We had a delightful 3 month summer stay in Todd’s basement unit.
The unit itself is very similar to the photos, incredibly spacious and lovely. With the constant sound of nature, especially the birds, we felt like we were in a treehouse. The landscape provides total privacy, while you get views of the sky, palms, and several flowering trees. We ate a lifetime quota of the sweetest mangoes which fell from the tree, sometimes a dozen a day. The neighborhood is very safe and lovely to take walks in. You are only a short drive to some of the loveliest beaches/parks in Kona, where we sat in the shade watching the ocean almost every day.
We were concerned about the lack of air conditioning, as I'm sure many are. However, we were there during the hottest months of the year, and had no trouble sleeping or feeling comfortable, ever. There are a couple hours in the late afternoon when it gets a bit warm, but the unit has fans everywhere that keep you comfortable. Despite a lifetime of air conditioning in every one of our homes, we left confident that if we ever bought a home in Hawaii we wouldn't even install it.
There are only two slight negatives to this hidden gem. The first is obvious from the description, that there is no range/stove. There are hot plates and a microwave, and we brought an Instapot and had no problem fixing our meals every day. There is a charcoal BBQ in the unit you can put in the yard if you need to, but we never bothered. If you are a family of big cooks who are into baking or grilling meat daily then take this into consideration.
The second negative is that this is a wooden house with no fixed windows, and so you can hear everything going on from the tenants upstairs. We had many come and go in our stay, and most were courteous, but there is only so much people can do about children who love to run. And you will absolutely hear them when they hop out of bed and walk/run around the unit. The good news is that most people spend their days away at the beach or sightseeing, so it's not a constant. Should that deter anyone? Only if you are the kind of people who get annoyed/angry if you hear people above you in a hotel or apartment. If that will ruin your vacation, then perhaps take a pass, but for us it wasn't enough of a detractor.
We live out of Airbnbs, so we see a LOT of different units. We give this an unreserved five stars. It's a gem, there is no doubt. And a bargain for the island! Any negatives are far and away offset by how glorious it is to stay in an open air home on the island, with the smell of flowers wafting in on a gentle, constant breeze, and the sound of the birds to enjoy as you sip your Kona coffee next to the windows. The furniture and beds are incredibly comfortable, and a family of four would have ample space to stretch out. Kona itself is special.
We'll absolutely be back, and I think anyone who books this unit is going to want to pinch themselves when they get to experience this wonderful place to stay.