What an incredible business this is! I contacted them due to some issues I'm experiencing with my…read moreown catchment tank. After just a few seconds of chatting, we both came to the realization that I had no idea how my own catchment tank worked. Instead of taking advantage of a customer like me, Archer helped me- free of charge- and pointed me towards all of the many resources this establishment has created in order to help locals have clean water and understand how they can achieve that goal while having a catchment system. I've spent all day learning and I am SO VERY thankful! I will absolutely turn to this business to purchase supplies and add upgrades to my tank to get the best water possible for my family. THANK YOU Uncle Tilo and THANK YOU Archer! I can't express my appreciation enough and I hope to meet you face to face soon to pick up some upgrades Mahalo nui!

Highly recommend Uncle TILO's for all of your water catchment needs. He educates through a free…read moreclass held once a month to all those on well, municipal and rainwater, catchment systems and innovation in water disinfection for drinking and household use.

Wonderful displays and interactive learning activities for all ages!! The owner did a fabulous job…read moreputting together a center for learning and play.

What a fun, relaxing, STEAMpunk-y space! Can't wait to come back and hang out again!read more

Thoroughly enjoyed our short stay at this farm retreat: especially going to sleep surrounded by the…read moremesmerizing calls of coqui frogs, the interesting farm animals (muscovy ducks, saffron finch, the rowdy guineafowls, a lot of peacocks, a few piglets) at the farm. Our cabin had private shower, fan, condition was okay but lacked coffee supplies. There were frequent sounds of cars moving to/from cabins but overall it was a good stay. We did not use the shared kitchen but everyone seemed to be really nice and friendly.

We stumbled upon Hawaiian Sanctuary Retreat Center while looking for a last-minute place to stay…read morenear Hilo after deciding to extend our honeymoon from Kona to explore the other side of the island, and we're so glad we did! What started as a spontaneous stay turned into one of the most healing and transformative experiences of our lives. From the moment we arrived, the atmosphere was peaceful, welcoming, and full of genuine care. We ended up spending nearly all of our time at the sanctuary instead of exploring because their healing services were exactly what we needed. Dr. Rich was phenomenal! Combining medical expertise with a holistic approach to help us address some long-standing health issues. Tammy's bodywork and her deep understanding of frequency and energy work were absolutely essential to our experience. Anita's hydro cleansing session was nothing short of incredible, my wife actually regained her sense of smell for the first time since losing it after Covid and a stroke in 2021! And then there was Kelly, her food and fresh juices were out of this world! Every meal was nourishing and full of life. The entire staff radiated warmth, kindness, and a genuine passion for helping people heal. We didn't want to leave and are already planning our return trip. Thank you, Hawaiian Sanctuary, for making us feel like family and for the life changing care and love you poured into every moment. You've truly left a lasting mark on our hearts.

I was a true beginner surfer.. Eric was kind and really encouraged me to go for it. Explained…read moreeverything clearly, gave me the push I needed.. highly recommend!!

An amazing experience for my daughter! She had so much fun and learned a lot. Hana was the best…read moreinstructor. He was encouraging and gave clear directions.

Hired Christine on August 5th to write interrogatories and discovery questions. Got everything to…read moreher August 6th and the waiting began. On August 13th I asked for an ETA and she said they would be done by Friday (August 16th). On August 15th she only completed a small portion of the work stating she had questions on the other part (which she did not ask until this time). Answered her questions and asked that she proceed on August 29th. September 25th asked for the status and Christine said she didn't know she was supposed to do the work but stated she would be done the following week. After no communication, on October 7th I asked for an update and she tells me she is on vacation till October 18th. She did not do the job she was hired to do and wasted over 2 months of my time with empty promises on court documents I needed done. UPDATE- reached out to her in July, she didn't have time to talk until August. Hired her August 5th In response to her BS: For some reason Christine Lominario decided to use my full name including middle name after I asked that she NOT spread my personal info. Her response shows her professionalism and willingness to share personal info. If only she could have done the work in 2 months, she sure has time for texts and responses to reviews. She had all of my questions on August 6th and quoted me $150 and did not change the price ($400) until August 16th when she got just the few documents being requested done. If it was too much for her skill level or time, she should have said so August 6th, not string me along for 2 months. Christine also claims that she didn't know that I needed both items until later, yet it is in my very FIRST text to her, I do not recommend a notary that has zero attention to detail, was a very simple text which is included in the pictures. Christine is grasping at straws

Never being in this situation before (divorce)... I didn't know what to do and where to get the…read morehelp needed. Christine was highly recommended to me and I finally decided to reach out to her. I wish I would have called her alot earlier. She is AMAZING... super HELPFUL... most importantly FRIENDLY & COMPASSIONATE in what she does!

I drove here to take a picture of the sign…read more Mackenzie is my niece's name, my sisters name and my man's last name so it was only fitting that I get a photo of the sign. What a crazy drive to get here but worth it. I drove in and out of the park- very pretty. The drive is only that crazy due to the blockage from 2018/2019 volcano ruins.

I challenged the lava rock trail here and the lava rocks won. Just ask my scraped up knee, calf,…read morewrist, hands and wounded pride ;p. I blame the ghosts! That's right. It turns out this spot is known to be haunted! I didn't even know this until I looked up information on this area after our hike here. It's rumored that the souls of the prisoners who died repairing the trails in the 1800s are here, and it's also known generally as a place where wayward souls ('uhane) congregate. It's also rumored that the prisoners who died were also buried here in unmarked graves. It's safe to say you shouldn't camp here when the zombie apocalypse comes. There's also a history of some serious crimes committed here at night which is another reason to be wary if you stay here from dusk til' dawn (Unless you're with the brothers From Dusk Til' Dawn). This spot was actually closed for months due to the volcano but reopened just a month ago on Sept. 8. GPS "Fastest time" directions will not work here for the recommended route. The most direct path is closed due to the volcanic eruption so the roundabout detour route will feel like you are Lara Croft or Drake from Uncharted, driving through a lush green jungle of vegetation on narrow roads, dodging multiple mongoose (Mongooses? Mongeese?), and seeing native birds flit by. We certainly felt like we were in an adventure game driving on the detour route, especially when the torrential downpour of rain hit! We came here as a recommendation from the owner of the B&B we stayed at. I had wanted to see the lava flow but since a lot of the previous sites were now off limits due to the recent eruption our local expert mentioned that if you hike about an hour into the trail here, you can see the new lava formations. Note that this is not a trail for those with mobility problems or those that aren't used to hiking trails with minimal path markers. The trail itself consists of uneven lava rocks. Our local guide said "Make sure you stay on the trail!" quite emphatically. We got off the trail unintentionally a few times though and I see why he was so concerned. While the trail is rocky, a bit hazardous and requires some careful stepping to make sure you don't slip and fall, the rocks on it, while still craggy and rough, aren't sharp enough to do any major damage. Now the lava rocks that are off the trail are a different story. Those haven't been worn down by shoes and can splinter off quite easily. They are razor sharp. The rocks are also quite unstable. What you might think is a solid rock might actually be a lava rock "shell" or bubble that is hollow on the inside. Just imagine stepping on a rock like that when you think it's solid to have your foot sink down, getting various scrapes, bruises, and deep cuts along the way. Believe me, you don't want to be picking out lava rock splinters and dust from your wounds on vacation. The only trail markers are the white stones/coral and sprouting palm tree seeds scattered sporadically. It's like Hawaiian Hansel and Gretel made this trail. You will be walking on rough uneven surfaces so wear sturdy shoes. The experience of walking the trail here was a little freaky because you can feel the heat radiating from underneath the rocks in certain spots due to the volcanic activity. I hiked maybe 3/4 mi, passing by 2 beaches before I headed back. I later found out you have to hike about 5 miles to get to the lava flow. I'm not sure how the rest of the trail fared after the first mile but it did get rockier and harder to follow after reaching the first beach. I wasn't really expecting the trail to be this rugged. Had I known in advance I probably would have worn long pants since I tend to be accident prone. I did see most people walking the trail in shorts and even some wearing a dress and sandals. I also probably would have brought some gloves to make it easier to grip onto the lava rocks. Regardless of your gear, make sure you have plenty of water. It's very easy to overheat here. Equip yourself with a sense of adventure, some sturdy shoes and give it a shot!

Gorgeous place, loved swimming in the waterfall. The cabanas are adorable and it was a great place…read moreto glamp but still use the shared kitchen house. It was not particularly private, but thankfully the staff were all fantastic, helpful, and kind. It felt like staying with friends.

Five Stars for expectations met, not a five star resort…read more A charming house in the rainforest that is truly off the grid. There is a fully equipped kitchen inside the house so bring your provisions and enjoy home cooked meals. There is a farmers market in nearby Hilo for stocking up. The "included breakfast" is actually a voucher for a nearby bakery that makes delicious pastries and coffee. A perfect stop before heading up to Akaka Falls. You will experience everything the rainforest is known for, sudden downpours, humidity, bugs, and amazing night sounds. Fortunately, the mosquitoes didn't bother us because we had a half a dozen geckos patrolling our room. The aromas of flowers and foliage waft into your room on the ever present tropical breeze that comes up from the ocean. No man made A/C here, just nature. The semi-outdoor bathroom makes this a Hawaiian Fitzcarraldo adventure destination. Don't worry there is a second shared indoor bathroom for the city folk. I've stayed in plenty of European hostels when I was younger and this sort of reminds me of a grown up version. I've never booked an airbnb property before so I'm assuming most guests are stupid. There seems to be a sign on every wall reminding you of various house rules. I'm hotel people so I found that odd. I'm glad we found this place and had the chance to spend a couple of nights closer to nature.

We found this place on our way back from the "End of the Road" and really enjoyed our time. The…read moreview from the cliffs are truly amazing and I took some really great photos. The parking lot is indeed small, but a great place to sit for a minute, use the bathroom, or have a picnic lunch. Highly recommended.

We took the red road and stopped here for some amazing views of the ocean waves crashing into the…read morerocks and cliffs. Nature at its best! You can also walk along the coast for a bit. Bathrooms are available and free parking. Quite private and little to no people. Highly recommend this place.

Absolutely the best way to experience the Big Island! We rented our van, Kilo Lani, for 10…read moreglorious days. It was clean, ran well and was a comfortable refuge and travel machine. The vans come with nearly everything you need for travel: dishes, towels, grass mats, etc. For a reasonable rate you get a rental car, a place to sleep and a kitchen all in one. The owners really take care of their customers. Vans are each named and each one has a unique character. It is best if you can drive a stick shift but some automatics are available. Book yours early, they go fast during busy times on the island.

We rented one of Happy Campers' VW vans for 24 days in January/February 2012. The van was fairly…read moreclean and in good condition outside and inside. It was an automat. There were no mechanical problems, but not working were: ventilation, air conditioner, reverse lights, shift lighting. The water pump switch was hard to turn, almost impossible with wet hands. The two flames stove is supplied from a 1 1/2 lbs propane container, which allowed cooking for 4 to 5 days. We were given 6 full containers, changing of which was easy. The inside table was too far away from the convertible bench, so that we had to use the additional very small folding table (for outside use) inside the van and to put the flat part of the inside table on top of it, which was complicated and unpractical. There was very little storage space, so that a lot of moving-about of things was necessary. The (not working) air conditioner under the rear part of the roof took up lost storage space, and the bench was as long as the width of the vehicle, taking up additional storage space (the Happy Campers' website picture of the inside does not show the interior of our van). Their vans all have individual names. Ours was the "Wiki Wiki Kai" - not the most ideal van, as we realized when we saw other ones while traveling. We tried to swap the van after two days, but Teri of Happy Campers strictly refused, although there were 4 campers ready, all of which we would have accepted. When we tried to insist, her partner (husband?) said that we were "big RV or hotel people" and offered to give us the money back. All that "aloha" and lei-around-the-neck friendliness was wiped away. This was one of the annoyances of our holiday. So if you consider renting one of those campers make sure you are getting one of the better ones. We had asked for more detailed photos of the interior before we booked, but Teri did not supply any - it seems that she knew the reason well. Compare my entry about Aloha Campers Maui on this topic. Camping on Big Island: Hilo: The only place where campervans are accepted is Arnott's Lodge. Vehicles are not allowed on the tent lawn, so we had to park the van on the paved carpark near the reception or on the gravel area near the lawn. The fee of $ 20 for two people plus tax included the use of hot showers, kitchen, covered dining platform, and free WiFi internet. People did free vehicle camping in the "no name" beach park at the very end of Kalaniana'ole Ave (continue east from Arnott's Lodge). Volcanoes National Park: Both campgrounds are nice, but in Kulanaokuaiki vehicles must stay in the small paved carpark near the pit toilet, where there is not much shade. State parks: Mackenzie State Recreation Area in the Puna District: Nice big shady area on the lava coast. The pit toilets were disgusting. Kalopa State Recreation Area in Hamakua District: The campground is for tents only. We stayed for free on the level carpark near the trailhead and the cabin buildings. A caretaker's vehicle parked beside us in the morning but we were not bothered. Kiholo Bay in North Kona District: The formerly informal camping area is now a State Park with numbered "tents only" sites under trees on the beach. We had no permit (internet only), but a merciful ranger allowed us to stay one night on a very rough gravel carpark on the roadside. County Parks: The only county park campground where a fee was collected (at 8 p.m., $ 10) was Ho'okena Beach Park. Campervans must stay in the carpark. We also stayed in most of the other county park campgrounds, but no one ever wanted to see a permit or collect a fee, not even in Spencer Beach Park. Wild camping: There are very few spots! Some good ones are on Napoopoo Beach on the southern end of Kealakekua Bay in South Kona District. The access dirt road is lousy but not impossible for VW campers. We also stayed on a small level area near the power line off the Saddle Road, ca. mile marker 19. Hard to understand why the rental contract excludes that newly paved three lane highway, one of the island's best roads. The general camping situation for vans is less than ideal. We got the impression that in many of the campgrounds RV's are not welcome.