From the moment we ran into a few unexpected hiccups with our reservation, Carlos and John went…read moreabove and beyond to make things right. They treated us with such kindness, patience, and genuine care, never making us feel like we were an inconvenience. It was obvious they worked as a team, communicated well, and were committed to making sure we had a wonderful experience. What could have been a frustrating start to our stay quickly became a reminder of how much exceptional hospitality matters. Their professionalism, empathy, and positive attitudes turned the situation around completely. They made us feel welcomed, valued, and truly cared for, and because of them, we'll remember this stay for all the right reasons. Thank you again Carlos and John for the outstanding service you provided and making such a meaningful difference in our trip!

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.

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! :)

Great Hotel! Hale…read moreMaukele is a house all to your self. It's clean and there is food stocked throughout the kitchen. There is no one on premises; they leave instructions for you though. The rate is good and it can hold up to eight people. It is very close to Volcano National Park. It also has a hot tub.

Don't be afraid! This place is great! We stayed in room 6, the orchid suite. It was very clean, the…read morebed is sooo comfy. I really appreciate that everything we needed was in the room- mini fridge, microwave, silverware, plates, cups, coffee maker, soap, shampoo, conditioner, space heater, snacks (apples, granola bars, oatmeal, top ramen), ground coffee and sugar. I LOVE funky places, and this was right up my alley. Our room had a separate entrance, so it's not like a traditional bed and breakfast where you're required to awkwardly mingle with other guests and the owner. I never even saw or talked to the owner, it was super easy- you just park in front of the room (reserved for you), and the key's in the door for you. One warning! - watch out for the step in the middle of the room! The step separates two levels. I almost rolled my ankle twice, thankfully I didn't . I highly recommend this place. It's affordable, it's clean, it's only 5 minutes away from vnp.. I didn't have time to see their lava tube, or the hot tub. But the short time I did stay there was very enjoyable. Also, as far as VNP goes - it's so worth it (the drive)! We brought small flashlights, cheapo monoculars and we went at around 9:30 pm. It was fantastic - we saw the active fountains spewing up a bit. Spectacular also, walking through the lava tube at VNP is really cool.

The place was a good location for volcano, not worth it though…read more When we arrived the female host was a bit aggressive toward us and made us feel uncomfortable. The house very much looked as it does in the photos on the outside The host said since we had a dog she was going to remove the rugs since they do not have time to clean them between guests, (this is posted on her ad" but the rugs were on the floor when we arrived and were filthy. The bedding as far as the sheets and pillow cases smelled and appeared clean, but the top blankets were clearly not cleaned recently and were dusty as well as smelled like mildew. The throw pillows were unable to be washed so we didn't not use them. They were dusty and mildew as well The floors were disgusting. The only sponge for dishes and the "kitchen" was stored unpackaged on the floor by the toilet scrubber and dish soap. Beware This is not a kitchen it's a bathroom sink with a mini fridge and some dishes. The hot tub could be a nice touch but it was very dirty in the water and the vents were gross so we spent little time in there. When we went to rinse off after the hot tub there was no hot water or pressure. We told the host and they said there was. I guess just not while we were staying there. Then some creepy guy who I assume was the make host tried to come into our room and he was always staring and creeping around. The shared walls are thin to the other Airbnb. After we complained and asked for a partial refund the host left a dishonest review of me as a guest on my Airbnb saying we had more people Then we actually did and that we trashed the place. She said it took them two hours to clean it, but fortunately I expect to interact with dishonest people in this world and I was smart enough to take photos of the place and how we cleaned it and left it in better condition then we found it.

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.

Wow! What an incredible visit we had at this amazing retreat. The drive in was breathtaking. The…read moregrounds are so beautiful and well taken care of and the ocean view from the property is very serene and calming. We stayed in the Rainbow cottage and couldn't have asked for a more perfect atmosphere. Everything was super clean and welcoming, with all the standard amentities. They have a booklet with tons of information about the area and recommendations for food, sights, etc. After a long day traveling, the hot tubs were heaven sent. We soaked while listening to the birds and frogs at a perfect temperature. There are two tubs and both were exceptionally clean and fresh. They are private from each other and we used them almost every morning. I highly recommend walking along the steam vent trail. It's so peaceful and relaxing. There are tons of fruit trees that you can pick from on the grounds too. I just fell in love with this place and we are already planning a visit back to this gem of a retreat.

This place is absolutely amazing. For a truly unique experience of a post volcanic eruption in the…read moremost heavenly paradise with the most kind and gracious hosts, spend a couple days here. The steam vent trail is fascinating as are their steam heated soaking tubs. Fruit bearing trees of all types are ripe for the picking. The nearby town Pahoa is a rare delight on this island - more like Hanalei in Kauai or Paia in Maui or the North Shore of Oahu. The ocean front drive to Pohoiki is other worldly through mango tree covered roads and past the massive destruction of the 2018 volcanic eruption (very safe now). This place will rejuvenate your soul and a must see on any trip to the big Island.

We could not be happier with our daughter's wedding hosted at Opaliuli Historic Estate…read more The ceremony was held on one of the lawns with the giant Banyan as the backdrop. The estate has 10 acres of beautiful and private, trees, flowers, and lawns. It is truly a tropical paradise. The reception dinner was enjoyed on the spacious lanai with distant ocean views. All 35 of our friends and family ate and visited comfortably on the teak tables and chairs provided by the estate. We rented the Lunalilo Suite and Earhart Suite for two nights. The first night for the bridal party to stay in the night before and for getting ready on the day of the wedding. We rented the second night (night of the wedding) for our newly married couple to stay in for their first night together. It worked perfectly. Lisa is event coordinator and contact at the estate. She was so wonderful to work with. I am so grateful to have worked with Lisa and her team. I also wanted to note... we found the Opaliuli affordable, elegant, and intimate. Our party was small, but the estate is well equipped to host large gatherings as well. Photo credit to mckennakleinerphotography.com

We recently had my daughter's Bridal Brunch Shower at Opaliuli Historic Estate and it was lovely…read more The historic plantation managers home is stunning. The spacious covered porch overlooks a beautiful lawn surrounded by lush trees and landscape. The space was perfect for our smaller intimate gathering. It was also very convenient being just minutes from the Hilo area. There was also a parking area for guests. The owners, Lisa & Veltry are the sweetest & were very accommodating throughout the planning. Opaliuli is a truly a timeless beauty

Koa's Events hosted my best friend's wedding last weekend and the venue was phenomenal. Like they…read moresay, location, location, location!! This place was incredible. Surrounded by 100 foot trees on all sides and illuminated by picturesque lighting, they couldn't have chosen a better spot. The sky glistened with stars and the air sang with wildlife as we danced the night away. The location had a mobile bar with an incredible bartender and a separate bride and groom facility that was fantastic. When they talk about destination weddings -- these are the places they're talking about. If you're planning a Hawaiin wedding, or even a sweet 16, or other outdoor event, check out Koa's Events. This venue will not disappoint!!!!

As a bride planning my destination wedding on the Big Island, I was beyond delighted to find Koa…read moreEvents. From the first contact with them I knew I had found exactly what I needed to make my wedding dreams come true. They came through with not only solutions but additional ideas I had not even dreamed of. The mobile bar was perfect. Not only was it the one stop solution to my open bar needs but the bartender created a signature cocktail for me and my groom. The drinks were a delicious hit and added an extra special spice to our evening. Finally I must rave about the photo both! So much fun and an extra wedding favor for our guest and us. I wanted to add this to my wedding but being able to get the mobile bar AND the Photo Booth at one place was a solid WIN! If you're looking for a way to take the stress off your wedding planning please look no further than Koa Events. You won't be disappointed. Signed a Happy Happy Bride