmour (San Clemente, CA)
Date of Stay: 08/19/09 Review Submitted: 08/19/09

MANGO HALE IS THE PLACE TO STAY! I just returned from a wonderful stay here with my daughter and her family at this gem of a property. We were in the 3 BR Mango Hale and I felt as if I had the "Queen's Room" because I had a large room with windows that afforded cooling tropical breezes and in addition there was a nice ceiling fan if needed. The private bath was perfect. My daughter and son-in-law had a lovely suite on the upper floor with a view through the trees to the ocean. The grandson had his own room with private bath. All the bedding and towels were top notch. The main living area and well appointed kitchen was a very comfortable place for us to gather. The big screen TV kept the 14 year old entertained when we were being lazy. The location couldn't be better. It is a 2 minute walk across the street to an outstanding area to snorkel. It seemed like a secret place known only to the locals and we saw all kinds of beautiful fish, a turtle, eels and some magical coral. We made trips up the coast and down the coast and we visited some truly beautiful beaches. We love mangoes an we couldn't begin to eat all the fruit that was at our fingertips. This is a taste of old Hawaii with not a single high rise in sight!!! The owners, Rick and Scott were most helpful in giving advise when asked. You will not be disappointed if you choose to stay here.

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Guest: Andrea42 (Washington DC)
Date of Stay: 06/20/09 Review Submitted: 06/20/09

We just returned from a week-long stay in Mango Cottage. It was paradise! The cottage itself was everything you could ask for in a vacation home - a really comfortable bed, super soft towels, the best outdoor shower you've ever seen, a fully equipped kitchen (plenty of cookware and dishes), a gas grill, cable TV and DVD player (you can rent new release at the General Store), a comfortable couch to lounge on, parking under the shade of the mango trees, and all you can eat mangoes! The first night we were startled by loud thumps on the roof, but after we realized that that was the sound of mangoes falling, we'd go running out to collect the slightly bruised but very tasty fruit. You can walk two minutes out to Paniau to go snorkeling or just to enjoy the sunset. We swam with turtles just down the beach from there and walked to a Petroglyph park. There are also numerous other beautiful beaches just a short drive away, too many to enjoy in a week. This part of the island is the sunniest, so while it was overcast and raining elsewhere, we'd always wake up and come home to sun. Thanks so much Scott! We'll be back.

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Guest: Darden & Rob Carr (Chicago, IL)
Date of Stay: 06/03/07 Review Submitted: 06/03/07

This is an exceptional rental for its amenities and its location and its owner. My husband, son and his partner, and I stayed here for a week and the lay-out of the house allowed us to be together as well as to have privacy. The master bedroom is spacious and lovely and the second bedroom is also large and comfortable. Having 2 private bathrooms was a real convenience to us so we could all shower quickly after coming back from the ocean. The kitchen has everything one needs and is further enhanced by a terrific gas grill in a covered area outside. The 3 lanais are great. The house is located at the end of a road, right across the street from the best (and sometimes only) entrance to the huge reef of Puako. This is one of our favorite places to snorkel in the Hawai’ian Islands…and it took less than 5 minutes from the time we left our house to be in the water, viewing the abundant sea life. In winter months,there are whales in the area right off shore, and you can rent kayaks nearby to paddle with them. Puako is a particularly wonderful place to stay – it’s away from resorts with a feeling of what Hawai’i used to be like. There is a great fresh fish store close by as well as a terrific general store where you can get most of what you need. And there are pleasant and at times breath-taking long walks which go along the shore to the various resorts and famous beaches on either side of Puako. Finally, I want to say that Scott is one of the best landlords I’ve met. He was very helpful re: all of our questions. He was nearby, and worked on the property at times, but was never intrusive. This is not a luxurious resort-type rental but rather a truly terrific home rental that I hope we return to every other year from now on.

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Guest: David Terrien (Castle Rock, Colorado)
Date of Stay: 04/04/06 Review Submitted: 04/04/06

Scott, Just a quick note to say how much we enjoyed our too-short, one-week stay this past March at your Cottage in laid-back Puako. The cottage and the grounds were obviously carefully and diligently well-maintained, which we really appreciated. The accomodations for our family were exactly what we were looking for: clean (spotless!), quite spacious enough for my wife and I and our fifteen-year-old son, and blessedly quiet. I can't remember sleeping as well on holiday... The amenities and facilities such as the convenient gas grill and washer/dryer worked well for us, the little bit we used them. The diverse, profuse and lush foliage on the grounds made for a wonderful ambience throughout our stay. The location at the end of lightly-travelled Puako Beach Drive meant very easy access to the wonderful snorkeling area at Paniau, and the drives to Hapuna Beach and Beach 69 were as scenic as they were short. I think we can recommend for future visitors who are shopping for groceries etc that there are plenty of places in thickly-settled Kailua Kona (Safeway, Costco, Shop+Sack, etc) but be careful to allow plenty of time, or perhaps better: Kamuela/Waimea which seemed closer and easier to navigate, just up the hill from Puako. The close-by Puako General Store worked well for ice and sundries. We are hoping to come back soon! Thanks - mahalo for your fine hospitality, Scott, Aloha David, Diane and son John Terrien Castle Rock, Colorado

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