Location: Hilo, Hilo District, Big Island, Hawaii, USA (Hawaii Vocanoes National Park 30 min, Hilo Airport 12 min.)
Accommodations: 3 Bedroom Estate, 3 Bedrooms + Office, 3.5 Baths (Sleeps 6)
“..... a vacation rental located in Hilo's upscale enclave, Reed's Island, a mile from downtown Hilo. The three-bedroom house is perched at eye level to one of Hawaii's most beautiful waterfalls, and is flanked by the Wailuku River and rainforest. The Falls at Reed's Island features private bathrooms, hot-and-cold soaking tubs and views from every window.” - ModernAgent
Featured in The New York Times - "Secluded Retreats on the Big Island"
Featured on the TV special - "Around the World in 80 Homes" produced by the Fine Living Channel, owned by the same folks that bring you HGTV - Home and Garden TV.
Guest comments from Honolulu - “Thank you, thank you, thank you! We have loved the experience of this magical place. The soothing cascades of the waterfalls, the falling rain, the calls of birds, the black rocks and so many colors of green just overload the senses and provide an un-imagined tranquility. Steve told us of this paradise - but even he could not prepare us for this setting. From dawn to dark we have been captive and can only speak in low voices as if not to break the spell. Thank you for sharing this all with us. We leave with memories and feelings that will last forever. Much aloha, ....”
“feels like being on a private island” - Reed's Island is a Hilo neighborhood where the wealthy built their homes in a bygone era, and it still holds that reputation today. The two and a quarter acre estate is located at the very end of the island's only road, giving it the most prestigious and secluded setting on the island.
Historically home for the Hawaiians was not on the beach, they lived in the valleys where the weather was appealing, inspirational, serene. Legend has it that Reed’s Island, (original name “Koloiki”) was the play ground of the Alii. Imagine staying in what seems to be deep in a rainforest, but just a mile up river of Hilo Bay, where a Hawaiian King spent his time.
The Falls at Reed's Island is about 1 mile from old historic Hilo town and Hilo Bay “The Beautiful Bayside City”. The land is more vertical than horizontal, a sliver with about 700' of frontage on the Wailuku River, the largest river in the State. It is protected by a fragment of State land on its side away from the river, and the land across the river is protected by a conservation easement. When on the property, it seems deep in the rain forest, although it is really in downtown Hilo.
Designed by San Francisco architects David Morton and Thomas Cordell, as their private vacation home in Hawaii. Completed in 2002, the narrowness of the site dictated the uniqueness of the house layout, three comfortable private bedrooms with baths, surrounded with large windows opening into the magical rain forest setting. A kitchen building, a pavilion with large windows on all sides surveying, as from a crow's nest, the two gorges and the waterfall. The three buildings are joined by a long screened lanai, with a colonnade of posts made of native Ohia tree trunks. Interior wood is untreated Port Orford cedar from Oregon which has a pleasant aroma.
Over eons of time the river eroded the gorge down on the North side of the island to a level of about 85 feet below the island, leaving the South gorge high and dry about 30 feet below the island. With cliffs flanking both sides, this dry channel is an ideal site for a garden, the bottom is a near level grass area. It undulates the length of the property, culminating beyond the tip of the old island at a cliff overlooking the active North gorge and a grand waterfall directly below. The house exterior is mostly black, with black anodized aluminum windows giving the feeling that the house emerges from the black lava rocks below.
“....we said we would be back. Nineteen months later, here we are for a longer vacation that allows us to settle in and enjoy this setting at a relaxed pace. And what a place to relax! Everything was as wonderful as we remembered and better: the smell when we walked in the door, the music, the flowers, the house, the garden, the falls. And though we visited many special places while here, it was always more wonderful to come back to this private paradise. How rare to find a place so special that spending a day without going anywhere was a highlight. ....”
Vacation Rental Features
- Amenities
- Washer
- Dryer
- Linens Provided
- Off Street Parking: House and parking area is 450' into the property.
- Beds
- King Bed: Master Bedroom
- Queen Bed: Bedroom #2
- Twin/Single Bed (2) : Bedroom #3 make as a king (by request set as two twins)
- Bunk Bed: Two twins beds set up as bunk bed in office (no private bath)
- Entertainment
- Cable/Satellite TV
- DVD
- VCR
- Stereo System
- Private Hot Tub: Soaking tubs (hot & cold)
- Kitchen
- Full Kitchen: Sub Zero Refrigerator, Ice Maker, Kitchen Aid Range, Dishwasher, Two Sinks, Cooking Utensils
- Cooking Utensils Provided
- Refrigerator
- Dishwasher
- Microwave
- Ice Maker
- Outdoor Features
- Gas/Electric BBQ Grill: Weber gas BBQ grill
- Lanai: 50' screened lanai connecting the three pavilions
- View/Location
- Waterfront, not Lake/Oceanfront. Ask for details: 750' of Wailuku River, largest river in Hawaii. Private walkway to the river 87 steps.
- Communications
- Telephone
- Free Long Distance: Free direct dial US Minland and interisland
- Computer
- Broadband Internet
- WiFi (Wireless Internet)
- Other Amenities
- Phone (free, direct dial, mainland and inter-island calls), Fax, Laptop Computer with DSL, Cable TV, DVD, VCR, CD player, Hot and Cold Soaking Tubs, Full Kitchen; Sub Zero Refrigerator, Ice Maker, Kitchen Aid Range, Dishwasher, Two Sinks, Cooking Utensils, All Linens including Beach Towels, Iron and Ironing Board, Hair Dryers, Washer and Dryer, Weber Gas BBQ, Robes.
- Suitability
- No Pets Allowed
- Handicapped Accessible (may have limitations)
- Wheelchair Accessible (may have limitations)
- Smoking Not Allowed
- Activities (on site and nearby)
- Golf
- Tennis
- Zoo/Wildlife Park
- Shopping
- Sightseeing
- Restaurants
- Kayaking
- Boating
- Swimming
- Snorkeling/Diving
- Surfing
- Windsurfing
- Biking
- Wildlife Viewing
- Hiking
- Fishing
- Fitness Center/Gym
- Cinemas/Movie Theaters
- Live Theatre
- Museums
- Horseshoes
- Horseback Riding
Rate Details (In US Dollars)
Per night (single or double occupancy, 2 night minimum):
7 nights or more $296.00 per night
3 to 6 nights $329.00 per night,
2 nights $365.00 per night,
Plus $35 for each additional occupant per night and $160 out cleaning fee.
A $650.00 deposit is due within 7 days of the reservation, with the
balance payable 60 days prior to arrival. Check/money order/credit card
NOTE: Please see Owner's Website for full rate information.
Note: Until confirmed, rates are subject to change without notice.
Credit Cards Accepted:
Property Photos
- Your Adventure Starts Here - Hilo, HI - Big Island of Hawaii Vacation Rental - Better than a Hotel!
- Private, Secluded and Romantic - Hilo, HI - Big Island of Hawaii Vacation Rental - Better than a Hotel!
- Just you and your guest on the property - Hilo, HI - Big Island of Hawaii Vacation Rental - Better than a Hotel!
- Screened Lanai with Colonnade of Native Ohia Tree Trunks
- Living - Dinning - Kitchen Pavilion
- Master Bedroom - Minimalist Furnishings
- Great Views from all Bedrooms
- Viewing the Wailuku River
- Full Kitchen
- Lanai (West End)
- Private bath in each bedroom
- Private stairs to River
- Soaking Pools
- 25' Waterfall right in the yard
- Walkway to soaking pools
- Ancient riverbed - now a garden
Guest Comments (5)
First (5) of (5). View all comments
Vacation Rentals by Owner Listing #6024
There have been 21839 visitors to this page since the counter was last reset in 2007.
This listing was first published here in 2000.
Date last modified - November 17, 2009
Positive Rating
Mahalo for this Paradise on Earth! We have never felt so welcomed and all alone with the beautiful surroundings of your home - this is the most magical place we have ever been! Our 22nd anniversary has been more than we ever imagined with the gorgeous surroundings and peaceful spirit we felt throughout our stay! Thank you does not even begin to express how much this visit has meant to us. We only hope that we can take a little of this feeling home to enjoy until our next visit here.
Positive Rating
Thank you! thank you! thank you! We have loved the experience of this magical place. The soothing cascades of the waterfalls, the falling rain, the calls of birds, the black rocks, and so many colors of green just overload the senses and provide an unimagined tranquility. Steve told us about this paradise - but even he could not prepare us for this setting. From dawn to dusk we have been captive and can only speak in low voices as if not to break the spell. Thank you for sharing this all with us. We leave with memories and feeling that will last forever. Much Aloha.
Positive Rating
I can’t count the number of times I have uttered the words, “I thank you lord for allowing us to stay here!” Truly, it was a bit of an accident that we happened upon your home! We had a 17 day vacation to plan and I needed to fill in a couple of nights, so I searched on vrbo and just happened upon your listing. I thought our friends (the ___ from New Orleans) would enjoy seeing the non-touristy side of Hawaii. What I didn’t realize then was now much I would fall in love with your home, and now am regretting that we only had 2 nights here. I have taken every breath I can to try to remember the sweet aromas of this place, I have tried to capture in my mine all of the incredible sights and sounds that evoke from this place. In my mine, I will travel here again and again whenever I need to calm my thoughts from the craziness of the “real world.” Although you cautioned against t, this morning we swam upstream, to the waterfall. The view from that vantage point – plus the crisp, cool water was exhilarating! Thank you for all the special touches you added to make us feel as though we were not merely “renters”, but that we were your guests. To be here with our friends makes for the most wonderful Christmas Hawaiian vacation ever! A year ago, we were surrounded by piles and piles and piles of debris from Hurricane Katrina. Now, we are surrounded by – WOW. Thank you, thank you, thank you! We’ll be back!! – next time for a longer stay!
Positive Rating
I’m sure David and Tom would be proud of how you have carried on the spirit of what they had set out to accomplish when they built this house. Having spent the past two years building our dream house in the Shenandoah Valley (and it’s still not finished!), I knew immediately that a professional architect and artist had designed the house and landscaping. You couldn’t invent a more idyllic setting nor perfect balance of harmony the way the house is integrated into the setting. A wonderfully appointed kitchen we made good use of , and an oasis to return to after playing tourist on this side of the Island. We’ve been to Kauai a number of times, but our first trip to the Big Island has shown us it is every bit as beautiful. Attention to detail and thoughtful touches has made for an unforgettable 30th Anniversary for us. Until the next time. Thanks for sharing your dream.
Positive Rating
This house and property are perfection in so many ways. We hit the “Mother Lode” of vacation rentals! This book (guest book) is full of oohs and aahs and we wholeheartedly concur! Another thing that makes a place special is the special care that you use to make this home immaculate. All your special little touches make this spot truly “PERFECT” Thank you Thank you