Gorgeous Remodeled Modern Home w/ Beach Across St.

Reviews

• Reviewer: Chris

  Comments: The surf temple is a paradise within paradise. The short review: Simply put, if this home is available, book it quickly. The location is amazing, only a few footsteps across the street you have a beautiful beach (usually we were the only ones there) with lava rocks, some white sand, and amazing snorkeling. It's so close to the ocean that you can hear waves crashing from the house. The home is beautiful inside and out, updated and designed with amazing taste. The yard is very spacious and spread out. It is also located in a perfect location to snorkeling, surfing, dining out, grocery stores, Costco, but is secluded enough away from the busier parts of Kona that our family wanted to avoid. The owners of the home are also very friendly and helpful. I can't stress enough that this place is amazing and as we completely loved our stay here and plan to return again in the future.  A more detailed review: The house and grounds are beautiful and thoughtfully decorated. We also learned that the home was recently renovated as well with new appliances in the main kitchen and new bathrooms and showers. Tile floors throughout and around the house and also on the patio areas were great. The yards have beautiful landscaping with many tropical plants and trees. The patio areas have tons of space, outdoor fans, outdoor couches where you can relax and eat your meals on a beautiful wood table. A Weber BBQ was great for cooking, and a nice addition to the home. The insides of the living areas are impeccable, beautifully designed and furnished. It made us feel as if we were living inside of an interior decorated home featured in a magazine.  The home itself is actually two structures connected by a common roof. One half of the home is a spacious living room, full kitchen including: dish washer, full sized shower, bathroom, and a beautifully decorated large bedroom with a large closet. There's a very spacious patio area just in front of its entrance as well. The second structure is a large bedroom, a kitchenette, bathroom and a newly remodeled shower. This structure also has a private patio area and separate entrance. It also has a washer and drier. I spent a few days of my trip doing snorkeling right across the street, taking photos and videos with my GoPro, and diving at this spot and really loved it. I saw hundreds of tropical fish, cool reefs, and even a turtle. The water was very clear, too!  My family of four booked this location at the last minute for our yearly holiday vacation over Christmas and NYE. The condos that were available at the time looked okay, but this house was at another level. We'll definitely be recommending it to friends who want an amazing place to rent while staying in Hawaii. On top of everything else the owners were quick to respond, very friendly, and a...

• Reviewer: Angela

  Comments: A great house in a great location. It's on the main street that goes through downtown Kona about 4 miles south of downtown. There is a rocky beach behind the house across the street, and we could hear the ocean at night. It's about a 5 minute walk from a really nice beach that is popular with surfers and snorkelers. We didn't surf here but we did snorkel. It was a great, clear spot with lots of fish. The location is great for seeing Kona and all the great spots around it, such as Honaunau and Kealakekua Bay (with a car). Because it's on one of the main roads, there was a bit of road traffic, and the neighbors were a bit loud on Friday night, but all the great amenities made up for it. There is a very modern main house with one bedroom and a very nice kitchen, bathroom and living space, and a separate ohana (a mother-in-law suite) a few feet away with a shared patio. This would be a great place to for 2 couples so each could have some privacy. Although the ohana suite just has a kitchenette so any cooking of meals would be easier in the main house. The hosts don't live nearby so all communication was by text, but we had no problems. I would stay here again.

• Reviewer: Richard

  Comments: We felt completely spoiled from the moment we walked in the door. This home is absolutely beautiful, clean, and modern. Our hosts left us everything we could have asked for. The two seperate spaces provided the perfect amount of privacy for two couples while still having a good common gathering space on the shared lanai. Both the ohana and main house were beautifully decorated and cozy. Both beds were so comfortable and the bedding felt soft and luxurious. The home is a very quick drive into the main shopping area while still being far enough away to feel less touristy and congested. It's also close to many coffee farms, manta ray dives, the Painted Church, and Kealakekua bay. The beach across the street is lovely to watch the water but a five minute walk down the road leads to another beach for surfing and snorkeling. It's rocky, but the water was very clear and full of brightly-colored reef fish and sea turtles. It was so nice to have in easy walking distance. I would recommend this home to anyone and everyone. We had an amazing time here.

• Reviewer: Suzanne

  Comments: Très bon service des propriétaires lorsque nous avons eu besoin. Réponse très rapide à nos demandes.

• Reviewer: Mariella

  Comments: This wonderful, serene retreat was exactly as described! While there is a little bit of traffic noise, everything else about it is Zen-like and awesome. I love the location, close to everything but not right in the middle of the hubbub. And the hosts have clearly thought of everything to make your stay comfortable and enjoyable. We were traveling with a friend, and the extra, separate guesthouse made it very private for everybody. And the lanai was an absolutely beautiful place to hang out! There's oceanfront access literally right across the street, and about half a mile away is a great snorkeling spot, Kahalu'u Bay. We loved our stay!

• Reviewer: Pj

  Comments: What a GREAT place to stay! Exactly as described; actually better than anticipated. Beds, sheets, towels were all very clean and fresh. Main kitchen was perfect and the big table out on the lanai made for a number of great group dining experiences. The beach is walkable and it is just a couple minutes drive to a super fun restaurant and bar area. Not more than 90 minutes or so to black sand beach and volcanoes. Super perfect and highly recommend!

• Reviewer: Mishele

  Comments: Great place, very serene.

• Reviewer: Martha

  Comments: This home is clean, and modern, and very nicely landscaped. It's well equipped, although addition of beach chairs/umbrella would be ideal. The two separate spaces provided the perfect amount of privacy for one couple and a friend while still having a good common gathering space on the shared lanai. The lanai and kitchen provided wonderful space to cook and share dinners at night. Both the ohana and main house were beautifully decorated and cozy, with very comfortable beds and nice linens. There is considerable traffic noise, which requires sleeping with earplugs if you have any sensitivity at all. The beach across the street is lovely to watch the water but a five minute walk down the road leads to another beach for surfing and snorkeling. It's rocky, but the water was very clear and full of brightly-colored reef fish and sea turtles. It was so nice to have in easy walking distance. We rented excellent bikes from Bike works in Kona and cycled a lot of the island, very rider friendly. I would recommend this home to anyone and everyone. We enjoyed our stay here.

• Reviewer: Jessica

  Comments: We loved staying at the Surf Temple! The set up is perfect for two couples, as there's one bedroom and bathroom in the main house, and a second bed/bath in the guest cottage. The two lanais were really spacious and comfortable. The entire place was very well kept and well appointed. We really appreciated the extra beach towels as well as the stations to wash sand off, as there are several beaches that are easily reachable either by walking or driving. We had an amazing week here, thanks so much!

• Reviewer: Rebecca

  Comments: We just got home from our second trip to SurfTemple, and we were so sad to leave! It is such a gem. The house is beautiful, perfectly clean, and appointed with everything we needed. We had a wonderful time cooking meals in the open kitchen and eating on the big lanai table. The front yard is filled with Plumaria trees which made our entire stay smell like we were staying in a spa. My partner and I loved the big master shower (big enough for two!), and we both thought the master bed was the comfiest bed we've ever slept in. Both of us have back pain at times, and this bed was perfect as it was very soft but still supportive. The cool cross-breeze from the open windows (with screens) helped us both sleep very well. SurfTemple had a unique advantage because it essentially is two separate cottages, each with its own master suite, connected by a shared patio. Our friends stayed in the smaller master suite and had a great time. It was nice to be able to go somewhere with friends and feel that we were connected and staying together, but we also each had our own privacy. The smaller suite also has its own little kitchen, convenient for midnight snacks. We really enjoyed staying in the area. We swam with turtles in Kalahu'u Bay, just a two-minute walk down the road. It was a blast. We also enjoyed hanging out in the very nearby downtown Kona area and trying out the restaurants. We scuba dived with Jack's Diving Locker at the recommendation of our hosts and had a blast! We also tried Gypsea Gelato at their recommendation and it was amazing!! Highly recommended. We found SurfTemple to be very well located in the area. There are grocery stores and all of the essentials very close by, and there is easy access to Kona and the tourist destinations. We very much enjoyed walking to the public beach access that is directly across the street from SurfTemple and watching the sunset every night. It is great to have the ocean so close! It felt like we had our own private beach right across the road. We loved our time and can't wait to return! Rebecca and Mattias

• Reviewer: Ingibjörg

  Comments: I stayed at SurfTemple with my family for a few nights. It is a beautiful house, very close to the beach. The perfect place for people looking for a relaxed place to stay. It is in a 10-15minute drive to most restaurants in Kona. We had a great time. I give this place and the hosts my best recommendation.

• Reviewer: D. Gerard

  Comments: Very clean and spacious. Comfortable beds! Located near many great places to see on the Big Island. There is street noise during the day (certainly not the fault of the owners), but it was always quiet when I went to bed, and that's the main thing. I'm very sensitive to noise, and I slept soundly. If you want to see Kona, this is a great place to stay.

• Reviewer: Matt

  Comments: Justin and Amy's home is incredible. The home itself is clean, welcoming, cozy and romantic. I was there with my girlfriend and between lounging on the comfortable seating in the outside lanai, to the comfortable bed and great showers we never felt anything but comfort. The location was perfect for us and our goals of the trip. Paddle boarding, snorkeling and eating fish were the primary goals. Directly across the street was is the best place to watch a sunset, and early morning surfers in the bay. A short walk in either direction are sandy beaches with incredible snorkeling SUPing and surfing areas. Lots of food options within a longer walk or short drive, and a grocery store just up the road as well. Everything we need was incredibly close to us. Can't wait to go back!

• Reviewer: Jianan

  Comments: Great stay! Will come back

• Reviewer: Aseem

  Comments: The place is simply great!! Amy is super helpful, very responsive.....overall our experience was brilliant!! Since we were traveling with a baby, we had several requests all of which Amy fulfilled. She got a pack n play and mattress. Would highly recommend this place.

• Reviewer: Ryan

  Comments: Great house for two couples. Right on the beach and close to everything. Clean, comfortable, well equiped house with everything you need. Owners were super helpful with activity ideas/places to eat etc

• Reviewer: Charlie

  Comments: Wowsers!!! Rented the Surf Temple for my fiancé and I for her 30th bday. Wish we had brought some friends as the space accommodates many more than just us. The second house alone would've been great but we obviously stayed in the main house. They are joined by a common roof but each has its own large covered tile deck with exterior living rooms as well as dining areas. This area was so great for an evening thunderstorm which we fortunately got on one of our nights. The patter of rain on the roof with a glass of wine and some candles provided for quite the romantic eve. Bed was so amazingly comfortable. I have insomnia issues but slept like a baby at the Surf Temple! We will never stay anywhere else when we return to the Big Island and will def recommend to all our friends and family!!!

• Reviewer: Holly

  Comments: Surf Temple was an incredibly warm and welcoming home to spend a week in. The home is immaculately kept and the furnishings are absolutely gorgeous. The most amazing beach to snorkel at is within a short walk and the famed Ali'i Drive is right outside your our begging for an early morning run to see the sun rise. The home has a very warm and welcoming vibe. I cannot say enough good things about this home! The hosts were always Albert quick to respond to any questions, and very helpful! I will definitely going back!! Thank you for such an amazing place to enjoy while experiencing the beautiful life on the island of Hawaii!

• Reviewer: Alyssa

  Comments: Great location! We loved watching the sunset from the beach across the street, as well as snorkeling just down the road. The two separate spaces made this the perfect rental for our vacation with another couple.

• Reviewer: Jessica

  Comments: This was our first family trip with our one year old and this space was perfect. It is centrally located, the hosts gave great recommendations for eats and sights. We were able to take so many small outings to check out so many things, which was perfect for our baby’s schedule. Beautiful space with so many fans and lots of floor space. They were able to accommodate a later check out so our girl could nap before the flight AND they set up a pack n play. Super sweet hosts that were so accommodating and went above and beyond with the communication and small touches.

• Reviewer: Clare

  Comments: A stunning house in a beautiful location. Amazing outdoor entertainment area with comfortable seating and dining facilities. Modern and well equipped kitchen. We enjoyed our time at Surf Temple . Amy and Justin were excellent hosts and made every effort to make our stay extra special. Would love to return one day

• Reviewer: Bryan

  Comments: I stayed at SurfTemple for three nights in November 2017. The floor plan is great for two couples with the separate buildings giving private spaces. It also worked great for the two of us. The home is recently remodeled and in perfect shape. The beach across the street is a quiet location to catch the sunset or read a book. Within walking distance are two other sandy beaches with surf lessons and snorkeling. Don’t miss lunch at Da Poke Shack. A shopping center with grocery store was also close by. Everything we needed for our trip or wanted to do was convenient to the house. We are already planning a return trip.

• Reviewer: Scott

  Comments: What a cool place! Very open and airy, spacious comfy bedroom and living room in the main house. We found it very conveniently located nearby Kona and an easy drive to lots of great activities on the south and northwest sides of the island. Everything was well stocked and we felt at home right away cooking meals and relaxing around the house. It’s a really great place with spacious patios and gardens full of birds in the mornings. The guest house also looked really cool for families, there were only two of us so we didnt need the extra space. We look forward to coming back some time and highly recommend staying here!

• Reviewer: Volker

  Comments: Surf Temple worked very well for us as our home during a two week stay in Dec. 2017. The lay-out having a main house and a smaller 'cottage' was ideal for us as it gave us (two couples) the options to either have privacy or be together. The location on Ali'i is very good, both for local snorkel and beach activities, as well as a base for excursions to other parts in the Kona area and beyond.

• Reviewer: Marta

  Comments: We had the best time at SurfTemple! It was our first experience with Airbnb and I read all the reviews to help me make a decision! SurfTemple was perfect for us( 2 couples)! It gave us privacy for having 2 “separate houses” and at the same time plenty of room to entertain with outdoors meals! The beds were super comfortable and kitchen was fully equipped! They offer you plenty of beach towels and having a washer and dryer made everything easier! The location was definitely the highlight for us! To the right you have beautiful magic sands beach where we saw sea turtles every time and to the left there’s Kahalu’u beach park with the best snorkel you can imagine!

• Reviewer: Jarrod

  Comments: Great place, amazing location!

• Reviewer: Tom

  Comments: This is a wonderful place! It’s outfitted thoughtfully so you don’t have to bring/buy lots of kitchen items or toiletries with you. Location is perfect—close to town, but not in the middle of things. And best of all, it’s perfect for two couples......main house and a guest house so you can be together, but still have privacy when you want it. Highly recommend Surf Temple!

• Reviewer: Amanda

  Comments: The house is beautiful and comfortable and in a great location! Had pretty much everything we needed, but a few more beach amenities would be nice. Great kitchen to cook in, super comfy bed and living room, great outdoor space. Magic Sands Beach was amazing! And the shoreline across the street was nice for sunsets and tide pool wading. We'd definitely stay here again!

• Reviewer: Rena

  Comments: The location is PERFECT!! it’s just a couple min away to magic sand beach and snorkeling point. Close to shopping plaza and airport but still it’s very relax and resort place. The house is just like pictures. Very cute. Highly recommend!!

• Reviewer: Alison

  Comments: Amy and Justin’s place exceeded our expectations! The two separate buildings were perfect for two couples vacationing together, and the outdoor spaces were also larger than I’d imagined, comfortable, and where we spent most of our time. While it’s a bit far to walk into town for a meal it’s a quick drive, Lyft ride, or bike ride, and we found that we enjoyed the home so much that we preferred grilling our own meal after watching the sunset on the beach across the street to going out. The road noise that some other reviews reference and we were warned of by the hosts didn’t bother us at all, and wasn’t nearly as noticeable as the sounds of the waves crashing on the beach across the street or the birds!

• Reviewer: Dave

  Comments: Absolutely amazing. Far enough away from hotels and tourist feel but a very short drive/walk into town. Across street from ocean where you can see amazing wildlife including sea turtles!

• Reviewer: Sarah

  Comments: We had a very nice stay at SurfTemple. I could hang out on their lanai forever. It's amazingly close to the ocean and great snorkeling at Kahaluu Beach. However, the area is dense--seems to be a lot of vacation homes in the area--so it's not really quiet, especially with the windows open.

• Reviewer: Karen

  Comments: No comment

• Reviewer: Kendra

  Comments: Great location! Beautiful outdoor communal spaces for relaxing. Space in the main house is plentiful; the second living space is much smaller. Beds are extremely soft. As advised by owner, do bring ear plugs for street noise which doesn’t ever really stop—trade off for being within walking distance of several wonderful snorkeling spots.

• Reviewer: Gina

  Comments: My family and I were in Hawaii celebrating our parent's 30th anniversary. My sister and I had to leave earlier, but wanted to have my parent's stay a little longer and travel to the big island. They could not stop talking about the space! They were able to see some turtles from the snorkeling spots and loved spending time on the lanai. The house was clean, and it was nice that the sleeping areas were separated in their own spaces. The check-in process was super easy, and it's close to the Kona airport. Should we ever find ourselves back, we'd love to stay here again!

• Reviewer: Dustin

  Comments: Surf Temple was as advertised...great location, cool vibe and very responsive hosts. We highly recommend this place for anyone traveling to the Kona area.

• Reviewer: Tommy

  Comments: We loved staying here. Lots of great beaches in the area. Enough room for two couples, with lots of space on the lanai.

• Reviewer: Meghan

  Comments: Beautiful home on a perfect piece of property! The yard here far exceeds any nearby! My husband likes to surf and was able to easily walk to a surf spot each morning. The kids loved snorkeling in this area as well. This is a great location on Alii drive with easy access to the whole island. The home is very comfortable and everything is there that you might need including beach towels. Thank you! Family of 4 from Colorado.

• Reviewer: Alex

  Comments: You won’t find a much better place to stay anywhere. Lucky to have a week on the big island and managed to explore so much of it. Always a pleasure to come home each evening to the incredible surf temple. Many thanks to the hosts for excellent hospitality and local knowledge, we only wished we could have stayed longer.

• Reviewer: Natalie

  Comments: Beautiful place! Perfect for my husband and I to stay with my parents and both have privacy. The landscaping is gorgeous and directly across the street is a rocky beach to watch the sunset, relax, or fish like we did! We definitely will be returning in the future. The hosts were very responsive when I needed them.

• Reviewer: Eli

  Comments: This is a beautiful, stylish, comfortable, clean place, in a great location. Short walk to Kahalu'u and snorkeling. Great sunset beach across the street. Ten minute drive to town, which for us was perfect. We were two couples, and this was definitely the right place. Communication was prompt and helpful and friendly. Highly recommended.

• Reviewer: Alexandra

  Comments: Amy and Justin were awesome hosts! Our flight was delayed and unfortunately, we missed an entire night of our stay. However, when we finally did arrive, Amy and Justin had coffee and wine waiting for us :). The two separate living areas were much appreciated as my boyfriend’s parents tagged along. The location was incredible and we thoroughly enjoyed both nearby beaches. Additionally, they had great suggestions as far as things to do. Further, they had everything you could possibly need to enjoy the area (e.g., picnic basket, cooler, umbrella, etc.). In conclusion, we had a fabulous time!

• Reviewer: Wes

  Comments: Great house with great hosts! We were lucky enough to stay here for a week and are already planning our next trip back! The location is incredible with just a short walk down to the beach. The house also has a great setup! We loved the outdoor lanai. We wanted to soak up as much of the beautiful Hawaii weather as we could and this allowed us to do that. Amy and Justin were wonderful hosts, they provided tons of information upfront and in the house itself. They were also very quick to respond to any questions we had both leading up to our stay and while we were there! Can’t say enough good things about the house or the hosts! Recommending to all our friends and family!

• Reviewer: Masako

  Comments: The Surf Temple is a perfect place for couples. It had everything we needed and more. We highly recommend couples and large groups at this beautiful home.

• Reviewer: Fia

  Comments: The Surf Temple is a beautiful modern (decorated with few buddhas) and clean house, perfect for 2 couples. The bedrooms are not in the same house and everyone had his own bathroom and kitchen (and even balcony), which was perfect. The house is located 10 minutes by car from Center of Kona. Also 5 minutes walk there is a beach near the house. The living room is shared and Amy let us her Netflix account, amazon tv and etc open. Which was pretty cool during the rainy days. Unfortunately the house is named Surf Temple but didn't have much beach gear (bodyboards, sun umbrella, chairs,...etc). We spend almost 10 days in october. I don't know if this was due to the season but the inconvenient part was that there were tiny little red worms with many legs. The more it rains, the more the house had them. Everything was closed but the worms always found a way to get everywhere inside of the house. Once I even got bitten by one of them, while sleeping in my bed. In case you forgot to set the alarm, no worries cause there is also a bird waking you up loudly every morning around 6 a.m. ;-) Ps. The Gypsy ice cream are very delicious!!

• Reviewer: Harriet

  Comments: SurfTemple was as great as billed by previous guests. We weren't bothered by the street noise. There wasn't a constant parade of traffic, so noise was minimal (to us). The property and surrounding gardens were beautiful and comfortable. The location was ideal for us - away from a big touristy area, close to beautiful beaches (and Costco!). We would definitely return whenever we visit the Big Island.

• Reviewer: Alexx

  Comments: Amy & Justin’s place is PERFECT!! If it’s available... BOOK IT IMMEDIATELY!! We will be back for sure!!! Beyond excellent accommodations and beyond amazing personal communication!!! Thank you for the best surroundings for the most perfect 40th celebration!!

• Reviewer: Annie

  Comments: We loved our short stay at SurfTemple. Beautiful home decorated in a nice mid-century modern style. We were close to everything and would love to stay again.

• Reviewer: Ginnie

  Comments: Outstanding! My family stayed at Surf Temple for 10 days. We could not have wished for a more perfect home. Everything was so seamless and easy. Amy and Justin provided us with a very comprehensive all you need to know before our arrival and continued to provide superior communication/responsiveness when we reached out.. The home itself is comfortable including the beds, seating areas and outdoor dining. The decor is soothing and not overwhelming. So many windows and fresh ocean breeze’s! Great location. We appreciated being able to walk to the beach across the street and down the road. Just a overall great spot to stay on the island. The food choices in the area are wonderful and you are close to grocery stores and best of all, farm markets This is my 4th time to the island - we usually stay in condos or hotels. After staying at Surf Temple, we are definitely hooked and will stay here again when we visit the island. Have fun! You will love it here

• Reviewer: Jacky

  Comments: Fantastic location for surf and snorkelling. Two beaches within walking distance. Cafes, supermarket etc less than 5 mins drive atKeauhou. Great house with everything you need.

• Reviewer: Wendy

  Comments: House is awesome! Plenty of space and convenient location. We loved relaxing on the lanai after a long day of touring. Did some snorkeling down the beach and made the short drive to Kailua for dinners. The house is well appointed and Amy & Justin were so helpful and quick to respond. Definitely want to come back.

• Reviewer: Rosiland

  Comments: Surf Temple is a wonderful beach home which is walkable to two great beaches Kahalu’u (snorkling) and Magic Sands (boogie board). Amy & Justin were responsive hosts who made us feel welcomed! The home is beautifully decorated with a peaceful vibe. The main house has a large well appointed kitchen and a small, cute kitchenette in the guest house. Each room has a private bathroom/shower. We spend most of our time on the lanai which connects the two houses together. The main home has a large TV with many wireless channels available (Netflix, YouTube...) although there was so much to do in the area we rarely used. We hope to stay at Surf Temple on our next Hawaiian vacation!

• Reviewer: Jonilynn

  Comments: SurfTemple's is an amazing house!! If you are looking for a coastal "Kona" experience look no further. The house is perfect, spacious and decorated to make you feel at home. Driving distance to beaches (one right across the street) restaurants and activities. Amy was great to work with and looking forward to returning in 2020...

• Reviewer: Cary

  Comments: We had a great time. Awesome location.

• Reviewer: Louise

  Comments: Great location perfect for 2 couples very much island feel wonderful outside common area