My wife, daughter and I planned a vacation to the Big Island of Hawaii. We had previously stayed…read morein the south Kona area and wanted to stay in the Waikoloa Beach Resort area to experience the north side of the Big Island. We are a repeat customer of Hula Girl Vacation Rentals, and the owner Candace, is a gem. Before arriving, she provided us with lots of information on things to do, the beaches, restaurants and what the local population likes to do. It was very helpful planning our fun in the sun. Hula Girl Vacation Rentals is Candace's company that offered three very nice vacation rentals on the Big Island. During our first trip, we stayed at the condo located at Kona and that condo was very nice and located close to Kona's historical area. LOTS of FUN! This trip, we stayed at the large F-3 condo located in the Fairway Villas complex at the Waikoloa Beach resort. The condo was close to shopping, restaurants, beaches, and the big resort hotels - the Marriott and Hilton. Boy, was the F-3 condo nice! A first-floor one-level condo with two bedrooms, two full baths, full kitchen with all the appliances, dining room, family room, and an outside sitting area (with table and chairs). The counters were all granite and the furnishing made the stay very relaxing. The Master bathroom - large bath tub, separate shower and a large walk-in closet. Candace did a great job! The condo even included modern electronic amenities or us geeks - flat panel TV, cable TV, and easy to access wireless internet. How many times have we been somewhere where it takes a rocket scientist to figure out how to connect to the internet. Not here! There was also stuff at the condo for us to enjoy the beach: beach towels, boogie boards, snorkeling gear, beach chairs. There is also a community pool (infinity) close to the condo overlooking the golf course, jacuzzi, several BBQ grills for our use. It was so convenient to grill steaks and hamburgers in the evening instead of eating out in the restaurants every night. We got to meet a lot of really nice people there too! It is about a five-minute walk to a nice sandy beach near the condo, and along the way there is the Lava Lava Beach Club - open to the public. If you are not careful - too many Mai Tais! The condo is also a short drive to several nice sandy beaches with lots of parking - Mauna Lani, Mauna Kea, Hapuna. The snorkeling was crazy! The sand is white and the water is clear. The sunset at Mauna Kea is ..... WOW! I HIGHLY recommend Hula Girl Vacation Rentals!

Loved the surf, the surfers, the turtles and the Dolphins that we saw morning and evenings from the…read morewonderful lanai. Everything that you need is provided in this wonderful condominium plus, did I mention... the sunsets! The owners were responsive and easy to work with. The pool and grounds were well cared for plus the barbecues. We really enjoyed the pool area when taking a break from the snorkeling in the area. This condo is close to everything but not in the busiest part of the tourist area which was perfect. The ocean is 20 feet from the lanai plus the floor to ceiling wall of windows meant that you always had a view whether you were in the kitchen living room, dining room, or master bedroom.. The beds and sheets were extremely comfortable. Had a wonderful trip and we will definitely be coming back, hopefully to this beautiful condo. Mahalo Candace

We felt very comfortable at the Lako House. After staying at a few other homes in the Kona area for…read morea couple weeks, we saved the best house for last / and had a blast swimming in the pool, and enjoying the incredible views from the lanai.

Wow! What a perfect setting for a large family gathering for a very special occasion! We…read moredeparted Lako House a week ago this morning and seeing the VRBO photo makes me want to be right back there. The house is a nearly-perfect arrangement for a large family. There were twelve of us ~ eight adults and four "tweens". The very large kitchen is well-equipped with every conceivable appliance, pot and pan, dish and glass that could be needed. The two outdoor barbecues make cooking outdoors convenient. The lanai tables and chairs, which rest on a deck above the pool, make for superb ocean vistas when eating meals outdoors. The swimming pool and hot tub are very well cared for. Eating indoors in the dining room, there are seats for 13, when including stools on the dining room side of the open kitchen. The living room area and entryway are most spacious. The setting is positively beautiful and unique for a home in a residential neighborhood, in that it is entirely private, with absolutely nothing obstructing the 180-degree magnificent views of the ocean. It is beautifully landscaped. We used Ohana, also, so that each of our families-within-the-larger-family could have their own bedroom. Bill is a most cooperative owner who made accommodations to our special requests. The only small liability of the property is the lack of an attached bathroom to the second-largest bedroom. The occupants of that bedroom need to step across the hall to a lovely powder room with toilet and basin, or step around the corner into the laundry room to use that basin and shower. Then there's always the extra bathroom within the master suite (which contains two very large bathrooms), that can be put to use for those second-bedroom guests, too. So, it's doable, just a bit inconvenient. This property is extremely well-maintained, and expertly-equipped. Prospective guests need have not a single worry about renting it!

Such a great place to stay for our vacation! We felt so at home, relaxed & comfortable!! Loved the…read morepool, the views, easy access to food & stores. Everything about Kona Reef was amazing! Will be back!!

The stay the sound of the ocean the pool was awesome along with the hot tub. The facility is nice…read moreand clean easy access to all the shops and restaurants perfect spot.

Definitely find this place during the day, it's up a steep hill and the signage isn't big or highly…read morelit. It's up a steep hill that's one car lane wide but for both ways. There was coffee cake for afternoon tea when I got there. The porch is the best part of this place. It overlooks the mountain with a great view of the water and forests below. Breakfast was nice since it came with avocado, cut papaya, a piece of breakfast cake and smoothie as well as tea/coffee. I did like meeting the geckos that look like the GEICO gecko during breakfast who were wanting fruit. Cons: there's no AC. Also I was woken up by I think a rooster at 5 am. They do try to space out people getting breakfast so you can't rush in at 730 am for food.

From personal experience, I highly advise coming when it's still day outside. Trust me on this one…read more I drove up and down Napoopoo Rd due to a delayed flight and was close to having a full on panic attack. Roads are severely dark that you cannot differentiate between driving/reversing onto road or out to sea *yikes*. Once you finally arrive at your destination, keep on driving up the hill until you reach the end. Don't forget, it is crazy dark outside, don't be alarmed by the sounds of nature. You'll park to the side next to the other 4 cars by the garage (not into it) and quietly find directions on a pin with your name on it. Come quietly inside as you make your way to the room. If you survive the night (which, you will), you'll find yourself on what looks like heaven; beautiful oceanview windows overlooking the bay. When you come down, you'll be greeted by the sweetest angel, Hannah. You'll find her in the kitchen in the morning making an all you can eat breakfast. Don't be rude! Say hello, grab a coffee, make your way to the patio and find a table. Hannah will let you know when all is ready based on first-out on the patio. When asked what was my favorite meal in Hawaii, hands down, I say Hannah's breakfast. She made delicious Banana Nut Waffles topped with macadamia nuts tossed in coconut oil and syrup. In addition, she's boiled eggs, cooked turkey bacon, and has sliced up fresh tropical fruits. Don't forget to try her freshly made smoothies made with guava YUMMMM!!!

We stayed here when Lala showed up. The other side of the big island got hammered. Not us. This…read morebuilding is built tough. The walls are concrete. It's impossible to hear your neighbors. You can however hear someone above you but not next to you. We had no worries at all. Our electricity didn't even flicker 1 time. I will say that the "air conditioner" wasn't working at all. They shut it off our second day there and "repaired" the system. From that day on it never worked. The best it did was 77f. when it was 81f. outside. 4 degrees difference isn't working, it's barely considered operational. Then there was the night not 1 but 2 Hawaiian Cockroaches fell out of the non working Air Conditioning Vent for the living room. I closed the vent so more didn't find their way out. Where there is 1, there are thousands hiding. Oh and Lala rained on us in Kona big time. I get it. It took me 2 days to figure out the water in the hallway wasn't from us drinking or coming in from swimming, it was the air conditioner intake filter leaking. I'm positive because it splashed me in the face when I finally figured it out, standing underneath, looking directly up at it. It was funny at the time. The cockroaches can't be helped. I'm from am old city. I worked in a restaurant that had to spray ever 3 weeks because of how tenacious they can be. The hotel was also scheduled for pest control within the month. Now the good part. Secure parking lot. There is an overflow area but we never had a problem finding parking in the same spot all week. The courtyard is beautiful. 2 pools. 1 us a heated saltwater pool next to the ocean. The other is a regular pool surrounded by a beautiful plant landscape The are plenty of places just a short drive away. Lots of great restaurants and shops. We loved it here and plan on coming back next year but fir two weeks. Did we complain about the air conditioning yes. Did we sit on the deck ever day drinking coffee or having dinner, also yes.

#304 Amazing beautiful one bedroom, renovated condo. Thought…read moreof everything you could possibly need for a 7 day getaway the views wereincredible peaceful. Neighbors are very friendly, beautiful picnic area pools were amazing. Too

Office staff, housekeeping personnel are all fantastic! Clean, comfortable, loved having a full…read morekitchen, bbq, ping ping, and no car needed since you can walk to anything you. Free trolley gets ypu to great beaches !!

We've been timeshare owners since 1997, and we rarely stay in our home resort because we love to…read moretravel and explore other places. We recently stayed at the Billfisher in Kona. If you trade and stay with timeshare, you kinda know what to expect and (hopefully) you go into your accommodations with normal expectations (i.e. you don't expect every unit to look like the Four-Seasons or the Omni), so when we booked at the Billfisher I just assumed it would be the normal timeshare stuff like uncomfortable bed, AC that didn't work well, etc. Here's what we found: The good stuff: AC worked incredibly well- we were so surprised that we could turn it on and cold air came out, and the fan ran through the evening (instead of turning off all the time). Well-Stocked - the unit was well-stocked, even had beach chairs and other gear. Location - could not have been better for a condo unit of this age, it was .25 mile to a beautiful little beach to sit under trees and watch the waves or get in a little bit to cool off (Kona is ALWAYS HOT). Right across the street from the Royal Kona hotel which has a great restaurant and bar (and you can book at Luau there), along with Hugo's and On the Rocks only steps away. You're 1m walking to the Pier area of Kona-town, with shops and restaurants and bars. Literally located on the main road directly across from the ocean in town. Location just couldn't get any better! Size - for a 1 BR unit, it was very roomy. The feature to open the sliding wall between bedroom and LR was so nice, it made the unit feel really huge. Laundry - they do towel exchange a couple times a week, super easy process. They also have a small laundromat to wash our clothes...$2.00 wash/$2.00dry FYI. Pool - really nice pool-deck area, and a big pool that was heated I think? or cooled, I dunno but it was refreshing. Perfect temp! Lanai/patio - our unit was 1st floor and we had a HUGE outdoor patio/lanai area with table and chaise lounger...we did spend time out there even though Kona is always so stinkin' hot ;) Bed - So, for context, I travel for work, alot, and I'm always sleeping in hotel beds but there's no bed like your own (right?!), but I gotta say, I slept so good in the bed here. It was comfy, not too firm and not too soft (just like Goldilock's Bear bed) and didn't have the huge dips from people wearing it out. This was probably my fav feature of our time here...that I slept well. The other stuff: Slightly Tired furnishings and fixtures. So, it's a condo built probably 70 years ago? It's been updated with modern amenities but everything is still a bit tired. Not unnaturally tired, but a bit. Of note - I did hear them share that they are starting to work through the units and remodel them, so in the future this issue will be gone. No specific complaints, just the normal stuff like furniture that guests have beat up, old fridge and stove, etc. Everything worked like it should, just shows a little bit of age. That's it! Really zero complaints at all. We didn't have any issues that required a call to the office, but the staff is wonderful to text/check in regularly and was available for questions if they came up. We will definitely stay here again as the opportunity affords itself.

I picked Dragonfly Ranch because Brian Wilson stayed here for inspiration, and I knew why the first…read morenight there. I could hear every musical animal and raindrop in the forest in surround sound. I have misphonia, like Wilson did, which can make day to day sounds unbearable but the orchestra of nature and music phantasmic. I stayed with my two little girls, husband and life long friend. We were all cozy in the Writer's Studio. Barbara and Phoenix were my two favorite people I met on the island. Typically I avoid people in the morning. After the first morning, I looked forward to seeing them with my cup of coffee. In fact, I kept my ear out for them with love and curiosity. Breakfast was great with our morning visits from the green anole. In the shower, hot water came after the suggested four minute waiting period and my daughters and I all showered in succession with no break of warmth. We played chess and read tarot cards. We cuddled with their animals and watched the exotic birds dance in the trees. I didn't want to be around the rich, resort crowd. In fact, I loathe them. I wanted to be in the jungle, sleeping in my clothes, relaxing in my den. There is a place I love in Joshua Tree called Hicksville I faithfully visit any chance I get. I feel the same way about Dragonfly Ranch.

This place is a favorite place for everyone in my family--the environment is so unique, beautiful,…read moreand peaceful! Barbara and her team are lovely to be around and make you feel like you are a part of their community for a few days, rather than just "guests." The amenities are wonderful, the beds super comfortable, and the atmosphere is one of pure peace and belonging. Add to that the beautiful symphony of singing frogs, wind chimes, and rainforest sounds and it is about as perfect as you can imagine. We loved having access to the outdoor communal kitchen--with all the amenities that a great cook could want, and it was a welcome treat to enter the new year with a centering walk around the illuminarium maze, letting go of the things that have stopped serving us and embracing our intentions for the year to come. I can't recommend this enough as an out-of-the-ordinary Big Island experience.

Owners are so friendly and accommodating! Place is so clean, beautiful and comfortable! We checked…read morein early in the morning and didn't wanna leave! Spent our first day hanging out and enjoying the view! They think of everything here! Highly recommended!

Stayed here while we were on the big island. Great place, great rates, great views. Nice change…read morefrom staying in a hotel but similar cost. Close enough to everything to not be an inconvenience but out of the touristy downtown lodging area. Randy and Atzumi the owners are very nice and will never bother you unless you want them to. Super clean. If you rent the home and the cottage you could sleep up to 10. Hot tub and infinity pool to boot. On a little plot of coffee land . The Kona snow as they call the coffee flowers were in full swing while we sat on the lanai such a amazing smell. Took home a couple of bags for $10 each. A little gem we would return to again.