It would be difficult to praise Barry and his place too effusively. The Kona Longboard house is full of thoughtful, funky eclectic touches which are more than simply aesthetic. While the artificial grass on the back deck might seem merely whimsical, it actually helps keep sand from being tracked into the house. The cut lava rock paving stones may seem like a nice local touch, and they are. Lava rock is also non-slip, and that's a good thing when returning from the beach or when there has been a brief rain shower. The list goes on, but suffice to say that evidence abounds of Barry's thoughtfulness and effort in creating and maintaining the space.
Our group loved the beds. Both bed and bath linens were top-quality. The kitchen had everything one could need, and we made some incredible meals there. Barry keeps an assortment of good, functional beach and snorkeling gear on-hand, and we made good use of it. Best of all, though, is Barry himself. He's a wealth of knowledge on local spots for the best of whatever you happen to be interested in, and he responds quickly. In fact, the two times I asked if he had some item I couldn't locate (a filet knife and a receptacle for compostable food scraps, in this case) Barry arrived with what I needed before I had even considered checking to see if he'd received the messages.
The week we spent in Kona exceeded our highest expectations, and Barry's place played no small part in that fact. The next time we're planning a trip to Kona, we'll definitely be checking to see if the Kona Longboard house is available. Highly recommended.