Honu Kai Bed & Breakfast

Our hosts at Honu Kai were very friendly and extremely accommodating. We felt right at home! They served fantastic breakfasts, made great recommendations for food and local attractions, lent us beach gear, bug spray, even did our laundry when we needed it! Lol We can’t recommend them enough! The property is also beautiful, peaceful, and very relaxing.

We had an incredible honeymoon at Honu Kai last summer. Dave and Wendi are the best — they are warm and caring hosts and went above and beyond to make sure we had an awesome stay and all the information we needed. The breakfasts were the best food we had on our honeymoon — even though we went out to some nice meals, nothing was better than breakfast. The room we stayed in was beautifully decorated with a big, sunken tub and luxurious bedding. We met another honeymooning couple from London who we met again later in San Francisco and still stay in touch with. It’s just the kind of place that makes strangers into family instantly. We’re so grateful to Wendi and Dave for making our honeymoon so sweet and memorable.

Definitely our best B&B experience ever!
We stayed here for 3 nights (wish we stayed longer!).
Dave and Wendi are the sweetest hosts. I told them this was going to be our honeymoon trip. When we got there, they put us in a separate bungalow so we had more privacy. And on our last day, they left a bottle of champagne and macadamia nut treats in our room! (On top of the macadamia nut snacks that came complimentary when you check in)
The B&B itself is beautifully decorated. They have this eastern culture/​zen theme. Lots of flowers and greens all over, giving it the tropical rainforest feel. 2 adorable house cats hanging out in the court yard, you can pet them whenever you see them. Lots of bright green geckos around, they have a tiny jelly feeder to attract these little guys. I got to feed them with some guava jam on my finger tip.
The delicious 3-​course breakfasts were served on the deck next to a outdoor kitchen/​grill. Everyday we start with a plate of exquisite pastries, followed by a fresh fruit/​granola/​yogurt course, and then the main course with proteins (they made different dishes everyday!) The creativity, presentation and freshness of the meal alone is worth staying here for. They also have a fridge full of cold beers for the guests.
When Wendi and Dave were not busy with chores they would hang out and chat with us by the breakfast table, which we really enjoyed. My husband and I are very prone to mosquito bites, so Dave would light up mosquito repelling incense by our breakfast table every morning.
They also provided us everything we needed to enjoy the island, from beach chairs, towels, snorkeling gears, to maps, and bug sprays. The cool thing is we didn’t have to return everything everyday, they let us keep items like chairs and boogie boards until we checked out.
When we wanted to try a restaurant on they recommendation list, they made the reservation for us. When our car tires were low on air Dave even pumped them up for us. We felt totally taken care of!
Next time we are definitely staying with Honu Kai again. We are think to maybe bring family and friends here, too.

Hands down one of the best B&Bs there is.

If you’re in a hurry read only this – Don’t hesitate, this is the best B & B you’ll find!
My fiancé and I recently spent 6 nights here. We’ve stayed in many B & B’s over the years, but none like this one. Dave and Wendy, the owners, have put their heart and soul into this lovely home. There is no detail too small to be overlooked. From the lovely outdoor patio and dining area to the beautifully decorated rooms to the landscape, it’s all done with taste.
Dave and Wendy are island experts and have printed out booklets describing each part of the island to help when you’re on the road. They provide snorkeling equipment free of charge and cook the most beautiful breakfasts you could imagine. Chatting with the other guests is a big plus too. Many interesting people from around the world – especially Australia.

This is the best B&B that we have ever stayed at and an order of magnitude better than other B&Bs. The owners, Wendi and Dave are delightful and treat you as friends and family. For example, we stayed in Kona for 3 nights and then went to Hilo for 4 nights and returned afterwards to Kona. When we returned back to Kona, Wendi said «welcome home!» which was accompanied by big hugs.
I think the key is that they actually enjoy hosting guests and they enjoy sharing the island with visitors. They help you get into the Hawaii time zone. But more importantly, the hosts are relaxed and easy-​going, and that is infectious – pretty soon, you will feel stress melting away.
Some of the many reasons to select Hona Kai B&B:
–Wendi and Dave have interesting biographies and stories. Dave and Wendi previously worked in corporate flying and had met many celebrities.
–High quality everything: Unlike other B&Bs, they used high quality materials – high quality sheets, towels, etc. It was very comfortable.
–The rooms were roomy, well decorated, neat and clean. The house and garden was lovely and the garden was decorated with Buddhas.
–Hosts had an amazing ability to pay attention to small details. For examples: one night we arrived back home and it was raining out, Dave shows up at our car with an umbrella. When we left for a day adventure, Dave offered us a mini cooler with snacks. Orchids and flower displays were common.
–Scrumptious breakfasts – multi-​course breakfasts, with fruit and main meal – really yummy. Dave makes the most amazing drinks.
–Very close to downtown Kailua – but cooler, about 10 degrees cooler. A/​C was not needed (we were there in October). It took us maybe 5 minutes to drive to Kailua and about a 10 – 15 minute drive to the airport.
Highly recommended!

The first thing that came to my mind — «how could any one get it all so perfect»! Be it the décor, the breakfast, the host& hostess, cleanliness et all. The B&B was simply the best place i’ve ever stayed. The thing that awe’s me most is their attention to detail. Its not just in the décor, its in everything they do.
We stayed in the Nigori Suite, which had a rich zen theme going all around, and fell right in place and tied into the overall theme of the place. For the breakfast a lovely fruit platter with the days special. Wendi and Dave seem to know a lot of good places and they help you around with whatever you need.
The little extras they do makes all the difference and adds a memorable touch to the place — like the little breakfast they packed us for our whale watching tour, chocolates and some exotic nuts in the room, the gate opener they lend you so you neednt
punch in the code everytime and the autograph tree they make you sign at the end of your stay :)!
My only regret, i wish we culd have stayed longer!!!

This place is as good as it gets. We just spent 4 days there, and, it was the best B&B experience we have ever known. My wife said that she was never sad to leave any accommodation, but this was the first.
Everyone will say how wonderful Wendi and Dave are. And they are. You feel like saying ‘Mom, I’m home’, when you come back from a day out. For which they have prepared a cooler for you, and told you where the choice spots were, and gave you snorkel gear, or chairs, or whatever. They are the best. They are both interesting as themselves, and interested in you.
But too much focus on them (and they really make the Aloha experience) can be seen as being told how great a personality the blind date has. So lets talk about the place.
Breakfast is absolutely great. Not only do you get very fresh and sweet fruit, but you get delicious Kona coffee, and great cooked breakfast. Too, you can get a peek at Daves legs as he wears his sarong.
And the place is really lovely. The rooms are very well appointed (try to get the Nigori suite if you can), and the entire place is beautiful and comfortable. And, being up the mountain a bit, it is always cooler at night.
Great hosts, excellent food, beautiful surroundings, being in Hawaii, it is just the best. If you are going to stay anywhere near Kona, and you don’t stay here, you are making a mistake.

Love this place!
My husband and I stayed here for the first leg of our honeymoon in October of 2010. Dave and Wendi are amazing! We felt right at home in the Lani Room.
The breakfasts were phenomenal, the grounds were beautiful, and the extra care they put into the details was truly spectacular. Each day over breakfast we got activity recommendations, and on our way out the door we got maps, snacks, even snorkel and beach gear!
The B&B is located a couple of miles out of town, so it’s nice and quiet — very relaxing and romantic.
I can’t recommend this place highly enough!

My husband already reviewed this place, but I wanted to make sure to put something for them also.
This place is truly AMAZING! I absolutely love Dave and Wendi! They are so accommodating and so nice.
The B&B is located very conveniently, close to the airport and down town Kona. We stayed at the Mahina Room and it was very clean, with any amenity you can think of. Dave and Wendi left chocolate, snacks and water in our room.
Dave prepared our breakfast every day and let me tell you that it was the BEST food I’ve ever had for breakfast! After we finished every day, we didn’t have to eat lunch — we were full until dinner. Every day there was a fruit salad and then a main dish — different every day! They served Kona Coffee, all kinds of juices and other snacks.
Wendi was an amazing source when it came to the Island. She knew where to go, what not to miss and what to see. She had different info packets prepared for the guests to use, we definitely liked the Volcano info package (everything you need was right there for us) and we liked the City of Refugee and Coffee Plantation info.
If were were going to the beach, Wendi made sure to pack us a cooler with water, snacks as well as beach towels, sunscreen, snorkel set and other things that you may need.
I think staying at this B&B was the best part of my trip!

My wife and I just returned from a 7 night stay in the Mahina Suite between Christmas Eve and New Years eve. We had never previously stayed at a Bed & Breakfast, but decided on staying here versus a hotel because of the #1 Tripadvisor rating for B&B’s in Kona.
We were not disappointed and from discussions with the other guests, they said that Honu Kai is the best B&B that they have ever stayed at. Beyond the amazing breakfasts prepared by Kona Dave (see the pictures which I uploaded), Wendi provided concierge service from making reservations for us for Christmas dinner as well as providing us with snorkel equipment, towels, a cooler packed with drinks and snacks. Armed with the «Hawaii The Big Island Revealed» book and morning discussions with Wendi & Dave about where we should go and what we should do, we had a fabulous time relaxing at the Wasson’s home.
We made use of their sister property’s private beach club which had fabulous snorkeling only 30 mins north of the B&B, and when we returned Wendi had arranged a masseuse to give my wife & I massages. Don’t forget to use the hot tub to soak away your troubles.

A tale of two accommodations. After 31 years of travels to hotels on the Big Island of Hawaii, we booked a condo through the website VRBO (vacation rentals by owner). Our past few trips to high end hotels on the Kohala Coast had been marked by not so pleasant experiences with unruly children running around the restaurants and pool. We were looking for calm and quiet, which is what led us to Golf Villas M3. The description said that because of high end furnishings, children were not allowed in this unit. A call to the owners Dave & Wendi Wasson, convinced us to book their two bedroom unit. The booking went flawlessly, and off to Hawaii we went. Upon checking into the unit on Friday March 3^rd, we were greatly impressed. The unit was beautifully appointed and quiet. The kitchen was fantastic, with every kitchen tool and appliance at the ready. There was lightning fast wi-​fi and a flat screen TV. The per night cost of M3, was a bit more than some of the other units at the Golf Villas, but in the end you get what you pay for, and this unit was perfect. We had made the right choice. We went out for dinner that Friday night, and returned to the condo about 10pm, to learn that there had been an earthquake in Chile. The TV news person said that there might be a tsunami warning issued for the Islands. We went to bed, only to be jarred awake at 600am by the civil defense sirens. A call to the local police said the evacuation center was being set up in a school up the mountain in the town of Waimea. A few minutes later the doorbell rang, and the complex manager informed us we had to get out of Dodge. A quick look at my email as we were packing showed an email from Wendi. She told us to get our stuff and head up to their bed and breakfast «Honu-​Kai» located high up the mountain away from the tsunami zone. The evacuation out of the Mauna Lani resort was calm and very organized, as we headed out to the Queen’s Highway, the local police were in the process of setting up road blocks to all of the beaches. When we arrived at Honu Kai, Wendi was in the process of serving a fantastic breakfast to her guests and invited us to join in. After breakfast we had a tour of their beautiful property, and then sat down to watch the events unfold on the TV. During the «tsunami watch», Wendi and Dave also put together an impromptu lunch. In the end it was a non-​event, but the care and concern shown by Dave and Wendi was something that my wife and I will never forget. When the all clear was sounded about 3pm, we headed back to the condo and had a wonderful week at the Golf Villas. Ultimately we enjoyed both of Dave and Wendi’s properties. If you’re looking for a B&B experience on the Big Island, stay at Honu Kai. If you want the condo experience, closer to the ocean stay at Golf Villas M3.

My wife and I stayed at Honu Kai during on our trip to the Big Island. As the trip was part business, part pleasure and covered the whole island, we stayed in two hotels and two bed and breakfasts. Honu Kai was the last place we stayed. Unfortunately, because of schedule, we could only spend two nights with Wendi and Dave. It was the highlight of the trip, and it is the first place we recommend when we tell our family, friends and anyone who asks about the trip. For us, it wasn’t like staying with friends, it was staying with friends. We want to go back, now, please!
A few examples:
– After we arrived, Wendi noticed that we had been driving off road near South Point — the dust is a distinct color. She noted that the rental companies aren’t too fond of that activity, and before we finished our tour, Dave had rinsed the car clean of any suspicious dust.
– The first morning, Wendi asked what we were doing that day. Snorkeling? Fine, she quickly set us up with a couple beach chairs, a cooler with ice, chips, drinks, plus a bag with fins, mask and snorkel. When asked, there was ample advice on where to go to see what kind of sea life.
– Shopping? No problem. What do you want, and Wendi knows where to get it. I especially appreciated her tips on Hawaiian shirts.
– The lanai is fully equipped with a well stocked cooler: beer and sodas, plus coffee, a microwave, an espresso machine, all free, plus there’s jelly out for the geckos and a bird feeder, so there is plenty to sit and watch.
– The first breakfast sounded a little sparse: fruit salad, bagels and lox. Not to worry — the fruit salad was amazing, and the bagels and lox took up two plates with all the fixings, plus the basket of bagels. The second breakfast was Dave’s justly famous breakfast burrito. I can guess at most of the ingredients, and you could too, but I’ll be darned if I could make one half as good. Amazing.
Are you ready to rethink your plans to stay at the Hilton?

My wife and I just returned from a 5-​day trip on the Big Island of Hawaii. While many choose to stay at multiple hotels as they travel around the island, we decided to stay all five nights at the Honu Kai, and we are very glad we did.
Wendi and Dave Wasson were amazing hosts. They didn’t just provide a beautiful place to stay, or serve a delicious and hearty breakfast, they served outstanding advice and recommendations for island activities. They clearly knew the island well, which helped when we traveled across the island.
They were also incredibly welcoming, not only to us, their paying guests, but also my brother and his wife. After they were evacuated during the February 27, 2010 tsunami scare, Wendi and Dave invited them to the Honu Kai for breakfast and to stay the night if necessary. It was a defining moment in the middle of a statewide crisis and made a huge and lasting impression on us.
Our accommodations for the our stay was the Mala Hale bungalow, which is essentially a fully furnished apartment, set aside from the main BnB structure. It has it’s own lanai as well as a complete kitchen (including a well-​stocked spice rack to use with the outdoor grill). The space is clean and very well-​kept. We saw almost no insects even though we were at 1100ft elevation and set in the middle of the rainforest. It made grilling on the lanai a worry free experience.
If you’re a first-​timer to the Big Island, like us, and you want someone to help guide you around with honest advice, stay with Wendi and Kona Dave, they are the best.