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!

We were able to stay in this lovely one-bedroom guest house for practically nothing. It's located…read morein Pahoa, in a neighborhood where locals live and it was a perfect place to be able to hit the popular spots in the southeastern part of the Big Island. If you want to visit Kehena Beach, the Kapoho Tidepools, Kalani Resort, and especially the LAVA FLOW! It's all very close. Also Pahoa is such a local funky town, I think it's worth a visit to get more local flavor than just staying in Kona. The guest cottage, or the ambulana, is situated behind the owner's house. It's a one-bedroom cottage with a large living room/dining room area and all you need for in the kitchen. If you're lucky, you will get some of Yami's spicy curry mix so you can cook up some curry chicken or lentils. Overall, it's a great place to get away from the usual tourist sites. It's quiet, and it's got the beautiful sounds of the coqui frogs at night.

Technically, I did not have the opportunity to stay here as I was scrounging around to last minute…read morealternative to the tragic Yoga Oasis lodging scenario. Dennis responded promptly to my emergency request and suggested a friends' house rental nearby. We played phone and text tag for the next handful of hours but with Dennis's patience and my sporadic GPS, I finally met up with him @ the rental property... I fell in love with the house! And so I found out Dennis and his partner Paul help clean and turnover their friends' rental house. The attention to detail was in par of a 5 star hotel! folded plush towels and small details like freshly folded kitchen handtowel and sponge was so thoughtful! The place was immaculately clean! the kitchen was fully equipped with utensils and appliances to prepare every meal! Dennis & his partner were so kind to process the paperwork @ their house with a touch of kind hospitality offering fruit. Their house was also immuculately clean, sun-filled and laid back vibed anointed that I also noted to stay here for my next visit. Just really kind & friendly people you would want to meet during a rambling trip across the Big Island! Pure Aloha spirits!

Balsam for the soul! Really beautiful and comfortable place to stay at a great price. Within…read morewalking distance to one of the best beaches on the island. Plus the owners are super nice and friendly -- a plus not to be underestimated. Their welcome fruit basket will feed you for days. They don't actually make breakfast, but you have a full kitchen so you can make any food you want any time. Great for those days when you just wanna take a break from restaurants. Plus sleep in late and eat bkfst when YOU want! We did on those rainy days! :)

I'm sorry but this place is a total dump! There is no hot water in the bathroom or kitchen, the…read moreshower is outside and has hot water but you can't adjust it while you were in the shower, you have to go outside to shower change the temperature go back in the shower which is around on the other side of a wall. Furthermore the room that I stayed in had a strippers pole in the middle of the room, an extension cord stretching across the room which is a safety hazard, and the worst bed I ever slept on! It must've been a 50 year old boxspring with a 4 inch foam topper. The final straw was the host gave me expired yogurt for breakfast. I checked out after the first night. The people who gave this place great reviews must've been staying in the other unit, otherwise this makes no sense. PS - no TV, no air conditioning, hard location to find on unpaved roads, and a long walk to the cabin from the parking area on the grass.

We stayed for a week here the beginning of February. We lost our home in the Lava Flow and were…read moreoff balance coming back to a different reality. The Enchanted Gardens turned out to be a nice place to stay. Off in the green hills but very close and convenient to Keaau, Pahoa, and even Hilo. Sherri is a beautiful welcoming host and she has gone out of way to make things homey. She did everything she could to make us feel comfortable. Yes it is rustic but that is the point. We don't expect sterile when we visit Hawaii. We want to experience and share the way others live there. Humble but warm and filled with Aloha! You make your visit what it turns out to be. We had a good time and would stay here again. Mahalo.

A - List. Highly Recommended. Steve and Janelle's tropical fruit farm is where you will find the…read moreHAWAIIAN RETREAT. It is situated not far from the main town of Pahoa and far enough away that you feel like you are in the Hawaiian jungle. We stayed in what they call the 'cottage' surrounded by fruit trees and shrubs. It is a lovely place and space, very private with your car just behind the cottage. The cottage started out as a very nice gazebo. Later, kitchen, bathroom, dining area and closet were added to the structure. The bed is very comfortable with a netting which can be lowered to surround the bed at night. Everything works within the cottage - propane hot plate burners, sink, running water/hot water, fridge, lots of counter space, lighting. There is a radio/CD player with a variety of music available. You shower outside and attached to the cottage- nicely designed shower area. It is private, the water is hot. And the view is amazing, with tropical vegetation all around you. Janelle will bring you a basket of fruit from her farm on the first day and some bottled water for drinking. You will meet Steve as well. He will tell you about the structure, where to find things in and around the cottage. And you will also meet their 'family' of pets - a parade of dogs and cats will come to visit you on that first day. After that the only visitors will be roosters and chickens, a few geckos, spiders, the odd mosquito and maybe a bug or two. You are in jungle territory, so it is expected that that things that live in and around the jungle will be around - you are in their home, a visitor. Then as night descends get ready for a very unique experience, the musical cacophony known as coqui frogs. These frogs begin to sing at dusk and do not stop until sunrise - it is loud, musical and like nothing you have likely heard before. It was an amazing experience. If you are a light sleeper, bring ear plugs - yes, it is THAT loud. Also, the lighting is muted and perfect for the cottage experience. If you want more light, you may wish to bring a flashlight or, as I did, one of those headlamps usually used for camping - it worked perfectly for late night reading, looking through a suit case, etc. Finally, you need to know that the cottage is screened, the air is humid, there is no 'air conditioning.' To sum up, this was a very unique and enjoyable way of seeing, hearing, smelling, tasting the 'real' Hawaii. We stayed for 4 nights ($200 in all) and would return without hesitation. This place is different and that is precisely why you should come here.

Hale Akule is a wonderfully quaint and amazing home. The space is light, bright, and airy. It comes…read morecompletely furnished, including a washer and dryer which makes it nice while on vacation. It has two bedrooms and one bath, as well as, a sleeper sofa and an air mattress, that we found convenient for our large family. The kitchen was well appointed and had everything we needed to stay in and cook meals, as well as an outdoor barbecue. It is located on the eastern shores of the Big Island of Hawaii. In a nice quiet, rural neighborhood complete with chickens and roosters. Our favorite thing about the rental, is that it has a covered lanai, that allows for enjoying nature and the beautiful half acre in which it sits on. We found a place we love, and we believe you will too. So the next time you're on the big island of Hawaii, stay here! You'll be glad you did, just as we were...

What an awesome place! We spent two days in the volcano park and this was an amazing daily…read morelaunching point for our stay. Satoshi and My Huong Yabuki are fantastic and kind hosts! The initial drive-up might make you wonder what's going on w/ this place given that the garage is full of appliances and wires, but don't be fooled. The hostel rooms are great! Very clean rooms, comfy beds, clean bathrooms with good towels and hot showers. There's a large communal kitchen and sitting area w/ a TV. Their home/hostel is off the main drag and peaceful and quiet. One room--the one we had--had a private bathroom. I believe the rest of the rooms have shared baths, but not sure. Satoshi and My Huong Yabuki also have two lovely kids ours really enjoyed playing with both throughout the house and the large property. It was a great stay for all of us and we'd definitely go back!

Great place. Nice room. Comfortable bed. Very very clean. Other guests were very interesting and…read morefriendly. Great communal kitchen. Large TV room. Satoshi was very nice. Highly recommend.

We stayed here 12 months ago but I am absolutely horrendous at writing reviews in a timely manner…read more Anyways: this was the most romantic, comfortable and satisfying endeavor me and my partner have ever experienced. Want peace in nature? Come here. Want to experience Hawai'i? Come here. Sure, the bedroom is small yet it brought us closer together. The hot tub was amazing. The outside shower was serendipitous. The soft robes were welcoming and the hosts were incredible. We were welcomed with every accommodation we requested and then some. They responded promptly and respectfully to each question. My recommendation, if you want to find love in the heart of Hawaii, visit here. We visited for Christmas last year and fell more in love then ever before. We literally have talked about the Volcano Mist Cottage every few months since. No, don't expect a four course breakfast, expect a fully equipped kitchen to relax with your loved one. No, don't expect a staff waiting for you, let Pele welcome to Volcano, HI. Don't expect house keeping, expect a home that a lovely couple shares with you- take care of it as if it was your own home. Biggest negative about this beautiful retreat is that we had to leave. We can't wait go to back!

We stayed there 3 nights. On the positive it was very clean and organized, even had a little fruit…read moreand a small banana bread for us. On the negative, breakfast was cereal, housekeeping was non existant even though it is stated as an amenity. The worst was the bedroom situation. Bed is full/queen, too small and we are not big people just tall. Bedroom is cramped and one of us ended up sleeping on futon on floor. Yet reviews on Hotels.com were all perfect. You decide!