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Historic Guest Cottage • A/C • Pool • 2BR/2BA

Holiday home in Keaau with an outdoor pool

Photo gallery for Historic Guest Cottage • A/C • Pool • 2BR/2BA

guest cottage
Front Lanai
Front Lanai
view from lanai
Guest cottage

Reviews

9.8 out of 10
Exceptional
2 bedrooms2 bathroomsSleeps 492.9 sq m

Popular amenities

  • Dryer
  • Washer
  • Parking available
  • Kitchen
  • Barbecue grill

Explore the area

View map
Keaau, HI
  • Place, University of Hawaii at Hilo
    ‪13 min drive‬
  • Place, Port of Hilo
    ‪16 min drive‬
  • Place, Ha'ena Beach
    ‪22 min drive‬
  • Airport, Hilo, HI (ITO-Hilo Intl.)
    ‪15 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

2 bedrooms (sleeps 4)

Bedroom 1

1 Queen Bed

Bedroom 2

1 Queen Bed

2 bathrooms

Bathroom 1

Toilet · Shower only

Bathroom 2

Toilet · Shower only

Spaces

Porch or lanai
Kitchen
Garden
Dining area

About this property

Historic Guest Cottage • A/C • Pool • 2BR/2BA

Experience the charm of old Hawai‘i in this historic 2BR/2BA cottage (now with AC!) on a former sugar plantation estate. Surrounded by the island jungle and timeless beauty, this serene escape blends heritage charm with modern comfort.

Inside, you’ll find original floors, moldings, trims, and weighted wood sash windows that reflect the craftsmanship of a bygone era.

Enjoy shared pool access, sip coffee on the lanai, or simply relax to the sounds of nature.
We are surrounded by about ten acres of luscious botanical gardens, meadows, orchards, and jungle, preserving its unique plantation ambiance.
It allows you to connect with the charm of a past simpler life, as it used to be a century ago on the Island.

Our estate is rich in island history that dates back beyond the plantation era to ancient Hawaiian legends and fairytales. The land was originally owned by King William Charles Lunalilo. The land was then purchased by the Shipman Family and the main residence was built in 1898 as the home to the Ola'a Sugar Planation Manager.

It was sold by the Shipman Family in the 1980's after the collapse of the Hawai'i sugar industry and has been privately owned since that time. The estate has been featured in books, films, commercials and television shows.

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Amenities

Pool
Kitchen
Washing machine
Dryer
Free WiFi
Air conditioning

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House Rules

Check in after 3:00 PM
Minimum age to rent: 18
Check out before 11:00 AM
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Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17
There are mostly safety concerns
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Events

No events allowed
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Pets

No pets allowed
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Smoking

Smoking is not permitted
Smoking allowed on lanai

Check-out instructions

The host requires you to complete the following before checking out:
Load and start the dishwasher
Gather used towels
Remove personal items, remove leftover food and drinks and take out the rubbish
Turn off the lights and lock the doors
Place trash in black can behind main residence
Failure to complete these may result in a negative review from the host.
No visitors during quiet hours. Remove shoes before entering.
Close all doors and windows when using A/C and turn off A/C when leaving the cottage.
Furniture is not to be rearranged.

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
On-site parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Host has indicated that there is a carbon monoxide detector 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 GE-079-875-0720-01, TA-079-875-0720-01, 160030850000

We should mention

This property does not have any lifts
A car is required for transport to and from this property

About the area

Keaau

Located in Keaau, this holiday home is in a rural area. Prince Kuhio Plaza and Hilo Shopping Center are worth checking out if shopping is on the agenda, while those wishing to experience the area's natural beauty can explore Wailuku River State Park and Kaumana Springs Wilderness. Hiʻiaka's Healing Hawaiian Herb Garden and Hilo Coffee Mill are also worth visiting. Make sure you get close to the area's animals with activities such as game walks and birdwatching.
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Map
Keaau, HI

What's nearby

  • University of Hawaii at Hilo - 13 min drive - 13.6 km
  • Coconut Island Park - 16 min drive - 17.4 km
  • Port of Hilo - 16 min drive - 19.3 km
  • Carlsmith Beach Park - 22 min drive - 22.0 km
  • Ha'ena Beach - 22 min drive - 9.9 km

Getting around

  • Hilo, HI (ITO-Hilo Intl.) - 16 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪McDonald's - ‬9 min drive
  • ‪McDonald's - ‬20 min walk
  • ‪Fairway Grill - ‬9 min drive
  • ‪The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf - ‬19 min walk
  • ‪Poppy - ‬6 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Does Historic Guest Cottage • A/C • Pool • 2BR/2BA have a pool?

Yes, this property has an outdoor pool.

Is Historic Guest Cottage • A/C • Pool • 2BR/2BA pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

What time is check-in at Historic Guest Cottage • A/C • Pool • 2BR/2BA?

Check-in begins at 3:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Historic Guest Cottage • A/C • Pool • 2BR/2BA?

Checkout is at 11:00 AM.

Where is Historic Guest Cottage • A/C • Pool • 2BR/2BA located?

Situated in a rural location, this holiday home is within 6 miles (10 km) of Hiʻiaka's Healing Hawaiian Herb Garden, Fuku-Bonsai Cultural Center and Kilauea Caverns of Fire. Mauna Loa Macadamia Nut Factory and Ha'ena Beach are also within 6 miles (10 km).

Reviews

9.8

Exceptional

9.6/10

Cleanliness

9.0/10

Amenities

9.0/10

Property conditions & facilities

10/10

Eco-friendliness

9.8/10

Check-in

9.8/10

Communication

9.8/10

Location

9.6/10

Listing accuracy
Rating 10 - Excellent. 112 out of 122 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 7 out of 122 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 1 out of 122 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 1 out of 122 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 1 out of 122 reviews

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Robin

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Although I was unable to stay, my daughter stayed there and said it was quiet and private and the place felt loaded with history. She said when she first pulled up, she thought she was moving into a mansion. I wasn’t there, so I’m not sure until you book it and see it for yourself, Mahalo!
Stayed 4 nights in Jun 2025

6/10 Okay

Terrie M.

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

Guest Cottage

Except for the unexpected pig hunt in front of us, it was not bad.
Stayed 4 nights in Jan 2025

10/10 Excellent

Randy W.

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

Historic Hawaii

Charming two bedroom cottage with the feel of rural Hawaii.
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

David B.

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

Beautiful Property

This is our second time staying here. We highly recommend it. The house and the property are absolutely gorgeous. We are comfortable here and the hosts are very sweet and accommodating.
Stayed 6 nights in Jul 2024

10/10 Excellent

Michelle O.

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

We loved our stay!

Super quiet and peaceful property! Surrounded by the jungle, this property was amazing! Plus our own private pool which was just lovely. We absolutely would stay again! This property is absolutely perfect for two couples. The two rooms are exactly the same with their own bathrooms. 10/10 recommend!
Stayed 5 nights in May 2024

10/10 Excellent

Cindy G.

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

Perfect Historic Guest Cottage

Loved our stay at this lovely cottage set on 9 beautiful acres. It felt like we were actually guests of the original plantation house. Stayed for thirteen nights, and were joined by our daughter for five nights. Plenty of room for the three of us. Favorite times were morning coffee and afternoon cocktails on the veranda. Easy drive to both Hilo and Volcano, and Foodland grocery is a mile away. Highly recommend.
Stayed 13 nights in Feb 2024

10/10 Excellent

Michelle N., Kingsley, MI

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

Charming Cottage

Gisele was a wonderful host. The cottage was exactly what I imagined, the quintessential Hawaiian cottage in the jungle. Sounds of nature abound and nothing else. Good location to stay to begin each adventure. It rained but never all day, every day. I never missed the AC. Comfortable bed.
Stayed 5 nights in Mar 2023

10/10 Excellent

Darel G.

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

A small step back in time

The cottage is tastefully decorated and we appreciated the antiques here and there. I felt like I should be wearing a different outfit and I told my wife it felt like we were on a film set at times. I always wondered what "the jungle comes alive at night" meant. Now I think I have at least an idea. This was a great place to stay that is out of the ordinary and has a wonderful historical feel about it. We all enjoyed having something that was extraordinary instead of average and run of the mill. Thank you!
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2024

10/10 Excellent

Millie K.

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

Guest cottage stay in Keaau

The stay here was amazing. We arrived quite late in the evening and you certainly need a flashlight of some sort to walk the path to the cottage. Beware there are frogs along the pathway. Lol. Thank God for the lights on our phones. Everything about the cottage was more than I could ask for. It was clean. The beds were comfortable and the fresh flowers were so fragrant and added a nice touch. Lisa was wonderful. She was welcoming and helpful with all our questions. She sent me links to all the places we wanted to visit and/or recommended by her. Lisa offered to show us the main house. That was something I was looking forward to based on some comments from other people who stayed there previously but we just ran out of time. My only regret is that we didn’t stay longer and we didn’t have time to appreciate everything that was available to us. I would have love to have cooked a meal there as the kitchen was fully stocked with cookware. Thank you Lisa for hosting a wonderful stay. We will be back in the near future.
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2023

10/10 Excellent

Kim K., Woodland Park, CO, USA

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

Rustic but lovely

This little cottage is a great peek into the past - its historic significance is interesting, and knowing how the owners have worked to save this property is incredible! It's simple, has all you need for a delightful stay, and is a quiet oasis (well, see note about coqui, but I love them)! It's close to town but still feels rural. The house is stocked with everything you need, including fans, a great selection of pans, towels, beach chairs, etc. They even thoughtfully provided earplugs, because as other reviews note, those little coqui have a voice 100x their size and the give a concert all night long! I love the sound, so it didn't bother me, but if you're a light sleeper or haven't experienced the frog chorus before, you may need them. There are lovely trees, many beautiful plantings, and you'll enjoy spotting a pig or two crossing the lawn. And we were lucky enough to see the hens and chicks scouting the lawn for tasty morsels, they were such cute fluffballs! The one thing I wish we'd thought to bring or have handy was a flashlight. At night, it's so wonderfully dark, but that's when the toads like to hang out on the brick walkway to the cottage! Being fearless (or slightly dumb, but I'm giving them the benefit of the doubt), they don't move out of your way, so we were careful to use our phone lights to find them and gently nudge them off the sidewalk so we didn't splat them. Overall, wonderful!
Stayed 6 nights in Aug 2023

10/10 Excellent

John C.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
We had such a lovely stay. It was the small details we appreciated: coffee filters, brand new kitchen sponge, beach towels, bug spray, first aid kit, charcoal, lighter fluid, laundry detergent, dryer sheets, etc etc. We didn’t have to worry about anything. AND THERE WAS A/C!! Effective, cold A/C. It was heaven. The roosters and chickens were a delight. The cats were adorable. Grace is the sweetest dog. We even saw one of the wild pigs that live on the property!We had privacy, it was quiet and in a great location. This house is a hidden gem. We can’t wait to return!The cottage is the perfect size for two people. The layout is comfortable. The wooden floors are beautiful! Highly recommend staying here. Thanks, Lisa! A hui hou!
Stayed 5 nights in Oct 2025

8/10 Good

Dianne B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
The cottage is lovely with an 18th century feel - hardwood floors, high ceilings and furnishings appropriate for the time. And, the wildlife on the property is entertaining from roosters, chickens and wild pigs to lots and lots of frogs (which are very noisy at night). The host was pleasant & accommodated all our needs, including walking back to the property at night to help us navigate the television/cable system.The brick path leading to the property can be difficult to navigate with broken bricks and animal feces. And, the property is difficult to find at night.
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2025

10/10 Excellent

Jeanne H.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Well organized and fully equipped with everything from emergency first aid kit to flashlight, sunscreen to coolers, wide array of kitchen tools were great in case needed. We enjoyed the veranda seating and the proximity to the community center where we spent 3 days intensive lauhala weaving. Conveniently located for our needs. Mahalo Nui loa.
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2025

10/10 Excellent

Colleen A.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Everything was as expected.
Stayed 4 nights in Jun 2025

10/10 Excellent

Laura N.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
What a beautiful, tranquil place! This property is like a step back in time. We stayed in the lovely Victorian cottage that has been fully restored, and furnished to match. I loved how open, airy and elegant yet understated it was, yet had a well equipped kitchen and came with all the pool/fun accessories you would need for your vacay. Everything on the property was lovingly tended to by our wonderful hosts. You can tell this huge property is someone's labor of love.Will definitely stay here again!
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2025

10/10 Excellent

Mark M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location

Comfortable Cottage and Mystery Jungle

This little cottage was perfect! It was super clean, had everything we needed, comfy beds, nice linens, fresh flowers and character. The owners put a lot of care into the decor and comforts inside the cottage. Everything worked fine and was as expected, if not better. Loved the two bathrooms off the bedrooms for our teens.The grounds need a ton of work that I'm sure is overwhelming for the owners. There is so much history hidden in that jungle! From mossy stone pathways to no where to overgrown specimen trees that were once prized, the grounds were amazing yet left us with a sense of mystery. Would have loved to have a write up on the property's history in the cottage to know more, as the VRBO historical description is not easily found. I know if we stayed longer the owners would have graciously given us more history, but we were so busy. Great setting for a novel!The coqui frogs at night were amazing to fall asleep to, but the roosters doodling at our window called for ear plugs (supplied by owners). There were many unhealthy cats on the property that needed some care, but also added to the mystique of the place. We could hear the wild pigs squealing at night but never saw one on the grounds. And we tried to adventure around the property but the spiders were too numerous for my comfort, something that is seasonal.Overall a great visit, close to Volcano National Park and Hilo. The cottage was comfortable and the property was intriguing. Mahalo!
Stayed 4 nights in Mar 2025

10/10 Excellent

Michelle C.

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

Amazing Experience

We had such a great experience staying in the guest cottage. It was so private, clean, cozy, and the views were breathtaking. The host was so good to work with. The microwave went out during our stay and they were there to fix it immediately. Also, they were so good to give recommendations and help with all our needs including last minute snorkeling gear. Staying here added so much to our experience here in Hawaii and I would stay here again, definitely recommend.
Stayed 3 nights in Mar 2025

10/10 Excellent

Laura and George C.

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

Chickens and Cats and Frogs, oh my!

My husband and I have returned to this charming old estate cottage several times, preferring it to the many condos on the island. Being set far back from the road by the huge lawn and trees, it is so quiet! (Aside from the chickens and frogs). Lisa, the onsite manager is readily available and friendly. Not far from Volcanoes National Park.
Stayed 5 nights in Jan 2025

10/10 Excellent

m h.

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

Historic gem immersed in nature

I loved my stay at this historic guest cottage! What a great find…close to town and has a sparkling pool! Home was clean, beds comfortable, kitchen well stocked, grounds beautiful. If you appreciate plantation buildings, this one is so beautiful and rare. I needed and used the supplied earplugs to drown out the roosters but this home is BUG FREE. I loved eating breakfast daily on the lanai and watching the wildlife. Highly recommend. Lisa is kind, helpful, and lovely. Thanks for a great 10 day stay!!
Stayed 9 nights in Dec 2024

10/10 Excellent

Donna B.

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

Keaau fun

Came to visit friends on the Island, had a great time in the pool every afternoon.
Stayed 7 nights in Oct 2024

10/10 Excellent

Jeff C.

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

The Perfect Hawaiian Getaway

I have been coming to Hawaii for almost fifty years and the cottage in Kea’au is the nicest place I have stayed. The cottage is historic while being both comfortable and authentic to the time it was built at the turn of the last century. The grounds are spacious and private surrounded by jungle complete with singing frogs at night and crowing roosters in the morning. The swimming pool is an added bonus as is the spacious front lanai. It is ideally located near the beaches and the Volcanoes National Park. Shops are five minutes away yet you feel like you are out in the country. The hosts are lovely both friendly and accommodating. My wife and I came with my sister and my wife’s twin sister to celebrate their 75th birthday. We couldn’t have been happier. The cottage would also be perfect for a young family.
Stayed 11 nights in Sep 2024

10/10 Excellent

N R.

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

Private. Peaceful. Perfect.

This is a piece of a historic plantation 5 minutes from Kea’au. Sprawling green lawns and meadows tucked in behind jungle. Huge main house. We stayed in the only guest house, and by the clean pool. Yes: great front porch. Yes: TV. Yes: roosters and frogs! Peaceful and clean. No: air conditioning (didn’t need it, there were fans)
Stayed 5 nights in Sep 2024

10/10 Excellent

Sarah

Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities, communication
Beautiful, magical place!!!
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2024

10/10 Excellent

Christiane Y.

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

Wonderful Stay in Kea'au

This historic cottage is an absolute gem! Surrounded by lush gardens on a quiet estate, it is about as peaceful and relaxing as you can get. The cottage is beautifully furnished and spacious. The location is convenient to Volcanoes National Park as well as Hilo and the Hamakua Coast. I look forward to coming back in the future!
Stayed 4 nights in Mar 2024

10/10 Excellent

Tammy

Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities, communication
Very pretty and unique property, loved the feeling of being away from it all and the sounds of nature on the farm but with the convenience of driving right out to stores etc
Stayed 4 nights in Feb 2024

About the host

Hosted by Lisa Potter

Host profile image

What makes this property unique

One of the unique and special aspects of this property is its location. It provides an oasis of peace and quiet in the middle of modern day conveniences.
We are very central to everything, yet very private and secluded, surrounded by acres of garden and jungle areas.

Languages:

English

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