We got lucky and spent 3 nights at the Whale House because Tony was so accommodating for our last minute reservation! Amazing views, and a lovely house with every amenity. We threw all the windows wide and revelled in the cool breezes. Our two boys, 12 and 13, stayed downstairs and were very comfortable (but watch out for centipedes!). My husband and I used both bedrooms upstairs, and it was great to have separate toilets. The view from the lanai is breathtaking, and we saw whales a number of times. We made use of the boogie boards and snorkel equipment at Hookena Beach. On Daniel's recommendation, we booked a manta snorkel with Hang Loose, which saved us $100 over the other tours recommended in guide books. They also did not have use go in the water until mantas were sighted, which meant we stayed warm longer.
We drove to Milolii from Volcano, and Tony had great recommendations for stops along the way. We went to the black sand beach at Punaluu, and saw multiple turtles. It is a gorgeous spot, and we spent several hours there. We also stopped at the Punaluu Bake Shop, which was delicious. Great tips Tony!
The only downsides to the Whale House are the long drive down the hill, and the mosquitoes. My entire family got devoured the first night (one of my sons had 17 bites on one leg), and we didn't even feel them! USE THE REPELLENT! I also had the idea of putting several of the standing fans out there to blow them away, but we never did test this.
The stars were amazing, though there was a little interference from the half-full moon. I got up in the middle of the night (well, 4am) twice to star-gaze.
We would definitely return!