Aloha! I'm from O'ahu, and my friend from Hilo stayed with me at Gary's place as well. So this is a perspective from two local people, born and raised in Hawai'i. Wow! You cannot beat this price! Seriously, I did my research. I messaged Gary, prior to booking, to ask if this place was quiet and relaxing. He responded quickly, and was spot on. Having a relaxing and calm place, was key to us.
Location: This Airbnb is located in a beautiful and serene neighborhood. The breeze at night, along with the coqui frogs will lull you to sleep. Far away from the hustle and bustle of downtown Kona, but near enough to everything (harbors, Costco, downtown Kona, restaurants, etc...). As some noted, we had fun seeing wild turkeys every day, roaming the streets. Did I mention the sunsets? Absolutely gorgeous view from the backyard. The water feature is set to certain times, so make sure you notate that upon check-in and make time to sit outside in the evening. Wish I could add photos on this review. There is also a sitting area in the front. Free, easy, and close parking is 100% awesome!
Check-in: Home was easy to find, as the instructions were clear. Although there was a lockbox with key ready for us, Gary greated us as we arrived. Note: the door does lock from the inside, you just have to find the sweet spot before you turn it to lock. We felt totally safe and secure being here.
No AC, but the home did cool down significantly towards the evening. There are multiple ceiling fans, as well as fan window unit that keeps the house cool even during the day. Nighttime I actually got cold from the breeze.
Kitchen:
You have access to a full kitchen (minus the blender in the photo), utensils, cookware, a full fridge, stove, microwave, toaster, and a Keurig machine (and coffee pods). There's a variety of condiments as well in the cupboards. Oh yes, and a tea kettle is provided as well. I love to have cups of tea throughout the day, so that was a sweet bonus. So bring your own tea bags! Really everything you need to cook (so you can save money from eating out to often). Wine glasses are provided too.
Bathroom: Full bath & shower, ample lighting, shampoo & conditioner provided, plush towels, and generous types of toiletries stashed in the medicine cabinet. Also, we didn't need to use them, but beach towels are located in the linen closet as well.
Living room area: Open area, with two tables for use. Multiple seating options, as well as a twin futon chair (I didn't try to open it into a bed, but I think it can be an extra sleeping option). I just loved sitting in that chair, reading at night, while listening to the coqui frogs.
Bedroom: The bedroom/sitting area has an interesting and cool layout. While there is no door to actually close to the bedroom, it does still have privacy, due to the layout. The siting area fronting the bedroom is lovely. The natural lighting is really nice there, so that's another good place to curl up and read during the day. A large mirror is in this area (good for dressing). Okay, let's talk about the bed- SUPER COMFY! I didn't want to get out of bed several mornings, but thankfully the ocean was calling my name. Lots of storage for clothing in the dresser, as well as the closet. Hangers are included in the closet, as well as an iron. While I don't watch TV, there is a TV in the bedroom if you want to unwind and watch something.
WIFI was strong and consistent! Gary also provides multiple informative Kona resource guidebooks and magazines.
They do allow you to use the washer and dryer if needed, but we didn't use it, so I can't write much about it. That is an awesome amenity in an AirBnB!
Don't forget to sign the guest book!
Check out was painless and easy.
Aloha!