Vacation Rentals by Owner

Great Place to stay in Volcano!

Guest: Bethany Sterne (Phoenix, Arizona, USA)
Date of Stay: 04/22/12 Review Submitted: 05/07/12

We stayed for 3 nights in April 2012. My husband, myself and out 3 young boys. It was great to have some space to spread out in after being cooped up in a single hotel room for a few days. The kids LOVED the loft upstairs! I was a little nervous of the steep ladder, but they thought it was great! We used the kitchen and cooked/prepped all of our meals there. It was perfect! The fridge is on the smaller siz- like a large dorm fridge, but it held milk, soda, and 3 days worth of groceries without any problems. We enjoyed several of the activities that Tracy outlined including 1 1/2 days visiting Volcano National Park, Black Sand Beach, lava cave exploring, and Rainbow Falls. We had a great time and enjoyed the house! Thanks for sharing it with us!

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

Great home base for touring Volcano

Guest: fredfest (Orlando, FL)
Date of Stay: 04/19/12 Review Submitted: 04/28/12

This is a great house. It was clean, well decorated and in a perfect location. It is just a few miles from Volcano National Park and the little village of Volcano. There are a few nice places for breakfast nearby and the house kitchen is well equipped for cooking a nice dinner. It is best to stop for groceries in Hilo on your way into town, since there is not a great grocery store in Volcano. I took a jog around the neighborhood and the surrounding area is lovely.

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, families with young children, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Great hosts, so willing to help with every detail!

Guest: Amber & Blair (BC, Canada)
Date of Stay: 03/28/12 Review Submitted: 04/21/12

My husband and I and our two small children (ages 1 1/2 and 4 1/2) came to the Big Island in March for some relaxation. We decided to stay 2 nights on the Volcano side, and our host Tracy was amazing! She had the pack and play ready and set up for us upon our late-night arrival, and getting into the home (getting the keys, etc.) was easy as pie. She had detailed ideas in a binder for guests' use, and many other books and brochures for us to use. And the ipod speakers hookup was a huge bonus - our music played through the speakers was a real treat! The home is gorgeous, so open and light. Sitting on the front porch, having a cup of coffee (and playing ball with our boys) was so special and relaxing. And it didn't rain while we were there! Walking in the neighbourhood was peaceful the morning before my boys were up, and getting to and from Hilo was pretty easy. This is a superior location - bang for your buck! A beautiful, well-kept home in a true rainforest setting, with every amenity you could need (master bed was a bit squeaky, though :) and within a stones throw of the Volcanoes National park. Also, when we had a few questions about activities, Tracy answered our phone call immediately and was extremely helpful. Being able to get in touch with your host so easily is a huge bonus. Mahalo, Tracy and family!

Owner response:Aloha Blair and Amber, Thank you so much for your nice review. I'm so very glad you enjoyed yourselves. And thank you for the information about the things I have not seen in our area. I will be adding them to our info packet. There is a lot to see and do around this side of the island. I hope that you will want to come back and enjoy it again sometime. Mahalo! ~Tracy

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, romantic getaway.

Beautiful & Quaint House in Middle of Rainforest

Guest: surfermalia (Honolulu, Hawaii)
Date of Stay: 03/24/12 Review Submitted: 04/04/12

Our family enjoyed our stay at this home. The surrounding rainforest is beautiful, and the view is maximized by the large windows all over the house. Especially nice is the HUGE bathtub in the bathroom surrounded by views of rainforest. I would not recommend this accommodation for families with small children or older people, as the loft is very high up and connected with a ladder. I am not very afraid of heights but made sure that I carefully went up and down the ladder with my daughter to use the large and comfy bed in the loft. Being a local, I didn't realize just how cold and rainy it can get in Volcano! The space heaters helped a lot. It is very conveniently located near the Volcano village and National Park, which we enjoyed. And the food options in the area were delicious. The owner does provide extensive recommendations for attractions, food, and amenities of the area.

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, families with teenagers, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

simply beautiful

Guest: Tracy (Denver, CO)
Date of Stay: 02/07/12 Review Submitted: 02/11/12

This is a beautiful house, and the pictures represent it perfectly. The location is wonderful for exploring the volcano. The only detraction was the cold, but heaters were provided that we decided not to use, so I can't complain. I would definitely recommend it to someone looking for a place in the Volcano area. Our 6-year-old stayed in the loft and had no trouble with the ladder after he got over his initial trepidation. I guess I was a bit disappointed with the tub, which looks great, but there isn't enough hot water to fill it even half way. However, that wasn't the main selling point.

Owner response:Hi Tracy, Thanks for the feedback and encouraging comments. There is a trick to the tub and now that you mention it I will put it in the welcome email. The hot water heater heats up very fast and you can continue filling it again in about 15 minutes and you then have a hot full tub. Hope to have you as a guest again. Mahalo!

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children.

Wonderful stay

Guest: Dan&Laura (Victoria, BC)
Date of Stay: 01/12/12 Review Submitted: 01/18/12

Great secluded property. Everything was as described by the owner. Loved the exterior lighting at night. Recommend bringing a couple bottles of good wine! ;)

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, families with teenagers, families with young children, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Great Place, Great Location

Guest: TKPK (Washington DC)
Date of Stay: 01/02/12 Review Submitted: 01/22/12

This adorable little house is exactly as advertised. It is a lovely space inside and out. My husband, two sons and I stayed there for two nights in January, and enjoyed the proximity to Volcano Park and to the town of Volcano. The owner was easy to deal with before, during and after, and was very-prompt in returning our deposit. We just wish we could have stayed a few more days.

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

Volcano Village Retreat

Guest: Family (Portland, OR, USA)
Date of Stay: 12/28/11 Review Submitted: 01/15/12

Lovely house, very clean and well-equipped with lots of extras, and very convenient, with very well-written instructions and detailed tips for sight seeing. Kids loved sleeping in the large loft area.Owner very helpful and responsive. Perfect location for sight seeing Kilauea volcano area, also not far from Hilo, Black Sand beach and Green Sand beach.

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, people with disabilities, age 55+, families with teenagers, girls getaway, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Peaceful and Relaxing

Guest: Gary, Kim and Kellan (Eugene, OR)
Date of Stay: 10/21/11 Review Submitted: 11/11/11

From the moment we walked in the door, we felt at home. The setting is completely serene. At night, we enjoyed listening to the rain....so peaceful!! The location was really great...we spent a couple of days exploring the park, a day to explore Hilo and the NE coast and a fantastic day exploring the Puna district.....I can't believe this is the least visited area of the island....everyone should explore this area!!! We loved Volcano and the Lava Rock Cafe. And, the pumpkin bread at the general store is out of this world. Tracy, Thank You so much for sharing your beautiful home. Our 7 year old son loved the loft bedroom and the HUGE tub! It was hard to leave the peace and serenity of this beautiful place! We hope to return soon!

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

Wonderful Secluded Rainforest House

Guest: Nikki (Santa Cruz, CA)
Date of Stay: 01/28/11 Review Submitted: 02/16/11

Gated house set into the lush, dense rainforest offers a private retreat that no other hotel would be able to offer. The house is lovely, clean and features huge window views of the rainforest. My favorite is the furnished, covered deck where I spent each morning drinking my coffee, eating breakfast and listening to the birds talk. The yard is well landscaped with a banana tree in front, the bananas weren't ripe when I was there but they might be now. The shower was like nothing I'd ever seen before. It's an open concept shower that also offers views of the rainforest. We traveled with one other couple who occupied the loft. There was plenty of room for all of us. The stairs to the loft are rather steep, much like a ladder so those who have difficulty climbing ladder/stairs should be advised. Each day we made scenic day trips. We visited the Volcano National Park taking the hike through the steam and sulfur vents, drove to the crater and visited both Visitor Centers where we talked to the guides and walked through the Thurston Lava Tube. That night we attempted to go Lava Viewing on the coast but due to recent flows we could not get to the beach area where lava was entering the water but we waiting until nightfall to watch the hillside light up with lava pockets and a ranger brought lava on a stick to show the onlookers. They also offer hikes for $50 ea to the waters edge, but I would recommend a sunset cruise by boat. The next day we went snorkeling at Richardson beach where the visibility was wonderful and the aquatic life colorful. We also visited the Boiling Pots and the Falls, its a very short walk from the parking lot. There are some nice Banyon trees and pools of water near the river. Its an easy trip and very short hike. We ate at the Lava Rock Cafe and Thai restaurant which are just 5 min down the road. Because we arrived at night the general stores were not open. I would suggest purchasing groceries before arriving at the house as groceries at the general store were very expensive. Shop at Walmart before going to the house. I definitely recommend this house over any hotel, its a much better value and experience. I will definitely be back. Thanks!!

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, families with teenagers, girls getaway, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Peaceful retreat in a great location

Guest: Kim and family (London, Ontario)
Date of Stay: 12/19/10 Review Submitted: 12/31/10

After the buzz of Waikiki, we were looking for a peaceful retreat close to Hawaii Volcano National Park. This was the perfect location! The park is just minutes away which allows you to take in different aspects of the park any time of the night or day. Volcano is a very quaint town with a small store and some excellent retaurants. And the coast is not far away. The retreat is well equipped with everything you'll need for a comfortable stay.

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, families with teenagers, girls getaway, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Wonderful getaway

Guest: Jim and Susan (Covington KY)
Date of Stay: 07/28/10 Review Submitted: 08/04/10

We were so pleased with the house. There was one other couple with my wife and I and the space worked out very well. It's a great base from which to explore Hawaii Volcanoes Nat. Park. We had spent one week on Oahu, so this location was an ideal contrast - pleasantly cool, frequent light rain (you're in a rain forest after all) and very quiet nights. The house is clean and very well maintained. It's both cozy and comfortable. The town of Volcano is a neat little burg just a few minutes away. We would certainly recommend this place to anyone else visiting the Big Island.

Recommended for:Age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Near the Belly of the Smouldering Beast

Guest: NM Digger (Pinos Altos, NM, USA)
Date of Stay: 03/05/10 Review Submitted: 03/25/10

Many Big Island visitors stay in Kona and take the long drive to squeeze in a quick Kilauea visit. With so much to see on the south and east sides of the island, it made more sense to us to split the venues - ten days in Kona and four in Volcano. We were very satisfied with the Kilauea Rainforest Retreat during our visit to the Volcano area and would recommend it. The immaculate house itself is as stunning as the photos indicate on the website. The house site is carved out of a Tarzan-like jungle which provided quite a tropical ambiance for our visit. The facilities within are top-notch and complete, with everything you could ask for in a place to stay. The house location, thanks to the owner's directions, is easy to find and a convenient base from which to explore and enjoy the "other" side of the island. We were guests for three full days - two used to explore Volcanos National Park and one to tour the Puna peninsula. Our late night flight home on check-out day allowed us plenty of time to see Hilo and the entire north coast on the way back to the Kona airport. Be advised: bring proper clothing to allow for cooler temperatures at the higher elevations in Volcano. We experienced mid-50's, and with rain you will probably be uncomfortable in shorts and sandals. We brought jeans, long-sleeved shirts, a windbreaker and real shoes - and were glad we did. All-in-all: two thumbs up.

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

Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 02/13/10 Review Submitted: 02/13/10

We loved staying at your comfy home. The soft robes were wonderful! It was very quiet and peaceful. Loved the exterior lights at night - beautiful. Thank you for the suggestions of things to do. You're right - there's a LOT to do on that side of the island. Next time I'll spend even more time & would definitely love to stay at your home again. Thank you Tracy!

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Great Family Location

Guest: Amy
Date of Stay: 12/02/09 Review Submitted: 01/30/10

The Kilauea Rainforest Retreat is a beautiful, cozy home in a perfect location. Our family of 4 had everything we needed, and it was great to be so close to the national park. We would definitely stay there again (and wish we were there right now!)..thanks to Tracy for helping everything go so smoothly.

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Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 12/02/09 Review Submitted: 12/02/09

The Kilauea Rainforest Retreat is a beautiful, cozy home in a perfect location. Our family of 4 had everything we needed, and it was great to be so close to the national park. We would definitely stay there again (and wish we were there right now!)..thanks to Tracy for helping everything go so smoothly.

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Children love this place

Guest: Faith
Date of Stay: 07/26/09 Review Submitted: 01/30/10

We had a fabulous time! Our children are old enough to appreciate things in a different way now and will remember this trip vividly. The volcano was most agreeable and gave us a wonderful show of the power of the earth this visit! Your place was a quiet refuge with everything we could have wanted. Thank you Tracy!

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Guest: Faith, Jesse Christine and Caelin
Date of Stay: 07/26/09 Review Submitted: 07/25/09

We had a fabulous time! Our children are old enough to appreciate things in a different way now and will remember this trip vividly. The volcano was most agreeable and gave us a wonderful show of the power of the earth this visit! Your place was a quiet refuge with everything we could have wanted. Thank you Tracy!

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Romantic Paradise

Guest: Diane
Date of Stay: 05/08/09 Review Submitted: 01/30/10

The Big Island is just full of adventures, and we have enjoyed so many of them, along with staying in this beautiful secluded house. Some highlights for our family were: * Lava viewing by moonlight at Kalapana * Star gazing on Mauna Kea above the clouds * Lights out in the Thurston Lava Tube * Tidal Pool swimming at Kapoho * The Kilauea Iki trail across the crater * Thermal pool swimming at Ahalamii and we could go on and on. Our dream will be to return some day to explore more of paradise. Mahalo Tracy!

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Guest: Diane, Blair, Alex, Ian and Mia
Date of Stay: 05/08/09 Review Submitted: 05/07/09

The Big Island is just full of adventures, and we have enjoyed so many of them, along with staying in this beautiful secluded house. Some highlights for our family were: * Lava viewing by moonlight at Kalapana * Star gazing on Mauna Kea above the clouds * Lights out in the Thurston Lava Tube * Tidal Pool swimming at Kapoho * The Kilauea Iki trail across the crater * Thermal pool swimming at Ahalamii and we could go on and on. Our dream will be to return some day to explore more of paradise. Mahalo Tracy!

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Solitude....

Guest: Bill & Ginger
Date of Stay: 05/01/09 Review Submitted: 01/30/10

# * As we sit on the lanai, enjoying our last cup of coffee, and the precious morning sunlight before packing the last few things to leave, we are grateful for having spent three peaceful and restful days in this rainforest sanctuary. The solitude here has been just what we needed, after a six week period of difficulty and grief following our daughter's sudden passing. The accommodations are outstanding, the location is wonderful, and the quiet has allowed us to sleep restfully every night. A few Pina Colada's in the blender, outings to the park and Hilo, cozy evenings under a fleecy throw with T.V. or a good book-just what we needed! We had hoped for the weather to be a bit better, but no matter, we head for warmer climes now. Thank you for three days of peace, rest, comfort and quiet. It has been nourishing.

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Guest: Bill and Ginger
Date of Stay: 05/01/09 Review Submitted: 04/30/09

As we sit on the lanai, enjoying our last cup of coffee, and the precious morning sunlight before packing the last few things to leave, we are grateful for having spent three peaceful and restful days in this rainforest sanctuary. The solitude here has been just what we needed, after a six week period of difficulty and grief following our daughter's sudden passing. The accommodations are outstanding, the location is wonderful, and the quiet has allowed us to sleep restfully every night. A few Pina Colada's in the blender, outings to the park and Hilo, cozy evenings under a fleecy throw with T.V. or a good book-just what we needed! We had hoped for the weather to be a bit better, but no matter, we head for warmer climes now. Thank you for three days of peace, rest, comfort and quiet. It has been nourishing.

Recommended for:

A Few Days Near Heaven

Guest: Bill and Ginger (Grand Junction, Colorado)
Date of Stay: 04/20/09 Review Submitted: 05/24/09

As we sit on the lanai, enjoying our last cup of coffee, and the precious morning sunlight before packing the last few things to leave, we are grateful for having spent three peaceful and restful days in this rainforest sanctuary. The solitude here has been just what we needed, after a six week period of difficulty and grief following our daughter's sudden passing. The accommodations are outstanding, the location is wonderful, and the quiet has allowed us to sleep restfully every night. A few Pina Colada's in the blender, outings to the park and Hilo, cozy evenings under a fleecy throw with T.V. or a good book-just what we needed! We had hoped for the weather to be a bit better, but no matter, we head for warmer climes now. Thank you for three days of peace, rest, comfort and quiet. It has been nourishing.

Recommended for:Families with teenagers, families with young children, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Magical

Guest: Lanell & Allen
Date of Stay: 03/24/09 Review Submitted: 01/30/10

Mahalo nui for sharing such a magnificent and inviting piece of your paradise with us! We found ourselves immediately comfortable and relaxed by all the amenities and the wonderful set up provided for us. We were able to completely soak in the entrancing beauty of the scenery so perfectly framed in the picture like windows throughout the house. Our stay here has been that of a fantasyland like vacation with explorations not only of our inner peace, but of the breathtaking views and the waters of South Point, the green sands, the fabulous tide pools of Kapoho. (Thanks for the map!) And the mesmerizing encounter between Pele and her water loving sister watching from Kalapana. Needless to say, our stay here has been perfect and we send a big mahalo to you both!

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Guest: Allen and Lanell
Date of Stay: 03/24/09 Review Submitted: 03/23/09

Mahalo nui for sharing such a magnificent and inviting piece of your paradise with us! We found ourselves immediately comfortable and relaxed by all the amenities and the wonderful set up provided for us. We were able to completely soak in the entrancing beauty of the scenery so perfectly framed in the picture like windows throughout the house. Our stay here has been that of a fantasyland like vacation with explorations not only of our inner peace, but of the breathtaking views and the waters of South Point, the green sands, the fabulous tide pools of Kapoho. (Thanks for the map!) And the mesmerizing encounter between Pele and her water loving sister watching from Kalapana. Needless to say, our stay here has been perfect and we send a big mahalo to you both!

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Mahalo for sharing a Kileaua Rainforest Paradise!

Guest: Allen & Lanell (Colorado)
Date of Stay: 02/20/09 Review Submitted: 05/25/09

Mahalo nui for sharing your magnificent and inviting paradise with us! We found immediate comfort and relaxation when we arrived at the Kileaua Rainforest Retreat. The amenities and beautifully designed layout of the house were great and allowed us to completely soak in the entrancing scenery through the large picture-like windows throughout the entire house. The location is great, located just outside of Volcano & yet it is surrounded by rainforest :-D Our stay was full of adventures & explorations to the breathtaking views of South Point and the Green Sands, to the fabulous tide pools of Kapoho. (Thanks for the map & recommendation Tracy it was incredible snorkling) and the mesmerizing dance as we watched lava flows enter the the ocean at night. Needless to say our stay here has been perfect and we send a big mahalo to you both. Thank you so much Tracy & Annie!!! ~ Allen & Lanell

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, families with young children, tourists without a car, romantic getaway, sightseeing.