We really enjoyed the condo for a week. It's on the second floor, directly oceanfront - right on the water, there is no view of any other condo or part of the facility from the lanai (exactly what we wanted). The kitchen and bathroom are newly remodeled, fully equipped, and quite nice. There are plenty of cooking utinsils, and usually basic cooking ingredients (oil, soy sauce, etc) in the fridge. There's a drip coffeemaker and filters. There's a full washer and dryer in-unit (remember to buy some detergent for yourself when you land though) - there's also an iron and counter-top ironing board. There's a TV in the living room with cable, although we never used it. No TV in the bedroom. The bedroom doesn't have windows except high up ventilation ones (it gets a bit hot back there unless you open them). AC unit is a standard window unit by the lanai doors, and keeps the place cool - it's on a 60 minute timer switch, so use it strategically and keep the door closed. Ceiling fans in each room help out, although there's no fan on the lanai, so in summer months you may want to use one of the portable fans out there (there's a small black one in the closet). Parking is easy - we parked in the side, surface lot with the included parking pass (he will e-mail to you), always had open spaces, and was within sight of the front door. Kona Reef itself is a pretty nice, standard "condo-tel" for Hawaii. It's aging a bit but this unit is nicely updated. The pool and hot tub are in the center of the complex and overlook the water (if you're in a chair, you can't see the ocean if you're actually in the pool). There are some grills and deck chairs to use. There's no indoor common space to speak of. You don't need to deal with a front office here - just walk right up to the condo front door upon arriving and parking. Location is great - you can walk to the Royal Kona Resort in about 5 minutes, which contains Don's Mai Tai Bar, a nice (if aging) oceanfront bar. Also easily walkable is Huggo's oceanfront restaurant and bar, as well as the other bars and shops at the core of Ali'i Drive (about 7-8 minutes walk), including convenience stores you can pick up sunscreen, laundry soap, etc. Overall an excellent location if you'd like to be able to walk to bars and restaurants in the evening. Safeway and Walmart are just a few minutes drive away. The host of this condo is great, friendly, very attentive and communicative.
