Everything was fantastic. We really enjoyed the deck and fire table. The little dog Lizzie was a great playmate of our Granddaughter. The bedrooms were spacious as was the main room and kitchen. Our best time was when it rained at night and we sat out under the clear roof with the fire table going. We will be back.
Hot tub was nice but landlord jumped in just as we arrived and also came back to check on us when we entered providing additional instructions.
We enjoyed everything about the house and the location was perfect for visiting volcano national Park. Choices of restaurants and grocery stores is limited. Would’ve liked to known that we were living above somebody. That was not made clear and I learned it from the reviews. House has lovely scenery, only one TV and no cable. We were busy sightseeing most of the days and so it was not a big problem.
Beautiful location, with Bob the host meeting us and introducing the accommodation. An oasis in the rain forest, perfect for what we were looking for. Everything you need is provided, and the hot tub topped it, listening to the coqui frogs! Recommended, thank you Bob!
Very good directions. The home was very clean and comfortable. Beautiful gardens.
Very cozy home with everything we needed for our stay. So close to the national park we could rush there in 5 minutes when we saw te volcano was erupting. Downstairs resident nice older gentleman with small dog we enjoyed visiting with. Future guests may appreciate knowing there is a dog downstairs in case that is an issue, it was not for us at all.
We really enjoyed our stay at Mauna Loa! The home was very private, comfortable and peaceful. The proximity to Volcano National Park it was only a 6 minute drive- made it convenient to take breaks and for an easy drive to catch the sunrise over the volcanos. The owner, Bud, and his dog Lizzy are really engaging to chat with but also respect your privacy if you prefer. We loved soaking in the hot tub at the end of our days spent hiking.
Julie-Anne G.
Jun 30, 2025
We had a wonderful stay at Hale Mauna Loa. It was serene and pretty spacious. It was only a short drive away from the national park, which was super convenient. The property is a little older, but maintained well. We would recommend getting all your groceries before checking in since Foodland is a 20-30 minute drive. We recommend staying here.
The house was great. Clean and well stocked with kitchen and bathroom needs. Close to the Village and to the Park.
Very spacious with beautiful surroundings. A true get away into the Hawaiian rain forest.
The property was conveniently located close to National Volcano Park. The outdoor space was wonderful with ample seating and was covered. We were able to sit out in the rain by the fire pit being serenaded by the birds all night long! We would have found more info on the property helpful such as how to work the shower, where to leave the garbage etc. The only real issue were the beds they were not very comfortable.
Positives: --The location is perfect for anyone visiting Volcanoes National Park. --The deck is lovely. The grill is great and very clean.--The kitchen is old and there is no dishwasher but it is otherwise very well-equipped.Negatives:--The house is musty and smells absolutely terrible. There are dehumidifiers in every room. --The carpet is old and stained.--The furniture and bedding is very old. The blankets were musty.--There is a washer and a dryer in the unit but they are secured with locks. There is a laundromat in town but it is not nice and quite inconvenient.--Not the worst place but the musty, moldy smell is overpowering.
We loved our stay at this property and wish we would have stayed longer. Plenty of space for everyone and a gorgeous deck overlooking the lush gardens and foliage. We had a dip in the hot tub and met the very nice owner. The location in proximity to Volcanoes National Park was amazing - literally minutes.
We stayed with our three kids and had a great time! While some of the carpet and finishings are a bit worn, the great spaces made up for it. The hot tub was great after hiking at the national park all day, the deck was huge and amazing for grilling dinner, and the gardens made for a very unique rainforest feel to the whole stay!
Loved the gardens and the gorgeous covered lanai (patio). The unit was spacious and the proximity to Volcano NP was amazing! The beds were comfortable. The very minimal kitchen equipment made it hard to make dinner (ie-no large frying pan, etc) and the light coloured carpet was quite stained throughout which lead to a feeling of it being dirty. Easy fixes would make this place 5 stars.
Great value, very close to Volcano NP.
This is an absolutely lovely home in the jungle, with lots of wood and high ceilings. The big lanai is a beautiful spot to relax. The house is spacious, with a nice kitchen and dining area. It would be perfect for a family or 2 or even 3 couples. And it is close to Volcano National Park. One thing to remember is that it gets gold in the jungle at night. The gas fire place warms up the living space, but bedrooms can be cold, so bring warm jammies.
Awesome property surrounded by ohia trees and hapu’u ferns giving a peaceful vibe. The house provided all our basic needs. Enjoyed our stay and will definitely return soon since I live on the other side of the island.
We came in late and left early wish we had more time at this wonderful property. The host and cute dog were incredibly friendly and welcoming. Highly recommend
Comfortable place tho retreat to after visiting the park. Well stocked with the needs of home. Great stay.
Simply furnished and adequate. Very close to the volcano with a beautiful lanai. Would stay again!
I loved how close to the national park this place was. I also loved that it could fit my family of 6.
The location is great to visit Volcano National Park and Hilo.
The house could use some TLC which did not come across in the supplied pictures. It has more of a cottage feel. There were cobwebs on the lights and corners of the room. The carpet was old and stained. The washrooms and kitchen could use updated fixtures. And the beds were quite old with little support.
The communication from the owner was good. The live in person on the lower level was friendly and helpful, but the ukulele playing at 6am was not appreciated.
We did not stay there because Danielle Barro double-booked the property even though I reserved it and paid for it 13 months in advance. I had communicated with her the week of our stay. I called after 4 PM the day of checkin and she hesitated and said “this hardly ever happens” and then tried to blame it on me because I hadn’t booked directly with her. I told her I had the confirmation fromVRBO but she said she has properties listed on multiple sites. I said I had just flown 5000 miles and asked her where our group of five people were supposed to stay. Danielle offered to try to find a place but it wouldn’t be in Volcano and I told here I didn’t trust anything she would do. After many calls, we found a place that was more than double what we paid for the VRBO. So, I do not plan to trust the VRBO bookings
We had a wonderful time. Only stayed one night, but we'll be back.
So close to Volcano National Park! Great location, you feel like your in the middle of the rain forest. Pictures are accurate. Has everything you need!
First of all I was really looking forward to getting away from a fast paced and hurried life in Honolulu and was looking forward to a QUIET and PEACEFUL time at this beautiful rainforest looking home for a couple days. We certainly did. NOT get that! Check in was sketchy because I DID NOT get directions on how to get into the house before I had to call and ask! The property manager claims she sent it to me earlier but I had NOT RECEIVED THE INFORMATION. I have proof of this. I didn’t get the direction's until I made a call to her just before 3;00 pm. She claims she sent it to me but I had been checking my email at least 2 days before all the way up to the 3:00 checkin time. She sent it to me after I called and said I didn’t get it. Then on our first full day there, May 16 after returning from an early morning hike in volcano we were hoping to take a peaceful nap (2:30 pm) because we had plans to meet friends for dinner. There was someone on the property sawing wood and nail pounding making a fence right when we were looking forward to the peaceful time we came there in the first place! Noise continued for hours and as a result we could not rest! The worst experience! Never again!
The only regret i have about our stay is that with all the exploring we did at the volcano, we really didn’t have time to linger on the deck. The outside deck was worth every penny of the rental….surrounded by trees, lots of seating, a firepit and the background sounds of birds and frogs. It felt like we were in a treehouse. The house was well stocked and perfect for our needs. Thank you!
Great access to Volcanoes National Park to allow early morning hikes when exposed areas are still cool, or evening sky-watching (or lava viewing--though not currently active in April 2024). Enjoyed spacious kitchen and plenty of sleeping/lounging room for children and in-law who joined trip. Lots of outside lounging space protected from April showers. Propane stove and fire-pit amenities were much appreciated to warm up in morning and cook in evening, and large screened windows allowed for quick cool-down after mid-day sun heating.
Our family of 4 (kids age 8 and 11) has been visiting a bunch of national parks lately, and this location was at least as convenient as any of the ‘in-the-park’ lodges we’ve stayed at, but way nicer. It’s less than 5 minutes from the park entrance/visitor’s center.
It felt very private, like we were alone in the middle of the rainforest. We loved relaxing on the covered balcony next to the fire pit while the rain came down around us. There was more than enough room for the 4 of us (6 adults would be comfortable).
The host was very responsive, and checking out was a piece of cake. We would absolutely stay here again.
