We chose Mauna Lani Terrace as our west side/South Kohala base for a recent trip to the Big Island.
We stayed at this beautiful unit for eight nights in September and really enjoyed our stay. It’s very spacious. There were four of us on this trip, including an infant, but I think the unit could easily accommodate 6 people. The unit has three lanais, two of which overlooking the fishponds and Pacific ocean. We really enjoyed watching gorgeous sunsets from the lanais. The apartment has everything you need, all the kitchen stuff, appliances, w/d in unit. The AC worked well (it’s still hot in September), although we tried to turn it off in the evening to be able to enjoy the evening breeze. We really liked the interior of the unit, it’s clean and nicely decorated. It does have a luxury feel. Also the owner of the unit lets you use their beach and snorkel gear, which is nice of them.
Now about the area. Mauna Lani Terrace is very nice Hawaiiana place, with ancient fishponds, ocean views, gorgeous sunsets, pretty little beach with very good snorkeling within walking distance from the complex (at Makaiwa bay). One can spend days in the area w/o having to drive anywhere. There are multiple trails along the shoreline. You can watch fish jumping in the fishponds, green turtles resting on the rocks or sand (please keep your distance and do not disturb them). Or you can watch Mauna Kea, which is also very beautiful at sunset.
As for the communication, I had a few questions for the owner, JoAnne, prior to booking and she responded quickly with detailed response.
This place deserves a 5 star from us, and I would highly recommend it. We hope to come back again some day.