Wow, just WOW! Hands-down the best place we have ever stayed, on the Big Island or anywhere else. If we could give it 6 stars for everything, we would. We extended our stay here because we've never stayed anywhere this good. Hale pono is outstanding, a stunning and peaceful location, in a sunshine micro-climate, an immaculate, well-equipped beautiful home, delicious gourmet food and mostly, Zoe, the hostess with the mostest! From our first contact we were so impressed with her excellent service and speedy responses. Zoe sent us the best guidebook for the island as a gift to help plan the vacation and she answered all our queries quickly with helpful hints and detail. We have been to Hawaii many times, we all agree this was the best place we've ever stayed.
In a beautiful rural jungle area, off a winding rock track lined with wild orchids and flora of all kinds, teeming with brightly-colored butterflies, dragonflies and birds. It was great to have a 4x4 but the track was much better than Zoe had described.
The home is in its own lush, beautiful well-kept grounds and has its own private gate and driveway. The only sounds to be heard are those of nature, so wonderfully relaxing. The night skyscape is completely breath-taking, no need to drive to the top of Mauna Kea (although we did!).
The home is a tribute to all of the love and care that goes into each and every visit. Spotlessly clean with tasteful and luxuriously comfortable furnishings, EVERYTHING and anything you could possibly need or want of the best quality, towels, bedding, toiletries, cookware, bakeware, huge dvd library, excellent book and board games collections, hairdryers, silverware, amazing variety of cooking supplies, stationery and on and on...all great quality and everything works, the Wifi was excellent, the TV, everything. The kids (6,9,14) loved it, when we were 'home' we never saw them, except to play cards & board games in the evening!
Zoe's cooking rivals the best restaurants on the island and she caters for allergies and special diets with great care.
When we first arrived, we settled in and after our initial 'ooos' and 'ahhhs' of of delighted discoveries, Zoe came to greet us with warmth and hugs all round. We all loved it when Zoe came over with the food, or to check in, and we always wanted her to stay longer, she is a mine of local information and one of those people everyone enjoys being around. Whatever we needed, whenever we needed it, we contacted Zoe and problem solved.
We cannot recommend Hale Pono highly enough, it was an unexpected world-class gem of a vacation rental that sets the standard for the perfect vacation accommodation. We loved it and we will be back. Thank you Zoe for making this our best-ever visit to Hawaii's Big Island, you and Hale Pono are the best!