Tree
Fern Cottage the driveway to Tree Fern- for full photo, click here Down a red cinder dirt road in the jungle, yet just 30 minutes from Hilo International Airport, is Tree Fern Cottage, a sweet two bedroom cottage surrounded by an expansive verdant lawn, towering Ohia trees and banks of vibrantly colored anthuriums. Welcome to a retreat a jewel box in the jungle - lavishly decorated and made available for vacation rental. Complete with high-speed internet . NEWS FLASH! Lava flow visible pouring into the sea at night just a 20 minute drive from the house. How exciting! Make sure to pay a visit to Pele. Also note that the "vog" or fog from the volcano plumes rarely is an issue on this side of the island -- the prevailing Tradewinds blow it all over to Kona. This small completely private abode lies in the heart of the tropical district of Puna on the Big Island of Hawaii. Situated in Leilani Estates (2 miles from the town of Pahoa), one of the more upscale communities in the area, the cottage sits on 2 acres of pristine native forest on which to relax, unwind and get away from it all. Smell the sweet scent of gardenias, ginger, and night-blooming jasmine, gaze upon the myriad of colorful tropical flowers and let the birds welcome you with their song. Done in what a friend calls "exotic Bali-Colonial" décor each room has a ceiling fan and views out to the gardens. There are two bedrooms one with a queen size bed and another with two twins or a king, a bathroom with a shower, and a living and dining room all surrounded by a 1,400 sq. feet lanai. One of the highlights is the outdoor hot water shower on a lava stone platform. A wonderful way to cleanse off the salt water from swims in the nearby hot ponds and ocean. We wanted to thank you for allowing us to stay in your amazing cottage...so beautiful. We had a really great time. We loved the outdoor shower and all of the outdoor seating. Your grounds are amazing, so many gorgeous flowers....I could go on and on. Thanks again for helping make our vacation so awesome. - M & K Stevenson 6/15/08
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Kehena Beach -
for full photo, click
here
And there is the picturesque Kehena Black Sand Beach a clothing optional beach with serious surf for the strong swimmer. This bay is where the spinner dolphins come in to rest and, if you get there in the early morning, there is an excellent chance of seeing the babies leap and play with each other. Our nearest town (two miles away), Pahoa, is a sugar cane village with Old-West style buildings and wooden sidewalks dating back 100 years. No tourist trappings here, either, but we do have some very good restaurants from Thai, Tuscan Italian, natural-foods, an Internet café and muy bueno Mexican. Hilo Farmer's Market The nearby Sunday Makuu Crafts & Farmer's Market sometimes features live music and just the people watching is worth the trip! It's as much a social event as a marketplace. Of course, you can also find about every kind of local veggie and fruit, plus a lot of prepared offerings, too. And just in case you're in the mood, how about an open-air Lomi Lomi massage? 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. 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. 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: The landline telephone service includes all calls on the islands & U.S. Mainland. Use your calling card for all foreign calls including Canada. There is cell service in the area (sometimes right on my front porch) but it is sporadic. Odds
& Ends: 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, and Cash & Carry. 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 $630 ($75/night thereafter). There is a 3-night minimum at $120/night. Rates are for a maximum of 4 people. The cleaning fee is included in the rental rate. 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 12.41% GE & TA tax is added onto the lodging fee (not the security deposit). Cancellation Policy: Return Guest Discount & Referral Fee: If you are a return guest to Tree Fern Cottage, ask about the 10% discount for your next visit. If you refer a friend who books a 7-night stay at Tree Fern Cottage you will also receive a $50 credit toward your next visit. For more information about renting Tree Fern Cottage,
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