"SO WHAT DID WE LEARN?"
1. Don't try and make the trip (from Pennsylvania) in 1 day.
2. Stay more than 1 week.
3. Staying somewhere other than the MANGOS house would be a mistake!
4. Must get a king sized bed at our house. (Preferably with beautiful breezes and ocean sounds.)
5. Hawaii is as beautiful as everyone says.
6. Hawaiian people are the best.
7. Have a son or daughter living there as guides.
8. If you don't like the weather...wait 5 minutes.
9. Go Rural. Forget metro tourist traps.
10. Return to paradise.

"Thank you sooooo much for the part you played in our trip. We put over 600 miles on the rentals, so we know what to prioritize the next time... South Point, Tide Pools, Cliff Fishing are GREAT (Mac Kenzie Park). Richardson Beach, Farmer's Market in Pahoa A MUST (wonderful smoked meats). I have a contact for a local fisherman to experience shore fishing. No frills and not for novices, but a really great and knowledgeable man. Mahalo" -Carl and Donna C., Phoenixville, PA
NOTE: We will add Carl's fishing recommendation to book for Guests inside the house, and also include in the arrival package for guests staying at our other homes. A BIG Mahalo to Carl!

"Leaving tomorrow with so many happy memories, we feel so grateful for the beautiful week at the Mangoes house on the Big Island! The weather has been absolutely gorgeous every day. We saw whales almost daily. The quality of the air here is so special. If anthing bears repetition, it's this wonderful spot. Worth every penny and more!" -Lorraine J., Calgary Alberta, Canada

"I echo the sentiments of my sister! Beautiful house, glorious setting, fantastic weather - a little corner of Paradise. Many thanks! God Bless" -Raymond C, Montreal, Quebec, Canada

"We loved your spot at Keaau and thank you for making it available to us. It was a perfect place for us to come and go, and to relax. And having the Orchid cottage for my son and grandson was perfect. We loved the turtle watching, surf watching, tide pools, snorkeling at Richardson's beach, Hilo and the farmer's market there (and the daily one in Keaau - papayas 7 for $1). The Mango and Orchid houses were very comfortable, convenient, and truly perfect for our family. The whole trip was a once-in-a-lifetime dream come true! Many thanks again," -Susan A., Kirkland, WA

"Really appreciated the peacefulness experienced at the Mango house. My husband and I fell asleep on the lanai shortly after arriving. We didn't even realize we were tired until we awoke a few hours later! We both felt amazingly refreshed, and slept very well during our entire stay at the Mango house. There is a tranquility and calm at this house...gentle sounds of waves crashing along the coastline, whispering palm fronds dancing in the wind, and delightful hum of birds chattering at dawn. The house feels very island-style with vaulted ceilings and warm cedar wood- but with all the modern conveniences that make this home a pleasurable living experience. Thank you for a memorable stay." -Laurie and Tom K., Oakland, CA

"What a wonderful home! It was absolutely perfect for our family. Everything was just as your described, and I was particularly impressed with how clean and the new the house felt inside. The wrapped flowers on the dining room table were a nice touch. We thoroughly enjoyed our time at the Mango house, in downtown Hilo, and at the volcano park. Our only regret is not planning more time on your side of the island. We were hesitant to stay a week in Hilo because of all the rain described in the guidebooks. We had clear blue skies everyday, warm (but not too hot) air, and spectacular oceanviews. So much for the experts! We would like to return in February to see the whales. We read about them from former guests in the book. We did see dolphins and sea turtles, but I think we were too late for whales. When is the season? There were a lot entries from December to March describing whale sightings. The kids enjoyed the fishing equipment. Thank you for a wonderful stay. Also, thanks for the brochure on your other vacation rentals. We're thinking of trying your California beach house next year." -Ellen and John A., Dallas, TX
RESPONSE: Whale season has traditionally been from mid-December to mid-April, but there are always earlier and later arrivals. Looking forward to seeing you again!

"Thank you so much for the gift certificates. We enjoyed both restaurants very much, had lunch at Cafe Pesto and then had a final dinner on Friday night at Harrington's. They were both great. We were going to surprise you and fix dinner for you in Hawaii. Now you must come to Oregon this year, so that we can entertain you and Harry can fix you one of his gourmet meals. Believe me, he is a GREAT cook. Checked out the [other] houses, we actually met Clair when we were at the Lilikoi house. She was really nice and her daughter, who was with her that day, was adorable. This was our favorite of the ones we looked at. But, not surprising, 8 Mangos is still our house of choice. It is hard to compete with seclusion and total privacy that you have when you are there. The whales were very active outside of the house. We had a much needed, very mellow week, spending almost all of our time on the Hilo side, getting to know this side of the Island even more. Each evening we would read Hawaii, the Big Island Revealed, and plan the next day's excursion. After breakfast, we would pack up lunch and head off for a new adventure. Had lunch in some beautiful spots. The last two days, we were totally lazy, only leaving the house to go to dinner Friday night." -Norine and Harry M., Portland, OR

"Thanks for providing such an immaculate, well-equipped house. You asked us to let you know if there was anything you might add to the house. We looked through all the drawers, cabinets, and closets, and could not think of anything we needed. Just when my husband thought he had discovered something, we found the garlic press in the drawer! I tried my luck using the breadmaker and it was great fun. We bought a bread book at Border's in Hilo, and left it in the house for others to use. Everything was 100%. The weather was wonderful...blue skies everyday. I was particularly happy to escape the intense heat and humidity we experienced last fall on the Kona side of the island. We do plan to return next year. We loved the Mango house, but would like to try the Hilo beach front home next. The cleaning woman showed it to us, and it is unbelievable. Be in touch soon. BIG THANKS." -Elaine and Peter L., Chicago, IL

"We really enjoyed 8 Mangos again this year. This is our second time back to the Mango house, and I think we'll always return. I cannot tell you how relaxed I feel while inside the house. There is something really special about the position of the house on the planet! For some reason, we both get the BEST sleep when staying at the house. The new California King mattress is a great addition. We both awoke each morning feeling rested and alert. We had the exact same experience last year. The sounds of the waves crashing along the shoreline is a magical sensation in the morning. Sunrise from the master suite is wonderful way to get out of bed in the mornings. This year, we saw an abundance of mother and baby whales. Some of the babies were so small, we could barely see their tales. They captivated our attention on more than morning! After returning from the Farmer's Market on Saturday, Jon saw a huge whale jump clear out of the water! We stayed 12 nights this year, an improvement upon on 7 nights last year, but not quite the month I was hoping for! I'll book earlier next year. I'll send you pictures soon. Fondly," -Barbara and Jon A., Kansas City, MO

"We really appreciate all the nice things you filled the house with. We've never stayed at such a nice vacation home. This house does not even compare to the condo we rented in Kauai.. Wish we could have stayed at the Mango house AFTER we stayed in Kauai. We both felt disappointed to arrive in Kauai after staying at your house. The Mango house was so well equipped, so clean, and so comfortable. It was just perfect for 2. I loved lounging on the tile porch, listening to the ocean, and soaking up the sun. Gene was content to fish in the front yard and read. We had a list of 2 dozen activities and sights we planned to do and see, but at the end of the week, we realized we had only left twice (once to the volcano park, and one day divided between the Hilo farmer's market and shopping mall!). Both of us felt extremely rejuvenated, and only regret not staying 2 weeks. We will definitely be back. Mahalo for all the hospitality." Karen and Gene H., Phoenix, AZ

"Another great Hawaii stay! We loved the Mango house. Last year we stayed the Surfrider house in the Hilo Bay. I'm glad we tried the Mangos house this trip. It was every bit as private and relaxing as you described. The house is much more spacious than it appears on the web site. Even though there were only 2 of us, we enjoyed all the additional living space. We saw many dolphins and sea turtles. While walking around the neighborhood, we met a nice woman who told us the whales would be coming in December, but we were too early. We're looking forward to coming back in the spring." -James and Carole N., Ann Arbor, MI

"What can we say except, we'll be back next year!"
-Harry B., Portland, OR

"We had a good time at 8Mangos. The house was very comfortable, clean, and everything was so well organized. Thank you." -Gail and Bob G., Croton-on-Hudson, NY

"This is a beautiful place and a very nice location. The neighbors are friendly. We enjoyed our stay here. Thank you!" -Mark and Shelly R.,Corning, NY

"We truly enjoyed our stay at the Mango house. When I first booked, I thought the house would be too big for the 3 of us. After we arrived, it felt like "home." The bedrooms were large enough for us all to have our own space to read, write, and spend time alone. We used the barbecue a lot and ate dinner on the patio most nights. The granite kitchen is just beautiful. The covered porch was our favorite place to play Scrabble in the evenings. The sounds of the crashing waves and the ocean breezes were fantastic. We have stayed in a lot of Hawaii condos over the years, but the Mango house is an all time favorite. It was much more relaxing not to have to fight for a parking space in the lot, wait for an elevator, or listen to doors slamming down a central hallway. We never realized how different the experience could be until staying in a private home. We all agreed that our next Hawaii trip will be back to the Big Island...hopefully at one of your homes. We cleaned before leaving. Let me know if anything was not as you expected. Mahalo and aloha." -Amy, Marge and Bart A., Seattle, WA

"Thank you for a wonderful vacation. The view is awesome. We enjoyed sitting out on the lava rocks watching the waves crashing and feeling the sea breeze. We appreciate your help and understanding during our delay due to the tragic events. Hope we can get back in the near future. Thank you again for your kind hospitality." -Angela and Tom P., Marin, CA

"We loved the house and had a wonderful stay. We hope to come back! Thanks again." -Ed R.,San Francisco, CA

"Thank you very much for the chance to stay at 8Mangos. It is a delightful vacation spot and we truly enjoyed ourselves..." -David L., Santa Monica, CA

"Our family thoroughly enjoyed our stays at your houses. They are lovely, very well provisioned, and situated in spectacular settings. I continue to conjure up the images of the black lava yards and cliffs and blue ocean in my mind's eye and to conjure up the sounds of the crashing surf and blowing palm leaves and leaflets in my mind's ear...We managed to squeeze in lots of activities with the top four favorites as: viewing the four, frolicking humpback whales from the deck of 8 Palms; snorkeling in the Kapoho tidal pools; viewing the red, glowing lava flows of Pu'u O'o at night in the Hawaiian Volcanoes National Park; and hiking through the rain forests with hugh tree ferns and then across the lava-encrusted Kilauea-iki crater. One outstanding personal experience for me was to go to see the new black sand beach beyond Kalapana. From my visit to the Big Island in 1966, I have a photo of the absolutely beautiful black sand beach at Kalapana (and I even have some souvenir sand!). Now it is under 75 feet of lava. Quite incredible to see how dramatically Mother Nature can do her geological thing in such a short time. We will definitely come back and stay for a longer time. We loved Hilo and its much less developed ambience as you had described." -Roberta S., Carlisle, MA

"Just wanted to let you know we all had a very enjoyable stay at your house and it was nice to have run into you there. All of us arrived as scheduled later that day - and there was a humpback whale breaching about to greet us! How did you plan that? Your Island hosts (John and Arlene) were very helpful with the few questions we had." -Steve J., Sitka, AK

"We had a wonderful time and really enjoyed your lovely home. Thanks so much. We will keep you in mind for future trips." -Jeanne F., Golden, CO

"What an awesome adventure. The house was everything we expected and then some. It is a big house, but it feels like a home. Sunrise from 8Mangos is incredible. We looked forward to it everyday. My mother-in-law found the kitchen to be very complete. She even used the bread maker once! The cottage is more like a big one-bedroom house. It was perfect for our friends. Thank you for suggesting it. We intend to return next year and will call to reschedule. Our only recommendation is you add a barbecue." -Andrew M., San Francisco, CA
RESPONSE: We added a barbecue. Great suggestion! Thanks, Karri & Matt

"We really had a good time in Hawaii, and definitely hope to return some day. We also really appreciated the space that we had in both homes. Thanks again for the book that you had sent to us. It was extremely helpful and very accurate. We carried it with us every where we went and I don't think that we would have seen even half of what we did without it!" -Cheri W., Calgary Alberta, Canada

"What a fantastic home you have. 8 Mangos is such a comfortable home filled with the spirit of aloha...We really did have a great time, loved the home, and would recommend it to anyone planning a trip to the Hilo area. The warm pond was really great. Thanks for the tip." -David B., Los Angeles, CA

"I will definitely refer my friends to your house! All of the amenities and the location were great!...Thanks again" -Jessica H., Los Angeles, CA

"Thank you for letting us rent your lovely home. We will contact you again on our next trip to Hawaii. What a great trip. Thanks!!" -Mary B., Germantown, TN

"The house is beautiful and we enjoyed our stay immensely" -Deb R., Las Vegas, NV

"Great Place! Enjoyed the house very much. Had a relaxing vacation!" -Perri H., Waterloo, IL

"What a wonderful house! I loved sitting on the lanai and viewing the white water coastline. Such a relaxing experience...a safe distance from the stress of ordinary life! At night we used the sun porch quite a bit. I found the house to be very spacious, comfortable, and clean. Please pass our thanks along to Arlene and John. They were exceptionally nice and friendly. Next time we'll bring another couple to share the place." -Mary D., San Jose, CA

"Thanks for squeezing us in at the last-minute. We could not have asked for a better house if we planned in advance! I think we hit most of the major attractions, but would like more time to explore next time visit. Good location. Will be calling with advanced notice. Thanks again." -Maureen K., San Francisco, CA