The location is several miles from a paved, main road. Hardly any installed lighting exists along the driveway, so beyond vehicle headlights, it is difficult to determine where the building is located with the VRBO rooms. The instructions for finding our room weren't clear beyond the initial outside paint color of the building. As we walked up the steps towards our room, we were greeted by a building manager whom wasn't in the description (i.e. we didn't realize there was an additional manager beyond the VRBO host we initially contacted). There was an immense amount of rain that night with multiple leaks in the ceiling which we weren't aware of before checking into the room. For the conditions of the VRBO, the price we paid is wholly unsustainable.

The location is several miles from a paved, main road. Hardly any installed lighting exists along the driveway, so beyond vehicle headlights, it is difficult to determine where the building is located with the VRBO rooms. The instructions for finding our room weren't clear beyond the initial outside paint color of the building. As we walked up the steps towards our room, we were greeted by a building manager whom wasn't in the description (i.e. we didn't realize there was an additional manager beyond the VRBO host we initially contacted). There was an immense amount of rain that night with multiple leaks in the ceiling which we weren't aware of before checking into the room. For the conditions of the VRBO, the price we paid is wholly unsustainable.

Not for someone looking for a luxurious stay. It's for someone looking for a calm quiet secluded place to relax and unwind

Not for someone looking for a luxurious stay. It's for someone looking for a calm quiet secluded place to relax and unwind

This listing was advertised as a room in a motel or a private house, and that is definitely not true. It is a room in a glamping shack on a raised wood platform. It had a few good points: spacious and clean within the room and this room had its own bathroom unlike most of the others in that same place. The bad points drastically outweigh the good ones though. Bad points: difficult to access (you MUST have a 4WD to get there, which we happened to have, but that was not mentioned in the listing); the "kitchen" is just a couple of burners and a freezer on an outside porch shared with all the other rooms and open to a whole lot of bugs; most of the bathrooms were kind of scary shared showers on the same porch; no A/C or even fans in a super hot location; the wifi doesn't actually work; and worst of all BUGS. When I first walked into our room, a huge cockroach (or maybe it was a waterbug, but either way it was the size of my hand) ran away from me and up onto the art on the wall. I told the property manager who said, "Of course there are going to be bugs; it's the rainforest." Bugs need to stay in the rainforest, not in my room! He went to catch the bug but couldn't, at which point he said, "I'm sure it found it's way out by now. Don't worry about it." Not very comforting. If there was a large enough crack for that bug to go out of, any number of other bugs could also find a way in. We also found a cute tree frog in the room and left it in hopes it would eat the bugs.

3rd world construction, dirty, the entire building shakes when walked in.

Katherine was great and shared so much info on the island

Katherine was great and shared so much info on the island

Close from the Volcano National park. I enjoyed to stay there after hikes, in the middle of the nature, in the permanent concert of all kind of birds and frogs. The place is very calm and Katherine is a very nice person who cares of her hosts. I had a meeting on video conference and it worked perfectly. I will come again for sure

Close from the Volcano National park. I enjoyed to stay there after hikes, in the middle of the nature, in the permanent concert of all kind of birds and frogs. The place is very calm and Katherine is a very nice person who cares of her hosts. I had a meeting on video conference and it worked perfectly. I will come again for sure

The property is somewhat off the beaten track, that is exactly what we were looking for. Our friendly host Katherine did her very best to make us feel home and really welcome. At the first day we had a problem finding the place. That was due to some issues on our side while Katherine really did her best to help us finally get to her place. She even drove to areas where she thought she might be able to pick us up. Also, she helped us to schedule our excursions by giving useful tips. We experienced the property itself as an open area where everybody could stay and communicate or have a meal. The bathroom has a shower and is in good working order. On a future trip we won't have to search around because we would like to stay with Katherine again.

The property is somewhat off the beaten track, that is exactly what we were looking for. Our friendly host Katherine did her very best to make us feel home and really welcome. At the first day we had a problem finding the place. That was due to some issues on our side while Katherine really did her best to help us finally get to her place. She even drove to areas where she thought she might be able to pick us up. Also, she helped us to schedule our excursions by giving useful tips. We experienced the property itself as an open area where everybody could stay and communicate or have a meal. The bathroom has a shower and is in good working order. On a future trip we won't have to search around because we would like to stay with Katherine again.

A good option for the cost-conscious on the East side. Easy drive to Hilo or Volcano. Anything offered in these gravel-road estates is going to be pretty DIY; Katherine offers a large open kitchen where you can hang out with other guests and longer term renters, she grows fruit you might get to sample, and there are clear hand-printed signs from the road (extra wide, good visibility) which is about 8 minutes from the nearest paved portion.

A good option for the cost-conscious on the East side. Easy drive to Hilo or Volcano. Anything offered in these gravel-road estates is going to be pretty DIY; Katherine offers a large open kitchen where you can hang out with other guests and longer term renters, she grows fruit you might get to sample, and there are clear hand-printed signs from the road (extra wide, good visibility) which is about 8 minutes from the nearest paved portion.