My family met in Hawaii to celebrate my upcoming 70th birthday, so this house had to fit many needs from young to older! And for one week, it was a delightful place to meet, hang out, visit, snorkel, tour, and eat! The house was clean and extremely well maintained. The reports are true, we did simply snorkel from right in front of the house and see turtles, dolphins, live coral and many kinds of tropical fish. And, on the verandah one late afternoon, we watched whales in the bay. I could hardly get my kids and older grandkids out of the water. For the very young, there is a small white sand beach and water play area with a picnic-park, just a short walk away. The kids loved roaming around the backyard and bringing in lilikoi (passion fruit) from which we made the owner's favorite ice-cream! YUM! The papaya and bananas were not quite ready (sigh). Our grandchildren loved and named each gecko; they are a beautiful green and larger than any I've seen before and just set the stage of island living. The kitchen, appliances and kitchenware of all kind rivals mine at home - a chef's delight. We cooked outdoors and ate on the deck most evenings to the sound of the waves. The beach house is completely outfit with good quality play-toys as snorkel gear (much better than rentals), boogie boards, kayaks and bicycles and in the week we were there, we used it all! I'm a rural Idaho gal, but there is something so very special about waking up to roosters crowing and waves slapping. From each bedroom you could listen to the waves and water all night long; in fact we kept the house open except when we were gone and enjoyed the tropical life to the max.
While we enjoyed our days away (one to the Volcano Park and one across island to Hilo) we almost wished we'd stayed "at home" because of nice little trips in the direct environ as "the painted church", beautiful scenery, The City of Refuge State Park, a fishing trip, lots of organic farms, coffee growing and farmers coops to buy gifts and stock up on local food! If you are hankering for a restaurant, an ice-cream and coffee shop, there is a great local strip just minutes away. People are super friendly throughout this small community just 30 minutes to the south of Kona (telling folk lore and stories about the tsunami). Heaven it was! Now we are all in shock as we've returned to the frigid Pacific northwest and Wyoming. We will be back, you can believe it and it cannot be soon enough!
