Cozy cottage in a very scenic part of Hawaii

Guest: Bernie and Sandra (Albany, NY, USA)
Date of Stay: 12/16/09 Review Submitted: 03/14/10

Hale Haumena is a wonderfully cozy, comfortable, and clean cottage in one of the most ideal locations on the Big Island. The surrounding area is beautiful, virtually free of VOG, and not as populated as other spots. The strip along the coast is a small sunbelt and thus gets less rain than most other places on the Hilo side. We spent our days rotating between the gorgeous black sand beach, soaking in the relaxing and rejuvenating warm ponds, and snorkeling at the Kapoho Tide Pools. The cottage offers all the basic amenities, a visually pleasing atmosphere, and a screened-in lanai. Hale Haumena is the perfect place for anyone with allergies, asthma, migraines, or chemical sensitivities as fragranced products are not permitted. All the environmentally safe ones are provided for your use in addition to scent-free bedding. We enjoyed a Qi Gong class at Kalani, the nearby yoga resort, which offers a variety of programs and massage. The local community offers a very friendly ambiance. After enjoying the local culture and beauty for just a week, we decided to move here permanently! It's a very special area of Hawai'i.

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, sightseeing.

AN INSPIRATIONAL VACATION

Guest: Diane S.
Date of Stay: 12/01/11 Review Submitted: 01/04/12

I won a week-long stay at Hale Haumea through TheChakra.org's Hawaii Sweepstakes. Wow - we never expected the trip to be so exciting! Lava started flowing again into the ocean just prior to our arrival (Pele had taken a break for several months and Kilauea Volcano was not spewing lava down the mountain). We were taken on a guided hike at sunset and between the flow of the lava creating fireworks and the billions of stars above us, it was breathtaking. The days were also wonderful, from swimming on a black-sand beach with others brave enough to go bare, to snorkeling in a warm pond with two large and one baby turtle, to meeting the author of The Chakra Diaries for a yoga class at Kalani Oceanside Retreat Center, just a mile away. I'm hoping to enter and win again this year, as we didn't have enough time to see all the sights we wanted to - like Waipio Valley, but we were able to see three fabulous waterfalls in the Hilo area, so the falls at Waipio are something to look forward to. My husband loved the aqua massage he got from the owner's friend (at a great discount) and I loved my lomi massage - my skin is still soft from the coconut oil. The cottage had everything we needed to feel comfortable and right at home, but the people we met probably made the trip for us - from the owner and her friends, they made sure we didn't miss one special site or event happening nearby. Mahalo, D. Stone

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Traveling on the Puna Coast of Hawaii

Guest: Nancy and Bryan (Calgary, AB, CANADA)
Date of Stay: 04/10/11 Review Submitted: 04/26/11

There are tourists and then there are travelers. We travelled to "Hale Haumena" and had a wonderful stay. Check you phone and laptop at the door, it does not work until you hit the main drag, but who cares, listen to some music, listen to the sounds. This eclectic, friendly neighbourhood comes with green initiatives throughout. Too bad we missed several of the Farmer's Markets. Take care of this impeccable well stocked "Hale." Use less, enjoy more. The frogs will rock you to sleep. Love to return. More traveling to do?

Owner response:Thank you for being ideal guests - you cared for the Hale as if it were your own home. And yes, cell phones don't work until you reach the park at the bottom of the hill, and wireless internet is available one mile away at Kalani's internet cafe or at the Seaview Farmer's Market. Mahalo and please visit us again!

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Great getaway cottage

Guest: Bryce & Jeanine (Magnolia, Arkansas)
Date of Stay: 02/11/11 Review Submitted: 02/20/11

My wife and I spent 6 days at Diane's beautiful cottage. It is secluded and has great landscapeing. We especially enjoyed cutting the bananas off the tree and eating them. If you want to explore the volcanos and the black beaches, this is the place to be. The only drawback is cell phone reception and the lack of internet connection.

Owner response:I'm glad you enjoyed your visit at Hale Haumea. On the Big Island, cell phone reception is sketchy outside of the towns. Luckily, reception is good at the park at the bottom of our hill, and WiFi is available at Kalani's roadside cafe 1 mile away.

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

Wonderful place!

Guest: HawaiiTraveler (Arlington, VA)
Date of Stay: 01/08/11 Review Submitted: 01/25/11

My husband and I spent three nights here and wished we could have stayed longer! The cottage is exactly as pictured and is quiet and secluded. We kept all the windows open, falling asleep to the sound of the tree frogs and waking with the birds. The kitchen was well equipped with appliances and utensils, and the washer and dryer were great to have. Shower had plenty of hot water and the water pressure was good. Definitely talk to Naia about the dolphins in the area and the laval flows nearby. Unfortunately we weren't able to see the lava flow due to rain, but she was a wealth of knowledge for us regardless. And absolutely take advantage of the discount offered by Sylvie, the massage therapist. My husband and I both had aqua massages at the nearby retreat and there is nothing like it in the world! The only drawback to this location is the distance from everything, which Diane has accurately pointed out in her description. All of the charter boats for dolphin and whale excursions leave from the Kona side of the island, a 2 1/2 to 3 hour trip from the cottage over a two lane road through the middle of nowhere. A disadvantage when you have to be there at 7:30 in the morning! But I would absolutely stay here again and recommend it to anyone visiting the Big Island.

Recommended for:Girls getaway, adventure seekers, romantic getaway, age 55+, sightseeing.

Wonderful stay in Sea View Estates

Guest: Diane (Santa Barbara, CA USA)
Date of Stay: 07/26/10 Review Submitted: 08/21/10

The Cottage was so sweet and offered everything we needed and more. The tree frogs were a magical part of each evening and the peace of freedom from electronic connectivity was truly paradise. Anyone looking for all the great ammenities and comforts and cleanliness in a sweet haven of a setting would enjoy this space. Washer and dryer for use as well. Bring your own CD's if you must. Lots of down time for rest. And wonderful beautiful black sand beaches just down the road a piece. Diane has created a charmer for the BI. We loved it. We will be back! ...in peace, Diane

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Fantastic Value and Lovely location

Guest: Carla (St. Paul, MN)
Date of Stay: 06/05/10 Review Submitted: 08/12/10

Hale Haumea was wonderful and we enjoyed our time immensely. The pictures and descriptions of the property were accurate and we were so pleased with the cleanliness and comfort of the cottage. We were a little nervous because this was our first time making online reservations for a rental property, but Hale Haumea exceeded our expectations. We appreciated the full kitchen, the screened in linai, and the suggestions of activities in the area. I think the bedroom mattress was brand new, and we found it quite comfortable. We were super grateful for the biodegradable products at the house, and our allergies and sensitivities were never irritated. We didn't receive cell phone reception, but the owner had told us ahead of time that was a good possibility. While we did venture to all parts of the island, we really appreciated being on the opposite side of the island from Kona. We wanted to be more secluded, and we were. It was so nice to have a Hawaii experience without a huge hotel-resort component to it. We counted less than ten cars drive by in the whole week of our stay. The privacy and serenity of the Hilo side of the island was perfect for us. We also hesitated a little before making the reservation, because many previous travelers had recommended it as ideal for travelers 55+. We found it to be perfect for younger travelers, too: we came to the Big Island for vacation and left as an engaged couple! :) I highly recommend Hale Haumea! We kept saying over and over how amazed we were at the value. Given the property and amenities, it made our Hawaii vacation both affordable and enjoyable.

Recommended for:Girls getaway, romantic getaway, age 55+, sightseeing.

My wife and I had a wonderful time!

Guest: Visiting from California (Sunnyvale, CA)
Date of Stay: 05/31/10 Review Submitted: 06/03/10

Everything was perfect, the cottage, the weather, the activities, even the waves cooperated.

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

It was a Perfect Honeymoon!

Guest: HoneyMoon at Hale Haumea (San Antonio, Texas)
Date of Stay: 04/24/10 Review Submitted: 05/25/10

The cottage was the perfect spot for our honeymoon. It was very cozy, romantic, clean, artistically decorated and private - just greenery out the windows, no neighbors. At the end of the road, Highway 130, we walked out the short path under a full moon to see the lava flow into the ocean - really surreal and worth the trip alone! (Remember to carry a flashlight.) On other adventures, we soaked in the scenery of the shorter trails in Volcanoes National Park, as well as the volcanically-heated ocean pool at Ahalanui county park. As a change of pace we dipped into the Olympic size swimming pool, hot tub and sauna in addition to having an aqua-massage (Watsu) at neighboring Kalani Retreat Center. Down Highway 137 about a mile in the opposite direction from Kalani was Kehena Black Sand beach where a short cliff trail took us down to a beautiful beach where we swam, sunbathed and watched for dolphins. When we were hungry but didn't feel like cooking, we had so many choices for eating out. We feasted on the scrumptious food at Kalani and really loved the fresh fish and delicious Hawaiian ice cream at the Kalapana Village Cafe at the end of the road (Highway 130). Right next door to the cafe was Uncle Robert's Hawaiian-style Awa Bar where we got a little awa pick-me-up before the short drive home to Hale Haumea. Nearby Pahoa Town had groceries, gas, banks, pharmacy and a post office, great pizza at Boogie Woogie, Italian and Thai restaurants as well as a Farmer's Market on Sunday morning. Kaleos was our favorite restaurant, offering live music and wonderful food. (Joy said to make sure to try their desserts.) When we wanted fresh fruit and veggies, we walked the few blocks from Hale Haumea to SPACE, a performing arts center that features a Farmer's Market on Saturday mornings and a Bazaar (food and crafts) on Wednesday evenings. We actually ran out of time to see the sites in Hilo and the waterfalls and botanic gardens but next time for sure. As you may can tell, we really enjoyed our trip, and would heartily recommend Hale Haumea for couples. In fact, we are already planning to visit again for our first anniversary.

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

Beautiful House, great Potential...Dissapointing

Guest: Redfoxx (Pacifica, California)
Date of Stay: 05/15/10 Review Submitted: 05/21/10

Upon our arrival we were delighted with the house location, eco-friendly environment, and plentiful ceiling fans, even one in the bathroom! But, then we sat on the futon/couch, question: Who buys a futon with springs in it? Then we laid upon the dinky bed that must be at least 30 years old and designed for people under 5 feet tall - seriously, you could actually feel the circled outline of each coil on the bed, like a medieval torture device. The bed was truly unusable, so, my partner and I slept apart the first night, wow. The futon was just as horrible as the bed and we got no sleep...for 3 nights, that is not vacation and not worth the touted 'deal' for this place. I recommend saving your money and camping nearby as it would have been more relaxing and comfortable to sleep on the ground in Isaac Hale's park and it's closer to the beach! We also tried both sleeping on the futon...that didn't work. The best part of this story is then we were actually charged a cleaning fee for 3 people for "the amount of dishes in the sink and the amount of laundry that had to be done" - RIDICULOUS! I think if the owner expects guests to do the dishes before they leave she should clearly write this is out in her book next to where it tells you to take out the trash.... what are we paying a cleaning fee for then? Truth is, I always do the dishes before I leave and clean up, but, this place was so disappointing we just couldn't wait to leave and we actually considered leaving a night early and eating the cost.

Owner response:Aloha and mahalo for staying at Hale Haumea. Thank you for your feedback regarding the bed - I'm going shopping today for a queen-size bed room set. We had originally purchased the double bed only 4 years ago as it fit in the small room with plenty of walking room around. But I understand that most couples are used to the larger beds found in hotel chains. Our futon couch is very recently purchased, made of organic cotton with a thick foam and spring core so it won't compress in Hawaii's humid climate. It's the most eco-friendly option available for a couch/bed combo. I've added a foam topper to make it more comfy. And thanks for the reminder to leave a note asking guests to put dishes in the dishwasher. We always appreciate when guests put their dirty dishes in the dishwasher, so that the bugs here in the tropics aren't drawn into the house by food-covered dishes in the sink. We prefer not to spray toxic pesticides, but rather keep food out of the ants' reach.

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