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Seaside Zen Cottage - A beach is your front yard

Beachfront cottage for sun and fun

Photo gallery for Seaside Zen Cottage - A beach is your front yard

Property grounds
Twilight at the Seaside Zen Cottage (before lanai was extended)
With lanai addition
"your" beach (all beaches in Hawaii are public)
Lounge comfortably on the lanai or in the hammock

Reviews

9.8 out of 10
Exceptional
3 bedrooms3 bathroomsSleeps 62130 sq ft

Popular amenities

  • Kitchen
  • Washer
  • Dryer
  • Free WiFi
  • Outdoor Space
  • Parking available

Rooms & beds

3 bedrooms (sleeps 6)

Bedroom 1

1 Queen Bed

Bedroom 2

1 Queen Bed

Bedroom 3

1 Queen Bed

3 bathrooms

Bathroom 1

Toilet · Shower only

Bathroom 2

Toilet · Shower only

Bathroom 3

Bathtub or shower · Toilet

Spaces

Deck or patio
Porch or lanai
Kitchen
Balcony
Outdoor play area
Garden
Dining area

About this property

Seaside Zen Cottage - A beach is your front yard

This is an ideal place to relax with family and friends. The lagoon in front of the cottage is a great place for snorkeling, for teaching small children to swim and to rest in the healing waters.

Rental of the Cottage can be combined with rental of the "Robertson's Beach House" (446099) the property next door, to host weddings, family reunions or gathering of good friends. If you are planning to host an event, please let us know - there may be restrictions and additional charges. Events with more than 20 people total including all vendors, caterers, family and friends are required to rent both properties. Site fees apply to groups over 20. Maximum daytime gatherings is100 people.
No smoking, vaping, candles, tiki torches, open flames or fires allowed in or on the property or beaches.



Our prices include all fees. No hidden fees.

Add dates for prices

Amenities

Kitchen
Washer
Dryer
Free WiFi
Outdoor Space
Parking available

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Similar properties

Exterior
Robertson's Beach House
  • Ocean view
  • Kitchen
  • Washer
  • Dryer
9.8 out of 10, Exceptional, (8 reviews)
Robertson's Beach House

House Rules

Check in after 4:00 PM
Minimum age to rent: 21
Check out before 10:00 AM
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Children

Children allowed: ages 0-17
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Events

No events allowed
Must receive prior approval & may bring added fees
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Pets

No pets allowed
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Smoking

Smoking is not permitted
Quiet hours are 9pm to 8am.
No smoking, vaping, candles or open flames allowed

Important information

You need to know

Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card, or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
Onsite parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Note from host: Must receive prior approval & may bring added fees
Host has not indicated whether there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property; consider bringing a portable detector with you on the trip
Host has indicated there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher and a first aid kit
Property Registration Number GE-149-182-8436-01, TA-149-182-8736-01

We should mention

A car is recommended for transportation to and from this property

About the neighborhood

Kailua-Kona

Located on the beach, this cottage is in Holualoa Village, a neighborhood in Kailua-Kona. Kahalu'u Beach Park and Kailua-Kona Wharf are worth checking out if an activity is on the agenda, while those in the mood for shopping can visit Kona Farmers Market and Kona Inn Shopping Village. Traveling with kids? Consider KBXtreme, or check out an event or a game at Holua Racquet and Paddle. Be sure to check out the area's animals with activities such as game walks and birdwatching.
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Map
Kailua-Kona, HI

What's nearby

  • Sadie Seymour Botanical Garden - 15 min walk - 1.3 km
  • Magic Sands Beach - 2 min drive - 2.3 km
  • Kailua-Kona Beaches - 2 min drive - 2.3 km
  • Honl's Beach - 3 min drive - 2.3 km
  • Kailua Pier - 6 min drive - 4.2 km

Getting around

  • Kona Intl. Airport (KOA) - 22 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Don's Mai Tai Bar - ‬4 min drive
  • ‪Royal Kona Resort Oceanfront Bar - ‬4 min drive
  • ‪Huggo's On The Rocks - ‬4 min drive
  • ‪Island Lava Java - ‬4 min drive
  • ‪Shaka Tacos - ‬15 min walk

Frequently asked questions

Is Seaside Zen Cottage - A beach is your front yard pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

How much is parking?

Onsite parking is available at the property.

What time is check-in at Seaside Zen Cottage - A beach is your front yard?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Seaside Zen Cottage - A beach is your front yard?

Check-out is at 10:00 AM.

Where is Seaside Zen Cottage - A beach is your front yard located?

Nestled on the beach, this Holualoa Village cottage is within 2 mi (3 km) of Magic Sands Beach, Kailua-Kona Beaches, and Honl's Beach. Kahalu'u Beach Park and Kamakahonu Beach are also within 3 mi (5 km).

Reviews

9.8

Exceptional

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labeled.
Learn moreOpens in a new window
Rating 10 - Excellent. 18 out of 20 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 1 out of 20 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 1 out of 20 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 20 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 20 reviews

9.6/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Check-in

9.8/10

Communication

10/10

Location

9.8/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Brook P.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
This place might be the nicest spot on planet earth. We’ve stayed three times now.
Stayed 7 nights in Nov 2025

10/10 Excellent

Todd B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Beautiful property with picture perfect backyard view. Everything was amazing
Stayed 5 nights in Oct 2025

10/10 Excellent

Brant W.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Zen Cottage

Wonderful place to stay. The kids loved the direct access to the beach and small lagoon for snorkeling.
Stayed 6 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

Ruprecht v.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

A Dream House for a magic vacation

The Zen cottage has great outdoor spaces and access to a beautiful little beach. The rooms are airy and two of them overlook the ocean and a very pretty yard. The location is near good restaurants and shopping. Many good excursions can be easily made from there.
Stayed 5 nights in Dec 2024

10/10 Excellent

Robert B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Kona Trip

A beautiful classic Kona Home in a beachfront setting. Perfect for relaxing and enjoying tha Aloha of Kona. And a great location for enjoying restaurants and shopping and the other wonders of the Big Island.
Stayed 5 nights in Jun 2023

10/10 Excellent

Tim C.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Zen Cottage

The Zen Cottage was like a step back to old Hawaii. Wonderfully located on the beach. While being old the house and the grounds were well kept up and clean. No complaints at all. It would be nice if the hedge towards the beach were lowered to the top of the lava wall to open the view while sitting or lounging.
Stayed 12 nights in Mar 2025

10/10 Excellent

Kelly A.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Location location location

Stunning, primitive the grounds and ocean view and breeze and access were everything. We loved the property manager, he was amazing! Can’t wait to come back.
Stayed 4 nights in Apr 2023

10/10 Excellent

Debbie A.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great getaway

Beautiful little beach house. Lopaka the prop Manager was awesome, friendly and filled with Aloha!
Stayed 3 nights in May 2023

10/10 Excellent

Peggy A.

Heaven in Hawaii!!

We loved our stay immensely! Beautiful property as described. Well stocked. Wonderful mattresses and pillows. Right on ocean as described. Fabulous ocean breezes & locale!! Loved the simple Zen house!!
Stayed 7 nights in May 2019

10/10 Excellent

Tiffany D.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

BEST EVER!!!

My husband and I stayed here for our anniversary, and we were never disappointed! Everything was well communicated in advance, well stocked kitchen, super nice grounds keeper, lots of useful information, and views were better than expected! We will be back!
Stayed 5 nights in Oct 2019

10/10 Excellent

Charlene B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Absolutely Perfect!

This listing is amazing! I wish we could have stayed longer. The home was very clean and comfortable. It had everything we needed. Lopeka was a wealth of knowledge and very helpful. The views and sunsets were incredible. I would definitely stay here again when we visit the Big Island.
Stayed 4 nights in Jan 2023

10/10 Excellent

Alex H.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Incredible Property, truly spectacular

If you're looking for a perfectly relaxing getaway this is it. The sound of the waves, the snorkeling right in the backyard, the turtles in the cove, the green grass --- I'm not sure life gets any better than this. If you are considering it, do yourself a favor and book this place. This is truly something special.
Stayed 6 nights in Feb 2021

10/10 Excellent

Cody L.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great cottage with nice beach

The place was very quiet and peaceful. No air-conditioning, but with the constant ocean breeze it felt great. We had our 18 month old and they loved the little beach pretty much in the back yard. The adults could do some snorkeling in the same area. We did most of our relaxing and eating outside in the back lenai. The property manager, Lopaka, was a lot of information and checked up to make sure we had any further questions or needed any help. I would book the place again if we go back.
Stayed 7 nights in Jan 2024

6/10 Okay

Patricia B.

Liked: Check-in, location, listing accuracy

Ok in Kona

This place was in a beautiful setting. Loved hearing the ocean waves at night. However, you must be comfortable with having all windows and doors open at night. No AC. There are screens and the property is gated at the road, but the “beach” behind the property is public. The house itself could use some updates. Baseboards were missing. The bathrooms were dated and stained. The tops of the roller shades downstairs were very dirty. The washer and dryer units are outside and rusted. There were no chairs available to take to the beach. Overall, for the price, I think I would look elsewhere if we were back in the area.
Stayed 3 nights in Jan 2024

8/10 Good

Kari S.

Liked: Check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Zen cottage

The Zen House is part of an old sugar plantation. The house is old and is decorated with antiques but we found it charming. The property manager/maintenance guy and his wife live in another house on the property. He was super friendly and my husband enjoyed talking to him. The beach is literally steps from back porch! Amazing views and close to shopping and all the action! Gated so we felt safe. The beaches in hawaii are public and there are not a lot of Sandy beaches in this area so “our” little beach had people on it pretty much all the time. This was awkward at times because it is just steps from our patio…but I mean I’m not complaining because there aren’t many homes with access like this to a Sandy beach! The owner could definitely upgrade the “extras” have an extra roll of paper towels, nicer hand soap, beach towels, beach chairs, better blow dryers, a little cooler for you to use etc. these little touches would make it more luxurious and would help balance out what the price per day is to stay. Overall adorable little house with unbelievable views and location! If we came back to the Big Island I would stay again.
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2023

10/10 Excellent

Brook P.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Wonderful spot!

We just loved our time and hope to be back!
Stayed 7 nights in Nov 2022

10/10 Excellent

John A.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

What a GREAT rental!

We LOVED this property. Rustic and well-maintained, it was perfect for us. No complaints, no issues.
Stayed 6 nights in Apr 2022

10/10 Excellent

Vincent D.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

A true gem!

This property was exactly how we imagined it and more. Everyone was extremely responsive with communication and check-in and out were smooth. We will absolutely be returning.
Stayed 6 nights in Mar 2022
This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Beautiful Zen Cottage

We spent three weeks in the Hawiian islands and the Zen Cottage was the pick of the accomodation. I stayed with my wife, two teenage children and their grandmother. Then ambience of the cottage is perfect to relax in. We love snorkelling and found as many tropical fish directly in front of the cottage as any where else we went to, inluding many beautiful turtles. The entry into the water is from a lovely and safe small sand beach at the back gate. Sand beaches are rare here. Nearby Captain Cook monument Bay Area was full of Spinner Dolphins who come right up to snorkelets. We hired kayaks there and found ourselves immersed in their world. We left the Vegimite behind to complement the helpful items we found in the pantry. Below is the unsolicited response we sent to the site manager Val who then asks us to post a review. Ian and family from Sydney Australia. "You have a magical spot, we were spoilt snorkeling out the front seeing many tropical fish and the green sea turtles. Tina was a great help with any questions. The house was well equipped. We had a lovely week and will recommend your house to friends."

10/10 Excellent

A guest from Charlotte, NC

Stayed 4 nights in Oct 2025

About the host

Hosted by Lisa Week

Host profile image
The Seaside Zen Cottage is one of the oldest beach homes on the Kona Coast. Sometime in the early 1900's Dr. Phillips purchased a 'surplus' teacher's cottage in Hilo. Dr. Phillips had the house dismantled, put on a truck and reassembled on his beachfront lot in Kona. Whether this occurred in the 1920's, '30s or '40s is unknown. Marjorie and Robbie Robertson started renting Dr. Phillips' oceanfront vacation rental in the very early 1940s it was one of the few homes on the Government Road (as Alii Drive was then known). The 7 mile long single lane unpaved road from Kailua to Keauhou was little traveled and sparsely populated.
Marjorie and Robbie Robertson purchased the Seaside Zen Cottage in 1951. Since then The Cottage has been wired for electricity. There is a County water and 'wastewater' system. There are modern appliances and conveniences like wireless internet and cable TV, but we have strived to keep the Seaside Zen Cottage reminiscent of the time when it was known as 'The Phillips Place.' Emily Jagoda, a brilliant architect who studied in Japan re-imagined the stuffy Hilo teacher's cottage, opened it up to the ocean and mountain breezes and created its Zen like atmosphere.

Why they chose this property

Here you will get the sense of the real Hawai'i....not a condo, not in a development -Peace and quiet by the ocean with plenty of party activity in town should you find you have withdrawal.

What makes this property unique

There is a large covered lanai on the ocean side of the house with comfortable chairs and a dining table. While at home, guests spend most their time on the lanai. The front lawn is a great place to rest on the deck chairs under the heliotrope trees. You can read, sleep, or watch the honu (green sea turtles) swimming in the lagoon or sunning themselves on the beach right in front of you. The lagoon is great for a dip at high tide, or if you like to snorkel, you can cruise around looking at the amazing variety of reef fish and sea creatures. Outside the lagoon, schools of porpoise go by just about every day. In the winter, humpback whales are often seen just past the rocks. It is thrilling to watch them spout, or if you are lucky, see them breach.
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