Kehena Black Sand Beach House - ocean view - swim spa

The ultimate getaway for indoor/outdoor relaxation and eco-tropical detachment. Perfect for 1-3 couples or a family. Ocean views and crashing waves from wide-open bifold doors. Walk nextdoor to Kehena black sand beach, or drive the Red Road to Hawaii's only hot springs at Pohoiki. Swim spa is a plunge pool or hot tub; firepit brings friends and family together under starry skies. Experience Hawaii's "wild east" in Puna, live music and dance, Hilo waterfalls, and Hawaiian Volcanoes National Park.


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Hear and see the ocean out your bedroom balcony. Three minute walk out your door and you're barefoot on Kehena's smooth black sand, surrounded by dolphins and Sunday drum circles. This is the Hawaii nobody talks about — the raw, wild, magical side where geckos scamper and croqui frogs chirp you to sleep and you wake up to crashing waves. No AC, no apologies. Just pure Puna paradise.

YOUR OCEANFRONT SANCTUARY

The Experience:
Wide-open bifold doors frame endless ocean views. Watch sunrise from your master bedroom balcony. Fall asleep to waves. This bungalow is designed for indoor/outdoor living — ocean breezes flow through, ceiling fans keep you cool, and the jungle surrounds you in tropical luxury.

Perfect for:
• 1-3 couples seeking adventure and relaxation
• Families who want real Hawaii (not resort Hawaii)
• Anyone ready to disconnect and experience Puna's wild beauty

INSIDE YOUR BUNGALOW

Living Spaces:
• Three spacious decks (upstairs balcony, downstairs deck, screened private lanai)
• Open-concept living room with 65" TV (Disney+, Hulu, ESPN+ — bring your own streaming accounts)
• Fully equipped kitchen (cookware, dishes, coffee/tea)
• Garage/den with washer/dryer, mini ping pong, beach gear

Bedrooms (sleeps 8):
• Master Suite (upstairs): King bed + full futon, private balcony with ocean views, ensuite bathroom with soaker tub, 50" TV
• Guest Suite (downstairs): King bed, private bedroom
• Living Room: Two Cordaroy bean bags that convert to double mattresses (bedding in closets)
• Outdoor Lanai: Queen convertible sofa (screened, sheltered — perfect for "glamping" in the jungle)

Bathrooms:
• Master ensuite (upstairs) - standalone shower and enormous bathtub
• Full bath with shower (downstairs)

SWIM SPA & OUTDOOR LIVING

Your Private Oasis:
The swim spa is set to 90°F — use it either as a plunge pool or hot tub. After a day of hiking volcanoes, swimming at Kehena, or exploring waterfalls, sink into the spa under starry Hawaiian skies. Fire pit brings everyone together for evening storytelling.

Outdoor Amenities:
• Heated swim spa (huge hot tub or plunge pool)
• Fire pit ready for smores and stargazing (huge solo stove -- bring your own firewood)
• BBQ grill
• Hammock for lazy afternoons
• Screened outdoor living/glamping space

KEHENA BLACK SAND BEACH (3-MINUTE WALK)

Hawaii's Best-Kept Secret:
Walk 500 feet out the door to the beach parking lot, then take the footpath down to paradise. Kehena's coarse-grained black sand feels like a luxury spa treatment. Dolphins visit regularly. Strong swimmers love the waves. Families splash in the shore break.

Sunday Drum Circles:
Every Sunday, Kehena comes alive. Locals gather for an epic drum circle that starts around noon and lasts until sunset. This is Puna culture at its peak — music, dance, community, and pure aloha spirit.

Note: Kehena is informally clothing-optional (~10% of beachgoers are nude). Everyone is respectful and families are welcome. The waves can be strong — supervise kids and swim only if you're confident in the water.

NEARBY ADVENTURES

Right on Your Doorstep:
You're in Puna — Big Island's "wild east." This is where lava meets the ocean, hot springs bubble up, and Hawaiian culture thrives away from the tourist crowds.

TOP EXPERIENCES:

•Pohoiki Hot Ponds & Black Sand Beach (15 min):
Isaac Hale Beach Park has Hawaii's only public "hot springs" — volcanic-heated brackish water. Pohoiki Beach is the youngest black sand beach in the world. Surfers love it.

• Kalapana & Uncle Robert's Awa Bar (10 min):
Wednesday nights = live Hawaiian music and dance. Local bands, food trucks, kava bar, and the beating heart of Puna culture. Saturday mornings bring the Kaimu farmers market — fresh coconuts, ahi, ono, and Big Island vibes.

• Kalani Resort (5 min):
Epicenter of Puna's "ecstatic dance" community. Sunday yoga + zen-EDM dance parties, followed by beach gatherings and sunset music at Seaview. This is Puna at its peak.

• Hawaiian Volcanoes National Park (45 min):
See Kilauea crater, hike lava tubes, and if you're lucky, witness an active eruption. Best viewed at night! Chain of Craters Road (15 min south entrance) offers coastal hikes along ancient lava flows.

• Hilo Waterfalls & Town (45 min):
- Rainbow Falls, Wai'ale Falls, Boiling Pots
- Ola Brew (best burgers + craft beer)
- Cafe Pesto (upscale Italian)
- Richardson, Carlsmith, Onekahakaha beach parks (calm water, sea turtles, snorkeling)

• Epic Day Trips:
- Akaka Falls (442 ft waterfall, 1h)
- Waipio Valley Overlook (1h25)
- Punalu'u Black Sand Beach + Green Sand Beach + South Point (1h30-2h)
- Mauna Kea Observatory (2h — 4WD required for summit)

• Pahoa Town (25 min):
The "wild west" of Hawaii. Malama Market (groceries), great restaurants (Tin Shack, Kaleo's, Ning's Thai, Pho 19), and Friday/Saturday night live music in coffee shops, bars, and dress shops. Way more than meets the eye.

WHAT MAKES PUNA SPECIAL

This isn't Waikiki. This isn't Kona. This is REAL HAWAII — remote, raw, and unforgettable.

- Black sand beaches with dolphins
- Volcanic hot springs next to the beach
- Sunday drum circles
- Lava flows you can hike
- Jungle living with ocean breezes
- Hawaiian culture (not tourist culture)
- Ecstatic dance, live music, farmers markets

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WHAT TO EXPECT

This is Jungle Living:
Puna is tropical, remote, and wild. Geckos are everywhere (they eat bugs and keep the house clean, even if they poop). You'll see ants, spiders, and occasional critters — that's part of living in paradise. We have regular pest control, but this isn't a sterile resort.

No Air Conditioning:
You won't need it! Ocean breezes, ceiling fans, and open-air design keep the house comfortable year-round (temps in the mid 70s-low 80s). Keep windows open, fans circulating, and embrace tropical living.

Rainwater Catchment:
Like most Puna homes, we collect rainwater. It's filtered, but we recommend bottled water for drinking. Please conserve water — avoid using the giant upstairs tub more than once every 3 days (the swim spa is way more fun anyway!).

Rust & Mold:
We're oceanfront in a tropical jungle. Despite constant maintenance, you'll see rust and occasional mold — it's unavoidable in this climate. We manage it aggressively, but if you need perfection, this isn't the right fit.

Stock Up Before You Arrive:
Pahoa is 25 minutes away (Malama Market). Hilo is 45 minutes (Target, Walmart). Bring groceries, drinks, and essentials — you'll want to minimize trips once you settle into island time.

HOUSE GUIDELINES

Occupancy:
• Maximum 8 guests (works best when beds are shared or kids use bean bags/sofas)
• Strongly recommend max 6 adults for comfort

Check-in/Checkout:
• Check-in: 4:00 PM - 9:00 PM
• Checkout: 10:00 AM
• Early/late arrangements possible (subject to availability, $25/hour)

House Rules:
• Respect the swim spa (please follow posted rules)
• Conserve water (it's precious!)
• Keep the jungle vibes going (no drama, just aloha)

LIABILITY WAIVER:

By booking this home, guests agree to waive all host liability for injury or death related to use of equipment (swim spa, grill, gas appliances) and assume all risk for use of grounds or facilities. Exercise caution with falling coconuts, tripping hazards, rust, mold, volcanic fog, and other environmental factors. If this waiver is not agreeable, please cancel immediately and notify the host.

GUARANTEES & REFUNDS:

While we strive to keep our home and its amenities fully functioning, there may be occasional defects, missing appliances or ongoing repairs. We do our best to notify guests before their stay, and advise guests that by default we will not issue refunds for temporarily unavailable amenities.

ADDITIONAL CHARGES

- $20 per night per overnight guest above the first 4 persons (plus taxes/fees, automatically charged by the platform based on group size)
- $170 for emergency water refill (half our refill cost, only if catchment is exhausted during your stay -- very rarely enforced)
- $25 per hour early before check-in or late after check-out, when possible and approved by hosts
- $50 for every 15 minutes overstay after checkout time, if permission is not given beforehand by host
- $200/hr for additional cleaning required, in case of messes that require cleaning beyond our regular cleaning window and impede incoming guests
- Damaged or irreparable items and linens will be assessed to guests at either original purchase or replacement cost

OUR PROMISE

We've been hosting in Puna for years, and our guests get it. They come for the adventure, the raw beauty, and the magic of Hawaii's wild side. If you're ready to trade resort perfection for authentic island living, you're going to love it here.

Questions? Reach out anytime — we're here to help make your Puna adventure unforgettable!