Our family was looking for a perfect spot to celebrate a 30-year anniversary and our youngest turning 21 in Hawaii. We decided the Big Island and found the PERFECT house. To be honest, this house and host should be on the cover of the VRBO website. We spoke with the host before our arrival to review the amenities and discuss details of our vacation. When we arrived and drove past the gated entrance to see the property, it was obvious the house would exceed all expectations.The house was very clean and inviting. The entire property has screen doors that allows various breezes, and the elevation (1000ft) makes for perfect evening temperatures.Regarding the amenities, well, the description on the VRBO website does not disappoint. Our family has several cooks, and everyone agreed the setup is similar to a professional restaurant kitchen. In addition, it was stocked with various spices, cooking oils, sauces etc. We utilized everything except the pizza oven outside (the wood was too soft to use) The house has a lot of space and multiple areas to hang out and enjoy the views. It was difficult to leave the house for the day to explore the island. The owner and care taker where always available to answer questions or help with any issues on the property.In summary, I would highly recommended this property to anyone staying in KONA !!
This home is awesome!!.. the whole layout and surroundings are just Hawaii …. The view and sunsets are breathtaking.. pool and hotub are great !! Everything you need at your fingertips…. Well worth it !!
The home is gorgeous and especially comfortable for a large group. Many cozy areas, the pool and hot tub was a huge hit with the kids, the view amazing. Location to the beaches and restaurants great. The host has thought of absolutely everything needed for your stay. Hope to come back some day.
AMAZING! This house was beyond my expectations! A beautiful setting for a family reunion. Everyone had a great time and this place has everything you need. Lots of beach toys/chairs/towels for the beach days. Lazy days by the pool were my favorite. Perfect places to watch the sunset, kitchen has everything you need for family dinners, lots of places to hang out both inside and out and lots of games for game night. Overall this place was perfect for us, we will definitely be back highly recommend!!
Marcelline W.
Jul 01, 2025
We had the most incredible experience at this VRBO! From the moment we arrived, we were blown away by how thoughtful, welcoming, and well-prepared everything was. The space was spotless, beautifully decorated, and had everything we needed and more—including a few unexpected touches that made it feel extra special.The location was perfect—peaceful and private, but still close to all the local sights and activities we wanted to check out. Every morning felt like a dream, waking up in such a serene and cozy space. And the hosts? Absolutely amazing—responsive, kind, and genuinely invested in making our stay comfortable and memorable.We’ve stayed at quite a few VRBO, but this one truly stands out. We can’t recommend it enough and would absolutely stay here again. Thank you for such a wonderful experience—we’re leaving refreshed, happy, and already planning our return! ;)
My family and I had such a great experience at this amazing property! Everything about our experience was incredible! Laurens and Heidi were helpful and very responsive! The layout of the house is perfect for a large group! The pool and hot hub were awesome and the views from the lanai were unforgettable! We didn’t want our vacation to end!
What a lovely home. We had plenty of space for our group and the property provided numerous places to gather or just enjoy the great views in solitude.The host and caretaker were very helpful and communicative. I particularly appreciate the flexibility offered by the host due to a personal medical issue. We would definitely recommend you stay at this fantastic property.
"Wow, that place was just perfect for our family vacation! With seven of us, having the open space, private bedrooms, and three full baths was a lifesaver. Everyone could relax and have their own space, which was awesome. My grandsons were in that pool every single day, they loved it!Honestly, I don't think you could find a better place to stay in Kona. The location is stunning. We were so excited to watch the sunset and take in that 180-degree ocean view. And the house itself was incredible, fully equipped with everything you could think of. We especially loved the availability of the beach chairs, snorkel equipment and buggy boards. Big Mahalo to Kimberly and Laurens for that.Our whole experience was just amazing. They really did think of EVERYTHING. Heart of Hualalai was the perfect base for our Big Island trip. The amenities were endless, and their attention to detail was unmatched. Between Laurens, Kimberly, and Heidi, all our needs were met, appropriate check-ins were made to make sure we had everything that we needed. The communication was excellent. The house was so well set up – the gorgeous pool, and those breathtaking sunsets. I could go on and on! I'd recommend this property to anyone staying on the Big Island, hands down.
Enjoy the well appointed kitchen as every detail has been thought out, organized, and executed. Abundance of towels, snorkel gear, and household amenities greet you. Comfortable beds and pillows. With every screened window and door opened, along with the ceiling fans and the local Hawaiian night sounds, created a relaxing and restful night’s sleep. The home is a display of beauty and charm around every direction, as well as comfort. The grounds and views complete the total ambience of this VRBO experience. Owner provided easy communication before and during our stay. Highly recommend this house as it’s even better in real life than photos.
Being welcomed to the Heart Of Hualalai didn't start when we got there, it started much earlier with Laurens' communications, welcoming us with 'Aloha's' and ensuring we knew the multitude of possibilities the island offers. The entire home and property were pristine, welcoming, and offered more than our eyes and hearts could behold. Our family, all adults (e.g., 26 to 63), all wanted to snorkel with the manta rays, an adventure recommended by close friends and also Laurens. I have a little bit of a snorkeling phobia. While we were sitting on the covered deck looking out over the ocean having breakfast (a favorite place all week) a thought came to mind. Laurens and Kimberly have all of the equipment you could dream of for snorkeling, so my husband washed it all up ensuring there wasn't any sand on it, and we practiced in the pool. Laurens even helped me, communicating with me about my goal. That night we went snorkeling in the ocean (Kona Snorkel Trips) and had the best adventure with the manta rays! All of us stated how being able to practice snorkeling and swimming in the pool beforehand helped. The delicious fresh fruit on the property, exceptional. The yoga supplies, exercise equipment, and hammocks were perfect. The home is superbly stocked; kitchen, towels, art on the walls! I'd give Heart Of Hualalai a gazillion stars if I could. Loved the sound of the frogs at night too. Sharing the spirit of Hawaii, with much gratitude, Mahalo, Laurens and Kimberly.
Our experience was amazing. Laurens and Kimberly have thought of EVERYTHING. Heart of Hualalai was the perfect base for our big island trip. The house amenities are endless, the hosts attention to detail is unmatched. Between Laurens, Kimberly and Heidi we had all our needs met during our trip and excellent recommendations while on island.The house was so intentionally set up from hooks where you needed them, labels so you knew where everything was, sharp knives, sunscreen, gorgeous pool, breath taking sunset. I could go on! There were 9 of us this trip and we all would highly recommend this house for your next Big island stay!
We are a family of 7 who decided to spend a week on the Big Island. After much research we selected “Heart of Hualaiai”…and we are thrilled that we did. Kimberly and Laurens are the most hospitable couple imaginable. From the moment we descended the driveway with a majestic view of the pacific we knew we were in the right place. The home is absolutely spectacular. Neat and clean is one thing, meticulous, organized, and thoughtfully designed is something different. Every touch and detail is carefully attended to. Notes around the home and labels are all helpful and make navigating a new surrounding extremely easy. The kitchen is a central hub. We cooked breakfast every morning overlooking the ocean, made happy hour cocktails there as the sun set. The kitchen had every amenity including a coffee maker, blender, coffee grinder, juicer..you name it. Spices galore enhanced our cooking. The sleeping quarters are laid out to perfection. The “king” bedroom is nicely set off from the rest of the house, adding privacy and elegance. The other 3 bedrooms are equally thought out. The bedroom with the two queen beds has spectacular ocean views. The other two bedrooms have a tropical garden feel. Words cannot describe the beauty of the pool/hot tub, patio area. We loved the grill and the outdoor shower. The snorkels, masks, beach chairs and umbrellas made sure we got to enjoy the beach. Kudos to Kimberly and Laurens for taking hospitality to the next level.
The house is even better than the pictures and is centrally located for many activities on the island. After exploring the entire island we felt it was the best place to stay on the island. The house has an incredible layout with a very nice kitchen. It is very open so you feel like you are in a tree house with nice breezes. It has everything and more for what you need for a great vacation. We had all six of our children who are 19 and the layout allowed us all to be together while we cooked and relaxed. The pool, hot tub and multiple outdoor showers were a huge hit with amazing views. The house has all the amenities from snorkel / beach gear as well as an amazing grill set up with gas and a separate smoker. The owners are extremely nice people who reached out to us early and gave us tips on the island & offered to help in any way. This house and the owners are a 10 out of 10 and you will not find a better sunset view ! We cant say enough positive things about our experience.
Wow! We were completely blown away by Heart of Hualalai. This home is perfection. Location is so close to Kona yet feels so far away. The house was spotless. The way the house was constructed and the fact that the house is up the mountain allows for breezes and we were never hot and in fact slept with an extra comforter most nights while listening to the frogs and breezes. The view of the ocean and coast were miraculous and we kept grinning and pinching ourselves at the wondrous sunsets. The house had a calming vibe and you can tell it is much loved by the owners. The kitchen was stocked so well even our private chef was surprised. You will want for nothing staying here except for more time.The pool and pool terrace were where we spent most days. In fact we went to the beach and decided to come back to the home as it’s that freaking beautiful. We did drive up to the visitors center at Mauna Kea and that was an easy 1 hour 15 drive from the home. Lots of cool coffee growing places and adorable places to eat. Trust me leaving this place was difficult. They have spared nothing and the home has every amenity. The owners are gems to work with and the caretaker who lives on the property was lovely. We can not wait to return and are already planning our next visit to Heart of Hualalai.
There's that moment when you get to a VRBO, and wonder if it will look like the listing - and this definitely did not....because it was WAY WAY BETTER!
This is not just a house, it's a property with tons of outdoor spaces. There's little spots to sit & relax everywhere, the garden is truly amazing, there's an outdoor gym, and the pool is secure and totally private pool - with pool toys.
We loved the beautiful art, the furniture, the well stocked towels and linens, and the decks (which are everywhere) are perfect for morning coffee and cocktails at sunset.
We used it partly to shoot for a YouTube cooking channel, and this was easily the best equipped kitchen we've seen. We brought our own knives, because they're never sharp. But they were here, which meant a wasted checked bag. There's often a bbq at a VRBO, (usually in questionable condition) and this one was in top shape, plus there's a pellet smoker! Wanna go to the beach? No prob because there's fins, goggles, chairs, coolers, boogie boards - you name it they have it. If you like to cook, you’re going to be really happy.
You really won't need or want to leave, but if you do you're super close to any shopping, and about 3 minutes from the Holualoa art village.
This is being written 5 days after getting home, and we've already re-booked for next year. We literally can't wait to go back.
Our stay was truly a five star experience. Our family of eight (including 3 children, 9, 7 and 2) could not have been happier with our surroundings. The house, grounds and view from this property are stunning, and the interior of the home is immaculate.
This place felt like a real home from the moment we stepped in the door. The kitchen is beautifully organized and fully equipped with the highest quality of appliances and cooking implements. The Bedrooms and bathrooms are also lovely and easily accommodated our family
of eight. The master bedroom is particularly spectacular. Our children of course loved the swimming pool and hot tub which kept them entertained for hours – the owners also provided towels and pool toys as well as snokeling equipment so there was no need to bring anything but
personal swim wear. In my many years of staying at vacation rentals, I can honestly say I have never experienced more thoughtful owners or a more beautifully appointed and maintained property. This positive experience included all of our interactions with the owners both before and during our stay. This was truly an Aloha experience. Thank you Laurens and Kimberly.
This was our 2nd stay at this amazing house and hopefully many more to come. So much thought have been given to provide such a welcoming place, the best place we have ever stayed on the Island and we’ve stayed at quite a few over the years. The caretaker and the owners are wonderful. This house and the view are absolutely stunning! We can’t wait to return!
I don’t think there is a better place to stay at to enjoy your time while in Kona. This location is absolutely stunning. We could not wait to watch the amazing sunset and the 180 degrees ocean view. Besides these amazing features, the house itself is incredible. The house is fully equiped with everything that you could think of.
We particularly enjoyed the bodyboards.
Big Mahalo to Kimberly and Laurens.
We had a wonderful stay with our large group of 8. The house was well-stocked and very organized so it was easy to find everything we needed. Communication with the property owner was amazing.
I have stayed at many rental homes, and this one had ALL the comforts of home-- and more! The cookware was top-notch, with every spice you could ever need, and coffee ready for the following day if you arrived late. So well organized and had everything you could need for your stay. The views & sunsets were perfect, and we just wanted never to leave the house! Also, Sonos is throughout the home; there is an area to exercise and even a work desk if needed. We want to move into this house and never leave! We will be coming back to stay again. We also relied on the recommendations book in digital form AND hard copy at the house. They thought of EVERYTHING! Thank you, Laurens & Kimberly.
This was the best rental we have stayed at! Both the kitchen and bathrooms were extremely well stocked. Communication with the owner and property manager was easy and clear. The property has plenty of space, an amazing view and beautiful grounds. Don’t hesitate to book here…it was the highlight of our 2 week trip!
This is a beautiful, comfortable house with everything our family needed for a great Kona vacation. We brought a group of eight adults and found plenty of space for getting together and for time on our own. The house is beautifully decorated, has a great view of the ocean, and the owners were very attentive. And, of course, there’s lots of fun things to do on the Big Island. Our gang called it our “best vacation yet.”
All I can say is WOW! We just recently returned from our trip and I can only say great things about this lovely home and Laurens, Kimberly and Gabby. It was a dream from day 1 until the day that we left. The home is exceptional! There is nothing that they have forgotten. It is spacious and beautifully decorated. It was very clean and well maintained. We like to cook and the kitchen was a true chefs' kitchen. We could not get over how well it was stocked. I am still missing my favorite coffee cup that I adopted during our stay. The gardens were beautiful and we really enjoyed picking the fresh pineapples, bananas, limes and lemons. The open floor plan and feeling the breeze through the doors and windows was lovely. I never once missed air conditioning the entire stay. The pool was great and the views from every porch were out of a magazine. It is just a short drive down to the waterfront and we took their many suggestions for dinner spots. Gabby was a sweetheart and was delightful to talk to.
You honestly never know what you might be renting just based on pictures but I can say that this home was so much more. Thank you so much for sharing your gorgeous home with us. We will definitely be back! - The McCowan's
Wow! Where to start? The home is amazing and Lauren’s and Kimberly have thought of completely everything to make this the best vacation home ever!
First it’s in a tranquil, beautiful, tropical location. Secondly they added all the amenities so you can just show up and enjoy!
The home exceeded our expectations and we had the most wonderful family vacation. pictures cannot capture the properties magical feel and beauty. You must come stay here!
We absolutely LOVED our stay at the Heart of Hualalai estate! From the moment we arrived, the spacious and private Hawaiian home greeted us with 180° jaw-dropping ocean/town views. Exquisite decor detailed every room. There is ample seating around the property intermixed with well stocked towels, toiletries, and supplies. The open kitchen is a chef's delight! Every morning, we peacefully sipped coffee on the deck- enjoying the views and serenaded by the island wildlife. We took advantage of the snorkeling equipment to explore nearby beaches and relaxed daily at the newly constructed pool and hot tub on the property.
A review cannot adequately cover this home's endless amenities for families of all ages, exquisite detail, and quality. Most of all, it was hard to leave a real-life 'Hawaiian dream'. This house is a 'must-stay' when visiting the Big Island!!!
My family gathered at the Heart of Hualalai for the best holiday we've shared, largely due to this magical setting. We ranged in age from 11 months to 71, and all were perfectly accommodated.
Our hosts were generous with information (their color-coded guide to the island is great) and had stocked the fridge with goodies for our arrival. The kitchen was a dream to cook in, boasting every appliance and implement one could need. The house itself is beautifully designed, with breathtaking views from every room. For our extended family, there were great places to gather and to take time apart.
There are beach toys, chairs, umbrella, coolers and snorkeling equipment (we found some amazing nearby snorkel spots). There are also pool toys.
The house is generously stocked with toiletries and items possibly forgotten in travel.
The gardens are amazing, and the birds and geckos became regular visitors. Our friendly neighbor showed us the myriad plant species and introduced us to his chameleon.
Although we were there during heat and humidity, Heart of Hualalai was always comfortable, with the natural air flow and cooler temps at 1000 feet.
My 4 year old granddaughter was in the ocean or the pool every possible moment.
This house is a special place. We travel often, and this is one of the nicest places we've stayed. We only wish it could have been for longer. We all highly recommend HofH!
If you're reading this review you've undoubtedly already seen the pictures, and let us tell you, they do not do it justice. The house has incredibly beautiful architecture, fantastic decor, all of the amenities you can think of and some you probably didn't realize you needed. The view is an uninterrupted 180° of ocean, which can bee seen from every room in the house, including insane veiws of the entirety of downtown Kona. The primary bedroom is actually a whole separate house of it's own, with everything but it's own kitchen. The entire acre of property is meticulously landscaped with crazy/huge/interesting plants that can only be found here in Hawaii. There are stairways and paths crisscrossing all over the property, allowing up-close enjoyment of the exotic garden. We have been to various places in Hawaii a few times now, and the islands have activities and sights everywhere you look, but to have a property like this to call home for the trip was a whole different experience. We were perfectly content spending several days of the trip just hanging out at the house, enjoying the pool, hot tub, and epic view. To top this all off, the host, Laurens, was outstanding to work with throught the whole booking process and stay. He was very communicative, and offered extremely quick assistance with any question we had throughout our trip. Not to mention, he was just a very cool, personable dude!
We stayed here for a large family trip over spring break and truly enjoyed every moment. From the spacious main living area to the comfortable bedrooms; kitchen and linens that were beyond well-stocked; labelled light switches; easy to follow guide to the house/area and gorgeous views our whole family would strongly recommend the property.
Staying with young children we much appreciated the safely gated pool area and the provided sand toys for the beach. Many hours were spent by the kids in the pool and garden, and with the views it was a treat for supervising adults too. The supply of beach bags, coolers, and snorkels made for easy trips to the shore. With plenty of places to relax around the property it was easy to spend time altogether or take a break to relax and read, use the gym, or soak in the hot tub.
The kitchen is a cook’s dream and stocked with every utensil we needed, plenty of dishes and cutlery and high quality appliances.
Not being from the area, I was initially wary of no A/C however the airflow with so many fans, open windows and spaces combined with the cooled air in the evening made for very comfortable temperatures.
Favourites in the area of course included shaved ice, shopping 10 minutes away, and Kona Coffee and Tea. Quick access to the highway from the property made for easy travel to the north and south ends of the island.
Finally - communication with Laurens was friendly, easy, quick and very accommodating. Five stars all around
Magic Property and exceeded our every expectation.
We had a lot of family and friends visiting us and it was seamless. Lots of room to be together but also plenary of space to find private quiet space. The whole house is super thoughtfully done, is clean and beautiful.
Owners are exceptional people, when they say they practice the Aloha spirit they mean it!
Pool and hot tub are dreamy and a perfect place to watch the sunset. Porch is spectacular for viewing the ocean. We went in March and saw a ton of whales!
The gardens are beautiful and lush, the roosters, frogs and birds add on to the magic!
Kitchen is professional grade and has everything one could need! (We hired a private chef and it worked out beautifully)
Work out room was a great addition and also gives you a nice place to read a book in a hammock.
Writing this review, I wish I was back there. This place will not disappoint!!
This property was pretty much perfect. The architecture is very unique and the finish details on the house are flawless. The way the house is spread out, all of the guests had privacy and really felt like we were all staying at a high end resort. The pool is perfect! So nice to have the hot tub as well.
The owner Laurens was really great. He comminicated with me and gave us tips on things to do, restaurants, hikes, you name it. He really made the trip amazing and felt like we were friends by the end!
Ive been telling everyone i know about this house. I feel its a real bargain based on all you get on the property.
We rent vacation properties several times a year, this is up there with the best. And hope to visit again someday!
