Villages at Mauna Lani

Our family chose the Big Island of Hawaii for a family vacation - primary reason being that none of us had been to the Big Island - One big decision was accommodations for five. As a result, we researched the issue thoroughly. We decided on Unit #320 at the Villages at Mauna Lani. Absolutely “No Regrets”!! The property was exactly as described! The owner/s (Chris) were excellent to deal with and accommodating. Queries were promptly responded to. Rather than repeat the property description, I’d like to suggest it be googled on TripAdvisor or VRBO sites. To mention a few of the amenities particularly appealing to us were the high end appliances and furniture throughout! 3 Br. 31/2 baths. The private beach & restaurant; the private pool within less than a 5min. walk. Meticulously manicured landscaping and grounds and the sound of birds chirping for noise. Excellent shopping (food & other) within very easy walking distance. Just absolutely amazing. I will definitely continue to recommend this property to friends and family. I will also continue to monitor reviews just to see what anyone could possibly find negative about this property 😎

The condo itself was very nice and the Mauna Lani beach club beach was wonderful. However we were *extremely* disappointed (and felt very misled) when we learned from the Mauna Lani that were in fact NOT able to use the Mauna Lani pool. The South Kohala - Mauna Lani website says " Guests of South Kohala Management will have access to resort facilities." What they actually mean is "you can not use the Mauna Lani pool". The Mauna Lani said they had to put up a notice signed by their general manager explaining that only guests of the Mauna Lani could use their pool since they believed that people renting out condos were mis-representing access to the ML pool. The Villages's pool was much smaller, not nearly as scenic, and generally underwhelming. That said, the Mauna Lani Beach Club has a fantastic beach for snorkeling and playing in the sand (we have 2 young kids), so although we were very very frustrated by what felt like intentionally misleading customers, we didn't let it ruin the vacation.

This is not a typical hotel, so the ratings below dont really apply. We rented one of the larger Maile layout condos as we had three couples. This worked out well as each room has its own on-suite. The layout is large and spacious. We cooked breakfast and a few dinners , which was a nice change from going out all the time. This particular unit was close to the main gate and the nearby grocery, so things were very convenient. the complex is not really close to the beach so you will need to drive down. Our unit included a parking pass to one of the local beaches which was handy. Definitely would consider renting again

We've rented multiple units in this complex and additionally know many owners. These are privately owned, very well-constructed town-homes in a gated community that is not directly on the ocean (additionally there are a few stand-alone homes, although these may not be bookable). All of the units have 3 bedrooms with en suite bathrooms, a lanai with outdoor barbecue, well-equipped kitchens, and a laundry room. There are two basic floor plans (Lehua and Maile), with the larger Maile units having the living/kitchen space and master bedroom upstairs (and a balcony lanai that probably will give you glimmers of the ocean). Because of the footprint of the community and private ownership, there is wide variation among the units. There will be different levels of furnishings, different views (sometimes very little), different maintenance/property managers, and varying degrees of closeness to a next-door shopping center and the recreation center within the complex (which consists of a smallish pool, outdoor hot tub, and workout room). Typically there only will be cleaning done after you have ended your stay (i.e. no maid service). All told, it pays to research the specific unit that you wish to stay in. The vibe of this complex is sedate - there are many full-time residents who want things quiet. Brief-stay renters are strongly discouraged and it often would not be possible to have more than two cars parked at each unit. Some of the owners may charge for excess electricity use - but with Hawaii electricity rates (highest in the nation), this is understandable. Having the two AC units running most of the time could easily give the owner a bill of over $500 per WEEK (and let's not forget the monthly HOA fee the owners have to cover). In sum, these are large, very well-constructed units in a very nice complex in the Mauna Lani resort. If you are looking for larger recreational facilities as part of a condo complex (e.g., better pool), you might want to consider the Fairways, Ka Milo, or Kulalani complexes nearby (or the two hotels - Mauna Lani Bay or The Orchid).

Spacious units, nicely located. Ours was well appointed and well maintained. It was perfectly suited for two couples, and had plenty of room for entertaining. The two story units had challenging stairs for the Mrs. who was just recovering from surgery, and anyone who is bone tired from a full day of activity. The dining area extends out from the kitchen and opens out onto a lanai allowing a selection of dining/entertaining options.

We enjoyed our stay in unit #220. The owner was a bit fussy about the AC. Unfortunately we were there when there was no trade winds at all. So it would have been nice to freely use the A/C. Other than that the unit was great. It is great for multiple couples. Each room had privacy. I would also note that the fourth bedroom only has a slider so it would be better suited for children. It was also nice to be able to park our car in the garage. The owner also provided beach chairs, towels, and a cooler. Will stay again.

Lots of properties to choose from, but we've had some great ones. Mostly individually owned so the standard of the interiors will vary. The development is walking distance to so much; restaurants, tennis, shops, grocery store, beach, pool and fitness center. Golf is a short drive.

We stayed at Unit #205 (as my husband did the Ironman this 5/31/2014) and we highly recommend it. The unit is tastefully furnished and bursting with all the amenities you'll need. Everything was in good working condition: hot water, air conditioning, washer/dryer, stovetop, toilets, tubs, etc. Kathi the house assistant was a gem! She visited us on our 2nd day and explained how to operate all the facilities / equipment. When I reported that the coffee machine didn't work, she promptly brought a French press and coffee percolator. Denise, the house manager is very straightforward to deal with. We were a family traveling with 3 kids and were with other families & couples that all rented units in the Mauna Lani Villages. I have to say, ours was the most fully equipped! There were tons of towels (rationed in other units, ie: 2 per room only), beach towels, beach chairs, bikes, beach umbrellas, mattresses, lots of extra bed sheets, pillows. There was even a kayak! The unit owner provides toilet paper, kitchen tissue, laundry detergent, washing machine liquid, liquid hand wash. The unit owner was considerate enough to not leave their car in the garage so we were able to park our car indoors. Other friends complained that they could not use their garage as it was locked with a vehicle inside. The Ironman bike route loops in front of the entrance gate of the property and it was precious being able to put lounge chairs out front and cheer for the triathletes! The Villages is also 5 mins away from the Fairmont where the Ironman finish line is. The reason why I rated it 4 stars and not 5 stars is because on my personal rating scale, 5 stars is for uber luxurious resorts / hotels. Nonetheless, Unit #205 is stylish, comfortable, fully equipped, well maintained with great service from Kathi (who lives in Mauna Lani Villages too!). We would definitely rent this unit again if we go back to Kona!

As the other reviews stated these unit are beautiful and spacious. Three master suits have beautiful bathrooms and tvs in every room it is nice to have space for everyone. We thought we were renting a unit close to the pool and we were only a short distance but you cannot walk across the green space in this complex you must stay on the street so the pool was quite a walk in the end. The reason for the poor rating is the service or lack of it we received. When we arrived we did not have any hot water. My husband called the maintanance person and my husband was instructed him to re set the hot water tank. When we inspected the hot water tank it was obvious it was in the middle of being worked on. The panel was removed and tools were left on the tank so the owners knew there was a problem and rented it this way. We called the agent and asked to get someone in to fix the tank but no one ever came. So every morning we were without hot water until my husband re set the tank. Then the water would heat all day and become scalding until the tank shut off again obviously something was wrong with the thermostat. To re set he tank you needed to push a button that was right beside a warning and live wires inside the panel on the tank. We did this everyday of our trip because no one came to fix it. We made numerous calls and emails to maintenance and the rental agent. At the end of our vacation we asked for a percentage of our rental returned and were denied. This is unacceptable to be dealing with maintance issues on our vacation.