Two weeks of Paradise

Guest: Lyn (Broomfield, CO)
Date of Stay: 01/11/12 Review Submitted: 01/28/12

Thank you for letting us stay in your beautiful home. We enjoyed every second of Hawaii. Each day was more beautiful and exciting than the day before. My heart is still in Hawaii. We have travelled to Costa Rica, all over Mexico and the Yucatan, Panama, Italy, etc., in search for a place we would enjoy retiring in and Hawaii is definitely the place. I think we visited nearly everyone of your favorite spots. Thank you so much for the advice. We also loved Ning's Thai restaurant in Pahoa. Each lunch special turned into two meals as there was enough for dinner as well. We saw a large sea turtle while snorkeling in champagne pond. We saw a yellow eel as well. The only minor nitpics with the house is that the top left drawer in the master bedrooms chest of drawers was stuck We never could open it. Thanks again for letting us stay in your beautiful home and for the advice you sent to us of things to see and do.

Owner response:I am so glad that you had such a relaxing and fulfilling vacation in Kapoho and that our house contributed to your experience. Thank you for letting me know about the bedroom drawer. I will get that fixed and have plans for a new bedroom set in May.

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

Tropical Paradise

Guest: Lindsay and Nancy (Grassy Lake, Alberta, Canada)
Date of Stay: 02/22/11 Review Submitted: 03/03/11

We stayed on the island for 10 days. 5 days in Kona and 5 days in Kapoho. Kona was more touristy and Kapoho was more relaxing but full of adventure as well. Our stay at the house was fantastic ! We had the best sleep ever, with all the bird and frog sounds at night. The nights were pitch black with no street lights to shine in our room. The beds were comfy and the house was big and clean. It had the atmosphere of a log cabin in the mountains. Groceries, gas , fast food , and shops were only 20 minutes away. We barbequed steak on our last night. Here's some things we did in 5 days in the area. Learned all about volcanoes-- poked a stick in flowing lava at night with flashlights-- drove the red mile-- snorkeled the tidepools-- soaked in the hot ponds-- watched surfers-- went to a semi nude beach at Kehena-- drove to the green sand beach at southpoint(awesome)--flew in a doorless helicopter over the volcano and waterfalls--enjoyed tropical gardens near Hilo-- bought stuff at the farmers market-- snorkeled near Hilo-- visited the mauna loa mac nut facility-- saw akaka and rainbow falls-- hiked through the jungle and across a stream to the highest waterfall on the island(awesome), boogie boarded on huge waves at the longest black sand beach ever(Waipio valley)-- drove the scenic 7 miles north of Hilo(old hiway) One thing you should do is rent a jeep. Take the top off and enjoy the sun and smells. They hold more luggage than you think. The 4wd is a must for the green sands at southpoint and Waipio valley. We were with another couple and was definitely a trip to remember !!

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

A Peaceful Place for Contemplation

Guest: L J (Oakland, CA)
Date of Stay: 08/22/10 Review Submitted: 11/26/10

I spent 10 wonderful days at the end of August 2010 at Hibiscus House. I am a writer and author and needed a quiet and beautiful place to make progress on book number three. I also needed a place where when I am in need of a break from my work, I didn't have to travel a long ways to swim, snorkel, and just lay in the sun. Hibiscus House was perfect for that. I was in the warm tidal pond in front of the house two or three times a day watching the fish swim around me. Taking a stroll down to the Kapoho tide pools just three minutes from the house was a real treat. I've snorkeled in many areas in the Kona side and on the island of Kauai. Snorkeling in and around the lava beds in the calm waters of Kapoho tide pools is one of the best experiences. In the ten days I was there, it rained maybe two days for short periods. Kapoho juts out into the ocean and sun shines there when it is raining elsewhere on the Hilo side. Hibiscus House is in a quiet subdivision and I had uninterrupted time to write. I woke up each morning looking out onto the lanai and greenery and brilliant flowers. The kitchen is more than fully stocked with dishware, pots and pans and once you've done your grocery shopping, it is tempting to not go anywhere but back and forth between the house and tide pools. I would recommend Hibiscus House is anyone in need of a place to write, contemplate, meditate or just have fun.

Recommended for:Romantic getaway, tourists without a car, adventure seekers, girls getaway, age 55+, families with young children, families with teenagers.

Awesome Kapoho Experience

Guest: Pat & John1 (California)
Date of Stay: 06/15/10 Review Submitted: 09/20/10

"We had a fantastic time and even more so because you have the most beautiful vacation home in the best place in paradise! My son really loved the pond in the front yard and couldn't understand why we'd want to go anywhere else! We felt so much at home during our stay and it's everything you stated on the website . . . and then some!!! We will be in touch for our next visit."

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

Perfect

Guest: Brad and Lisa (Santa Barbara, CA )
Date of Stay: 04/27/10 Review Submitted: 06/01/10

Everything about this vacation home was perfect: spacious, attractive, lots of fresh air, a big wraparound lanai / porch, on-site swimming and one of the island's greatest snorkeling bays on the Big Island just down the street. The two of us enjoyed the quiet, the beauty and the fact that everything we wanted was immediately at hand. We spent a week there and would have liked to stay another week or so. Some days we had to persuade ourselves to leave the house since we were so comfortable. The immediate area is spectacularly beautiful and offers a variety of interesting day trips. Don't miss it!

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

Hibiscus House

Guest: Ron, Donna, Pat & Bonnie (Salt Lake City, UT)
Date of Stay: 03/13/10 Review Submitted: 05/15/10

My husband and his 2 sisters enjoyed our weeks stay enormously--wish it could have been longer. Location was great and the house very comfortable. The proximity to the tide pools couldn't have been more convenient. We liked being away from the "touristy"areas and the privacy. It was so nice to be able to explore the Hilo side of the island and then return to the comfort of the house. Having the umbrellas and ponchos was wonderful since it rained every day and the house was well supplied to meet our needs. We did encounter several problems, but the owners were prompt in responding and everything was resolved to our satisfaction. We would highly recommend staying here and would love to return in the future.

Recommended for:Sightseeing, adventure seekers, age 55+, families with teenagers.

Paradise

Guest: Cheri and David (Berkeley, California)
Date of Stay: 04/18/10 Review Submitted: 05/13/10

Waking up in a beautiful master bedroom to bird song, breezes, calm, green, restful mornings; snorkeling at Wai 'Opae; Farmers Market at Hilo; Snorkeling late afternoon with sea turtles and warm swimming in the hot pool. Delicious fish dinners in Pahoa and HIlo. Papayas for breakfast and before bed snacks. Frogs at night to lull us to sleep. In short Paradise! Nothing could be more relaxing, and there is nothing better than being able to go to the best snorkling spot on the Island, without getting in a car. This is a unique experience. Down the road is a hot pond on the ocean - another marvel. The house is spacious, tastefully decorated, and feels like home. And yes, while this is the rainy side of the Island, remember - you are in the tropics, and an occasional shower makes for perfect temperature.

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

Wonderful vacation home in paradise!

Guest: Snorkel Woman (Eugene, Oregon)
Date of Stay: 03/17/10 Review Submitted: 05/13/10

We all absolutely loved staying at Hibiscus House! Everyone of us were elated that your home was even better than described or expected. We discovered that your tide pool was warm and had those little “pedicure” type fish–how fun was that?! The kitchen was very well equipped (including some food & beverage) and big enough for all four of us to “work” in at once. We were also able to do yoga and tai chi in the living room. The beds were very comfy. We dined most of the time on the lanai. We liked having the washer and dryer and I especially enjoyed looking through the glass-top washer and am consider getting one myself. The Waiopae (Marine Conservation Area) Tide pools close to the house were more remarkable than those that I had visited on previous trips. I finally purchased an underwater disposable camera at the grocery store in Kea’au–got some wonderful shots of the coral and fish. The snorkeling was the best and easiest that I have ever experienced. Your helpful, gracious responses to all my pre-trip questions and to the misplaced passport situation were greatly appreciated. I would gladly recommend this home to friends and relatives. I hope to stay again at you lovely home for another restful, relaxed vacation.

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

A wonderful holiday

Guest: SueandE (Vancouver BC)
Date of Stay: 02/13/10 Review Submitted: 03/24/10

Our family of five had an excellent time in Hibiscus House. The house itself is warm and very comfortable. We spent many a pleasant hour on the lanai enjoying the breezes and the surrounding flowering trees. The tide pool in the yard was a lovely surprise, warm and like a big aquarium and we swam in it daily. Kapoho tide pools were the best snorkeling we found on the Big Island. We hope to return next year!

Recommended for:Tourists without a car, girls getaway, age 55+, families with young children, families with teenagers.