Kona House Condo, Big Island, Hawaii
If the Big Island is on your travel list and you are looking for a great place to stay at in Kona… boy, do we have a place for you!
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While searching on Airbnb we found Kona House, an adorable two bedroom/two bathroom condo that surpassed our expectations upon arrival. With gorgeous views of the Pacific Ocean, tropical fruit trees in the yard and a vibrant fish tank in the living room, this condo certainly made us feel like we were living the island life.
The condo is close to swimming beaches, grocery stores, shops, restaurants, and farmers markets. Kona House is located about 15 minutes from Ellison Onizuka Kona International Airport.
Our check-in was easy, which was great after such a long journey from home! The condo was very clean and well thought out. We arrived at night and found the condo well lit with lights left on for us. There were maps and brochures to help us get to know the area too. The condo has a washer and dryer, which is huge for us because it means we can pack less on vacation to save on airport fees and avoid the hassle of dragging around heavy luggage (I packed our family of four into one suitcase for this trip!!!).
We stayed at Kona House during the month of December (2018) and the owners even had a Christmas tree set up (watch for it in the video tour, below), as well as festive touches throughout. How thoughtful!
Overall, the condo had a very welcoming feeling. It actually felt more like we were visiting a friend than staying in a rental.
The open floor plan felt spacious and was great for our family of four. Our kids loved the fish tank and the neighbor’s cat who came to visit out on the porch.
The owners left a bowl of fresh citrus fruits as well as coffee supplies, which was a huge help come breakfast.
The kitchen was stocked with dinnerware, silverware, serving platters, drinking glasses and grilling accessories. We enjoyed grilling out a lot!
The master bedroom was very comfortable. There was a large wall closet with plenty of room to unpack and store our luggage. At night, the ocean breezes swept through the windows and cooled the condo nicely. I enjoyed hearing the tropical birds in the morning.
The master bathroom is bright, updated and was very clean. When we stayed there was shampoo and soaps left for us to use.
Don’t forget to check out our list of Over 50 Amazing Resources for Kids, All About Hawai’i!
The second bedroom overlooks the back patio. It has a large closet and a bookcase waiting with Hawaii travel guides to help you plan any last minute vacation details.
The hallway bathroom was also very clean when we stayed and the shower is huge. There was a hairdryer in the drawer also, which was a nice surprise.
Grilling on the back patio was fun and relaxing. The deck overlooks the backyard which is shaded by an enormous avocado tree. Stored outside, we found snorkel gear, an umbrella, body boards, and portable chairs for us to enjoy at one of the many nearby beaches. Beach towels were also provided.
By chance, the day we checked-out, I ran into the owner while she was outside grabbing cleaning bins to restock. Right away, I was impressed she was this involved with her rental. It now made sense as to why nothing seemed overlooked… I assume she is routinely present to make sure her condo provides a great experience for her guests.
During our conversation she was very pleasant and offered her favorite options for sightseeing on the island. She told me where we could see cliff jumpers (which we did) and a little about the green sand beach. Throughout our stay, she was helpful and responsive to any questions we had (even while traveling herself!) and made communication easy.
We really enjoyed our stay at Kona House and plan on booking again when visiting the Big Island! We appreciate all of the hard work and effort the owners put forth to make our family’s experience a remarkable one.
Read about our other Hawaiian adventures:
Big Island
- Hawaii Forest and Trail: Hilo Tropical Waterfalls Tour
- Giving Back on Vacation: Hawai’i Wildlife Center
- One Aloha Shave Ice (organic)
- Meet the Artist; Mattie Mae Larson of Upcycle Hawaii (Big Island, plastic pollution, marine debris, unique wearable art.)
- Upcycle Hawaii ~ A Peek Inside their Studio
- A Visit with Upcycle Hawaii to One of the Most Plastic Polluted Beaches in the World
Maui
- Volunteering at O’o Organic Farm
- Maui Ocean Center, Aquarium
- Stargazing at Haleakala National Park
- Best Snorkeling in Maui ~ Molokini & Turtle Arches Snorkel Cruise with Pacific Whale Foundation
- The Best Luau in Maui ~ The ‘Aha’aina Wailea Luau, at Grand Wailea Resort
- Maui Humane Society, Beach Buddies Program ~ Volunteer on Vacation
Be sure to check out our Top 30 Gift Ideas for Travelers. It is full of unique ideas to give to those in your life who love to travel… or to add to your own personal carry-on. We’ve even included the one item we won’t go to Disney without, it might surprise you!
48 Comments
Pam
It’s so nice to know that opinion of people I trust. This looks like a great AIR BNB. Thanks!
Charlene
Aw, thank you Pam! This Airbnb is one we hope to stay at again for sure.
Tanya
I love staying at AirBnBs and have always had great experiences. This one sounds divine! I’ve never been to Hawaii, but it’s on my travel bucket list!
Charlene
We hope you get to check Hawaii off your bucket list soon Tanya. We enjoy using Airbnb also.
Shirley
Oh my, I need to book a trip to the Big Island! This cute condo looks perfect for family travel and it looks like the owners really care about the guest experience.
Charlene
The owners were great Shirley and the condo was a great fit for our family. It was so close to everything. We hope you get to visit the Big Island too!
Pamela
This looks like the perfect place to stay! Thanks for sharing.
Charlene
Thank you Pamela…we are happy to share! It was indeed a wonderful place to stay and we hope to visit again in the future.
Jen
This looks like it was a great place to stay! Great photo tour!
Charlene
Thank you Jen! We really enjoyed our stay at Kona House condo.
Caroline Demaree Whitmire
This looks great! I’ll definitely look into it when we get to Hawaii on our “go” list. Thanks for sharing!
Charlene
We’re happy to share good finds, Caroline. Hope Hawaii is on your “go” list soon!
Lara
I’ve had some bad experiences with AirBnBs in the past, so it is very nice to have a great recommendations like this. Thank you!
Charlene
We’re sorry to hear that Lara. I just recently started using Airbnb and so far so good. This condo was great!
Julie Gazdecki
I do like resorts, but vacationing, and living like the locals I feel is so much more adventurous and meaningful. What a beautiful place!!
Charlene
We agree Julie, although we like resorts, we love staying in a more local atmosphere when travelling. We enjoy getting to know places better that way.
Tricia Snow
This looks amazing! Thank you for the tip!
Charlene
Thank you Tricia and no problem! We love to share good finds!
Ivy | livin the life of ivy
This place looks stunning and perfect. I’ve never considered staying at an Air BnB, but after reading this, I would love to experience it on my next vacation.
Charlene
Thank you Ivy, we had a great time at this condo. If you ever book with Airbnb, let us know how it goes!
Mattie Mae Larson
I really hope to see you when you come back!
Charlene
Thanks Mattie Mae! I sure hope we get to see you too. Maybe a beach clean-up at Kamilo Point will be in our future together. LOVE what you are doing at http://www.upcyclehi.com ! It is inspiring to see your efforts to clean up our oceans and repurpose “trash”. Can’t wait to feature your bag that I purchased in Hilo, as a giveaway item, in the coming weeks on our blog. I’m looing forward to telling everyone about the work you do and to help raise awareness about how we can all help protect our oceans.
Missy
We love staying at a home/condo. We look for ones that are close to the airport and food stores, just like this one.
Charlene
For sure Missy, being close to the airport and grocery stores is always nice, especially after a tiring journey. Yay for vacations!
Kristin
Wow! Looks like an amazing trip and place to stay. I really never think of Airbnb, but now I will! Thanks!
Charlene
We are pretty new to Airbnb too and were quite pleased with this condo. It was just so clean! Well decorated too and very beachy.
Heather
I’d love to stay here! We had very good experiences with Airbnb in Paris, Rome, Dublin and New Hampshire.
Charlene
Heather, your travels sound incredible! I really want to see Rome (and nearby Pompeii ruins) and Trisha has been dreaming of Paris for a while now. I would’ve never thought to look for an Airbnb overseas. Great idea!
Arianny Rodriguez
Wow this looks fantastic. And not a bad price from what I see!
Charlene
Thanks Arianny! The condo price was reasonable and definitely worth it for us. We are glad to have found it!
kat arriagaa
Wow, I can’t believe the price. That’s such an awesome find!
Charlene
We were thrilled to find it! Hoping to go back again for a visit.
Gail
It looks so peaceful there! I’d love to go back to Hawaii soon!
Charlene
The condo made for a such relaxing stay. We hope you get to go back to Hawaii soon, Gail!
Michele
This house is so charming! Hawaii is on my bucket list so I pinned this so I can remember where to stay!
Charlene
Michele, we hope you get to check Hawaii off your bucket list soon! We’d love to know how your visit goes if you stay in this condo. Happy travels!
Janine
I’m not sure I would ever leave! That place looks amazing.
Charlene
Janine, we were very sad to go. Truly a great Airbnb experience!
Tracy @ Cleland Clan
I’d love to stay that this condo. It looks perfect! Maybe someday…
Charlene
Tracy, I hope your Hawaiian vacation dreams come true. Never in my wildest would I have imagined we would find ourselves there.
Jenn and the Traveling Hat
This looks like a nice cozy place on the water, it sounds great! Thanks for the tip!
Charlene
Sure thing Jenn! It was very nice being able to see the ocean from the condo.
Jordin
I LOVE Airbnb! I have had nothing but good experiences. This is a lovely property and after your review, I would definitely be booking!
Charlene
So glad to hear you’ve had good luck with Airbnb, Jordin. I’m pretty new to Airbnb…the experience with this condo was just great! Happy travels!
T.M. Brown
Oh, my goodness! This place looks fabulous! Hawaii has been on my bucket list for ages – Lord willing, I’ll cross it off one day. Thanks for sharing. This place in particular is going on my research list.
Charlene
We sure hope you get to cross Hawaii off your bucket list soon! This condo was so beachy and clean. Best wishes on your travel dreams!
Linda Patston
Looks absolutely beautiful! I hope to get there someday and I would definitely check this condo out🤙
Charlene
Thank you Linda. We hope you get to visit Hawaii someday too. Happy travels!