We stayed a couple of nights in Kate's Volcano Cottage. It's a little hard to find at night in the…read morelocal jungle (set back from the road), so you may want to get there before dark. Kathryn does email you directions when you book. The cottage is very nice inside and out, and Kathryn and Kenneth did a great job on their renovations and put a lot of thought into what to stock inside. The abundant wood gives it a "homey" cabin feel. A good size for four people. It is well-stocked with kitchen items, and picture books and guidebooks etc on the local area and volcano. Also, flashlights and gloves for hiking on the trail to see the glow of new lava of Kilauea at night. If you slip, the lava can cut you, so do wear the gloves. Would highly recommend this as a place to stay near Volcanoes National Park. Great value.

The way to begin our marriage, in a "place of the heart!" Nohea Cottage at Volcano Places…read more This was so much more than staying in a cottage; it was a Volcano experience! Kathryn, the owner, was just wonderful. She gave us so much information about the area and facts about the volcanos of Hawaii. Nohea is such a beautiful structure, handcrafted, a labor of love. The warm woods and detailed construction make this cottage so special and warm. Every window has a beautiful view into a forest of ferns. The kitchen is really well equipped with quality cookware and all sorts of basics including local coffee and a coffee press. Robes, hair dryer, iron, lots of towels...a shower for two! Videos of the volcano, maps, books...really helpful! Oh, a gas stove and heated pads to take the chill away were wonderful! The trip to Volcano is an easy drive from Hilo as the mountain is a shield volcano with gently sloping sides. To my amazement the road is straight, unlike the curvy roads clinging to the cliffs we have experienced around Kona. It's hard to believe you drive from the coast to 4000 feet without curves! Kathryn suggested we go to the Volcano Farmer's Market at 6 am to be there for the cinnamon rolls! That was so worth it! Everybody was just so friendly and we bought delicious fruits and greens as well, all grown in Volcano. Nohea was so special we decided to be married on the back covered porch. It was the perfect place for our intimate ceremony for just the two of us. The birds singing around us, the brilliant green rainforest surrounding us. Kathryn was so gracious in allowing us and as we used a local couple to perform the ceremony and do photos, they knew each other. Volcano is a special place. The most perfect place my husband and I could have chosen to begin our new life together! We hope to return to Kathryn's Nohea cottage again and again.

Our broker and hostess, Sophia, was very friendly and attentive. She answered all of our questions…read morealmost immediately and was available to us via email or phone for the entire booking process and duration of the stay. She manages several properties in the Kapoho Beach Community--which is a 10 minute drive to Pahoa's "downtown" and a 30 minute drive to Hilo--and even one in Kihei, Maui. Important notes: 1. Secure, gated community. 2. Only AT&T and T-Mobile cell phones work here. 3. Free wi-fi works well. 4. Very friendly locals with lots of Aloha spirit.

This charming plantation-style inn is nestled on lush property that looks like the Garden of Eden…read more The price can't be beat! The inn has several rooms and a suite, and features a large kitchen with granite countertops, gas barbecue, and outdoor dining area so you can prepare your own food. The decor is "Vintage Hawaii" and the facilities are spotless and neat. Very kid-friendly, plenty of room to roam and explore. It is only 5-10 minutes from beautiful hot ponds and the ocean where you can snorkel or surf. A short drive to the funky, charming little town of Pahoa. Kapoho Village Inn is so peaceful, and set back far from the road. We loved the sound of the coqui frogs at night! Owners are very friendly and helpful, and provide you with a map and lots of information for local sites. LOVE this place!

Such a great find! It's definitely hidden so watch for the sign nearby. Very secluded and off the…read morebeaten path, immersed in what is pure jungle we stumbled across this lovely in. The owner, Chris, was nothing short of hospitable. Everything is at your fingertips here, laundry facilities if you need, a fully stocked kitchen equipped with utensils, microwave, etc. We enjoyed sitting on the back porch after the sun has set listening to the frogs and lovely night sounds and watching the stars and sipping a few drinks. If I ever return to the big island this is definitely where I would stay for much much longer. We don't care about wifi or tv. If you guys want that garbage go stay at your ridiculously priced resorts. This place was perfect for us. Thank you, Chris!

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!

What a beautiful rental! We stayed here in December 2015. It's obvious that Liz put in a ton of…read moreeffort to make her guests feel welcome. We booked our rental through VRBO. The process was easy and Liz was very responsive. We had no problems with booking. This rental is located in Volcano which is a VERY small town. There are literally three restaurants in a ten mile radius and they aren't cheap. Do stop at a FoodLand and pick up groceries prior to coming. Rental is located 3 miles from the Volcano State Park which is great if you want to explore that park. We spent 2/3 of our trip in Kailua-Kona and 1/3 at this rental. The house is extremely private and located in the middle of a rainforest. Although it's beautiful, it also means it rains a lot (especially when we were there). Luckily, there were umbrellas for our use. Some of the amenities that I enjoyed included a fully operational kitchen for cooking, BBQ and deck in the back, Costco muffins in the freezer, dehumidifier (totally necessary in a rainforest), washer/dryer, wood stove (so cool to heat the house), candles around the house, beautiful decor (Christmas tree and lights in December), recently remodeled, and it was CLEAN!!! Some rentals have terrible mattresses...this one had some indentations in it, but for the most part, I was comfortable. We use VRBO 90% of the time when we travel. This has been my favorite rental to date. Thank you Liz for such a wonderful experience!!

This is not the HILTON or MGM Grand, but it sure does work…read more Leg 2 of our Hawaii trip. Definitely was a memorable one thanks to Art & Orchids B&B. We got in fairly late as we came from Kona side. We took a lot more extra time stopping at various points. Exhausted, we found our room (Rainbow room) quaint, pleasant and clean. Big room, walk in closet and quaint bathroom beside the common living area with kitchenette, refrigerator for guest use. Very eclectic design for sure! Most of the items are local artist which is great community support! It felt very homey. You are definitely in the middle of nature. Set in the middle, it was practical for our trip calendar which consisted of the surrounding areas of Keaau. Hilo, Volcano, Pahoa, etc was within close proximity and took no longer than 20-30 minutes to arrive. They were very accomodating! Thanks again! The breakfast buffet was excellent and fresh. There was enough for everyone. Markie was very hospitalable to help guide the days planned (Thanks for the Richardson tip!). There is sunscreen, aloe vera, snorkeling, bath towels, bath mats also available for guest use. Which was very convinient. We definitely would keep this B&B in mind on our next trip to the Big Island. Day 1 - Falls galore. Rainbow, Akaka, Pe'e Pe'e & Boiling Pots. Richardson Park where we saw a giant green turtle coming to bay to rest! What an amazing site! Some of the locals were also spear fishing! Day 2 - Volcano Park. Took about 30 minutes to get to. We were there until 8pm to glare at the luminous Lava glow ! The brightest in over 10 years! Room Tip: All the rooms are great ! See more room tips

This is my second time here. My boyfriend and I absolutely love this b&b! The scenery is gorgeous…read more The sounds of the frogs and birds are soothing and something you won't experience on many other parts of the island. There is a hot tub that lights up different colors and sits in the midst of the beautiful scenery. There is also a nice pool area with a rock waterfall flowing into it. The breakfast is complete with granolas, various fruits, monkey bread, toast, creamy eggs, coffee, assorted teas, etc. There is a large living room with books and games. There are plenty of places to hang out. The road leading to the B&B isn't that bad. However, the short road to the driveway has a lot of pot holes. They're easy to get around and this part of the drive only lasts a couple of minutes. Don't let this tiny thing discourage you. This place is great and the hospitality is excellent. We will be back again.

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 found Mountain Cottage through Hawaii Volcano Vacations online and stayed there for two nights…read more The online site displays detailed information and pictures of Mountain Cottage, so we had some ideas how the inside is like before we left for our trip to Big Island. This was my first time staying at a cottage, and the whole experience of staying at Mountain Cottage was amazing. After driving through rural and quiet road following the direction we received, we finally found Mountain Cottage. Because there is no street light in the whole area, if it is your first time going there and you arrive after dark, it will be difficult to find the cottage. We were feeling lucky that we made it there before it turned dark. This cottage is inside a gated area and surrounded by fern trees. The outside of the cottage looks nice. After walking up the stairs, I peeked at the inside through the window, and I immediately felt in love with this cottage, because the inside looked so cute! Although the space is small inside, everything is very clean and organized! It is equipped with every standard thing you may find at a regular hotel (i.e., refrigerator, microwave, heater, coffee maker, etc.). And there were a few handwritten post-it notes from the cottage owners to pass messages to us. Besides this, the cottage owner also provided a flashlight for us to use, which was thoughtful. In the morning, the cottage owner provided us blueberry muffins and fresh-cut papayas to start out our day. During the two nights we stayed there, I felt I was staying at a friend's homey place instead of a rental cottage. Because this experience was so great, I was actually feeling a bit sad that we had to check out from the cottage after two nights. If I am coming back to this area again, I would want to stay at the same place!