Spotlight Property: KBV202

KBV202 kitchen

Enjoy the beach vibes of Kahalu’u Bay Villas 202!

This lovely 2 bedroom, 2 bath condo is just 300 yards from the famous snorkeling and surfing of Kahalu’u Beach. With an ocean view you literally get to enjoy the breezy beach vibes! Not only are you at the beach basically but your only minutes from Keauhou Shopping Center with groceries, places to eat, island shops and a theatre nearby!

So you can be in the center of it all and of course just relax at the condo whenever you want:

kbv202 bedroom

kbv202 living room

On top of being bright, open and airy the condo also has a pull out sofa for extra guest space. Plus the complex has an elevator and assigned covered parking so your car doesn’t get too hot in the Hawaiian sunshine!

And of course a pool area in the complex:

kbv202 pool

Check out our availability for the rest of the year here: KBV202

Feel free to get in touch with us about any questions or concerns of if we have any on-going specials available!

 

 

Rodeos, rubber ducks and fireworks await! Come celebrate the 4th of July on the Big Island!

Starting at 9 a.m. on the 4th you can check out the 61st Annual Parker Ranch Rodeo and Horse Races in Waimae. General admission for this event is $12.

In Kailua Village the 4th of July Parade starts at 6 pm and is followed by fireworks (of course) over Kailua Bay. It’s a beautiful show every year!

If you are in the Hilo area join the festivities at Hilo Bay with firew

orks starting at 8pm and accompanied by a live band.

 

And one of my favorite events the annual Grand Waikoloa Rubber Duck Race! You can find more information at the kingshops.com site. It’s a charity event supporting the United Cerebral Palsy Association. You can adopt your own duck on-line and there are always great prizes from local businesses.

Check out our calendar for any availability for the big weekend!

 

Welcome to Our New Tropical Hideaway by Keauhou Bay!

 

 

Keauhou Palena 901 is a brand new property for us! It’s a peaceful secluded condo village nestled between Keauhou Bay and the Kona Country Club Golf Course. But you’re only seven miles from downtown Kona. So on top of being a great location you get great views and ocean breezes and free parking right outside the condo door!

Keauhou Palena is a modern condo that sleeps 4. With one bedroom, two baths and a Murphy bed area it’s great for a family or friends trip. The condo is open concept and there’s a large lanai perfect for your morning coffee or watching golfers amidst the backdrop of the famous Kona Sunsets.

Palena Bedroom

You also have access to the on-site gym and lovely saltwater swimming pool.

Plus just a short time away, you’ll find:
• Keauhou Shopping Center – with a movie theater, grocery store, restaurants, shops, salon, bookshop, and health clinic.
Kona Country Clubvisit the pro shop or dine at the restaurant with sweeping views of the ocean and bay.
• Keauhou Bay – book boat or snorkel tours, or simply relax by the water.
• Kahalu’u Beach Park – one of the best snorkel beaches on the Big Island.
kitchen palena

A lovely place to enjoy a homemade meal!

You can find more information on this lovely condo as well as booking availability: Here!
If you have any further questions or would like to discuss your stay please contact us directly at: 808-334-1199!

 

Big Island Jazz and Blues Festival This Weekend!

 

Fireworks in Kailua Kona

 

The 12th Annual Big Island Jazz and Blues Festival takes place this weekend. With the main festival event on Saturday, May 31st from 5-9 p.m.

You can attend the ocean front jazz and blues festival at the Mauna Kea Beach Resort. It’s a beautiful event every year but it is a ticketed event and does sell out annually so you may want to hurry up and make your plans. Some announced acts include; Donald Harrison, Wayne Toups and The Iguanas.

If you can’t attend the main event on Saturday however there is a JazzFest Dinner Teaser Friday night at the Copper Bar from 6pm-9pm. And a Sunday breakfast on June 1st 9-11 at Manta. So all in all there is plenty of chance for some great music!

Call direct for reservations at: 808-882-5707

You can also book through the Mauna Kea Website.

Check it out if you’re able to and enjoy the beautiful music and scenery of the Big Island Jazz and Blues Festival! Have a wonderful week!

 

Cirque de Chocolate: The Big Island Chocolate Festival is Almost Here!

 The 12th Annual Big Island Chocolate FestivalCirque de Chocolate will take place on April 10-12 bringing us plenty of delicious chocolate filled entertainment. I like to think of the Chocolate Festival as the greatest festivals of them all just because… chocolate. But its also a great chance to experience quite literally local flavor while having a fun time and potentially learning something new!

The event includes booths of all kinds of chocolate, taste-testing, growing lessons, seminars from experts in the field, culinary demonstrations so you can give it a go at home, farm tours and plenty of entertainment. There’s even a college culinary competition so we can meet the up and comers in the field.

It’s always a ton of fun. Even for people who aren’t that big on chocolate there’s plenty to learn and do.

There’s a Saturday night gala with unlimited drinks including special Ola Brew Chocolate Seltzer and Beer to try.

The Big Island Chocolate Festival takes place at the Waikola Beach Marriot and is presented by the Kona Cocoa Association. The tickets range in price depending on what you want to do, see and attend. The Saturday Gala is $109 for general admission and $179 for VIP. They do have to be purchased on line. You can find more information at the website: Big Island Chocolate Festival.

5 Things to Do in Hawaii in Spring

While it’s always beautiful in Hawaii, Kona in Spring is a particularly lovely time to visit the Big Island. There’s less people overall, the weather is perfect, and the island is in bloom all over so you get plenty of fresh produce and lush foliage.

Below are 5 things to do on Kona in the Spring time. Most you can, of course, do year round but there’s something about the air in Spring that makes it especially perfect this time of year.

 

The Merrie Monarch Festival. This one is one thing that you definitely have to do in Spring as the dates are April 20-26th. You an find more information: here

 

Mauna Kea Summit – there are plenty of chances to take guided tours to the summit year round. But because Spring tends to be quieter on the Island this time of year feels especially peaceful. If you go before April you may even see snow! You can get some excellent ideas from Trip Advisor about tours.

*You can get there on your own as well but it requires off-roading so make sure you look into vehicle features and your rental agreement.

 

E-bike tour  You can find an e-bike tour pretty much for anything on the Big Island. And Kona in Spring is a particularly lovely time to tour.

 

Big Island Zip Lining-  Want to take in the beauty of the Big Island while soaring through the air? Zip lining might be for you! And there’s actually plenty of options to give it a try! All for a good price for the beauty and adrenaline rush! Just don’t do like I did the first time—- keep your eyes open for the whole thing!

 

Beach Yoga Classes They say the sound of the ocean and just being near it is calming and meditative and helps improve your health. And Kona is already known for its beautiful beaches. Well just add some daily yoga to that for a great way to start your day. Classes are usually around 8 a.m. so you can always have a nice healthy breakfast afterward!

 

And even if you want to enjoy a relaxing vacation of doing nothing strenuous Spring is a great time to do that too! Contact us for Spring discounts and more information about any of these activities!

 

Frequently Asked Questions about Booking a Kona Vacation

FAQ #1: The In’s & Outs of Private Vacation Rentals in Kona

  1. What is an OTA?

OTA’s are on-line travel agencies that take bookings. Airbnb and TripAdvisor are examples of OTA’s.

    2. What’s the difference between using an OTA versus Direct Bookings?

While there are positives to the OTA’s such as filtering and deeper review histories it does add a third party to the mix. Meaning extra fees go to the OTA and, in most cases, extra layers of communication between you and the property management or owner.

    3. Do I really need Travel Insurance?

It’s not required. But it is heavily recommended. If we’ve learned anything from COVID times it’s important to have that extra protection when anything could happen.

   4.Do you Offer any Discounts?

We do often run discounts. We also offer special rates to military and first responders and their families. Anything else could be considered on a case by case basis. Please contact us directly at 808-650-2314!

waterfall

  5. What is the Rental Agreement and Do I Need to Sign it?

The rental agreement is acknowledgement of your reservation. Like any hotel a vacation property has rules and codes of conduct that we expect you to comply with- hence the agreement puts the details in writing for everyone to be protected. Not too mention many of the places in Kona have HOA’s with rules for the complex that could lead to fines if not followed.

It protects everyone to know that you’ve seen and acknowledged everything.  In our case you do need to sign the agreement to receive your check-in instructions.

Biker during the Ironman World Championship

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It’s a brand New Year! Mark your calendar for some 2025 Big Island event dates so you can come help us celebrate!

The Ironman Championship will be held on October 11, 2025. This year the women will take their turn competing in Kona.

Coming up much faster is the:

Waimae Cherry Blossom Heritage Festival on February 1st

The Merrie Monarch Festival runs April 20-26

The Hawaii Kuauli Pacific and Asia Cultural Festival runs June 6-8th

& in my humble opinion the best festival of any festival anywhere:

chocolates

The Big Island Chocolate Festival running April 10-12

What could be better than chocolate and Hawaii?

Make sure to stay tuned for updated information and new events all year…

Mahalo!

 

*These dates are subject to change in the event of an emergency or unforeseen circumstances. Feel free to email or contact us for further information where available!

 

Happy Holidays!

Wishing you and yours the very best this holiday season!

Enjoy the days and have a peaceful and safe time…

With lots of food, fun and love!

Hope to see you on the Big Island in the New Year!

 

He’e Nalu: The Art & Legacy of Hawaiian Surfing Exhibit

Hawaii Sunset glowing through a surfboard

 

From now until January 4, 2025 you can check out this exciting event on The Art & Legacy of Hawaiian Surfing at the East Hawai’i Cultural Center in Hilo.

Hawaii invented he’e nalu (wave riding) and this exhibit looks at everything from the early stories or the sea to contemporary works of art. From surf deities to the complicated relationships Indigenous people have with the Western predominance in the now billion dollar sporting industry.

This exhibit is a smaller curated part of the larger exhibit that took place in Arizona in 2023.

The Art & Legacy of Hawaiian Surfing

East Hawaiian Cultural Center

141 Kalakaua Street

Hilo

Colorful Surfboards lined up on a tropical beach

 

You can learn more about He’e Nalu: here