Our Stay at Lagoon Shangrila

Guest: Quiet David (Western North Carolina)
Date of Stay: 01/11/12 Review Submitted: 01/22/12

We had a wonderful time! Lagoon Shangrila was thoughtfully outfitted with everything you need for a relaxing, enjoyable stay. The natural pool filled with fish was just the crowning jewel. We'd love to return for another visit.

Owner response:Aloha David.. Thank you so much for your great review on Lagoon Shangrila. We are so happy that you found this beautiful spot for your vacation.. it is for sure...the real Hawaii. So much to do here and never enough time ! Please come back and bring your friends and family.. we will be happy to extend our "Frequent Guest Discount" to you. Aloha Trisha and Sterling

Recommended for:Romantic getaway, adventure seekers, girls getaway, age 55+, families with teenagers.

An Amazing Place to Stay!

Guest: Marcia G.
Date of Stay: 07/20/11 Review Submitted: 08/15/11

This house was our 2nd stop on a 4 week holiday to 3 islands, and we were so glad we made the choice to stay on the Hilo side at Lagoon Shangrila! The house is spacious (we were 4 adults and 4 kids), tidy, and did have everything you needed. The pond was a huge hit, and the hot tub was perfect after a long day hiking at the Volcano! The tide pools just down the road were spectacular! We are very well travelled in both the Caribbean and the Mayan Riviera/Mexico, and this is some of the best snorkelling we have ever done, hands down. It was wonderful to walk down the street, enjoy the tide pools, and then throw something on the grill for dinner while enjoying the peaceful yard. Trisha and Sterling have done a terrific job of making this property private and luxurious. It is about a 45 min. drive to Hilo, but it was perfect for us to feel like we were getting away after having been in Honolulu. The culture here is laid back and welcoming and we enjoyed chatting with the locals to find out about the hidden gems near by (the hidden black sand beach several miles down hwy 137 was one of the best places we visited during our 4 weeks in Hawaii) Do drive to the end of the road where the lava flowed across it and there is a new beach forming beyond the lava field. Do take at least a full day (or 2) in Volcanoes National Park and walk through the Kilauea Iki Caldera (4 miles), it is worth every step. Do go back to the Park at night to see the Caldera glowing orange, and the millions of stars in the sky (your park pass is good for 7 days) Do walk to the very end of the Thurston Lava Tubes-take a flashlight or you can't do this. Do drive the Chain of Craters Road right to the Sea Arch, the next big lava flow may destroy this area! Do take a helicopter tour over the active vent, a trip highlight! Do hike to Akaka Falls, eat at Cafe Pesto and Ponds in Hilo, visit the Japanese Gardens and Coconut Island on Banyan Drive. Do go to Big Island Candies and try everything! The Chocolate dipped Mac Nut Shortbread is to die for--we brought several boxes home with us! Enjoy the tropical rainforest, I do miss the beauty of it. We drove the south route on Hwy 11 to Kona for my husband to do the Manta Ray night dive-excellent, and the north route on Hwy 19 back to Hilo, and are glad we chose Hilo as our location, it was just a great place to stay to enjoy all that this island has to offer while feeling relaxed and refreshed as we moved on to Maui. Thanks Trisha & Sterling!

Owner response:Aloha Marcia.. Mahalo Nui Loa ! What a wonderful review you gave us on Lagoon Shangrila ! We just love that our guests enjoy the property as much as we do.. there is so much to do on this island and having a private and luxurious home awaiting your return from you daily adventures makes for a perfect stay ! We wish you beautiful travels throughout the islands. Come back and visit the Big Island again.. and bring your family and friends. We will be happy to extend a "Frequent Guest Discount" to you. Aloha ! Trisha and Sterling

Recommended for:Romantic getaway, sightseeing, adventure seekers, age 55+, families with teenagers.

Paradise in May

Guest: Misia (Quakertown, PA)
Date of Stay: 05/21/11 Review Submitted: 06/23/11

Aloha. My husband and friend and I stayed at Shangrila from 5/21 to 5/31/11. It was perfect. Shangrila is so pretty and peaceful we almost didn't leave to see the volcanos, farmer's market, tide pools, black sand beach, lava tree park, rainforest etc. Yes, you must drive to everything but the location is well worth it. Sterling answered my many e-mails full of questions in a timely manner. While there we had a problem with the tv one evening and we had a new one almost the next day. Wanting to see a "touristy" event I asked about a luau and Sterling recommened one closest to Shangrila which was still across the island. We had a great time and enjoyed the food and show. We ate at Pesto's in Hilo twice and at Pookies, a roadside diner, met quite a few locals who clearly have not gotten out of the '60's. It was like reliving our youth again. Weather was in the 80's and no humidity. One thing we almost missed was airconditioning. But in the evening the trade winds came through and every room has a ceiling fan so we were quite comfortable. Our long trip from and back to Pennsylvania was certainly worth it. Mahalo

Recommended for:Romantic getaway, sightseeing, adventure seekers, girls getaway, age 55+, families with teenagers.

Amazing

Guest: kandles (South Australia)
Date of Stay: 06/04/11 Review Submitted: 06/19/11

Words cannot describe how pleased we were with this place. Everything and I mean everything was perfect. Everything you could possible need was there for you in a cupboard or a drawer. We had such a lovely time here. A family of 2 adults, 2 children and another couple. Plenty of space, the tide pool was great, the hot spa under the stars amongst the coconut palms, AMAZING !!! A little far from Hilo, but it was a place we had planned our daily trips around so it was perfect. Spent a lovely early evening out at the tide pools snorkelling. Ate in town a few times. The Thai at Ning's was good as was the food at Black rock Cafe. Had the shaved ice at Wilson's by the bay. Waited an hour, but boy was it worth it. Overall, a fabulous stay. Would thoroughly reccommend the Lagoon Shangrila. Thanks once again to Trisha and Sterling.

Recommended for:Romantic getaway, sightseeing, adventure seekers, age 55+, families with young children, families with teenagers.

Beautiful Home

Guest: Brandi (Jenison, Michigan/USA)
Date of Stay: 02/04/11 Review Submitted: 06/02/11

We stayed in Lagoon Shangrila in February 2011 and both my husband and I believe this was our best vacation ever. If you are looking for a relaxing vacation, away from the hustle and bustle of a big city, this is the place for you! The home itself is lovely, with everything you could possibly need. Pictures don't do it justice. You are off the beaten path on the Hilo side of the big island, but if you are an adventure seeker there is plenty for you to do. We snorkled in the tide pools at the end of the street which was like being in an aquarium. We often just drove around to see what we could find to do. Take a drive to the end of the road where the lava covered it in Kapaahu Village to see an eclectic mix of people and "businesses." One of these "businesses" is a lava tour which takes visitors out to the actual hot, flowing lava. So close, in fact, you can poke it with a stick. I am quite sure this is a very unregulated business because it seems like it could be VERY dangerous, but it honestly was the highlight of our trip. From the end of the road you can walk out across the lava fields to the ocean. It is amazing! Along the drive from the subdivision to Kapaahu there are numerous roadside parks to stop at. When you are done for the day Lagoon Shangrila was a great place to return to. Very comfortable and spacious. The only possible negative I have was the lack of airconditioning. The only time this was an issue was if you wanted to take an afternoon nap when it got a little warm. Sleeping at night was fine, but you will hear the tree frogs singing so if you need complete silence to sleep they may be a problem. We loved our vacation on the "rustic" side of Hawaii and we would return in a minute! Thank you Trish and Sterling for sharing your home with us!

Recommended for:Sightseeing, adventure seekers, families with teenagers.

The name of the home says it all...

Guest: LB (Chantilly, VA)
Date of Stay: 04/18/11 Review Submitted: 04/28/11

We recently stayed at Lagoon Shangrila and were very impressed. You never know what you are getting just by looking at photos on a website, but this home met our expectations and then some. The owners were extremely helpful and answered all of our questions before and during our stay. The property was clean and very well maintained. We have three teenage children and they all agreed the home was perfect for us. Having twin beds in one room was especially nice so no one had to share! The decor, the landscaping, the upgrades - all beautiful. We would definitely stay here again if ever in Hawaii. It was only a short walk to the beach to see more tidal pools. We also loved the fact that there were little "extras" left from previous travelers that come in handy (like soap, shampoo, dish soap, toilet paper, boogie boards, water shoes, etc.). That way we did not have to shop for things that we wouldn't be able to use up or bring home. We did our part by leaving a few things behind to help others too. If you're looking for a quiet, restful home to stay in, this is it. You may have to drive a bit to get to some of the island attractions, but it's really not that far to go and the roads aren't as windy as on the west side of the island. Don't expect sandy beaches nearby, but then again, there aren't many of those on the entire island. This home has all the right things for a restful, peaceful vacation!

Owner response:Thank you Lisa. We are thrilled you enjoyed your vacation at Lagoon Shangrila. Hope you will visit again in the near future. Mahalo, Trisha & Sterling

Recommended for:Romantic getaway, age 55+, families with teenagers.

Did not want to leave

Guest: Dave from Lisle, IL (Lisle, IL)
Date of Stay: 05/26/10 Review Submitted: 06/14/10

My wife and I stayed at this home for a week in late May/early June. In truth, words fail me. We had a fantastic time. For brevity, I'll just list out the highlights (there are no lowlights): Having the private pond and having the fish say hello everytime we walked by, and, swimming/snorkling in the warm waters. Full moon rising over the tide pools (only a 5 minute walk away) at the horizon level, nothing we can see back home here in Lisle, IL Swimmiing in the Pond, and enjoying the Hot Tub with the full moon overhead. Millions of stars! Beautiful home and property, others have said, and I agree, pictures don't do it justice. Full Ktichen, they are not kidding, everything you need. Plenty of room, mind you, it was just my wife and myself, so we didn't need much. Would easily host 6. Snorkling gear, beach mats, and beach towels provided. Internet and printer if you need. Great neighborhood to walk around, very friendly people and some properties have wonderful gardens. Pahoa town, very small, but a few really good places to eat. Washer and Dryer The flashlights did come in handy walking to the tide pool after sunset to watch the moon rise, area is very dark. Grill out if you want to Farmers Market about 15 minutes away on Sunday, don't miss it! Really, my wife and I love to travel and this home will always be a special memory in our hearts. I hope to return one day. One caveat - Kapoho Tide Pools are about 45 minutes from Hilo and other than the tide pools themselves and some nearby parks, the house isn't really close to anything. Be prepared to drive 1 hour or more when visiting the Volcano, Hilo, the Black Sand Beach, Akaka falls, and anything on the Kona side. However, remember that the Big Island is just that, Big, and no matter where you stay, in order to see "all" the sites, will require a car. Dolby1000

Recommended for:Romantic getaway, tourists without a car, sightseeing, adventure seekers.

Paradise!!

Guest: Stephanie K. (Staunton, VA)
Date of Stay: 04/23/10 Review Submitted: 05/04/10

My family and I loved staying here. It was home away from home and it really had that tropical feel. Everything you could have wanted was provided for you. The tide pools are amazing!! I hope I get the chance to return one day.

Recommended for:Romantic getaway, sightseeing, girls getaway, families with teenagers.

Guest: Medeiros Family (Miami, Florida)
Date of Stay: 02/02/10 Review Submitted: 02/02/10

Aloha Sterling and Trisha! Your home was breathtaking...the pictures DO NOT DO IT JUSTICE! It was amazing. It was a perk to have access to a computer and printer in the home and I loved the wall flashlights that automatically charged while in socket and when you pulled them out they automatically turned on. They truly came in handy at night. There was more than enough room for our family of 4. The home is very spacious, I believe we could have fit 9 or 10 people in the home, using the living room sofa sleeper to sleep two people! The kids and adults loved the pond and I particularly loved the kitchen. I enjoyed making breakfast in the morning and using the Guava Jam I bought from the farmer's Market in Hilo and Portugese sausage. I also liked the fact that your home was well equipped due to the fact that I cut my foot on the active reef near your home and you had a first aide kit and cleansing aides in the home to clean my cut. We were all sad to leave and can't wait to return. Again thank you for sharing your home with us. Mahalo Nui Loa, Medeiros Family, Maimi, Florida

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Guest: Deborah Mata (Vancouver, Washington)
Date of Stay: 08/24/09 Review Submitted: 08/24/09

Our family of five stayed at your beautiful home for a week in August 2009. What a delightful experience, a piece of heaven on earth. I am glad we had the chance to experience the eastern side of big island with its green lush tropical beauty. Your home was a perfect retreat after each day of exploration. Mahalo.....until our next return- Deb and Jose Mata

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