Location: Hilo, Hilo District, Big Island, Hawaii, USA (10 minutes from Hilo Airport-3 minutes to old downtown Hilo) View Map
Accommodations: House, 4 Bedrooms + Den, 2.5 Baths (Sleeps 8)
Keywords: Home
A GREAT oceanfront home overlooking the Pacific on top of a bluff. The house is nicely appointed and decorated. The kitchen is large and has seating for family meals. There is also a library, family room, dining room, and study room.
There is lots of outdoor space including a big backyard. The 15 foot by 30 foot pool has a slide and diving board plus an eight person Jacuzzi. The glorious outdoor tub and shower is hooked up to 120 gallons of solar hot water. This means 30 minute "waterfall" showers are a daily reality. Awesome home theater system, high-speed internet access, and lots of kid things. This is a real family home and we welcome other families that are looking for a great Hawaiian experience.
The Neighborhood
Honoli'i is a small area just outside of Hilo, the county seat for the Big Island of Hawaii. It is the most "Hawaiian" of all of the larger towns in the State. East Hawaii is mainly an agricultural area with a lot of farming. Sugar has been replaced by exotic fruits, flowers, macadamia nuts, and coffee. If you are looking for a "local" Hawaiian experience, this is the place!
There is a famous surfing spot with a black sand beach just three minutes from the house and Hilo has lots of local parks and spots for recreation. Hawaii Volcanoes National Park and Kilauea Volcano are 40 minutes away and as of this writing the 20 year old eruptive phase shows no sign of ending. Mauna Kea, at 13,500 feet, is the world's foremost center for astronomy with more than ten of the world's largest telescopes.
Rain measures around 120 inches per year in Hilo so it is verdantly green and there are waterfalls everywhere. Lisha and I have lived all over the world yet have been here 13 years, much longer than anywhere else. It really is a fabulous place. We travel for adventure, relaxation, and to share the world's treasures with our children. We most often exchange our home with others but occasionally make it available for rent when it is not possible to do an exchange.
Vacation Rental Features
- Amenities
- Washer
- Dryer
- Linens Provided
- Covered Parking
- Beds
- King Bed
- Queen Bed
- Double Bed (2)
- Crib : A pack and play type
- Entertainment
- Private Hot Tub
- Cable/Satellite TV
- DVD
- Video Library : A lot of great DVDs of all genres.
- Video Game Console : Who needs them when you have a trampoline??! and Bikes!
- CD Player
- Stereo System
- Music Library : Hundreds of CDs to chose from
- Private Pool
- Kitchen
- Full Kitchen : Convection Oven
- Cooking Utensils Provided
- Refrigerator
- Dishwasher
- Microwave
- Ice Maker
- Outdoor Features
- Gas/Electric BBQ Grill : Large, Stainless Steel
- Deck/Patio
- Lanai : Ocean Front
- View/Location
- Oceanfront : The bluff at 47 Honoli'i is approximately 150 feet above the blue Pacific. The best spot for whale, ship and surf watching!
- Communications
- Broadband Internet
- WiFi (Wireless Internet) : Open access
- Suitability
- Handicapped Accessible (may have limitations)
- Wheelchair Accessible (may have limitations)
- Kid Friendly
- Smoking Not Allowed : Outside on the lanai, please
- Activities
- Golf
- Tennis
- Shopping
- Kayaking
- Sailing
- Boating
- Swimming
- Surfing
- Biking
- Mountain Biking
- Fishing
- Health/Beauty Spa
- Basketball Court
- Live Theatre
- Zoo/Wildlife Park
- Restaurants
- Hiking
- Spelunking
- Fitness Center/Gym
- Cinemas/Movie Theaters
- Museums
- Other Activities
- Explore the incredible Hawaii Volcanoes National Park - Eden next to the Inferno. Lava has been flowing for almost twnety years, creating new land from the Pacific and nightly light shows that are out of this World! The entrancce to the Park is just a thirty minute drive from the house.
Rate Details (In US Dollars)
NORMAL RATES ... $500/night .. $3100/week .. $9650/month
Refundable Deposit $500
Cleaning Fee $150
RECESSION SPECIAL: ... $250/night .. $1600/week .. $6000/month
Rates higher for Christmas, New Years and peak periods.
Check our on-line calendar for availability.
Check in 3pm Check out 10am
Note: Until confirmed, rates are subject to change without notice.
Map & Owner's Profile
Oceanfront-Pool-Jacuzzi-Wow! Half Price 2012 Sale! $250
Year Purchased: 2000
Why the Owner Chose Hilo
This is one of our Hawaii homes and is complimented by a place in Hermanus, just outside of Cape Town, South Afria. Incidentally they are nearly perfect antipodean points....
The Unique Benefits at this House
Fabulous ocean vistas, sounds of the sea, and the Big Island to explore...
Property Photos
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- Breathtaking Pacific! - Hilo, Big Island, Hawaii Vacation Home
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- Your choice of reading material in the Library - Hilo, Big Island, Hawaii Vacation Home
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- Garden, Pool and Spa! - Hilo, Big Island, Hawaii Vacation Home
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- Easy relaxation in the Living Room with Music and a Large Plasma
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- The Jacuzzi awaits. It even has its own CD player!
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- The other half of the Living Room with the lanai in the background.
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- Dining Room for Ten
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- All Stainless Kitchen with everything you need to create Pacific Rim Cuisine!
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- The Lanai with a big table, umbrella and BBQ
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- Master Bedroom - This is the PLACE to wake up in the morning!
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- The Outdoor Shower Garden!
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- Looking back at the Honoli'i Surf spot and Hilo Bay
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- Lanai looking back to Hilo
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- Bedroom # 2
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- Bedroom # 3
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- Bedroom # 4
Traveler Reviews (20)
Wonderful Family Home
Guest: Retired Innkeeper
(Glenwood Springs, Colorado)
Date of Stay: 12/15/11
Review Submitted: 01/02/12
We chose this home so that our extended family could all be together for the University of Hawaii-Hilo's Dec. graduation. This was a great choice ! We all were very comfortable with plenty of room for the grandchildren to play. They loved the pool and slide, blocks, musical instruments and chess board....lots of available activities. One grandson especially enjoyed the books in his bedroom. We loved the outdoor shower and the entire family used it exclusively. I was delighted with the view from my master bed ....watching the waves hit the rocks and the boats going by. Any issues we had were immediately corrected - great guest service. I only mention this because all homes, including your own, have issues but it's the ability and quickness to remedy any situation that is important. Melanie did just that ! This home is very convenient to Hilo, located just a bit north of downtown. I highly recommend this property for anyone desiring a real Hilo family home vs. a hotel room. We ate most of our meals at the house which was a great $$$ saver. Mahalo for everything.
Owner response:We love hearing about families having fun. That's what makes 47 Honoli'i so special to ours. It has many years of collective experiences and memories that we hold dear. We know the nephew of a woman who grew up in the house and married the boy next door! We also remember with great fondness Auntie Katherine, that woman's mother. She grew up in a plantation village and then lived nearly sixty years next door. She was a treasure and an inspiration. Another Hawaii blessing .
Recommended for:Girls getaway, age 55+, families with young children, families with teenagers.
Great Location and Spectacular View
Guest: Barb
(Snohomish, Washington)
Date of Stay: 10/13/11
Review Submitted: 12/26/11
The house is beautiful. There are sweeping views from the master bedroom, family room and lanai. The pictures in the ad were just what you see even in October. We were in Hilo for a wedding and chose to stay in this house, due to location and so our family of six adults would have enough space. This home was the perfect choice with its many rooms, large lanai and comfortable furniture. One indoor shower was not operational, however it didn't matter because the outdoor shower was fantastic As Brian stated, the outdoor shower gave us the true Hawaiian experience - we loved it. The only downside to our stay was that it took awhile to get our deposit back, but it was returned in full without incident. I would return to this house in a minute and recommend it to any family staying in Hilo.
Owner response:Thanks for taking the time to share your experience. I apologize that it took as long as it did to refund your deposit. Our goal is to have it mailed out within four weeks but sometimes it does take six. The second indoor shower has been repaired and Please come visit us again! Aloha! Brian
Recommended for:People with disabilities, families with young children, families with teenagers.
Family vacation July 16 to July 23,2011
Guest: Maryanne
(Mobile, Alabama)
Date of Stay: 07/16/11
Review Submitted: 08/04/11
Thank you so much for sharing your wonderful paradise home with our family. My husband and I met there in 1974, married and had our first child. This was our first trip back, and an amazing family reunion. There was amble room for the 8 of us. The house was lovely and the grounds were beautiful. We enjoyed the pool and spa every day. The view is breathtaking, and we never got tired of sitting on the porch overlooking the ocean. I loved the master bedroom with the french doors and the amazing view at sunrise and sunset. We enjoyed a variety of fruit every day fresh from the yard. It was great having a washer and dryer. Actually the house had everything we needed, and was close to shopping, airport, town and the great flea market where we found the best deals not only for fruit and vegetables, but terrific gifts to bring home. We had two rental cars and went off every day to different places. My son-in-law went surfing daily which was within walking distance. We ate at Ken's Pancakes twice and loved the choice of local foods. All in all we would love to come again, and would certainly recommend this Hawaiian paradise to anyone who is thinking of vacationing on the islands. Mahalo!
Owner response:So glad you felt at home and found so many of our special places. Ken's is a real Hilo institution which I should add to our list of favorite restaurants. Unfortunately I can't share your review with my family here in Germany as it would make everyone too homesick! We look forward to your visiting again. Aloha, Brian and family
Recommended for:Romantic getaway, sightseeing, adventure seekers, girls getaway, age 55+, families with young children, families with teenagers.
Returning Guests for the Past TWO years and STILL excited for next year!
Guest: Hoku of 808 Athletics
(Waimanalo, Hawaii)
Date of Stay: 03/23/11
Review Submitted: 06/17/11
Likewise, in contrast to recent comments, our family and friends rented the property in March 2011, as we did the previous year in 2010. Yet, here I am again looking up the property for our planned vacation / trip in 2012! I cannot agree with the previous comments, as myself and my group are all in-state residents and absolutely LOVED the home! Being in this home, made us feel like we never left our own! We are from the country side in East Oahu and loved the welcoming open country feel of the home so familiar to the constant sound of the sea that we know. Neighbors were polite and very understanding of our young teammates that come and go through the property by day during the tournament and the kitchen, expansive property and setup of the house was very useful, entertaining and welcoming for our group!! We used the house as a base site for our club and ALL of our members (ages 1 - 60) who visited at various times, between games, during the week were delighted by its amenities and excited for our return again next year! Likewise, although our price was above the Half Price Recession price advertised, we still felt that the stay and ability to be close to the town and stores which added to the convenience was still fair for the price! NEver having to visit the long lines of restaurants and parking issues is a convenience.. now, Imagine having to host all of our club members in such a fashion in a hotel.. been there done that for the past 15 years.. this house is by far the best and a secret I wish I could keep to ourselves! Mahalo Brian and Melanie for such outstanding, quality accommodations that locals can truly appreciate :)
Owner response:Thanks, Hoku. Hawaii Volleyball Rocks! Looking forward to next year. Brian and Mel
Recommended for:Romantic getaway, sightseeing, adventure seekers, girls getaway, age 55+, families with young children, families with teenagers.
Great Place to Relax! We're coming back for two weeks in October!
Guest: DaFlyinHawaiian
(Portland)
Date of Stay: 06/02/11
Review Submitted: 06/10/11
In total contrast to the recent comments below, we had an OUTSTANDING time at this home. It's just as described and both owner and manager were very responsive. I smell sour grapes from others. And even at slightly more than the recession special price that we paid, it was a great deal. The pool was sparkling and spa just fine. Melanie said they had changed pool servicing companies so that there would be no more issues. The art and furnishings are all authentic and interesting. Some could be updated, but hey, this is a home not a hotel. Can't recommend highly enough.
Owner response:Thanks for your comments. We are always happy to have friendly guests with realistic expectations that understand what Hawaii is truly about. Thanks for planning your return in October. We will have that special "Poke" from Ocean Sushi Deli in the fridge for you! Aloha, Brian and Melanie
Recommended for:Romantic getaway, people with disabilities, sightseeing, adventure seekers, girls getaway, age 55+, families with young children, families with teenagers.
Wanted to rave about this place
Guest: Aly
(Honoulu, Hawaii)
Date of Stay: 03/09/11
Review Submitted: 06/02/11
This is a beautiful home and the view is spectacular. It is decorated nicely and felt very cozy and comfortable. We enjoyed whale watching from the back deck. Drinking our morning coffee while watching the sun rise and feeling the fresh ocean breeze was also wonderful. The outdoor shower is awesome! We had fun in the pool and hot tub (although the reviewer below is right about the pool being in questionable condition - it was very green). The ping pong/air hockey table is a miniature one for young children so we didn't use it. Overall, I was looking forward to writing a great review and cherishing fond memories of our stay. However, we had two negative experiences that really affected my feelings about this property. # 1: The advertised price lists the house as sleeping eight. When we booked our stay for five nights (two nights with five adults and a toddler; three nights with six adults and a toddler), we were told that for a party of our size the price would be 40% more than the advertised price. That left a bad taste in my mouth because it seemed like false advertising. The house is advertised as sleeping eight adults but a group of five or six is considered especially large? # 2: We paid a security deposit and were told by the owner that it would be refunded 30-45 days after we left. We left the house in the exact same condition that we found it. It has been 79 days and we are still waiting for the deposit to be returned. It is very difficult to get in touch with the owner. We've been told that he travels extensively overseas and rarely has internet access. Despite repeated attempts to contact him, we have not heard a word in about six weeks ago. At this point we're not sure if we're ever going to see our deposit. For these reasons, I would be very hesitant to recommend this property to a friend or relative.
Owner response:Aloha Cheryl: The check was mailed from the Diplomatic Post Office in Frankfurt as soon as I returned from Yemen. I apologize again for the delay. As for your comments, I am sorry you felt I misrepresented the cost of your stay. Our recession special is only at specific times and not always for a full house. It says that in the listing and of course I would have explained it further had you asked. I am hoping that you might be willing to revise your comments to VRBO, given that you did actually have a great stay at our home. I hope you can appreciate the challenges my family faces in trying to maintain our home in Hawaii while I serve to protect the interests of our country in difficult, if not dangerous, places. Thank you and Mahalo, Brian Crawford
Recommended for:
Lovely location, but a very "tired" property.
Guest: ccc
(manhattan beach)
Date of Stay: 05/08/11
Review Submitted: 05/16/11
We stayed at property #116922 for 6 days. General property maintenance seemed to be lacking. The "aging" pool and spa area is not particularly inviting and the murky pool water and the stench from the spa were appalling. After a call to Melanie (the local manager), the pool man did appear and throw chlorine into both pool and hot tub. The water clarity in both became better but the chlorine level was a bit toxic for the rest of our stay. When we left the murky pool water and spa stench were back. I don't know if the chipping green paint in the pool is an issue. Years of neglect in the pool area were evident, in fact, the slide collapsed with a young lady on it, exposing the compromised state of the slide equipment. Pictures on VRBO are a bit misleading. We used only two of four bedrooms and bedroom #4 is now purple, and had dolls in boxes on the dresser which my children described as "disturbing." The very inviting room in picture #2 is now furnished with a small old floral couch and two old wingback chairs with fabric pieces covering the frayed arms. This would have been an absolutely wonderful room to enjoy except for the fact that there was no comfortable place to relax. There is an outdoor shower, which is a great place for a warm shower, but there is no tub. Probably just an innocent error by the owner. As far as other amenities offered... because of the busy highway there is not really a spot to use the bikes unless you have the ability to transport them somewhere else. The availability of a pool table, hockey table, and ping pong table is a bit misleading. We purchased one of these "convertible" tables when our childen were 7, 5, and 3. The kitchen is fine, but needed a GOOD cleaning. The drawers, shelves, and cupboards show a lengthy period of neglect. I will never be remembered by ANYONE as a great housecleaner, but I have never been in a rental with a kitchen in this state. We rented the house to enjoy with the pool and spa as a great enticement. Unfortunately one of the neighbors asked that all outdoor activity cease at 6:00 p.m. The neighbor on the other side said we had been very respectful and everything had been quiet by 10:00p.m. I had to contact the Hilo Police Department regarding what I should do about the harassing neighbor and they were incredibly nice. I do not recommend this property for anyone wanting to use it for anything other than a nice base to explore the area.
Owner response:For the last nine months I have managed this property and numerous guests have come and gone, but in no way have we had such an experience as this: Our long time neighbors who have never complained about our vacationing guests contacted me at six a. m. on Friday 5/13 to say that this guest mistook our vacation rental as, “a frat house”. They stated that there was a wild party the night before with approximately 35 kids who were very loud. Although our neighbor walked over and asked them to please stop the “yelling, screaming, and cussing,” around 10 pm; there was still no change an hour later. So our neighbors decided to try again but were met with “nastiness from both a woman and kids”. As for the pool and Jacuzzi, the pool staff works diligently to maintain our facilities however they cannot control over use of the equipment, such is the case here. I am not clear at all in regard to the guests claim that there was a stench to the spa. The guests prior to their arrival and our housekeeper both confirmed that they did not have any problems with the state of the spa unit, bear in mind that it is our practice to flush the Jacuzzi after each guests’ departure. What I really don’t understand is how the guest’s communications with me did not include the so called “need for a good cleaning” in the kitchen, nor did she mention the, “disturbing dolls on display”, which are collector’s items, as they are authentic bisque porcelain dolls, or that the upkeep of room 4 having been painted purple was an issue. The slide did in fact collapse while these guests where on property, and it was due to their misuse which explains why they did not report the situation until they were checking out, which I found strange, especially since the guest and I had conversed several times in regard to our neighbors. Honoli’i is a community of cliff side homes, although there isn’t a biking path, my own children and those of other guests are and have been quite satisfied with biking in the area. Many of our guests and their children have spent lengthy amounts of time actively enjoying one another’s company while playing ping pong, pool, or hockey. I hope that those of you who are considering Honoli’i as your vacation destination will not allow one guests comments to diminish our reputation of providing a comfortable and relaxing environment for our guests. We look forward to hosting your stay with us. Mahalo, Melanie
Recommended for:Sightseeing.
A great find in Hilo
Guest: Dennis and family
(McLean, VA)
Date of Stay: 04/15/11
Review Submitted: 05/05/11
My wife and I come to Hilo regularly to visit my aged father and have in the past stayed at one of Hilo's better B&Bs. This time we brought our son, daughter-in-law, and, most critically, our 5-year-old grand daughter, so we needed something kid friendly with room to roam. The Crawford house fit the bill perfectly. It's worth mentioning that when we first arrived, we were a little hesitant. The view is spectacular, but the house very Hilo, which is shorthand for slightly worn around the edges. After a couple of hours of settling in we began to get a sense of the house's real character. By the end of our stay, we were looking for ways to extend and now cannot wait to return. The house is wonderfully comfortable and accommodating with views to kill for out of most windows, including the master bedroom. The kitchen is great, the pool just right for kids, and the jacuzzi hard to get out of once in. A couple of niggles just to keep this review balanced. The fourth bedroom is marginal (we did not use it). Small and a bit musty. There is some highway noise but mostly drowned out by the waves. Bottom line: we are already planning our return!
Owner response:Aloha Dennis! Thanks for your honest and thoughtful comments. It is indeed a Hilo house and anyone planning to stay with us should appreciate that fact. We're so glad that it met your needs so well and that you are planning to return. Mahalo, Brian
Recommended for:Romantic getaway, age 55+, families with young children, families with teenagers.
Lucky Find for a Family!!
Guest: Carleen
(Eau Claire, WI)
Date of Stay: 03/28/11
Review Submitted: 05/01/11
Hi Brian. Just wanted to send a note (finally) to say thank-you for the opportunity to rent your home. It was truly wonderful to be someplace so beautiful and relaxing and feel so at home! We also enjoyed the collection of beautiful items/art from around the world (I think we recognized some Delft's Blau pieces, Indonesian/Thai pieces and African?). I assume you and your family have lived in a number of very interesting and exotic places. Must also say what a HUGE hit the pool/slide and trampoline were. Thank-you again for making this experience possible and inspiring us to really want to come back some day. Aloha to you and your family and stay well.
Owner response:Aloha Carleen and thanks for taking time to post this. We love it when families share our special place in paradise! Come see us again. The Crawfords
Recommended for:Romantic getaway, sightseeing, adventure seekers, girls getaway, age 55+, families with young children, families with teenagers.
The Real Hawaii - Adventure, excitement and hospitality
Guest: Brad L.
(Boca Raton, FL)
Date of Stay: 06/05/10
Review Submitted: 06/28/10
We loved our trip seeing and doing things no tourist would do. Hiking up a river to multiple waterfalls, jumping off bridges, swing from a rope-swings into the ocean. I could go on, but you would have to experience it for yourself. And we this all with our 7 year old daughter and 6 year old son. Rent a Jeep as well - you will need it. The home is directly looking over Pacific with a perfect view and constant ocean breeze. The home is older but decorated nicely and would be appropriately considered a "beach house", but not luxurious. They have an outside shower, just outside the garage - which at first might seem odd. However, after your first shower with the only thing between you and the 2000 miles of pacific are 3 palm trees - you quickly appreciate how lucky you are. We had dinner with the owners and spent time with their family, not because we are long time friends (we just met on this trip), but because they were so nice and hospitable. The home is perfect for a family who wants to experience the island and is comfortable with a beach feel. Enjoy.
Owner response:Hey Guys! It's been over a year now and we are settled in Frankfurt where I have started a new career as a Diplomatic Courier for the Department of State. Any plans to come our way? Aloha, Brian and Family
Recommended for:Tourists without a car, sightseeing, pet owners, adventure seekers, families with young children, families with teenagers.
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Vacation Rentals by Owner Listing #116922
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