Mermaid Paradise - a breath away from Kealakekua Bay

Jill was a great communicator and really accommodating. The location was wonderful; just a block to one beach and two blocks to another. The place itself is extremely comfortable, well appointed and is a real gallery of art.

Jilli is an excellent hostess, but the real GOAT is Smuzer.They both made our stay relaxing and memorable. The location cannot be beat. Manini beach is really amazing. We kayaked with Ehu and Kai to Kealakekua Bay, a short walk away which is massively convenient—no hauling a kayak or parking woes. Big island bees is quite close and a fantastic experience. You are close enough to enjoy Kona if you wish, but you are removed enough to just relax.We loved Menehune cafe, a stop by the painted church, Puʻuhonua o Hōnaunau National Historical Park, Coffee Shack, and Hawaiian Ninja Shaved Ice. Jilli’s is a great place to base for a Big Island adventure! She has laundry, all the kitchen necessities, shampoo, conditioner, sand toys, towels, and a great entertainment setup.

Beautiful mermaid beach house! Jill was a wonderful host who greeted us upon arrival. The space was super clean, decorated so cute and very comfortable. Amazing neighborhood with great snorkeling a skip away! We would totally recommend this amazing rental!

Our family of five (three teens) visited and we made the Manini Mermaid residence our home for a week - a cozy home nestled in a paradise. The location is exclusive. You're within walking distance of two water access points - one of which has a kayak rental! Parking on the Big Island is a premium in spots. From the house you have a quick walk to the water, unlike visitors who walk a distance if they found parking close. Also, the water gear. You'll likely rent water gear that can be pricey. Jill, the owner of your short lived home, has all the gear you need. We had everything we needed and used it almost every day. The a 10-15 minute drive to the main road to points across the island. So any walk to town would be a vigorous day hike, but we liked it that way. We burned our calories in the water - snorkeling about and having fun. Everything I needed I found here. There is even a small pantry of food in the event you didn't make it to the market. We cooked several meals from all the local produce using the stocked kitchen and refrigerator. The house is comfortable. The bonus is the deck/Lahaina (we stayed on the second floor). The property feels like a lush oasis. We listened to the birds in the trees. It is the most peaceful sound! Our morning coffee was in a jungle canopy. Just peace. Jill lives on an adjacent house on the property. She was always around for assistance or suggestions if you needed her, but gave you privacy if that’s what you wanted. Her cats would show up every so often, which my kids loved. During our stay we lived like locals enjoying all there is to do on the Big Island. We can’t wait to come back!

Great time.

We wanted a place where two married couples could have their privacy. Two bathrooms made it perfect. The kitchen was well stocked and the cats were well behaved. Washer and dryer and beach towels! The house is easier to find than I’d thought but yet has a secluded feel. Thank you Jilli!

We recommend this place highly. The location is magical… And the owner is very helpful and welcoming. We were quite happy with the accommodation, it was clean, and had everything we needed.

Beautiful, clean house &lanai

This is a very special VRBO property due to the perfect combination of accommodation, location and management. We texted Jill when we got off the plane and she made us feel welcome immediately. After we arrived and settled in, she came by with a basket of fruit from her garden. The house is even more impressive than photos show and our family of 4 was very comfortable in the two king beds and huge lanai. I love to snorkel and found amazing adventures steps away in Kealakekua Bay, and short drives to Ke'ei, Honaunau and Ho'okena. My son picked up a ukulele in Maui, and Jill invited him to her house to sing and play with friends. The property is very quiet and relaxing, and remains off the beaten path. We have stayed in several vacation properties and this is one of our favorite.

This property is a mixed bag: a good rental within its four walls, but adversely impacted by location and billing issues. For background, my wife and I have lived several years in Hawaii, on the islands of Oahu, Hawaii, and Molokai. We have rented scores of vacation properties, both inside and outside the United States. The positives: It’s clean and well-maintained. Internet service is good. Clothes washer and dryer. The kitchen is workable (we cook, so kitchens matter). The property allows pets (we had our two dogs with us during our stay). The mediums: There are cats that frequent the property. If you bring dogs, you should know this. The cats are friendly; but if you are bringing dogs that react to cats, it’s something you need to know in advance. Now the negatives: The property is in the flat-lands near the shoreline. That may sound like a positive (and it certainly can be, because you are close to some good things on a great bay); but it means that you have no view, and the surrounding properties and vegetation limit airflow. Your view is the small yard, there is little-to-no breeze, and the house gets hot. There are window air conditioning units in the bedrooms, which helps with sleeping, but they do nothing for the rest of the house. The way you avoid air conditioning in Hawaii is exposure to the trade-winds; this house is lacking in that regard. Next is privacy. The owner lives immediately adjacent to the rental, and the rental is in a separate house that contains another basement-level VRBO. If you are looking for privacy, you aren’t going to find it here. Hawaii living typically involves close proximity on small lots, but that isn’t always what someone wants in a vacation rental. The final negative is the security deposit. We were charged a cumulative of two thousand for a three-night rental. That is more than anything we have encountered anywhere. Two weeks later, we still haven’t received a refund, although the owner says she has approved a full return. I just talked to VRBO.com, and was told that the refund was “initiated” by the owner just yesterday. I don’t know where the issue lies, but the amount and timeline are excessive. So this is, again, a mixed bag: a nice rental within the confines of its physical structure; but lacking a view, privacy, and airflow; and requiring a large security deposit that is refunded at a snail’s pace. With dogs, it's about as good an option as you can find; no dogs, and you might find better.