Property Description
Named for the spring on the land, Waiola (Water of Life) is a romantic hideaway, a peaceful retreat, an artist's getaway or a perfect stay-cation. Stone walls, taro lo`i (the garden plot that taro was grown in), a trail, and a stone house site from ka wā kahiko (ancient times) tell the story of the Hawaiians of old who lived here and worked the land. Waiola offers cozy comfort for two with a studio cottage in a pastoral setting.
The Guesthouse includes a fully equipped kitchen, washer and dryer, queen sized bed, and satellite TV with HBO.
Waiola sits above a six-acre pasture with an `ōhi`a lehua forest as backdrop. The lehua is the flower of Hawai`i Island and is honored in both song and chant. A zen view of the ocean is visible through the `ōhi`a trees. Located at 1800', the climate is temperate with occasional rain at night. Evenings and mornings can be cool and you will appreciate a sweater or light jacket.
If you are looking for a truly unique Hawaiian experience away from the hustle and noise of tourist destination spots Waiola is for you.
HAWAII TAX ID NO: 124-689-8176-01
Registration Number: TA-124-689-8176-01, GE-124-689-8176-01
User Reviews
Judith J.
Apr 29, 2025
Waking up to the birdsong was my favorite time of day. I'd get up, make coffee and head out on the lanai to watch the morning unfold. I spent lots of time on the lanai relaxing and recharging. Close enough to beaches, national parks, grocery stores, and Ka Lae Garden Thai restaurant. I highly recommend!
Michael M.
Apr 24, 2025
Clean and simple accommodations with wonderful bird-watching and privacy. Very nice hosts. We hope to stay for longer next time.
Judy W.
Apr 20, 2025
The property itself was very quiet and peaceful, nice and secluded- just what we were looking for. The room was exactly as described and as the pictures showed in the listing. Very clean and cozy and had everything we needed for our stay. And what a great view! Wish I had stayed for longer instead of heading back to Hilo. Highly recommend.
Anne Marie F.
Mar 07, 2025
Absolutely a beautiful spot to stay! And just what we wanted, a little spot off the beaten path. Beautiful place, gorgeous property and a sighting of the resident donkey! David, the owner met us for check in and provided information. Sufficient equipment in the kitchen to cook meals. Lovely to sit out on the porch to sip beverages and hear and see the birds. We were doing local hikes and taking in the sights at the national volcano park and it’s a 45 minute drive -very doable and lovely. And though the property description mentions that there is no Wi-Fi, we had great cell service. Would definitely recommend this place and we would like to come back!
Nancy S.
Mar 04, 2025
Everything about it was exceptional and just our style. Going out on the deck and watching the sunrise over the beautiful landscape in the mornings was so peaceful. (You can see it pretty well from bed too) Simple and artistic architecture and decor. Everything we needed to cook in the kitchen. We didn't get a chance to meet Wendy, but David met us at the gate, was very personable and showed us around and made sure we had everything we needed, A bonus was, he brought us some produce they had grown. He gave us good advice for things to do in the area, (There's plenty) The whole place had a good energy about it, especially knowing all the work they did to reclaim this part of the jungle. If we come back to this island, we would definitely try to stay here. I'd also recommend it to friends. We stayed 4 nights, and could have stayed more. Thanks David and Wendy!
ChrisMark V.
Mar 03, 2025
Our stay here was beyond words! This place is so magical and amazing.The view from the deck, the froggies at night , beautiful birds, wild pigs, a donkey, cute little geckos:).Also the house is 100% percent solar off the grid.David and Wendy were great in communication and everything else!We have traveled a lot and stayed in many places... This is one we shall never forget…. Just wish we had a few more days here.A sincere mahalo David and Wendy:)
Giovanni A.
Feb 02, 2025
We had an incredibly peaceful and relaxing stay at Wendy’s and David’s place, who were wonderful hosts. Their home is beautiful and truly one of a kind. Mahalo!
sujata c.
Jan 21, 2025
Spent time is uber relaxation mode. Really enjoyed playing with donkey!
Barbara G.
Jan 15, 2025
Our first visit to the islands and this was a perfect out of the way, relaxing, quiet, in the middle of beautiful nature place to stay. Put us in reach of Volcanoes National Park and many other fantastic places. The hosts were great and very helpful with checkin and suggestions. Then let us to our adventure. Thank you so much!
Susanne P.
Dec 14, 2024
This is our second stay here. After spending time on the Kona coast with lots of black lava, hot sun, crowds, and stores, this place is like an oasis--as least for someone from Western Washington. Sitting on the balcony in a comfortable rocking chair looking out over the meadow with lots of huge trees and their donkey grazing contentedly, we reach a level of relaxation one hopes for on vacation. The cottage is beautifully decorated, the bed very comfortable--another key element of a fine vacation.
We enjoyed visiting the Kahuku unit (part of Volcanoes National Park just five minutes away), which is at least partly verdant as well--like a piece of Ireland dropped into Hawaii. We hike the Palm trail up and down, and returned the next day for their annual crafts fair. We also enjoyed chatting with Wendy, our host and a ranger there; she's quite warm and cheerful.
Elaine H.
Dec 05, 2024
We absolutely loved the place, the location. It was very clean, and beautiful inside and out. Our host was very friendly and informative. Thank you
Bret W.
Nov 17, 2024
Dave met us upon arrival (we came in late!) showed us the property and then left us for our stay. The place has everything needed for a couple. The sun rise from the porch is amazing.
Great location on the southern tip of the island.
Heather P.
Jun 30, 2024
This was a wonderful property and was exactly the experience we hoped for. The property has an isolated feel and is very private, but it is easily accessed, and centrally located as a jumping off point to many of the island's attractions.
Views from the studio are amazing, and the property is clean and well-kept.
Deena H.
Jun 13, 2024
STUNNING views from the back porch. The best part of my stay on the big island so far.
Bob F.
Jun 12, 2024
Peaceful solitude. I really enjoyed the quiet location and lush grounds. Our hosts were very warm, friendly, responsive and helpful. The unit was clean and functional. It has "the basics" for cooking but not much more. My wife gets a bit anxious being "out in the boonies" so she did not relax and enjoy it quite as much as I did. Our college student son survived two full days without wireless! The roaming signal was pretty good.
Volcano NP Visitor Center is 40 minutes away and the nearest groceries are in Ocean View 18 minutes away.
The only complaint, and not enough to knock off a full star, was that the bed leaves something to be desired. It is listed as queen, but I have my doubts. Maybe it's just a queen that sags in the middle. The owners should consider an upgrade.
