BlueSwimmer

Hello-

If you are considering the Big Island, take a look at the Puakea Ranch website: http://www.puakearanch.com/yoshis-house.html

We love farmer's markets, gardening, animals, etc and will be staying at the James Cottage this summer to experience organic farm life with a gorgeous view and a Japanese bath house near the town of Hawi. We didn't go for Yoshi's House with the pool because of cost, although we considered it and it looks fabulous (although maybe not long enough for your lap swimming needs).

We will have a house with a pool in Puako on the Kona side for one week- the pool looks small and the house doesn't have AC but was an affordable ocean front- our dream is to take our coffee out to the tide pools every morning and snorkel in our front "yard". http://www.vrbo.com/110896

We also plan to spend time on the Hilo side to be near the farmers' markets and dining in Hilo and Puna. We found a little cottage on the tidepools. Not sure if you can actually swim for exercise in them but snorkeling should be wonderful: http://www.vrbo.com/147778 It looks like a bit of a drive to get to either Puna or Hilo, but we enjoy vacation driving in Hawaii with scenery everywhere.

I will report back on the houses when we return. When we make our choices for vacation rentals, we are less picky about how fancy the accommodations are than the locations, privacy, views, and water access. We'll see how we do with no AC. Everyone says the trade winds keep you cool...

I haven't been to Kauai, but spent a number of vacations in Maui. If you decide on Maui, stop by the north shore town of Paia (where we stay in a cottage called Maui by the Sea- adorable and affordable but no pool). The Mana Foods organic grocery store in Paia is worth a visit for local and organic products galore and the hippie vibe! The Nagata Market on the main street looks like a dusty little general store, but their tiny fish market has the freshest fish caught and delivered each day. We would get a block of just caught tuna or other fish to make sashimi appetizers for the sunset each night, and something else like opakapaka or whatever was caught that day to grill for dinner. Heaven...

ekscrunchy

Hello, blue Swimmer (love your screen name!)

The Ranch looks absolutely charming! Like a photo spread in a design magazine. Pool looks to small for us, but I would love to hear details of your visit once you return from paradise!

Thanks every so much for the helpful tips about Hawaii. I agree about the important elements in choosing the rental..


On the Big Island, I did find a slew of rentals in a complex names Vista Waikoloa, where the pool looks excellent for our needs. This looks to be an older complex and the rates seem in the moderate range, around $200-$250 per night for a 2-bedroom, with the higher figure for the full ocean view units. (it is not on the water, though, so those views are not the most riveting as compared to others I've seen online)

Anyone care to comment about Vista Waikoloa..location, nearby beaches and services, etc?



I've sent two e-mails (spaced over 3 days) to the owner of the Princeville private house with the lap pool, but have not yet received a response. Should I be worried?

I'm thinking that we could spend two weeks on Kauai and a week on another island, probably the Big Island. Would not mind adding a few nights in Honolulu, in a hotel (maybe good to recuperate from jet lag at the start of our visit??) but will see how the flight schedules work out..

ekscrunchy

Forgot: Here is the site for Vista Waikoloa; there are also lots of VRBO entries for this complex:

http://www.southkohala.com/store/p20condo_details26.php



http://www.vrbo.com/vacation-rentals...vista-waikoloa

ChiSue

We stayed Vista Waikoloa many years ago -- nice, big units. There are few lodgings ON beaches on Big Island. Kohala will give you sun. Hilo tends to be a lovely climate for orchids, insects and mold. LOL

Maui has two Olympic pools. One is in South Kihei. One is in Lahaina. I believe they are free.

Your post has made me aware that I don't know what the length of our pool is at Maui Kamaole. I often see people doing laps there though. However, I think you want something beachfront. You might look in Wailea.

ekscrunchy

Sue thanks so much for that and all the great info before this last post.

I heard back from the owner of the Princeville house with the lap pool. From what she wrote, I'm beginning to wonder if the water in the unheated pool would be warm enough to swim in May. (The owner herself told me that it was very chilly in April).

I would hate to focus so much on a pool and then find out that the water was too cold to swim. To give you an idea, I would consider anything much below 80F to be cold for swimming laps.

The Vista Waikoloa has a heated pool that looks really nice.


is the ocean very warm for swimming in May? (I know that that is subjective, but what do you think?)


I think I've all but narrowed it down to Hawaii and Kauai, so will leave Maui for another trip!!

sf7307

http://www.nodc.noaa.gov/dsdt/cwtg/hawaii.html

ChiSue

Well...Big Island would be warmer! There's also more to see and do than on small Kauai. Kauai is of course GREEN all over, while Big Island is mostly 'moonscape' from KOA to Kohala. You'd get your green/waterfall fix along the Hamakua coast from Waimea to Hilo.