Kona Reef Kailua-Kona

Wife, toddler, and I stayed at a Kona Reef unit in July 2003. We enjoyed our stay very much. We also rented directly from the owner. We had a oceanfront unit that was very well kept, and vey well supplied. The oceanfront setting was wonderful. The only negative side to our stay is that there were wandering troublemakers who camp out at the small sand beach directly south of Kona Reef. Didn't have any real trouble. If you want to stay at a well kept, well supplied unit at the Kona Reef, check out this owners unit. Email her. Samantha is very friendly and helpful. I would highly recommend this unit. (website)

We had an awesome stay in January '04 at Kona Reef. Could not have been happier with our one-bedroom oceanfront unit. Judging from the other reviews posted here, you really need to do some careful research before booking. Most of the property management companies have photos of the units posted on their websites (although you still need to ask questions because it's hard to tell from a photo how old a unit is). We booked through Sunquest and found the condo to be everything they said it would be (recently remodled, clean, comfortable, well-equipped, and right on the ocean with the crashing surf lulling you to sleep each night). The pool area was fantastic, with BBQs, a large pool plus a hottub, all right on the oceanfront. Being within walking distance of town is a big plus. Our only complaint about our three-night stay was that we couldn't stay longer!

DON'T EVER STAY THERE!!!! It's a slum. We were shown 4 different units, each one worse that the other. The carpets were filthy in every unit.

One unit the refrigerator didn't work. The verticle blinds on the sliding glass door fell off when we touched them. In one unit the sofa only had the frame for the arms, no upholstery. they wrapped foam rubber around the arms and threw a cover over the sofa. We did not stay there!!! They sent us to a different resort for the week and under pressure, they paid for our accomodations. Don't ever make reservations at this resort because if you do, you will be very dissapointed.

Stayed for a week at the Kona Reef in late January of 2004. The condo was pretty run down and crusty. The bathroom was small and rather unclean. The whole unit needs a make over. We had problems with ants in the kitchen. We had very limited cutlery (only 3 forks), utensils and glasses. We had to go out to Walmart and buy some stuff (which we took home with us). The maid service was passable at best. For how much we paid for the condo, it was quite disappointing. But a good location and the pool & BBQ facilities were nice.

My family and I stayed at the Kona Reef during the Christmas holidays.

The first room we were put in was a huge downer! The garden view we saw was the tin roof of a massage parlour next door, right ouside our lanai. Thankfully, they changed us to a beautiful ocean view room which was very nice. Make sure you are not put in any rooms on the east side of the Condo.

We stayed at the resort in November 23. It was everything we could ask for. A white sand beach 100 feet way. The breaking waves 50 feet from our lanai. We could walk to all the nightlife and restaurants two blocks away. Yet the condo was quiet and peacful. Every night the sounds of the waves would lull us to sleep. And the sunsets were incredible.

The hotel is okay, but the service is HORRIBLE. While checking out I accidentally left behind a drawer filled with clothes (8 bikinis, 8 pairs of panties & bras and socks). I went back FIVE hours later and no one knew anything about my belongings. In fact, I was told that I didn't leave them there. The staff was not helpful, they were rude and none of my belongings were recovered. No restitution was offered. There is NO aloha spirit at this hotel, they are thieves.

I traveled to the "Big Island" in April and stayed at the Kona Reef Resort (I don't know where they got "Castle" from) from the 15th to the 22nd. I have to say that my entire experience there was an enjoyable one. I stayed in unit B-37, which is concidered a partial ocean view (an upgrade that was offered free thru a promotion) and the place was great. The view was far better than I had expected and the unit perfectly suited my needs. I found it quite beneficial having a full kitchen that truly comes with everything you could need, right down to the coffee filters. The staff was curtious and helpfull. Housekeeping comes by daily, or callsto ask if you need there services. The location was perfect. A short walk to downtown Kailua (which is a parking nightmare) was a bonus as is the free parking. The pool and bar-b-que was very nice and many people were making use of the cabana.All in all I found Kona Reef to be clean, convenient,affordable and friendly. I should also point out that the shoreline directly in front of the resort is one of the better spots for body-boarding for quite some distance. Even if you chose not to partake, watching others from poolside is lots of fun.

We've stayed in many condo's at the Kona Reef. B21 is absolutely beautiful. It's not one of the oceanfront units, but is fabulous inside the unit.

They charge less for this unit because it isn't oceanfront -- a bargain!

Feel free to send me an email for more info...

Faith Carlin, MD

I stayed in the Kona Reef last week for two nights and my room was terrible. In fairness, there are individual owners so they probably vary by owner. Mine was unit 13 on the second floor with a great view of the pool and ocean, but the inside was pretty gross. The carpet and floor are very dirty, it badly needs paint and updating in the kitchen and bathroom. There were quite a number of small black creepy crawlers and I hope they did not get into my luggage and breed....I did spot a few large live roaches at night in the kitchen...If you have to stay here and cannot find anything else, be sure you grill the reservationist so that you get a clean room. I would only use this as a last resort and personally would never stay there again.