If I could leave ten stars for this place I would. from the get go, the staff here was wonderful…read moreand so welcoming. You can tell they put so much effort into the little touches and details of the cabin. We stayed in the skylight house, and were greeted every day with fresh fruits and pastries, fresh flowers, and the most dreamy and beautiful setting we have ever seen. Literally cannot recommend this place enough!

Stay here for an amazing experience! My husband booked this place for our honeymoon/vacation and I…read morecannot have been more happy to stay here. Wish we stayed here a little longer to enjoy the hot tub! Our host, Jenny, was very helpful and inviting. She gave us a tour of the grounds and provided some information about Volcano National Park. The sanctuary provides all the amenities you'll ever need: mini fridge, sink, bowls/plates, heater, utensils, TV, DVDs, books, plug ins, coffee maker, coffee grounds/tea, juice, milk, creamer, cream cheese and spreads for the baked goods, soap, dish wash scrub, etc. You name it, they have it. The bed was so comfortable, clean, and relaxing. I enjoyed the outside shower and hot tube! Enjoyed the nature all around us. The only downside was the WiFi connection. We were only able to get 1 bar inside the cottage. Our host was able to reset it in which worked great for awhile but returned to the same bar later that night. If we ever come back to Hawai'i, I would love to stay again!

For the last few days of our honeymoon, Pete & I booked the Royal Hibiscus Room at the Coconut…read moreCottage. Our honeymoon up to that point had been nothing short of disastrous. My over-adventurous eating choices and selection of swimming spots on Maui led to what I thought was a stomach bug, but ended up being parasites and an intestinal infection. I arrived at the Coconut Cottage rather green, feverish, in desperate need of hydration, and constantly watching my back because I feared Pete might willingly sacrifice me to Madame Pele. When we pulled up, we immediately felt like we were coming home. The Coconut Cottage B & B is so welcoming and is set in such a beautiful and lush area. After spending some time on the drier Kailua-Kona side of the island, we were excited to be surrounded in so much greenery. The landscaping showed such keen attention to detail and the Hawaiian plants and flowers were so bright and vibrant. Upon entering the Coconut Cottage, every ounce of stress in my body washed away. The music, the trickling water from the fountains, the scents (I've never been in a home that smelled so good), the decor...all amazing. When we arrived the hosts were not there, but we were greeted with a sweet note and information on what to do in the area. We let ourselves in and took a long nap on the most comfortable bed I have ever slept in. Actually, aside from a trip to the ER in the middle of the night, we mainly slept the whole time here. The room was so comfortable and the B & B was so quiet, we had trouble getting out of bed. We literally fell asleep by 8pm every night, woke up only to be spoiled by breakfast, and then napped...exactly what we needed. Breakfasts were served at 8:30am on the lanai in the main house, and each morning we were shocked to see there were other guests there. We never heard or saw anyone except at breakfast-which is great if you are on your honeymoon (check) or really sick (check). Guests in the few days we were there were from various parts of Canada, England, and California. The guest book revealed guests from around the world had stayed in our room. One of the bed and breakfast owners was not there, so instead, Todd's mom was there to assist. What a warm and caring family. I felt completely taken care of. As Brooke mentioned, the hosts were very unobtrusive, but were available for questions any time we had them. They gave us great recommendations for dinner, outings, etc. Breakfast always consisted of fresh tropical fruits, coffee, tea, and fruit juice and then something fabulous on the menu like Macadamia nut pancakes or vegetable quiche. When we booked the B & B online, we were asked for any dietary restrictions or food preferences, and those were all followed. On our last day, our flight left early, and they packed us a breakfast. So sweet. Breakfasts gave us a chance to talk with other guests about places to go in the area and plan our day. Only a few miles from the Coconut Cottage is a Lava Viewing area. You just take Hwy. 130 until it ends. The Lava Viewing area is open from 5pm till 10pm, but the last car is let in at 8:00pm. Get there early so you don't have to walk over the hardened lava fields in the dark. I lost my footing quite a few times. Bring a flashlight for the walk back! The town of Pahoa, where the Coconut Cottage is located, also has some great restaurants and shops. I would highly recommend the Coconut Cottage to anyone heading to the Big Island or anyone in need of relaxation.

This place is a hidden gem just outside of Pahoa that I was lucky enough to stay at last week,…read morewhile my girlfriend was here on a visit and we were both very impressed with everything about this place. We stayed in the Hibiscus room which was cute, cozy and absolutely immaculate. The entire house was very clean and everything was well organized and convenient right down to the little map and restaurant guide that was in our room. The breakfast of fresh fruit, banana bread, juice, coffee and frittata was fantastic and enough to put even the crankiest non morning people (like myself) in a good mood. The grounds are beautiful and the owners Jerry and Todd are both very friendly and helpful. It was a great stay and the prices are a great deal, especially with what you get. I didn't want to leave!

This is actually the BEST place we've stayed at on any of the Islands. Comfortable, serene,…read moreprivate and the breakfasts are to die for! We stayed a week and wished we could stay longer. Cindy & Rick were the perfect hosts. We will definitely go back

My five nights at the Ohia House were not enough! Cindy and…read moreRick made me feel right at home and welcome, from the second I stepped into the lanai (my favorite part!). They were friendly, yet not overly present - very conscious of boundaries. They asked me questions about myself and made sure things were suitable. Which they were! The room was great! It had a comfortable bed, large closet, cozy couch and attached bathroom with robes! There was a book shelf with local books to read and even games to play (on the lanai) when I was not out and about. Most importantly, this room was CLEAN! I never hesitated to sleep in the bed, never thought about wearing sandals in the shower, or wondered who had been in here before me. It felt like I was at home. The lanai was, like I said, my favorite park. It was HUGE, and full of tables, chairs and informational brochures about fun things to do locally. I spent most of my time at Ohia House on this lanai and wish I had one of my own. It was screened in so even at night when I could hear the frogs; I was not worried that they (or the mosquitoes) would get me. The grounds are beautiful too, and though I walked around, I enjoyed observing them from the comfort of my chair. The breakfasts were incredible. I wrote down what Cindy gave out because I want to try and recreate them for myself later. Without listing complete recipes, they included but were not limited to: fresh fruit, mango, papaya, blueberries, bananas, muffins, yogurt, oatmeal and, Dutch cookies (not sure if this is the right name but it was still good!!). I could have eaten breakfast all day. They were great tasting and a good way to start my day. The friendly chit chat from the beginning of my stay came back to me in the form of GREAT, and on-point to my likings, recommendations. During my trip I saw an active volcano, a lava tube, a coffee plantation, botanical gardens and the local zoo. It was perfect, and a lot of it was free! I even got to see sea turtles at the bay in Hilo. It was incredible. I had a wonderful time on the Big Island and I can thank the Ohia House and Cindy and Rick for that. I will most definitely be back and I highly recommend it to any travelers on their way to this piece of paradise!!

We really enjoyed the beautiful well kept down-to-earth stay. The property is both immaculate and…read morerelaxing. The morning breakfast is delightfully done and creates a nice community feeling. They are SO close to the surfing beach. A nice stroll with coffee to watch the locals was sweet.

I cant take the credit for finding this jewel. My wife did a lot of research and finally settled on…read morethe Orchid B and B. They have two rooms here. One is detached from the house and is rhe smallest. The larger room is located at the entry to the house. It appears that it is a converted living room with a 3/4 bathroom. No tub. The room is decorated nicely in island style and sconce lighting. Nice large flat screen tv on the wall with a swivel. A/c in the room if needed, cieling fans, and a couple nice couches. There is a refrgerator in the room that has a small freezer. There is a microwave on the lanai and a barbeque that can be used also. The breakfasts are outstanding and consist of papayas, mango, bananas, apples, dates and kiwi. In addition Steve makes waffles, and brings in bagels and sweet rolls on alternate days. Theres also, Coffee, yogurt and three types of dry cereal. The grounds are lush and well maintained. You have full access to the pool and hot tub. Theres also a koi pond. The lanai is about 35' x 35' big and really nice with many chairs to lounge on and chill... The only negatives i can think of is the water pressure in the shower is really low and the towels are pretty thin....these things are not deal breakers. Steve and Su are great hosts and we definitley reccomend the Orchid.

Thanks guys for the great night in your B&B very good service, much better breakfast.read more

Stayed at the Kimos Ohanas for 4 days while in Hawaii. It's within an hour to volcano national…read morepark, hilo, akaka falls, and black sand beaches. Location is only half the story... The Kimos is owned by Jim & Jim- and they might be my favorite people in the world. The breakfasts were awesome, the hospitality first class, the grounds beautiful and private. I could call this a great value stay- but it just doesn't do it justice. The Kimos Ohanas was the highlight of our stay, and it was a steal to boot.

What a find! I found Elvie and Huge's place on Craigslist and after the first email to inquire…read moreabout availability, I felt an instant connection with them. We stayed for 3 nights in the Mango House. Our group had 5, but the house could comfortably accommodate 6 (2 couples and 2 singles), more if people wanted to fit snugly. The beds, even the sofa bed, were wildly comfortable thanks to thick foam mattresses and luxurious silk sheets. You'd never imagine this house was "off the grid." We had 24-hour electricity to charge our computers and cameras, unlimited hot water (the semi-outdoor shower is DIVINE!), and pretty dependable WIFI (a few times it was difficult to connect, but have you ever tried connecting to WIFI at LAX? Sheesh...) The kitchen was appointed enough that we made several full breakfasts and dinners. They thoughtfully stocked the fridge with organic eggs and milk. A basket of organic fruit from various trees around the property was always kept full for us, and there was a quart of raw honey from their bees on the kitchen table. Each morning Hugh (Huge) stopped by with a treat for us...the first morning it was smoothies of yogurt from their goats, raw chocolate, organic bananas, and raw honey. The second morning it was a raw juice drink of tangerines, ginger and turmeric from their organic ginger farm, and honey...spicy, exotic, and incredibly delicious. The third morning it was rich, tangy goat yogurt...the best I've ever had. The location cannot be beat for those looking for an authentic Hawaiian experience. Far from the touristy, artificial beaches of Kona/Kohala, this spot is in utterly gorgeous, slow-paced Puna. In less than 10 minutes from your porch you can be soaking in a hot spring, sitting in a natural steam cave, or sunning on a nude black sand beach. In 15 you can be at the parking lot for the lava viewing area, which is really the only place where you'll see other tourists. We didn't stay in the large Ohana House but we got to tour it, and it's spectacular. Ornate Balinese carved teak everywhere you look, river rock bathrooms and kitchen counters, and even a pair of outdoor bathtubs for an incredibly romantic sunset. If you like independent travel...if travel, for you, is about meeting fascinating people...if you cherish the earth and its rich, organic bounty...Your Hawaiian Retreat is exactly what its name suggests. I've already made my plans to go back in a couple of months, it was that incredible. I cannot recommend it highly enough...I've traveled on all 7 continents and NEVER felt more overjoyed about another accommodation.

I visited Hawaii for the first time ever in May of 2007, and our stay at Your Hawaiian Retreat made…read moreit one of the most magical vacations I've ever had. The occasion - celebrating a friend's 40th birthday -- gave about 20 of us the opportunity to stay at this gorgeous organic farm that runs entirely on solar power and cached rainwater. Words cannot describe the sheer beauty of this place. Accommodations -The main house consists of 6 beautiful structures painstakingly transported from Bali and lovingly reconstructed. 5 smaller huts connect to the main house and feature either Queen or twin beds, full armoires and shelving, and private balconies that overlook the lush, bright gardens surrounding the property. The main room, with the kitchen and dining room, also features wide window seats that can double as daybeds. In addition, perched above are 2 other lofted beds, while there is also a vast empty "meeting room" with a vast gleaming floor that could be used as a yoga space but could also presumably sleep 5-6 more people in sleeping bags fairly comfortably. There are fans in all the room which help with air circulation and keep the bugs away at night. The bathrooms are fully tiled and gorgeous; the 2 in the main house are very spacious with dual showerheads. Fresh linens and towels are provided daily and we never ran out, despite the comings and goings of 20 young persons who were constantly making trips to the warm springs and the waterfall, going on various hikes and journeying to the beaches... -Mango House - an additional home on the farm that can sleep 2-4 and has its own kitchen and bathroom. It's a short walk from the main house and our friends found flashlights and headlamps pretty handy in making the trek there and back -Avocado House - cozy little nest that has 1 Queen bed and a tree house on top - perfect for curling up with a good book and iced tea... also a short distance from the main houes -Amazing rates (for now!) - when we visited, rates came out to about $50/ person/ night if you came with a party of 10. Additional persons over 10 are able to stay for $20/ night. -Kitchen - well stocked and fully equipped kitchen with everything: basic spices and condiments, flatware, glassware, coffeemaker, microwave, dishes, etc. We spent happy evenings making very large, very tasty, very varied group dinners - BBQ - a recently added BBQ hut with sizeable grill, plus benches and tables for picnicking and outdoor dining Surroundings -You can wander about this well-kept property and possibly find something new everytime. -There are all manner of fruit trees: papaya, mango, lychee, lemon, lime, banana, orange, calamansi, passion fruit, pineapple, coconut... -There is a vegetable garden from which we were encouraged to graze - and we eagerly gathered Kale, lettuces, cilantro, basil, carrots, and beets ... -There are 2 very friendly pups who roam the property freely -You can visit a Tiki artist who lives on the edge of the property The Hosts -Elvira and her husband, Biker Dude (also a world-famous organic ginger farmer) are two amazing fairy godparents of hosts. They'd bring us complimentary treats almost every day, whether it was fresh goat milk (yes, from goats on the farm), to a gojiberry-ginger-honey jam, to lovely gojiberry-and-date snacks. -Elvira is also available to cook for your group and makes amazing Filipino specialties (lumpia, adobo, pancit...). She can also do vegan, macrobiotic and/or raw meals if preferred... This is *the* perfect place for an amazing vacation; I can't wait to go back. The website is also refreshingly helpful and contains a ton of great photos and information about this lovely place.

We had a unique and wonderful experience at Volcano Village Lodge. The rooms are located in the…read moremiddle of a rainforest with floor-to-ceiling windows so you feel you're right in the middle of nature. The friendly and helpful staff made sure we had a great experience. Breakfast each morning was filling and delicious. They were even able to accommodate my dairy-free diet, which I really appreciated. If you're lucky, the moist and rich homemade brownies will also be available in the lobby. Just be sure to stock up before the office closes each day. We ordered picnic lunches from the lodge for our day hiking at Volcanoes National Park. While the sandwiches were average, the lunches included wine and an impressive number of snacks. The snacks lasted all day and we even had enough to bring some home on the plane. The property is only a 10-15 min drive to Volcanoes National Park making it easy to get there. One thing to note: the wifi was very unreliable during our stay. This could be a pro or con depending on your needs.

First question first: would we stay here again? Yes. It's a charming, quiet, unique place to…read morespend a few nights in a rain forest. The Volcano Village Lodge rates high on the cool factor. You get your own suite separated from the others and you're positioned up into the jungle in a glass room. The surroundings are quiet, and at night, even sort of magical as the frogs begin singing. Everything is wood and natural looking. You're at an elevation because of the volcano uplift so while there's no air conditioning, the place cools off nightly at night. There's no TV signal (though the room has a TV with DVDs) and there is a wifi signal, but it's spotty. You decide whether this is a plus or a minus. Personally, I find being insulated from modern digital interruption to be a plus, though I suppose that could be achieved anywhere by just turning things off - which I never do. The staff here are friendly, funny, and wonderful. A definite plus. The Volcano Village Lodge buildings themselves are a bit shopworn. They're clean, but just a little tired, I'd say. The place looks like it hasn't had a major reinvestment in a while, and the jungle dampness must be relentless on the wood. The "town" of Volcano has some rough spots. I refer to them as meth-houses, but I don't really know. There's a nearby sign installed by a property owner asking people not to dump pig guts on their property. I give it four stars out of five.

I found this location on Travelocity when booking a package deal. I saw the ratings were very good,…read moreso that made it easy choice. I was not disappointed. I felt like I was at home. The owners Erich and Suzy live at the location and were very nice and welcoming. They made it there goal to educate me about the island, pointing out the great locations to visit. They always had coffee and breakfast ready in the morning, greeting the guests as they arrived. Great views of the Pacific ocean from their front yard and porch. Bedrooms were spacious and had fans and A/C if needed. I would recommend this location to friends and family. When I return to visit family in the future I will attempt to book a room here at Ala Kai BNB. Thank you for the great time!

We stayed here for 7 nights and loved every moment! Gorgeous view of the ocean and hiking trails…read moreclose by. Suzy and Erich were amazing hosts and taught us so much about the local dining and Hawaiian culture. The room was extremely clean and immaculately maintained. We will definitely be coming back next year!

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