Vacation Rentals by Owner

Unique and Unforgettable

Guest: Peggy (Victoria, BC, Canada)
Date of Stay: 03/14/12 Review Submitted: 04/17/12

We have traveled all over the world, and this is one of the most unique places we have ever stayed. Yes, it's lovely, clean, quiet, well-equipped, beautifully located - everything you would want in vacation accommodations - but what makes it truly unique is the home itself. The bathtub seems to float above the floor (a trick with mirrors). LED lights are strung in eucalyptus branches hung on the ceiling. There are no square corners anywhere. Everything's run on alternate energy. The garden is replete with fruit trees. It's a delight for the curious and creative. It's a rare thing to see someone's dream manifest, but that is exactly what this place is about. The dream belongs to Bill and Darlene who are wonderful hosts. They offered great information about nearby places to visit, where to buy our groceries, and alternate & interesting ways of getting to our destinations on old, little-used roads and paths. We had a delightful evening with them when they pulled out their telescope on a very clear night and we spent some time star-gazing. The moons of Jupiter were clear! My 11-yr-old son was taken with Bill and all his inventions which Bill patiently showed and explained. This is a place for intrepid travelers who are seeking to get off the beaten path and experience Hawaii in a way that goes well beyond the resort life.

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

Delightfully enchanting vacation retreat

Guest: Amanda & Roger (Conyers, GA)
Date of Stay: 04/23/11 Review Submitted: 12/09/11

If you love getting away from the crowds and prefer to relax in a tranquil atmosphere then the Hobbit House is just the place you seek. Everything was perfect for us and we stayed there 9 days. The house is beautifully designed and perched high on a hill overlooking South Point. We awoke every morning to the music of bird song. Since it is away from the road there was never a roar of traffic or any intrusion of people. Bill and Darlene were amazing hosts and even helped supply us with necessary items such as a flashlight so we could walk in a lava tube in the nearby Volcano National Park. They also provided valuable information about the local attractions. The Hobbit House is specially designed to function off the grid and we loved learning about the eco-friendly technology. This was one of the best vacations we have ever experienced.

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

Micki Dylan and Kaelyn 12/10

Guest: Micki (Arcata CA)
Date of Stay: 12/18/10 Review Submitted: 03/29/11

We completely enjoyed our stay at the "Hobbit House". The views are incredible, the grounds beautiful and the house comfortable and creative. The windows are unique and inspiring. The bathroom is large and the bath tub extremely inviting. The owners go out of their way to make you feel at home. They are gracious and generous hosts. Our 3 year old daughter was welcomed and loved the Mac nuts. Great place!!!!!

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

Art + craft=class act

Guest: Les (Willow, Alaska)
Date of Stay: 11/30/10 Review Submitted: 02/16/11

If you prefer a cookie-cutter experience, the Hobbit House is not for you. However, if you'd like to stay in a place that's full of character and rich in detail, then step right into this storybook home. The location is perfect for exploring the magnificent Ka`u coastline, which is my favorite part of Hawaii. Also, Hawaii Volcanoes National Park and the Puna coast are within easy reach. Interested in alternative energy? Hobbit House is one of the greenest homes on the island, as all power is derived from solar and wind. A toast to the hosts, Bill and Darlene, for allowing us to enjoy their piece of old Hawaii. A hui hou.

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Cool place, great hosts.

Guest: john1438756 (New York)
Date of Stay: 10/07/10 Review Submitted: 09/09/11

We stayed with there for a few days on our honeymoon. We both enjoyed it very much and liked the owners a lot. If you like to read by the window, the place has the best window ceiling for that I ever saw (you can sleep there if you want). They are off-the-grid and generate their own ectricity through solar and wind. They owner can tell you all about that :)

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, tourists without a car, sightseeing.

Serene hideaway within easy distance to South Coast sights

Guest: Meredith (Washington, D.C.)
Date of Stay: 08/03/10 Review Submitted: 06/01/11

My husband and I have stayed in many vacation rentals, and the Hobbit House is one of our all-time favorite destinations. We had the pleasure of staying with Darlene & Bill in August 2010, and still dream about our vacation there and hope to return on our next trip to Hawaii. We cooked many wonderful meals and found the kitchen to have everything we needed. The window seat in the living room was the perfect spot to curl up with a book and watch the clouds roll by. The beautiful bathroom is a bath-lover's dream -- a huge spa tub, surrounded by windows. The deck is great place to greet the morning with a cup of coffee and view of the coastline in the distance. Our guidebook had mentioned that the South Coast is windy, which is only really true at the "South Point" look-out -- not an issue at all at the Hobbit House, nor on the nearby beaches we explored, which were all enchanted and unique. (One was teeming with huge turtles; another was filled with green sand; yet another was close to an ancient Hawaiian sacred spot -- this is the real "hidden Hawaii"!) The rental is within easy driving distance to Volcanoes Park, as well as a beautiful monastery...not to mention a great bakery. You have the best of both worlds -- access to all the enchanted South Coast sights, but a feeling of true seclusion and being "away from it all." Ask Bill if you can sample some of his macadamia nuts...the best we have EVER tasted. Bill and Darlene were the most gracious hosts we have ever encountered in our "vrbo" travels. Not only are they warm and welcoming, (while also considerate of guests' privacy), they are happy to share their considerable knowledge of the area and the best places to explore. Highly recommended!

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Guest: Collette & Rob
Date of Stay: 03/20/10 Review Submitted: 03/19/10

The Hobbit House is true to it's name! Perched way up in the starry skies of Waiohinu Springs on the South Side of the Big Island you have more privacy than you could ever imagine. You are the ONLY guests of Bill and Darlene - your energetic, innovative and highly creative hosts... ask them about their Mac Nut Sorting invention, the windmills at South Point, the 1st generation thru current solar panels that fully power the Hobbit House, ANYTHING and you will get an enthusiastic tale! If you want a few days or a week of complete solitude, this is it. Perfect for a writing retreat or simply a quiet place to rest after a day 4 wheeling and exploring the southern tip of the island - rugged landscape, sky for days, jagged cliffs.... you name it. Go. Enjoy.

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Hobbit House, sans Hobbits!

Guest: Tatyana & Vladimir (San Francisco, CA)
Date of Stay: 03/18/10 Review Submitted: 03/26/10

'Hobbit House' has earned its name by being exactly a Hobbit House. You are on the set of Lord of the Rings in the Hobbit village, sans Hobbits. Whimsy is in every detail of the house - windows, roof, doors, interior... Hosts are a very interesting couple, who built this house from scratch with a lot of imagination and hard sweaty labor for us to enjoy! The house is situated in the middle of everything, with a drive as little as 20 minutes to the nearest Black Sand Beach park with honu (sea turtles) and as much as 3.5 hours to the top of Mauna Kea. A 4-wheel drive is recommended to climb a steep hill on which the house is situated and a beautiful ocean view with a private living room, bedroom, kitchen, bathroom and patio is yours. We loved every second of our stay in this place and would recommend it to all our friends who plan on staying in Ka'u Distict!

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Guest: Carol Miles (Vancouver, BC Canada)
Date of Stay: 03/16/10 Review Submitted: 03/16/10

Magic. That's the best way to describe the Hobbit House. The view from the windows is magnificent and the suite is a delight. I should mention the bathtub is second to none - completely irresistible! Darlene and Bill have made a little piece of heaven come true! They are an inspiration for showing us what living "off the grid" can be, and it's pretty darned nice. We would recommend a 4X4 to get up the impressive hill. Once you are there, Hobbit House and the view will take your breath away. Thanks for the great hospitality and company D&B. We look forward to seeing you again. Eh?

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Hawaiian Hobbit House

Guest: Rusty & John (Moab, Utah)
Date of Stay: 03/11/10 Review Submitted: 04/10/10

We had a great time staying in Hobbit House for our last week on the Big Island. The house is wonderful, fine craftsmanship and spacious rooms. The Whaling’s are exceptional hosts. The view is expansive, ocean and rolling hills. The location is within an hour’s drive of lots of great places – that is if you don’t want to kick back and have a relaxing day enjoying your surroundings, picking fruit and learning about Mac nuts and off grid living. The short road up to the Hobbit House is mostly paved. It is steep and has some rough spots, but 4-wheel drive is not necessary or even appropriate. We went in and out every day, sometimes twice, for a week, in a PT Cruiser, an underpowered, low clearance, economy rental, and had no problem at all. Don’t spend the extra money on a 4x4 unless you want to drive to Green Sand Beach and really do some 4 wheeling. The house is off grid and some things take a little getting used to, like no microwave (no really) or toaster and a fridge that runs on propane or wind power. We do a lot of cooking but soon got used to not having the appliances we’re used to. Brownies, steak, stir fry and Pizza turn out fine! We were very comfortable, the solar hot water with a propane on-demand water heater worked well, as did the DC lights and stereo. There were AC plugs for charging batteries and running some of the lamps. It makes you aware of where your power comes from, but doesn’t cause any inconvenience. We usually like a house out from town and totally removed from neighbors. Although the Bill and Darlene live upstairs - not directly above you - the downstairs is quiet and private. They are a source of local information, good ideas and do whatever they can to make your stay a treat. We heartily recommend the Hobbit House. Say Aloha to Bill and Darlene for us when you see them.

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Guest: John & Sara Wagner (Door County, WI)
Date of Stay: 02/11/10 Review Submitted: 02/11/10

We just got home from our trip and of the 5 places we stayed over 2 weeks, Hobbit House was far and away the best for many reasons. Location – up on the hill overlooking the southern tip of the country, ocean, fruit trees, birds, geckos, flowers and more. Hosts – Bill & Darlene were so accommodating and such a pleasure to meet. Accommodation – our space was great, very clean, nice kitchen and wonderful living room with spectacular views. We felt very comfortable and completely “at home”. Privacy - away from the crowds, just peace, quiet and nature! This is a great base from which to explore the southern beaches and Volcano Nat’l Park. Excellent hiking and snorkeling just a short drive away. We HIGHLY recommend Hobbit House!!

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Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 08/07/09 Review Submitted: 08/07/09

This is a wonderful place to stay. Bill and Darlene are great hosts, the house is spectacular and the views are incredible. The location away from the tourist crowds, as well as the comfortable and quiet space (no TV) make it a relaxing stay. A piece of advice for your trip: I would highly recommend renting a 4WD, not only for the house, but for the rest of the island- you don't need it, but it opens up more possibilities. If you're into sustainable living or eco-tourism in a comfortable setting, you've got to check out the Hobbit House.

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