Chanin A.
July 2024
Property was great! Had everything we needed with beautiful views. Property owner let us check in early to accommodate our flights, so that was very helpful!
Rhoda C.
April 2024
The property was wonderful with breathe taking views. Large enough for everyone to have their own space and privacy, but cozy enough to feel like home. Close to beaches lots of site seeing and town.
Rachel E.
April 2024
Pros: The home is well stocked and perfectly situated--right on the water and just a quick drive into town. When (and if) you do leave, you don't have to venture far even on foot. For example, Magic Sands beach and Magics restaurant and a shave ice truck are a two min walk, but there's a also a beach park right next door to the property which worked out great for little ones. We fully appreciated having plenty of beach chairs, life jackets, picnic equipment, and beach toys to take with us.
Cons: You won't want to go home! The house has its quirks, but none that would prevent my rebooking. There was some construction going on at nearby properties (next door and across the street) so if you travel in the near term you may hear a bit of noise if you stick around during the day, but you can just sit on the lanai and listen to the waves instead! (Birds, geckos, and, in the evening, insects, also enjoy the lanai so be prepared to share the space.) The other little things we noticed, we reported to the owners and they will address, so I don't have other concerns.
Other: It is one building but two separate units and separate entrances. To join the other unit, you go outside and go to the other entrance. We had three adults and two kids in the main house (upstairs) and two adults (one with mobility issues in the studio), and this arrangement worked great.
Lynne P.
February 2024
Incredible property location with all amenities. Owner provides plenty of beach stuff, appliances and condiments in the kitchen, towels and linens. Loved spending our time here. Perfect for our extended family of ten.
Lynda R.
January 2024
Our family enjoyed the property and location. We used the kitchen every day! The bedrooms were good and comfortably fits 8-9 people. The Lanai is very comfortable and a great spot for sunsets.
We did have a problem with sea urchin bites in the lava rock between the house and ocean, otherwise the property was great for our family.
Alison H.
January 2024
Beautiful home, plenty of space, the upstairs lanai was perfect for watching dolphins, whales and sea turtles! The waves were a bit loud during high tides, but then you are right on the beach, so take advantage of the ear plugs they provide if you need them. The owners were great.
Erika Y.
December 2023
House is lovely, amazing sunset & sea view from every room, we really enjoyed the hot tub! Thank you so much
Toby M.
September 2023
Beautiful location
Lee G.
August 2023
Awesome location. Fabulous sunsets and sunrise. Comfortable home with great outdoor living space. The elders stayed downstairs in the studio suite and the young people stayed upstairs. Most of our activity was on the large lanai upstairs. We used the large round table to dine and play games. The sofas there were great for a short nap. You could see yellow tang in the ocean from the lanai each morning! The kitchen with it’s huge island was great! Very well supplied The appliances are all brand new and got a good workout each morning! Our group of 10 were well organized and with stations around the island at each meal, eating was made very easy. We changed our departure flights to later so we would have time to leave the home in order and some of the laundry done, ie beach towels. We started the laundering of the sheets and towels. The family thoroughly enjoyed their stay and would stay here again. Peter and Darla were very cordial and helpful, perfect hosts. They definitely embrace the aloha spirit! Many mahalos and a warm aloha, Claire Graham and Ohana
Bill W.
August 2023
Property is great with convenient access to the west side of the island. Cliff jumping a few minutes drive away, beaches, snorkeling, etc. Well stocked with beach equipment and kitchen accessories. Many great restaurants nearby! Great place for a vacation!
Brian C.
July 2023
Spent 10 days with the wife and kids. Close to everything. Like, walking distance close. 2 minute walk to Magic Sands. 3 miles to downtown Kona. House is stocked with everything you need for a day at the beach or in the water. Peter and Darla were responsive. Check in/out was smooth. Hot tub was excellent. Sunset views were epic. Already planning our return trip lol.
Todd E.
June 2023
Great location in Kona with amazing views from every room and space in the house. The home is well equipped with a great cooking area with the best electrical stove I have ever used, I normally hate electric stoves (prefer gas). The waters are very clear and clean here, nice aqua blue, easy to see schools of yellow tang all day long. The upstairs rooms are more modern than below, but the downstairs is fine, even though dated. Kona is a humid area, and we encountered bugs, but only really an issue at night. The first night, unfortunately, we left the windows open without screens and went to dinner, just to arrive to a lot of mostly fruit flies. Anyhow, after we smartened up, a few still snuck in, but the wave calmed down (as we were in very warm/humid week). There are plenty of geckos, but that is to be expected in Hawaii pretty much everywhere. The unit is well equipped with fans everywhere, a portable A/C in the lower unit. I adjusted to climate in a day and didn't use the A/C as the fan breeze combined with normal airflow is just fine. The beds are very comfy, was pleasantly surprised as we don't normally sleep on good quality mattresses in home rentals. Peter, the owner, was immediately responsive to our questions. The house is a stone's throw from Magic Sands beach, which is a tiny but amazing beach...just walk there first thing in the morning to avoid LARGE crowds. All in all, we had a very memorable stay on the Big Island with this home being are base of operation.
Tim and Aleta D.
April 2023
Clean quiet easy to relax family friendly
Stephen M.
December 2022
Better than advertised or expected. Road noise as expected with the house situated on the water side of Alii Drive, but the sound of the surf nearly drowned it out, including the tire squealers of which there were a few. Great kitchen for cooking and bartending of which there were equal amounts. Everything provided for a day outing to the beach or wading or body surfing. Astounding display of humpback whales coming completely out of the water right in front of the house, several times 3 in the air at the same time. Dolphins seem to enjoy playing/feeding a little closer in than the whales, turtles came by every day, Yellow Tang in schools right below the house. Met wonderful locals and fellow travelers at the park next door.
Julie S.
October 2022
This property is amazing! It has the most incredible views, and you will never miss a sunset. It feels so secluded but is in a convenient to everything. The property is well stocked for everything! Anything you could need in the house is there and we didn't have to rent any beach gear they have it all. We fished and snorkeled right in front of the house (better snorkeling than the trips we paid to snorkel). The Lanai is so relaxing and there was plenty of room for our family of 10 to hang out together and eat while enjoying the views. The 2 bedrooms with the large opening windows are amazing. It was hard to adjust to the silence when we got home. I honestly couldn't say enough about this property. We loved it and would recommend it to anyone. Thank you for sharing your beautiful home. It is a true treasure!
William T.
August 2022
This property exceeded our expectations based on location and spacious layout. We had a large group of 7 adults , 3 children and 1 infant ; and were all able to fit comfortably. The ocean front views are
even better In person, my family and I enjoyed waking up to the beautiful sounds of
the ocean each day. We also appreciated the fully stocked pantry with spices, snorkeling gear and beach equipment. My family and I were even able snorkel at the small beach right next to the house(literally right next door).The house is really close to the Kona village and I recommend getting the Scandinavian Ice (ask for popular orders). I definitely recommend this property and can’t wait to be back sometime in the future. Mahalo .
LORETTA F.
August 2022
Beautiful accommodations with beaches close by. Was able to relax with family and friends.
Kristy R.
August 2022
Beautiful house right on the beach with amazing snorkeling just outside. The house had everything we needed - beach towels, sand toys, snorkeling equipment. The kitchen was great, even had a coffee grinder and nice coffee maker and ice machine and fridge upstairs and downstairs. There’s plenty of spices and staples and cooking supplies so we didn’t have to buy a bunch of unnecessary stuff. The oven didn’t work while we were there which was a bummer since we were planning on making pizzas and doing some other baking, but we made do, and the house had so much else to offer! The jets in the hot tub and the jacuzzi don’t work, but honestly with the beach right there we didn’t plan on using them much anyway. Even though it’s technically a 2 bedroom and a studio, we had a family reunion with 3 families and there was plenty of room for everyone to spread out with the 2 large bedrooms upstairs, the small bedroom upstairs, the huge studio downstairs, and the couches in the living room are basically 2 twin size mattresses, and there’s 2 inflatable mattresses, and 2 futons, and plenty of sheets and blankets, and the 3 large lanai. We rented a van so we could tour the island, but part of our group biked, ubered, etc, and it’s close enough you’d be fine with that. The owners were very responsive before and during anytime we had a question. We arrived earlier than expected, and the cleaners were very accommodating about showing us where to put our things, telling us about the house and neighborhood, and helping us settle in. It was much more expensive than I’d usually spend on a vacation rental, but it was a great experience!
Samy L.
August 2022
This place was right on the beach with one of the most amazing views. It’s only 20 mins fr Kona airport, close to many of the coffee farms, and right next to Poehoehoe Beach. I was here with my friends & family. There was plenty of space for 10 of us to easily lounge around. The kitchen was very well equipped and they even had beach chairs and umbrellas available for use.
There were only a few problems we had. The gate wasn’t working, so we had to manually open and close the gate when driving in & out of the property. The dishwasher wasn’t working and it’s no fun doing dishes for 10 people when you’re on vacation. There was a lot of ants in the kitchen, especially when you leave food out. Even though we had a few problems, the location and views with beach access makes up for it. I would recommend this place.
Jeffrey L.
July 2022
The Pacific views were great and it was nice to be close to Kona, but away from the hustle and bustle. Our group had 2 grandparents (age 72) who stayed downstairs and then 4 more adults and 5 kids between 3-13. The house fit us all and after 2 days, 2 of the adults left and we were able to spread out more. The kitchen was well stocked. The storage room was very well stocked, with quality snorkel gear, beach chairs, towels and umbrellas.
We had a pretty good experience overall, but some maintenance issues made it less enjoyable, namely a broken dishwasher, broken gate and no AC unit in the downstairs apartment (we knew there wasn’t any AC upstairs and we were fine with that). The broken gate was both very hard to open and close (you don’t want vacation to feel like football camp) , inconvenient when juggling 2 rental cars and left the property unsecured. While we never had a specific problem with any of the local transients, it wasn’t a great feeling. I did bring this to the owner’s attention, he was initially helpful and told me how to perform maintenance tasks on it, then heard nothing for a day and a half, then after more questions from me he finally got someone out there our last day to simply disconnect the chain.
Property owner did inform me of the broken dishwasher in advance and he had put a brand new coffee maker in the unit prior to our stay, which was appreciated.
Magic Sands beach did not look as pictured during our stay…not the owner’s fault, but don’t expect what you see, it was crowded due to an adjacent hotel, there are rocks on both sides of a very narrow swimming area and rocky beach. Turtle Cove directly in front of the property couldn’t be explored during our stay, the waves were too rough during our stay, even at low tide. Again, not the owner’s fault, but had really looked forward to exploring that…just unsafe and I’m an experienced, competitive swimmer.
The owner did make a concession due to the issues described above, mainly the broken gate. I understand it is hard to maintain stuff with all of the salt air and sea spray. If I find myself back in Kailua-Kona at some point, I’d probably just stay at a resort with more reliable maintenance staff.
-Jeff L.
Pennsylvania
Sara L.
June 2022
The location of this property is amazing! We saw turtles, dolphins, yellow tang, and crabs from the patio, as well as great people watching in the park next door. We enjoyed swimming and snorkeling from the small beach right next to the house. The kitchen was well stocked as mentioned. We slept with the windows open, and enjoyed the wave sounds and waking up occasionally to gorgeous views. It will comfortably sleep 7. If you don't mind sleeping in the living room, it will sleep two more. I knocked off one star because there were a few things that were broken while we were there, but hopefully the owners (who are very responsive) will have them fixed soon. We would definitely stay here again.
Valerie S.
June 2022
We had an amazing stay at this home. The ocean view from every room in the house was spectacular! Having the small park and white sands beach just steps away was so convenient. The outside decks were perfect for many games of pinnacle. The hot tub was used in the early morning while sipping coffee and if lucky watching the dolphins jumping. We could not have picked a better location! The home has four beds so with nine of us one had a choice of a blowup mattress or couch/futon. Everything you would possibly need for beach fun is in a storage room on the side of the house including some beach shoes. We realized that a little late and with all the lava rocks on beaches it is best to have water shoes. My bucket list trip was accomplished so a huge Thank you to Peter and Darla.
Julie G.
June 2022
Our stay at Hale Honu was all that we hoped it would be plus so much more. The loving touches of this family placed throughout the yard and home draw you in immediately - beautiful mosaics in the driveway, walk way and patio walls let you know that this is not just a cookie cutter rental but a place of intentionality and grace. Vaulted ceilings and louvered windows throughout the upstairs create an airy "one with the ocean" feeling. A variety of comfortable ocean view seating and tables on both upstairs and downstairs patios to enjoy day and night. Large airy kitchen which flows into living room and patio creates a "great room" that a family or group can move about and enjoy without feeling crowded. Separate downstairs quarters very comfortable and great for those in your group who need/want a little more personal space. We had two in the king bed and two sleeping on air mattresses downstairs. Host graciously provided two pack-n-plays and two booster seats for our toddler grandchildren. Child safe cables on upper patio and fencing in yard along seawall plus gated driveway parking area allowed us to relax without worry for little ones safety. Sleeping to the sound of waves crashing all night was heavenly, morning Kona coffee on the patio and evening patio dinners watching the spectacular sunsets was transformative. We are very grateful and hope to return someday!
Corey S.
April 2022
My family (Parents, kids, and grandkids) stayed here for a week. It was amazing! We saw whales, dolphins, turtles, and fish right off shore. We could snorkel. The kids could run around the park next door. They had everything you need for a day at the beach or cooking or whatever. We hope to come back soon!
Willard B.
March 2022
Great communication from owners from first contact through rental and arrival. The location was incredible, house filled with loving touches and beautiful decor. Opens up beautifully to the ocean when you want. Or you can close it up. We had it all open while we were there. EVERYTHING you could possibly need is at the house. There are 2 outdoor futons, and several in our group chose to sleep outside on them and enjoy the sound of the crashing waves at night. Two of the main rooms have really big windows that face the ocean and also open completely so you feel like you are sleeping outside. Tons of linens, blankets, pillows, towels, beach gear, and a VERY well stocked kitchen with lots of the regular stuff plus local spices. We cooked most dinners at home, and made good use of the BBQ. We thought we would use the hot tub, and it was ready to go, but there was so much else going on and the weather was so warm we didn’t get in once. Our hosts were very responsive and even told us how to view the eels that live in the reef just outside the door. We saw a few turtles and a few whales and lots of colorful fish with out even leaving the house. The whole vibe of the house was relaxing and filled our cups. Several of us in the group have been working on the front lines throughout the pandemic as ER nurses and doctors and this was a healing place where we could really relax and commune with nature. We are so grateful to our hosts! Mahalo!!!
kelly J.
February 2022
This beach front Kahaluu Bay house was very spacious, peaceful and super convenient to Kona. We enjoyed the panoramic ocean views, comfortable layout, and wonderful decks and outside areas. We also appreciated the well-appointed kitchen - we ordered take-out so we could enjoy the marvelous view! The hot tub was a nice addition even though we didn't end up using it. Our family fell asleep to the sound of waves and woke to the glow of the sunrise over the ocean. Fabulous, would definitely recommend, can't wait to return!
Dennis F.
February 2022
We enjoyed a wonderful week and loved the view from the lanai. We saw turtles, gorgeous schools of yellow and black tang and could see whales spouting and rolling in the distance without even leaving the house. Bring binoculars! Close to all shopping and grocery stores. Owner’s communication and response to texts was quick. Great location, comfortable king beds. Kitchen has spices and condiments and every size pan and dishes. Do not recommend here for beginner snorkelers but go to Kahalu’u Beach park only a mile away. Would definitely stay here again. Thank you for a great vacation.
August 2021
We had 10 people for our stay. I’d say it’s quite cramped with that many people but the location can’t be beat. Beach gear available for your use and fully stocked kitchen! The owners are so helpful both before and during your stay. Easy to get ahold of and quit to respond. Would definitely recommend it!
Robert S.
July 2021
This location is second to none. Beautiful home. Everything you could possibly need is provided. What really sets it apart is little details, like labels explaining how everything in the house works. The gracious hosts have thought of everything. There are fancier houses, but none that will make you feel more at home. It's oceanfront Hawaii, so there will be some traffic, bugs, and the glorious sound of the ocean is ever-present. I would recommend Hale Honu to anyone considering a visit to Hawaii island.
Stephanie J.
July 2021
The house was perfect for 11 family members of all ages. Peter was equally wonderful. We all voted to come back.
Lisa B.
June 2021
This house was simply perfect for our Party of nine. And absolutely stunning stellar review of the Pacific, Ocean wildlife galore. He completely stocked kitchen with everything you could ever imagine needing. And then some. Comfortable beds incredible views ocean at Your fingertips. On a main road, easy walk to multiple beaches, snorkel, surf, paddleboard spots. As well as
places to eat.
Our hosts were extraordinarily easy to communicate with and completely wonderful. Could not recommend this place more.
Donald A.
February 2015
Location, location, location is probably what summarize Hale Honu best! This was our first experience on this Island and from what we were able to see, Hale Honu was probably one of the best location available on the Big Island. It offered proximity to downtown (3 1/2 miles) where most of the shops are located and only a short distance away from major grocery store and shopping center.
There was 5 of us in our party and we had rented the whole house. The fenced property allow for all the privacy and the noise from Alii Drive was never an issue. Since we had both floor of the house, we had more than enough space and the property offered all the amenities one can ask for. The sound of the surf crashing on the lava at the front of the property and the view was all the entertainment we needed and it was so relaxing that we never even use the television.
The view from the upper lanai was just spectacular with whales, dolphins and turtles being center stage every day. We spent hours every morning and every evenings just looking out for them and we were never disappointed. We saw hundreds of whales and dolphins that provided us with front row seat to unbelievable shows; from just swimming along the coast, to breaching, tale slapping, jumping and spinning. Wow, it was like watching Discovery Channel live....
Unfortunately, the surf was very high during our stay which limited the amount of snorkeling we were able to do but this was the call of mother nature and it had nothing to do with Hale Honu.
I don't know yet when we will be returning to the Big Island but Hale Honu will certainly be at the top of our list as a place to stay.
Don A.
Scot R.
January 2015
We held our family vacation at Hale Honu with nine adults and teenagers from two families. We used both the upstairs and the studio which provided a bit of separation for the older teenagers. We had read about the ocean views at Hale Hanu and we weren't disappointed! Hale Hanu is on a slight point in the coastline, providing an excellent vista. We toured up and down the Kona coast and never found a better place to sit and watch the ocean making us wonder why we ever left! Perhaps it was because we were there so close to the winter solstice, but the view from the hot tub was straight toward the sunset and perfectly framed by two palm trees! It couldn't have been a better hot tub view if it were in a postcard. We also appreciated the binoculars provided in each unit. There were daily sightings of dolphins, whales, and sea turtles. The house was well stocked with comfortable furniture, towels, and beach gear (even new boogie boards). The owners were available any time we had a question and some confusion we had with the trash service was cleared up immediately. The beds were very comfortable. The only thing we needed to get accustom to was the all night roar of the surf but once adjusted it became a wonderful sonic dimension of this relaxing home. Now I hear the surf every time I think about the place. The location was convenient for going into Kailua-Kona, local beaches, or the grocery store.
Beth M.
January 2015
This was our second vacation to Hale Hona. Both visits were absolutely fantastic. Beautiful sunset views. Loved the multiple areas to view ocean.
July 2014
Beautiful home that worked out perfectly for our first time on the Big Island. Seven in our group, very comfortable. Newlyweds got the lower level suite, and Mom, Dad, two brothers and Grandma stayed upstairs. The house is everything Peter and Darla described. Every day we saw turtles from the lanai or out the bedroom windows. Easy walk to snorkel. Kona is a great base camp to explore the entire island. After being gone several hours, we were so spoiled to return to Hale Honu and truly relax. The evening we arrived, I needed some guidance and sent a text to Peter, who immediately called me and answered my concern. I knew if I needed anything he would be easily contacted and fix any problems. The rooms have extremely comfortable beds, plenty of storage, and the kitchen is wonderful. Staying on the coast was amazing, with daily views of turtles, colorful saltwater fish, unbelievable sunsets, and overall just an amazingly relaxing place to hang out. Thanks Peter and Darla!
william c.
April 2014
We had a great time at your place. Lots of beach time nice runs in the morning followed with a swim with the turtles . We had s few great sunset BBQs . Shopping is close by Sam Choi is just up the street. Its the best place I have been too for relaxing. We could have stayed for another 11 days. We will stay here again. Thank you Will Clayton . Sandy Ore.
March 2014
We have just arrived home from 2 weeks at the Hale Honu house. I must say Peter and Darla are accommodating and easy to deal with. We loved the location of the house and you cannot get any closer to the water. We rented a vehicle and mopeds as there is not a store close by, which is exactly what we wanted.
We loved the crashing surf and were mesmerized by it every moment and found it did not bother us at night but be aware that it is not a quiet lapping shoreline if that is what your looking for. You will not find this anywhere in this area of Kona if you want to be close to the water.
The only negative we found was that the lanai furniture and cushions were well used and "tired". For the money we also would have appreciated good pillows and nicer sheets. The beds were very comfortable. The 2nd bedroom needs screens replaced as moths seemed to get in easily.
Overall we would stay here again and certainly enjoyed our trip.
Bill F.
February 2014
Hale Honu, House of the Turtle. Right on the Pacific Ocean on the west coast of the Big Island of Hawaii, about 3 miles south of Kona. Five of us stayed on the top floor in 2 large and one small bedroom. The photos representing the accommodations on Trip Advisor and VRBO web sites are very accurate. Communication with the owners was very straightforward by email, and overall the value for what we paid was excellent.
Our relaxation highlight was a large open porch right above the ocean from where we enjoyed Green Turtles and Yellow Tang swimming in the clear water below. Out in the ocean, usually less than a mile offshore, Humpback Whales were seen everyday, often breaching. In the beginning it was too rough to snorkel, but toward the end of our stay we got several days of excellent snorkeling, and saw several turtles underwater, as well as a great number and variety of tropical reef fish
As far as creature comfort, the two large bedrooms both had magnificent ocean views. The beds had new firm mattresses, the two bathrooms were clean and well equipped, the kitchen was very well furnished with pots and pans, utensils, plates, salt, pepper and spices, cups and glasses, which even included very nice wine glasses. The refrigerator was new and large, easily holding three or more six packs of beer. The stove was also new and large. There were guests in the smaller first floor apartment, but we rarely saw them, and never heard them. The property is gated, so we always felt very secure.
Shirley R.
September 2013
My family and I stayed at this house "Hale Honu" for 10 days.
Although the location of the house was outstanding - right by the water, I'm afraid we would never stay here again.
I am not one to complain, but felt the need to share my experience with other potential guests to beware.
The house had insects, i.e.. ants, cockroaches and a rodent. And the neighbor downstairs got bit by a centipede the last day of our stay. I am well aware of dealing with insects on the island, but to charge the kind of prices the owner is asking, and then not continually maintain pest control was shocking to me.
Although the owner apologized and sent a pest control person out within 2 days, you have to ask yourself, "is this really what you want to be dealing with on your vacation and at these prices?"
Next time we will stay at an upscale hotel for the same price, minus the insects and rodent.
September 2013
Our stay at the studio at Hale Honu was spectacular. Our view was absolutely amazing. Every day we watched turtles and fish from our patio. Every few days, dolphins would swim by leaping into the air with what appeared to be pure joy. In the evening, the sunsets were breathtaking. Our studio was clean, comfortable and attractive. I can't begin to express what a fantastic experience we had at Hale Honu. Peter, our host was extremely gracious and generous. He truly embodies the Aloha spirit. He went out of his way to make our stay very pleasurable. I want to speak about the centipede in the studio. When I was told that the neighbors were having some problems with insects and a rodent and that the owners were going to spray around the house, I emailed Peter and begged him not to spray around our studio. I was aware before I rented the studio that they used a light touch regarding the use of sprays. I was very happy about this fact. I appreciate that our neighbors had different needs, but I want to be clear that it was at our request that only a few baits would be used around the studio and not spray. Peter didn't have to do that, and I was extrememly grateful that he was willing to accomodate everyone's needs. Sometimes weird things happen, but I don't consider this Peter's fault. Our whole stay was extraordinary and we can't wait to go back to the Hale Honu Studio. I think that it would be so sad if someone decided not to stay here because of that centipede incident. This is a very magical property. I hope that you give yourself the chance to stay at Hale Honu.
September 2013
It was perfect! Everything...location, all the necessary things we needed, space for everyone, did I mention location?! Breakfasts on the patio watching the turtles and dolphins and you could even see the fish because the water was so clear. The huge kitchen was a great gathering spot, as was the downstairs lanai. Gated parking was a bonus and the outdoor shower was a necessary luxury!
Use the "Visit Owner's Website" link to read more reviews from the reservation site, including the latest reviews submitted by recent guests.