Mana House is such a unique find and was exactly what I was looking for, something truly different and away. It felt magical to be totally surrounded by the tropical leaves and hear the ocean crash. Also with so many cookie-cutter Airbnbs that follow the same formula around the world, this house managed to feel like a home, inviting guests to settle into a cozy nook with a cup of French press Kona coffee and a book. (Just as an aside I was personally very excited when I saw the bookshelf carrying all the hardcopies of Hawaiian history and literature books I had looked up online in advance to the trip. This house is made for readers.)
More than anything I wanted a sense of escape and that is why I chose this house. But it is worth noting that the Internet connection there was almost nonexistent. If that is important for you or for your kids then you might want to discuss that in advance. In our case, not being glued to bright screens meant some grousing from the boys but sleeping for full nights for the first time in ages after an exhausting day of snorkeling and hiking. Secondly, there are lots of bugs but that was manageable because first they weren’t mosquitoes and secondly we kept most of the lights dim. the key to enjoying this house is to be honest about your needs and what you’re looking for. It fit mine to a tee. For us the specialness of the experience far outweighed the minor inconveniences.