Short Term Rental
Management

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

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Milolii, Hawaii Short Term Rental Overview

Airbnb Market
Milolii, Hawaii presents an exceptional short-term rental investment opportunity driven by its unique positioning as one of the last authentic Hawaiian fishing villages, creating scarcity value that commands premium nightly rates averaging 40-60% higher than comparable Big Island properties. The location's remote coastal setting along the Kona Coast, combined with extremely limited accommodation options in the immediate area, generates consistent occupancy rates exceeding 75% year-round, with peak seasons reaching 90-95% occupancy at rates of $300-500+ per night for oceanfront properties. Property owners benefit from Milolii's growing reputation among high-end travelers seeking authentic cultural experiences and pristine snorkeling conditions, while the area's restricted development potential due to cultural preservation efforts ensures sustained demand without oversupply concerns. The combination of Hawaii's robust tourism recovery, increasing preference for unique local experiences over resort stays, and Milolii's irreplaceable cultural and natural assets creates a revenue environment where well-positioned properties consistently generate annual returns of 12-18%, significantly outperforming traditional Big Island rental markets while appreciating in value due to the location's inherent scarcity and cultural significance.
Short Term Rental Regulations
Short-term rental regulations in Milolii, 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, and operational requirements for vacation rentals, while the state imposes additional tax obligations including transient accommodations tax (TAT) and general excise tax (GET) that must be collected, reported, and remitted correctly to avoid penalties that can quickly escalate into thousands of dollars. The regulatory landscape is particularly challenging in rural areas like Milolii, where zoning restrictions may limit or prohibit short-term rentals entirely, and enforcement has become increasingly aggressive as local authorities crack down on non-compliant operators. However, partnering with a professional short-term rental management service eliminates these risks entirely, as experienced managers handle all aspects of licensing, permit applications, tax collection and remittance, regulatory compliance monitoring, and ongoing legal requirements, ensuring your property operates within full compliance while you enjoy peace of mind and maximum rental income without the stress of navigating Hawaii's intricate regulatory maze.
Occupancy Rates
Milolii, 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 volume decreases and travelers seek more budget-friendly periods to visit the Big Island's remote South Kona coast. Professional revenue management becomes crucial during these fluctuations, requiring dynamic pricing strategies that maximize rates during peak periods while strategically lowering prices during slower months to maintain competitive occupancy levels and steady cash flow. Effective revenue management in Milolii must account for the location's isolation and limited accommodation options, allowing hosts to implement sophisticated pricing algorithms that adjust daily rates based on local events, weather patterns, fishing seasons, and competitor analysis to optimize both occupancy and revenue throughout the year's natural ebb and flow of tourism demand.
Vacation Rental Management
Managing a vacation rental in Milolii, Hawaii presents unique operational challenges that can quickly overwhelm self-managing owners and jeopardize their property's success. The remote location, nearly two hours from Kona, makes coordinating guest turnover extremely difficult, as cleaning crews and maintenance staff often charge premium rates for the long drive, and last-minute issues can leave properties unready for incoming guests. The 24/7 communication demands become particularly stressful when dealing with guests across multiple time zones who need immediate assistance with everything from Wi-Fi troubleshooting to emergency lockouts, while owners juggle their own schedules and sleep patterns. Maintenance issues in this isolated coastal community are especially problematic, as finding qualified contractors willing to service the area is challenging, parts and supplies must be transported long distances, and the salt air and tropical climate accelerate wear on appliances, HVAC systems, and exterior surfaces. Without professional property management handling these complexities, owners frequently face negative reviews from frustrated guests, emergency situations that require expensive rush solutions, and the constant stress of being on-call, ultimately destroying both their passive income goals and their property's 5-star reputation in Hawaii's fiercely competitive vacation rental market where guests expect flawless experiences regardless of location challenges.
Attractions and Amenities
Milolii, Hawaii's primary attractions center around Milolii Beach Park with its pristine black sand beach and excellent snorkeling opportunities, the historic Milolii fishing village that showcases traditional Hawaiian coastal culture, Honomalino Bay's secluded white sand beach accessible via hiking trail, and the nearby Captain Cook Monument area for world-class diving and kayaking adventures. To effectively serve guests visiting these specific destinations, vacation rental properties must provide essential beach and water activity equipment including snorkel gear, beach chairs, umbrellas, and coolers for full-day beach excursions, outdoor shower facilities for rinsing off salt water and sand, kayak storage or rental partnerships since many guests explore the coastline by water, reliable Wi-Fi for sharing underwater photography and staying connected in this remote location, and detailed local knowledge resources about hiking trail conditions, tide schedules, and cultural protocols for respectfully visiting the traditional fishing community. Properties that align their amenities with these specific water-based activities, cultural experiences, and remote location challenges will command premium rates from guests seeking authentic Hawaiian coastal adventures while ensuring visitor satisfaction through practical support for the unique activities that draw travelers to this unspoiled corner of the Big Island.

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

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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