Property Description
Hale Kai means 'Home by the Sea' and sits only 20' from the ocean. Step outside this home onto your own private white sand under the shade of your palm tree garden. Hale Kai sits 32' above the water on a pali and within a few minutes of the house, one can snorkel, swim, scuba dive, hike, surf and kayak and enjoy the pristine beauty of a quiet, serene and romantic ocean side setting. You will love lounging on the shaded and tiled lanai overlooking the Pacific Ocean entertained by the locals... Spinner Dolphins, Green Sea Turtles and Humpback Whales.
You will really enjoy our new Sunset Pool in the downstairs lanai. The pool will help you cool off on those warmer days and provide a wonderful place to watch the sun slide into the ocean while sipping on a Mai-Tai. The all tiled new pool is definitely a game changer!
The Plantation style home has 3000 square feet of breathtaking views from any part of the house and is surrounded by water in three directions and some of the most pristine coral reefs in all the islands. Located conveniently halfway between Kona and Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, Hale Kai makes a great base from which to explore the Hilo and Kona side of the island.
Lulled to sleep by moonlight on the water, Hale Kai will flow into you as you enjoy the moonlight and stars on the water.
Beaches near the Home: 3 beaches lie close to the house. Sea Cave Beach is a 20 minute hike South & hosts a cool sea cave where one can swim. Beyond the sea cave, the beach is about two hundred yards wide & deep. It is a sand & pebble beach & provides great swimming, sunbathing & snorkeling unless there is a large winter swell.
The second beach is at Milolii Beach Park where sand pockets are surrounded by lava & coral to form a very quiet wading area for kids with great swimming, snorkeling & scuba further out. Great place for kids to play in the tidepools. Milolii Beach Park is about a 5 minute drive from the house.
The third & by far the most spectacular beach is located at Honamolino Bay, a 5 minute drive & then a 20 minute walk from the historic yellow church. It has been touted as one of the most beautiful beaches in all the islands. A true tropical paradise, the water is almost always very calm with many coconuts palms along a crescent of black sand.
Location, Location Location: Located conveniently between Kona and Volcano's National Park, this home is a great base from which to explore the island. The lushness of Hilo Town (The City of Orchids) is a beautiful drive through the rain forests of Hawaii Volcano's National Park. The nightlife and restaurants of Kona are less than an hour's drive from the house.
The area is quiet and serene with stunning sunsets and lots of room to explore. The Kings Trail runs through here and can be walked for many miles. The kayaks that come with the house can also be used to explore miles and miles of coastline. Secret beaches, sea caves and lots of marine life can be discovered with a trip either up or down the coast. You will see parts of Hawaii that very few visitors ever see. If you are lucky, the local Spinner Dolphins, Green Sea Turtles and Humpback Whales may choose to swim with you. A once in a lifetime experience!
National Parks Near Hale Kai: Haunaunau National Historical Monument is North of the house about half an hour and features a comprehensive look back into the ancient Hawaiian culture with a reconstruction of the 'City of Refuge'. Watch an outrigger canoe be carved from a single log as well as sea turtles haul out of the bay. Lots of great info in a beautiful setting. A short walk North at a site called 'Two Step' also hosts some of the islands best snorkeling and diving and a chance to swim with dolphins.
Hawaii Volcano National Park is located about an hour's drive East and features one of the only places in the world where one can hike and watch fresh red hot lava waterfall into the sea. Petroglyphs, rainforests, lava caves, a world class visitor center, Hawaii Volcano National Park should not be missed. Guests should easily plan on spending at least a full day here exploring the park and another full day in Hilo hunting out waterfalls and enjoying the Tsunami Museum among other attractions. We want you to have a great time at Hale Kai just like we have over the years and are here to help in the planning process.
Registration Number: TA-080-077-4144-01, GE-080-077-4144-01
User Reviews
Cyndi K.
Jun 29, 2025
Overall, we loved our stay here. The property was clean, right on the ocean, and at the end of a quiet neighborhood. We loved checking out the local beaches, especially Honomolino, which we basically had to ourselves everytime we went. It is a bit of a trek to get to the house, but we appreciated the relative closeness to some of the top sites we were interested in (Volcano National Park, Punalu'u Beach, etc.). The kitchen was well stocked, which was helpful since a trip to the store is a 30 minute journey. The only issue we had was bugs -- despite vigilant cleaning, we were swarmed with bugs multiple evenings due to pretty sizeable holes in the screens. Without A/C, there's no choice but to keep windows open despite the bugs. New screens throughout the property would help tremendously.
Kathleen C.
Jun 17, 2025
We had such a great time. when some of us wanted to go to the beach and some wanted to stay at the house it went safe and they were content. The house was beautiful and comfortable. We cooked together and there was plenty of room for everyone of the 6 of us.
Mike H.
Jun 02, 2025
Several upkeep items- garbage cans full, microwave did not work, fresh water not refilled, some extremely dirty cooking pans, ran out of paper towels, no extra rolls. House was clean, beds were comfy great location on the water.
Stefanie B.
May 12, 2025
Maintaining a VRBO property is not easy and is a lot of work, so we understand things won't be perfect, and our stay was not even close to perfect. This property is definitely out of the way and not touristy. It's a long, windy road into a subdivision. It's near the edge of a cliff with no access to the water from the house. The house is in need of some love. It's worn from the salt in the air, dirty, and not well kept. There is no air conditioning, and the house gets very hot! The only way to attempt to cool the home is to open windows and doors. There are screens, however, that doesn't stop the cockroaches from entering, especially when there are holes in the screens. There was a live cockroach in the silverware drawer, which meant we had to wash all dishes prior to use. Cockroaches were in the lower and upper levels of the home, and on the lanai. The home is not clean and needs some work. A fuse blew when operating the coffee maker, toaster and microwave, and after the owner told us where the breaker box was, we flipped the breaker and then the microwave no longer worked. We notified the property manager and he never responded and we had to throw meals away because they needed the microwave. The curtains in the master bedroom don't cover the window behind the bed, and on the sliding glass door, it seems there is an entire panel missing, so there is no is no privacy. This place could be great if it was better maintained.
JAMA B.
May 01, 2025
The location was tremendous, we loved being on the lava rock/ocean. The upkeep of the home itself was less than desirable. I cannot believe you would rent a VRBO with bathroom water damage in that condition! Alot of holes in screens, could not leave those doors open because of large bugs.
Kari H.
Apr 30, 2025
Magical and spiritual is the best way to describe the home and surroundings. We had everything we needed and more. Privacy, peaceful, connection and slowing down. Words can’t explain the wonderful experience. Absolutely perfect way to embrace the Aloha spirit! Thank you Mike for helping us slow down to enjoy the beautiful planet we live on.
John H.
Apr 01, 2025
This is an AWESOME location, with an owner who was very helpful in providing suggestions for exploring the area.The views are so beautiful. It is pretty private and secluded However the property is feels a little rustic.We would definately stay there again!
JoAnne S.
Mar 22, 2025
We rented this home as a landing spot for our daily excursions. The house is right on the water, so sunsets and dolphin watching was spectacular. We wished there was easier access to the water for swimming and snorkeling, but we were able to get in the water via other beaches.
lee y.
Mar 19, 2025
Property was as advertised. Perfect place to stay halfway between kona and helo. Srclued and peacefull.
Ben L.
Jan 09, 2025
Beautiful location, well furnished and equipped. Great support from owner. Thoroughly recommend.
Robert P.
Jan 02, 2025
The view of Hale Kai second to none! 3 mile road to the house a little tricky to navigate but well worth it once you arrive. The house was accurately described in the listing. Beautiful quiet neighborhood with a great salt pepper beach 5 min drive 20 min hike away. Plan your groceries ahead of time since the nearest grocery store is 40 minutes away. We are Looking forward to coming back to Hale Kai!
Debra S.
Nov 02, 2024
Property was very nice and relaxing great views of sunset. Only down side was the road to property but few days mastered that road
Jennifer B.
Aug 19, 2024
Hale Kai is a little piece of heaven with a "lot of personality", to borrow my hubby’s description. It’s rustic (meaning no air conditioning, a few critters, the seaside location magnifies some house wear/tear), but at the same time filled with home comforts, unique artwork, and lots of aloha. It’s away from crowds but it is at the end of the road where locals in the community go to fish off of the rocks. It’s on volcanic rock giving renters a unique place to explore.
The dining room table is on a wonderful lanai. The winds off of the ocean kept us cool enough to be comfortable (house temp ~mid 70’s). Falling asleep to the sound of the waves hitting the beach was our favorite thing about the house!
Since it’s on volcanic rock you won’t find white sand beaches here. The last leg of the drive to get here is a little bit of a challenging one. If you’ve driven in the Smoky Mountains, MD’s Deep Creek Lake, Vermont mountains, or Telluride, the road is similar to that...hilly, steep, and winding. The views getting down to the house are stunning. With the location being right beside the sea, you will need to plan out your days carefully to consolidate driving time.
Hale Kai is one of the best supplied VRBO's we've stayed in. Even things like TP, PT, tissues, olive oil, were available for our use. Upon arrival, Dan had Hawaiian music playing for us. We noticed some tears in screens that once fixed, could help with critters/bug visits. It was a fun and memorable visit!
Emily T.
Aug 05, 2024
This location was amazing for views and enjoying the sound and view of the ocean! The house was amazing with all the amenities needed for a week stay. Would recommend having a 4x4 to get to the property. It is not an easy drive to get to neighborhood and is very intimidating the first time you drive it. The drive is worth the views from the house and the lava cliffs tbat are just amazing and serene. Definitely recommend staying here!
Cindy R.
Jul 17, 2024
If I could pick this house and view up and move it to an easier to get to location, I would give it a much higher rating. The 12 minute very windy road was very hard to handle everyday coming back from a long day out. My kids and I all had to wear sea bands every time we left and came back because of that road made us so car sick. There is nothing to do at the house. No easy accesses to water to swim. There are no decent beaches and no restaurants. We would leave the house in the early morning to make an hour or longer drive to beaches restaurants or other activities we had in mind. We would just stay out all day and then return at night. This was our only place we stayed and that was our fault. I had no idea the amount of driving on windy roads we would have to do to get to anywhere really. I picked this place because it was in the middle of the observatory and the VNP. I should have just chose one place closer to each. We wasted a lot of time in the car.
The house was comfortable and there was plenty of room for us all. It was too hot for us the first night. We are not comfortable sleeping with the doors open, especially with kids sleeping downstairs, so we bought three fans, one for each room. That helped a lot. We left those there. The locals would come down and “party” right in front of the house at night, and it would get very loud. My husband would have to go out and turn the outside lights on to show them we were there.
