Staying at Aina Malia was an amazing experience, you live by the ocean and we managed to see from the house whales, turtles and manta rays. It's the perfect house to spend time with family during the holidays. Thank you Pattie for everything

The location is an ideal balance of allowing easy access to a popular beach while granting exclusive privacy. The bottom of the steps in front are sandy, with an easy wade to the beach. (Or, if you want to keep your feet dry, take the Ala Kahakai trail 100' up the road to the beach.) To counter a recent negative review: yes, people can climb the rocks in the front of the house - but we saw this only once in our week. Between the kiawe and impassable rocks, it takes a determined and frustrated tourist to explore the south end of the beach. And then there is a fence and more thorns between the rocks and the yard, so that you can feel safe napping in a hammock while being granted a stunning view. Behind the house, the beach access is now closed and the wall and sturdy gate left me comfortable enough to leave kayaks, bikes and gear out overnight. The house is charming, bordering on peculiar. The kitchen was easy to work in, the house clean, and the surrounding community quiet and fascinating. It greatly exceeded our expectations and I wish we have spent another week. I've rented seven ocean front homes in the the Hawaiian Islands, and for this price, none have come close in quality and location. Stayed: February 2016Submitted: July 25, 2016

Hi Pattie, I just wanted to thank you so much for the best vacation I have ever been on. The place was more than what I had expected. And the ocean was breathtaking. We had plans to hike, explore other beaches and shop a little, we ended up staying and enjoying the place we had and loving every minute. We had one person that was not an ocean. She wanted to go to a hotel pool and hang out. Well she is now an ocean lover. How could you not be? Right!! We met up with my nephew his wife and three kids who we had never met before. I can’t express how great the trip was. The house gave us the perfect location to just enjoy each other without having the hassle of going anywhere. The last day we cleaned up. Hopefully you were happy with how we left it. We did find the checkout procedures. We did everything we could to make it easy to clean. Once we were pretty close to being done my two boys and I took one last swim out to the rocks together. This is a memory I will never forget. This trip brought us all closer together which we all really needed. I can’t thank you enough for working with me on the house and making it possible. I wish we could have met up with you on this trip. Hopefully we will be able to come back next year and stay longer. Take Care Mahalo! Mary

We rented a home on Puako Beach Drive represented by Hawaiian Vacation Rentals many times over the course of a decade. Over that decade, we were been blessed with grandchildren and outgrew that fabulous home. This year, we rented Aina Malia for the first time. Upon arrival, my oldest daughter commented that I had outdone myself. With six adults and several children under ten, Aina Malia was the perfect house. The two kitchen refrigerators were perfect for our large group and the associated Costco groceries. Imagine our delight when we found the third outdoor bar fridge. Beyond the dual refrigerators, the other kitchen appliances were top of the line. The kitchen pantry had every necessity (and more) and the kitchen accoutrements left nothing to be desired. The new cookware and its associated care instructions made it possible for me to bake a meatloaf with some of that Costco ground beef without worrying that I would harm the handles of the cookware. Beds and linens were quite comfortable. Towels, including beach towels, were enough for the group. The washer and dryer were the nicest ones I have seen in a second home. Access to the ocean -- A+. Finally, I highly recommend splurging on the air conditioning. We were on island in mid-July, and it was great to have a cool place to retreat to during the heat of the day. Thought the gazebo room has neither its own bath or air conditioning, we did not find that to be a problem. We plan to return next year.

This is a very cute 4 bdrm house of approx 2,000 sf. The water views are somewhat sporadic since the house is set back from the cliff with the view obscured by a lot of trees & a high thorny bush with branches that were 5-6 ft high. The master has no view at all. Also important to know that the gazebo has no bathroom. There is a public path that runs along the cliff edge within a few feet of the dining area, which was quite busy when we were there and which was somewhat intrusive. Access to the ocean can be treacherous except on the calmest of days because it is a very large bay with lots of waves most of the time. Unfortunately, the property wasn't in very good condition when we rented it. The housecleaning was spotty, which should have been immaculate considering the cleaning charge for such a small house. There was also a lot of deferred maintenance - lights not working indoors & out, loose sink faucets & toilet sets, broken blinds, broken dishwasher door that injured our foot, loose knobs, greasy appliances, entertainment center problems with image & sound. We also had mice scurrying around the master bedroom late at night, which one of us stepped on, and another that got into the food pantry, eating through a bag of chips - which was a first for us in decades of Hawaii rentals. We think most people would agree that renters shouldn't have to deal with problems like this for a property with such a highly nightly rate. However, we were willing to move past it all after the owner's friend showed up next to our last day there, assuring us that the owner Dale would contact us and provide compensation for the problems. But we never heard from Dale at all nor received any compensation. Only because we contacted the friend about a month or so later to find out what had happened did we receive a vague reference to an unspecified discount on a future rental with a retraction of all previous representations. It was clear to us that Dale didn't share his friend's good intentions, which is the reason we can't recommend this rental. You can't always prevent things from going wrong but you can always make things right - if you care enough about the experiences of your customers and want them to return.

As a family of 7 (three youngsters, 4 adults), we couldn't have asked for a more perfect piece of paradise. The accommodations are thoughtfully appointed for leisure and fun, steps from easy entrance into Waialea Bay...snorkeling, surfing, boogie boarding and sunning heaven. The outdoor spaces are beautifully shaded by mature trees, perfect for al fresco dining and watching the cardinals, Brazilian cardinals, and saffron finches. Each of the three suites has its own artful outdoor shower. The tower bedroom is perfect for naps and teenage get-aways. The living spaces were immaculately clean and fresh, the linens crisp and luxurious. The AC, though rarely needed during our stay, quickly cools those spaces that might heat up when the house is closed while you're away on an adventure. The "steps away" State Beach is one of the best and most picturesque in all of Hawaii. Stunning tropical fish and turtles abound in the bay. The owner has taken great care to create a uniquely private and special destination with manicured but approachable grounds...perfect for kids, and the interiors are populated with artful tropical tile work and beautiful Hawaiian themed decoration. The property manager is responsive and has seemed to anticipate all discerning travelers needs. Good grocery shopping and wonderful restaurants are within a 10 minute drive from the gated property. Whether you intend to arrive and plant yourself in this very private estate, or use it as a base to explore this gloriously diverse island, this is definitely a rental worth considering.

Our family spent Easter weekend here, and it was perfect! The home is oceanfront, but offers privacy from beach-goers at Beach 69. A short path from the home leads you into the shallow ocean with a white sandy bottom. We brought our kayak, and were able to get it in and out of the water with ease. Our family also snorkeled and fished - all right in front of the home. We swam with dolphins, manta rays and turtles. And all without worrying about stepping on rocks and wana. It was amazing! The layout of the home also offered privacy from other guests. The main part of the home includes the master bedroom, but the other three guestrooms all have their own exterior entrances. This was great, as we were traveling with other adult couples. The dining tables outside were great for our morning coffee and evening BBQ's. The grounds of the home are so relaxing - with green lawns and coconut trees. The hammocks were comfortable and we all took turns taking naps in them. Another one of my favorite things was that every cabinet and drawer were labeled. This saved me from searching through the kitchen and bathroom trying to find things. I wish every property manager did this - it was much appreciated! Also, the fridge and spice cabinet were stocked with condiments and spices. This was a blessing, because it's hard to remember every little thing. This home was great for our family, and I can't wait to go back. I only hope I get to stay longer next time!

Our stay with our family offered us so many options to enjoy the ocean, snorkel, relax in the hammocks, find a quiet space or gather for lunch and dinner around the big outdoor table! We cooked and BBQ'd together and had tons of fun! One of the best family vacations we have ever experienced and this was a very special time for us to be together to celebrate our 40th Wedding Anniversary! Our two grandchildren had plenty of places to play in the grassy, shaded yard which faces the ocean. The sound of the soft waves relaxed us into a very sweet sleep every night. We will be back! Pattie arranged for a private chef for the celebration of our anniversary and next time we might have the chef every night! We also treated ourselves to massages by professionals who came to our home and even a private yoga class! Aina Malia is one of the best kept secrets on the Kohala Coast of the Big Island!