The house was beautifully built, perfectly located, and had everything we could anticipate needing (completely stocked kitchen, snorkeling gear, boogie boards, beach towels, etc.). We spent ten days enjoying time relaxing out on the lanai, snorkeling off the beach next to the house, and at the end of the Puako road (a top snorkeling and dive spot). The outdoor showers next to the house made rinsing off easy. Spotted many Green Sea Turtles on the beach and in the water. Make sure to either head out of the lagoon farther where it starts to get deeper, or take a quick drive to the end of the road, where entry immediately leads to the edge of the reef and fish are plentiful. The house is conveniently located next to Beach 69, a great swimming beach, and Hapuna beach if you want to boogie board. Don't miss the malasada truck at the intersection of the road and the highway (but drive don't walk). Our extended family of 4 adults and 3 tweens fit easily into the house with enough private space for everyone. The owner was incredibly responsive to any questions. Total luxury!

Over a year ago, my husband and I decided that instead giving “stuff” to the kids and grandkids, we would make memories. After much discussion with the family (our two kids, their spouses, and four grandkids, ages 11 to 17) about what time would work for all involved (school, jobs, etc.) we settled on the fourth week of March 2022. I had already found this house, and thank goodness, it was available. It has three suites with king-size beds in the main house, plus the apartment with beds for each of the three boys. Perfect for our family of three couples, one girl (the extra bed in the upstairs room) and three boys. The house was on the beach so we could snorkel right there, and Hapuna Beach is a ten minute drive for boogie boarding. My husband and I planned to relax and not to have to go any further than that, yet the kids could explore more of the island if they chose. (Note: For Hapuna Beach State Park, there is a $20 charge per car pus a $5 per person per day, but the beach is worth it.) The house is lovely, with everything as depicted in the description and more. We all had our private areas but whoever wasn’t in or on the water enjoyed time together on the comfortable lanai. One of the very nice features of the home was the dining table that seated everyone for family meals, a rare find in a VRBO. There were plenty of dishes, spices and condiments available, towels, beach chairs and random snorkeling equipment. We rented more snorkeling equipment from the handy nearby General Store. (Their Kona coffee ice cream is delicious!) Because my husband died of cancer in January, the trip was not as we had anticipated, but it was a gentle and healing time for the nine of us, and yes, many good memories were made. Many thanks to our wonderful and generous host, Marie, and her local representative, Katherine. Both were gracious, readily available, and easy to work with throughout the entire process. We could not have asked for a better experience. Mahalo nui loa.

Our family of 7 fit very comfortably in the beautiful house, and our local family of 4 more joined us most days for dinner. There was plenty of room and supplies, dishes, towels, quality beach and snorkel gear for all of us. The beach was perfect and the whales sporting in the ocean put the experience over the top. Thanks for a wonderful week in a great location.

My wife and I are grandparents. We had our adult children and three grandchildren with us for Christmas week on the Big Island. We've stayed in Puako two other times, but this time was the best, because this house was so great. The owners Marie and Dom are great people who made us feel at home in their beautiful home and were always available to answer questions within a few moments of a text of email. So many things make this place special: The location on the beach with a comfortable sandy beach about 100 yards walk through a hedge, even though most of the shore at Puako is rocky. The beautiful art work a woodwork throughout the house. The luxurious and plentiful towels. The huge lanai where we spent most of our time and had our meals. We are a family of 9 and the place was so spacious, everyone could have their sense of privacy while still being with the family for the holiday week. There were many games for the kids to play. There was snorkeling equipment and boogie boards. An excellent grill. Huge windows everywhere so that one could see the ocean and the front gate from almost everywhere. The internet was high speed. The cable TV had all the premium channels, plus netflix and prime. We had great dinners delivered by a local chef so none of us had to be cooks during a vacation and it was so easy in the superbly equipped kitchen. We had a four year old who we could let play in the front and the backyard. grass There were many exotic birds visiting the back yard. So many things make this a perfect place for a family vacation, but the best was the beauty. Thank you so much to Marie and Dom for making their home available.

Beautiful home, wonderfully appointed, perfect location.

Looking to go back with the same group, and new people as well

Our family of 9 stayed at the Puako house. There was plenty of room for everyone to have their own space and to make meals together. The lanai was the primary living space for us. Beautiful views. Easy access to get in the water just to the right side of the beach. Peaceful neighborhood. Beautiful property inside and out. Very clean. Marie- the owner, was great with communication, availability and offering suggestions. We had an issue with our rental just before we had to leave and the local agent was also extremely accommodating and helpful- she went above and beyond. We highly recommend this home and hope to have the opportunity to return.

I would highly recommend this home and location. Our extended family loved sitting on the lanai and enjoying the ocean and sunsets. It’s a super short walk to the swimming beach where we swam, snorkeled and rented paddle boards. The house is big, comfortable and beautiful. It was fully stocked with everything we needed for cooking and grilling. We have two young kids and it was great for them with the hammock outside, lawn area and a box of toys and some games inside. It’s a quiet and peaceful area. We would stay here again!

Our family of 10 stayed over the holidays and could not have imagined a more perfect spot to spend time together with the indoor/outdoor living accommodations overlooking the ocean. There is no need to go anywhere else given the incredible snorkeling and sandy beach steps from the back door, but it is conveniently situated between the two best resorts on the island.

Beautiful view out the sliding glass doors to wake up to every morning. Great space for just the two of us. Kitchen has the basics for your meals at home. Minimal steps away from the shoreline/beach. Easy communication.

Access to the best of the Big Island whether it be beaches, snorkeling, golf or sightseeing. The home and garage apartment are perfect for a family vacation. Perfect open layout in the living/dining and kitchen areas..The exterior and interior were immaculately maintained. Access to the Puako Bay beach was perfect. Quiet neighborhood with a country store 100 yards away. Restaurants choices could not be better. Everything from high end resort restaurants to charming spots in Hawi, our favorite, and Waimea. Cyclists -- the Kona Ironman bike route is one mile from the house and provides extra wide shoulders and well maintained road surface to say nothing of stunning scenery.

This property is in the perfect location and built for entertainment. We had 3 generations of family with us and everyone loved it. It's located in an area close enough to anything you would want to see or do but with infinitely more privacy then anything found in Kona. It is fenced off from the road so we didn't have to worry about our young children running into the street. We saw whales off the back porch almost every day with beautiful backdrops. The property manager met us late in the evening due to an unexpected flight delay without any issue and made the walk through seamless. If you are on the fence between this and anywhere else I hope this review is the deciding factor as this property has it all!

Aloha Sands was a terrific setting for our family to spend relaxing time together. The ocean views were beautiful and having the beach so close was such a treat! The owners were quick to help with any issues and definitely don’t miss the roadside donut truck at the end of the street 🍩!!

This is the place to stay when visiting the Kohala coast! The house and guest room are both elegant and comfortable. The views are better than the pictures show. Having the water just a few steps from the back door was great. Puako is a great place to use as a base for Big Island adventures. Owner Marie and manager Catherine were very helpful. We were looking for the perfect vacation spot and we found it at Aloha Sands.

This house is even more beautiful in person than in the photos! Our two families were very comfortable and happy here there. The owners and their staff were attentive and helped swiftly with any minor inconveniences. There's a lot of activity in the water - and yes, we did see turtles - one swam right up to me! Bonus: Amazing views from the lanai of the fireworks at the resort across the bay.

The house is as described. We particularly liked the open floor plan layout with all bedrooms having privacy off the living space. There were 11 of us and whether you were in the kitchen, dining area, tv area or sitting area you were always a part of the group and able to enjoy and participate in conversation. The house is located in close proximity to Hapuna Beach, resorts (for us that meant good restaurants), and easy access to all our activities. The beach and lagoons at the house are wonderful. Our 4 tween/teen grandkids lived in the water and tide pools.

Aloha Sands is a spacious Hawaiian style home, handsomely decorated with almost every amenity one could possibly need. The master bath is incredibly huge as well as functional and attractive. The kitchen is delightful and nicely stocked with staples (a surprise...prior rental properties have a required a trip to the grocery even for S&P). The lanai is spacious and there are water views from practically every room. The grandchildren loved staying in the adjacent guest house where they could even fix themselves cereal and milk (stored in the fridge of the mini kitchen...delightful for a bit of extra shuteye for the rest of us!). There is a lovely little beach a very short walk from the house besides the direct water access from the house. Just a wonderful stay and delightful owner.

We invited our adult children to join us for a Hawaiian holiday, and the house was so perfect. There was plenty of room for everyone to relax, and the spacious kitchen allowed us to enjoy our meals together. Cooking was so easy as the kitchen was very well equipped. We often just sat out on the gorgeous deck watching the ocean, and hearing the many birds singing. We loved seeing the cardinal, and the red crested cardinals on the lawn each day. The snorkelling was awesome (many tang, moray eel, trigger fish, and a sea turtle), and the little ones loved finding the sea urchins in the tide pools. It was a fantastic place to get rejuvenated, and for the three little cousins to bond. Thank you for sharing your lovely home with us.

Beautiful house in a great location. Located on what passes for a beach on the Big Island, but don't expect Hapuna quality. Lot's of turtles though and you can sit and whale watch. If you are looking for a base from which to explore the island, this is great and away from the crowds

The best beach in Puako and the home was beautiful with 180 degree views of the ocean, bay, sailboats and neighboring island.

My wife and I enjoyed another awesome week in paradise (Aloha Sands) The grounds, accomodations, owners and staff are simply the best. Over the last eight years we have stayed up and down the Kohala coast from small private homes to Hapuna Beach Prince and there is no better place to stay than Aloha Sands. The little bay (50 yards away) is excellent for kayaking, turtle watchers, swimming and just relaxing on the beautiful uncrowded beach.The owners and staff are as attentive as any 5 star hotel, we could not have enjoyed our stay more!

The four of us enjoyed our third annual stay at Aloha Sands, in our opinion it is the most beautiful and comfortable home in all of Puako and perhaps the whole Island. It offers a beautiful and relaxing space that is impeccably furnished and well-appointed for the whole family. The location is absolutely amazing! The home is right on a fine white sand beach and one of the best tidepools on the Kona-Kohala Coast. The home has a 180 degree view of the water and the Kohala coast and Puako is convenient to everything: shopping, restaurants, golf, hiking, diving, surfing and especially the magical beaches and tide pools teaming with tropical fish. It is less than a 1 minute walk to the beach for snorkel, wading, diving or a sunset drink. The beach and tide pools right out the back door are a perfect place to sit and contemplate life and there is no diving necessary to enjoy the beautiful underwater wildlife including many species of tropical fish and sea turtles. The owners Dom and Marie are wonderful and provide everything you need to have a spectacular vacation. We hope to return many times to enjoy this wonderful house and the surrounding areas. It is truly a Hawaiian paradise.

Our family of 10 spent the week of 2/9-16 at Aloha Sands. It was a phenomenal vacation for us all. The pictures do not do justice to the home or the surroundings. What was highly impressive is how well provisioned the home was when we arrived. We were constantly and pleasantly surprised by the presence of items, whether for kitchen, bathroom, lanai or beach, that we thought we would have to purchase on arrival. On top of all that Marie, the owner, along every step of the way, did everything she could to create a great experience for us. She was highly responsive and gave us the benefit of the doubt on any issue that arose. We could not have asked for a more friendly and understanding owner to work with. Bottom line, this trip created wonderful memories for our family that will never be forgotten. There is no higher endorsement than that.

Our family and friends (group of 12) from South Dakota spent a wonderful 10 days at this lovely home on the beach in Puako in Feb 2016. The house and loft apartment combined had plenty of room for us all to be together and also to have private space when desired. The lanai is very large and comfortable and the beach and ocean views are spectacular. We watched the whales, the waves and the stars from the lanai. The nearby beach is sandy and the slope is gradual and thus is very family friendly. Our snorkelers, paddle boarders and kayakers were constantly entertained. Every evening we made the short trek to the beach to watch the magnificent sunsets. The views from inside the house are also lovely, especially from the kitchen, dining, living and master bedroom areas. The kitchen is panoramic and very well equipped with plenty of room for multiple cooks and guests around the island. The large dining room table and the lanai table combined provide plenty of dining seating for a big group. The owner is very hands on in a good way and the local crew was very welcoming and great at follow-through with anything we asked about. The owner really is only a phone call or email away and responds very quickly and thoroughly (we only had a couple minor needs but they were dealt with immediatlely). Thank you Marie. We had a wonderful time in this lovely setting and will definitely be back again. Doneen H. Pierre, SD

My wife and I had the pleasure of staying in the Studio for our annual trek to the Big Isle and we were treated to a wonderful experience. The studio is perfect for a couple and very well appointed. The view from the lanai of the bay is outstanding. The owner is VERY attentive and responds quickly (thanks Marie). We kayaked every morning and saw at least 30 turtles during our week and a baby manta! Aloha Living Services delivered a kayak and beach cruisers (thanks Kevin) the latter used to cruise PB drive and get acquainted with the neighbors! A fabulous week at an awesome location!

We had a very large group with 11 extended family members. Our stay was wonderful. The house was comfortably able to accommodate us both for sleeping areas and just plain " hanging out". The setting is gorgeous and quite private. It took me a while to figure the snorkeling out ( you need to swim out of the lagoon to the first reef but once there we saw great things). This was a fabulous vacation and a perfect spot for a large group. I hope that someday we can come back and do this again.

The location was stunning! The grounds were beautiful with the smell of plumeria in the air. You will have the best snorkeling experience on the island...turtles, spotted eagle rays, moray eels and all species of Hawaiian fish and invertebrates right in your backyard. It was one of our favorite vacations and we would love to come back again!

Puako is a great location for a big island vacation and Aloha Sands is a wonderful home to spend a week. The house is beautiful, the views are spectacular, and the beach and lagoon are right out the back. We were a group of ten that never felt crowded. We all enjoyed the fully stocked kitchen and used the lanai for coffee in the morning, sun bathing during the day, and cocktails in the evening. There is a great general store just a couple of hundred yards away that always seemed to have what he had forgot to get at the grocery store. We had a wonderful week and I am sure we will be back. Thank you Marie and Catherine!

The Seattle Aquarium research crew of four divers just arrived back to Seattle after spending the week at this gorgeous home in Puako, the jewel of the south Kohala coast. We were there to conduct the sixth year of our annual underwater video reef fish surveys centered in Puako. Since 2009 we have stayed in Puako at different rental homes in late January or early February to do this research. In February 2014 we had the opportunity to stay here. What a treat! The house is stunningly beautiful as well as comfortable. It met all our needs and then some. It has spectacular views of the Puako and South Kohala coastline, so for the few daylight hours that we weren’t working we had great views of the humpback whales breaching from the large and comfortable lanai. The house is eye pleasing and well-built will all the amenities. Everything about the house is perfect-from the two outdoor showers to rinse off sand and saltwater to the spacious and comfortable bedrooms, bathrooms, living room and the very well-appointed kitchen. The entire home is of the highest quality. The owner, Marie, and the caretaker, Catherine, were so gracious and helpful whenever we needed it. There is no better place to stay, watch wildlife, hike, swim, snorkel and dive in Hawaii than Puako. And there is no better place to stay in Puako than this home. We will definitely be back! If you have never been to Puako prepare yourself because once you visit you will vow to come again and again.

Thanks so much for the use of your house. Our group had a great time. The lagoon is so full of life, and the sunsets are amazing. It is so relaxing sitting on the lanai and watching the whales. Very close to Hapuna Beach. House is wonderful. Every amenity that you could need. We had to couples and 2 adult children. Plenty of room to spread out as needed. Had 2 small problems which were taken care of immediately and with no effort on our part. Marie was very responsive to our needs. Thanks so much for making it a great vacation.

The house and the location are perfect. Every morning I would jog along Puako Beach Road and then grab a cup of coffee, walk a hundred yards to the beach, and watch the wales breaching. What a way to start the day! The house itself is wonderful, and it is so convenient to have the little store across the street for last minute supplies. And many choices of restaurants nearby -- either to the south towards Four Seasons or north to Kawaihae or up the hill to Waimea. This was one of the best vacation spots that we have ever had, and my wife and I have a lot of vacation experience! We will come back.

Our week-long stay at Aloha Sands was perfect in every way. The house was as advertised, which means it worked well for our family and friends, including our 19 month grandson. The owners had a crib, high chair, toys, and with the large deck he had room to roam. Of course the high light for him was discovering the ocean. The shallow tide pools right out the front door with almost no wave action was great. The adults enjoyed the snorkeling plus having Hapuna Beach, the best for boogie boarding,is only 5 minutes away! Well stocked kitchen, plenty of linens, falling asleep to the sound of the ocean and a responsive owner. Everything that makes this a home I would recommend for small groups (ours was 7) to larger families.