Wyatt R.
February 2025
Nice well kept cottage, private. We enjoyed our stay. Enjoyed the sound of coqui frogs at night and roosters in the morning.
Keith J.
January 2025
The cottage was a wonderful place to call home for a week. It was our base for hiking, fishing, and volcanoes. Everything was close enough to get to - Hilo and Kona were both easy. Coming home to the sound in the forest was the best part. Being in the hot tub with a glass of wine and watching the stars. Perfect. We wish we could have stayed longer.Having our own personal apple banana delivery person (AKA Leonard) was a treat. Thanks for letting us stay.
Joel W.
January 2025
If you want to experience the real Big Island, see nature up close, and still have central access to all the sights, this cottage is for you! It was great for us as a couple who enjoys being slightly off the beaten path. We got to discover nearby Honoka'a and find amazing hikes and gardens on the Kohala Coast. Good access to Volcanoes NP and west side beaches aren't far. That hot tub was a great way to start or end the day. Inside has real charm and all the amenities needed. We definitely recommend it!
Lori H.
December 2024
We had a peaceful retreat away from the hustle & bustle of a demanding business in California. We cooked local fish, had juicy Tangelos from the yard, took long hot tub soaks and rested. The nearby town of Honokaa had fresh food, gifts for our friends and family and people were friendly! The cottage was spotlessly clean! It was so easy! When we visit again, we will try to book this cottage! Mahalo for making our one year wedding anniversary, the special honeymoon we never had! The flowers, the beautiful yard and the fun gecko! Mahalo nut loa!
Barbara B.
November 2024
Immaculate, charming, remote. Perfect getaway from the hustle and bustle. Very well maintained and thoughtfully furnished.
Taylor W.
September 2024
Second time here and love it!
Brian K.
February 2024
I got so very lucky to secure this stay, and was even more impressed the minute I arrived to the property. The accommodations were immaculate, everything laid out in good orderly fashion, easy to find and instructions to truly help you relax and enjoy the property. The area is very quiet with the perfect melody of tree frogs early in the evening. The property offered every accommodating play toy needed for the beach, towels, beach, chairs, swim fins, and masks. The kitchen is well equipped, where I cooked breakfast and dinner as I was out all during the day. Returning to the property in the early evening tired from hiking, the hot tub was a heaven sent luxury. Likewise, there is a gas burning iron fireplace, which truly made this cottage. Feel like my home away from home. I’m very grateful to the hosts for sharing a slice of their paradise very responsive. I will definitely recommend this property to all my friends and family visiting the west side of the big island.
4laraineh
February 2024
Wonderful stay. Everything was perfect even the weather. Lovely, relaxing slice of paradise. Amazing grounds. Beautiful landscaping. Cozy, clean, cute and comfy ‘cabin in the woods’;) Even better than it looks in the pictures. Clean and relaxing hot tub to enjoy the evening sky.
Larry S.
January 2024
Spotless and charming cottage. Great hosts who were friendly and helpful. Cottage was in great shape and completely equipped. Beautiful landscaping. Very private location. A great stay all the way around.
Marian P.
November 2023
Hale O’Makani was so much better than described and more beautiful than the photos. Centrally located, yet out of the hub-bub of the cities. Spent mornings with coffee in the deck and evenings watching the stars. After a session in the best hot tub we’ve ever been in, of course. The house is decorated with the coolest knickknacks,art works, and cool ephemera. Loved it all. We will definitely want to go back. Mahalo nui!!
Barb K.
April 2023
Delightful cottage in the hills above Honoka'a! Peaceful and quiet; excellent location to explore the north end of the island.
Jane P.
April 2023
Lovely place outside of Waimea on the Big Island. The hot tub is very nice. Chairs and beach towels provided. We enjoyed a visit to Honokaa, a town with lots of history.
Carl W.
March 2023
Property is quiet and private. A prefect spot to relax and enjoy the serenading coqui frogs and abundant pheasants. Located a short drive from Honokaa. We would definitely stay again.
Shea B.
March 2023
Very efficient and care free.
Betsey A.
February 2023
A darling little oasis in the jungle. Perfect place to relax and enjoy the serenity of the Hawaiian jungle. Well equipped kitchen, lots of beach supplies and an informative guide summarizing the island and local attractions. Hosts surprised us with a delectable basket of citrus fruits and apple bananas on arrival. Sitting in the hot tub nightly gazing at the gorgeous stars is an added bonus. A truly serene island experience. A truly unique place to feel the Aloha A’ina of the island. Mahalo!
Cathy F.
November 2022
Clean, fully equipped, super cute, beautifully landscaped, private. What more can I say, a perfect stay!
Sherri M.
October 2022
Beautiful slice of heaven in the tropics!
Annette B.
June 2022
Beautiful landscaped, clean cottage in rural area. Cottage was in a wonderful location for exploring the north and west side beaches. We felt at home as soon as we entered the property. We would definitely stay here again.
John S.
May 2022
The cottage is in a beautiful location near Kalopa State Park, but within ten miles of the town of Honokaa. We loved the hot tub, the gentle breezes and natural sounds at night. Living in fast-paced NYC, this was just the nature break “away from it all” that we needed.
You can tell that a lot of thought has gone into the interior decoration of the cottage including memorabilia of old-time Hawaii as well as a winter sled mounted high on the wall. It has a high ceiling and feels very comfortable and airy.
It was often warm enough to sunbathe near the hot tub in the afternoon and then cold enough to use the stove in the living room to heat ourselves before going to sleep or early in the morning after waking up.
When we needed assistance, the hosts responded promptly and took care of what we needed.
Kalopa State Park and the Hawaiian Vanilla Company are both close by. To the north on the road, you can explore Honokaa, Waimea and the Waipio Valley. To the south, the road leads to Akaka Falls and the city of Hilo.
Highly recommended!
lauren s.
April 2022
We were excited to stay here but we’re disappointed when we arrived. The cottage smells funny (particularly the fridge) like someone was a smoker once. The decor needs an update. What looks “charming” from the photos is actually quite cluttered. The kitchen misses some essentials - like a non pod coffee maker such as a French press or drip machine. The kitchen also is dated and smells like it has been used a lot.
There are no separating walls between the bedroom and the kitchen so you can hear the fridge him all night.
The mattress is old and lumpy and extremely soft. I hurt my back sleeping in it after two nights.
The location is far from most things- and this side of the island rains a lot and is overcast a lot. When they said “cooler temperatures” we just thought that meant elevation but there wasn’t really any sunshine and so we had to drive an hour to the west coast to get sun/ go to beaches.
I probably wouldn’t book here again, rather just visit the location for a day by car then not come back.
April 2022
Lovely property in a clearing in the rain forest. Hot tub is a nice addition. Location is fantastic, close to Waimea and half way between Hilo and Kona. The house (and 1 bedroom) is small, but fine for 2 adults. Kitchen food basics are limited (so you're starting from scratch). Garden has avocados, clemintines, and limons which the host generously share. Would definitely return!
Anna P.
February 2022
We had the absolute best time staying at Mary and Leonard’s cottage while visiting the Hawaii big island. The cottage is beautifully located on their property up in the hills and surrounded by their beautiful garden with fruits and vegetables. Some of our favorite experiences on the property were watching the stars from the hot tub and eating oranges in the morning for breakfast off of their tangelo tree in the front yard. Leonard was sweet enough to give us a tour of the property as well and was so genuinely kind to us. We can’t wait to come back again some day!
Brian M.
February 2022
Can't wait to return.
Michael B.
February 2022
Exceeded our expectations! It is the perfect place for a couple to rediscover themselves! Loved it!
Lynda K.
January 2022
We loved staying in this private, well-equipped cabin. Leonard and Mary are excellent hosts and provided everything needed and then some! Thank you for the fresh fruit! We loved exploring the nearby towns, historic sugarcane factory remains, railroad museum, plantation museum, old highways and bridges, vanilla farm and so much more. This was the perfect location to explore historic Hawaii and a beautiful home to return to. We hope to return soon.
Andrew J.
January 2022
Everything was as good or better than advertised.
Casey D.
December 2021
Beautiful cottage up in the hills outside Honokaa, great for exploring the Hamakua coast. A clean, cozy, and secluded place to get away to and enjoy the stars at night - especially with the hot tub. Great hosts, highly recommend!
Jeff A.
October 2021
We had a good experience with the rental, very clean with beautiful landscaping.
Taylor W.
September 2021
This property was more than we could have imagined. Perfect size for two. Super quite (except for the kokee frogs at night, which replace the crickets on the east coast of NC) beautiful yard, well appointed home, very secure. Not close to anything, but that is what we wanted. Less than 10 minutes to Honokaa where there is anything you need.
Erin C.
September 2021
We really loved this lovely cottage/cabin! The garden is just gorgeous and lush. We could not get over that our house plants are actually thriving in the yard! The birds and frogs were just a treat. We would go off on adventures every day, then were so relieved to come home to this little oasis. The hot tub just seals the deal!! We hiked several miles each day and it was soothing to sit in the hot tub while looking at the stars and listening to the incredible sounds of Hawaii at night. Did I mention the stars! We thoroughly enjoyed our stay and look forward to our next trip to this amazing property.
Nicole v.
September 2021
Wonderful quiet and private place ideally located 20 minutes from Waipi'o Valley. The cottage is beautiful, well-equipped, and comfortable. The view of the large manicured lawn with colorful flowers, birds, and wandering turkeys while sitting in the spa is a bucolic way to start or end a day.
Jennifer S.
August 2021
We had a lovely time staying at the cabin, it worked out perfectly for our needs. It's quiet, and cute and has everything you need. Thanks!
Tina A.
June 2021
I was impressed. I arrived in the evening to a clean place with no hassles and a nice heated spa waiting for me. That alone was so awesome. In the morning i woke up, made coffee and apple pie and took a short walk around the property to admire all the beautiful landscaping. Its wonderful. I would love to stay here again and I could easily stay with family instead but this place was so awesome for a couple i just loved it. Flowers, stars, hot tub, ranch life....it's all good.
Walter S.
June 2021
The house was well stocked and the property was beautiful and well-maintained. The deck is a great place to enjoy breakfast (or any meal) and the hot tub was a great place to relax after busy days.
Jane P.
June 2021
We enjoyed our stay in the north island. There were chairs to take to the beach. Close to hiking. Delicious dinner at Merriman’s. Not to mention the hot tub, having one makes for a great place.
Peter C.
February 2020
If you're looking for a well appointed cabin in a quiet, lush, garden setting on the north east end of the Big Island, then this place is perfection. Leonard and Mary have done it right in every way. We enjoyed the lanai, the hot tub, the grill, the gas fire place, and all the other niceties that are included in the cabin. And special thanks for the welcome package.
Highly recommended!
Timothy L.
January 2020
This is a perfectly quiet, private and charming little cottage off the beaten path. It is ideally suited for 1-2 who want to get away from the city and enjoy the countryside. Use it as a home base from which to go explore, and/or stock up on groceries and just hang out and relax for awhile. Well done to the Hosts, Mary & Leonard!
Nathan Z.
December 2019
This cottage and our hosts were easy and relaxed. It has everything you need to recharge in what feels like isolation. Honoka’a is just around the corner though. Hilo and Kona are in day trip range if you need more hustle and bustle. This locations versatility make it a great base camp or getaway.
The outdoor space is exceptional compared to the lani you will get in a condo.
Yong W.
October 2019
This beautiful cottage is the dream stay in Hawaii. The hosts are super thoughtful, friendly, attentive, but respect guests’ own space even though they live on the same property (separate house up the hill). We had a wonderful time, and spent plenty of time hanging out at the cottage because it’s so comfortable and serene.
Ed O.
April 2019
Absolutely gorgeous cottage on lush acreage. Closer to Honaka'a than Hilo but still a beautiful drive to the larger town. Get to the Hawaiian Tropical Botanical gardens on the scenic road. Mary and Leonard are the most gracious hosts. They kindly left us fruit and even called to check on us after the small earthquake. Would stay there again in a heartbeat.
Adam C.
March 2019
This is a wonderful little cabin in a calm part of the island. It’s a perfect place to stay while exploring hamakua.
Jean S.
February 2019
We have been to a lot of VRBO’s all over the world and this is in the top 5. The place is spotless - even the silverware has no spots! The owner is very approachable but not intrusive. They live next door and are easily accessible. They have lived in this place in the past so the unit is complete. Everything you need is there. The landscape is beautiful. From the plants to the fruit trees, it is a little slice of the Garden of Eden. The linens were great, bed super comfortable and the pillows were soft and odorless. We enjoyed looking at Orion in the hot tub at night and sitting in front of the fireplace in the mornings. The location was central in my opinion. If you have never been to the Big Island, or any of the islands, it just takes a while to get anywhere as there is usually one road and it is two lanes, but you are on Island Time so just relax.
Gary H.
January 2019
My wife and I loved staying here. It is such a sweet little cottage in the woods. A great place to get away from the tourist crowd and really relax.
Stephen L.
November 2018
This is a wonderful spot for a couple looking to get away from the tourist crowds on the west side of the Big Island. The cottage was clean, comfortable and quiet (aside from the evening frogs and morning roosters!), with a nice garden, well-equipped kitchen and lovely decorations. We liked the location - close to Waipo Valley and about 40 minutes from both Hilo and the NW beaches. We had 5 nights at the cottage and generally returned from our excursions each day before dark to enjoy cocktails on the deck or a soak in the hot tub and often picked up some fresh fish or steaks on the way back from the beach at a great market in Waimea to toss on the barbecue (there is also a decent local market in Honokaa). Mary was helpful and provided timely responses to all our questions. We would definitely consider staying here again next time we travel to the Big Island.
Kendall K.
October 2018
The cottage was the perfect choice for us. We found ourselves ensconced in beautiful tropical landscaping with tremendous privacy. The cottage supplied many amenities such as beach towels, beach chairs, and everything you need to cook. We cooked breakfast and dinner everyday. Coming home to the hot tub and chirping frogs at night was a lovely luxury and the property is fenced so you also feel extremely safe. A very easy 45 minute drive to Hilo or Hapuna Beach. We happily drove to Kona, the volcano, and Mauna Kea from there as well. Would highly recommend!
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