Our Favorite Place on Earth

Guest: R&PVW (Edmonton, Alberta)
Date of Stay: 08/07/09 Review Submitted: 08/23/09

On our frequent trips to each of the Hawaiian islands, we NEVER go back to a vacation rental twice. Our recent and second trip to Hale Aloha Aina was the first time we broke that rule, because we've never been able to find another place that evokes the level of emotions that this perfect cottage does. There is no better place to be in love! The Big Island is called big for a reason, and we can say that although we noted very high activity at the volcano and much larger plumes of volcanic fog than on our last trip, we never noticed it at or near the cottage, even though its only a 20 minute drive away. Every morning except one was bright sunshine and clear skies. We did not stay for the 7th night as originally planned, in order to make it to Kauai for a vacation home rental that required we stay at least 5 days. That was the most expensive place we have ever booked at approx $500/night, a huge place on an oceanside bluff with hot tub, jacuzzi, and every amenity one could imagine, including access to its own private beach. Yet, we found that within a couple of days our minds and hearts were drifting back to your cottage, a place that makes us feel like no other vacation home we have ever rented on any island on 13 island trips. And so, as we write this review, and since we've returned home a few days ago, we find our minds constantly drifting back to thoughts of Hale Aloha Aina, and the cottage, the outdoor shower, the stars, cooking for each other in a surprisingly well equipped kitchen, continuous walks around the beautiful and expansive property. If there's a place on earth that brings a higher level or peace, intimacy, love and passion, we haven't found it yet. We'll keep looking, but in the meantime, can't imagine a trip to the Hawaiian islands without an extended stay at Hale Aloha Aina.

Owner response:Aloha Rob and Paula, How wonderful that you feel so connected to the lush aina and sweet hale! After five years of renting our home, we never get tired of hearing what a wonderful experience it was for our guests. It fills my heart with joy that we can offer a place of peace and contentment for people like yourselves who just need some 'time out'. It is hard to put into words, but having a chance to just breathe is precious. For our future guests who are concerned with the vog, it really depends on the trade winds. We can certainly say that it has affected our visibility of the coast line all the way to Kona at times and sometimes the sunrise is a yellow ball in a hazy glow. It is a spectacular site to see the lava enter the ocean and where on earth can you be in paradise and witness an active volcano. The Big Island is like no other Paradise on Earth! I truly feel that the 'Mana' of Hale Aloha Aina is a living spirit that helps us to reclaim our connection to the Aina (earth) and brings us closer to those we love. Reading our guest comments says it all!

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

A Perfect Sanctuary

Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 12/15/11 Review Submitted: 01/11/12

My husband and i LOVED this cottage! It was everything the pictures and listing described and more - beautiful, peaceful, very private. THe cottage itself was clean and well-maintained, thanks to the personable caretakers Davin and Mona. THe grounds and property are magical. We arrived late at night in the dark, and when we woke up in the morning the sight literally took our breath away it was so gorgeous. Owners Tom and Missy were extremely helpful with our original trip planning and very accessible all along, although we didn't need much help once we got there and found it was all that we hoped for and more. We are avid hikers so the location and proximity to Volcanoes National Park worked perfectly for us. If you want to be in the middle of all the action and close to lots of restaurants etc. then this might not be the place for you, but if you're looking for a setting that will nourish your soul, promote true relaxation, and even let you feel a little like a 'local', then we would highly recommend Hale Aloha Aina!

Owner response:Gosh... our guests really do say it best!! This home brings out the POET in everyone! I Wood Valley has the same effect on me and you may have read my poem... it really is hard to describe all the feeling this place evokes... there is no other place to be in love, rekindle love or BE LOVED! I am so happy that you experienced such tranquility and peace during your stay and hope to hear from you again! Mahalo for taking the time to help our future guests decide if Hale Aloha AIna "IS" the place they have been searching for their dream vacation! My favorite thing to do when I visit the hale is to sit out on the lanai with a glass of wine and read our guest book. It gives us great pleasure to be able to offer such a special paradise for all to enjoy! Much Aloha!!

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"Hale Aloha Aina" a place to live your dreams

Guest: Lukas, Switzerland (-)
Date of Stay: 01/14/10 Review Submitted: 12/21/11

Away from Hotel Ressorts this is a really special and wonderful cottage to stay, by far the best we could find on Big Island. It is a place of Peace and Privacy and totally surrounded by nature where you can still feel the Aloha Spirit and where you can have dreams and live your dreams with your loved one. There is a huge garden with trees, birds and fresh lemons. You can play cricket in the garden or sit in the wonderful lanai in the morning and enjoy the sunrise or you can lay in the hammock among the trees. In the beautiful cottage you can find everything you need. The cottage is Solarpowered and works perfectly. Only sometimes in the morning depending on the winds it can be a little cold before Sunrise. But for this case there is a small gas heater which we could use. The Owners Tom and Missy are very friendly and helpful and in the cottage you will find all the information you need to know about Big Island. The home is a good starting point for hiking tours or visiting the Volcano National Park or going to the close Black Sand Beach where you can see huge Turtles. It is a perfect place to relax and to feel at home. Thanky you so much Missy and Tom

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I miss Hale Aloha Aina everyday!

Guest: Shari, Oakland CA (-)
Date of Stay: 02/01/10 Review Submitted: 12/21/11

We had the very good fortune to visit the Big Island in February for a 9-day trip. We chose Missy and Tom's lovely cottage in Wood Valley, just south of Volcano Nat'l Park, for the full stay - and couldn't soak up more pleasure from this lovely slice of heaven!!! It has all the charms we were hoping for - full kitchen, total comfort and privacy, lovely landscaping, beautiful light and views, as well as the delightful sounds of nature. The sounds of birds and farm animals softly greeted us every morning, and the expansive star- filled sky bid 'sweet dreams' to us each night. The beauty is nearly beyond words - it's a must experience place, where one can re-charge, and appreciate the unique offerings of the amazing Big Island. We really enjoyed being a little removed from the tourist hustle, and it was astounding how much information was available at the cottage, or provided by the hosts. Missy and Tom put so much care and thoughtfulness into their hospitality, and we as guests never had a need that was not met. We enjoyed picking up produce and fresh fish in Hilo, and bringing the bounty back to the cottage for delicious tropical-flavored meals. And we also enjoyed eating at some of the local restaurants. We looked forward every morning to a delicious cup of home-brewed Pau coffee. There's so much to experience on Hawaii, that one visit can't possibly be enough. We are already planning another visit, and hope we have the good luck to stay at Hale Aloha Aina again. It stays with us in our hearts, along with the honu, i'iwi and 'amakihi, and THANK YOU for providing such special memories. Mahalo!

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PERFECT!!!!

Guest: Dave, Haleiwa Hawaii (-)
Date of Stay: 04/04/10 Review Submitted: 12/21/11

I surprised my girlfriend with a trip to the Big Island, and as I was looking for places to stay, I somehow found a link to Hale Aloha Aina. I am SO glad that I found it!!!! We arrived at night, after the long dark drive up the hill... thinking... "where in the hell are we?" As soon as we got there, we new this was a special place. Completely isolated, totally quiet, fresh breeze, very clean, decorated nicely... we felt right at home immediately. Waking up to that first view of the property blew our minds!!! We roamed around, taking in the sunshine, the peace, and the overall feel of the place. We definitely enjoyed coming back to the house each day after travelling around the island. We found the CD collection and put on the perfect songs to add to our relaxed mood. Sometimes we took some blankets out to the lawn and napped out in the open air. I had also brought my guitar to strum, and the acoustics of the vaulted ceilings made for excellent sound in the kitchen area. It is one of the best places we have ever stayed! A true romantic getaway. It feels like a little secret... one we plan to visit again and again.

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Privacy amongst the Garden of Eden!

Guest: Jan, Alaska (-)
Date of Stay: 01/10/11 Review Submitted: 12/21/11

Beautiful place up in wood valley. We esp. enjoyed the quiet, the fruit trees (we collected lemons, limes, guavas, and Hawaiian raspberries from the property), the large area, and the cabin. Beautiful backcountry roads for a morning or evening jog, and drives past macadamia nut plantations to come home. The cabin was very clean and comfy...we never had a problem with the solar power...even after two full days of rain, using the laundry, TV, or radio. A bonus for us the availability of a few items (if you take care of them) like beach towels, an umbrella, guide books, and snorkel gear! I should have left mine at home! Kitchen had everything we needed, and the grill outside was prefect. Lots of variable weather in Dec...some rain, clouds, sun... The only downside is the location...it's a pretty long drive to just about everywhere except the black sands beach. But that's a price to pay for privacy!

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A Beautiful and Relaxing Retreat

Guest: Reno, Nevada (-)
Date of Stay: 01/24/11 Review Submitted: 12/21/11

My husband and I were so very lucky to have discovered Hale aloha aina! From the minute we arrived we felt comfortable and at home. Missy and Tom have very considerately outfitted their home with everything that you could ever need or want on your trip to explore the big island. We took a day just to spend at the house and enjoy the yard, the bicycles and the wonderfully relaxing hammock in the backyard. There was never a concern about the power supplied by the solar panels. We also experienced a couple of days of overcast and rainy weather; still not any problem with the power. In our opinion there is no better place to stay, come home to after a day exploring, make dinner and relax on the back lanai and listen to the night sounds of Wood Valley. Every morning was delightful, the birds and the sunrise come to life and you are there to experience it all, while enjoying the local coffee. We will always remember this wonderful little house and look forward to our next stay at Hale aloha aina.

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Magical Wood Valley!

Guest: Wedding Family! (ThirdLake, Illinois)
Date of Stay: 08/28/11 Review Submitted: 09/12/11

This was our first Hawaii vacation and it won't be our last! Hale Aloha Aina was certainly a good choice. It is a well maintained jewel in Wood Valley, it was pretty much a home away from home, we wanted for nothing! The property is as Missy and Tom describe, and what beautiful grounds surrounded the Hale! We are not hotel folk and this suited us so well, being able to shop at the local markets and get such fresh produce and then having a fully equipped kitchen meant we could eat home cooked meals. We were also lucky to have some of the little bananas from the yard, the grounds keeper shared them with us.....oh how wonderful! Missy and Tom are wonderful to deal with and gave us some wonderful information to read before our arrival. The Hale is truly in the country, so peaceful, relaxing and rejuvenating. The sun streaming in the windows woke us every morning and watching the Japanese White Eye on the plants outside the bedroom window was an amazing way to start the day. The Volcano was captivating , we spent almost 12 hours there, the craters continue to be a little active but it was so interesting to see (we did a helicopter ride over one of the craters) it did not have any affect on our vacation to the Hale. We read about the Vog but did not have any problems from it. There are so many things to keep you busy (if you want) Macadamia and Coffee farms, hikes, farmers markets, Botanical Garden, black sand beaches....so beautiful... snorkeling (thanks for the loan of the equipment Missy and Tom, we went on our own "trip" had such fun and saw some wonderful fish!) I could go on and on and then you could just sit and relax on the Lanai! We did miss the stars, unfortunately we had several cloudy evening skies. While we crawled all over the Island, there were a few places we didn't make it to and some we should revisit. We would have no reservations in recommending this secluded vacation spot to our friends a relatives! Mahalo, Missy and Tom!

Recommended for:Romantic getaway, tourists without a car, adventure seekers, age 55+, girls getaway, sightseeing.

3rd Time's The Charm!

Guest: Dianna L. (Oakland, California)
Date of Stay: 05/31/11 Review Submitted: 07/12/11

My husband and I were very pleased to have just spent our 3rd consecutive summer vacation at Hale Aloha Aina. It's such a charming, quiet and well-appointed place that we just couldn't bring ourselves to stay anywhere else after 2 previous wonderful stays there. Aside from being in stunningly beautiful and calm Wood Valley, The Hale is a really great bargain - the fully equipped kitchen meant that we could eat like the locals and enjoy the farmer's market produce - a real money saver! The bed is, as always quiet and comfy. The tap water is the most delicious water you will drink anywhere (we looked forward to drinking it every year!). If you go during new moon phases on a clear night, you will see more stars than you've ever seen before - right from the back yard! Other perks: Only 20 minutes to Volcano Park and 10 minutes from Honu sightings at Black Sand Beach! Only an hour to Hilo... But forget about the distances. Hale Aloha Aina is such a wonderful place that you won't mind your daily drive to the beaches on the Kohala Coast! We highly recommend Hale Aloha Aina for couples looking for a quiet place to reconnect, recharge, refresh, and enjoy each other's company in paradise.

Owner response:There's something magical about Wood Valley and Hale Aloha Aina! Several guests have returned every year to enjoy the peace and splendor that surrounds the hale. One of our guests said it best... there's no better place to be in love, rekindle love or just be LOVED! Mahalo Dianna for taking the time to help future guests decide if this is the paradise they are seeking! It's not just a rental... but an experience of a lifetime escaping to our Big Island Cottage!

Recommended for:Romantic getaway, adventure seekers, girls getaway, sightseeing.

Serene and oh, so special!

Guest: Diane (Bainbridge Island, Washington)
Date of Stay: 10/18/10 Review Submitted: 01/31/11

My husband and I were enchanted with Missy & Tom's hideaway at the end of a beautiful valley hugging the mountains. We enjoyed every time we turned off the highway, driving through the small town and up the road past the macadamia nut farms, coffee plants, animals grazing on lush land and the Buddhist temple. Coming "home" was so nice. To walk through the french doors onto the lanai and sit and watch for birds, listen to the baaaaa's of the neighbor's sheep, view the expansive sky and just take a deep breath. One night we had a great wind/rain storm and sat on the lanai the entire time. We loved the proximity to Volcanoes & Hilo and the distance from Kona. We circumnavigated the island one day and zip-lined on the very north end of the island. What a spectacular drive stopping at waterfalls, skirting the sea on windy roads, driving through ranch lands of Waimea then continuing on a literal highway above the clouds to zipline through a forest. Couldn't ask for a more quiet, peaceful, clean, up-to-date, green and serene accommodation. Tom & Missy thought of everything and I must think about being in this special place at least once a day. Mahalo!

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