I won't duplicate all the other great things that other reviewers have posted, except to say they're all spot on. The Honeymoon Suite was perfect for me and my wife, not just because we like to cook a lot of our own meals when we travel (there's a supermarket nearby, as well as Da Poke Shack, which sells fresh fish in addition to serving great Poke), but because the outdoor kitchen was a great place to dry our dive gear =). Jae and John are wonderful hosts and provide great local tips. And I even inherited some old dive gear John is no longer using (thanks John!). We'll definitely stay again on our next trip to Kona, only next time we're planning to bring friends and rent the whole place!

We stayed for a week, with my parents, my sister and her husband, and our 2 year old daughter, and had an amazing time. We stayed in the three bedroom Ocean suite and were extremely happy with everything. The location is fantastic, and we spent plenty of time at the beach across the street, or just lounging on the balcony. One of the biggest pluses is the amount of extras they provide. Things like coolers, sun umbrellas, sun chairs, boogie boards and more, made daylong trips to local sights many, many times better; we almost felt like locals. We will be booking again.

I'd heard great things about the Sugar Shack, and decided to give it a try. If you are visiting Kona, and you're primary interest is in snorkeling, this is a good location to base yourself from, because it's a little south of the noisy busy part of Kona (about 4 miles), and it ranges from extremely close (Kahalu'u) to reasonably close (Two Step, Captain Cook) to some of the best snorkeling on the island.

But there are other great reasons to choose this place. Though it's on Ali'i Drive (technically), it's set so far back from the street, and is slightly above the road, that you will not hear the road noise (especially if you're staying in the back units, which are facing a quiet residential street). The ocean noise is also absent. I know that might sound like a downside, because ocean sounds can be romantic. But I have stayed ON the water on the other side of Ali'i Drive, and had the ocean be so loud that it was actually difficult to sleep.

The Sugar Shack is well-kept, clean, fully-equipped, and the layout is very good (we were in the Mango Suite) for feeling like you've got some space. The living room is around a corner from the bedroom and kitchen area, and the bathroom is off the living room. There's a really neat private patio for this suite that has a dining table, tiki torches, and a gas grill.

Jae was extremely helpful when planning the trip, and she checked in with us via telephone, just after our arrival, to make sure everything was going smoothly.

And Vicki, who does the cleaning for the units, was extremely friendly, and even gave us a quick tour of the other units, since they were between guests the day that we saw her.

It was definitely the best place I have ever stayed on the Kona side of the island, and ranks among the nicest vacation rentals that I have stayed in anywhere.

Kona Sugar Shack was the PERFECT place to begin our Hawaiian honeymoon - it's hard for me to even write this review because I miss it so much! We stayed in the Honeymoon Pool Suite - it was spacious, clean, well appointed - we had everything we needed. The outdoor kitchen for our private use was great - every night we whipped up some appetizers and mai tais and watched the glorious sunset right from the Sugar Shack pool.

The owners were very welcoming, friendly, and helpful. They often checked in to see how our trip was going and never seemed bothered by our questions or requests. We felt like we were staying with friends.

The location of the Sugar Shack can't be beat - it is on a busy road, yes, but it's several miles away from the main hustle and bustle of Kailua Kona. The road traffic was not noisy, however, and did not negatively impact our trip in any way. Right across the street is the beautiful ocean and a small beach, so the views are really fantastic. Nothing like waking up to the sound of crashing waves :)

The Sugar Shack is an incredible value. Not once did we regret our choice. If you are looking for charm, privacy, and a boutique feel, the Sugar Shack is the place to be.

We hope to return ASAP!