Lovely Eco-Friendly Cottage, Gardens, Waterfalls, & Ocean View

• Sweet cottage, lovely host

  Sweet cottage, lovely host

  • Guest Kate W.
  • Date of stay 02/27/13
  • Review Submitted 03/15/13
  Mary's warm welcome (complete with papaya and avocado) is a big part of what makes this cottage such a good find. It's easy to get into conservation mode re water and electricity use and to slow down and enjoy the peaceful surroundings. The cottage is thoughtfully appointed and comes complete with beach gear: chairs and towels, which is a nice extra. Mary offers conversation if you want it but doesn't intrude--a rare talent! I love all the animals on the place. It's an easy drive to nearby Hilo, and there's plenty of hiking and/or beach access within an hour's drive.

  Recommended for: Adventure seekers, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 0/0

• Wonderful Place to Stay!!!

  Wonderful Place to Stay!!!

  • Guest Carrie
  • Date of stay 01/22/13
  • Review Submitted 02/07/13
  My husband and I stayed at this wonderful cottage for two nights. It was such a peaceful experience. It was so nice to do something a little different and this off the grid cottage really fit the bill. I was 6 months pregnant during our stay at the cottage and it was very relaxing and accommodating. You really start to fall into a routine of wanting to conserve power and water and connect with your surroundings. Rain water is used as the main water source for the cabin but drinking water is available in the kitchen. The cottage is in a great location and we could quickly drive into Hilo. Also the botanical gardens, a must see and where I saw my first whale off the coast, is close by as well. Mary is a wonderful hostess and met us at the gate upon our arrival. She gave us a tour of the property introducing us to all the animals and gave us great descriptions of the various plants on the property. After our initial introduction we had a lot of privacy and the whole experience was very peaceful. We would definitely stay here again.

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

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 0/0

• Hidden Gem

  Hidden Gem

  • Guest roadtrippers08
  • Date of stay 10/31/12
  • Review Submitted 11/17/12
  My boyfriend and I stayed here for three nights recently over my birthday. This hidden gem was such a treat. You should know up front that this is not your average vacation getaway destination. The property is run off of solar energy and recycled rainwater, so conscientious energy conservation is key. That said, if you want to experience a truly unique way of life on a beautiful property this is the place. The owner, Mary, is very kind and has great stories to share. She happily greeted us with her two yellow labs. She kindly gave us a tour of the property, highlighting the countless delicious fruits and coffee trees she has growing. YUM! The guest cottage has everything you would need for a perfect romantic evening or excursion to the beach. The frogs are loud at night but we both found them soothing and slept wonderfully. Location wise, the home is easily accessible to both Hilo and the Northern parts of the island. We will absolutely be back to see our new friend and to revisit this peaceful sanctuary.

  Recommended for: Romantic getaway.

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 1/1

• A gorgeous, cozy, heavenly bit of REAL Hawaii

  A gorgeous, cozy, heavenly bit of REAL Hawaii

  • Guest MariaG
  • Date of stay 07/12/12
  • Review Submitted 07/16/12
  Get off the beaten tourist track, and stay in your very own lovely cottage on a few lush, Hawaiian acres. This place is a one-of-a-kind beauty, and the owner, Mary, who lives in the house next-door, embraces the aloha spirit, and will do everything to make you feel right at home. My 15-year-old daughter and I visited from San Francisco, and were instantly mesmerized by the stunning, friendly, relaxing nature of this retreat. Mary greeted us on the main road the night of our arrival, and helped us navigate the narrow, sometimes gravel road that ascends to this estate. In our enchanting cottage she'd provided us with a little package of local coffee, and a few ripe Hawaiian goodies from her garden. The next morning, after a very restful sleep, she introduced us to her dogs and her adorable sheep (OMG the little kids are so cute!), who share their killer-ocean-view pasture with her cow. She also took us to see her rabbits and chickens, and bountiful gardens filled with papaya, coffee, star fruit, passionfruit/lilikoi, and the occasional pineapple. (Heaven!) The property is totally off the grid, and run on solar, with collected rainwater for showering and dishes. Mary asks for energy conservation when possible, so we immediately fell into the rhythm of nature, going to sleep much earlier than we'd ever dream of, and waking up around sunrise, which is magnificent here. We stayed up one moonless night to see the stunningly clear night sky, emblazoned with a planetarium-bright Milky Way. My daughter had never seen the Milky Way before, despite our attempts to see it on camping trips in Calif, and was blown away. The outdoor shower is to die for. The main bed is super comfy. (Note: If you're a light sleeper, you might consider bringing earplugs, because the island is full of tiny frogs who love to "sing" at night.) And it's vastly peaceful and relaxing. The value you get here is fantastic. More than all this, you'll get the real Hawaii here, not some Disneyland version, or some austere vacation rental with no personality. We will be back!!

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

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 5/5

• Affordable paradise north of Hilo

  Affordable paradise north of Hilo

  • Guest Rich Sommers
  • Date of stay 06/25/12
  • Review Submitted 07/15/12
  My partner and I stayed here for the first part of our 2 week trip to the Big Island. We wanted a place that was close enough to Hilo for groceries and supplies, but in a location that would offer off-the beaten-path tranquility in a remote location. Mary's cottage provided the perfect backdrop for the peace and quiet we were looking for and then some! Mary greeted us upon arrival with a sampling of her home grown coffee, a papaya and passion fruit from her bountiful garden, armed her knowledge of "all things Hawaii" for our holiday. Her instructions from the airport were spot on and easy to follow. A tour of the property (and later the grounds of the estate), were perfect for transitioning into vacation mode; reminiscent of a stay at a relative's with her personable demeanor and friendly manner. The cabin itself was comfortable and the kitchen stocked with all things needed to cook great meals We loved the outdoor shower and gorgeous view from the front porch especially. I'd highly recommend a stay at Mary's to anyone looking for an off-the-grid retreat. The memories from our stay will last a life time although another visit would be just all right by me!

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

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 1/1

• Beautiful retreat

  Beautiful retreat

  • Guest Mahesh
  • Date of stay 04/27/12
  • Review Submitted 05/14/12
  I stayed in this beautiful cottage with my 3 year old and my expecting wife. This place was very unique from any other place I've stayed before (typically hotels and condo's) We all enjoyed the stay very much. This house is powered by solar panels, uses rainwater harvesting and users propane for stove and hot water. After staying here, I started realizing how much we take things for granted. It was a true eye opener. I'm happy that I took a gamble and kept it as a surprise for my wife. It turned out that my wife enjoyed this place very much. Location wise, this is a great place to stay if you're vising Volcano National Park, Beaches around south-east rim, Botanical Garden, Vegetable Market, Akaka Falls, Rainbow Falls, etc. Mary (Owner), was very courteous and was extremely helpful. I called her multiple times after check-out for suggestions on which route to take and which places to visit and she was very helpful and has great knowledge about the local area. My 3 year old one enjoyed feeding the goats and had a blast swinging in the mango tree. She still talks about Mary often. Thank you Mary. Come on, its your vacation... Do something exciting and different. I would definitely recommend staying here. Good luck, Magesh

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

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 3/3

• Perfect Hamakua Coastal Location

  Perfect Hamakua Coastal Location

  • Guest Greg S.
  • Date of stay 03/29/12
  • Review Submitted 04/15/12
  A short drive north of Hilo, close to Akaka Falls and Waipi'o Valley. Quiet, secluded, lovely garden cottage surrounded by bamboo plants, avocado tree, banana and guava trees, flowers, tropical birds, in the middle of a reclaimed sugar cane plantation overlooking the Pacific. A few coffee plants grow on this estate and we sampled the coffee. The grass is mown by a tiny flock of sheep. The kitchen has everything to cook meals. As the climate is temperate throughout the year, the shower is in an outdoor enclosure. After shopping at Hilo Farmers Market and a day of hiking Waipi'o Valley, we returned to our cottage and fed the sheep, patted Mary's dogs, smelled the flowers, cooked our meals. Electricity comes from solar panels, water from collected rain. We connected to the Internet whenever. This is an idyllic vacation cottage, exceeded our expectations.

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

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 3/3

• Somewhere at the end of the world !

  Somewhere at the end of the world !

  • Guest Nicole I.
  • Date of stay 10/28/11
  • Review Submitted 12/06/11
  Laupahoehoe vacation cottage rental is a really nice and special place. Green, calm, original, clean, practical and convenient. Pictures correspond to the reality, driving instructions are precise and the owner is very nice. You feel like at the end of the world! Just know, that the street to the cottage is (was?) not in a very good shape - specially after the rain. But its worth to drive it - without any doubt! We'd come more often if it wasn't so far away from home...

  Owner response: Thank you for the lovely review. We now have a beautiful cement road leading to the cottage, and access is so much easier.

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 4/4

• Paradise

  Paradise

  • Guest Howardw
  • Date of stay 11/04/11
  • Review Submitted 11/30/11
  We had the pleasure of spending six nights in Mary's wonderful, off-the-grid cottage. We have traveled extensively, but we have never stayed anywhere quite so calming and peaceful. Drinking a cup of Mary's homegrown coffee while watching the sun come up over the ocean is a memory I will always treasure. The cottage has everything you need for an enjoyable stay and was just the right size for the two of us. We found the location to be very convenient, with driving times to Mauna Kea, Volcanoes National Park and Waimea quite reasonable. Mary was a perfect host and we are certain to return.

  Recommended for: Adventure seekers, age 55+, pet owners, romantic getaway, girls getaway.

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 2/2

• Peaceful, beautiful cottage

  Peaceful, beautiful cottage

  • Guest Diana and Ken
  • Date of stay 07/17/11
  • Review Submitted 07/23/11
  Lovely cottage on a very well kept farm. The grounds were spectacular with coffee plants, fruit trees, bamboo, sheep, chickens and a cow. Very private and quiet. I love the eco friendly natural feel of the place. We kept the doors open (screens closed) all night to hear the beautiful natural music of nature. The cool breeze floated over the bed and kept us cool and we slept well. Mary is very delightful and a wonderful host.

  Recommended for: Age 55+, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 2/2

Additional information about rental rates

Paypal.com or personal check.

Refundable booking fee due upon reservation request. Half of total rental fee due 60 prior to arrival. Half due 30 days prior to arrival.

Additional Fees and Taxes:

Hawaii has two taxes: excise (4.166) and accommodation tax (9.25).

$50 Cleaning fee.

$100 refundable booking/security deposit.