Pros: Well laid out 2 bed/2 bath in a classic Kohala Coast beachfront community across the street from many shoreline access points to Puako Bay with rock beaches, sand beaches and many tidepools to see sea turtles land or snorkel out across the reef. We liked utility pole #120 the best for wading around and 115 for a quick nightly sunset session. It is situated between the Mauna Lani and Mauna Kea resorts and close to several beaches (Waialea Beach was our favorite) within a few minutes drive. There is a general store nearby for any sundries you forgot to pick up in Kona (though expensive). Poke day was a nice touch (look for the sign).
It is a raised home with a walk-up wrap around deck (well-lit carport below) and open floor plan hosting main living areas. The home was pretty well appointed and had most of what we needed in the kitchen and living areas, including good quality cutlery and cook pans. Beach gear did the job, including the supplied cooler. Ceiling fans, A/C, Laundry, Induction Stove, TV and other appliances were easy to operate and kept us comfortable (see exception below). The Bose speaker was a nice touch. The outside patio is spacious with oversize umbrella and newer grill. The multitude of light switches are all labeled for ease.
Cons: We unfortunately ran into issues with the home, mainly the dishwasher was not operational for the duration of our stay. Management company was quick to respond and inspect in person, as well as bring a new coffee maker that also died, but the problem was never resolved. A credit was offered, but washing dishes by hand cut into vacation time.
The most annoying issue that travelers should expect is the gecko activity. This is not clear from the listing and was bothersome. We realize the biodynamic area the home is in and why they are prevalent, but we've never experienced this level of gecko activity (read: feces) inside a home in Hawaii (have stayed many times on all islands including the Big Island). We had to sweep constantly in order to walk around and no area was spared (tables, countertops and furniture) from gecko droppings. The worst was waking up to a gecko dropping on your head. We appreciate the significance of geckos in the ecosystem, but this is unacceptable. The sign in the home and in the guidebook (which we did not receive in advance) did not allude to this level of fecal matter.