I'm having MAJOR regrets after staying at Aloha Guest House. 1. Every window I look out will never look like the view from the Kohola Room. 2. Svetlana's incredible breakfast with fresh organic farm fruit and eggs will not arrive to my home table at 7:55 am. 3. I forgot to buy her lilikoi butter before I left. Now what do I do? 4. I'm constantly planning my next trip back. These are serious regrets that I will have to discuss with Lee and Svetlana during my next visit. They work incredibly hard to make your stay comfortable and enjoyable. Think of this stay as staying with your aunt and uncle. They will feed you, help you, and make you feel so loved. Breakfast is too good to be true. Everything Svetlana makes is a long journey that arrives to your plate casually like it's no big deal. Her macadamia nut butter will haunt my dreams. The Kohola Room has the breath-taking room. Sunsets while tucked into the comfortable framed bed is a luxury I cannot describe. The drive up to the house is rough but that's the only tough part of this stay. You'll be on a farm in Hawaii--that's the cool part. You will hear birds, frogs, and the cow songs. Skip the boring resort stay and enjoy the real beauty of Big Island. read more

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Lee and Svetlana are wonderful hosts. We thoroughly enjoyed our stay. We didn't intend to spend so much time on this part of the island but the guesthouse is such a special place and not to be missed. From Svetlana's delicious breakfasts - made with eggs and fruit from their farm - to Lee's great recommendations for what to do around town. We loved every minute of our time there! Also, the room was amazing and the view is nothing like we've ever seen. I can't recommend them enough! read more

Staying at the Aloha Guest House was an experience that words do not do it justice. The rooms are absolutely beautiful, the beds are so comfortable, the food is delicious and the people we met are unforgettable. Svetlana and Lee are so welcoming and have made everything about this place so special. Both bring a lot of care and character into the place in their own ways. Svetlana's cooking was outstanding, all organic and she made everything from scratch. We are sad not to have her breakfast every morning and share conversations over coffee. Lee is the top host, giving the best recommendations, great stories and has answers to all your questions. Our visit is an experience we will always cherish. We are hoping to be back as soon as possible! read more

My wife and I have stayed at the Aloha Guest House for our past three trips to the island and I don't think we could stay anywhere else. The view of the ocean from our room, the relaxing lanai for early morning coffee, the best breakfasts anywhere on the island, walking the grounds in the afternoon, the most relaxing evening showers (probably due to the filtered rain water), and awesome hosts in Lee & Svetlana. Can't recommend this place enough. read more

Wow. The view, the breakfast, the hospitality, and the owners are nothing short of amazing. We kicked off our 9 day honeymoon here with a 3 night stay, and I wish we could have cancelled our next stop so we could stay at the Aloha Guest House even longer. Svetlana made amazing breakfasts each day (majority of the food coming from their organic farm), and Lee knows everything Hawaii! Great advice and stories! Look no further and book this place! We stayed in the Kohala room....Ahhhhh-mazing! read more

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Words cannot possibly describe how beautiful this place is. If you ever have the chance to stay here, do it. Check out their website for details. We stayed here for two days in March and wished we could have stayed longer. Some of the best snorkling is a short drive away. There are also a couple of good restaurants not too far away, and your kind and generous hosts will guide in the right direction every time. It would be wise to arrive during the day because the ride up Old Tobacco Road at night was a bit stressful for us. During the day it's no big deal at all. Make sure to leave time to wander the five acre property. You might run into a wild pig or two. Oh, and the breakfast is top notch-- the best I've had at any B&B. They put a lot of time, energy and love into each meal, and they were happy to accommodate our request not to serve us meat. We'll be back for certain. read more

Loved this B&B! Beautiful home, comfortable rooms with excellent attention to detail, stunning views. Johannes was an attentive host and prepared top-notch breakfasts for us each morning. He sat and spoke with us about the Big Island for awhile, just talking story over morning coffee. The driveway/road up is the only negative, I'd give 4.5 stars if possible. We didn't follow instructions, so it's our fault that we didn't have 4WD, but the road was a bit miserable and it prevented us from running back to change clothes after snorkeling, etc. I will absolutely stay here again and enjoy the delightful grounds, full of tropical fruits and coffee trees. Very enjoyable experience. read more

Aloha Guest House was our favorite stay (2 nights) during our week long vacation on the island of Hawaii. The grounds are charming and the views are gorgeous. The house is lovely, the lanai is bitchin', bed was super comfortable, and breakfast was delicious! Take a pic of the sunset view from the house and you are guaranteed lots of Instagram hearts. (P.S. Good internet.) Lee & Svetlana took over the B&B about a year and half go, and they are definitely the coolest innkeepers I've ever met. You know how B&B owners are either sweet old people with empty nest syndrome that decorate with teddy bears OR totally crazy extroverts with too many geodes? Not these two. Just intelligent, down-to-earth, awesome people. Guest amenities were really useful. We decided to hike to Kealakekua Bay to snorkel -- they had complimentary snorkel gear. I got sunburned on the back of my calves -- after-sun aloe gel in my closet. Didn't have time to use the cooler, kitchen, bbq, or laundry. The road up to the B&B is a rough and steep country road. The bumps are totally worth it to get to the best accommodations on the island. Plus, you can make a little iphone video while you play old school MIA as you drive back down that will make your vacation look real adventurous. read more

My partner and I loved staying here. The views are stunning, the grounds are amazing, the rooms were incredibly nice, and the shared deck (lanai) was a perfect place to wind down after exploring the Kona area. Beyond that, the hosts are truly nice people. They made us feel at home, shared a great number of tips on things to do and see in the area, gave us a lengthy tour of their amazing fruit farm (with the happiest chickens I've ever seen). Each morning we were served a gourmet-level breakfast with local organic Kona coffee and a huge plate of fresh fruit from their farm - we were introduced to number of tropical fruits - all delicious!). The absolute highlight of our trip was staying here. read more

I agree with everyone elses posts here. We stayed in the Kohola Room--awesome views of the ocean, breezy with the windows and slider open. Right outside our door was the hot tub. Yes, the road is a little rough getting there, but if you follow the instructions, you will be fine. Breakfast was great every morning. Johann and Greg are both excellent hosts. We wished we had stayed here longer. Great location for road trips on the west side of the island. read more

Beautiful and Tranquil! "We recently stayed at the Aloha Guest house with another couple, celebrating our 40th & 50th wedding anniversaries. The road up to the house is not a problem if you have a high clearance vehicle (ie. SUV), and is an actual advantage as it discourages traffic and noise. The setting is spectacular, the grounds are thoughtfully planted, and the whole place is impeccably maintained. The climate at the 1500' elevation is mild and pleasant. The house is very tastefully decorated, and spotlessly clean. Lee and Svetlana were extremely gracious hosts, always willing to help, and offering good advice and recommendations. The breakfast was fresh, healthy, and delicious. If you are looking for a place to get away from the madness of Kailua-Kona, and want to experience the tranquility if old Hawaii, I can't think of a better place." read more

"Dream Vacation Goes Horribly Wrong" A couple we met on Facebook recommended we stay at the Aloha Guest House during our winter trip to the Big Island. We told them we were looking for a quiet place far from the Kona and South Kohala resorts, yet with access to beaches and good hiking and Hawaii Volcano National Park. Starting each day with a substantial breakfast would be a plus too. They said they knew the perfect place: a B&B at the top of an old county road, overlooking the Place of Refuge in Honaunau, with an organic farm, twenty kinds of fruit trees, free-range chickens, a Michelin-worthy Russian chef, stunning views of sunsets over the Pacific, and a hammock strung between two coconut trees. They thought we'd find the mile-long occasionally paved road up from the Mamalahoa Highway "interesting." All this was true. What prompts the click-bait title of this review is that my wife and I felt so comfortable and so well-cared for once we arrived that we quickly lost all ambition. We tore up our extensive itinerary and basically vegetated for two weeks. Other than snorkeling near the Captain Cook monument (highly recommended) and a whale-watching tour, we spent most days sitting by the tide pools, reading and soaking up the sun - and incidentally sighting more breaching humpback whales just off shore than we did during our expensive tour. Our breakfasts were simply extraordinary. Svetlana makes all her meals from scratch - including Russian specialties like Zapekanka - and adds whatever fresh fruits are in season. So if you are looking for a vacation from your hectic vacation and want nothing more than to go home relaxed and happy, you might want to start here. read more

Lovely place on a beautiful property with amazing views. The breakfasts are incredibly good. The location is great if you want to be a bit away from the hectic resort-y part of town, this area is much more about locals and small scale bnbs. The rooms all seem to have a few kitchenette facilities and there is s lovely screened porch to enjoy. The hosts are super kind. Don't be intimidated by the drive up! read more

Wow!!! Aloha Guest House Bed and Breakfast is excellent! My wife and I stayed here 3 nights in mid June 2013 at the start of 2wks on the Big Island, and this is definitely the best place to start - or stay - for an entire visit to Hawai'i. It was so nice being up at the higher elevation where the climate is a bit cooler and more comfortable. Lee & Svetlana are wonderful hosts! Very pleasant, friendly and personable. We loved the breakfasts each morning, homemade with the freshest local and organic ingredients and usually many items right from the property!! We savored the conversation too, hearing stories from Lee & Svetlana as well as fellow guests. Another note about breakfast - the coffee is absolutely delicious! and Svetlana creates the most beautiful dishes, alternating each morning with a sweet and a savory offering. If you want to just kick back and relax there is the restorative Lanai or take a stroll around the beautiful property. Also, great snorkeling and dining is very close. Many folks have commented on the driveway, but let me assure you, the directions you will receive from Lee are excellent to the letter. While it is advisable to rent a high clearance vehicle, it is by no means a necessity. The first time up, the driveway will be somewhat of an adventure. Just take it slow and carefully follow Lee's directions and you'll be fine (you might even find yourself laughing when you finally arrive!). We hope to visit again, and we might even bring some friends. Save us a room!! read more

I don't like double-posting the same review, and I just wrote this one for tripadvisor. But personally I love yelp and want other yelp users to know about this great B&B. My husband and I stayed 4 nights here before spending 3 on the east side of the island. Since I booked the trip 2 months in advance I ended up forgetting which way we did our 4/3 split, so we packed up to leave a full day early. When Johann informed us we actually had one more night there (and one more delicious morning!) it was like finding one last Christmas present when you think you've already opened them all. We booked a special they had at the time where you get the best room available when you arrive. As the first guests, we lucked out and had a fantastic room, though I peeked in the other rooms before other guests arrived and I think we would have been happy in any of them. The definite plus of our room was the view from the bed. The guesthouse is up on a hill with a gorgeous view of the coast. Here are some key points/tips: -some reviews we read before coming mentioned noise. This is true, you'll probably have your window vents open and the door to the room isn't soundproof. We, however, had absolutely no problems with noise from other guests, and frankly I loved being able to hear the birds singing outside and had no trouble sleeping. -Bed was comfortable, room was very clean. -Johann is a great host and chef. -We rented a kayak from the guesthouse, which Johann helped us load onto the top of our mini-SUV rental. The snorkeling at Captain Cook monument, which we kayaked to from a point right down the road, was fantastic. The kayak rental price was competitive with signs we saw in town. -The road to the guesthouse is an adventure, as mentioned by other reviewers. It freaked us out a little the first time going up, and I do think going up in daylight the first time, if possible, helps a bit. But once we had gone up and down a couple times I actually thought it was kind of fun. We didn't have full 4WD, we had a Nissan Rogue which is AWD, like a Honda CRV. It worked great for us. -The coffee. I don't even have words. I'm about to email Johann to ask him to send me some. My husband doesn't drink coffee very often, maybe once every other week (I think this is weird, but then again, I'm an addict). Once he tried one sip of mine he was having one (or two!) cups every morning we were there. -location. We thought it was a great base for exploring the island. I do think we made the right choice staying on both sides of the island, however. Our second place was in Puna, much closer to Volcano National Park and night lava viewing, as well as Hilo and the waterfalls and things around there. But staying longer on the Kona (ie, sunny) side was a plus, and I even think we should have done a 5/2 split instead of 4/3. read more

I can't believe we had to leave this marvelous place. The minute we stepped foot at the guest house we were completely relaxed, took in the gorgeous view from our room and the lanai(s), and just said 'WOW'. Though the road up to the house was bumpy, we didn't get lost due to Johann's precise directions, and our good ole compact/economy rental car made it up with no trouble at all (next time we're splurging on the 4x4 for kicks!). This place is serene and quiet, didn't have any trouble with noise, and Johann is the MAN!! We miss him already!! Welcoming, friendly, knowledgable, funny, adventurous and very ready to make our bellies happy with his DELICIOUS breakfasts! Another waffle...please??? I regret not booking a massage with him during our two night stay here - next time it's a must-do. And Mango (the doggie) is the best dog on the planet - what a good life he's got going for him! Amongst the many great amenities this place has (snorkel gear and kayaks for rent for days out on the beach, loads of necessary skin cream/liquid applications, beach and shower towels, robes, comfy slippers, i could go on forever) - being up on Old Tobacco Road allows you to see the most magnificent stars at night. Getting up to pee in the middle of the night holds a whole new meaning. We couldn't have been happier with our stay at the guest house and with Johann. If it is at all possible on the big island, he made us even more relaxed than when we got there - oh how zen. The location is perfect for checking out everything around Captain Cook - Place of Refuge is not to be missed, gorgeous sunsets out there. Next time we're on that side of the island, we'll be there for longer and will have to sneak in that massage (and another piece of waffle!). Thanks a million Johann!! read more

This bed and breakfast is excellent! Picturesque views, comfortable rooms, supreme breakfast, phenomenal service. The hosts are exceptionally helpful with recommendations on the best hikes, beaches, dining, etc. They also provide the snorkeling gear and everything you need for a nice beach day. Be prepared to have a proper vehicle to get up the steep, bumpy road leading to the guest house. You will be rewarded with incredible views of the ocean and a very welcoming place for your stay. read more

This place is fantastic. I have celiac disease, and Johann listened carefully to what I can and can't eat, and made me fantastic breakfasts both mornings we were there. The rooms are beautiful, the place is spotless, and as long as you can handle a somewhat rough driveway, I can't imagine any reason not to stay here. It's my favorite of all the places I've ever stayed, I believe. read more

We were staying with friends on the Kohala coast and decided we wanted a few days to ourselves so headed south and booked the Aloha Guest House. We LOVED this place! The 1 mile rode up to the house from the main road is a little itimidating but once we did it we enjoyed the drive going up and down, dodging wild turkeys and being overwhelmed with the tropical foilage, birds, bananas and coffee plantations. We really felt like we had arrived in Hawaii. The house is in a magical setting with awe inspiring views of the coast and the jungle below. Johann the host is an amazing massuer and we some of the best massages we have ever had - go for the 90 minutes! The place is very well done and spotless and the bed was very comfortable. Lots of little touches like alarm clocks and tissue on each night stand, locally made soaps, etc. For breakfast he made the most amazing oatmeal we had ever had and we really enjoyed the fellow guests staying there - alll with a sense of adventure like us. We will be back! read more

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