Then, when you're good and rested, check out the incredible places of natural beauty nearby. Start with a 10-minute drive down a mango tree lined lane to the Red Road and travel it along the coastline from Kapoho to Kalapana. This is one of the most beautiful drives in the Hawaiian Islands. Until it was paved over with asphalt, it was a bright red road made from volcanic cinder.

Kehena Beach - for full photo, click here
Along the route there's a lovely hot spring lagoon right on the ocean at Pohoiki Bay where locals surf, boogie board, fish and watch spectacular tropical sunsets. There is also snorkeling in the marine sanctuary tidepools at Kapoho just as close. A 15-minute drive will take you to Ahalnui Beach Park with its amazing 90+ degree geothermal-heated pool. This is a safe and gorgeous place for anyone to swim and do Watzu (gentle water massage) and is also an inspiring place to be during sunsets — watch for rainbows and whales.

In less than an hour you can be in Volcano National Park — home to the active goddess Pele. There are several fabulous hikes into the craters, lava tubes and steam vents, a fine art gallery and a Visitor's Center with free educational films. You can pay a respectful visit to the continuous lava flow on the coast. The molten lava spews into the hissing ocean and is spectacular at night.

If you need a bit of city life, drive to quaint Hilo on one of the farmer's market days (Wednesdays & Saturdays). Visit the market, buy a basket full of exotic produce and goodies like mango pudding and Hawaiian sea salt rub for fish. Treat yourself to lunch at Miyo above the lagoon (tempura & sashimi) and then flip a coin — do you go to the 50-cent movies (they show feature films!) or head over to Richardson Bay Park for some excellent snorkeling and count the colorful parrotfish as they cruise by? Or perhaps there is enough time to do both?

The Puna region has yet to be discovered (thankfully and probably due to Pele's close proximity and appetite) so there are no resorts, no condos and no conga line of tourist cars cluttering the roads. What you do get here is rural Hawaii at its best.

 

Thank you!! I had a fabulous time and spent at least 30 hours editing and writing my book. Your house is also in a very convenient location to accessing all the magical parts of the Puna area. - Andrea, author from CA.

Warm springs pond by the ocean, home to many green sea turtles.
For full photo,click here.

Personal Heritage Tours: My good friend, William Iaukea (right), was born and raised in Pohiki Puna right at the spot where the boat ramp is today. His lineage goes back to the beginning when people first landed in their canoes on the south tip of the Big Island.  This was many, many generations ago, yet his stories are alive and carried on from the voice of his father who imparted them around the magic of the dancing camp fire late at night under the stars. These stories he shared with his son, William, were woven with the fabric of the mystery of being Hawaiian and knowing what is “as it should be” or pono. William is available for cultural & historical tours of the Big Island. On these specially tailored trips he will talk story and bring to life the world of his ancestors. He does not charge a fee for these adventures, but I ask that you pay his expenses (gas & meals) and give him a donation for his services.

For more details, call him at 808-938-8674.

Amenities:
CD and tape player, music CDs, fully-equipped kitchen, hairdryer, propane bar-b-que, washer and dryer, linens and towels provided. Broadband Internet is available and an Ethernet cable is provided for DSL service.

Odds & Ends:
Weather is temperate year-round with the average being 66-84 degrees. This region around Leilani is reputed to have the cleanest air in the Western Hemisphere and the eastern lighthouse nearby is where scientists measure for a baseline on air quality. Guests staying at Tree Fern Cottage should really love nature, quiet and beauty. If what you really want are pizza, TV, video games, and lots of tourists milling about in logo T-shirts and baseball caps – go to Kona.

Note that there are a few things to adjust to that you will not find at your own home and that define Leilani as being in the jungle: most notably the coqui frogs at night. They are symphonic and if you want total quiet when you sleep — bring earplugs. Though many times, they are silent and just the birds heralding the dawn awaken you. The other critter that can appear at dawn and dusk are mosquitoes. They aren't predominant but you should bring repellent. They do prefer some folks over others. Now the reason the area is so lush? Rain! This is not a desert or like California where it rains only six months out of the year. Here it rains frequently but, luckily, if it does rain during the day there is a high likelihood that the weather will turn to blue skies suddenly. Hence bring an umbrella and rubber flip-flops — remember – you are waterproof! The water is on a catchment (rainwater) system so you may shower, launder and do dishes but not drink it. Drinking water can be purchased at KTA, Safeway or Longs in Hilo and in Pahoa at Malama Market, Pahoa Natural Foods, Cash & Carry, and 7/11.

Outdoor Shower Tree Fern Cottage

We had a lovely stay at your cottage. The grounds are beautiful & the outdoor shower is outrageous... Loni and friends.

Tree Fern Cottage Rental Terms: The weekly fee is $575 from April 15 - November 15 ($70/night thereafter) & $675 from November 15 - April 15 and major holidays ($80/night therafter). There is a 3-night minimum at $130/night. Rates are for 1 or 2 people. Children are welcome. There is a $10/per person/per night charge for up to 2 more people. The cleaning fee is included in the rental rate.

You can pay with a credit card or check. There is an extra fully refundable $300 security deposit which is returned after your stay if all is in the same condition as when you arrived. Smoking, pets and loud music are not allowed. An 11.41% GE & TA tax is added onto the lodging fee (not the security deposit).

For more information about renting Tree Fern Cottage,
call 541 941-4759 or email lisaalpine@sbcglobal.net