The perfect welcome to the Big Island. Boutique-ish and cozy right on the ocean. Went to sleep…read morewith waves crashing feet away from ground floor lanai, woke to a whale breaching just off shore. Nice little swimming pool and patio area. Close to markets. Free parking. Loved it!

Amazing view and you can't beat the peace at this place! Ita very relaxed and management is great!…read moreSuper accommodating and nice. Will 100% come again.

This place is Kona Hawaii Guesthouse a Unique Hawaii Experience on the map and if you want a unique…read moreexperience, this is a unique experience. And if you are clutter blind - this place is for you. The host started to text me the day before check in to schedule check in time, according to the policy list check in time was 6:30 by appointment, so I adhered to this policy. We only meet with the host when we checked us in so he could get my credit card information on his phone for the cleaning deposit which is a payment not a deposit and for the payment for administrative fee (I didn't ask what the fee was for). The details of the access method is correct - host will meet you. And We checked out before 11 am. There were some reviews I read about the property was trashed up but it wasn't trash is was clutter every where. We were "upgraded" to the second floor room. We told him that were celebrating our anniversary. The stairs to the upper lever, were narrow and every step you had to take there was some sort of Knick knack on it which is made some what unsafe of you weren't looking down when you were taking the steps. The pictures on the website https://konahawaiiguesthouse.com/ do not represent the property as of today. The balconies are full of storage and furniture. Also a lot of Dirty/Clean dishes, not sure because they never moved and the dish detergent was nasty. Just stuff everywhere. The Host let us know there was a toaster oven, hot plate and a refrigerator available for use. Honest truth - we were afraid to use the toast oven and hot plate since they were located weirdly and outside. We were given directions on how to lock and unlock the doors to the unit. We used the refrigerator which was located outside on the balcony for some soft drinks and water, it wasn't cleanest but we still used it. On our last day, I am not sure if it was a family member or another resident but they used the refrigerator to store the uneaten and open can of cat food which made the refrigerator stink like bad fish. I did inform the host and he immediately removed the food. I wasn't sure of the thought process on that. Maybe because I liked cats. I wasn't offered any food or drink by the host which is listed in the property amenities. Host should remove the Food and Drink option if it is no longer offered. Parking was available for us but in between vehicle that is made it very narrow to park. He gave a tour of the room. The room had its own private bathroom, the host did supply some beach towels with some hand towels. The bathroom did attract small ants and flying bug so the bathroom did have a Zevo Flying Insect Trap to capture the bug but the sink had small ants walking through it. Not to mention, there was couple of daddy long legs living under the mirror shelf. I had to keep all my sundries off the counter. The bath tub wasn't very clean - there was a film on the tub. The hot water is kept at a high of 140 degree since the host mentioned that he has guests from Alaska that visit that requires a higher temp. The room had a smart TV was great - it was new. I spent most of the first day removing the captions and fixing the sound. Sorry Host, I didn't like the captions. I realized the reason for the captions is because of all the fans you need to run to get the air flows to cool the place down. The windows are only screened so you get the hear all the birds through out the night. I wasn't able to connect to the Wifi - the host gave two different passwords to use and neither of them worked. We spent the first day relaxing in the room - only one interaction with the host and felt like he was running away. Oh well, maybe he was respecting our privacy, who knows. Day two and three - no sight of the host, just text late in the day on our last day to tell us about activities that are happening the day we leave. He also sent emails that were templated from the website letting us know he has had returning visitors to his guest house. Maybe they knew him before all the clutter was there and don't see it. He also sent an email to let us know what we need to do before we leave. We basically left the room like we never stayed there. Sorry Johnny - we won't be coming back to your guest house. And we are not going recommend it. Your place is embarrassing and a let down. I tried to have a open mind but the clutter got in the way. I wish I took pictures but didn't want to see the property again in the condition it was in. BTW - if you were on AirBNB/VirBo this property won't be acceptable to their standards. And you won't be a super host.

This is the worst guesthouse and owner I've ever had!…read more Inside of room was smelling of mold, a lots of mold on cutting board, cockroaches, mosquitoes, ants......... Also, towel and bed were smeling of mold, too. A lot of mold on shower curtain and carpet, too. I really really could became sickness.. I paid cleaning fee（$118.86？). I thought for hygiene, but it wasn't...! He can buy new cutting board, carpet and shower curtain by cleaning fee！！！！！！！Why he didn't buy new one...! The owner always ask me to write good review, why he could ask me that..... He gave me fruits, but already spoiled and there were many insects....Why he could give me these fruits？ Also, he was not helpful and always excuse... I carried my heavy laggege on mudy path. Please don't belive his word. I shouldn't trust him.

What a treat! We left about 3/4 weeks ago and miss Honu Kai so much already!!!!…read more If you are looking to really experience the island like a local instead of just staying at a hotel, I highly recommend honu Kai, especially if you love nature. Honu Kai provides a unique yet comfortable stay. This was my first time at a b&b so I had a lot of questions. Months prior to booking, I called and texted Amy with my questions, and she always got back to me quickly. Location was great because target is only 10 min away if you need to stock up on the essentials. Lots of amazing restaurants are within 15 minutes as well. The property is so beautiful and well maintained. It truly felt like a second home. It has a peaceful and zen feeling that is extra magical at night due to the coquis. Our bed was so comfortable and our room was cleaned everyday. The fresh breakfast everyday with coffee and juice was excellent as well. The fruit was always fresh and sweet! I'm someone who appreciates quiet mornings alone so I was unsure about having breakfast with other people, but I'm so glad we did it. It's a really amazing and unique experience to sit and eat with people from all over the world! I truly miss sitting on the porch watching the birds and chickens on the lawn. What really made our experience special was Amy. She is so friendly, personable, and just a genuinely kind soul! Absolutely loved her! Our time here wouldn't have been the same without her. She truly goes above and beyond and really cares. 100000% recommend Honu Kai. We will definitely be back!

I originally had a night reserved here before flying out from Kona to Maui but after the Lahaina…read morefire, had to pivot, cancel the Maui portion and tried to extend our Kona stay. Unfortunately, with less than a month to go and only 4 rooms total was not able to get extra nights here. The one night we did have here was exactly like how I imagine old Hawai`i would look like. Just a short drive to downtown Kona for food and even Costco but far enough that you feel like you can disconnect. With so much shared public area and again only 4 rooms, nothing ever felt crowded. You had access to an outdoor dining area, gardens, sundeck, grill, plates, utensils, your own shelf in the fridge and even snorkel and beach gear. The only issue I had was when I used the hot tub, my eyes started stinging so not sure if it was overly chlorinated so only lasted less than 5 minutes as I kept tearing up. The rooms were comfortable, very thought out and has such nice little touches that make you feel at home. Only thing to note is since they are in such a tropical setting, they do not want you eating in your room to avoid ant infestations, etc.. Again, no big deal as they have a spacious dining area right downstairs that we had all to ourselves when we wanted to eat or snack. Innkeeper Amy was friendly, welcoming, and made sure we were taken care of. The breakfast in the morning was better than what you can get at a restaurant and the ambiance just cannot be beat. The sound of the rain while we ate our takeout dinner was so soothing and relaxing and the sound of the birds on a sunny morning paired well with that breakfast. We honestly didn't want to leave that we lingered after check out enjoying our lunch at their public area. I honestly could not ask for anything more.

From the beginning of our stay to the very end, everything was amazing about staying here. Dean…read moreand Sherri, the owners, are very warm and kind as well as professional and communicative. The space they have created reflects this warmth so it feels as if you're staying with friends. I was initially concerned about staying somewhere that seemed to be on a main street, and that it had only screens and shutters instead of glass windows, but the street is quiet and peaceful and the room was never uncomfortably warm. Even the bed was as comfortable as the one we sleep on at home. The house was constructed in 2007 and everything is new: the tasteful decor, the linens, the fixtures, the appliances, etc. so everything feels and looks very clean and inviting. As far as the proximity to Kona town, you cannot get any better. In five minutes, we could be strolling along Ali'i Drive right next to the ocean and all the restaurants or picking up our fresh fruit at the Farmer's Market. Basically, I loved the owners, loved their family, loved the location, loved the price....loved everything! Honestly, I almost selfishly didn't want to write a review since I want to be able to book a room here for our next vacation, too! Since a completely glowing review would make this seem ingenuine, here are the slight negatives: Birds can hasten your morning wake-up if you're a light sleeper, the water pressure in the shower could be a bit better, and you'll eventually have to leave, which is sad.

May, 2014 Kona Hula Girl is the kind of place you HOPE you will find when traveling. It far…read moreexceeded my requirements for this trip to Kailua Kona - new construction, (no bugs) quiet, convenient, private,comfortable, well-equipped, safe (for one traveling alone), perfect garden setting, cozy, a place like home, not a hotel or motel. Walking through the door I knew immediately it was exactly what I wanted. Dean and Sherri, the owners who live on site, were always ready to assist with anything I might have needed but in fact, I needed nothing the 8 days I stayed in the Tiki room. Because it is not located on the main street of Kona it is quiet and relaxing; however walking to town was a cinch....even at 72! I did not want a car so walking distances were important to me to access restaurants, beaches, shops, . the public market and the super market. I loved that there were no windows, only screens and shutters. I awoke each morning to the birds, the breezes, and the sweet Kona fragrances. In the evening I enjoyed the sunset over the ocean. Other than by counting cars in the driveway, you would never know other guests were there. Kona Hula Girl is perfect in every way for the visitor. In all my years of traveling, this is the first time I've ever been able to say that! You will love it there!

With 50+ 5 star reviews this property was not what we expected. We were warmly greeted and shown…read morearound the property by Anne. We were surprised that she and her dog lived in the garage converted to living space under the rental property. That was not mentioned in the property review. With 6 children we were hoping not to tip toe above someone. Kids are kids. They tend to walk, talk and play louder than we would like them to. But we are always respectful of other peoples things. We were also surprised how things were extremely NOT maintained. Our kids were so excited about the pool but it was falling apart. The turtles leg was broken and the rocks/tiles around it were falling off. We didn't mind that it was a salt water pool but it was so dirty that our kids didn't want to swim in it. The bottom of the pool was coated with a slimey substance to the touch. There was plenty of beach equipment and pool toys but they were hidden under piles of dead leaves and dirt. The landscaping just really needed to be cleaned up and the pool needed to be professionally cleaned and fixed for safety reasons. The inside of the house had plenty of space and a well stocked kitchen but again it was falling apart and covered in gecko feces and termite droppings. The face of the fridge near the water dispenserory was rusted excessively. The whole front part of the double oven was missing exposing sharp edges creating a safety concern. The cabinet doors under the sink were missing and replaced with stapled on dish towels, and filled with pesticides! I had to completely clean the cabinet out and relocate all of the pesticides so my kids wouldn't get into it. I live on Maui so I'm used to the geckos but this was disgusting. I paid a cleaning fee and I'm sure the people before me paid a cleaning fee. Gecko feces were everywhere. On the counter-tops, walls, ceilings, all over the toaster, on most of the utensils and even on our pillows. Again things just needed to be maintained. We couldn't use the breakfast nook because of the termites and there droppings made it unsanitary. Since we have small children and need them contained so they don't escape by the pool or go down stairs to the road or enter Anne's living quarters we needed to keep the doors closed. This made the house unbearably hot. She did have fans and the windows open but it was 88+ in the house during the day. Our young children couldn't nap because of the heat. Needless to say after a complaint by Ann that children were being too loud, the house was uncomfortably hot and dirty and most importantly unsafe, we needed to leave. We notified Anne via text. Below is her response: "Sorry home is not advertised as having AC . Pool was sparkling clean when I showed you around. You are welcome to leave. I will put home back on market as soon as it gets cleaned. If it rents again on such short notice, I will be happy to refund you the days that it rents for". Our main reason of leaving was the safety hazards on behalf of our children. We believe pictures and video of the property will tell the tale. I'm afraid most of her reviews were fraudulent or posted during a time the property was in good condition. It appeared the property was in the middle of a remodel where base and casing was missing, walls scarred from construction, tiles missing, drywall and building materials leaning up against the home. Railing and lattice missing from master deck which is clearly a building code violation. We own properties that we rent on VRBO. We also travel and use VRBO. This has been the absolute worst experience we have ever encountered in our travels.

We had a great time on the Hawaii Forest & Trail Secret Waterfalls of Kona Excursion! Our guide,…read moreMark, was incredible--he kept everyone talking and he was genuinely interested in hearing everyone's travel stories. He was very knowledgeable and provided us with a wealth of fascinating information about the island. After a comfortable van ride, we hiked a beautiful trail that led us to a series of truly stunning, pristine waterfalls. We were treated to a delicious lunch from a local deli, and we loved that it was served in eco-friendly, completely reusable containers. On the way back, we made a perfect final stop at a local macadamia nut store. It was a fantastic experience from start to finish, and we recommend it!

We went on an almost 100% full (flower) moon. It was special to see the terminator line on the…read moreCelestron telescope - it had such great definition! The color of Mauna Kea with the moon shining on it was so magical all around us. There were some clouds that cleared pretty well by the end of our star gazing. We were the last ones up there so it got dark enough to see more than you'd expect with the moon. Jeff, our awesome tour guide, used a laser pointer to help us see the constellations we usually can't back at home. The images on the digital telescope like nebulas, the moon & star clusters were an amazing addition to have as keepsakes. My husband and I felt he made the tour a great balance of learning and fun. He had the group feeling like family before we even left from the pickup lot. Things to consider: I do recommend following the moons cycles booking this tour/your trip if this is especially important for you to see as many stars as possible. The sunset and views of the observatory's make it awesome anyways :) I struggled with altitude sickness around 12,000 ft. Jeff had made sure to let us know beforehand if we experienced any issues to speak up. I was hesitant as I know it would mean turning the whole tour around, but some tingling turned to dizziness and then a brief fainting. He immediately stopped the bus and helped ground me and make sure I was completely okay & coherent before letting me know our options for the tour. We made it up to the top with 2 more (included in tour) stops and I felt better with each one having more time to acclimate :) Thank you Jeff!! You handled this so professionally and I appreciate your check-ins for the rest of the trip. It's cold even with parka and gloves. It's so worth packing warm shoes and layers. The bus had ac and heat so that was great! Do it if you can! Awe-inspiring! Such an unreal environment that makes you wonder about so many things. Just take the precautions seriously, move slow and breathe deep.