Where do I even begin? This property is gorgeous! The house is lovely and comfortable for a family. The gardens are unbelievable. The host is kind, knowledgeable, and extremely helpful. He wants to make sure his guests are comfortable and have as many experiences on the Hilo side of the island as possible. His sweet pets made us feel like we were at home as we are huge animal people and missed our own. If John is able to take you on a tour GO!

John was super nice and very knowledgeable about plants and flowers (among other things). The tour of the garden was great along with the fresh orange juice and ulu (breadfruit) we made into hashbrowns for our breakfast. The cottage was beautiful and fit 4 adults comfortably. Mahalo John and we will definitely be back!!

John, the owner, was gracious from the beginning, even before we made reservations. He patiently answered all our questions and happily accommodated some special requests we had. Following the driving directions provided in his email days before our arrival proved to be spot on. Although John wasn't present at check-in, we managed to get in smoothly. We had to leave in a hurry before his arrival due to a prior engagement. The property matched the description perfectly, and the interior was impeccably clean upon our arrival and throughout our stay. Despite our frequent visits to Hilo, we've never experienced so much rain before. However, this wasn't necessarily a negative aspect, aside from the muddy pathways resulting from our weekend excursions. There was a minor issue with the automatic gate before our arrival, but it didn't pose a significant problem beyond what was mentioned earlier. Throughout our stay, John was prompt in responding to our questions via this app. I would recommend this home to both families and singles alike. There are board and card games suitable for all ages, as well as a wide selection of books to pique your interest. John's artistic talent is showcased through paintings adorning the property, which are available for purchase if desired. Additionally, the yard and garden are charming, perfect for taking photos or exploring. Given the opportunity, we would definitely stay here again.

The property has a full kitchen that enabled us to cook all but one meal during our 5-night stay. The bed was comfortable and we both enjoyed the sound of rain and frogs. John - the property owner - was communicative, and full of knowledge. His garden tour was one of the highlights of our entire vacation.

We were scheduled to reach late around 12:30 am. Even then John, made a point to wait for us, give a quick tour, make us comfortable. He goes above and beyond to take care of his guests. already quick to respond to any questions we had during our stay. he helped us plan our sight seeing as well and made our visit a memorable one.

We had such a great time! The house was clean and stocked with all the items that we needed. John is a thoughtful and caring host and we appreciated his rich knowledge and advice. We also enjoyed getting to spend some time with his adorable pets!

There was just something special about this property and John, the property owner. The moment we got out of the car and met John, I felt my nervous system drop down into a very relaxed mode. It's a beautiful place, nicely arranged with lovely outdoor spaces. We enjoyed the visits from the resident dog and cats and their presence made it feel more home like. John was a gracious host, a wealth of information, and kind and thoughtful. I loved the lull of the Coqui frogs at night. Unfortunately the neighborhood around the house was a bit loud for my sleeping comfort on both Friday and Saturday night, and I used the provided earplugs (John puts them out for guests who experience the Coqui frogs to be too loud) to quite the neighborhood noise. But this was completely out of John's control and it is perhaps not a regular occurrence. Overall, I would highly recommend this location. A really special piece of Hawaii hosted by a very special person.

Had a stroke, owner worked with us to help. Lovely space, so comfortable and beautiful, great kitchen, lots of birds!

Peaceful environment, house well stocked, John was great, nice location to enjoy/explore the surrounding area.

An immaculate and airy space in the heart of a tropical garden. John's place is a convenient base for day trips to Hilo, volcanoes, and other nearby wonders. Although sightseeing kept us awaybmost of our time it would've been easy to spend days relaxing on the property. We felt immersed in nature.

Lush tropical setting in out of town setting. John was a wonderful host very attentive to our needs. Would definitely stay again.

This is one of the most restful places I've ever stayed in with a gracious and considerate host, a house that is comfortable and suitably appointed inside and out and grounds that grant privacy and beauty. The interior and lanai have comfortable furniture and the kitchen is easy to work in. John was very helpful, informative and spontaneously generous. His garden tour — an introduction to the property and its luxurious plantings — set the tone. Normally in Hawaii we spend our days exploring. Somehow, relaxing on the lanai with a book or a hobby was just as enticing as yet another beach or hike. The WiFi is excellent. It's a good home for while you are away; be a good guest.

What a fantastic 3-day stay in a beautiful location! John is a fantastic host, thinking of all the little details that would make our stay more comfortable! He was so helpful in guiding us to awesome places that weren’t always on the beaten path! I highly recommend staying here.

We had a great time. Hiked the puna trail to see Joni sea turtles and explored volcanoes national park. John was a very helpful and welcoming host

Admittedly, I am not a beach person. That said, the place is paradise for a nature lover. John graciously provided a tour of the property, picked fresh fruit, and concluded with a tasting of the fruit, most of which were new to us. The covered back deck provided an awesome place for dinner and morning coffee/tea while listening to rain and chirping frogs (yes, chirping instead of croaking) Have on my bucket list the goal of returning for an extended stay so I can hike the trail.

Beautiful. Comfortable. Quiet (except for coqui who’s call we found soothing) Located perfectly for all things on the east, south and volcano parts of the island. John is the consummate host and made our stay perfect. His communication was complete, timely, and he was a wealth of knowledge.

My wife says thank you for the oranges, we had juice for breakfast. Loved the chihuahua and the kitties.

John was away on business while we were there , but had someone else staying at his place that acted as an onsite host. John sent very thorough instructions and Allison also gave us a walkthrough. My spouse was super apprehensive my I told him there was no air conditioning and there was no city water, but he was quickly impressed and at ease. My hair never felt silkier than after a filtered rainwater shower, and AC wasn’t needed. There’s great airflow and fans. We loved having breakfast on the Lanai and my 12 year old loved the friendly pets and open space of the loft. We did not mind the sound of the frogs and did not need the earplugs that John provided. Mahalo for a great stay!

I wish we had have more time - house was great, garden too and the host John is very friendly

House is in a nice forest garden setting, if you love learning about plants ask John for a tour. The house is just right for a single, a couple with up to two kids or a couple of friends. Perfect to get away, relax and have good access to Hilo side of the island.

We had a great time in this beautiful house. It was very clean and welcoming. The garden is amazing. The owner, John, is an exceptional host with an extraordinary knowledge about plants and geology. Don’t miss out the tour he offers on weekends to explore the local communities and how they were affected by the lava flows from1983 until the most recents ones that happened in 2018 and 2023. You’ll also get to see hot springs, tide pools, and much more. Such a great experience! We can only highly recommend John’s house. Our whole family had a blast! Many Mahalos John!

The property was beautuful, the house was cute and simple. John was a fantastic host and provided a lot of local and historical information. We truly enjoyed our time there. Close 5 minute drive to watch the sunrise.

John is wonderful. We loved everything about our stay. The cottage is comfy and peaceful. John was so nice to share his time and show us around his beautiful garden.

This property was nice & quiet. The landscape was beautiful. We were on the go but this was a great place to come home to in the evenings. Lovely home.

It was great to stay on a property to let you know how the locals live. A beautiful setting with lots of animals freely roaming definitely feels like living as a local. The property tour and education of all of the plants was a great bonus.

We were so very pleased with this location. It provides a wonderful feeling of solitude while being close to the highway. John is an amazing host, by far the best we have had. He was present & informative without being intrusive. His knowledge of the area was great. You do need to have a car as attraction are a drive but all well worth it.

Zero complaints! The location is great, the property is beautiful, and Jon and his gardens are awesome! The place is well stocked with the basics needed, and he is more than happy to share tea leaves, fruit, and anything that is ripe within his gardens!

We really enjoyed the beautiful gardens, the peacefulness, the huge lanai - especially after a day away - the coffee, fruit received and the bed! John was a gracious and attentive host. We were grateful that he shared his bit of paradise with us. The location, for us, was good. We were close enough to Hilo, Volcanoes NP, the southeast coast with its hiking, tide pools and black beaches, and even a drive up to Hakaka Falls was not long at all. We would stay again!

The property is lovely.

Great Location! Relaxing on the Lanai with morning coffee & tea, listening to the birds our favorite! Fresh oranges for breakfast provided by the owner John whom is a fantastic host! The amenities exceeded our expectations, this sweet space is definable a gem in the tropics! Mahalo🌺

John as the host was the epitome of hospitality. His attention to detail is something that you don't see at all rentals. He wants to make your stay a memorable event, and ours was. From impeccable property upkeep (check out his garden tour), to amenities like the espresso machine and rice cooke, to top-notch laundry facilities for that mid-vacation gotta-have-clean-clothes moment, this was a well-appointed guest house. And to further show how much John cares about your experience, we off-handedly mentioned that the kitchen needed some stainless steel mixing bowls. And wouldn't you know, before we hit Honolulu on our flight out, he sent us a photo of his Amazon order for the bowls. The next guests will be living in even higher style. And to top it all off, Paco (the pooch) is very generous with his visits as well. We would highly recommend John's cottage as a place to relax and renew. A car is definitely necessary, and if you're looking for white sand beaches, you're on the wrong side of the island.

Apparently, an unusually wet season was taking place during our visit. This made John's lanai all the more enjoyable as we were protected from the rain but still able to be outside. His place was clean with an easy layout for connection with the people you are vacationing with. A nice quiet oasis to return to at the end of a day exploring the island. Carol & Patrick