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
A beautiful and relaxing home. This lovely property will make your Big Island stay a true tropical experience. The gourmet kitchen and bar were very well stocked with any gadget or cooking tool that you might desire. The pool area provides a lovely ocean view and a great place to watch the sunset… bbq, outdoor refrigerator & sink and large dining table are ideal for an evening meal. The attention to detail that the owner has provided are exquisite. We hope to be back soon!
Mary H.
July 2026
Excellent stay! This is 3rd time we have rented Different three bedroom condos in the Maunakea/Hapuna complex. They are all very similar except for their state of repair and location. This one is excellent in terms of location and being outfitted like someone’s house as opposed to a rental. Highly recommended.
Jim M.
June 2026
The property description was accurate and we enjoyed our stay . A well stocked kitchen with many amenities .
George D.
June 2026
Excellent stay. Well kept nice house with many amenities I appreciated such as zip lock bags paper towels lots of toilet paper spices olive oil etc. Beds were comfortable as were the couches. The close by gym was tiny but fine. There is a lovely pool close to the house. I would stay here again.
justine g.
June 2026
This was our third time staying at this home with another family, and it continues to be such an incredible experience every time. Richard & Lissette are wonderful hosts — extremely communicative, responsive, and clearly care so much about the guest experience. We had a small issue with the TVs during our stay, and they handled it immediately and professionally, which we really appreciated.The setup of the house works especially well for two families sharing. There are two great primary/master bedrooms with King beds, plus a room with two queens that became the kids’ room for us. The house has absolutely everything you need, especially the kitchen, which is so well stocked and functional for families.Staying here makes our Mauna Kea trips feel completely seamless and relaxing. We can’t wait to come back again!
Elizabeth V.
June 2026
This place was amazing- our favorite of the trip! Luxurious home close to the best beaches. Stocked with top notch bath products, new-looking pots and pans, plenty of kitchenware. The pictures are accurate- this place is as great as it appears! We ate breakfast daily and watched several sunsets from the lanai. Beyond having a sweeping view to the ocean, this particular lanai is shielded from the wind. It was surprisingly windy during our time there, but we could still sit outside in comfort! This turned out to be a valuable, unsung feature of this home. The pool and fitness center are very nice - we opted not to buy the resort access and had these amenities all to ourselves! Hapuna and Mauna Kea beaches are gorgeous and easily reached from this location. Waimea is also close and has terrific farmer’s markets. Superlative experience- hope we do go again!
Lori W.
June 2026
Lovely time in an exceptional place.
Laurie L.
June 2026
We had an absolutely wonderful stay and truly felt at home from the moment we arrived. We were visiting for our son’s graduation from HPA and the property truly felt like our home away from home. Everything was thoughtfully designed for people who genuinely enjoy spending time together.The beds, sheets, and incredibly soft towels made every night feel like a high-end resort experience. The open-concept living room with the disappearing wall created an amazing indoor-outdoor flow that we used constantly, and the kitchen and BBQ area were beautifully appointed and exceptionally functional.One of our favorite discoveries was the neighborhood infinity pool and gym, which also served as the site for our son’s graduation party. We loved exploring the restaurants throughout the resort. Manta’s seared ahi tuna was truly unforgettable. What stood out most, though, was the feeling that no matter what adventure we went on during the day, we always had an incredibly comfortable place to return to at night. That feeling became the foundation of the entire vacation.The small details elevated everything: bedside charging ports, excellent WiFi, Sonos sound system, powerful AC, outdoor showers, a huge refrigerator, beautiful stemware, cloth napkins, sharp kitchen knives — all of it added up to a home that felt cared for and exceptionally well-appointed . Our host was the best. She was always a text away and super helpful whenever we needed anything. My take - best VRBO to date
Vince L.
May 2026
Wonderful week spent with family at this beautiful home in paradise. The home was well stocked with everything we could ask for. If we needed anything our host provided prompt attention to detail. Out of all the homes we have rented through VRBO for family vacations this one was the best for price and attention to detail. Thank you for sharing your wonderful home with us.
Denise C.
May 2026
We enjoyed the pool and just being outside
Susan M.
May 2026
Beautiful view. Very quiet. Clean. I’m sure parents of children appreciate all the family/kid/baby equipment but we took our elderly father and would have appreciated some handicap/ada friendly accommodations. Overall a beautiful place.
Michele W.
May 2026
Awesome property
John F.
May 2026
We LOVED our stay!!! The house was beautiful and having access to both resorts was amazing! Donna was super helpful and check in process was great! We will definitely be back!!
sheri g.
April 2026
Home is beautiful and well kept. Once we got the hot tub working, our first five days were a bit frustrating, we had a wonderful time. The house was worth the little extra we paid. We’d rent if again if we come back and it’s available.
Rafael S.
April 2026
Amazing property! Beautiful home! Very short walk to pool gym and jacuzzi. Very comfortable home very clean and quality bedding! You will love it!
john t.
April 2026
Property was as described, great kitchen and amenities for cooking. Nice views of the ocean and fantastic pool area! Communication with the host was clear and very responsive.
Thaedra T.
April 2026
This was our fourth stay at this property, and it was as good as ever! Great location, lovely home, and the best-equipped rental home kitchen you could ever hope to find. I can't recommend this home enough!
Laurie W.
April 2026
Donna was very helpful and we truly enjoyed our stay (although it was short).The unit is very nice and has nice views, is stocked well, and includes boogie boards and beach items. We purchased the amenities at the Mauna Kea Resort and the Westin. The beaches are superb. Also the buffet breakfast at the Mauna Kea was great.Will most certainly return.
Dominka M.
April 2026
Kitchen was well stocked though in need of some maintenance, the faucet for the kitchen sink is functional but in need of replacing. The fitness center is small as is the pool but overall still nice. The price is a bit high considering you’re still expected to launder towels at the end of the stay.
Katie S.
April 2026
Great location, stunning view. Great communication and hospitality. Would book again
LeAna A.
April 2026
This was a beautiful property and everything was clean and well supplied. Communication went well and our concerns were answered promptly.
Kim P.
April 2026
Everything was absolutely perfect! Michelle was so wonderful in helping my husband with discounted rates on golf and tee times. The condo has everything you could possibly need! It was such a great vacation!
Megan L.
April 2026
The property was beautiful; great views and nice furnishings.
nicole n.
April 2026
Excellent location and unit!
Jon F.
April 2026
Very well stocked and great location
Michael B.
April 2026
We had a fabulous stay and wouldn’t change a thing!
Wade G.
April 2026
The kitchen was fully stocked with everything you need. All necessities were available! Host and management were very responsive. Loved that we had a pool and hot tub to use at our leisure anytime of the day!
Diane D.
March 2026
We have stayed in this villa multiple times and it it always a great experience. We will return again next year!
Ken L.
March 2026
This was our family’s annual, spring break trip to Hawaii, so we have stayed in several properties within the Mauna Kea Residences. This was a beautiful property and was exactly as described! Two noticeable differences between this and other properties were 1) how well stocked and organized the property was and 2) the above and beyond communication through the property manager. Given that we were there during the Kona Storm, our stay required some extra communication and Donna went above and beyond to make sure that we were taken care of. We loved our stay and would absolutely stay here again!
Lauren B.
March 2026
This unit has so much potential but sadly it’s just not up to basic standards for a Hawaii
Cynthia & Heather L.
March 2026
4th time staying at this wonderful property. 3 couples and love the view and home. Easy access to all Mauna Kea activities. Wonderful hosts, and service. It’s a 5 star for everything. Clean, ocean view, kitchen, and hosts.
Lloyd M.
March 2026
We all were extremely pleased with our condo rental. No glitches or problems. The Sackrider Family
Harry S.
March 2026
Donna is a super host and very welcoming and responsive. The place is paradise in all ways that we needed on this trip
Christian F.
February 2026
It was the most amazing stay. Well appointed, and perfect for two couples with kids having 2 master bedrooms.
Ryan E.
February 2026
This was one of the best appointed houses in which we have stayed. The art work was the most interesting to us also.Our local "woman of all trades" , Lisette was friendly, responsive and extremely helpful.The location was perfect, easy access to all the places we like to go and the house was very well set up for the friends who came to visit.I rate this vacation spot highly.
Suzanne P.
February 2026
The house is incredible! Kitchen is so well equipped which was super because we cooked in a lot. Bedrooms are all en suite and super comfortable. Hosts were very accommodating. Thanks for a great vacation!
Kathleen P.
February 2026
Perfect place to relax and enjoy the island. Two master suites makes it nice for two couples. Management company is very responsive
Scott R.
January 2026
The host was very good at communicating. Also, the home contained many thoughtful extras.
Stephanie K.
January 2026
Welcoming host - great house!
James S.
January 2026
Excellent view of the mountains and the Pacific Ocean, we had a great time. The area is quiet, beautiful and safe. I highly recommend this amazing house. You do need to have a car to travel everywhere. Wake up early and come back early because it gets very dark right away.
Sarai
January 2026
The house was in excellent condition and very clean. Plenty of space. Beds were extremely comfortable and the view on the lanai was great. Snorkel gear and boogie boards were a nice amenity to have as well. We also took advantage of the resort amenities as well which were excellent. Would definitely stay here again.
Dee Ann M.
January 2026
I love Wai’ula’ula. The community is so great. The condo has everything you could need, plenty of space, great kitchen for meals at home, fantastic views for sunset. This particular unit is across from the pool and gym so very easy to access. Only thing I would call out is the unit is close to a road and currently there are lots of new homes being built. It can be a little noisy in the early morning with the heavy trucks driving by. If you are a very earlier riser, this will not bother you. Highly recommend!!
andrea m.
January 2026
Very nice place, well equipped for the kitchen and included beach gear.
David S.
January 2026
We had a wonderful time. The facilities in the home were all that we needed. Those in the development and the greater community were more than adequate. Things were so good that we found ourselves every day asking ourselves which choice we make today. We will return and definitely advise others to consider it as a place for a vacation. Thank you.
Steven K.
January 2026
Great house in a great location!The house was very confortable and the kitchen was well equipped.
Christine S.
January 2026
Fabulous villa (clean, nice furniture, gorgeous view, well stocked) and fabulous vacation! Donna is a star! She made everything from start to finish easy and enjoyable! We will be back!! Mahalo!
Meredith
January 2026
Host and property manager were amazing! Very helpful and great communication. View was terrific!
Doug R.
January 2026
Awesome property, clean, nice, super comfortable. Very easy to access the pool, golf, and beaches. Clean and spacious with all the comforts of home. Having full laundry and a stocked kitchen made things super convenient. Erika the owner and Hilary the on site manager were both available as needed, but not overbearing.Would definitely recommend to friends and we hope to return soon!
Nate B.
January 2026
This location is breathtaking; the home is extremely functional & has every amenity you can dream of.
Kimberly H.
January 2026
The home is beyond anything you can imagine! The location, views, furnishings, and amenities were superb!! We had the best week and loved every minute of our vacation!!
Colette R.
January 2026