This is our second time staying with Kurt and Kana at Beautiful Edge and we'll stay with them every time we visit Hawaii. It's a spectacular location at the South end of Captain Cook overlooking the bay from a perfect deck to watch the sunsets. It's away from the tourist hubub of Kona, but an easy drive to any of the Kona attractions. Less than 20 minutes to any of the island's three best snorkeling locations, Kealakekua Bay, Place of Refuge, or Kalaluu.

It's a great space, wonderfully decorated, with wonderful jungle fruits all around (the first time you drive in the road feels a bit rough, but you get used to it quickly). The breakfasts are wonderful, full of amazing fruits. But the nicest part is Kurt and Kana (and their amazing 6-year-old Jena). Kurt's lived all over the world, taught at different universities, started a great project with Cambodian orphans, just a fascinating person, who's also a great guide to the island. Kana is just enormously welcoming. Their daughter Jena is just really fun--spent some really fun time playing with her...but we also had our privacy whenever we wanted. Just couldn't recommend the place more highly. (Before we stayed the first time we'd stayed at a well-recommended place called Areca Palms which was gorgeous, but where the owner was so stuffy in terms of don't touch this, don't touch that, and don't sit here, that it totally ruined the stay--this is the opposite...relaxed, welcoming and a place where you immediately feel at home.

totally recommended

My wife and I have been to The Edge 2 years in a row. Not only are the owners/family superb hosts but you cannot duplicate the view. If you are looking for activities or just relaxation, I recommend this B&B without hesitation. It may be the only place we will stay whenever we go back to the Big Island.

Clean, nice people, really good food, lovely view, but a bit off the beaten track (you have to drive down a cliff through a jungle to get there!). But highly recommended.

My wife and I recently spent six days (April 5 – 11), at “the Edge of the World B & B in Kailua-Kona Hawaii. While there we stayed in the Pacific room that had a spectacular view from our lanai of the Pacific Ocean. Each morning we were served a lovely breakfast by our “substitute” hosts Karen & Keith (the owner Kurt and his family are away until December 2011).

Some things about our stay at “The Edge” that left us disappointed were that the bathroom and fixtures were showing their age and in need of updating. Our room (walls, carpet and baseboards) needed a thorough vacuuming/cleaning. Anytime we had occasion to look under or behind any furniture there were a lot of dead insects along with accumulated debris. During our 6 nights there we were not offered fresh sheets and only received fresh towels when after several days we asked if we could put our towels in the dryer to “freshen them up”. This end of the “big island” often receives rain in the afternoon/evening and your clothes and towels, bedding etc., usually feel damp.

On the morning of our departure my wife stripped the pillowcases and sheets off the bed for our hosts and we were both shocked. The pillows and pillow covers under the pillowcases were very badly stained. The mattress cover was torn and the mattress “topper” was also badly stained. We did not look under the mattress topper to see the actual mattress. The pillows, covers, mattress topper (possibly even the mattress itself), should all have been put in the garbage. We shuddered at the thought that we had spent the better part of a week sleeping in this bed.

This B & B is well located on the island with good access to the town of Kona and many beaches and worthwhile places to visit. There is also a wide choice of places nearby to eat lunch and dinner. As others have commented, the drive down to the B & B from the highway takes a little getting used to. If at all possible you should arrive before dark at least on your first night - possibly every night. We frequently stay in B & B’s when traveling as this enables us to learn very quickly the local places of interest through suggestions by your hosts as well as the opportunities to interact with other guests.