See all properties
Entire home

Royal Palm Cottage/5 mins from beach/Akaka Falls/Private Lanai

Cottage in Hakalau with private pool and kitchen

Photo gallery for Royal Palm Cottage/5 mins from beach/Akaka Falls/Private Lanai

Royal Palm Grove. View from private lanai. Weddings Planned here.
Royal Palm Cottage thru the gardens
Cottage exterior- private Lanai and sauna
Dining room w/ Kitchen-ette, medium refridg/freeze, Coffee, hot plate, toaster.
Convertible 6’ sofa mattress for single adult under 6 ft.

Reviews

9.8 out of 10
Exceptional
1 bedroom1 bathroomSleeps 460.4 sq m

Popular amenities

  • Parking available
  • Air conditioning
  • Pool
  • Barbecue grill
  • Outdoor space

Explore the area

View map
Hakalau, HI
  • Place, Akaka Falls
  • Place, Akaka Falls State Park
  • Place, Umauma Falls
  • Airport, Hilo, HI (ITO-Hilo Intl.)
    ‪29 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

1 bedroom (sleeps 4)

Living Room 1

1 Double Sofa Bed and 2 Single Futons

Master Bedroom

1 Queen Bed

1 bathroom

Tiled shower

Toilet · Shower only

Spaces

Porch or lanai
Kitchen
Kitchenette
Garden
Dining area

About this property

Royal Palm Cottage/5 mins from beach/Akaka Falls/Private Lanai

Situated on an 8.5 acre exotic fruit farm along the Hamakua Coast, Royal Palm Cottage will provide you real feeling of Hawaii country living. A view of Mauna Kea greets you as you drive up Chin Chuck Road, known for the well manicured, 10 acre farm lots. As you enter the estate you will marvel at the breathtaking views of mature Royal Palms, 30 foot tall Black Bamboo, ocean views and many tropical Hawaiian flowers. Famed Akaka Falls State park is just 6 miles away. The night skies are perfect for stargazing. As the sun rises, common country sounds of rain, roosters, cows, birds, owls, hawks, coqui frogs & dogs can be heard. We have a designated path with chairs set up for watching the sun rise. A boarding dog Kennel shares a portion of the property. Barking can be heard 8-10 am during feeding times or if wild pigs are roaming. It is best if our guests are lovers of dogs, man's best friend.

The evenings are perfect for star gazing thru the royal palms.

A Romantic, newly built private 1 bedroom, 1 bath with tiled shower, kitchenette, dinning area and living room will welcome you home after a day of exploring. Amenities include a Propane Fire pit, BBQ grill, dry sauna, Koa wood floors, queen bed, air conditioning, ceiling fan, sofa that converts to a single bed, dimmable lights and a private lanai. The colors are cool and relaxing for the nature enthusiast. Perfect for a lovely romantic retreat, anniversary, Honeymoon or just a visit on the Hamakua side of the Big island.

1 or 2 bed room cottage studio will be available to book 11-1-2022. inquire for details.

Just 15 miles from Hilo, 30 miles from Waipio Valley, 1 hour from the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. Over 200 mature fruit trees are on property. Seasonal Lychee, Emperor Lychee, Rambuton, Mango, Mangosteen, Atemoya and Papaya will be included in the welcome/Breakfast fruit bowl. We may have a litter of puppies 2-3 times a year on the property. Puppy noises , some barking can be heard during business hours, feeding times 8-10. Smoking allowed on Lanai ONLY ( please close glass sliding door).

Add dates for prices

Amenities

Pool
Breakfast included
Kitchen
Free WiFi
Air conditioning
Outdoor space

Have a question?

AI iconBeta

Get instant answers with AI powered search of property information and reviews.

Similar properties

Observation deck view from the main house lanai.
Honolii Black Sand Beach Vacation Rental
  • Ocean view
  • Kitchen
  • Washer
  • Dryer
9.8 out of 10, (376 reviews)
Honolii Black Sand Beach Vacation Rental

House Rules

Check in after 3:00 PM
Minimum age to rent: 21
Check out before 11:00 AM
default

Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17
Let us know the ages.
default

Events

Events allowed: family gatherings, birthday parties, weddings
$1200 SITE FEE charged.$500 security deposit.
default

Pets

No pets allowed, service animals permitted
default

Smoking

Smoking allowed: in designated areas
Smoking allowed outside on the Lanai only.

Check-out instructions

The host requires you to complete the following before checking out:
Gather used towels
Remove personal items
Turn off the lights and lock the doors
No need to fix the bed. Please wash used dishes.
Failure to complete these may result in a negative review from the host.
Weddings w/ site fee. Max of 24 guests $1200. Full out door kitchen, bathroom, tables chairs. 6 hr event window. $500 security deposit.
Cottage is insulated to keep sound minimized. Barking dogs may be heard at random times, if pigs roam. Coqui frogs. Close windows, turn on AC.
Please use ice and filtered water dispenser on the refrigerator on the lanai. Extra freezer space is available here.

Important information

You need to know

Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
Parties and events (including family gatherings, birthday parties and weddings) are allowed on site. Maximum attendees: 24
Note from host: $1200 SITE FEE charged.$500 security deposit.
Host has indicated that there are no carbon monoxide detectors or gas appliances on the property
Host has indicated that there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher and a first aid kit
Property Registration Number TA-146-684-9792-01, GE-146-684-9792-01, 290020200001

We should mention

A car is recommended for transport to and from this property

About the area

Hakalau

Located in Hakalau, this cottage is in the mountains and by the sea. Pacific Tsunami Museum and Mokupapapa Discovery Center are cultural highlights, and some of the area's activities can be experienced at World Botanical Gardens and Zip Isle Zip Line. Hawaii Tropical Botanical Garden and Onomea Tea Company Estate are also worth visiting. Make sure you get close to the area's animals with activities such as game walks and birdwatching.
View more Cottages in HakalauOpens in a new window
Map
Hakalau, HI

What's nearby

  • Hakalau Beach Park - 4 min drive - 2.7 km
  • Zip Isle Zip Line - 5 min drive - 3.8 km
  • Hawaii Tropical Botanical Garden - 15 min drive - 15.5 km
  • Port of Hilo - 27 min drive - 30.3 km
  • Carlsmith Beach Park - 32 min drive - 32.9 km

Getting around

  • Hilo, HI (ITO-Hilo Intl.) - 31 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Mr. Ed's Bakery - ‬7 min drive
  • ‪Onomea Country Market & Cafe - ‬11 min drive
  • ‪The Hive - ‬7 min drive
  • ‪Hilo Shark’s Coffee Shop - ‬7 min drive
  • ‪What's Shakin' Smoothies - ‬13 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Does Royal Palm Cottage/5 mins from beach/Akaka Falls/Private Lanai have a pool?

Yes, this property has a pool.

Is Royal Palm Cottage/5 mins from beach/Akaka Falls/Private Lanai pet-friendly?

No, only service animals are welcome at the property.

What time is check-in at Royal Palm Cottage/5 mins from beach/Akaka Falls/Private Lanai?

Check-in begins at 3:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Royal Palm Cottage/5 mins from beach/Akaka Falls/Private Lanai?

Checkout is at 11:00 AM.

Where is Royal Palm Cottage/5 mins from beach/Akaka Falls/Private Lanai located?

Situated by the sea, this cottage is 0.7 mi (1.1 km) from Hamakua Heritage Corridor and within 3 miles (5 km) of Hakalau Beach Park and World Botanical Gardens. Zip Isle Zip Line and Kolekole Beach Park are also within 3 miles (5 km).

Reviews

9.8

Exceptional

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
Learn moreOpens in a new window
Rating 10 - Excellent. 86 out of 101 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 13 out of 101 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 1 out of 101 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 101 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 1 out of 101 reviews

9.8/10

Cleanliness

9.6/10

Amenities

9.4/10

Property conditions & facilities

8.8/10

Eco-friendliness

10/10

Check-in

9.8/10

Communication

9.8/10

Location

9.8/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Dan M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Was perfect for trip - quiet and peaceful with easy access to Hilo and the rest of the area.
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2025

10/10 Excellent

Tatiana v.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Safe, clean, peaceful, cozy, with all amenities you need. Communication was great as well. The fresh fruit and banana bread are such a nice gift upon arrival. Much appreciated and would stay again. Mahalo Nui
Stayed 1 night in Sep 2025

10/10 Excellent

Mariana

Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities, communication
Beautiful property to stay in!
Stayed 1 night in Mar 2025

10/10 Excellent

Darrick M.

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

Great stay

The cottage was nice, clean, and the fruit and banana bread were great!
Stayed 5 nights in Feb 2025

10/10 Excellent

Brittany C.

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

Great stay

We had a really nice stay here for 2 nights-we spent the days out exploring and came back to clean up for dinner. We didn't experience any disruptive noise from the kennels and the yard was nice with birds. We met the owner a couple times and she was kind. Everything was clean and they left fruit and homemade bread for us which was perfect for breakfast. Thank you!
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2025

10/10 Excellent

li Zhong

Liked: Amenities, property conditions & facilities
Beautiful property and great location
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2023

10/10 Excellent

Errol

Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities, communication
The property is fantastic! We loved our stay here

10/10 Excellent

Winona R.

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

Relaxing

House has charm. Beautiful area. New puppies are cute.
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2024

10/10 Excellent

eden n.

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

quick and easy stay

We only stayed one night as our trip was short but the process was seamless, the cottage was clean, well organized and nicely stocked. yard was beautiful.
Stayed 1 night in Aug 2023

10/10 Excellent

john m., santa monica

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

Very pleasant and clean

We were very pleased with our stay. The unit was clean and comfortable and larger than we expected. We would stay again. Thank you
Stayed 5 nights in Sep 2022

10/10 Excellent

Maya S.

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

Great Hosts and Serene Space & Dry Sauna!

Laurel was easy to work with, helpful and gave a lovely tour of her property. My favorite parts include the aisle of tall palms, the sound of the rain, frogs, and birds at night, and of course enjoying the sauna. Mahalo nui loa!
Stayed 2 nights in Feb 2024

8/10 Good

Brian S.

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

Lovely and a little loud

The place is charming. The setting is beautiful and convenient for visiting the Hilo area. The fruit and banana bread are delicious. As advertised, there is a kennel on the property, and during our stay, the dogs (and frogs) were particularly loud during the night (new puppies). But Laurel kindly apologized, and the listing gives fair warning.
Stayed 1 night in Aug 2024

10/10 Excellent

Neha M.

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

Warm Welcome!

We had a great experience staying at the Royal Palms Cottage. It was perfect for our family of 4. We were greeted so kindly by Laurel, and she was so hospitable. The place was immaculate and everything was well thought. Thank you!!
Stayed 1 night in Jun 2021

10/10 Excellent

Andy W.

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

beautiful cottage

close to Akaka falls, Town of hilo was ~ 1/2 hour away. beautiful yard with those tall palm trees! wish we had more time to spend on the Big Island! Owner greeted us on arrival and also left us fresh fruit too! The house is cozy and clean. please leave your shoes outside as to not get the house dirty. only thing- if you come back in the evening, there are bugs, so close the door right away
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2024

10/10 Excellent

Stephaine M.

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

Cutest Little Cottage on Big Island

This is the most beautiful property! The cottage is very clean, private, relaxing, and has the most beautiful view. The Host, Laurel, left me fresh fruits, homemade banana bread, waters in the fridge & the cutest personal note welcoming me. She also checked on me throughout my stay to make sure I was comfortable & had everything I needed. As well as recommend a few restaurants & fun places to check out. I would highly recommend staying here to anyone who is looking for the perfect place on Big Island!
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2022

10/10 Excellent

Helen T.

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

Great location, lovely setting

The plantation is beautiful and well located near 'Akaka Falls and the Hawaii Tropical Botanical Garden. The cottage is small, but very clean and well appointed. The kitchenette has a microwave, toaster oven, and plug-in hot plates, which were enough to enable us to cook for ourselves. We really appreciated that Laurel had left us complimentary banana bread and fresh tropical fruit even though we were only staying for one night! Plenty of people have complained about nighttime noise from the dogs and coqui frogs, but I agree with other reviewers that as long as you close all the windows and turn on fans and A/C (there's an extra fan in the bedroom), it's not a bother.
Stayed 1 night in Aug 2022

8/10 Good

Jaime H.

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

Great location

The location of the cottage was great. It allowed us to accomplish what we needed to do on that side of the island and stay out of the city. The cottage has a small kitchen with everything you need like hot plates, microwave, and fridge. The description about the cottage did talk about the dog kennel which we had no problem with. However, we were looking forward to listening to the frogs and not the dogs at night. Our last night there was definitely an unhappy doggy.
Stayed 4 nights in Sep 2022

8/10 Good

Bruce M.

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

Palm cottage.

The property is well kept. Lots of rain when we were there. Because off the weather, we spent a lot of our time inside. The furniture is definitely the most uncomfortable of any location we have stayed in. The bed was great. Nothing to do so I went out to the sauna and found a note that it was out of order.---service advertised and not provided- nor was there any offer of reimbursement. For some people, the dogs would be a problem. we have dogs and that was not a problem for us. We are both 76 years old and the steps up and down to the cottage were a problem when carrying groceries. Would no be a problem for younger people.
Stayed 28 nights in Jan 2023

10/10 Excellent

Margaret C.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Welcoming. Clean. Air conditioner and all appliances worked well. Safe. Beautiful
Stayed 6 nights in Oct 2025

10/10 Excellent

Brandy S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
We only stayed one night but would have loved to stay longer had we had the time. The cottage and property were absolutely beautiful, offered everything we needed, and Laurel was a lovely hostess. The breakfast with fresh fruit grown on site was a perfect way to get acquainted with Hawaii. We had to google what some of the fruit was and how to eat them. So much fun, and super fresh and delicious. Great experience!
Stayed 1 night in Sep 2025

10/10 Excellent

B W.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
We had an amazing stay at this beautiful Hilo property! The lush surroundings and well-maintained grounds made it a stunning retreat. We felt incredibly safe throughout our visit, which added to the overall comfort. The owner was responsive and approachable, making us feel we could reach out anytime with questions or needs. A delightful bonus was the fresh fruit provided, which was a perfect touch of local flavor. Highly recommend this gem for anyone visiting Hilo!
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2025

10/10 Excellent

Scott and LeeAnn Y.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Just as described. Thank you Laurel and Kelani again for sharing your space with us. About a 25 minute drive into Hilo.
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2025

10/10 Excellent

Rich M.

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

Hilo side cottage

A little drive north out of Hilo Check in and communications with host was easy and helpful. Property was as advertised and very relaxing. Loved the location!Definitely would stay again!
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2025

2/10 Terrible

Rajnish

Disliked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities, communication
I would NEVER stay here or recommend another to do so. The WORST experience I’ve ever had and I’ve been booking through Expedia for 10+ years, so I can say this with honesty and assurance to all future possible customer. • Owner has a dog kennel business on the same property. BARKING of dogs all THROUGHOUT the NIGHT. • Her rental place is not at all meant for 3 people. Third guest will end up sleeping on an inch thick futon or a hard and a very uncomfortable sleeper sofa. I had to ORDER an air MATTRESS online at Walmart for my daughter so I had to move a piece of furniture in the living room, and the owners trying to CHARGE for that! • SHEETS looked as they were burnt on the ends, and RIPPED on all corners. Owner CHARGED $40 for these damages however this was done prior to our arrival and we were the ones inconvenienced by this!! • Coffee maker needs a thorough cleaning as it was very dirty. The owner provides hot plates for cooking. • There is NO “FREE BREAKFAST”. You will be provided with some fruit and banana nut cake on your arrival. Do NOT book unless you want a NIGHT OF TERRIBLE SLEEP, COMPLETE DISRESPECT BY THE OWNER, HAVE A FAMILY OF 3+. Lots of false advertising.
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2025

8/10 Good

William D.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Thx nice place
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2025

About the host

Hosted by Laurel Smithson

Host profile image
I am born and raised in Hawaii. My husband Kalani and I love to travel the world and meet new people. We wanted to share a bit of paradise with our guests. Note a dog boarding kennel shares the property.We are the original owner of the property. Built the home and cottage. Planted all trees, orchards and landscape ourselves. Our labor of love. Hawaii is where we call home. The Royal Palm Cottage is New, built in August 2019.

Why they chose this property

The road we live on is quite historic. Sugar cane used to be planted on this section of Chin Chuck Road. The soil is very fertile and most of the property is home to over 200 exotic fruit trees. Lychee, Rambuton, Mangosteen, Mango, Papaya and Atemoya. The parcels are mostly10 acres and are well maintained and most have agriculture zoning. Many fruit orchards and farms line both sides of the road. It is a breath of fresh air. On a brisk winter morning, you can see Mauna Kea and the telescopes on a snow capped mountain. When you drive down the road, you may see a whale spouting in the ocean.

What makes this property unique

15 miles from Hilo town with not even one stop light along the way. Beautiful coast line drive in both directions along highway 19. 500 foot elevation keeps us cool with tradewind breezes, well maintained Farm style neighborhood. Tuesday's we have a Hakalau Farmer's market that hosts live music and local farmers with their produce baked goods and crafts. We also have 2 ladies from Thailand making delicious pad Thai, green paypaya salad and curries right there on site. Lots of new and old farmers join together to add to Hakalau's charm.

Languages:

English

Premier Host

They consistently provide great experiences for their guests
Tell us how we can improve our siteShare feedback

Hotels

beach rentals in Airlie Beach
rentals with pool in Taupō
villas Oia
houses Mount Ruapehu
cabins North Island

Holiday Rentals

Papamoa Beach Holiday Rentals
Motiti Island Holiday Rentals
Larnachs Castle Holiday Rentals
Heron Lake State Park Holiday Rentals
Mount Maunganui Holiday Rentals
Queenstown Holiday Rentals
Ocean Beach Holiday Rentals
Christchurch Botanic Gardens Holiday Rentals
Dunedin Holiday Rentals
Greymouth Holiday Rentals
Makarau Holiday Rentals
Bongaree Holiday Rentals
Shoal Bay Holiday Rentals
Rarangi Holiday Rentals
Newmarket Holiday Rentals
Kuala Lumpur Holiday Rentals
Mentone Holiday Rentals
Wenderholm Regional Park Holiday Rentals
Rarotonga Holiday Rentals
Te Karaka Holiday Rentals
New Zealand Holiday Rentals
Martins Bay Holiday Rentals
Paihia Holiday Rentals
Palm Beach Holiday Rentals
Glenorchy Holiday Rentals