Craig P.
March 2025
Great location to use as a base for exploring the close by Volcano National park. Excellent art galleries nearby too. Checkout Da Raku Barn and 2400 degrees glass gallery in addition to the art gallery in the park.
Heidi K.
February 2025
The house was perfect for our visit. Mahalo!
manuel m.
February 2025
This is a wonderful property with a great host. It is far away enough from the main road, so you get a real feel for what the Big Island is all about. Wood definitely recommends the say.
Richard H.
October 2024
We had a wonderful time staying here. Clean, quiet, and very close to The Volcanoes National Park. We’d like to come back in the future!
Kerry d.
October 2024
We keep returning to this place because it's perfect! House is spacious and its a great private location. Great spot to see the stars at night and i love falling asleep to the sound of coqui frogs. We will be back!
Rachel E.
August 2024
We had a great time staying here! I would highly recommend to anyone wanting to hike Volcano National Park and looking for a serene, beautiful place to land. It was well stocked, comfortable and the perfect location to enjoy this part of Hawaii. Thank you for having us!
aaron w.
August 2024
The property was clean and comfortable and the location was very peaceful. Everyone especially enjoyed the fireplace at night. Would stay here again.
Drew C.
July 2024
Our family loved this place. It was a fun experience staying here. I would definitely recommend it and i would stay here again. Owners were great. We loved how close it was to the National Park.
Lisa P.
July 2024
Secluded gem near Volcanoes National Park. Beautiful, lush surroundings with a cool lava tube on the property! Comfy beds, spacious rooms, and a full kitchen made our stay great. Loved the DVD collection for evening entertainment. Just a 10-minute drive to the park entrance. Exactly as described - a fantastic base for exploring the area!
Harriet L.
June 2024
Our Volcano Secret Garden stay couldn’t have been nicer. It was a peaceful home to return to after exploring the National Park. The 7 and 12 year old were delighted to explore the lava tube and the grounds. Coqui lulled us to sleep at night. All in all this was ideal for our family group of 6.
Thomas G.
June 2024
We loved our stay. The place was very clean and well stocked. It was the best stocked place that I have ever rented - they thought of everything. The yard was so stunning. It's very quiet and seems remote. I would definitely rent again.
Nancy
Archit G.
June 2024
Nice place
Tabitha G.
June 2024
This place was the perfect peaceful retreat after a day adventuring through Volcanoes National Park, hiking to Waterfalls and ziplining through the rainforest.
The house was clean, beds were comfortable and we loved hearing all the sounds of nature at night coming in with cool nights breeze through the bedroom windows. The Lava tube on the property was an extra special bonus that we all loved.
Overall great place!
Elizabeth H.
June 2024
Great property- beautiful, quiet. Thanks!
Inga M.
May 2024
A beautiful house! Truly a secret garden! We truly enjoyed our stay. The properly is lovely and was so relaxing.
Amy P.
May 2024
Lovely house on a beautiful property.
Jeff G.
May 2024
We enjoyed our stay so much. What a great spot close to Volcanoes National Park and Hilo. The beds are comfortable and the house was well stocked with amenities. You won’t be disappointed staying here.
Nate M.
May 2024
The property was just as listed and very clean. It was very close to Volcano National Park which was great.
Brandon M.
March 2024
What a treasure! Close enough to Volcano and the national park and charming.
S R L.
February 2024
Even though wood was supplied for the cast iron stove, the instructions and our inexperience left us without heat except in the bedrooms where space heaters were provided. For that reason, we would not return to this property.
Gregory A.
February 2024
The house had all the basics necessities. One of the king bedrooms is in need a a major update with a new mattress and pillows. The pillows for all the bedrooms smell dirty. Given the nature of the area being very humid, these pillows should be changed out or washed regularly. Since the most important thing was to be able to sleep close to the national park, I was hoping for more comfort.
Stan J.
February 2024
The property is well-equipped and well-furnished. There is a thoughtful collection of books and magazines.
It was pleasant sitting on the lanai in the mornings drinking coffee and listening to the birds. We were a party of 5 from British Columbia, Saskatchewan and Ontario in Canada. Most days we hiked in Volcanoes National Park and especially enjoyed a ranger-led walk on the Petroglyphs Trail. We explored all the pullouts on the Chain of Craters Road. We also took a day to drive down to Punalu'u Beach to observe seven green turtles basking in the sun, have lunch at the Punalu'u Bakery and then explore South Point. We often cooked dinner at home, but we also had great meals at the local Thai Thai restaurant in Volcanos and Kilauea Lodge.
Shelly P.
February 2024
The Secret Garden truly was just that: secluded, beautiful, downright magical. The house was very clean, supplied with all the owners said on the website (and more), and ridiculously convenient to Volcanoes National Park. It was also handy to eat/shop in Hilo, drive to South Point, or just relax on the front porch to take in the beautiful sights and sounds of staying in a rain forest. I hope to be back some day, and will definitely recommend this location to others.
JIE L.
February 2024
Peaceful quiet place near the national park. I enjoyed staying here a lot!
Anthony S.
January 2024
This was the perfect getaway for our family. So close to Volcano yet very se eluded and private. The house is in amazing conditions and hosts were great to deal with. Highly recommended!
Heather
January 2024
We loved the spaciousness of the home and the lush property surrounding it. The bedrooms, living areas and kitchen were quite comfortable. Loved all the sitting areas available on the porch and patios. Very quit and serene. Great property that felt like a cabin "in the woods" or ferns rather!
Alan L.
January 2024
This property is well managed, very clean. Kitchen is fully stocked. Heaters in each room and wood stove kept the place cozy. Kids enjoyed playing in the open meadow. They were sad to leave
Allison A.
December 2023
We love staying at this property. So beautiful and relaxing. We love the quiet and peaceful atmosphere. Property managers and owner were lovely.
Kristi S.
December 2023
We spent several days here while on the Hilo side of the island. Location is so close to the volcano national park and about a 20 minute drive to Hilo. This secluded property made us feel like we were in our own little paradise. Be sure to check out the lava tunnel. The house itself was perfect. The beds were comfortable. The amenities were great but definitely stay here again. Jeff and Cathy’s communication for finding the property were very easy and their recommendations for activities and food were spot on.
Robert C.
October 2023
Enjoyed staying here while visiting Volcano NP and surrounding area. Everything matched the description and no issues.
Kerry d.
September 2023
This was our 3rd or 4th stay at this property. We love the secluded area and it's perfect for nighttime photos of the milky way, and this year we saw several shooting stars. We appreciated the new living room furniture which was very comfortable. The house has plenty of space and everything you need. Thank you for another great stay!
Stephanie K.
August 2023
We (3 adults, 14 year old,10 year old) recently spent 2 nights on this beautiful property. The house was cozy and comfortable. It felt secluded yet was an easy 10 minute drive to Volcano Village and the national park. The lava tube on the property was very cool and we had a great view of the nighttime sky.
Sarah C.
August 2023
Our three generation family really enjoyed this well appointed space! The property and location are a treasure. Thank you!
David S.
August 2023
Great house. Wished we stayed longer.
April H.
July 2023
This home was perfect for our stay near the National park. The home and grounds are beautiful and clean, with good wifi and everything we needed. Checkin instructions and driving directions were great and made the process easy. Located an easy ten minute drive from the park. There are not any full grocery stores nearby (some small things available in volcano village, which is very small), so I would recommend getting groceries before driving to this area. 10/10 recommend for a family stay if your goal is to visit/explore volcanoes NP.
Benjamin B.
July 2023
We had a great time staying in this beautiful place surrounded by green everywhere! This property is really close to the Volcanos National Park, so we didn't hesitate to drive into the park later at night on our first night to see the eruption (we were so lucky to be there at the right time)!
This place is a little more remote from shopping, restaurants, etc, as described in the listing, but we found that the proximity to the park more than made up for the distance to other things! Nothing like being able to drive a few minutes and see a live volcano!
We planned a or two in Hilo, where it is easy to find good groceries and other necessities. The house was well stocked, the beds were very comfortable, we just had a great time!
Highly recommended! I hope we can get a chance to visit again!
Leslie C.
July 2023
Great location for Volcano Park and exploring east side of the island!
Colleen B.
July 2023
This was our home base for a few days exploring the volcanoes. The house was so comfortable and well outfitted. Great set up and beautifully managed! We enjoyed the sounds of nature that enveloped us. Plenty of indoor and outdoor seating. Thank you for sharing your slice of the island with us!
June 2023
The house has a huge, beautiful yard - and its own lava tube you can check out! Nice big lanai, full kitchen, and a DVD of Shrek!
Everything was clean when we arrived, and in good order. You’re minutes from the park.
Stock up on food in Hilo or Kona before you arrive - no big stores in the area. There are some restaurants around.
Frank L.
May 2023
This was a quiet getway and perfect for expoloring Volcanoes N. Park.
The home had plenty of room, a very nice master bedroom/bath and a well stocked kitchen. The wood stove was a very nice touch which made the family room nice and cozy.
Jeff and Cathy were very helpful in the recommendations of places to go and restaurant recommendations.
The lava tube was something special that you don't see everyday.
Aanika C.
April 2023
We had a great time in our “jungle house” as our kids called it. They didn’t want to leave—they grew so fond of the place. They loved running around on the grass outside and listening to the birds. The space inside is just perfect for a family with young kids.
Ellysa S.
April 2023
We loved staying here, it was very spacious and it was nice to have some isolation for a while. Everything was pretty much just as pictured. The driveway entrance is gated, like lots of others in the area. If you try hard you can catch sight of one distant neighbor's roof, but the jungle around the property is so thick you can't even walk through it. The water tasted good, the water heater worked well, although the water pressure was limited, I imagine this is true of most or all of the properties in Volcano. They had beach towels and some gear, I think. They had lanterns and flashlights for helping explore features of Volcano National Park. They also had good wifi and just some family friendly DVDs to choose from. We visited in early April and it was very misty and wet outside almost all the time. There didn't seem to be any way to get any of this humidity out of the house. The dampness was a fair trade off for being convenient to the Volcano National Park. There was also plenty of places to eat without having to go all the way to Hilo.
Karen J.
March 2023
We loved this place as it gave us a completely different experience on the Big Island. We couldn’t play golf because of the rain but enjoyed a relaxing afternoon in front of the fireplace, after visiting the Park Visitor center. We also were happy that the cabin was so well equipped for cooking. The on-property lava tube was a huge hit with us too!
Daniel P.
March 2023
I really enjoyed the “remote” feel of this location. The house is surrounded by rainforest with some neighbors that you can’t see. We enjoyed finding little lizards, frogs hiding in holes, and walking the grounds. The lava tube is literally 20 feet from the house. It isn’t exactly safe to venture in there, so it is a small bonus. Still cool.
The house was clean with all necessary amenities. One note is that the bedrooms do not have fans and it was unseasonably warm when we visited. Opening the windows allowed a nice breeze in the evenings so it was good at night.
Location for visiting the national park is excellent. Close enough to go in and out of the park a few times each day. Nearby food options are limited and had strange hours. Some closed early and others closed on seemingly random days. Definitely recommended to bring your own stuff from a grocery store in Hilo.
Overall I enjoyed it and would stay again.
B & G M.
March 2023
We thoroughly enjoyed our stay at this home because it was clean, quiet, very close to Volcanoes Nat'l Park and provided every amenity you could possibly need on vacation. The kitchen is well stocked and everything is easy to find. The living and dining areas were comfortably sized as well as the bedrooms (master is huge). Many little details like luggage racks in each room, labeled light switches, a small welcome basket with tropical florals and macadamia nuts and a large cooler to name a few. Lots of seating outside to enjoy the surroundings. The evenings cooled down to the mid/low 60s F, making for comfortable sleep (yes, coqui frogs come out at night, but not too bad compared to other areas of the Big Island). It was about 1 hour from Hilo and following the directions, we had no issues finding the place. I recommend grocery shopping in Hilo, as the Keaau Foodland that is about 35 minutes away is on the pricey side. Our family enjoyed our stay here, we would definitely stay here again and highly recommend. Thank you for a wonderful experience at your Volcano home!
M F.
March 2023
This house is in a private location. It is spacious and comfortable. And close to the Volcano National Park. We enjoyed our stay, although there is no longer a hot tub at this property.
Diana R.
March 2023
This property far exceeded our expectations. It is a great location to explore Hawai’i Volcano National Park, the black sand beach (lots of turtles), and the green sand beach. The house was very clean with the most comfortable beds we have ever experienced at a rental house. We highly recommend this property and will definitely stay here again if we return to the Big Island.
Brooke J.
March 2023
This home was great. Location was super close to Volcanoes, lovely quiet spot. Lava Tube on the property is also a cool addition. Would recommend.
Karen R.
February 2023
Property was clean and grounds were beautiful. Hosts communicated well and provided all the supplies and information needed for a comfortable and enjoyable stay.
Meghana R.
February 2023
Very secluded. Beautiful property. Close to Hawaii national park and Hilo.
Penny W.
February 2023
The home was a good fit for our party of five. The kitchen was well stocked and the living area comfortable. It is quiet, with lush, green surroundings. Try to arrive before sunset as the entire area is very dark!
Nicole M.
February 2023
We loved our stay at the secluded nature escape. We just came from staying at a villa on another island so this was a nice change to be immersed in nature wake up to all sorts of different birds chirping at night and being able to see the sky bright with stars. I think one of the coolest features was the lava tube right down the path next to the house! We really enjoyed our time there and the host was so responsive. Def recommend!
Vija S.
January 2023
Lovely house, well supplied, great location
January 2023
This was the first Christmas we could all be together since 2018 and staying at the Royal Hawaiian Estates was perfect! The owner provided all of the information we needed. The kitchen is very well equipped. All of the photos are accurate. The house was very clean. I can't think of anything I would change! Our daughter lives in Pahoa now and when we return to the Big Island, I hope we can stay here again. We loved it!
Mary L.
January 2023
This home was very private and convenient to Volcanoes National Park. It was tastefully decorated with some nice seasonal touches and had comfortable indoor and outdoor spaces. I have to say the beds and couches were truly comfortable, which is not always a given - I think this is probably the nicest house of the roughly 5 we’ve stayed in over the past two years. Communication with the owners was easy, and they definitely put a lot of thought into the information provided.
Alexis F.
December 2022
We booked a last-minute stay for a family of five. Mom, dad, seven year old and two grandparents. This is a very serene end, restful property that had all the required amenities for our two day staycation. Everyone slept well and found the beds comfortable. The hosts were very responsive by a text any questions and we’re kind enough to let us extend our checkout time Would definitely come back especially when we plan to visit volcanoes national park again. The property is only about 10 minute drive away so very convenient.
Susan K.
November 2022
The house and property were lush and peaceful. The home was well equipped, very clean and bedrooms comfortable. We really enjoyed our stay and would highly recommend this home!
John B.
November 2022
Great relaxing place to stay with plenty of space and quiet after an apartment in Waikiki.
Master bedroom huge.
Was a good place to base ourselves on the big island. Watching the glow of the lava at Kilauea at night 10mins away, Hilo close by. The green beach. Was a drive across to Kona and the manta rays but interesting drive.. :)
Vanessa W.
November 2022
Lovely property , serene end well kept .
Close to volcano and a nice place to come back to after a busy day. Beds comfortable.
Maria C.
October 2022
If you want to get away from the hustle and bustle, this place is a must. What a lovely and peaceful home, hosts were easy to contact. Can’t wait to come back.
Kerry F.
October 2022
Good location near Volcano. Couch and chairs weren't too comfortable, but location convenient f you plan to be exploring Volcano during your stay.
Meryll F.
August 2022
This property is truly a find. It provides quiet solitude. The night sky is absolutely amazing! This was our first VRBO and I can tell you that the bar has been set really high. I can't imagine a more satisfying stay.
Joanne B.
August 2022
We loved our stay in this little peace of paradise
Matthew Z.
July 2022
We have visited the Big Island several times and wanted to spend more time on the Hilo side of the island this trip. This was a really unique and wonderful property with great proximity to the Volcano Park. Very secluded and quiet, loved being so isolated, the lava tube on property, the frogs at night, great set-up. Had all the amenities we needed on property. Really nice to be able to jump in our car and see the lava glow within minutes at night. Mahalo!
Brittany G.
July 2022
This place was amazing. We will definitely book this again for it next trip.
Brian S.
July 2022
We rented this property due to its proximity to Volcano National Park. Great location. Beautiful secluded property with plenty of room for our family of 5. Owners were very responsive and provided a lot of useful information to find the property (follow their directions and it's easy) as well as other items of note in the area like places to eat and attractions to see. Highly recommend. Great three night stay!
Joanna B.
June 2022
Perfect place to disconnect and be one with nature! We loved the quiet seclusion but also close to the park and several restaurants. Our highlight was seeing the red lava flow at 4AM in the park! A trip to remember forever!
Shane G.
June 2022
Would stay again.
Ian D.
May 2022
In a lot of ways, this is kidna a lonely property, a little far from almost everything on the island and the mist, rainy weather gives it almost a surreal sensation.
But it is 10 minutes from the volcano. Getting to the volcano is kinda a hassle from most places on the island and the convenience of being able to visit it several times, both during the day and night, completely makes this place worth it. I had never seen lava before I came to this location and the rangers that they have on site to describe the lava and show it off (especially at night) made this an amazing experience.
Brian H.
May 2022
This was a lovely retreat tucked away in a remote neighborhood yet close to Volcano
Very well stocked and everything was great.
Only sad part was Mother Nature decided to rain for 40 days so we didn’t get to enjoy the outdoors as much as we would have liked.
But you can’t control nature.
susan o.
April 2022
quiet and secluded but close enough to town and HVNP. Well stocked kitchen utensils and appliances (coffee and rice cooker!) Could have used more towels for the beach but understand they can sprout legs and/or take time to wash and dry.
Lynne G.
April 2022
Spacious private retreat in a lovely clearing surrounded by lush foliage. As architects we fully appreciated the open layout, large windows and the generous lanai. The house is ideally located for visiting Volcano National Park and local artists.
MARK A.
April 2022
The Secret Garden is an apt name for this beautiful property. Sitting on the lanai and gazing out over the grounds you can easily imagine yourself in a magical place. There are so many things to discover on the property itself. It is an ideal place to explore Volcanoes National Park due to its location.
Jennifer S.
April 2022
This was a great house to stay at with easy proximity to the National Park and black sand beaches. The house is secluded and private with beautiful grounds. Because it is so close to the park, we were able to see the lava at night which was amazing - once in a lifetime experience! One tip - since the nearest grocery store is about 30 minutes away, plan on bringing groceries with you and charcoal if you intend on grilling. Also bring a jacket because the nights are chilly! Thanks for a wonderful stay!
John G.
April 2022
Enjoyed the space and amenities of the property- clean, well-maintained and a perfect spot to stay with our family.
Jackson L.
March 2022
The home was a nice place where you get the outdoor feel while having everything we needed. Kind of fun to hear all the frogs at night. Kids got a kick out of it. We didn't explore land much, but kids got to roam around a bit.
One simple thing that I came to appreciate was there was a cooler we could use. That came in handy for our day trips. I was not sure how we would do lunch since going to see the volcano and lava formations did not have many lunch options and time constraints. Having the cooler helped out a lot.
I did not install the VRBO app and missed the instructions on how to get to the gate. We got in late and was hard to find the entrance/gate. I recommend reading the full instructions as Google maps got the location all wrong.
Jeffery T.
March 2022
Property is in a perfect location to visit Volcanoes. This is just a few minutes down the road from the park entrance so you can easily come and go as you please. Which was really great for late night trips to see the volcano and the stars. It is tucked away in a very quiet spot but was easy to find on Google maps. Home is comfortable with everything you need for an enjoyable stay.
Suzanne M.
February 2022
We loved our stay at Secret Garden. The house was cozy and clean, and we really appreciated the extras (shampoo, olive oil, laundry detergent.) Staying so close to Volcanoes Nat'l Park allowed us to go back into the park after dinner and check out the lava glow. Thanks for a terrific weekend.
Elena U.
February 2022
We loved the house, convenient location if you are visiting the Volcano National Park. We had everything we needed. Enjoyed our stay here.
Tamara W.
February 2022
Comfortable homey well stocked house in enchanting quiet garden setting. Highly recommend this property!
Markus J.
January 2022
Pleasant and peaceful house. If you come in winter, prepare for the nights to be cold and the knives to be dull (the latter probably applies to summer visits, too.) Bring binoculars for bird watching.
Rebecca F.
January 2022
This is a beautiful property- remote but yet close to the Volcanos National Park. It didn't take us long to get to the sites around Hilo. The property was well stocked. The hosts provided easy to follow directions to the property which I highly recommend you follow. Would definitely recommend
Patricia M.
January 2022
Roomy, well built house up in the Ohia forest near the Volcanoes National Park. This is at a higher elevation so the weather is rather cool compared to sea level, which we expected. It was cozy with very nice bathrooms and well furnished for comfort. The beds were very comfortable and we slept well to the soft sounds of rain on the roof. The water was sublime due to a well-engineered catchment and UV purification system, which made our showers feel luxurious. The kitchen was well set up and had a few condiments, which always helps. There is a full sized washer and dryer too.
The landscape around the property was a beautiful representation of the flora in the area. It was very quiet and serene there. We loved our stay and would definitely stay again!
Jessica W.
December 2021
The house and yard were just lovely. It was nice to relax in such a quiet place. Thanks for providing everything we needed.
Ted L.
December 2021
Perfect for a 3 day weekend to Volcano NP, or longer if planning to visit Hilo, Mauna Loa and and Mauna Kea
Danielle B.
October 2021
Super private and quiet location. House is well laid out for families and I loved sitting on the lanai listening to the birds. Kitchen well equipped. For people unfamiliar with Hawaii, do not leave food out, Hawaii has pests. Wood stove made for a charming, cozy evening. Will definitely stay again, mahalo!!!
Kathy H.
October 2021
We really enjoyed our stay at the house. So close to VNP, great to come back to after a day of hiking. The fireplace was nice, as it was cool and wet during our stay. We grilled and cooked mostly, having lots of condiments was so helpful.
Would definitely stay again.
Sheila M.
October 2021
The place was clean and in a nice, secluded location . It is about 10 mins away from Volcano National Park . The owners were very responsive to my questions and we have no problem locating the property as they provided great instructions.
Lilabet C.
September 2021
What a contrast to arrive at this spacious cottage surrounded by rain forest after spending time in bustling Honolulu. The bedrooms were great, beds comfortable, kitchen roomy with everything you could possibly need. My husband and my 90 yo mother stayed in RGE with more family nearby. We cooked for and fed 9 people comfortably the first night. We very much enjoyed the Volcano National Park, which was 3 miles up the road - what a contrast to see the lava beds. The hosts were easily available by text, though we didn't really need them. Would gladly stay here again for longer!
Kerry d.
September 2021
We enjoyed our stay. Plenty of space. Nice to have a gate to lock for added security. On clear nights we could see the milky way while being serenaded by coqui frogs.
Diana E.
August 2021
Would book again!
Rosalind N.
August 2021
Lush garden in a secluded area
Lanora M.
August 2021
We loved the outdoor space - so secluded and green. The frogs are loud at night, but we used a white noise app to cover some of it up. The house is lovely with thoughtful items included to make you comfortable. The rooms did smell a little mildewy, but given the amount of rain here, that’s to be expected I guess. We loved all the windows that let you see the outdoors and we’d stay here again!
Mariam L.
August 2021
We had a wonderful stay here. Loved the lava tube on property and the easy access to Hilo and Volcano National Park. Thank you!
Brian H.
August 2021
We loved how quiet and private this house was. It felt like we were staying in our own secret garden. The house itself was lovely, and we enjoyed listening to the wildlife on the lanai. Thank you so much!
LOUIS F.
July 2021
Beautiful property. Plenty of space. All the amenities you need. We loved relaxing to the sounds of the frogs and birds at night. Very secluded.
Jon S.
July 2021
This was a great getaway. Kitchen is fully stocked! Good open space and outdoor places to gather. Good bedrooms. Wish our our rentals went as well!!!
David S.
July 2021
We enjoyed having this quiet, private and spacious property as our base to set out on excursions around the island. It was nice for our family to have a place away from the crowds to gather and spend time together after days out. A beautiful and special place.
Patrick R.
July 2021
We had a great stay and Jeff/Cathy were great hosts. Would stay here again. Very peaceful, rainforest vibe away from the crowds.
Chris B.
July 2021
Great location and easy access to volcanos park.
Use the "Visit Owner's Website" link to read more reviews from the reservation site, including the latest reviews submitted by recent guests.