Vacation Rentals by Owner

This is a wonderful house with great owners

Guest: June (Mississippi)
Date of Stay: 01/02/12 Review Submitted: 02/24/12

We spent the month of January at Hale Ho'Opika. Paul and Alice were great from the start working with us on dates and then again when our daughter wanted to come along ( she is telling everyone how great your house was and that it was the best vacation she ever had). The house was very clean and well described and was larger than the pictures reflect. We loved the large lanai and especially the porch swing, you could sit for hours and watch the birds but there was so much to do nearby it wasn't quite hours. We appreciated having the beach goodies and coolers. The kitchen and house had so many extras that made things easy. Books on hiking, beaches, birds, fish, and general information was especially appreciated. The yard was tropical and lovely and yes it was quiet there and the stars at night were big and bright. We hope to come back someday. Thank you, Paul and Alice for sharing your home and answering my questions.

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

AMAZING Vacation Home located in Unspoiled Old Hawaii - Paradise Found!!

Guest: 4katie (Westlake, Ohio)
Date of Stay: 12/02/11 Review Submitted: 12/27/11

From our initial conversation with Alice and Paul we knew we had found the perfect place for our family vacation (2 adults, 4 children). Their great love and care of Hale Ho'Okipa and of the island was evident immediately from their comments on the website and from speaking with them. They were wonderful hosts - gracious and always happy to share their favorite places and activities. Their home did not disappoint, actually the photos did not do it proper justice. It is very well maintained, clean, spacious and has everything you need to feel like you're at home from linens to beach toys to excellent Hawaii travel guides. The lanai doubles the living space and the view of the ocean, mountains and yard are unbelievable. (The stars at night are surreal!) The lanai swing quickly became a favorite spot to enjoy the outdoors and the flower-scented breezes. We appreciated the safety of the lanai and of the yard with our children, they loved being outside and LOVED exploring - picking fruit, watching birds and looking for lizards. It is a large yard with such a variety of plants, flowers and trees. The home is located in a perfect spot - up the road from Keokea Beach and around the corner from hiking in Pololu Valley - one of our favorite places with indescribable beauty. The quaint towns of Kapaau and Hawi with restaurants, galleries and a Saturday morning farmers market are close and the residents were always willing to share information about their community and offer ideas on what to do and see. The home is located in what we called the "green, lush" side of the island and we would would wake up many mornings to a light, short, refreshing rain but always knew that once we passed Hawi and rounded that northwestern corner of the island we would be in warm, sunny skies. The beaches were a little bit of a drive but the scenic views and vistas are just as amazing each time. We also enjoyed driving Kohala Mountain Road and taking in the scenery. What surprised us most about the island was the amazing diversity of the climate and landscape. Beaches, valleys, mountains, farmland, volcanoes, rainforests, desert - the island has it all! There is an amazing sense of appreciation of and stewardship for the land. It was a great experience and we cannot wait to return. Mahalo for sharing your beautiful home with us. We enjoyed our adventures, "living like a local" and spending time in the relaxing, peaceful oasis you have created. Aloha

Owner response:Aloha Kristin and Matt, Mahalo for your review, we are happy that you and your 3 boys had such a great adventure, love that you decided at the last minute to come to Hawaii and chose us! Alice & Paul

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

Fruit for breakfast picked right in the yard. Trade Winds keeping you cool. Enchanting.

Guest: Dee (B.C. Canada)
Date of Stay: 10/03/11 Review Submitted: 10/20/11

Our son and daughter-in-law took us to the Big Island, Hawaii. While there we stayed at this beautiful rental home in Kapaau. Beautiful, clean, great location, every kind of tree; avacado, tangerine, grapefruit, passion fruit, guava, papaya, lemon, lime, coconut...and a ton of beautiful flowers. Trade Winds kept us cool and dried our clothes while we sat on the swing on the porch and enjoyed the ocean view and the sound of the whales. Lovely Kapaau town just minutes away with the original statue of King Kamehameha's watching over it all. Charming, enchanting local people. Amazing local artistry. Wonderful, wonderful wonderful. Mohola and Aloha Hope to be back.

Owner response:Aloha Canadians, What a wonderful surprise to read your unsolicited review. Mahalo for your kind and inspiring words. We are so happy you loved our home as much as we do! Alice & Paul

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

Awesome Place for a Family to Reunite

Guest: criterz99 (Oceanside, CA)
Date of Stay: 09/02/11 Review Submitted: 03/04/12

This place was the perfect spot for our family of 6 adults and 2 kids (1 toddler and 1 infant) to stay. We were all meeting up on the Big Island during my brother's R&R from Afghanistan. This trip was even more special because it was the first time that my brother got to meet his 5 month old son. The house was big enough for all of us that we didn't feel like we were right ontop of eachother. The property/house was well maintained and clean. The location to the beach was great too. We will definately be staying here again!

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

Relaxing and beautiful

Guest: radarsmom (Seattle)
Date of Stay: 07/11/11 Review Submitted: 07/19/11

We truly enjoyed our stay at Kapaau. The home is so spacious compared to a hotel or condo. Our two teenagers loved the ripe papayas, the internet capability, the TV and having their own rooms and bathroom. I loved the porch swing looking out over the trees to the ocean. My husband loved his morning runs through the little cemetaries and footpaths. We loved the birds in the morning, drinking coffee on the lanaii and watching the rain squalls come through. The sound of the rain on the roof is amazing (and short lived). Well-maintained and has a great coffee maker. It may be too isolated for those who like the party life but it was a perfect gettaway for us cityfolk longing for a bit of tranquility. (note: the little park down at the ocean is undergoing a complete renovation so there are work trucks going by and the park isn't as pretty as it is going to be soon). We were sad to leave this paradise.

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

A Perfectly Exquisite Retreat in Old Hawaii

Guest: tim (scottsdale, az)
Date of Stay: 06/27/11 Review Submitted: 07/19/11

Bright, welcoming, exhilarating -- or, in a word, hospitable -- is the ambiance of this home which served as a week-long oasis for our family of four (including two sons in their twenties). The photos of the property, inside and outside, are beautiful on the promotional website, but do not do justice to the reality of this gem. This is an extraordinary retreat, with gardens containing numerous species of tropical flowers and fruit and the spacious rooms of the house filled with every modern appointment, including (to our eyes) recently remodeled bathrooms and every necessary aid in the kitchen. The spacious outside deck, surrounding three-quarters of the house, is perfect for taking in majestic views of the ocean, mountains, and nearby fields, while absorbing the gentle and full effects of the cooling trade winds. Clearly, the owners have put their hearts into this haven and we are grateful to have been the beneficiaries. The region of North Kohala is one of the state's hidden gems, with enough history and noteworthy scenery to fill up several weeks of sightseeing, exploring and adventure. This is Old Hawaii without the crowds, tropical beauty at its lushest, with the legendary hospitality of the islands still conspicuously practiced by the locals. As people who have traveled to the 'Islands' for over thirty years, we could not recommend this destination more highly. Tim and Lesli

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

A week in Paradise!

Guest: Linda (Sparks, NV)
Date of Stay: 06/19/11 Review Submitted: 07/09/11

The house is absolutely beautiful and is exactly like it is pictured on the listing. It is clean, homey, comfortable, has a fabulous location, great views from every window, very nice neighbors, a rooster close by to wake you every morning, a delightful 'garden' with every fruit you could think of at your fingertips, and a feeling of home in every room. We hiked every trail we could find, enjoyed every beach that appealed to us, visited farmer's markets, ate in some wonderful restaurants, enjoyed the town and the locals, rested and became whole again. Paul and Alice - we just can't thank you enough for the opportunity to enjoy your home and live for a week in in such peaceful and comfortable surroundings.

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

Great location for exploring

Guest: jr (New Paltz, NY)
Date of Stay: 12/25/10 Review Submitted: 01/10/11

Alica and Paul, Thanks much for sharing your home with us. It's a great location for exploring the Kohala, north Kona, and the Hamakua coasts. Every morning I picked us fresh fruit for breakfast, a real treat coming from NY in the winter. It was nice to be close to so many different places but not have to deal with the daily tourists. One of the best things about this house, it's location within a local neighborhood. Have a great year. Mahalo.

Recommended for:

Great Deal

Guest: Terri (River Falls, WI)
Date of Stay: 07/10/10 Review Submitted: 07/21/10

Very clean, well-maintained, affordable home rental located in nice, quiet neighborhood within walking distance of a neighborhood beach. Location allows day trips to Kona and Hilo, as well as to multiple beaches and hiking. Well ventilated due to many windows. Top quality linens and kitchenware provided. Very comfortable, cozy home with a beautiful yard featuring many fruit trees and a vegetable patch. I highly recommend this property.

Recommended for:Families with teenagers, families with young children.

Old Hawaii charm

Guest: Pam, Don and Miles (Lake Tahoe, CA)
Date of Stay: 06/17/10 Review Submitted: 07/06/10

If you enjoy waking up to awesome sunrises and local birdsong in a lovely "old Hawaii" atmosphere, then this is the place for you! The owners have done a wonderful job of making a lovely, comfortable home in a quiet neighborhood. The garden is filled with plumerias, mango, papaya, banana and avocado trees. They really have thought of everything for the perfect day in Hawaii! It's close to beautiful beaches and great hikes. Don't miss the fun zipline 5 minutes away! I would return in a heartbeat! For now, great memories of our time spent there will have to do. Mahalo Alice and Paul for sharing your lovely home.

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

Peaceful Home

Guest: Hilo Born (Texas)
Date of Stay: 06/06/10 Review Submitted: 07/18/10

My family stayed here for 10 days and we had the most wonderful time. The property is amazing -- avocados, mangoes, papayas, pineapples, bananas, etc. can all be found in the well-maintained garden. The house is very clean with beautiful hardwood floors and high ceilings. We had 4 adults and 2 kids in the house and did not feel crowded at all. The huge lanai is amazing and so peaceful. The owners were extremely nice as were the neighbors. My family will definitely be back to this amazing house.

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

Quiet, peaceful setting, great location, amazing gardens!!

Guest: ClassicSkier (Tahoe Vista, CA)
Date of Stay: 05/04/10 Review Submitted: 05/28/10

Paul and Alice, we really thoroughly enjoyed our visit to your home. The setting is just incredible – very private and peaceful, and your garden is absolutely stunning. After exploring most of the Big Island for the week, we agree this is THE best part of the island for a home – no crowds & very peaceful, very lush vegetation, well away from the vog (volcano fog) that can get thick in the Kona area, and far easier to access other parts of the island than we thought! We can’t wait to visit again! Mahalo, John.

Owner response:John and Nancy, thankyou for taking such good care of our Hawaii home, we always appreciate responses that share our love and appreciation of our home and gardens. A Hui Ho, Alice & Paul

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

Privacy & comfort in an ideal location

Guest: Tuck & Bev (Lake Tahoe, CA)
Date of Stay: 11/12/09 Review Submitted: 06/06/10

Loved everything about the house. Beautifully remodeled, all is new, fresh and clean. Everything we needed or wanted was there, right down to a library of books about the island. Lush landscaping, lots of glass to capture views of the beautiful surrounding landscape & ocean. 3 mins to Pololu Valley trail - do not miss this. 5 mins to Hawi, a charming little town with interesting boutique crafts shops, yummy ice cream, and an impressive selection of restaurants, many with excellent live music. Easy access to the best Kona beaches - 30-45 mins away. This is the best part of the Big Island, and the house couldn't be more perfect.

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

Wonderfully relaxing

Guest: bikerep (Reno, NV)
Date of Stay: 04/10/09 Review Submitted: 06/02/10

Thank you for sharing your home with us. The tropical setting, green flowing grass, the walk with the kids down the street to feed the horses, and the quiet location made for a most relaxing stay. Access to the beach only 25 minutes away allowed us to enjoy a day at the ocean without giving up a comfortable, non-commercial place to return to at the end of the day. We can't wait to come back again.

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

Magical Hawaii

Guest: Lone Star (Spring, Texas)
Date of Stay: 07/14/07 Review Submitted: 07/13/10

This home is a magical place filled with peace and adventure. It's difficult to express in words how incredible this home is and the area surrounding it. The home is immaculate and the gardens inviting......I had a difficult time convincing my two boys to explore the island, they never wanted to leave the house. The house is a short drive to many wonderful beaches and fun-filled hikes. Hawi town is just around the corner and offers great food, coffee, shaved-ice and fudge!! The owners are truly great people who understand and live the "Aloha-Spirit!" We hope to return to this magical place very soon.

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