Elegant 1937 Home Steps Away from Black Sand Beaches

LAST MINUTE opening - December 31, 2025 to January 3, 2026. Early check-in and late check-out available. 10% discount off quote.

Hale Keaukaha is a majestic and elegant 1937 home perfectly situated across from Hilo’s Richardson’s Beach Park, a wonderful small black sand beach ideal for snorkeling, surfing, swimming, kayaking and sunbathing. Minutes from downtown Hilo, and the airport, the location is convenient and picturesque. Your stay at Hale Keaukaha will be an authentic and luxurious Hawaiian experience. Perfect for couples.

Sorry, no rentals over 7 days. No long term rentals.

Please note: The listing price is for two people per night, with a charge for each additional person (per night), maximum six people. Unfortunately, VRBO does not put this into the rental rate and instead it appears on your invoice as a "host fee." The only fee we actually have is the cleaning fee.

About Hale Keaukaha

A one-of-a-kind kamaaina home in Hilo. Styled for Hawaii, with a roof design of Hawaiian architecture called a Dickey roof that has a Polynesian style inspired by Kamehameha V's beach house in Waikiki. The wood floors in the main house are made of ohia, unique to Hawaii.

In the neighborhood called Keaukaha, about which songs are written and hula performed. The coastline is a string of beach parks, some with black sand and many with water access. This is a local playground. The water near the shore is clear with excellent snorkeling. Sea turtles come in to rest on the rocks across the street from the house.

The front bedroom looks down the driveway at the ocean, as does the shower in the attached bath. The luxurious queen bedroom is spacious with good linens, robes, a ceiling fan and a floor fan.

The master bedroom is quite large. In the back of the house looking at the lava rock seating in the back yard. The elegant king bed has fine linens and the room has a ceiling fan, a floor fan, and walk in closet. The attached bath has been kept in the charming 1930's style with updated fixtures and amenities.

The house has a separate ohana (attached loft apartment) complete with a bedroom, half-kitchen, walk in shower and bathroom, living and dining area with the loft bedroom. (Note that this is not suitable for children.) The kitchen cabinets are koa wood, a prized Hawaii wood. The loft bedroom is paneled in lauhala, a local weave from the hala tree. The ohana has a kitchen with espresso maker, toaster oven (no oven or stove). The ohana living room faces the green back yard and tree ferns and has a private entrance. The comfortable queen bed is in the spacious loft with a skylight. Inquire if you need this included in the rental.

The bedroom linens are usually organic and always all cotton. Each bedroom has a ceiling fan and a tower fan.

The kitchen has period-appropriate Formica counters. It is stocked with espresso/coffee maker, microwave, toaster oven, waffle maker, blender, good knives, wine glasses, and all kitchen utensils. The house water is all filtered, with the kitchen having an additional filter. Weber bbq grill is outside the kitchen.

The main house has a smart television, DVD player, good wireless internet access that includes the ohana. Like most houses in Hawaii, it does not have a/c.

The home features local art from Avi Kiriaty, Peggy Hopper, Roger Whitlock, Jack Lord, and other local artists.

Cleaning supplies are, wherever possible, organic, green, and scent free. (We have made an exception during and since Covid and use Clorox and Lysol between guests.)

Accessibility: There are several steps up into the house from both front and back, and the Ohana has stairs to the loft bedroom and from the front room to the bath/bed area.

Hilo does have coqui frogs that chirp in the evening/night and an occasional rooster. We provide ear plugs for light sleepers and also recommend using floor fans for white noise.

Interesting historical fact about Hilo: https://www.onlyinyourstate.com/hawaii/oldest-town-hi/


House Rules

Hale Keaukaha is situated along a residential street with neighbors. We appreciate your cooperation to keep noise down and to a respectful level. Per Hawaii County law, quiet hours are from 9 p.m. to 8 a.m., and the area of Keaukaha has special district noise laws (which are enforceable by all, including travelers, if you hear violations) and by renting this house, you acknowledge that you will honor those laws in addition to treating the neighbors with respect on general noise level.

No smoking on property.

No parties at all, including dinner parties or off-property guests for bbqs or other casual get-togethers, or any guests not listed on the rental agreement without the prior consent of the property owners and manager.

No pets allowed.

Let us know right away if anything gets damaged or needs fixing. Also, you must take out the rubbish to the curb for Monday morning pickup.

The home is appointed with books, decor and amenities to use during your stay. Please do not remove anything from the home and care for the things as your own.

The house is being prepared for inclusion on the Historic Register. There are a few inconveniences that we hope you are okay with because those would have to be replaced with modern options to make them convenient to today's standards, and we can't do that.

Cancellations are governed by the policy shown in the listing. We're sorry it's strict but VRBO does not currently allow for different policies for holidays and special occasions like Merrie Monarch when we need firm reservations ahead of time.

Thank you for choosing to stay with us and we truly hope you enjoy your stay.

Hawaii Tax ID No. W01445814-01