PUNA ZEN Botanical Garden Retreat

Photo gallery for PUNA ZEN Botanical Garden Retreat

A spacious living area with a wooden ceiling, a dining table with chairs, and a staircase leading to another level.
A green door with a shower, surrounded by large green plants.
A dining area with a wooden table and chairs, a large plant, and a view of a bedroom with a bed and a window.
A bedroom with a bed, wooden chairs, a TV, and a painting of a tropical scene.
A covered outdoor area with a wooden staircase, a table with chairs, a washing machine, and a sign indicating 'Hawaii Aloha'.

Reviews

9.4 out of 10
Exceptional

Highlights

  • Garage parking available
    Enjoy the convenience of garage parking - a rare offering in the area.
  • Centrally-located
    You're never far from where you need to be with this convenient location.

Popular amenities

  • Balcony
  • Dog-friendly
  • Air-conditioning
  • Refrigerator
  • Washing machine
  • Internet

Explore the area

View in a map
Keaau, HI
  • Place, Kilauea Caverns of Fire
    ‪22 min drive‬
  • Place, University of Hawaii at Hilo
    ‪26 min drive‬
  • Place, Port of Hilo
    ‪31 min drive‬
  • Airport, Hilo, HI (ITO-Hilo Intl.)
    ‪30 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

2 bedrooms (sleeps 6)

Bedroom 2

1 King Bed

Livingroom

1 Double Sofa Bed

Primary Bedroom

1 King Bed

2 bathrooms

Bathroom 2

Bidet · Toilet · Shower only

Primary Bathroom, ensuite to Primary Bedroom

Soap · Towels provided · Bathtub · Bidet · Toilet · Shower only · Hair dryer

Spaces

Deck or patio
Kitchen
Balcony
Garden
Dining area

Add dates for prices

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About the area

Keaau

Located in Hawaiian Paradise Park, this holiday home is in the city centre and near the beach. Palace Theater and S. Hata Building are local landmarks, and travellers looking to shop may want to visit Prince Kuhio Plaza and Hilo Shopping Center. Hilo Coffee Mill and University of Hawaii at Hilo Botanical Gardens are also worth visiting.
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Map
Keaau, HI

What's nearby

  • Pahoa Museum - 22 min drive - 17.4 km
  • Kilauea Caverns of Fire - 22 min drive - 15.9 km
  • Prince Kuhio Plaza - 24 min drive - 19.3 km
  • University of Hawaii at Hilo - 26 min drive - 20.1 km
  • Port of Hilo - 31 min drive - 25.4 km

Getting around

  • Hilo, HI (ITO-Hilo Intl.) - 35 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪McDonald's - ‬17 min drive
  • ‪Kaleo’s Bar & Grill - ‬14 min drive
  • ‪Lava Thai Food - ‬14 min drive
  • ‪Wyatt’s Place - ‬24 min drive
  • ‪Peppercorn Spice House - ‬17 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is PUNA ZEN Botanical Garden Retreat pet-friendly?

Yes, this property allows dogs (limit 2 total).

How much is parking at PUNA ZEN Botanical Garden Retreat?

On-site parking is available at the property.

What time is check-in at PUNA ZEN Botanical Garden Retreat?

Check-in begins at 3:00 PM.

What time is check-out at PUNA ZEN Botanical Garden Retreat?

Checkout is at 10:00 AM.

Where is PUNA ZEN Botanical Garden Retreat located?

Situated in the mountains, this holiday home is within 9 miles (15 km) of Pahoa Museum, Kilauea Caverns of Fire and Mauna Loa Macadamia Nut Factory. Ha'ena Beach and Hilo Municipal Golf Course are also within 12 miles (20 km).

Reviews

9.4

Exceptional

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
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Rating 10 - Excellent. 34 out of 43 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 6 out of 43 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 2 out of 43 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 1 out of 43 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 43 reviews

9.4/10

Cleanliness

9.6/10

Check-in

9.4/10

Communication

9.4/10

Location

9.6/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Property was very welcoming and decorated with lots of aloha! Property has everything you need to enjoy time in and on the water.
Stayed 3 nights in Nov 2025
Verified review

8/10 Good

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Our five night stay at Arthur’s house was just as it was advertised. It is beautiful and roomy enough for a large family. Arthur was very communicative and responded expediently to any of my questions or concerns. He provided beach accessories-paddle boards, life jackets, beach chairs and beach towels, etc. We enjoyed our stay.The only two negative things we experienced is the low water pressure in the master bedroom and emptying leftover foods into the compost bucket. The smell when I opened the bucket was so bad my granddaughter came out of the bedroom holding her nose as well as my daughters and other two grandchildren and spraying the house with air freshener. Other than that, it was a good stay at Puna Zen Botanical Garden Retreat. Mahalo, Arthur!
Stayed 5 nights in Jul 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great Place To Stay!

very clean, host was super responsive, felt like home - would definitely rent again!!
Stayed 5 nights in Apr 2024
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Nice stay

Quiet beautiful place!
Stayed 3 nights in Dec 2023
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
This is a beautiful property that is out in the country and makes you feel like you are out in nature with all the sounds of the frogs and birds around you. It is a comfortable place where you can relax after a long day of site seeing. We enjoyed our stay.
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2025
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Beautiful island home. Very well maintained and equipped.
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2025
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Excellent location, quiet setting

Wonderful gem of a place to stay. Owner was close by friendly and helpful though not intrusive. Highly recommend.
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2024
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Relaxing Home!

We enjoyed this property! It was inviting and felt like we were home. Arthur, the property owner, was an amazing host offering ideas on where to swim and visit. We highly recommend the ZEN Retreat!
Stayed 4 nights in Feb 2025
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Lovely house in a lush setting

Great place equipped with everything we needed for our short stay in the area. Loved looking out the windows at the lush vegetation. Conveniently located in between Hilo and Volcano and bear other local places to eat.
Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2024
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Magical place!

We had a great time at this place. The place was very clean, abundantly stocked, and neatly organized.The garden was very beautiful with a variety of plants and flowers and it felt as if we were in the middle of a tropical forest.We had a memorable stay and will certainly return and recommend to others!
Stayed 2 nights in Feb 2025
Response from VrboOwner on 13 Mar 2025
I am so glad you enjoyed yourself. It's a great time of year to come to the island, lots of fruits you can pick right off of the tree, and always fun adventures to be had. For future guest, your welcome to explore the grounds on your own or feel free to request a tour. We are adding new plants all the time.
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

*****

Great place to stay with your family!
Stayed 4 nights in Jun 2024
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Awesome jungle get-a-way!

We were extremely happy with our stay! The house is beautifully taken care of and our hosts were extremely welcoming - brought us fresh fruit several times. Beds were very comfortable and the grounds were absolutely gorgeous. A must stay.
Stayed 3 nights in Feb 2023
Response from VrboOwner on 28 Feb 2023
Thank you for your lovely review
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Perfect

Wonderful home. Great location. Very quiet neighborhood.
Stayed 1 night in Jul 2024
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Amazing!

This property is fantastic and a great place to stay to experience this side of the Big Island. Everything was wonderful and my whole family loved it!
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2023
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great place to stay

Spacious home all to oneself, beautifully decorated in tropical decor - and very important, an attached carport - extremely handy when it rains. Set among beautiful tropical landscaping. Items available to borrow: snorkling gear, kayaks, life jackets, beach umbrellas,coolers, etc! Very responsive host lives on grounds. Very much enjoyed stay!
Stayed 7 nights in Nov 2023
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

So pleased. Lovely home. Two bedrooms. 2 bath. Full kitchen

We truly enjoyed our stay. Clean. Two bedrooms. Two bathrooms. Enjoyed watching a movie after a full day of sightseeing. Highly recommend
Stayed 1 night in Mar 2024
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great Experience

We had a great stay at Puna Zen Retreat. It was the perfect place to experience the big island away from the crowds and close to Volcanoes National park, waterfalls, and a wonderful Keaau farmer’s market. Arthur had everything we could have needed during our stay from meal prep to beach gear to recommendations for activities, and the best guidebook waiting on the coffee table. We appreciated all of the small touches like coffee in the pantry, fresh fruit from his trees, and a couple of friendly chats. We would definitely recommend!
Stayed 8 nights in Feb 2025
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Zen in Kea'au

Wonderful island flair decorated beautifully. Spacious and airy, no need to use AC. Beds were very comfortable with lovely linens. Kitchen was large and well stocked and eco-friendly with composting and recycling. Outdoor amenities included beach chairs, boogie boards, kayaks, life preservers, etc. Heavenly gardens with flowers and many fruit trees. Quiet neighborhood with easy access to all nearby sites. We loved our stay.
Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2025
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Tropical Paradise

This home was the most amazing, gorgeous, clean tropical paradise imaginable! It was like staying in our own Botanical garden and Arthur even showed us a few fruit trees we could eat from!! There were all sorts of convenient things like beach chairs, coolers, towels, boogie boards, etc! We couldn't have asked for a better stay. Very well-appointed too. Thank you for sharing your oasis with our family, Arthur! We'll be back for sure!
Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2025
Response from VrboOwner on 7 Mar 2025
Thank you for your very generous review. I really enjoy everyone's excitement in seeing for the first time how incredible our island. I was so thrilled I was able to let you know within an hour of a new volcano eruption so that your family could go and see live lava before the eruption ended. You certainly wouldn't of gotten that level of attention staying in a hotel. The county of Hawaii is considering adding restrictions or banning vacation rentals. The hotel lobby finances political campaigns to restrict local families from operating vacation rental small businesses. Here in East Hawaii you would be restricted to staying in a hotel on the water front owned by an international corporation at what ever price they choose with little to no competition. In East Hawaii most of our neighborhoods are zoned agriculture. This makes us especially susceptible to losing the ability to host guests in our homes and contributing to the local economy. Please write Mayor Alameda to allow local homeowners to host vacation rentals on ag land in East Hawaii.
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Very Homey

Everything was exactly as listed. Very cool yard with fruit trees. The temps cooled nicely in the evening so it was comfortable with the fans. Nice to have a washer and dryer too. It was very well organized and had lots of extras, chairs, beach stuff, condiments. The hosts were excellent. Would stay here again if visiting the Hilo area.
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2023
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Perfect house for a relaxing stay!

After spending 10 days in the business of Oahu, this was the perfect, most peaceful house to relax at. My only regret is we didn't get to stay longer. The bedrooms and bathrooms are spacious and the living room has a comfortable sleeper sofa as well. Check-in and house instructions were clear and the entire property was beautiful. The house is also located in a quiet neighborhood away from busy streets. This is a great house for families and we hope it's available next time we're back on the Big Island! Thank you!
Stayed 1 night in Aug 2024
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Beautiful and Amazing Stay Near Hilo

Amazing location and an amazing stay in a beautiful well maintained home nestled in what feels like the Hawaiian tropics. With dozens of exotic fruit trees on the property to unique flowers, palms and night time tree frogs, this location is truly a unique and memorable spot. It is very central to many locations in the Hilo area including the National Volcano Park. We only stayed TWO days as we were traveling on the other side of the island, but wish we could of stayed longer. The host - Arthur was very kind and even gave me a complete tour of the property and brought some fresh fruit to our front door. 5 STAR location all the way thru. Looking forward to another visit in the future.
Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2025
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Beautiful Hawaiian getaway!

This house is amazing! The host was so kind and gave our family a tour of his property upon arrival. The lush gardens with tropical plants and fruit trees really adds to this beautiful home. We felt comfortable and relaxed, as it has all of the amenities needed to feel at home. Close to Hilo where we enjoyed the farmers market, Rainbow Falls and just strolling around. Would highly recommend this property, for all types of travelers, including families with kids. Thank you for sharing this lovely piece of paradise!
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2023
Verified review

8/10 Good

Liked: Check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great location, spacios

Spacious house in decent shape. Location was perfect for us between Volcanos Ntl Park and Hilo. Was not clean to our standards, but not too bad. Host responses immediately to address any concerns. Don't forget to bring ear plugs - frogs sing loudly entire night. Not sure if this is year round on only in spring.
Stayed 7 nights in Apr 2023
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

We enjoyed this adorable home!

Loved having space to spread out in this home. Being from Texas we enjoyed the opportunity to sleep with windows open (the house has an A/C unit) but we opted for the natural breeze. We miss the coqui frogs serenading us to sleep and loved them so much we recorded them! Arthur was great with communication and even made it possible for us to check in early. It was an easy drive to Hilo, the Volcanoes National Park and Mauna Kea. We even drove down to Punalu’u black sand beach and South Point. Would definitely stay there again!
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2024
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