Short Term Rental
Management

Surge offers local full service vacation rental management for busy vacation rental owners and Airbnb hosts in Discovery Harbour, Hawaii

Schedule a Call

Discovery Harbour, Hawaii Short Term Rental Overview

Airbnb Market
Discovery Harbour presents exceptional short-term rental investment opportunities driven by its strategic positioning on Hawaii's Big Island, where vacation rental demand consistently outpaces supply, generating average daily rates 40-60% higher than traditional long-term rentals. This oceanfront community benefits from year-round tourism influx seeking authentic Hawaiian experiences away from crowded resort areas, with occupancy rates typically exceeding 75% annually and peak season bookings commanding $200-400+ per night depending on property specifications. The location's proximity to popular attractions including Punalu'u Black Sand Beach, Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, and South Point creates sustained guest demand, while the limited inventory of vacation rentals in this specific micro-market allows property owners to capture premium pricing with minimal competition. Current market analysis indicates Discovery Harbour properties generate 15-25% higher revenue per square foot compared to similar Big Island locations, with the added advantage of lower property acquisition costs relative to Kona or Hilo markets, creating an optimal investment scenario where owners can achieve rapid ROI through strategic short-term rental positioning while building long-term equity in an appreciating Hawaiian real estate market.
Short Term Rental Regulations
Short-term rental regulations in Discovery Harbour, Hawaii are governed by a complex web of county ordinances, state laws, and zoning requirements that are constantly evolving and can result in substantial fines, legal action, or forced closure of your rental operation if not properly navigated. Hawaii County has implemented strict permitting processes, occupancy limits, tax obligations, and operational requirements that vary by district and property type, with enforcement becoming increasingly aggressive as officials crack down on non-compliant operators who face penalties ranging from thousands of dollars in fines to complete shutdown of their rental business. However, when you partner with a professional short-term rental management service, you can rest assured that all licensing requirements, permit applications, tax filings, and ongoing compliance monitoring are handled by experienced professionals who stay current with changing regulations and maintain all necessary documentation to keep your property operating legally and profitably while you enjoy peace of mind knowing your investment is protected.
Occupancy Rates
Discovery Harbour, Hawaii experiences distinct seasonal patterns with peak occupancy rates typically occurring during winter months (December through March) when mainland visitors escape cold weather, and summer months (June through August) coinciding with family vacation periods, often achieving 80-90% occupancy during these high-demand windows. The shoulder seasons of April-May and September-November generally see occupancy rates drop to 60-70% as tourist demand decreases and local competition intensifies among vacation rental properties. Professional revenue management becomes crucial during these fluctuations, requiring sophisticated dynamic pricing strategies that adjust rates based on local events, weather patterns, booking lead times, and competitor analysis to maximize revenue per available night. Effective revenue management in Discovery Harbour involves implementing automated pricing tools that can respond to real-time market conditions, setting strategic minimum stay requirements during peak periods, and offering competitive rates during slower months while maintaining profitability, ultimately enabling property owners to achieve consistent annual occupancy rates above 75% despite the inherent seasonality of this Hawaiian vacation rental market.
Vacation Rental Management
Self-managing a vacation rental in Discovery Harbour presents formidable operational challenges that can quickly overwhelm property owners and damage their investment returns. Guest turnover in this remote Big Island location requires coordinating cleaning crews, maintenance checks, and guest communications across significant distances, often with limited local service providers who may charge premium rates for the isolated coastal area. The 24/7 communication demands become particularly taxing when dealing with guests from multiple time zones while living on Hawaiian time, requiring immediate responses to everything from Wi-Fi troubleshooting to emergency situations, with no backup support during personal vacations or illness. Maintenance issues in Discovery Harbour's salt-air environment and volcanic terrain create unique challenges, from rapid deterioration of fixtures and appliances to specialized repairs that require contractors willing to travel to the area, often resulting in extended downtime and frustrated guests when problems aren't resolved immediately. The competitive vacation rental market in Hawaii demands consistent 5-star experiences, where a single negative review about slow response times, maintenance delays, or poor communication can devastate booking rates and revenue, making full-service property management not just a luxury but an essential investment to protect both reputation and passive income potential in this demanding market.
Attractions and Amenities
Discovery Harbour's primary attractions center around Kealakekua Bay State Historical Park with its world-renowned snorkeling and Captain Cook Monument, the nearby Pu'uhonua o Honaunau National Historical Park (Place of Refuge) offering cultural immersion and tide pool exploration, Ka Lae (South Point) as the southernmost tip of the United States with dramatic cliff views and local fishing spots, and the pristine Papakolea Green Sand Beach accessible only by rugged hiking or 4WD vehicles. To effectively serve guests visiting these marine and outdoor destinations, properties must provide essential amenities including snorkel gear, beach equipment, and gear drying areas for the water activities at Kealakekua Bay, outdoor shower facilities and sandy gear storage for post-beach cleanup, 4WD vehicle information or rental partnerships for accessing remote South Point and Green Sand Beach, early breakfast options or grab-and-go provisions for full-day excursions, and reliable Wi-Fi for guests to research trail conditions, tide schedules, and cultural site information, while also offering local area expertise and maps to help visitors navigate these often challenging but rewarding natural and historical attractions that define the Discovery Harbour experience.

Why choose Surge?

Surge is local Airbnb management that’s reliable, affordable and the best for your property.
Cost
Guest communications
Host Communications
Insurance
Contract
Cost
Starting at 15% fee
Guest communications
Guest response within 10 minutes, 24 hours a day
Host Communications
Designated host call in phone line
Insurance
Full damage protection for every reservation
Contract
No annual agreements
Other Property Mangers
Cost
25-40% fee
Guest communications
Sporadic guest communications
Host Communications
Bot response assistants
Insurance
Unreliable insurance coverage
Contract
Contract lock-ins

Understand Your STR Income

Thank you! Your submission has been received!
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.

Surge is geared towards maximizing potential

Be at ease with the knowledge that your vacation rental is being optimized to its fullest potential.
30%
In gross revenue
150 M
Potential guests
4.9
Superhost status
7+
Booking platforms
1
Property manager
The house was great. It accommodated our large group nicely. The owner was responsive and checked in on us throughout the trip. The gate around the home added privacy and security. The beds were comfortable as well. Extra linen, towels and washcloths. We are looking to book this home in the future!
Airbnb Guest Hosted by Surge
Head of Design, Layers
We really appreciated Surge. He was responsive, attentive, and went above to make sure our stay was seamless. You can tell he takes pride in providing a clean/organized place. Everyone loved the pool table and shuffleboard. This place is also very close to great restaurants. The place we went to had the best catfish. Would definitely rent from Surge again!!
Airbnb Guest Hosted by Surge
Head of Design, Layers
Our group really enjoyed our long weekend stay here! The property was very clean and spacious but also provided some privacy to accommodate our large family. Surge was responsive when we reached out to them and also accommodated an early check-in. We felt secure given that the property was gated and had smart locks on both entry doors. We strongly recommend this property and would love to stay here again!
Airbnb Guest Hosted by Surge
Head of Design, Layers
My family and I were here for my daughter’s graduation from UofH. Surge was very upfront, kept us informed and accommodating. The place was clean and fit my entire family comfortably. We have already made plans to come back. Great location, private and safe environment. Would highly recommend! Thank you Surge for making this stay memorable and stress free for our family!
Airbnb Guest Hosted by Surge
Head of Design, Layers
Great stay that accommodated all our needs for a successful for trip to Houston, i hope to Book in the coming future.
Airbnb Guest Hosted by Surge
Head of Design, Layers
The host was great, he responded quickly when needed and checked in on us from time to time throughout the whole day. He was awesome and the place was great for my family of 16. Definitely will book with him in the future.
Airbnb Guest Hosted by Surge
Head of Design, Layers

Frequently asked questions

Everything you need to know about the product and billing.
Does Surge Property Management allow pets in its short term rentals?
Surge Property Management leaves that decision to the property owner. While allowing pets can be a big perk for some guests, Surge does not have any requirements for the property owner to allow it. Service animals are a different case. Surge is prohibited to refuse a reservation, charge pet fees, hold guests to different rules, apply differential treatment or use discriminatory language if a guest is accompanied by a service animal. A guests service animal must not be out of control, un-housebroken, left alone at the listing without prior approval, allowed into areas that are considered unauthorized by the guest and allowed in a public space without being harnessed, leashed, or tethered and not under the guests control.
Do I get access to an owner portal?
Surge Property Management has a tech leading owner portal to keep its property owners in the loop, instead of on the outside looking in. In the owner portal you can reserve days for personal use, see pending reservations, nightly pricing rates, owner statements, expense receipts, guest messaging and more!
Do you screen the guests that are staying in my property?
Our intelligent Guest Screening technology allows us to screen vacation rental guests before they enter your property, making it easier to keep bad guests out. We proactively assess the risk posed by each guest, through legal, non-discriminatory checks. Guests will be asked to submit some personal details including their name, date of birth, physical home address and contact details. We then verify by having the guest take a live selfie and submit a photo of their ID(either a drivers license or passport). This information will then be processed to determine the true identity of your guest, including whether the ID is fraudulent and if the provided details match those on the ID. This process will generate a risk report for us to review before the guest arrives.
Do you provide insurance for guest damages?
We partner with the premier provider of short term rental protection also offering guest screening and comprehensive insurance coverage. Our partner brings confidence and peace of mind to both Surge Property Management and its clients(homeowners). Our third party partner has protected over 60 billion in homeowner liability coverage and 1 million guest nights. Ask your Surge sales representative for more details.
What happens if there is guest damage to my property?
Each guest is required to make a $500 security deposit. Any damage above $500 we are able to document, submit, and follow a claim through on your behalf with our short term rental insurance partner covering up to $5,000,000.
How does Surge compare to a national provider like Vacasa?
While both Surge and Vacasa both have a full service model designed to be hands off from the property owner, Surge stands out above the rest by being more intentional and selective with the properties we decide to accept into our management portfolio. This allows us to give the required attention to the properties we manage instead of just "setting it and forgetting it" like the other property managers do. Once you go onboard with them you just become another number.
Does Surge handle the maintenance of the vacation rental?
Yes, Surge is able to handle any property maintenance(including hot tub & pool) for your property. We have a large network of service providers, additionally, if you have a preferred vendor we can assign and coordinate maintenance with them as well.
What services does Surge Property Management offer?

Surge is a full-service property manager and provides the following service to property owners:

  • Listing creating and management across multiple channels
  • Calendar management
  • Cleaning
  • Laundry
  • Restocking
  • Maintenance
  • Dynamic Pricing
  • Lock automation
  • Guest Portal
  • Owners Portal
  • Listing optimization
  • Photography
  • 24/7 guest communication
  • Check-in/out support
  • and more!
Is Surge Property Management a Superhost on Airbnb?
Yes, Surge Property Management is a Superhost on AirBNB. Airbnb defines a Superhost as a Host who goes above and beyond to provide excellent hospitality. Guests can easily identify a Superhost from the badge that appears on their Airbnb listing and profile. Superhosts have more visibility and earning potential.
How and when do I get paid?
Surge Property Management initiates ACH payment to its property owners once a month by the 10th day of the next month. Along with the ACH deposit sent to you, you also receive a highly detailed statement for review.
Are there any hidden fees?
Surge Property Management has the most transparent pricing in the industry. Our property owners are our Partners in business which is why we hold transparency at a very high standard. With your monthly statements you will be able to trace every dollar from when the guest paid for their reservation to when it was deposited into your bank account. Contact your Surge sales rep for a personal walk through of our statement structure.
Can I still use my property?
Yes of course. The biggest perk of a vacation rental is still retaining personal use of the property for your personal use. Inside of our Owner’s Portal you can reserve days for personal use.
How do you market my property?

We list your property on the major platforms like Airbnb, VRBO, Booking.com, Google Vacation rentals and more! We also allow direct bookings very popular among returning guests. Our integration technology is second to none and was awarded the following:

  • Airbnb Preferred + Software Partner
  • VRBO Elite Partner
  • Booking.com Premier Connectivity Partner
How do you handle complaints or disputes?
We aim to resolve issues quickly and fairly, protecting both the guests and the property owner’s interests. We mediate disputes and ensure a smooth resolution process.
How do I get started with your service?
Contact us to schedule a consultation. We'll discuss your property, our services, and how we can help you achieve your rental goals.
How do you handle waste management?
We coordinate with local services to ensure proper waste disposal and recycling, maintaining cleanliness and environmental responsibility.
What safety measures do you implement?
We ensure the property has functional smoke detectors, carbon monoxide detectors, fire extinguishers, and complies with all local safety regulations.
What does Surge’s full service property management mean?
Surge's comprehensive property management service allows property owners to be completely hands-off with the daily operations of their Airbnb properties. Surge takes care of all the daily tasks, including listings, guest interactions, cleanings, restocking, and maintenance, ensuring a stress-free experience for the property owner.

Still have questions?

Can’t find the answer you’re looking for? Please chat to our friendly team.
Get in touch
(713) 853-9573