Robert B.
December 2023
The house was as described. Walking distance to great snorkling. The pool was great to relax in the afternoons. Friendly geckos greeted us in the house. The open air kitchen was fantastic. We greatly enjoyed our trip.
Robert B.
December 2023
The house was as described. Walking distance to great snorkling. The pool was great to relax in the afternoons. Friendly geckos greeted us in the house. The open air kitchen was fantastic. We greatly enjoyed our trip.
Melissa C.
October 2023
We had a great time at pagoda house. The kids loved the pool and fruit trees- the resident duck was a hit! The beach is a short walk across the street- view was gorgeous! There were a few more lizards than we anticipated and they popped up and made us jump a few times- but not disturbing. Parking was easy and the house had beach chairs plenty of towels and basic items (oil, vinegar, seasonings, all dishes….) beautiful home for an amazing trip!
Laura H.
October 2023
We loved the property and the house.
Team R.
September 2023
Perfect place for two families who now live on opposite sides of the US to meet, relax and reconnect. Thank you again for sharing your wonderful peaceful space.
Heather P.
April 2023
Our group of 8 had a wonderfully relaxing stay at the Pagoda House. The pool (which was better than in pictures) was a bonus and one could walk to beautiful vistas. The gardens were lovely. It was in a more secluded area but we were able to explore different parts of the island by car. Lots of space and overall the Hawaiian style house was a different but a cool experience.
Jayne C.
April 2023
We spent an epic 8 days here on the Big Island and this property was beyond our expectations.
The house is incredible. Your family will have to arm wrestle over who gets the upstairs “Pagota Suite”. Our daughter had to work remotely part of the trip, so she won. Lol!
The kitchen/family area on main level is amazing if you like to cook…two huge islands…one with a cook top and one for serving. Plus tons of space for dining or just to hang out.
There is a tv area. We never used it or turned on the tv. Decompression and island getaway at its best. Oh, and they had a nice book selection on Hawaii.
Loved the bird feeder. Having a cup of coffee while watching multiple colored birds swarm the feeder was a great way to start the day. Wow! (And if you are lucky you may meet Mr. Quackers-the guard duck. Lol! He hung out by the bird feeder sometimes hoping to get a handful of bird food. He was very cute.
The pool are was very beautiful! Water was perfect and refreshing. Grilling by pool is a nice option. The garden areas were incredible with beautiful flowers including orchids.
Easy 20-30 minute drive to Kona with lots of restaurants and night life. And a couple hidden gems in Captain Cook area. Black Rock Pizza for an easy no cook dinner. And Keei Cafe, which is a must. Best ribeye steak on the islands, and daily fresh fish.
You get a true Hawaii experience staying here. Your own private oasis with wonderful local beaches right there.
Katie H.
February 2023
What a wonderful place! It’s so close to several beaches and the view from the house is just enough. Thank you Mary for sharing your home with us!
Carolyln B.
February 2023
Loved the open air experience.
Erika M.
December 2022
The Pagoda House is beautiful and private, in the quiet community of Napo'opo'o. My family group was very comfortable, enjoying the spacious kitchen, the pool, and watching the sunset from the porch or the nearby park. We also enjoyed grilling fresh fish by the pool and watching the birds come to the bird feeder. The beautiful yard and the pool were well cared for. The one issue we had was that the gnats were pervasive as soon as the sun went down. Any lights that were on had a ton of gnats flying around and crawling around the surface underneath. We had to have a light on only across the room while we made and ate dinner to keep the gnats out of our food, and there was no reading in the evening. However, we got accustomed to it and managed. And we loved the geckos and the sounds of the frogs and birds. Also, the outdoor shower was terrific.
Gary L. L.
October 2022
The first night we were all surprised by the sound of the insects and frogs chirping outside, and wondered how we would sleep, but by the second the whole family really loved the background sounds and the open concept of this house. After getting home last night, we are trying to keep used to the deafening silence !
I rented a place with a pool for the kids during the days we were not at the beach or in Kailua and it was by far the best decision. We all loved spending time in there. Just be aware, this house is around a 35 minute drive to the town of Kailua.
Lovely house, would definitely return.
Charley W.
September 2022
My friends and I had a wonderful stay at the Pagoda House. It's tucked away in an enclave right on Kealakekua Bay with opportunities to snorkel, kayak, and swim just steps away. The drive down to the house alone is worth a visit!
The house itself worked perfectly for our group, and even though we had some warm days, the open-air screens, fans, and dips in the pool kept us plenty cool. The beds were comfy and the kitchen was well-appointed--a great feature for a more remote rental.
The house had everything we needed for a family-friendly vacation and we would definitely come back!
Sue R.
August 2022
The property is amazingly relaxing and beautiful. It has a bit of seclusion and a feel of what it would be like to live in Hawaii. The listing was accurate and we did not encounter any surprises. Yes, there are gecko’s but they do not bother you. There is a bird feeder right outside the window so if you’re a bird enthusiast you will love watching the many birds that feed. The ocean is close and an easy walk. There are many snorkeling areas within a 15 minute drive. If you like to just relax and stay at the rental you will find it quite relaxing. There are awesome views and if you get warm the pool is beautiful. If I visit the island again a had a large crowd I would definitely stay again! It was so relaxing!!
Julianne T.
July 2022
We thoroughly enjoyed our time at The Pagoda House. The location was perfect for snorkeling and the ocean sports we were interested in. The pool was a big hit with all of us and we used it multiple times a day. Sunsets, morning walks, jumping in to the ocean from the loading dock happened daily. And being able to cook our own food not only saved us money but provided quality time for chatting and hanging out.
Mary was very responsive during our stay as well as prior to and after. We hope to return in the future!
Jennifer M.
June 2022
I can't even tell you how amazing this house is! The pictures do not do it justice! It's like living in a treehouse in paradise. My communication with Mary and Paula (caretaker) was great. We stayed for a whole week and could have stayed another month! The home is well equipped for a blended group (families traveling together), the kitchen is great for the same reason. And the pool!!!! is fantastic! I can't say anything bad about this property.
I will however warn that if you are a person that has issue with the treehouse feel (aka, there are geckos that run around the house smiling at you curiously and there is an occasional bug - it is the tropics after all), you will encounter these things and should consider that. Also, the location is PERFECT if you are interested in snorkeling (Kealakekua Bay is literally out of your window), being outdoors and spending time in the pool. It is a 20-25 minute drive to Kailua and about 15 minutes to a grocery store (which Mary lets you know about in full disclosure). If you're into "nightlife" and hustle and bustle, this is not the place for you - but if you are like us and you are looking for peace, tranquility and a truly "at home" feel, this place couldn't be more perfect. I can't tell you how much we appreciated this home...Thank you Mary! We hope we will be able to make it back soon!
Ricardo C.
June 2022
This was our second visit to the Pagoda House! The house, location and communication is amazing. Mary is an awesome host. Very friendly, knowledgeable and responsive.
We’re looking forward to our next visit!
Diane B.
June 2022
We were fortunate to stay at Mary's property for 9 days. The members of our party ranged in age from 67 years old to my 15 and 16 year old grandsons, and we were all in awe of the beautiful surroundings. It was absolute heaven! The description of the home, amenities, and nearby attractions was spot on. When we arrived, a nice fruit basket with local fruits including pineapple was awaiting us. The screens on three sides of the home allowing the cool ocean breeze to blow through was so unique and allowed for a wonderfully relaxing experience. We slept like babies on the comfortable beds with the sounds of new and interesting birds and the ocean waves lulling us to sleep. The kitchen was very well stocked, and we made use of it for almost all of our meals. There are two grills, propane and charcoal, which made for plenty of options for cooking meat and veggies. Mary's description of bugs in the home was accurate; we co-existed with the many geckos and other critters that come in via the screeens and were not bothered by any of them. We considered it an adventure! The home is in an IDEAL location with one park literally a 2-minute walk to the right, and another gorgeous park about an 8 minute walk to the left. We went kayaking twice - both times we were able to walk to where the kayaks launch, which made it very convenient. (Note: we booked our kayak/snorkeling through Kona Boys and were happy with their guides and overall experience. We recommend.) We stocked up at the nearby Safeway store off Henry street. The best feature of Mary's home is the tropical setting surrounding the property, with its fruit trees, palms, succulent plants, and nice pool. Bottom line, you can't do any better than staying at this luxurious home with the tropical setting and location across the street from the ocean, and nearby parks. We plan to return and would certainly stay at this home again - the entire experience was pure bliss and incredibly relaxing.
Sabrena W.
June 2022
My husband and I vacationed with our two college aged kids plus a friend and this VRBO was wonderful for us. Big open spaces for everyone, pool, beautiful property and neighborhood made our visit to the Big Island feel extra special. Thank you, Aloha🌺
Juli F.
May 2022
I didn't want to leave. When we arrived, I kept saying "This house is so amazing, I'm gonna cry." So comfortable, relaxing, has everything you need. The house just slightly on the "remote" side, so we made a big Costco run and cooked 95% of our meals in the glorious kitchen. Spent a LOT of time in the pool. Can't recommend this house highly enough for a group of friends or family who just want to lay low and relax.
Lyndsey D.
April 2022
We loved our stay at the Pagoda house. The house is spacious, peaceful, well-stocked, great for cooking/grilling, beautifully landscaped, and in a stunning setting. It's clear that a lot of love has been poured into this property. We really enjoyed the pool (especially the kids), which seemed the perfect temperature. The location is fantastic for taking advantage of all the activities in the Bay. Mary was readily available, provided a great guide to the house and area, and there was a team of locals available to assist with any problems (although none arose during our stay). We are so glad we stayed at this special place!
Michael G.
March 2022
This home is absolutely amazing! The patio style open air home makes you feel like you're always connected with the beautiful outdoors of Hawaii. As Mary mentions, there are some a few small lizards that are also guests in the house, but for me that just adds to the charm!
The location is great as you're in more of a neighborhood with amazing ocean scenery down the road to the left and to the right. This was such a great house and to me, far better than a "resort" type vacation.
The Host, Mary, is a great communicator and and so helpful to get the most out of the vacation. Hopefully I'll make it back to the Big Island some day and when I do, this will be where I will stay!
Liz D.
February 2022
We were super impressed with Pagoda House for a family vacation. We were staying for 3 weeks, 2 different family groups would share that time with us. Since there were 2 little ones still in diapers in the first group we were thrilled that it worked out to order the diapers on Amazon and have them shipped for free to the house with our Prime account! (I did clear this first with the owner!) There were also several items at the house that were invaluable (Graco pack and play with mattress, but no sheets, a gate to block off the stairs, a high chair, and a potty chair along with a "frog" seat to confine the younger kiddos! Lots of toddler books and puzzles, but no real toys. My grandkids thought the empty yogurt containers were excellent toys!) The house itself was huge - about 40 feet from the couch at one end to the door to the bedroom at the other - and perfect for kids to run (or crawl) off that excess energy they always seem to have!
Paula was very helpful coming in to clean between our 2 groups at a very reasonable rate. She and her helper were VERY through!
I was also pleased with the quality of the linens. We have stayed in some rentals where the towels were almost unusable, but these were thick and soft and plenty of them!
The pool and grounds were kept in great condition with weekly attendance by a pool company and landscape company. There was also an automated in-pool cleaner that my grandson named "Wall-e" for the robot of the same name!
About the only thing I found really lacking was the cutlery. There were no teaspoons or toddler utensils, and what was there was mismatched and a bit ragged, some of which had clearly had a run in with the disposal! There were however, tons of cookware in varying conditions (the toaster needs replacing, unless you enjoy holding the lever down till it's done!)
I would highly recommend Pagoda House also for the location! Local parks nearby are great for relaxing walks! A great place to stay!
Kristine M.
January 2022
This is a fantastic home. It's absolutely beautiful with incredible views. My children especially enjoyed the pool. The location is quiet and peaceful. The property manager was very helpful.
Josh A.
January 2022
We use VRBO/Airbnb all over the world. This was as fine a property as we've stayed at. The Pagoda House was precisely as advertised and Mary makes sure that each guest understands what this house is...a two-story home with only screens in the windows, lots of ceiling fans, no a/c, some friendly geckos joining your party from time to time...
The Pagoda House's location is excellent but it is NOT in Kona. It's about a 25-30 minute ride to Kona, a bit further to the airport and further still to the resorts/beaches on the NW part of the island. It didn't stop us.
There are excellent, local places to swim and enjoy the ocean within either walking distance or a very short car ride. There is an excellent poke place...all kinds of cool local places.
Our party of 7 adults (mom, dad, 3 children, two of whom had partners) loved the house because of ample common area AND ample bedrooms, so we were never on top of each other. That, plus the pool provided wonderful spaces to hang out. Every person in our group loved the house. The Pagoda House was all we really needed to enjoy.
The owner, Mary, is amazing, responsive, detailed...etc. It's a great, great house in a stunning location with excellent views. If you can't have a relaxing, good time here, you can't have a relaxing good time anywhere.
Lindsay
January 2022
Pagoda house is absolutely fabulous. We had a wonderful 10 days swimming in the bay and the private swimming pool, and relaxing in the spacious house that offered different spaces for each of us to rotate through (in the hammock, on the outside porch, upstairs in the screened in porch, by the pool, in the TV nook). The kitchen was well stocked and great to cook in. Honestly, we hardly left the neighborhood and we were absolutely content.
Kim B.
December 2021
From the moment we walked in the door, we were home. Traveling with a family of 8 was no easy feat, especially in COVID times. Mary’s home was exactly as pictured and yet the pictures cannot capture how magical it was. Our family loves to cook so this house was perfect. We only went out to lunch once in the 9 days we stayed! Favorites; Coqui frogs singing us to sleep, waking up to birds singing, geckos everywhere, swimming 24-7, snorkeling, everyone in the kitchen at once (yes, there’s room), hanging at Manini Beach, and gathering fallen flowers to make our own leis (all you need is a paper clip and kite string!) Thank you Mary for helping us make this a reality through all the COVID restrictions and cancellations! We will be back!
Brenda S.
November 2021
Beautiful well maintained spacious home along with lovely gardens and spotlessly clean pool. Age range was from 5-73 and everyone loved it.
Jeannie B.
November 2021
Two master bedrooms and plenty of space for kids, with a beautiful private pool and beaches a short walk in either direction from the house. Perfect stay, and Mary was lovely to work with!
Use the "Visit Owner's Website" link to read more reviews from the reservation site, including the latest reviews submitted by recent guests.