E komo mai (welcome!) to this 1940s plantation-era home in Hilo, the cultural center of Hawai’i. Here, you can hang loose and absorb the spirit of aloha while you explore the windward, tropical side of our island, including the Hamakua Coast and Volcano National Park. The house is located just minutes from famous sites, including Rainbow Falls, Pe'epe'e Falls, the Boiling Pots rapids, and Kaumana Cave (an extinct lava tube). Outside, the expansive second floor lanai offers views of Hilo to the east and Mauna Kea peeking above the jungle treetops to the west. The house rests on a lovely palm-fringed half acre, populated by geckos, mongooses, mynah birds and others. Let the song of tree frogs send you to sleep, and roosters rouse you for another exciting day. Expect visits from the ubiquitous friendly green geckos. Enjoy preparing Hawaiian foods from Hilo's famous outdoor market in the spacious kitchen & outdoor grill, while your keiki (children) play ping-pong downstairs or explore the jungly yard. Inside, the main living space is on the second floor, inviting gentle trade winds to flow. Four bedrooms, 2 full baths, eat-in kitchen, huge lanai, and living room are upstairs. Upstairs rooms are equipped with ceiling fans, but no A/C. Downstairs are rumpus room, extra half-bath, plus laundry and outdoor shower. Accommodates up to 7 adults (in regular beds) and 3 children (on inflatable mattress and floor futons). The house is stocked with linens, and beach towels, games, and books about Hawaiian topics (travel, children’s books, novels, and local cookbooks). Downstairs is an enormous rumpus room with ping pong table and a Hawaiian motif stone mosaic floor original to the house. Also downstairs is an additional half bath, laundry facilities, and an outdoor shower. Mahalo for rinsing sandy toes after the beach! Nightly rates are for up to 6 people ($50 additional charge for each additional person). 5% discount applies to stays of 30+ nights! This home is located just 3 miles from Hilo’s museums and restaurants and 4-5 miles from Hilo’s airport and best snorkeling, at Richardson’s Beach. Not to be missed is a trip to Mauna Kea’s Visitor Center for night stargazing (free, open until 10pm nightly), just 30 miles away. It is also an easy 25-mile drive for a convenient day trip to Volcano National Park. On another day, take a leisurely drive north on the Hamakua Coast to visit the amazing Hawaii Tropical Botanical Garden (9 miles), or the historic sugar industry towns of Honomu (13 miles) and Honoka’a (43 miles). Take the Saddle Road across the island’s center 75 miles to reach Kona’s airport and leeward beaches.