Vacation Rentals by Owner

Woonderful Hosts ... Amazing massage!

Guest: Mark (Bay Area, CA)
Date of Stay: 03/08/12 Review Submitted: 03/25/12

Thanks for being wonderful hosts. Darcy truly enjoyed her massage! The upper room is a must. The treats (coffee and chocolates) were also appreciated. Kua Bay was wonderful - thanks for the suggestion. And Mi's was fantastic ... best meal we had on the Island. If you opt for a massage ... I suggest 90 minutes. Unbelievable!! Thanks Eve

Owner response:We are so glad you enjoyed your stay at our Mango Hale, and your evening at the restaurant we recommended for your "Italian dinner" night. We enjoy helping people find and enjoy their ideal island experiences - truly our pleasure. Massage is a wonderful gift Eve enjoys sharing, too! Aloha.

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

Personal touches and Hospitality

Guest: Susan and Jack, Humbolt Co, California
Date of Stay: 02/20/12 Review Submitted: 03/05/12

Dear Eve and Doug, Thank you for your hospitality & all the personal touches, they were lovely. We are glad we had use of your boogie-boards -- what a blast that was! Nicely equipped apartment, too. All in all, we had a wonderful time on the Big Island! To those who come later - be sure get a Mana Massage from Eve - you will be happy you did. Best wishes & good luck with the solar energy system - perhaps we shall meet again. Also we enjoyed the use of the upper room - Thank you.

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Little Slice of Paradise

Guest: The McKinneys (Indianapolis)
Date of Stay: 12/28/11 Review Submitted: 01/25/12

My wife, daughter, and I spent 2 weeks at Mango Hale and completely loved our stay. This apartment tucked away in a quiet neighborhood less than 10 minutes up the hill from Kona airport has much to offer. First, Doug and Eve, the property owners, are very warm and gracious hosts.They communicated with us months before our arrival to provide suggestions and tips for our many adventures. When we arrived at Mango Hale we were welcomed with fresh fruit in the refrigerator and Kona coffee. They checked in with us every couple of days by e-mail (we were constantly on the go) to suggest beaches and sites and to ensure that all was to our liking. On New Years Eve we were greeted with a variety of cheeses, crackers, and fruit. Meeting and sharing dinner with this loving couple was one of the highlights of our trip. They are true examples of the Aloha spirit. The apartment itself is appointed with a stove, microwave, coffee maker (or french press is you prefer), glassware, silverware, and all that you would need to prepare all meals. We definitely took advantage of the kitchen which saved plenty of money to be used on other adventures. The bedroom had a comfortable queen-size bed with plenty of linens and blankets as well as a TV and a small DVD selection for winding down after a busy day of body surfing. The elevation(~1500 ft) made for cool nights for great sleeping. A small closet provided room to tuck away luggage and contained coolers for us to use on our many trips to the beach. Beach mats, umbrellas, and boogie boards were available for our beach excursions. Also available was a washer and dryer which allowed us to pack light. Mango Hale is conveniently located close to major roads and highways. In 10 minutes one can be at the beach by the Natural Energy Lab, 15 minutes to Kona for shopping and other attractions, or to Honokohau Harbor to catch a boat for snorkeling and scuba diving. Its proximity to the major roads made it easy for quick trips to Waikoloa, Wameia, Hilo, and other points south of Kona. Mango Hale was the perfect home away from home to be able to explore all the Big Island had to offer. To Eve and Doug, a huge heartfelt mahalo.

Owner response:Heartfelt mahalos to your family, from Eve and Doug :). What a pleasure to spend some time with you at supper and hear about your lives and journey, and to assist you in having the most wonderful time possible here!

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Aloha Spirit at Mango Hale

Guest: Lisa (northern california)
Date of Stay: 12/17/11 Review Submitted: 12/21/11

An incredible Aloha spirit filled our stay here. The apartment was simple, spotless, comfortable and charming. It's in a residential neighborhood, and has sweeping, panoramic views. A handwritten welcome card and coffee awaited us. Our hosts, Doug and Eve, were so hospitable and yet non intrusive. They invited us to share their favorite hike- a fabulous cloud forest adventure, and offered wonderful tips to enjoy our experience here more. Eve is a terrific masseuse, sending the lucky recipient into into realms of bliss. We thoroughly enjoyed our stay!

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

Wonderful Upcountry Retreat!

Guest: KevinC (Tampa, FL)
Date of Stay: 10/24/11 Review Submitted: 10/28/11

Doug and Eve are amazing hosts! Highly recommended as an alternative to staying at a hotel - everything you need while visiting the Big Island is provided: comfy bed, clean kitchen & bath, closet plus all the sports equipment you will need to enjoy Hawaii. Close to beaches as well, and you won't experience the "local flavor" by staying down at an impersonal resort. Oh, and make sure you schedule a massage with Eve - seriously the best I've every had! Mahalo!

Owner response:We very much enjoyed hosting you - And yes, having an in-house massage from Eve is such a nice way to relax and feel the Aloha upon arrival on the Big Island! Glad you enjoyed your stay at our Mango Hale :)

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

Functional Place, Generous Hosts!

Guest: Flannery (Decorah, Iowa, USA)
Date of Stay: 10/05/11 Review Submitted: 10/12/11

Mango Hale was a functional, comfortable apartment for us. It had all the amenities to feel at home for a week-- full kitchen, towels, wireless, etc. The apartment was clean and up-to-date. We stayed during Ironman weekend and appreciated that the Hale was located away from the busy downtown area, though an accessible 15 minute drive to the race start, beaches, and groceries/restaurants. More than the wonderful accommodations, Doug and Eve were fabulous, generous hosts. They had multiple recommendations of places to visit. We enjoyed their recommendations to eat at the Kona Brew Company, visit Kua Beach, and Holualoa Village. Eve even guided us on a hike through a surrounding forest. Eve also is an excellent masseuse. We highly recommend a session or two. Things that can't be change, but would have been nice would have been a clearer view of the ocean and less traffic in the mornings. We would recommend this property for one or two people who are looking for a retreat, and who plan to spend time exploring outdoors. Mahalo!

Owner response:We very much enjoyed hosting you two for the Ironman, and Eve also enjoyed providing massage therapy sessions for you both during your stay. Yes, we have amazing nearby gorgeous beaches and rainforest hiking, and we are always glad to share our favorite places with guests. As of now, we have a new Amazing! ocean view option available, as we are offering the second floor of our Mango Hale for an additional fee to those who wish to watch the sun set over the Pacific every evening. This new offering of the upstairs floor above the Hale offers an incredible million dollar 180 degree view of the West Hawaii coast! The upstairs area has an additional Queen bed and large teak dining table. Guests can now choose between both options - rent one or both floors of the Mango Hale. Aloha.

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, sightseeing.

Perfect Accomodations

Guest: Sally and Jessie
Date of Stay: 09/19/11 Review Submitted: 10/14/11

Dear Doug and Eve, Your little apartment has been the perfect accommodation for us. Your welcome gifts were greatly appreciated. Chocolate, coffee and orchids are our favorites! The ice chest and beach equipment were wonderful to have the use of. Thank you so much. The Hao Street trail in the rainforest you recommended in your notebook was one of the fun favorites we enjoyed. Hope everyone tries it.

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Aloha Spirit - alive and well

Guest: Sherry and Nellie
Date of Stay: 09/06/11 Review Submitted: 10/14/11

Dear Doug and Eve, We are thankful for your Mango Hale, "Mahalo!" We came for a little vacation, and its definitely been so much more! We appreciated all the kindness, and wonderful welcome gifts. "Aloha Spirit" was very welcoming for my Mom and I. The delicious local fruits and scenery - where we took our hula photos (your back yard). The memories will sure be alive, thanks again for everything.

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Aloha from Fance!

Guest: Jilles and Elizabeth
Date of Stay: 07/04/11 Review Submitted: 07/21/11

“Thank you for your Welcome! The wine from Chile was an unexpected and pleasant surprise after our journey from France. We have spend a good time in your nice apartment and the Big Island is very pleasant to visit it is so diverse.” Best Regards

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Nice stay in Mango Hale

Guest: Gilles Hamon (L e Mans France)
Date of Stay: 06/19/11 Review Submitted: 07/25/11

We spend 2 weeks in Mango Hale and this confortable appartment is a very good address to visit the Big island.Doug and Eve were very kindly with us and were thoughtful of our stay.

Owner response:Bonjour Gilles! It was delightful to host you and your wife. We are very happy to learn you enjoyed the island so much from our vacation rental and we enjoyed putting a few flowers from the garden on the dining table though out your stay. I have planted Vanilla orchids ... on you next stay we might have organic vanilla extract and passion fruit jelly to share. Kindest Aloha, Doug

Recommended for:Romantic getaway, sightseeing.

sweet and cozy

Guest: frankie (Petaluma, CA)
Date of Stay: 06/02/11 Review Submitted: 06/20/11

Doug and Eve are delightful hosts and really made me feel welcome and comfortable here, including delivering homemade oatmeal cookies to my doorstep. They are happy to offer local tips on enjoying the island, but are just as happy leaving you on your own if that's what you want. The apartment is clean, sweet and cozy, with original artwork on the walls, a few books and videos for unwinding, and the kitchen utensils you need to cook or snack. The neighborhood is a real neighborhood, with real neighbors, so there's a bit of traffic but you feel like you're seeing the real Hawaii, not just the touristy Hawaii. Beaches, shops, restaurants, and a rainforest walk are all within ten to 15 minutes drive, and the air is very mild and pleasant up on the hill. I recommend Mango Hale to singles and couples looking for an affordable, comfortable place to stay.

Owner response:We enjoyed hosting you and hope you had wonderful Hawaii adventures, surfer girl! Best wishes, Eve and Doug :)

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

You couldn't ask for better hosts!

Guest: Char P (Hawi)
Date of Stay: 05/08/11 Review Submitted: 05/18/11

This is such a beautifully decorated space, done with taste and esthetic appreciation for colors. Every detail is thought of, and the place is spotlessly clean. But the best part is the nurturing care of your hosts, Doug and Eve, who are dedicated to making your visit the best it can possibly be with every attention to your needs. This is Aloha at its best. The location is perfect to explore the Kona area with beautiful beaches. I highly recommend the walk through the rainforest that is just minutes from the house. It gives you a taste of the mountains of Hawaii - soft, cool, wet and lush.

Owner response:Yes, it is always a pleasure for us to support each guest in having their best stay! We enjoy hearing about each person or couples' desires and hosting with Aloha is indeed our pleasure :). We too feel that this is an ideal location to base a Hawaii stay - with so many adventures accessible so easefully, and we enjoy providing tips for travelers if asked (we also love the privacy of the unit and make space for a completely private stay as desired). We look forward to your return to our Mango Hale, and are glad you had such a wonderful visit!

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

great place and great hosts

Guest: gaz (russia)
Date of Stay: 02/26/11 Review Submitted: 03/20/11

Staying here at the Mango Hale was pure fun! House is neat and we had everything we needed - big bed, comfy kitchen, fast internet. Doug is really - really sweet and very helpful. We would have missed a lot without his advices. I was kinda missing a toaster at the kitchen, just 'coz I'm used to toasts in the mornings - but that's a minor thing. Overall note - great place, ocean view in the morning and crikets at night - very coxy! Thank you! R&A 5-10-2011

Owner response:Aloha Roman! Great to hear you enjoyed yourselves ... it was fun sharing a few ideas with you and I appreciate your suggestion. Eve and I installed a washer/dryer for your next visit ... providing a little more freedom for your next vacation with us. Pack less and live well! Kindest Aloha, Doug

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Clean, quiet, great location, friendly.

Guest: JT (California)
Date of Stay: 02/13/11 Review Submitted: 03/23/11

Firstly, we were celebrating our first year wedding anniversary and were greeted with Champainge (which, after a long drive around the island was SO good!) and chocolates on our pillow. That is the kind of attention and authenticity you will find at the Mango Hale. With that being said, after your initial orientation, you are on your own and feel like you are living in your own private home in a residential neighborhood with your own private entrance and away from the crowds. The views from the bedroom and the kitchenette are to the ocean and the place is freshly painted with nice light wood flooring, lots of light and fresh air, with plenty of privacy. While you wouldn't want to live out of the kitchen, we cooked three meals here and prepared lunches for our outings and found it to be sufficient. For us, after two nights in the pricy mega resorts, Mango Hale was the perfect home base to settle down for the right price and tour the island without feeling like a tourist.

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Feel at home in Hawaii

Guest: Kelsey (Spokane, WA)
Date of Stay: 01/10/11 Review Submitted: 03/09/11

What else can I say, but you are in paradise. The location is perfect a few miles from downtown Kona, near plenty of shopping, beaches and the Kona brewing pub. The apartment was clean, spacious and competitively priced.. We immediately felt at home. The kitchen was well stocked and we really appreciated being able to cook a good meal :-) The apartment was perfect place to unwind after a long day on the beaches. Doug and Eve are wonderful hosts and will gladly offer suggestions for the best beaches, snorkeling and hiking. We very much enjoyed our stay here, it was our first time to Hawaii and we loved it. Already planning a trip back to visit and will make sure to stop here again!

Owner response:Thank you, Kelsey. It was a delight to meet you and steer you toward a few special beaches and restauants. From your pictures it looks as though you and Tyler found a few adventures of your own too! Since you were here Eve and I have upgraded the lighting, planted a few more orchids and repainted the interior. Looking forward to your next visit. Kindest Aloha, Doug

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

Wonderful Couples Charming Home Away from Home

Guest: Dolphin Lover (Boulder, Colorado)
Date of Stay: 12/16/10 Review Submitted: 12/30/10

How wonderful to land and be greeted by the charming, polite, responsive host, in a clean & cozy place with a fully functional kitchen, wood floors, and everything you could need in a "home base" from which to explore this wonderful island. One day to Kua Bay, one day to the Coffee Shack for breakfast and a snorkel down in Honaunau, another to look at art and have lunch in Holualoa and a rainforest hike, one whale watching trip to Kohala, another day adventure to Hapuna Beach - the number of fantastic day trips to make from this perfect location is endless - next time maybe we'll fit in Volcano or Mauna Kea. Comfortable, cool and comfy temperatures at this elevation, and Doug made us feel right at home, greeting us with "Aloha" and refreshments. Close to so many great restaurants - Kona Brewpub, La Borgogne, Holuakoa Cafe, Saketumi, Shivalik Indian food, Kenichi, Roy's, Don the Beachcomber, Merriman's - you can cook in and eat out in balance on this trip. We'll definitely be back! The location is so great in terms of quickly finding it from the Kona airport - that made it an easy landing for us, yet it is up the mountain enough that we felt like we fit in with the locals. Again, Doug is really responsive and pointed out so many fun things for us to experience on the island, and was very helpful in answering all our questions - he recommends getting a copy of "Hawaii the Big Island Revealed" and I would say he is right, it is worth getting before you land here- but he stocks the unit with a copy in case you forget. What can I say - an awesome value and a wonderful base for Hawaii day trip adventures - perfect location!

Owner response:It was great fun sharing Island tips and suggestions with you! Looking forward to seeing you again and sharing the Aloha. Kindest, Doug

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

Guest: Catherine Rigor-Hammond
Date of Stay: 05/03/08 Review Submitted: 05/02/08

We stayed at the Ginger House for 9 days in November 2007 and enjoyed ourselves thoroughly. The location of the house is just a short walk to White Sands Beach and you take a bougainvillea trail to get there. It is perfectly situated off the main road to the center of Kona( just a short drive away), but far enough not to get too much of the noise and traffic of that zone. We found it to be very convenient for exploring the many beaches in the area. The main house has two big bedrooms and is nicely decorated with Hawaiian and other Asian art. All of the furniture was very comfortable and well laid out. We have stayed in and rented many other homes for vacations and the Ginger House is right up there with the best. Our kids enjoyed playing in the beautiful garden with a fountain and rocks. The landscaping and flora in the yard was very beautiful. One day we collected flowers that had fallen on the ground and made leis! We found it very convenient to have the outdoor shower to get the sand off of our bodies before going into the house. There is also some snorkeling equipment that we could use! We made some great meals in the well equipped gourmet kitchen and our friends that stayed in the extra room downstairs joined us frequently and really enjoyed themselves also. The two decks with dining tables and chairs allowed us to take in the full view and be outdoors when we played games, shared meals, read books or wrote postcards. The Ginger House is truly a special place!

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