Swati
MBA - originally from India
Drives the strategy of the house and rules the kitchen. The mango lassi recipe is hers.
Kohanaiki Road - Kailua-Kona, Hawaii
Aloha and welcome to our hale.
You are about to stay in a quiet corner of the Big Island we have spent years shaping by hand - clearing rock, planting fruit trees, and learning to listen to the trade winds. Make yourself at home. This guide has everything we wish someone had told us on our first day.
- 15 minto Kona Airport
- 5 minto Costco & Target
- 10 mphon our road, please
Your hosts
The family behind the house
We are a family of four with roots in India, France, England - and twenty years in Seattle before the pandemic nudged us toward a longer, slower kind of life on the Big Island.
Dominic
Engineer - France & UK
Moves truckloads of rocks in the garden and keeps the spa sparkling clean.
Amandine
Student at McGill University
Alternates between snowy Montreal, Canada and the beaches of Kona.
Ariana
High school - STEM
The youngest. Knows where every gecko lives in the house.
Summer 2026
A note for our guests
Three families are sharing the season with us. We wish you an excellent trip - make memories, take care of each other, and enjoy our island.
Jun 29
->
Jul 10
Austria
Eric & Erin
Welcome aboard. The morning light on the lanai is unreal - bring coffee and watch the trades start.
We wish you an excellent trip!
Jul 11
->
Jul 18
France
Benjamine & family
The pool is yours. Try the night manta snorkel - it's the kind of thing a family remembers for life.
We wish you an excellent trip!
Jul 21
->
Jul 30
USA
John & Darcey
If the bananas are ripe, they're yours. Watch the sunset from the upper lawn at least once.
We wish you an excellent trip!
Keep handy
Contacts & Wi-Fi
If anything feels unclear, please reach out. For urgent house questions, a quick text usually works best.
Dominic
Swati
Wi-Fi
Network
COSMOPOLIS
Password
2281122811
1 - Arrival
Getting to the house
From Kona Airport it's a gentle 15 minutes south. Drive slowly on Kohanaiki Road - the neighborhood walks here, and so do the chickens.
Open in Google Maps
Kona Airport -> 73-4500 Kohanaiki Road
Kailua-Kona, Hawaii 96740
Directions >Avoid the unpaved fork
Coming up Hami Ha Street, the unpaved section is on your right. Stay on the paved side - your suspension will thank you.
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01
Drive Kohanaiki Road slowly
It's a single lane shared with people, dogs and chickens. Please keep it to 10 mph. The road is everyone's front yard.
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02
Right of way
When you're driving toward our house, incoming traffic has the right of way. When you're leaving, you do. A small wave to the other driver goes a long way.
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03
Park at the top, next to the fruit stand
The house is on your left. There's a little wooden fruit stand at the top of the drive - pull in beside it.
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04
Use the side gate
The pedestrian entrance is the side gate, not the big main gate. Push the latch and walk down the driveway.
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05
Open the door
At the keypad: tap anywhere on the pad to wake it, type the provided code we sent you, then press #. The lock will click.
Heads up. Too many wrong attempts will lock the keypad out for a while. If you're unsure, message us before trying again.
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06
Always close the gates behind you
This one matters. Wild boars come down the hill at night and they can shred the lawn and rip out the garden in a single visit. Open the gate, drive (or walk) through, close it. Every time.
2 - Your safety
Looking after each other
The neighborhood is quiet and we watch out for one another. A few things to know just in case.
Fire extinguisher
In the kitchen, mounted to the wall near the stove side.
Main water shutoff
Located near the front door. If something starts leaking, turn it clockwise to close.
Photo placeholder - water shutoff
Kona Community Hospital
79-1019 Haukapila Street, Kealakekua, HI
808-322-9311
Kaloko Urgent Care
Across from Home Depot, open 7 days.
808-300-3441
Queen's Kona Health Center
75-5653 Kuakini Hwy, Suite 100
808-322-2425
Slippery tiles
Watch out for slippery tiles when your feet are wet.
Low crime, watchful neighbors
This is a quiet street and people look out for each other. Still - don't leave valuables in the car. Bags, electronics, and passports come inside.
Security alarm
If you'd like to use the alarm, ask us for the code. When the system beeps after a door opens, enter the code quickly - within the grace window.
Important: a triggered alarm brings the local police, and they may arrive with weapons drawn. If you trip it by accident, call us and the monitoring company immediately to cancel.
Rat lungworm disease - please read this once
Rat lungworm is a parasite found in some parts of Hawaii. The lifecycle runs through rats and small snails or slugs; people get sick by accidentally eating a tiny snail, slug, or its slime on raw, unwashed produce. Symptoms can include severe headache, a stiff neck, tingling, and in serious cases a meningitis-like illness.
How to stay safe with island produce:
- Inspect leafy greens leaf-by-leaf under bright light.
- Wash all produce under running water - soaking alone is not enough.
- Peel where you can. Cook when you can (boiling for 3-5 minutes kills the parasite).
- If a fruit or vegetable looks suspect, throw it out. It's not worth it.
Centipedes
Hawaii has centipedes. We spray the perimeter quarterly and almost never see live ones inside - maybe one or two dead ones a year. Shake out shoes and beach towels just in case.
Little fire ants
Don't grab or shake dense vegetation, and avoid standing under a branch you've just bumped - locals call it an "ant shower." Stick to paths and you'll be fine.
Hawaii Invasive Species Council >3 - Your privacy
Your space is yours
Cameras
The outdoor camera stays on for security - it watches the driveway and main gate.
The four indoor cameras are unplugged for you. Please leave them unplugged for your stay; plug them back in before you leave (we'll remind you in the checklist).
Garden & pool visits
The garden team comes by once a week, and the pool/spa technician comes once a week as well. They are quick, friendly, and won't enter the house.
Opening the main gate
On a few days during your stay we may text and ask you to swing open the main gate - for deliveries, the trash, or the garden crew. It's a quick favor; thank you in advance.
4 - Trash
Tuesday evening rhythm
Tuesday
Roll the can out
Open the main gate, walk the trash can up next to the fruit stand at the top of the drive, then close the main gate behind you.
Wednesday
Bring it back in
Pickup happens early. Once the can is empty, walk it back down the drive and tuck it inside the property.
5 - Pool & Spa
The water is yours
A short list of small habits that keep the water clear and the equipment happy.
Shower first, always
Rinse off sunscreen, salt and especially any traces of sea algae before the pool or spa. It keeps the water beautiful for everyone.
The pool vacuum
To swim around it, slowly drag the floating tube so the vacuum head ends up cornered in one part of the pool. Leave the vacuum itself in the water - only move the tube, and only as much as you need.
Spa
- Open the cover.
- Press anywhere on the control pad to wake it.
- Press 1, then 2.
- When you're done - close the cover to keep heat in.
Weekly maintenance
Once a week the pool/spa technician will stop by to check chemistry and clean filters. They're in and out quickly.
6 - Around you
Our favorite Big Island things
We'd happily spend an afternoon walking you through every one of these. Use the filters to plan a morning, an afternoon, or a long day out.
~35 min south
Two Step / Honaunau Bay
A lava-step entry into clear water and one of the best snorkel spots on the island. Best for confident swimmers; bring reef shoes and go early.
Drive >~35 min south
Puuhonua o Honaunau
The Place of Refuge. A small national park with sacred sites, coconut groves and tide pools. Walk it slowly.
Drive >~35 min south
St. Benedict's Painted Church
A small historic church with hand-painted biblical scenes inside. Easy add-on before or after Place of Refuge.
Drive >~25 min mauka
Mountain Thunder Coffee
A working Kona coffee farm with free tours daily, roughly 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Cool air, great smell.
Plan a visit > Drive >~1 hr north
Big Island Vanilla Farm
A small, family-run farm and one of the only vanilla growers in the U.S. Lovely if you've already done coffee.
Drive >~15 min north
Kua Bay (Maniniowali)
White sand, turquoise water, easy entry on calm days. Great for swimming and older kids; surf can get rough, so watch conditions.
Drive >~20 min north + walk
Makalawena Beach
Beautiful, more remote white sand inside Kekaha Kai. Not ideal with small children because of the hot walk; magical if you pack light.
Drive >~35 min north
Hapuna Beach
Huge white-sand beach with bathrooms and lifeguards. One of the best family beach days when the ocean is calm; shore break can be strong.
Park info > Drive >~40 min north
Mauna Kea / Kaunaoa Beach
Classic crescent beach by the Mauna Kea resort. Great swimming on calm days; public parking passes are limited, so go early.
Drive >~30 min north
Anaehoomalu Beach (A-Bay)
Easy Waikoloa beach with sunsets, rentals, Lava Lava nearby, and generally mellow water. Good for strolling and families.
Drive >~45 min north
Spencer Beach Park
Often calmer and shaded, with picnic space. One of the better choices for younger children when north-shore conditions cooperate.
Drive >~25 min south
Kahaluu Beach Park
Beginner-friendly snorkeling with lots of fish, but it gets busy. Good for first-time snorkelers; watch reef etiquette and sunscreen rules.
Drive >~20 min south
Magic Sands
Pretty, convenient, and fun for sunset. Better for bodyboarding than little-kid swimming when waves are up; the sand literally comes and goes.
Drive >~10 min south
Aiopio Fish Trap / Honokohau
Calm historic fishpond area, turtles on the sand, and an easy beach walk. Excellent mellow outing with kids; give turtles distance.
Drive >~30 min north + walk
Kiholo Bay
Black lava, turquoise lagoons, turtles, and a wild coastline feel. Better for walking/exploring than swimming with young children.
Drive >Sunset trip from Honokohau
Night manta ray snorkel
You float on a lit board after sunset and giant mantas come up to feed. Choose a small-boat operator; book a few days ahead.
Find operators >~15 min south
Downtown Kailua-Kona / Alii Drive
Oceanfront stroll, shops, shave ice, Hulihee Palace, Mokuaikaua Church, and sunset people-watching. Easy first-day orientation.
Drive >~30 min north
Waikoloa commercial center
Queens' Marketplace and Kings' Shops: easy restaurants, groceries, boutiques, galleries, and a resort-town evening walk.
Queens' > Kings' > Drive >~30-45 min north
Kohala Coast resorts
Walk the public beach access paths around Mauna Lani, Waikoloa, Mauna Kea, and Hapuna. Great for polished sunsets, resort lunches, and photo walks.
Explore >~35 min south
Kealakekua Bay / Captain Cook
Excellent snorkeling by permitted boat tour or kayak, with major historical context. Not a casual beach-entry swim for most visitors.
Drive >~2 hr 15 each way
Mauna Kea stargazing
The visitor station sits at 9,200 ft. Sunset, then stars. Dress for cold; don't skip the altitude acclimation.
Drive >~2 hr 30 each way
Hawaii Volcanoes National Park
The drive is part of the experience. Start early, see Kilauea, walk a lava tube, drive Chain of Craters, and bring layers.
Drive >~2 hr 45 each way (long day)
Akaka Falls / Hilo side
A 442-ft waterfall and a short jungle loop trail. Pair it with a Hilo lunch and a Mauna Kea drive on the way back if you have the energy.
Park info > Drive >~2 hr each way
Liliuokalani Gardens
Hilo's peaceful Japanese garden with ponds, bridges, banyans, and bay views. Easy with kids and a good rain-or-shine Hilo stop.
Info > Drive >~2 hr 45 each way
Red Road / Puna coast
A dramatic Puna coastal drive through jungle and lava landscape. Best as a long, slow day; avoid rushing and check road/park conditions.
Drive >~2 hr 30 each way
Lava Tree State Monument
A short Puna walk past lava molds of trees. Pair with Red Road or Hilo; bring mosquito spray and check current access before driving.
Park info > Drive >~1 hr 50 south
Punaluu Black Sand Beach
Famous black sand and often turtles resting on shore. Nice for photos and picnics; swimming depends heavily on conditions.
Drive >~2 hr south + hike
Papakolea Green Sand Beach
Beautiful and remote, but not a casual beach day. Hot, windy hike; not recommended for small children or anyone short on time.
Drive >~2 hr each way
Rainbow Falls
Very easy Hilo waterfall stop, especially in the morning when light is right. Pair with Liliuokalani Gardens and lunch in Hilo.
Drive >~1 hr 20 north
Pololu Valley Lookout
Big cliff-and-valley view at the north end. The trail is steep and can be slippery; the lookout alone is worth it.
Drive >~1 hr 40 northeast
Waipio Valley Lookout
Historic valley overlook with dramatic views. Respect closures and private/local access restrictions; don't attempt the valley road unless clearly permitted.
Drive >No activities match those filters yet - try a different combination.
Groceries & basics
Where we eat
A friendly warning: in Kona the best-view restaurants don't always have the best food. Go to one for sunset drinks and another for dinner.
Izakaya Shiono
Japanese - izakaya
74-5599 Pawai Pl
Kiri Thai
Thai
75-5626 Kuakini Hwy #5
TK Noodle House
Vietnamese - noodles
75 Hanama Pl
Kamana Kitchen
Indian
75-5770 Alii Dr #2-3
Ultimate Burger
Burgers
74-5450 Makala Blvd #112
Pancho & Lefty's
Mexican
75-5725 Alii Dr
Don's Mai Tai Bar & Restaurant
Oceanfront - drinks
75-5852 Alii Dr, Royal Kona Resort
Umekes
Seafood - poke - Hawaiian
74-5599 Pawai Pl
Jackie Rey's
Steak - seafood - happy hour
75-5995 Kuakini Hwy
Kona Brewing Pub
Brew pub - pizza - casual
74-5612 Pawai Pl
A quiet local tip on parking
Locals rarely pay for parking in town. Shoulder parking is free along Kuakini Hwy next to the Coconut Grove Marketplace, and the bank/library lots are usually fine on Sundays or in the evening. Always read the posted signs - if it says no parking, believe it.
7 - Cleaning
A note about keeping it nice
Hours of work, lovingly
We spend many hours before every exchange - wiping wood panels, floors, every surface - getting the house ready for you. We'd love it returned the same way.
Cleaning costs in Hawaii
Cleaning here is genuinely expensive - $500+ per visit - and the house is large. Between guests, a professional cleaning team comes through.
The tropics, honestly
You may meet a gecko or two, hear a frog at night, occasionally see a cockroach, and rarely a dead centipede. The house can smell a touch musty when it's been closed - open it up and the trades will sort it out.
Please don't leave doors or windows wide open - door bottoms are sealed and we use nets because critters move fast.
Forgive a little rust on metal - the salt air finds everything.
Simultaneous vs. non-simultaneous
Simultaneous exchange (we're at your place while you're at ours): no money owed. Please restore the house to the state you found it - cleaning supplies are in the garage.
Non-simultaneous exchange: either restore the house as above, or leave us $200 via Venmo (or equivalent) and let us handle the deep clean.
8 - The garden
An ongoing love letter
When we arrived this was a field of lava rock. We moved most of it by hand - no machines, just years of weekends. It's still a work in progress.
6-8 hours every week
That's roughly what we put in to keep it from turning back into a jungle. Don't be surprised if it looks a little wild after a busy month - it bounces back fast.
If we have been away for several weeks...
The garden may look like it has launched a peaceful coup. Bananas lean into pathways, passionfruit vines make diplomatic advances, lemongrass goes full opera hair, and one mysterious weed will confidently pretend it owns the place.
Please do not take it personally. Hawaii grows things at cartoon speed, especially after rain. We tame it every week when we are home, but after a few weeks away it can shift from "curated tropical" to "Jurassic Park, but friendlier."
If you can still find the driveway, the house, and the pool, we are calling it a win.
Take fruit if it's ripe and you'll eat it
Eat what's in season. The trees love being picked. What you don't pick will fall and feed the birds.
oranges
lemons
tangerines
guava
bananas
passionfruit
coconuts
pineapples
kava
coffee
thyme
lemongrass
What is kava?
Kava - called awa in Hawaii - is a Pacific pepper-family plant whose root is traditionally prepared as a water-based drink for ceremony, conversation, and relaxation. It is not alcohol, but it can be sedating and can interact with medications.
If you are curious, ask us before harvesting. Avoid kava if you are pregnant, have liver concerns, take sedatives, or plan to drink alcohol or drive.
NIH safety note >The neighbors with feathers and fur
You'll likely meet parrots, a northern egret, neighborhood chickens, pheasants, mongoose darting along walls, the bright red cardinal. And of course - boars at the gate line if any fencing is down.
9 - Kohanaiki Road
Where you are, gently
Kohanaiki is an ahupuaa - a traditional Hawaiian land division running from the mountain to the sea - long held as wahi pana, a storied place. The coast just below here has fishponds, anchialine ponds, and shoreline sites that families have worked to protect for generations.
What is now a quiet residential road runs through that same heritage. Drive slowly, keep the gates closed, take only what's offered, and leave the land a little better than you found it. That's the whole code.
10 - Before you go
The leaving checklist
A quick run-through. Check things off as you go - the list lives only in this browser session, nothing is saved.
0 of 9 - Start here when you are ready to leave.
A hui hou - until we meet again.
Mahalo for treating our home like your own.