The following executive summary is based on a comprehensive and impartial AI analysis of guest reviews. Keep in mind that all units are individually owned, and review scores among units can vary considerably.
Guests overwhelmingly describe Wai‘ula‘ula as a serene, upscale home base with space to spread out and unwind. Condos and villas are spotless, beautifully furnished, and designed for indoor–outdoor living: wide lanais for sunsets, sliding walls that open to breezes, and many units with private plunge pools, hot tubs, and even outdoor showers. Kitchens are a standout theme—frequently called the best-equipped guests have seen—making cooking and entertaining easy. Layouts with multiple suites and ensuite baths are ideal for families, multi‑generational trips, or couples traveling together, and hosts/property managers earn consistent praise for fast, friendly communication. Many reviewers are repeat visitors.
Location is a quiet hillside above two of the island’s best beaches at Mauna Kea and Hapuna. Most guests recommend purchasing the optional resort amenity package for convenient parking, beach chairs and towels, pools, golf/tennis/pickleball, kids’ activities, and charging privileges at both hotels; others are happy with the community’s own infinity pool, hot tub, and gym and the ample beach gear provided. It’s an easy base for Kohala Coast beaches, golf, Waimea, and day trips, with frequent shout‑outs to whale watching in season, mountain breezes, grazing goats on the hills, and nightly postcard sunsets.
A few practical notes: you’ll need a car, as beaches and restaurants aren’t walkable and Kona town is a drive away; groceries are a short drive too. The resort pass is an added cost (policies sometimes require it for the full stay), but many feel it’s worth it for hassle‑free beach days—without it, public beach parking can fill early. Private pools tend to be smaller plunge pools (heating and spa controls vary and may carry extra fees), and a handful of homes closer to the highway report some daytime road noise. Occasional maintenance hiccups (AC, grills, spa controls, pool cleaning) do pop up, but are typically handled quickly by responsive managers. Overall sentiment is strongly positive, with guests frequently saying they’d return.
This summary is based on a comprehensive analysis of 613 reviews
We love this place. It is clean, spacious and Lorena is very responsive.
Chris H.
June 2025
We came here for a family trip to celebrate some birthdays. Donna was wonderful and very responsive. The property was beautiful and had a great range of beach accessories in the garage. The view was stunning and we did not want to leave! Everything was in great working order and well stocked. We opted for resort access to Westin and Mauna Kea which was well worth it.
Krista J.
June 2025
We love staying at this condo. It gives our family plenty of space and has everything we need. After spending a day at the beach we love coming back to the condo to relax and get some rest. Thank you for another great stay and we look forward to coming back!
Angela H.
June 2025
Beautiful place, great for families. Kitchen well stocked, only shortcoming was no sheet pans. Lots of oils and spices. More than enough TP, paper towels and laundry detergent. Amazing sunsets. You can stay here and pay for resort access for around the same price as a room at the Hapuna and cheaper than Mauna Kea. Management was very responsive.
Joseph P K.
June 2025
We absolutely love Wai’ula’ula. This unit is perfect for our family of 8 with plenty of room for all. Well stocked with everything we need. Easy seamless and timely communication with the owner was greatly appreciated. We hope to return soon!
Julie H.
June 2025
We very much enjoyed our stay at this property. The home was equipped with everything you could want. The kitchen is incredible with top of the line appliances and every gadget imaginable. There was plenty of room inside and outside for our party of up to 7 to enjoy meals together or apart. All of the rooms are very spacious and comfortable. We spent a lot of time on the lanai enjoying the lovely breezes, ocean views, and occasional visit from a goat grazing on the hill. The pool is a little small but was enough for our needs, particularly since there is a large community pool steps away with workout and common areas. We purchased the resort package which included many amenities at Mauna Kea and Westin Hapuna and made great use of all of them. You do need a car and there are not a lot of restaurants near the property other than at the two resorts but that wasn't a problem. The air conditioning came in handy a few times - there are two controls which we didn't realize until later in our stay. The property manager and owner were very responsive and any questions or issues were addressed immediately. I would recommend this property if you want plenty of room and home away from home on the Big Island.
Deon A.
June 2025
What a wonderful holiday my family and I enjoyed in this fantastic house! Every room is well appointed with comfortable high quality furnishings and the kitchen was great for several cooks!We all enjoyed lounging on the Lanai, looking out over the ocean watching the sunset. It was so quiet and serene. Thank you to Donna for such a carefree time and your attention to any of my questions!May we come back!!?!!!!!
Lisa L.
June 2025
Perfection! This was our first time staying at this house and it was amazing! Extremely clean, well stocked, great views and very comfortable! Donna was very easy to communicate with and we had the best week on the Big Island. Can’t wait to come back!
Kristen M.
June 2025
We thoroughly enjoyed our stay during our time on the Big Island. The home was absolutely amazing. The two bedroom suites made our stay very comfortable and the home is stocked with almost everything you could possibly need. The home was also very clean. The neighborhood is quiet and the ability to go to the resort on the property to spend time on the beach was an added bonus. Would definitely stay here again. It doesn’t disappoint.
June 2025
This property was absolutely beautiful and very well maintained. The home was well appointed and had beautiful furnishings. Everything was clean and the beds were very comfortable. The pool and outdoor area offered a great view to the ocean and we really enjoyed the outdoor feel of the home in beautiful Hawaii. We purchased the amenities package and it was well worth it! Access to the both hotels was great for my family. Fantastic home we would definitely choose to stay at again.
Colleen R.
May 2025
Great location and wonderful accommodations
Christopher P.
May 2025
Couldn't ask for more! The condo had all we needed and more! Beautiful view in a relaxing environment!! Donna was an outstanding host!
Catherine S.
May 2025
The house was fantastic as we're the resorts. The kids had a great time in the pool. Good house for family.
Priscilla S.
May 2025
We stayed at the property for a week during Spring Break. Had a fabulous week
Scott T.
April 2025
We will be coming back
Anoop V.
April 2025
Everything from the communication through the stay was just wonderful! We look forward to coming back.
Alex E.
April 2025
Our family (grandparents, parents, and kids) loved this house and it made our whole trip so comfortable. This is easily the most well appointed and well supplied rental we’ve ever stayed in. It truly feels like a house that is meant to be lived in, rather than one that has been furnished and stocked for short term rentals. The kitchen is beautiful and has everything you could need (even a knife sharpener!). The pool, hot tub, and pool deck were so comfortable and relaxing. And the outdoor nature shower….i never want to be without it. I cannot recommend this property more highly.
Dan H.
April 2025
We really enjoyed our time and will be back! Thank you!
Kendra D.
April 2025
We just returned home from our fourth stay at Waiululua 343. When we arrived and walked in the front door, my youngest grandson declared "We're home," a declaration shared by all of us. The home is in a great location, is super comfortable, and has what is probably the best kitchen I've ever found in a vacation rental. I've already booked our stay for next year.
Laurie W.
April 2025
This is the second time we have stayed here. Barbara and her team are the best. Very proactive communication. And this place… the view is unbeatable. The house is clean and well equipped for cooking (which we do a lot here). And access to the Mauna Kea is fantastic but you go home to lots of space.
azgalli
April 2025
Great home, quiet community, responsive host / property manager
Craig
April 2025
We had the best time at the home - it’s very well appointed with amazing views and an awesome location. We opted for the amenities package which gave us access to the hotel pools and beaches. It truly was a spectacular stay and house.
Melissa H.
April 2025
Being able to stay at this gorgeous condo in the middle of a beautiful property with amazing views, while also having access two incredible resorts made this a vacation to remember! We would definitely stay here again!
Patty D.
April 2025
Wonderful family gathering. So comfortable
Jo P.
April 2025
Beautiful property. Very thoughtfully put together. From the snorkels and beach football in the garage to the kitchen appliances to the technology. Would stay again and again!
Matt M.
April 2025
Loved our stay! Great location and house. Amazing communication from the host.
Bethany K.
April 2025
Wonderful condo. Great views & amazing beaches. Loved our stay!
chad s.
March 2025
The home was clean and well stocked with everything that we needed for our stay. Sheets and towels were soft and very comfortable. Easy, convenient access to Mauna Kea Resort.
Melissa K.
March 2025
Loved this house that allowed us to spread out and relax. Kitchen fully stocked and property manager was very responsive. Would definitely stay again. mahalo!
Lauren K.
March 2025
We had the most wonderful time at this beautiful villa. We’ve stayed at various locations within Waiulaula, and this is now our family favorite! We will definitely return! Mahalo!!
Tricia M.
March 2025
This was a return visit to this property for us. It continues to be a lovely home.. beautifully furnished with a fully stocked kitchen to make for an easy home-away-from home experience. We love the access to Mauna Kea beach. Mahalo.
Diane D.
March 2025
We have stayed in the Mauna Kea residences before. This is a truly lovely condo. We would love to return again!
nicole n.
March 2025
Spacious, beautiful home, high end finishes, great privacy, great for cooking, owner and management staff were easy to work with and very friendly.
Michael M.
March 2025
This condo was so relaxing! The lanai was used daily with lots to see...mountains, ocean, nature, golfers, golfers looking for lost balls, goats, chaise lounging. Very beautiful and functional place!
Sandra G.
March 2025
Overall the stay was excellent. Only issue was the living room AC was broken.
March 2025
Comfortable and well maintained.Owners very responsive Look forward to a return visit!
Vicki P.
March 2025
If what you wanna do is golf, scuba dive, relax, eat fish, and hang out then I can’t recommend this place highly enough. Quiet location with all of those things nearby. We would definitely recommend it to anyone and hope to come back whenever possible.
barry p.
March 2025
The space was beautiful. It had all the comforts of home, and a beautiful view. There was lots of beach accessories. Kitchen was well stocked. Would have been nice to have a few more coffee cups, but we just ran a couple more loads through the dishwasher to get us what we needed. The shared pool was fantastic! The pool was perfect for doing laps in the morning and then topped it off with a soak in the hot tub. I never went in the afternoon, but had heard from others that the umbrellas were broken and couldn’t be used, so just plan to take your hat and do some pool dips to cool off. Overall we loved our stay and would definitely come back.
Michael L.
February 2025
We loved our stay. Plenty of room, great outdoor space. Some road noise, but everything else made that a super minor issue. We would definitely stay there again.
February 2025
Clean and nice location.
Dave L.
February 2025
Our second time renting, which says it all I guess... amazing location, and a nice kitchen setup for multiple in house meals, nice when you're not close to many casual restaurants. Wondeful!
Panu Z.
February 2025
This is a fabulous property in a fabulous area. It is well laid out and roomy. We all loved it.
Chris A.
February 2025
One of the best properties we have ever rented! The owners, property management and the resort staff were all superb. I would highly recommend this property and it’s within 5
Dan S.
February 2025
Beautiful place. Clean. Lovely view. Beautifully decorated. Donna was super responsive to all our questions!
Rachel c.
February 2025
Wonderful staing
Cristian C.
February 2025
Had a great time !
Darrell E.
February 2025
Patricia's property is immaculate, spacious and boasts stunning sunsets from the balcony. The kitchen was well appointed with staples and plenty of cookware. Having three bedrooms and three bathrooms was lovely but two of the shower heads had 'directional issues' and sprayed every which way but down, so we were only able to use one shower. Like many folks renting their properties on VRBO this one sits in a resort community that requires additional fees for golf, beach access, pickleball, tennis, etc. but this is an optional additional cost for guests and we didn't need it. We still had access to a pool and fitness center and quite frankly Hapuna Beach is a mile down the road and is free to the public. Overall we had a lovely stay and enjoyed all the activities this area has to offer. Thank you Patricia, for sharing your beautiful home with us!
Steffanie G.
February 2025
The hot tub and pool can be heated! The owner has a fully equipped kitchen that is extremely well labeled for ease of use. Outdoor seating can accommodate 8-10 guests if needed. Owner is very pleasant to work with and readily answers questions beyond what is explained in folder.
Ruth L.
February 2025
We had a wonderful time at this condo. The accommodations were perfect for us and another couple! The views were magnificent and location perfect! Lots of whale watching from our deck! We used the community pool and workout facility but also utilized the Hapuna and Mauna Kea frequently. Donna was great to work with and always got back to me quickly if I had a question. I would wholeheartedly recommend this condo for your Hawaii vacation and I would definitely come back!
Kathy M.
February 2025
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This is a beautiful property! The property owner and manager were very responsive and helpful. This property is perfect for adult groups because of the two master suites, and the fact that all three bedrooms have their own bathroom. The beds and bedding were top notch. The outdoor space (furniture, pool, hot tub) are very beautiful/comfortable and created the perfect spot to enjoy the outdoors and watch the sunsets. We appreciated the fact that there were different outdoor seating areas as well as an outdoor dining table.We took advantage of all of the fun pool and beach gear that was available.The kitchen is spacious, well stocked and has upgraded appliances. Excellent laundry supplies and appliances.Access to the community workout facility was nice to have.This home is very, very clean and extremely well maintained (the best we have ever had in a rental). We stayed for a month so we asked for a mid-month cleaning and had an opportunity to meet cleaning staff. They were meticulous! The difficulty we had with operating the hot tub was very quickly resolved after meeting with the pool/spa guy to better understand the operating process. It worked as described after the clarification. The outdoor grill was clean and we used it several times during our stay.There are so many other "little" things that this property owner does to make this the perfect place to stay! This was a 'gem' of a find for us and we will definitely be back!
Lisa W.
February 2025