We absolutely LOVED this place!!! Some specific notes:
LOCATION: terrific, and the view from the lanai is truly spectacular. Being surrounded by the ocean, watching the sea life and surfers, viewing the sunset -- infused our whole experience in Kona with nature, beauty and a sense of expansive horizons. There are two popular nearby local beaches within walking distance (one better for snorkeling, the other one white sand.) Having fun beaches nearby gave our crew (our family of 6 and 2 guests, all adults) a lot of freedom to move around without needing to get in a car. After reading the other reviews I was a little worried about the busy street, but it wasn't a problem for us at all (although there aren't sidewalks so you need to stay alert while walking, especially in the evening...might be more of a concern with little kids) The cute town of Kona with restaurants and shops is about a 10 minute drive north, and we were also about a 15-20 minute drive to a great Safeway and Costco, so it was easy to stock up on food for the week.
LAYOUT and SPACE: Layout and vibe of common areas is fantastic and just the right atmosphere -- definitely a "beach house" feel with a casual, open floorplan and comfy couches and chairs. There are individual controls for air conditioning and fans in each room, which all worked fine. There was an indoor dining table but we ate out on the lanai every night and watched the sunset. The lanai is the star attraction --for meals, lounging and reading, the hot tub was a nice plus. Kitchen had a great layout and was decently supplied with essentials (and we made good use of the InstaPot!) The first day the coffee machine wasn't working (that's a major crisis in our family!) but Angela had it replaced with a brand new one (within hours!) and there was also a French Press. Two of the bedrooms are ideal for couples, with ensuite bathrooms . The "bunk" room is small and felt cramped with three sibling adults -- probably best suited to small kids or for 1-2 adults. One of our sons slept on the pullout couch in the living room, so sleeping arrangements for 8 adults was a little tight but it didn't matter much to us. Similarly, much of the furniture, bathrooms and supplies were basic, not deluxe, but it suited us and the whole vibe just fine as everything was functional and clean. The beds were super comfy. Communication and check in was excellent and easy.
HIGHLIGHTS: Time spent on the lanai and snorkeling directly in the water in front of the house. There are rocks and the surf was rough our first few days so we didn't venture into it but when it calmed down we did and were rewarded with great visibility of the coral reef with colorful fish and spotted a turtles. There is some snorkel gear provided, rentals nearby, and its a good idea to pack water shoes and to be careful on the rocks! Overall, it was a 5 star experience and we would be thrilled to stay here again if we are lucky enough to return!