We enjoyed our stay. The property was very unique, as depicted in the pictures. It was awesome being so close to the ocean. The kitchen met our needs, but we did not try to grill. It was amazing having laundry, especially since we spent a week on another island prior to coming here. Our favorite part about the property was sitting under the stars, hearing the ocean waves crash.
The property is located about 30 minutes from major shopping areas (Safeway, Target, Walmart) and Hilo. We didn't mind the drive. The hosts left a binder with things to do, places to visit, including restaurants, and details about the property, which was helpful. The house is about a 40 minute drive to Volcanoes National Park, and about an hour and a half drive from Kona. Even though it was a challenging hike to get to (rocks, roots, and mud), we really enjoyed Shipman's Beach, which is located within the neighborhood.
The one thing we did not like was that the upstairs (master) bedroom gets so hot that it made it difficult for my husband and me to get a good night's sleep. We understand it is the norm to not have air conditioning in Hawaii, but the room up there does not cool off very well, even with the windows open and the fans on. Our boys slept in the other 2 bedrooms and their rooms cooled down in the evening.