Shirley I.
March 2025
We really enjoyed staying at this cozy comfy home away from home spot! The owner is fantastic to work with and makes sure we have everything we need and more. We had courtesy beverages and beach goods daily. The place was super clean! A car is wanted but its only a couple minutes from the beach and town of Jona Kailua. Kailua.
Janet R.
February 2025
Was surprised how small the unit is but it worked out ok and the owner was very nice and accommodating.
Alyssa B.
November 2024
Cynthia is genuinely such a thoughtful, kind and helpful person. She really went out of her way to make sure we had a great stay and to help us make arrangements outside of just our accommodation.
The location of her property is a very short drive away from all the places and amenities that we wanted to get to during our visit to Kona.
Kerstin B.
February 2024
Very well kept
Elizabeth P.
February 2024
The accommodations were great. Cynthia was kind and helpful
Adelia S.
October 2023
An amazing stay with a wonderful and very caring and friendly host. Will be back for sure!
Liz K.
December 2022
This is in a quiet neighborhood near Kona. Convenient to stores and restaurants. Host is very friendly and had lots of suggestions of nearby beaches.
Vivian N.
December 2022
This unit was definitely like a home away from home. Bedroom is very spacious with king bed, dresser, closet, and nightstands. Ceiling fan helps circulate air throughout the unit and a portable AC unit is available for the very hot and humidity months. There is a good view of the ocean from the bedroom window. Bathroom is well kept and stocked with TP, soap, shampoo/conditioner, and other supplies (some left by other renters). Cutely decorated throughout. Kitchen is on the lower, entry level. It is small but sufficiently large and equipped (hot plate with pots & pans; microwave; toaster; Keurig; and other small applianances; full size refrigerator/freezer) to make full breakfasts, lunch, and dinner. An easy chair and a small couch w/ fold-out bed are in the kitchen area for seating. A small patio area with outdoor seating is also available with the unit. For those beach / water days, an outdoor shower and sink is available for easy clean up.
Location is super convenient. Very close to the airport (driving about 15 min), harbor (about 10 min), downtown Kailua-Kona (5-7 min). Shopping (Safeway, Walmart, and Target) about 5-7 min away (within 1-3 traffic lights) so you can easily run out to pick up your necessities - bonus, Safeway is open 24 h! Costco is also close, about 10 min (between the airport and harbor). Neighborhood is quiet and feels very safe. Drives to Hilo (just under 2 h) and the Volcano Park (about 2 h) are easy from the unit.
Host Cynthia (on-site, on her side of the house) is the absolute best. She kept the unit stocked with all amenities, including water. She even gave us some fruit, refreshments, and other eats. Cynthia is a fountain of knowledge on the area and her hints and suggestions for activities were spot on. The manta ray snorkel/dive is definitely a must-do. To keep towels fresh, she asks you for them every 2-3 days and will even wash your laundry with them. I felt like we were staying with a friend and not just renting a unit. Thank you Cynthia for making our stay fabulous.
If you're looking for accommodations for 2 (or 3), you need not look further. This is an awesome choice. I'm not sure why there are a few negative reviews - there is nothing negative about this unit or Cynthia. We will certainly stay here again when we return.
Dora J.
October 2022
I had a great stay at Cynthia's. It was just me and my husband and she was the BEST host! She was so accommodating -always there to help. She had coffee, unlimited water, offered rides (even if I had a rental car), did my laundry, and gave me a celebratory bottle of wine. Will definitely stay with Cynthia again!
Andreja L.
May 2022
TOO FAR FROM THE OCEAN
The unit is located 50 minutes from the Ali'i/shore meaning that the pictures are decieving. From them it looks like you are near the ocean. You can not walk back from the ocean to the place.
NOT FOR SMOKERS
Our first encounter with the owner was her coming to us almost yelling that she is allergic to cigaret smoke that was coming from the porch (outisde) into the house aparently and that if I want to smoke Ineed to be further away.
The owner also came at 4 am to me saying we cannot smoke on the porch, which had astray.
NOT MEANT FOR THREE PEOPLE
The unit is very small so we wouldn't recommend more than two people staying there.
RULES
The owner Cynthja kept coming into the unit (even if she meant well it didnt feel nice). She also kept telling us to close the two doors from the entrance. One glass and one anti mosquito door. It allmade sense but if you go into rhe unit to grab your phone and go back out right after that she would already have a problem with that... which isnotpleasant and you feel like you are being watched and under control.
CHECK OUT
You need to literally clean the apartment. Take off the bedding, take out the trash, bring her the towels and so on... However in the price you payed for cleaning so you would expect that you wouldnt need to do that and that the owner or cleaning lady would do that.
There is also a thick layer of dust under the bed indicating it hasnt been cleaned in awhile. Most likely the towels nadthe bedding were theonly onces that were changed.
ANIMALS
Also she has 2 dogs and 2 cats so keep that in mind as well for she will letthem walk around. It depends if you like that or not.
STANLEY L.
May 2022
Great.
Ronald L.
April 2022
Five stars in all categories.
Very clean & organized.
Cynthia goes above and beyond to make her guests comfortable.
We wish we could have stayed longer, and would definitely return to her property.
David G.
April 2022
Cynthia is a very gracious host.
Seana Z.
March 2022
Cynthia is a lovely person and she has a lovely home. She takes much care to ensure you have everything you need and more. King size beauty rest bed was heaven. There are stairs to bedroom and bath, but they are carpeted with ample landings. The kitchen is stocked with all your needs and bath supplies are aplenty. Very safe neighborhood to park car plus a funny group of pets you can enjoy as company. If you are not a pet person, then you most likely won’t need to encounter them, but I very much enjoyed watching Sampson play soccer with himself!
Peter W.
March 2022
Cynthia it was amazing. She was always available to help with whatever we needed. Was courteous and friendly. The apartment was clean and had everything we needed. Will definitely try to stay here again in the future
Christopher N.
January 2022
Great spot, close to many stores and locations of interest. Host was extremely nice and accommodating. Great communication as well!
January 2022
There is no way to convey how very much we enjoyed our stay here. I initially decided on this property based on all the positive reviews. When I contacted Cynthia she responded quickly and addressed any concerns. Looking at the pictures of the property, we were hooked. We arrived early, which was no problem. We had such a great time and upon learning I wanted to see turtles, she personally took us to her favorite spot and showed us the turtles. She recommended restaurants and was a wealth of information. When we decided to relax at home, the outdoor area was comfortable and inviting. Truly, we so enjoyed our visit here and would highly recommended you enjoy it too. A big thank you to Cynthia for everything! A truly memorable visit.
Sandy L.
January 2022
Awesome host, pets and place to stay! Cynthia is very knowledgeable about things to do on the Big Island and places to eat. We would definitely stay again.
Mara B.
August 2021
We had a great stay! The unit was clean and comfortable and contained everything we needed. Our host went out of her way to make us comfortable. I would highly recommend this property!
Olga W.
August 2021
This was a great place for my parents to spend a week while in Kona. The location is just a short distance to everything from excellent shopping and restaurants to amazing beaches. Cynthia is a fantastic host. She is kind and generous, and went out of her way to make my parents feel at home. The home is well stocked and super clean. Highly recommend!!
Meg M.
June 2021
We had never stayed in a unit like this.... So Glad we did. It was CLEAN, comfortable and in a quiet neighborhood. Cynthia was kind and generous and gave us such great treats, tips and info about the area. She was available, but not intrusive. We loved her pets! We used the beach towels, chairs and beach mat every day! The unit is well-appointed with a full-sized fridge and a Keurig. The A/C upstairs kept us perfectly cool.
Mahalo, Cynthia! See you next summer!
Krystal S.
June 2021
Cynthia was absolutely amazing! She had everything I needed for my stay and accommodated me in every way possible. I was staying in Kona for work and she was totally understandable about my work schedule and kept in contact with me to make sure I had everything I needed for my late nights and early mornings. She definitely went above and beyond anything I'd ever expect from a host. 10000/10 would highly recommend for anyone looking for a cute, comfortable, and clean place to stay for a few nights. Great neighborhood not far from town. Quiet and peaceful with an ocean view from the bedroom.
She even let me pet the animals! Totally the best part about staying in Kona since I missed my own fur baby. (But she also made a note to say that animals should not be let inside VRBO area for people who are allergic.) Super considerate and friendly! Definitely made my long work week not so terrible.
Thanks again Cynthia!!
kimberley c.
March 2020
Nice place away from busy Kona, but close enough to enjoy all it has to offer. Cynthia was a great host and I would highly recommend staying here. Clean and comfortable. The outdoor shower was great for taking care of my diving gear, and great cycling right out the front door.
Jodell D.
February 2020
Cynthia’s Place was absolutely perfect for our vacation. Clean, comfortable, relaxing, and optimal location for many attractions. Cynthia herself was so friendly and provided exceptional hospitality. We plan to come back soon since we didn’t have enough time to explore everything we Had planned and we hope Cynthia’s unit will be available!
Benedikt H.
January 2017
The place is neat and well equipped! Our host was very friendly, helpful and provided excellent suggestions for cafes and beaches.
We truly enjoyed our stay in Kona and would love to come back one day...mahalo!
Ritu B.
January 2017
We had a great stay here in Kona. the house was done up very well and the host was very affectionate. She ensured we were comfortable and guided us on places we should visit in Big Island which you will not find on the tourist guide books.
This place also also very close to the Ali'i drive which has all the happening restaurants and ocean side activities.
The beaches nearby have crystal clear water and there are quite a few snorkeling spots close by.
The bed was comfortable. The house was done up really well and everything including linen was of very good quality. It was our cozy home away from home.
Thanks to the host for making our stay perfect and special.
Aimee Dodds
June 2016
My husband and I enjoyed this stay in Kona while celebrating our 1st wedding anniversary (a 2.5 week trip covering three islands). We met our host at the airport who gave us an immediate introduction to the island and made us feel welcome in her home. Having never been to Hawaii and pregnant at the time we were very grateful for the assistance our host provided in helping us arrange sightseeing, and joining in on some of the activities and attractions which included turtle spotting, local snorkelling, a drive to 'Tex Drive In' for the best Malasada's I have ever eaten and the discounted Manta Ray snorkel trip which was a once in a lifetime experience. Our host also introduced us to Sam Choy's Kai Lanai restaurant, and we experienced some amazing local fresh fish, our best meal on all the islands.
The property was quiet, spacious, clean and inviting. The unit was private with an amazing view of the ocean. The bed was also very comfortable (even for a pregnant woman!) and had lots of plush pillows. The kitchen had everything we needed for cooking and preparing meals with a small area for sitting and watching tv. Our host also provided cold beverages inc. water and coffee/tea etc. The pets at the property added for some fun, although they did not intrude into our space, it was me who tried luring the cats in! The parrot was a treat too, and we enjoyed a professional photo with him downtown.
The location was accessible by vehicle to the main town, beaches and shops. Just a short distance away we enjoyed stocking up on all the American essentials and souvenirs at Target, Wallmart and Cosco.
Our host provided us with travel books on the island which we researched and used the maps to help us plan our days. We made day trips to the Volcano National Park and Rainbow Falls which were highlights of our trip. Some of these destinations are remote and do not have 24/7 restaurants and cafes so it was good to be able to go to the local shops and stock up on things to take with us.
I would highly recommend this property to a couple or group of 2-3 friends for a home away from home in a safe, clean and comfortable environment where you do not have to share facilities with other tourists, and can enjoy the perks of a host with local knowledge.
We plan on visiting again, hopefully in 2017 and will be staying at this property if the dates aren't already booked out.
Use the "Visit Owner's Website" link to read more reviews from the reservation site, including the latest reviews submitted by recent guests.