Ohana Retreat - The Real Hawaiian Experience

This property is perfect for large groups and for events. The fruit on the property was wonderful and we loved that we could pick what we wanted. The communication with the booking agent was great as we had lots of questions because we were going to celebrate an event and also we had several small kids/babies. They had an amazing amount of supplies for the beach, for the event and for the recreation on the property. The manager was wonderful and responded to us very quickly. We were very happy here!

We had our wedding at the Ohana Retreat in November of 2016 and it was perfect - there were several large common spaces where we could spend time as a group and everyone had their own personal space as well since each room has a bathroom and lanai attached. Booking with Carolyn was very easy and she was super helpful, sending a payment schedule and reminders. Miguel and Ariana that take care of the property helped everything go smoothly the day of the wedding and were kind enough to assist with all manner of tasks big and small throughout our stay. The tour of the property and fruit trees was excellent -another great feature of the property by the way, we had bananas, tangerines, star fruit and more picked from the property. The house is in a great location, close to tons of restaurants, shops and beautiful beaches. Our guests could choose to have an ultra relaxing vacation and loaf at the house most of the time, or they could keep busy every day, snorkelling with manta rays, visiting the volcano, driving to Hilo, etc etc I can't recommend it enough, we can't wait to go back!

We had our wedding at Ohana Retreat in May 2016, and the experience can only be described as fabulous! Before arriving, Carolyn was very responsive to questions and helpful with our planning. Upon arrival, the property managers (Ariana and Miguel) were wonderful - the house was immaculate, and all the details were taken care of. The amenities were great - we were happy to have a selection of bikes, toys for the pool, beach towels, and the list goes on! The property is even more beautiful than the pictures depict. Our guests were in love with the plantation, and the tropical paradise of this property, which is well-removed from the busy Ali'i Drive but still convenient to walk to the beach. We highly recommend this property for a family get-together or a small wedding.

Ohana Retreat was a real treat! It is as advertised. We were a group of 11 and used seven of the eight bedrooms in the house. It is a large and well-appointed house that is very functional, very well designed but not luxurious. Amenities were pretty amazing though: a plantation with many varieties of fresh fruits available to guests, including coffee and cacao bushes. The owners provided samples of coffee and cacao harvested and processed on site! Ariana and Miguel are the resident managers and were pretty much available all the time and eager to please. There is a large swimming pool, tennis court, shuffle board court, large grassy area for playing croquet, many sheds with bikes, boogie boards, snorkeling gear and the like. It's a great place for a large group. There is an adjacent house which also has eight bedrooms (which I didn't see). Each floor of each house has a large great room with kitchen, dining and living plus an adjacent deck for dining. Two bedrooms on each level open into the great room. They have private baths and decks. Two more bedrooms on each level open onto a deck which then connects to the great room. These rooms also have another deck and minimal kitchen facilities. Kitchens were stocked with basics. The only oddity was that the only stove was in the upstairs kitchen. So we cooked upstairs and ate either upstairs (outside on the deck) or downstairs (inside at a fairly large dining table). There is also a large pavilion nearby that we used one night. It has grilling and cooking facilities, tables and chairs, little glittery lights, and Tiki lights, and a small pond and waterfall. In other words, it provides for a nice party atmosphere. The Ohana Retreat is inside a gated community and there are only a few properties there. It is close to Black Sands Beach (for surfing) south of Kona just off Ali'i Drive around mile marker 3.5. Another mile or so south is a park which is a really excellent snorkeling beach. So it's out of town but a great location for beach activities and a short car drive away for restaurants, shopping, etc. There is no ocean view. We would recommend this property to other groups.

I can't speak highly enough of our entire experience at Ohana Retreat. We chose the location to hold our wedding, which was earlier this December, based on the beautiful pictures and availability to accommodate holding our family and close friends. The owner, Carolyn, was extremely responsive and helpful in communication and even picked up an item at Safeway prior to our arrival because she knew it may not be there by the time we arrived for the wedding. We rented both houses and it was like owning our own resort for a week. We had a diverse group from babies to grandparents and every single person had an amazing time. The setting for our wedding and reception was gorgeous and holding it on the grounds there helped keep things really simple. When we arrived everyone agreed that the pictures really don't do it justice - the grounds are absolutely breathtaking and the homes were spacious, clean, and relaxing. The house manager, Arianna, and her husband, Miguel, were extremely kind and knowledgeable of the grounds. They went well out of their way to make our experience special from the initial tour to providing various fruits on different days and manning the outdoor pizza oven. They are gems! Some of our guests were adventurists and used the property as a home base while others stayed put around the pool and tennis court for most days, but we all tended to meet up around the pool in the early evenings to grill and hang out in paradise together. I couldn't have asked for a better setting and really hope to go back!

I half expected a man in a white suit to greet us upon our arrival. I am so happy we picked this place to stay and have our daughter's wedding. I could have spent more money for a lavish wedding that would last a few hours, but for less, we rented this wonderful place for a week to enjoy the island and had a very beautiful wedding on the grounds. I only wish I could post pictures here to show how beautiful the wedding turned out. The caretakers, Miguel and Adriana, were terrific and attentive to our every need. They made sure we made the most out of our stay there. The Ohana Retreat is located in a prime area of Kona, close to most shops and restaurants, but is off a private road surrounded by grand palms and lush vegetation making one feel you are isolated from the hustle and bustle of the tourist crowd. In fact, some of our party, did not want to leave the property to visit the island sights. They chose to stay, enjoy the pool, and just relax. Did I mention the great orchard they have there as well? My wife loved picking the star fruit and having it fresh and chilled every morning. Their Kona coffee is the best I have had so far. I took a couple pounds of it home with me. I highly recommend this place for your family stay on the Big Island.

I loved every aspect of the Ohana Retreat! We rented the lower house and stayed for a full week for my daughter's Kona beach wedding. After our arrival everyone agreed this place was so beautiful that a wedding held on the grounds would be just as lovely as the pictures don't begin to do the grounds justice. Upon arrival the smells of the fragrant plumeria trees and flowers was intoxicating! Yes the home was immaculate! Each bedroom was so spacious and plenty of room for a crib or a roll away for the grandchildren. We stayed in the lower house and had plenty of privacy from the guests staying in the upper house. There was so much room and kitchens were equipped with everything (just like home) to cook onsite for our large group. The patios for outdoor gatherings, large main living room space, the grounds and the pool area and the amenities were wonderful! I was amazed with the beauty and serenity!! I really had no desire to travel long distances to see the spectacular sights on the island when there were so much to enjoy right on the plantation and so many options close by. We held a family wedding dinner at the pavilion. The plantation offered tables, table cloths, and loads of extras left behind from previous guests for our use! We really appreciated the managers, they are really nice and exceptional to work with!I have already began telling family members about this lovely rental property. We used the boogie boards, the beach chairs, snorkeling equipment, baseball mitts and ball, bicycles, children play toys, water shoes, beach umbrella, coolers....gosh putting a price tag on those extras makes this place an even better deal, very complete!I hope you enjoy the Ohana Retreat as much as I did! Mahalo!