Four of us stayed at Akiko's for almost 2 months and it's easily the most special and…read moretransformative trip for all of us. Akiko is an amazing host who has been welcoming guests from all over the world to her Buddhist bed & breakfast for two decades. Not only she has been super caring to her guests, she has inspired us to be better human beings with her life stories as well as every word and action of hers. The house, Hale aloha, is spacious for four of us and it can comfortably fit two more persons. It has three bedrooms, a bathroom, a large kitchen equipped with dinnerware and cookware, a living room with dining tables and sofas, and a lush garden outside. The internet worked well even with all four of us working and doing video calls during the day. The location is perfect if you want to take a break from busy urban living and experience what "old Hawaii" is like in a lush rainforest. The closest city Hilo is about 17 minutes away, which is also where you can get the supplies that you can't find near Wailea. Honoli'i is the a great local surfing spot nearby where you can find consistent waves on most days. I'd recommend to get a car if you can especially since everything on the Big island is further apart. To the future guests at Akiko's: please take your time to experience all that Wailea have to offer. Take advantage of the Yoga or Tai Chi classes, buy local products from the Hakalau farmer's market on Tuesday, and especially volunteer at the school & cemetery cleaning! Go meet the wonderful people there and really listen to their stories. You will get to truly experience the Aloha spirit of Hawaii and develop deep connections with the land and the people. This was honestly the best part of our trip, better than manta rays, volcanos, or any other tourist attractions. Mahalo Akiko and the village of Wailea! A Hui Hou!

Come here to live intentionally, simply, and connect the land of old, wild Hawai'i. This is a…read morewonderful opportunity to learn about the land and come to yourself from a slow, hands on, and immersive approach. Akiko hosts meditation and brings in guests to host yoga. There is a community food market every week, as well as beautiful walks to the ocean available from her land. You also have an option to contribute nominal tasks to the land (sweeping, raking, weeding, etc). You will learn quickly how important and tightly woven the community is here... they will always share Aloha and welcome you in, so share Aloha back and take this opportunity to connect to something truly special on big island.

This place is a joke. They've got a good scam going. Hoping my review will save another person a…read morebizarre evening and some money. Unfortunately, this place is not as described or shown. The pictures make it seem clean and private but it's simply a home turned not so great hostel. We booked through booking.com (see pictures, as we noticed they respond to any negative review that it's fake). We were looking forward to a relaxing stay for one evening after arriving late from the airport. However, upon arrival the driveway was completely full, there were crying dogs outside with owners yelling at them, and when we entered the house the entrance smelled musty and quite gross. But, it gets better. As soon as we opened the door to the 'Master Bedroom' there was a used bandaid laying on the floor. (See picture). We had to double check the booking just to be sure we were in the right place. The 'Private Bathroom' was not private at all and was consistently used the entire morning amongst multiple people. They did put a sign on the bathroom that said 'Private Bathroom.' And she did follow up that we could use a key to lock the door, haha. Only positive, shelter. Oh, and Wi-Fi! They do have that. Save yourself and your money and just book anywhere else. I've included (11)other reviews similar to mine from other booking sites and based Cynthia's response and dangerous property I've reported it to the County of Hawaii Planning Department for Short Terms Rentals.

Malama kekahi I kekahi, which means, "to take care of one another", is the "Shaka~Motto" &…read more.. you'll find that at the Shaka Shak with Cynthia and her Mana.

Lotus Garden Hilo The Lotus Garden is a proper garden with…read morenative Hawaiian landscaping and natural plants growing everywhere, filling the space with life. It is a compound of different types of living quarters. My favorite place is a studio on th main street. It is a sexy room with a separate sitting area to sip coffee in the mornings. You can hear the energy of morning musings. The outdoor shower has a great water feature that lulls you into sleep like a lullaby. Peace and tranquility reign here. If you are looking for the big box, first-world amenities, don't stay here. There are birds chirping, Coqui frogs and even a few mosquitoes. If you want air condition and perfectly coiffed lawns, go stay somewhere else. But, If you want to "feel" like you are in Hawaii- stay here. Bring your walking shoes because you literally walk to everything you need. KTA is literally across the street. Close to the farmers' market and shopping at all the unique shops in Hilo. Meg and Jasper are a delight. No matter what I have asked of them, they do their best to accommodate. French pressed coffee in the morning, and a Kendrick's and tonic in the evening. If you are lucky, Jasper may play you a song and Meg will tell you of her adventures. Don't just stay one time- this place is always evolving just like a lotus flower, a symbol of rebirth.

Rustic accommodations in a tropical paradise. This location is in the heart of Hilo, with close…read moreproximity to local fine dining, groceries, and the local farmer's market. This hidden gem provides cottages in a lush garden with a koi pond, serene statues and the sounds of nature in the evening. Access to local venues with live music and shaved ice around the corner. Easy free parking across the street. Cottages featuring nature's air conditioning, small kitchen, private living room, porch, and private bathroom. Stroll through the lush garden area and check out the koi pond.

A beautiful small inn/B&B about 11 miles north of Hilo and 5 miles from Akaka Falls park with…read moreluxurious rooms set amidst lush grounds and high on a cliff overlooking the ocean. We stayed for 3 nights in January in room 5 which was on the end on the top floor. Our very large room featured a great covered patio with a nice ocean view and was quite large and furnished in royal Hawaiian style. Pros - large comfortable room on the end on the upper floor - fairly quiet and located high above the ocean with great views - tastefully furnished b&b that was well taken care of (or course there are small things here and there if you choose to be picky) -I liked the location and plantation style architecture - breakfast is included and way more food than we could eat-one day was French toast, another omelet or any style eggs. Each day in addition there was muffins or pastry, fruit, coffee and juice -very clean and tidy -good wi-fi coverage (no AT&T cell service here) - location was 15 minutes north of Hilo so close to restaurants but far enough away for peace and serenity Opportunities - huge shower but the extreme water saving shower head left me a bit disappointed -small window style a/c kept the room cool enough but also was quite loud all night

Paradise can come in small packages…read more My wife and I stayed for two nights. We found Palms through some travel websites. This was our first time staying in a bed & breakfast. We like to indulge when we travel so big resorts are our preferred accommodation and we travel quite a lot. We aren't the book reader types so the solitude doesn't appeal to us. To tell you the truth I had my doubts the second I reserved the place. Upon arriving at the Palms, all doubts were gone. It was truly beautiful, more so then the online pictures depict. We stayed in the Paradise room on the second floor. My suggestion is to stay in rooms with the A/C. It's nice to sleep with the waves, but when you're sweating you're not going to get much sleep. Simple rules are in place to follow - no shoes in room and luggage on luggage racks. They aren't anything crazy to complain about. I actually like the no shoes thing. Breakfast is served early. Though not an early riser it wasn't hard to wake up to a beautiful view while having homemade breakfast. They provide towels, umbrellas, and coolers for use. We did a lot of hiking so those things came in handy. As oppose to what the guide book say, I recommend staying in Hilo for 3-4 days. There is much to do and the food is excellent this part of the island.

Definitely a place you would want to consider when visiting the Hilo side of the Big Island. It's…read morean immense luxury Japanese themed four bedroom / four and a half bath home available for rental on Reeds Island, which is approximately one mile from the historic downtown Hilo. The gorgeous Japanese motif home is surrounded by a thick, lush rainforest, swimmable ponds and waterfalls. Staying at one of Hilo's few ancient hotels or motels or older homes with bed and breakfast options considerably pales in comparison. Of course choose to be lulled to sleep at nights by the thousands chirps from the coqui frogs (and the deep voice of a bull frog or two!) or be prepared and bring along some ear plugs. And don't forget to bring along a can of bug spray repellant. There are tons of mosquitoes outdoors! Take a look at some of the pictures they post on their website. True lush beauty!

Our family's first trip to Hawaii had our group of eight (seven adults and one 22 month old) on the…read more"older" Hilo side of the big island. Looking back on our trip, I am really glad this was the case. Hilo resonated with me personally, having spent much of my formative years in the warmer climes of Africa. The "perfume of green," the subtle sweet aroma of tropical flowers, and the cleanly saline breeze of the ocean are all welcome olfactory recollections. Tucked near the end of a serpentine (and at times single lane) road, one is presented with two gates. Mika Taki is behind the left gate. Fair warning: parking is PRECIOUSLY lean and narrow. (Seriously; pray your neighbor is a better driver than the visiting Canadian Of Counsel that side swiped our parked rental.) Anyway... Back to this awesome vintage Japanese-inspired estate. Basics: 4 bedroom 4 bathroom Sleeps 8 $214 / day $1,393 / week There is a large kitchen good for meal prep (though, if you miss out on the amazing rustic local eateries...you are robbing yourself of a not-to-miss experience). There is comfortable though limited seating to be found in the formal living room, but there is an additional sun room porch good for a lazy mid-day nap. We spent the bulk of our in residence time seated around the large glass dining table. There is also a glorious wrap around covered deck that I strongly recommend in the cooler air of an early dawn's light. The grounds and the exterior of the residence are well worth taking in. The lush green grotto is capped in a Nature's Solarium of varied palm and deciduous species and the steep drop off the back of the house makes for a glorious symphony of birds during the day and loquacious tree frogs at night. Wear your insect repellent religiously unless you do not value your hide. The fairly treacherous descent down the left side of the property does reward you with a bona fide WATERFALL. Vacation well, my friends!

A gorgeous and peaceful spot. Try to visit when you can benefit from local tranquility.read more

I'm told that the temple was visited by the Dalai Lama before he was the Dalai Lama…read more Up the road from the Ka'u Coffee Mill, a $5 donation will gain you entry into the temple. Let me qualify this review by saying that I didn't have $5 cash on me so I didn't go into the temple. Note to self - Next time, bring cash. I took a few shots of the exterior and hung around for a few minutes trying to absorb the serenity and perhaps take some of the good vibes with me.

I can't believe I get to be the first to review the Hamoa Bay Bungalow. In a way I don't want to…read morereveal this secret hidden heaven in Hana, Maui. At the same time I want to rave about how wonderful this stay was. A beautiful hidden gem located in Hana. There is an option of staying at the bungalow or at the guest house. We stayed at the bungalow in June for our upcoming 1 year wedding anniversary, the surroundings were breath taking. A time warp into the jungles of Maui. The bunglow is better suited for couples, it has one bed, a jetted tub, and the tub is located on the patio. Although there are no privacy windows surrounding the patio, you will feel very comfortable because of how high up you are in the bungalow and the number of tropical foliage surrounding the bungalow. Picture a 600 sq ft tree house for grown ups. As ironic as this may sound, a five star hotel normally would not have any critters running around, but I give this place a 5 star rating for the taste of serenity that I have not experienced at any other hotel before. Here in beautiful Hana, you get the true experience of sharing with nature. At night the geckos come out from the rafters of the bungalow and you share the home with the geckos. At night you hear them running across the glass. You also learn survival skills of turning off all lights in the bungalow and leaving on the magic moonlight switch on the patio to lure the bugs and geckos to one side of the home to feed the geckos. If you can live with the geckos and bugs, this is as close to heaven you can get. Without glass windows on the patio, it is instead covered by netting that allows the sounds of nature to come through, you can hear the ocean waves from coast of Hana Beach at night. In the morning you can hear the birds chirping. The short bursts of pouring Maui rain can also be heard and is a calming sound. The laundry machine is outdoors. You share with the guest house. The guest house is quite a distance from the bungalow and you do feel like you're alone even if you are on the same lot. The kitchen is stocked with all the cookingware you may need if you want to cook, dishes, utensils, and dining ware. The bungalow even has a coffee maker, toaster, and stove. In the garden patio, there is a barbecue that you can use. You will have to bring a bag of bbq coals with you unless the previous guest left some behind. The room also comes with a small radio with cd player and some Hawaiian CD's. This might sound cheesy now listening to Hawaiian music in Hawaii, but while you are staying there experiencing the rain, nature, and that feeling of bliss inside you, the Hawaiian music you listen to at the bungalow will be the sounds of serenity you will remember when you're back at your cubicle working the following week. There are a few cats that roam around the home, they live there, and if you're lucky enough, you'll get a happy greeting from them. You have to make a private reservation with the owner of this home to stay here. $225 per night plus 11.42% tax, 3 nights minimum reservation. We booked the minimum of 3 nights here to stay in Hana for the beginning of our trip in Maui and the rest of the trip in hotels in Kaanapali resort area, the first 3 nights was the highlight of our Maui trip. The reservation was a very simple process: 1) Email hamoabay@maui.net or call the owner at (808) 248-7884 asking if the dates you want to visit is available. We booked the trip around being able to stay at the bungalow, we were open to June or September. 2) After setting the available date and reserving, you provide a 50% deposit with the balance due 30 days in advance of the arrival date. You can book with your credit card over the phone. 3) You receive a confirmation receipt by email. 4) After final payment you get your secret directions to finding the hidden gem. 5) Upon arrival you call to tell the owner that you've arrived. 6) You try to cope with your much removed state from the busy life you've escaped from. 7) Day 2, you've succeeded in step 6. Now you explore Hana. 8) Day 3 (if you book only 3 days), you're now sad that you know that this is the last night at the bungalow. 9) Day 4, checking out. You're now sad you have to go and you actually say goodbye to the geckos. 10) Day 5, back at work. You think about booking a trip to Maui again to stay at the bungalow, Go for it! "This bungalow sure hit the spot. Tropical, remote, and romantic!"

The place is nice and charming…read more But doesn't have air conditioner so keep that in mind, esp in the hot steamy days which you might experience. However, if you want to rent the place a few days for remote and quite experience. This is the place to be. You would really feel like you stay in one of your aunt summer house. It's personal and charming. But not luxury or modern.

I spent a week at Gay Hawaii B&B during Xmas holidays 2018. What a fantastic and wonderful…read moreexperience! The host is perfection, he is so knowledgeable about the island and the local sights and so helpful, sweet, friendly, and fun. The house is comfortable, clean, calm, and I met some other guests that have become forever friends. The area is amazing with the ocean so close you can walk and a black sand clothing optional beach a short drive away. Uncle Awa's bar is very close, also a little market there, and don't miss the Wed. nite food and arts festival. Also a short drive to Pahoa, a quaint sleepy town with wonderful hippie shops and great Thai food! Also a not too far ride to Volcano National Park, and also several waterfalls- very cool! We picked fresh passion-fruit and lemons in the tropical garden and made passion-fruit lemonade. The kitchen is fully stocked and we made fabulous meals. All in all it was the perfect vacation. I will definitely be returning and can not recommend Gay Hawaii B&B highly enough!!

This is my worst experience ever staying at a B&B. I've…read moretraveled all around the world. What was supposed to be a lovely getaway for a personal holiday, it was basically a nightmare. The owner over booked & offered a BALI HUT which is The NIGHTMARE. Rainstorm downpour 5 days. Dripping roof from rain, screens not secured & 2 inch opening under entry door for easy access from jungle critters. The door doesn't lock. If you're looking for numerous mosquito bites, critters & way too many ghekos trying to get out of rain. They live between the rafters. I tried to move back & reclaim my room main home. No one replied, owner got angry & accused me of coming all the way there & making this up not to pay. I also was accused of stalking because of trying to get moved or something? This is NONSENSE. I had to check out after 2 days with no sleep. Because of a holiday wee I paid triple the cost at a last minute hotel back in Hilo I've had nothing but contention & threats trying to be compensated for overbooking & my experience in Bali Hut. I have no reason to lie or make this up. Please Beware

What an amazing place to stay. So close to Volcano National Park. We were able to catch this mini…read moreeruption and arrive within 10 mins. The Coffee and banana bread were spot on. Would recommend staying here 100%. The Staff was so friendly and accommodating. We didn't actually check in until 10pm. Very easy to find. The room was clean and comfy. The only thing we missed out on was asking for their banana bread recipe.

About the only positive thing I can say is that it's close to Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park…read more The issues: - Upon arrival around 5ish PM, there was no one around to greet us. Finally someone was running around and told my travel buddy to look for an envelope in the basket. - The room: Small, kind of musty/moldy kind of vibe. The bed was small and squeaky. You need a key to turn on the electricity. Also, there is no TV! - No potable water in the room. The provided water in the carafe had mold on the lid. - Bathroom: The shampoo, conditioner, and shower gel were all filled about 1/4th of the way. The shower gel wasn't even labeled. Very little counter space for toiletries. - Breakfast: I was expecting something a little more substantial. There were papaya boats and banana bread. - No shoes inside policy. Sorry, I wasn't leaving my shoes outside the room. Rain? Bugs? Heck no! All in all, I didn't see the value for $285 for a single night. This was my first time ever staying at a BnB and I didn't feel like it was very hospitable.