Convenient and secure on-site parking, a rare amenity in the area.
Centrally-located
You're never far from where you need to be with this convenient location.
Sleeps 2
Popular amenities
Porch or veranda
Barbecue
Washer/dryer
Free internet
Kitchen
Refrigerator
Explore the area
Keaau, HI
Hobby Garden Hawaii
Place, Hobby Garden Hawaii
12 min drive
Hilo Farmers Market
Place, Hilo Farmers Market
36 min drive
Port of Hilo
Place, Port of Hilo
36 min drive
Hilo, HI (ITO-Hilo Intl.)
Airport, Hilo, HI (ITO-Hilo Intl.)
35 min drive
Rooms & beds
0 bedrooms (sleeps 2)
Bathroom 1
Toilet · Shower only
Spaces
Porch or lanai
Kitchen
Garden
Dining area
About this property
Secluded ~ Centrally Located ~ Huge Lanai ~ Onsite Owner
A private studio cottage situated at the back of a one acre property. Surrounded by thick vegetation, you feel like you're in the jungle! Vaulted wood ceilings with exposed beams and optional dim mood lighting are two wonderful features.
Garden views surround from the 384sqft. lanai, giving you peace and privacy. Included on the lanai is a hammock for 2 (up to 450 lbs.), a portable gas BBQ grill, patio furniture with mosquito net umbrella cover, wheeled cooler, beach towels, snorkels and masks, beach chairs, 2 boogie boards, large beach umbrella and 2 large umbrellas for rainy days. The lanai is 8 feet wide and runs along two sides of the cottage, extending the living space. A roof overhang of 4 feet protects the lanai on rainy days so you can still enjoy being outside without getting wet. Listen to the roosters, Hawaiian doves and other sounds of nature as you relax with your tea or coffee.
There are many sounds of nature all around us, primarily Hawaiian dove, coqui frogs at night, crickets, birds, and other frogs. We have small hobby farms on each side of us, so you will also hear their dogs, ducks, goats, chickens and roosters. I realize roosters can be very annoying if you are not used to them, so I have two fans in the unit that can be used to help muffle the sounds. There is also a sound machine with 10 different sound scenarios that is very effective in covering the roosters crowing. Roosters are very common throughout the Puna district - I've even heard them inside the Hilo airport post office! If roosters are a concern you want to avoid, be sure to ask your potential hosts about their own or neighboring roosters.
Inside sleeps 2 with a queen-size bed. The queen bed is medium firmness with a center reinforcement for back support and plush mattress cover for added comfort.
There is no A/C, however, there are two stand fans and a ceiling fan to help keep cool.
Dish satellite TV and internet are included. The TV is a 39" LED/HDTV with 120 channels.
Full kitchen with gas stove, oven, refrigerator. It is fully stocked with pots, pans and wok, utensils for eating and cooking, rice maker, microwave, crock pot, coffee maker and Starbucks coffee, blender, 4-slot toaster, 25 spices, and purified water dispenser. Dishes are a service for 4, including plates, bowls, wooden salad bowls, large coffee mugs, glasses, wine glasses, shot glass, and plastic cups.
The bathroom has a shower stall, pedestal sink, laundry basket, plenty of towels, hand towels and wash cloths. Shampoo, conditioner, and body wash are also provided. Our property also features tankless hot water heaters, so you will not run out of hot water.
You are welcome to use our washer and dryer located in the main house carport storage. Laundry soap, bleach, and dryer sheets are provided as well.
We provide the book "Hawaii: The Big Island Revealed" so you don't miss any off-the-beaten-path places of interest.
Although our location is central to Hilo, the Volcano Park and the coastlines of lower Puna, this is the BIG ISLAND - it is not The Island of Convenience, lol. In other words, there is no getting out of long drives no matter where you stay.
Getting here is super easy, and on paved roads the whole way. We look forward to seeing you!
Please email me if you have any questions or concerns that I may not have addressed here.
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The existence of neighbor dogs and roosters is disclosed in my ad. They are common in Hawaii. Please do not leave low-star reviews for them.
Please use the sound machine or fans to muffle the roosters, dogs and nature sounds if they bother you.
Please do not leave lights on or fans running while you are out for the day.
Important information
You need to know
Property Registration Number TA-031-630-1824-01, GE-031-630-1824-01
Property # 726004vb
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
On-site parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Host has indicated that there is no carbon monoxide detector on the property, but there are gas appliances; consider bringing a portable detector with you on the trip
Host has indicated that there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a first aid kit and a deadlock
About the area
Keaau
Located in Keaau, this apartment is in a rural area and by the sea. Palace Theater and Lyman Museum are local landmarks, and travellers looking to shop may want to visit Prince Kuhio Plaza and Hilo Shopping Center. Hobby Garden Hawaii and Fuku-Bonsai Cultural Center are also worth visiting. Discover the area's water adventures with kayaking and scuba diving nearby, or enjoy the great outdoors with hiking/biking trails and horse riding.
Is Secluded ~ Centrally Located ~ Huge Lanai ~ Onsite Owner pet-friendly?
No, pets are not allowed at this property.
How much does it cost to stay at Secluded ~ Centrally Located ~ Huge Lanai ~ Onsite Owner?
As of 16 June 2026, prices found for a 1-night stay for 2 adults at Secluded ~ Centrally Located ~ Huge Lanai ~ Onsite Owner on 21 June 2026 start from NZ$418, including taxes and fees. This price is based on the lowest nightly price found in the last 24 hours for stays in the next 30 days. Prices are subject to change. Choose your dates for more accurate prices.
How much is parking at Secluded ~ Centrally Located ~ Huge Lanai ~ Onsite Owner?
On-site parking is available at the property.
What time is check-in at Secluded ~ Centrally Located ~ Huge Lanai ~ Onsite Owner?
Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.
What time is check-out at Secluded ~ Centrally Located ~ Huge Lanai ~ Onsite Owner?
Checkout is at 11:00 AM.
Where is Secluded ~ Centrally Located ~ Huge Lanai ~ Onsite Owner located?
Situated by the sea, this apartment building is 1.4 mi (2.3 km) from Hobby Garden Hawaii and within 12 miles (20 km) of Pahoa Museum and Fuku-Bonsai Cultural Center. Hiʻiaka's Healing Hawaiian Herb Garden and Kilauea Caverns of Fire are also within 12 miles (20 km).
Reviews
9.8
Exceptional
Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
Welcoming host, great location for a lot of exploring, well appointed with great kitchen set up and beach gear. We loved hanging out on the lanai listening to the rain!
Karla provided everything that we would need during our stay. It was so quiet and peaceful and felt just like home. The room was very clean and we were also given a nice walk through upon arrival. We will definitely be booking again and would highly recommend.
Had a great stay here, perfect size for my wife and I, clean place, host was great. Liked the layout, having everything combined in one room, except the bathroom. Kitchen had everything we needed. There was a lot of extra food and kitchen supplies left there from previous guests that we were able to use as well. The roosters crowed most of the night, but we were warned about that, and as long as we had a fan going the noise didn’t bother. It was a great value for the money, for a place to stay in Hawai’i, I did a lot of researching before choosing this place. Highly recommend
My wife and I stayed there for 11 nights and loved this place. Karla was a great host, very responsive, attentive to details, and quick in communication. The house had everything we needed, and even more - from full kitchen, extra pillows and blankets, to beach chairs and a cooler, snorkeling gear, and even yoga mats! The place is exceptionally clean and cozy, secluded and peaceful, and... what else would you need for a perfect vacation?! Thank you, Karla, for a great place to stay!
This place was very comfortable and private. Everything was perfect. stayed there during the hurricane and felt very safe there. We would stay there again if available.
We have nearby family so the location was perfect. Karla keeps everything just right. Beautiful surroundings and everything we needed for a nice beach day. Highly recommend!
Karla was a great host. She met us when we arrived and showed is around. The studio was the perfect place to help us relax and unwind. We really enjoyed eating on the lanai. Would definitely stay again.
This place is a great stay that is also very affordable. It was a great location for our adventures all across the island. Karla was very helpful in showing us around and making us feel right at home. It is such a cozy and beautiful place! We would absolutely love to come back some day!
The property was clean and quiet. We enjoyed the sounds of the coqui frogs and didn’t mind the chickens. It would get stuffy during the day, but it cooled down at night. The fans pretty much blocked out any outside noise. The owner communicated promptly and we had no issues while there. We would definitely stay here again.
This was a wonderful small cottage that provided what we needed for our stay. We did run into a few issues with fire ants out on the patio table but you have to expect that in such a nature filled environment. The beach accessories were fantastic to have available. Not much air movement outside so some outside fans would be very helpful on hot days! We would definitely stay here again!
Cute property just right for the 2 of us. We were on the Hilo side to explore east and south of the big island and this place was a great base. Clean and serene with a great lanai. Mahalo
This was our second stay in Karlas cottage.
Wonderful little spot with an awesome porch and everything what you need for good time.
Karla is a fantastic host, very thoughtful.
We would highly recommend this place and we will return for sure.
All the best for Karla.
This is a great stay for those wishing to explore the Hilo side of the Big Island. It's located in a secluded area that makes you feel like you're in Hawaiian tropical forest. It features a beautiful lanai that makes the morning perfect. Karla was very welcoming and we really appreciated the use of the washer and dryer (particularly with the rain we experienced!)
This was the perfect quiet home base for our stay. We loved falling alseep to the coqui frogs and being greeted by the little geckos around the property. This unit has pretty much everything you could need and then some. Communication was easy. I would definitely stay again!
Christel V.
Stayed 5 nights in Jun 2023
About the host
Hosted by Karla Nava
We are Joel and Karla Nava. I'm 61 and he's 55. Joel and I have been married for 27 years and we have one son between us, Lakota, who is 26. I also have 3 other adult children in the mainland and 5 grandchildren. Joel works in I/T and I have been a homemaker for the past 10 years.
We took our first vacation to Kauai in 2006 and decided then that we had to live in Hawaii - but which island? So from there we vacationed on Maui in 2010, and Oahu and the Big Island in 2013. Due to economic and island growth factors, we decided that the Hilo side of the Big Island would be home. After a lot of saving up, we returned to the Big Island in Feb 2015 to purchase our new home!
Why they chose this property
We chose this property because it is central to Hilo, Volcanoes National Park and Pahoa. It also had a separate guest cottage that we could turn into a vacation rental for extra income. It is unique in that it has 4 separate structures on the property - the main house, a detached carport, a work shop, and the guest cottage in the back. (The work shop will not be used while guests are visiting.) We love the tropical lushness and the affordability factor compared to the other islands.
What makes this property unique
Unique benefits for this location is being so close to an active volcano and having 11 of the 13 climate zones right here on one island! You don't have to travel far to be in a whole new world and we love that. If you wake up to endless rain in Hilo, go spend the day on the Kona side or make your way above the clouds and watch the sunset on Mauna Kea! Tip: You will be told that you need a 4WD vehicle to go to the summit of Mauna Kea and this is true, but only after you've reached the Visitor Center at the 9000ft. level. You can drive a non-4WD up to the Visitor's Center but the ascent can be very rough on vehicles, so I recommend that you stop and rest the car every mile or two for about 5 or 10 minutes. The Visitors Center is at the 6th mile. Things to see and do at this level are walking a path through the rare silversword plants and hiking to the top of a cinder cone hill to get a view of Mauna Loa, the clouds below and the sunset. The Visitor's Center also has a gift shop and hot drinks for sale.
As for the property itself, we fell in love with the spacious lanais that allow you to enjoy sitting outside in the cool breeze and just taking in all the sounds of nature, no matter if it is the heat of the day or if it is pouring rain. All of our dinners are had out on the lanai! Another great feature is the tankless hot water heaters - no running out of hot water, unless you run out of propane! In that case, we can have you hooked up with a new tank right away.
Languages:
English
Premier Host
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