UNIQUE Two story home built over a pond that has both freshwater and saltwater fish plus turtles swimming together. Walk into the pond from the steps on lower level, very unique. Tastefully renovated home. 3 bedrooms/ 3 baths upstairs plus living area, large kitchen and open deck with great views. Downstairs has 2 bedrooms, laundry room with air bed, living area and covered lanai. Open and airy, room for everyone. Four TV's, stereo system, games and card table for family/friends time. Greatest bar-b-q setting in Hilo.
SPACIOUS AND COMFORTABLE:
Classic 2-story Hilo home updated and modernized. High ceilings, lots of windows, spacious and airy. Enter over the bridge, past the banana grove and pineapple field, and up the stone steps to large front porch. Note that this home is not ADA compatible. Enter double glass paned doors into living and dining rooms, with kitchen and office on the sides. Three well appointed bedrooms (one master) and three baths towards back (bayside) of home, with three entries onto large deck with great views of the Ice Pond, framed by mature and fruit-bearing mango, avocado, coconut and banana trees. Truly a tropical delight. Feel free to eat the fruits in season. A very, very enjoyable setting, fantastic for bar-b-q's or just hanging out.
Downstairs is a finished basement built literally over the on-property pond, with the fish swimming right under your feet. Two bedrooms, a laundry room, a gaming area and a boathouse open onto the covered back lanai and backyard. The one downstairs bathroom has an outside access and an outside shower, it is entered from the backyard. Note that access from upstairs to downstairs is at both the front and rear of the house, but it does NOT have interior access.
CENTRAL HILO TOWN LOCATION:
In town, on the fringe of the resort area and walking distance to the hotels. Within easy walking distance of a dozen restaurants; five bars; four beach parks; Queen Liliuokalani Park & Gardens (30 acres donated by a Queen and the largest Japanese Garden outside of Japan); the 9-hole golf and Frisbee golf Naniloa Golf Course; Moku ola (Coconut Island, accessible via a small pedestrian bridge); and Hilo's three main hotels with shops. About one mile to Hilo International Airport.
This home is in the urban core of Hilo, or at least as urban as Hilo gets. Note that there is some airplane noise from the airport; some road noise from the main street in front of the home; and some noise at night from the Suisan fish-packer across the street, in addition to the ever-present coqui frogs serenading each other (and you) at night throughout East Hawaii.
It is on the part of Hilo Bay that is protected by the breakwater, and is adjacent to the safe harbor anchorage for sailboats. It is quite 'malia' (calm) pretty much all of the time. It is great for kids or adults to enjoy the water activities of kayaking; standup paddle-boarding; snorkeling; sailing; swimming; and enjoying the beaches. There is a reason this is the most popular area for both tourists and locals for a day (or night) at the bay.
ENTRYWAY:
From the road and parking area you cross a small wooden bridge to access the classic stone steps up onto the old-fashioned covered porch.
LIVING ROOM:
Comfortable and airy, with large flat-screen TV; stereo system; and view overlooking the fishpond. Old fashioned wooden floors with throw rugs. Teak couch; love seat; and chair with matching end tables and coffee table. Large ceiling fan. Antique wardrobe which serves as hanging closet for nearby Master Bedroom Suite. Tropical artwork hangs on walls. Air conditioned.
LARGE KITCHEN:
Five burner gas stove, side-by-side stainless steel refrigerator with freezer underneath. Vegetable prep sink. Three bowl stainless steel commercial grade sink. No dishwasher, the family washes together in this home. Small dining table seats three. Old-school wooden cabinets with glass doors and granite countertops. Front window overlooks banana patch.
DINING AREA:
Oval wood dining table seats six comfortably. Overlooks the fishpond through a wall of windows. Old fashioned hardwood floors, opens onto the living room. Dining area is open to the living room. Air conditioned.
GUEST BATHROOM:
Guest bath is a full bathroom with antique claw-foot bathtub and shower enclosure. Tile floors and wooden cabinet with single sink. Window on wall allows fresh air circulation.
MASTER BEDROOM SUITE:
Good-sized master bedroom suite has king-sized teak poster bed with Egyptian cotton sheets and tropical bedspread and pillows. Matching bureau and side tables, with two reading lamps at bedside. Wall mounted flat screen TV with swivel mount. Radio with iPod port. No closet, make use of the wardrobe in the living room for your clothes hanging necessities. Nice ceiling fan keeps you cool. Steps from door to outside deck and yard. Air conditioned.
MASTER BATHROOM:
The master bathroom has an enclosed commode but the sink and glass block/tile shower are open to the bedroom. with nice wooden cabinet and single sink. Commercial hotel magnifying mirror at sink, and glass block and louvered windows let the light and air in. Tile floor.
BEDROOM 2:
Bedroom 2 is a compact bedroom with closet and carpet. Queen sized teak bed with tropical finish and high-quality linen. Matching bureau, flat screen TV with swivel mount. Direct access through glass paned door to outside deck and bar b q area. Served by private bathroom shared with Bedroom 3. A nice ceiling fan keeps you cool. Tropical painting above bed.
BEDROOM 3:
Bedroom 3 is on the pond side of the house, and overlooks the on-site brackish pond. It is bright and breezy, but is also the least quiet of the bedrooms due to the windows overlooking the nearby restaurant/parking lot. Also carpeted, and with a small closet. Wall mounted flat screen TV above bureau which matches the queen -sized teak bed set with side tables, with the ever present tropical finish. Bright art decorates the wall. The ceiling fan is wooden bladed.
PRIVATE BATHROOM:
The private bathroom serving these two bedrooms are accessible only through the bedrooms, with two separate doors. Tile floors and a high ceiling with skylight, tile shower stall (no bathtub) and sturdy wooden cabinet with a single sink. Small windows in the shower stall and above the commode allow great circulation.
OUTDOOR DECK:
The best "room" in the house. Large wooden deck with teak table and 6 matching Captain's chairs plus a large umbrella to keep the sun and/or rain off of your party. The Weber bar b q grill (charcoal fired) is ready to go when you arrive. Overlooking the Ice Pond and surrounded by avocado; mango; coconut; and banana trees. Watch the fish, birds, ducks, and people enjoy the life on and around the pond. Extremely relaxing and scenic. Wooden stairs down to the yard and the outdoor bathroom.
DOWNSTAIRS GREATROOM:
A hobbit-like door leads into the ground floor space of the house, basically a finished basement partly underground on one side. The Greatroom is built directly over the brackish fishpond. The railing separates you from the pond with both fresh fish (Koi) swimming with saltwater local fish and turtles. The water is a mix of fresh and salt, and both types of fish are able to thrive in this microenvironment.
You can feed the fish, just watch or you can walk down the stone steps and actually enter the pond, swimming with the fish or just dangling your feet in the water. Enjoy the cycle of the water rising and falling with the ebb and flow of the tides.
Note that the two stairways connecting upstairs to downstairs are both outside the house, and that the single bathroom serving downstairs is accessed from the outside. It is recommended that small children (under 10) should probably stay downstairs with adult supervision.
DOWNSTAIRS BEDROOM 4:
Medium sized bedroom with low (6" 2") ceiling, this tiled floor room offers a queen size teak bed set with tropical finishes and matching bureau. Both floor lamp and table lamps on side tables. No ceiling fans downstairs, circulation is via windows and the open walls by the fishpond.
DOWNSTAIRS BEDROOM 5:
Another medium sized bedroom with low headroom, this carpeted bedroom has still another teak queen-sized bedroom set with matching bureau and a full-sized mirror. Side tables with lamps and a floor lamp provide lighting, while the single window provides mostly circulation.
LAUNDRY ROOM:
The tiled floor laundry room has a washer (electric) and dryer (gas) and laundry facilities. With windows on two walls, this is the brightest and airiest of the enclosed rooms downstairs.
COVERED LANAI:
Outside the back of the home on the ground floor is a covered lanai, underneath the second floor deck. With a picnic table and some folding chairs, this is a good place to hang out when it is rainy outside or while you wait for the paddlers to return.
THE BOATHOUSE:
An enclosed room over the pond which has storage area for the three kayaks (two singles and one tandem) plus paddles and accessories that come with the home. Additional water accessories are stored in a storage area portion of the Greatroom. It is quite convenient and easy to get the kayaks from the boathouse to the Ice Pond, and vice versa.
OUTSIDE BATHROOM:
The bathroom serving the downstairs as well as the covered lanai and deck is in the rear corner of the home, and accessed via a tile pathway. This bathroom has enclosed sink in a wooden cabinet with commode, plus an outdoor shower for use when returning from the pond or bay. It has automatic lights for use when accessing the bathroom at night.
BACKYARD:
The compact backyard fronts on both Ice Pond and the peaceful Kuhio Kalanianaole Beach Park. In addition to launching your boats at Ice Pond, you can also launch at the concrete boat ramp at the park. The park is great for kids, birthdays, and weddings. Parking lot is closed and locked at night by the County.
Registration Number: GE-167-053-3120-01, TA-167-053-3120-01, 3210060220000
Tami B.
Dec 31, 2024
This VRBO is very unique! The description and other reviews basically tell you all you need to know. If you are looking for luxury, this is not your place. If you are looking for rustic, quirky and unique, you've found it! The location was great with it being close to everything in Hilo and the water access is wonderful. Remie, the co-host, was very responsive and good to work with. We enjoyed watching the koi and the little turtle in the pond under the house, and the visits from geckos inside the house. The road noise and airplanes can be drowned out with the AC and floor fans in the house. The only thing that was not mentioned in the description is that the washing machine is coin-op. So bring your quarters! We enjoyed our stay here.
Cristella T.
Dec 16, 2024
Interesting house. It did have a central location to Hilo and the kayaks were great. But we booked the home mostly for the kayaks and there were less than we expected. The owner said a previous guest had broken some of the equipment and they had not replaced yet. The beds weren't the most comfortable. There was a washer on site, but it required quarters to use. I don't know who travels with change anymore. And there were signs everywhere that said we are watching you, no extra guests allowed. They may have problems previously, but it just felt off. There also were about 8 towels total on the property in a cabinet that said we are monitoring how many towels are here. Okay place, but I'm not sure I would stay here next time.
Lisa W.
Oct 06, 2024
If you like to wake up and paddle, this place is ideal. My teens loved the access to kayaks and made the most of paddling every morning before we set out to find more adventure. Thank you for sharing your home with us.
Hulali T.
Sep 19, 2024
This is our second time renting this house. It’s such a great location, and lots of room for the family. The water access is what keeps bringing us back. You can’t beat it on a beautiful Hilo day. Both times we had extensive issues with red ants. They are all over the outside. On the trees, on the tables, the water toys- it is really an issue. Everyone got bit while outside. I was hopeful that the first time it was just a lapse in treatment, but they were there this time as well. The owner was notified and open to immediately treating the area. But was unable to because of the rain. I did remove all of the air fresheners on arrival as the house had a strong smell- there was over 20 scattered in the house. Other than those 2 things, the house is great. Older style. But lots of room. All of the amenities worked great. Parking is hard with only 3 small cars able to fit in the driveway. The park next door closes around 7, so after that our family had no where to park. The restaurant next door didn’t allow us to park there.
Kurt G.
Jul 19, 2024
This is the most idiosyncratic and eccentric house we’ve ever stayed at and it defies simple review. They aren’t kidding when they say it’s on the waterfront — if you are into kayaking then just carry one of the two (not three) kayaks maybe 15 feet and you’re literally in the Pacific Ocean (well, a "lagoon" connected to Reed's Bay). It’s also near the heart of Hilo, within walking distance of quite a few restaurants and parks. You can have up to 10 people there and if you wonder if the house has such-and-such feature then probably yes, it does. If these features appeal to you then there are simply no other choices for any price. It’s astounding that a house like this exists at all.
But don’t discount the “noise” complaints. Being so close to the only pier on the island and across the busiest street in Hawaii from a 24x7 fish packing plant -- it’s a cacophonous din in the master bedroom! Add that to an incredibly uncomfortable bed and it’s a thoroughly unpleasant sleeping experience. It’s not so loud in the “middle” bedroom.
The house is so complex that this review could be a many page essay with several pages devoted to everything that’s wrong with it. Suffice to say that it’s simply not a classically “nice” place to stay. But its advantages are so incredibly striking, unique, and amazing (kayaking! centrally located!) that they overwhelmed all of the many infuriating parts of the package to such a degree that we’d almost surely stay there again, if we’re ever in Hilo!
David Troy K.
Jun 01, 2024
Born and raised here on the island and this home was perfect for our visit. The pond entrance and gate to the park directly behind the home helped to keep my kids and infant happy while my wife worked. Only good things to say about this vacation rental. Next visit we’ll definitely be staying here.
Keahialaka I.
Apr 12, 2024
Location to the pond is the best you'll get on this side of the island
Bruce W.
Apr 10, 2024
We reserved the location for 4 nights, and ended up leaving the last 3 and staying in a hotel.
It was not nearly what we had expected and hoped for.
Michael L.
Apr 08, 2024
It was a great experience with a big enough house to allow everyone their own space. The basement bedrooms allowed for accesss tthough the backyard, so no big deal for our grown children. The pond stretching from the backyard to the ocean was amazing. The check in/check out process was easy. I would book this property again if we were all meeting up in Hilo. Thanks!
Nahaku K.
Mar 24, 2024
Love it this is our 3rd time getting this wonderful home and we absolutely love it.
Mahalo nui
Bruce W.
Mar 21, 2024
We reserved the location for 4 nights, and ended up leaving the last 3 and staying in a hotel.
It was not nearly what we had expected and hoped for.
Angelknitter 1.
Mar 12, 2024
This traditional Hawaiian style home was perfect for our group of 10. There was plenty of room. And we were very comfortable. The house is peaceful, and the pond is so fun! My kids made friends with the Koi, and were sad to leave.
Was there a smell when we checked in, as stated by previous guests? Yes. It was a typical smell for a home near water and disappeared quickly after we checked in.
Was there road noise, as stated? Yes. Again, it is by an industrial business. It was quiet at night, and we were not bothered by the noise.
We would absolutely stay here again. We loved it! The property is amazing, house large and comfortable, aned the beds? So comfy!!
Jane M.
Mar 05, 2024
Convenient Location allowed some to walk to town and easy driving to attractions. The house has a lived in charm and big kitchen that we liked.
It was a bit noisy (trucks & forklifts), but we got used to it after a while. Note that the access to the downstairs includes a step stone path that not all could navigate in the dark. The stand up paddle board is pretty beat up, but I was able to kayak several times and enjoyed that. We had a unique experience!
Kelly B.
Jan 30, 2024
This is limited to 1500 words, so I’m saying what we encountered. Read other reviews for pros.
Upon our arrival, we cleaned the kitchen sink, dish drainer, counters, dishes and small appliances we used. Bathroom sink counters needed to be cleaned. There is an eye wash station in the kitchen that looked to be used as a mop bucket. Various cleaning things were left in there- right next to the commercial sink. There was hair (quite a lot) in both our showers. An opened bar of soap and loofahs in the one shower. Both beds had holes in the sheets and there were barely enough towels. (We did find more in the dryer departure day after we found the key to open the downstairs- I’ve never had to go find my clean towels, so we didn’t think they’d be in the dryer)
Sheets in my room and my friends room had holes in them. Carpet in bedroom with stains. Bathroom rugs were grungy or non existent.
We made the best of our 4 nights there knowing we wouldn’t be home much. We did not contact the owner because we didn’t want people in there while we were gone. I have since sent him photos of the conditions we found.
You will have noise from the airport, the trucks across the street, and general traffic. My friend heard it more because the window in her shower only had a screen and had no way to close it. This also made her room cold in the morning and at night.
I’m not a fussy person, but if I’m paying a cleaning fee, I expect a clean place.
Jennifer U.
Jan 09, 2024
Very nice country home. Comfortable and walking distance to great activities.
Easy to check in!
