Melissa’s place was the perfect home base for us to explore the west side of the big island and the Kohala Coast. If you want to enjoy the sandy, pristine beaches of the big island (Kona has smaller beaches and beach parks) you’ll need to stay in a resort or in a well situated home like Melissa’s. It is just 15 minutes from popular beaches like Hapuna, Mauna Kea, and others. Her instructions for us were clear, the space was spotless, and much bigger than we expected. The kitchen was well stocked as we cooked a few meals there. Would gladly recommend it.