As someone who once lived in Hawaii, I was thrilled to plan
a first trip there recently as a family, with my husband of 25 years
and our two teenagers. I didn't want to show them the fake,
touristy Hawaii, I wanted them to experience a bit of real
Hawaii. Ironically, we found real Hawaii with a haole, Doug
Tupper. Doug's vacation house was all we had hoped for, and
so much more. Upon our arrival, we were greeted outside on the
deck by a tiny neon green and fuschia spotted gecko. Ahhh, this
was the Hawaii I remembered!
The house is clean, comfortable and spacious. It is
sunny and bright, and the cross breeze is nice night and day. I
loved the decorating so much that I've incorporated some ideas into our
own home. It's a perfect place for a family to vacation because
there's plenty of room for everyone and the location is convenient to
everything. The nearby beaches were our favorites of all
those we visited around the island. It was a home-base for
visits to the Volcano National Park, Hilo, and the northern parts
of the island. Kona is the wonderful town nearby that offers
all of the restaurants and shopping a tourist could hope
for. But the kitchen in the house is
so well-equipped that we were happy to opt for eating
in. We discovered that the very best place to see each and
every sunset is in the glass-enclosed dining room, which faces due
west. There were lots of fruit and flower stands, a Costco
Hawaiian Wonderland, our favorite Borders Bookstore, and the
grandaddy of all Walmarts nearby, but this home is set in an
unspoiled tropical little neighborhood with aunties on their
lanais and schoolkids waiting for the bus.
I know they say there's no place like home, but maybe you'll
convince me of that the day I can walk into my carport in Virginia
and pick a fresh papaya for breakfast. I'm sure we'll be
back, but Doug will have serious trouble getting us to leave.
He's the best host we've ever had and hopefully, after this vacation, a
good friend, as well.
Thanks Doug, and aloha!
Donna
Fairfax, Virginia
The Desoto Familt
Doug,
Our stay at your home was wonderful. The house is beautiful and
very comfortable. Because of its location in the hills above
Kona,
it gets great breezes and remains comfortably cool. Yet, we were
only a few minutes down the hill to all the sites of Kona and the
beaches.
It made a great vacation home for us.
Next time our family will come along with us, as it is very
reasonably
priced. What more could we want?
Deborah and Joe Verfaillie
In the crater....
I don’t know how to begin to thank you for letting us stay in
your new
home and taking time off to show us some of your favorite spots. I hope
we weren’t too much trouble while we were there. We really had a great
time and thoroughly enjoyed our time with you. . . . I know Allen
really had fun showing you “his way” to do some of it and sharing his
ideas
of what could possibly be done in the future, and he enjoyed the wood
place
so much (I can’t remember the name). We received the wood Allen bought
the day after we got home. He’s thrilled!
I’m going to try to send you the photos we took while we were
there,
if I can figure out how to do it!!
Carol and Allen
At the Volcano Steam
Vents
Tidepools
Just a quick note to say what a great value and location your
Kona vacation home has been. As an ecotourist who has been from Belieze
to Bora Bora, your place afforded easy access to beautiful beaches as
well as the cloud forests and coffee country - all within a half hour
or less. We appreciated your sharing of wonderful local knowledge
including uncrowded beaches off the beaten path and unmarked but safe
trails travering the magical giant fern and ohia tree cloud forests.
The relaxed ambience of your home and personal attention made for a
very comfortable place to stay and provided a glimpse into local life
in a friendly but unobtrusive way. Thanks so much for sharing your
place with us. For anyone wanting a great value at a convenient and
versitile location, we highly recommend your vacation home.
--Chris
Maiseng YangLake Elmo, MN
We loved the view
from the house, and the lovely decor.Doug was the most hospitable host that we have had in a
long
time!We will be back.
Lenny MartinLas Vegas, NVHello Doug, We had a great time! The message is in
Russian transcripted: "Many thanks for a wonderful
vacation!" I will tell all my
friends about your place. Mahalo
Keone Kneisher
Sedona, AZ Thank you for your
kindness & generous spirit and awesome views!Aloha!
Vena DeviSedona, AZWow!What a blessing to meet you and share
ideas/dreams/our prosperous honest heart.Thank you!
Naylor FamilyJerrecho, VTDoug,
We can't
thank you enough for welcoming our family into your beautiful home.This was our family's first trip to
Hawaii and we had a wonderful time relaxing inside your home & in
the
surrounding area.Our son and
brother completed his first Kona Ironman and your home provided the
perfect
homebase for his support.Best of
luck to you and your future endeavors!May our paths cross once again.Best, Naylor Family
Rasmussen FamilyBay Area, CADoug,
Thanks for
everything!You have a wonderful
place & wonderful personality to match!Thanks
for the trip to the end of the world!
Bob GilchristSanta Rosa,
CA Thanks Doug 4 a
great week.Wonderful fish
birzmur[?], come and visit me in Beautiful Sonoma Wine country!Bob
The
TemplemansPortland, ORDoug,
We enjoyed
the beauty of the island and the comfort of your home!
Dabel FamilyContra Costa
County, CA Doug, Thank you so
much for the use of your beautiful home.The decorating makes it real Hawaii, the views are perfect
&
we felt
right at home here.Hope you feel
better and can get back to enjoying your great Kona Escape.Merry Christmas!
Giana RobergeBay Area, CADoug, We had a
wonderful time filled with laughter, good food and lots of sunshine.Thank you for sharing your lovely home
with us.Best wishes in 2007!Cheers
Price &
Seibert Families Aloha!Great time this place is great for
everything.Mahalo!!
Ron and Julie
ShoebottomWaterford, MI Thank you for
letting us stay in your lovely home.We had a great stay and hope to return again.Mahalo
No Respect Womens
Softball TeamCaptain RaynaMaui It was great!We actually fit 13 people and one child
w/ 3 extra mattresses we brought.Thanks again we'll keep in touch and hopefully come back.
Cate AndrewsSydney,
Australia
Loved it, provided
all we needed and more.Greatly
surpassed expectation.Sunset was
awesome!Thanks so much.Mahalo
Betsy and Bob
IngramCastro
Valley, CA
Doug, Thank you so
much for the use of your home!It
was awesome!We had perfect
weather the whole time except our day at the volcano!It was truly relaxing!Thanks
Richard Zuck and
Kelly SchaberNew York, NYDoug: Thanks!Everything
was
great!
Guests:
Try the
40' jump off of South Point if you can swim, aren't afraid of heights,
or sharks!
Mahalo
& see you
again soon!
Jerrie SwitoneKauai, HI Doug, We enjoyed
our stay and thank you for the breath taking views.
Greg and Karen
DabelContra Costa
County, CAThank you for the
great time & we like Kona and enjoyed your lovely home.Thanks
Kirk and Cynthia
TruscottEast
Wenatchee, WADoug, Thanks for
everything.The accommodations
were great.We had a wonderful
time.Thanks again
Mike and Yuko
Robertson,Santa Rosa,
CADoug,
We had a
great stay!Your house is very
comfortable and your hospitality was great.Yuko
& I will be back again.The tuna melt
was over the top and hit the spot after our
journey.Thanks again!Arigatou ("thank you" in Japanese)
Bill and Dee
JolliffSanta Rosa,
CA What a GREAT
home!!!Loved it!!!And
you are fabulous Douglas.Thank you for
your hospitality !
Greg, Manu, Margie
& PuaHonolulu, HI We had a wonderful
time visiting with you and the Daubers.I really enjoyed the turtles and tidepools and the great
grilled
cooking.Thanks (disclosure: Greg
is my brother!)
The DaubersBainbridge Island,
WANice and cool
here.We also stayed in Hilo and
Volcano.Also spent time with
friends at Kona beach condo.This
house definitely had the best climate to escape the afternoon heat
without air conditioning.Thanks again we
had a great time.We'll be back.
Matt and Jessica
MoodyHuntsville,
ALDoug, Thank you so
much for letting us use your beautiful home!We
will miss Hawaii very much! Blane and
Marya
JolliffSanta Rosa,
CAWe had a fab-u
time!!! A flock of parakeets came and ate at the tree out front!!!Thank you!!!
Shannon Curran -
Boston, MABri and Sean
Curran - Seattle, WALaura and
Leroy -
Las Vegas, NV A wonderful island
to explore and such a courteous host!We'll be back
EldridgesCampbell, CABergen,
Norway
Dawn and Rich
O'SheaCoventry,
EnglandThank you Doug for
letting us stay in Ginger and Mango House, I certainly enjoyed my stay
in Mango
House and I like the computer and the TV and the view from the back
window of the
Mango House.Thank you from
Lauren.
P.S.
I
think you
have a great personality.(disclosure: I think Lauren is 12.)
Thank
you Doug for
letting us stay in the Ginger and the Mango House, I think the Mango
house was
better than the Ginger.Thank you
for the computer and the bunk bed.The view of the sunset is brilliant.Nathan
- Lauren's brother
Sandi BrownSan
Francisco, CAThank you Doug for
your hospitality.It is a great
view and a beautiful house.
Michele and Bruce
KeblaskusHotchkiss, COThanks for having
a great pleasant home for vacationers to enjoy.Your
opening visit was most enjoyable - a real professional
host you are.
Tami Hirasawa and
Dave MayerPhoenix, AZThis was a great
house to relax in.We went to the
beach hopping with the kids most days while Dave was at his photography
workshop.
We
all
enjoyed
your company the kids were both sad when you left for Oahu later in the
week.Hope you keep in touch.
Gina Humbolt, CADoug, We aren't
digging this place too much.(Sent
by email- not in book - but I wanted their voice represented for
balance.)
Alan Stephens -
EnglandRobyn Few -
San
Francisco, CAA really great pad
with easy access to neat places on this beautiful island.
Jeff, Tori and Eli - Santa Fe, NMMike and
Jeanie
Morton - Kansas City, KSThanks for
everything Doug: help is choosing the Mango House, a warm welcome,
company at
the brew pub, lowdown on the island.We had a great time & couldn't have been more
comfortable.I would look forward to
getting that used
car too!Peace
Dave MayerPhoenix, AZThank you for
everything Doug!The
accommodations are great, very convenient.Your
hospitality was superb, your advice on things to see/do
very welcome.I especially
appriciate your turning on the
lava for me this time, as last time I didn't see
any!Thanks again and I hope to be
back with Tami, Alexander and Naomi in the not-too-distant future.Dave
Julie and Dave
Cunnison
Denver, CODoug, We truly
were pleased with the house and enjoyed our time here.There is so much to see and do that we
will have to come back someday.It
was great meeting you and having a chance to chat.You are a wonderful host!Sincerely,
the Cunnison Family
Tahitian
Spearfishing TeamTahiti and
HawaiiNotre dejour dans
votre palace a etais d'un confore innoubiale.Nous
rontereron chez nous avec de bon saivenir, avec um 2nd
place chez vous, mes prochene fois ea aera la vidorre.Ok.Good.Boys.(I do not speak or
read French, but I think this message is to say they were here for a
spear
fishing contest and they took second place.)
