Hamakua Guesthouse

Amazing location. Staff is friendly interesting and total clean freaks. More staff than guests and the most amazing home/property! 3rd time staying here. I could live there and always feel like a millionaire! I would taught it more but I am afraid too many people would ruin it and curtail my reservation opportunities.

Super relaxing off-grid accommodation. The house was well-equipped, and very quiet and relaxing even with other guests staying in another room. We had a great time, and plan to stay here again someday. The booking process was easy, and the communication we received was very intentional and timely.

Hamakua Guesthouse absolutely broke my heart on this trip. It was my second time to the Big Island and my second time staying at the guest house. I previously came here in March of 2020, weeks before the COVID lockdown started, and memories and photos of my short stay at the Hamakua Guesthouse were a true bright spot for me to reflect on during lockdown. I absolutely loved my visit in 2020 which is why I went out of my way to book a few days here again. The coqui frogs and the rain, the birds, being able to shower and witness a sunrise, sleeping in a hammock--being someone who lives and works in the heart of the East Coast this was balm for my soul. I loved how minimalistic it was, how it has recycling, composting and is powered by solar and uses rain water. I love when I can minimize my impact on the natural resources of a place I am visiting. I had 2 nights book for this second trip, and I had no real plans except to enjoy some reading time in the hammock, and hopefully use my gear from Snorkel Bob's one more time before I had to return it and explore neighboring Hilo again. I arrived after sunset and parked my car--the parking situation had changed since my last visit. There were now these short, grey, rectangular planters on spindly metal legs being used as a sort of parking marker. When I walked into my cabana, using my phone as flashlight I pulled the string of the lightbulb in the middle of the the cabana--and nothing happened. I fiddled with it and ended up calling the property manager. He sent an intern down to help me, with them being solar powered, he said, they could be a little picky with how you turn them on. I unpacked my car and grabbed the dinner I had picked up on my way, with the intention of eating it at the outdoor picnic tables that are behind the main house. I walked, flashlight and veggie wrap in one hand a can of flavored water and a can of beer in the other. There were a series of a few shallow steps to get to where the tables were. I'm scared of heights, so I'm usually really cautious on all steps. The steps however, weren't lit, and in my turning to look at the table and the people sitting at them I missed the bottom step and fell to the ground. My wrap flew into the bush in front of me, my drinks also went to the ground, both knees, my left hand and my right shoulder ended up being torn up--the knees especially. There were a few people sitting at the picnic table already--I heard them say 'is she alright?' but they never got up or did anything beyond that. I gathered myself, and my wrap and the two drink cans and went to clean myself up. I retreated back to my camping cabana down the hill and learned that night exactly how important knee comfort is when getting in and out of a hammock. Luckily I had bandages and Neosporin with me and I was able to keep from bleeding all over the hammock. I ate my abused veggie wrap and sipped on the beer--I couldn't open the other can because it was so damaged in the fall