This was the most relaxing place I have ever been in my life. A beautiful small working farm (5 acres) with gardens, a small pond, chickens, and a pig. The owner rents out the first floor of her house as a guest house. You get two bedrooms, bath, kitchen, living room, laundry, and outdoor hot tub. I can’t say enough about how calm and relaxing this place was. We only booked three days, and totally regretted that we couldn’t stay longer. The owner, Kaye, is a wonderful woman and great to talk to. We spent a great evening talking about the area, Hawaiian culture, and life on the big island. In fact, later in the week, we actually drove back just to talk with her some more.
4/12 – Ed (Mountain View, CA)
Fabulous accommodations on a beautiful homestead! My daughter and I were greeted with a gorgeous produce basket and invited to dine outside with our personable and gracious host our first night. Beautiful family and neighbors! Later we enjoyed watching chickens, feeding the pig and learning about Native plants and gardening from Kaye. My daughter loved feeding the pig best and also met a kindred spirit in kaye’s granddaughter as they ran all about the yard until dark. Lovely, lovely stay! Enjoyed warm star filled nights listening to bull horn frogs, breakfast of papayas as we looked out over the yard to the ocean down below, and driving to nearby waipio valley for incredible views and boogie boarding. Hope to come back!
03/12 – Ani (Kodiak, Alaska)
A group of family and friends traveled from Osaka, Japan to stay at Keolamauloa for 8 nights. We arrived first as two mamas with our 1 1/2 year old toddlers, and then were joined by one of our husbands. There was plenty of room for all of us to sleep very comfortably. The owner even provided a crib, as requested, for one child. We were welcomed by the family, who brought us a lovely basket of fresh fruits and vegetables. The farm fresh multicolored eggs were a delightful and delicious highlight. The accommodations are spacious and comfortable, and equipped with everything you would need to cook a meal. There’s even a gas fire, which really made things cosy and cheery, especially for those of us who don’t have the luxury of a fireplace. This reviewer was pleasantly surprised to read after booking that the Lonely Planet guidebook for the Big Island specifically features Keolamauloa as a good place to say with kids. It absolutely was! Feeding the pig the fresh kitchen scraps was the #1 daily highlight for my little boy. Other farm highlights included, visiting all the different chicken coops, running around chasing butterflies amongst the garden rows, visiting the decked out playhouse at the bottom of the field, rolling around in the grass with the friendly farm cats and dogs, and trying to spot the gold fish in the pond. For the adults, the hot tub, BBQing grass-fed beef and dining alfresco underneath the clear, shining stars were particular highlights. We dearly look forward to returning when the kids grow up a little bit – so they can play on the zip line and fireman’s pole, climb trees, and kayak on the pond! With so much to do on the farm, it was difficult to tear ourselves away. But the owner’s daughter provided us traveling mamas with a terrific kid-friendly list of local activities right on the Hamakua Coast. We drove to Waimea (where there’s health food store and large supermarket) and had fun singing a real live version “Old MacDonald”. We easily drove to the Kalopa State Recreation area for a mini-hike. We dined more than once on incredibly fresh, delicious pizza in the cute town of Honoka’a. When Daddy arrived and we switched to a 4×4, we drove down into exquisitely primeval Waipio Valley. We very highly recommend Keolamauloa, and particularly for families. A week after returning home to Japan we are all still high from the fresh air and fun we had, and we already miss our friends from the farm, both human and animal.
3/28/12 – Hiro & Helen (Osaka, Japan)
Words can’t express how we enjoyed being at the gorgeous farm stay at Kaye’s house. A real treat! Lovely walks, knowledgeable people, and great location for my wife and I. We fell in love with the nearby town of Honokaa and breath taking Wapio Valley. We’ve been away only for three weeks now and am missing the island already.
02/19/12 – Gerry+Genine (Sunshine Coast, BC)
Where do I even begin? The basics, of course: the sweet apartment was perfect, clean, the linens softer than butter. The kitchen was so wonderful we ended up cooking dinner in every night we were there! The shower was a dream and the fountain outside our window allowed us to fall asleep to the gentle sound of water… Beyond the normal things that made the stay lovely, there were gifts of greens and eggs, conversations about native plants and time spent feeding the pig scraps and adoring Dasher the three-legged pup. If you are looking to have a truly memorable and special experience, I could not imagine a more ideal spot in which to have it on the Hamakua Coast. I look forward to our return to this gem!!!
11/29/11 – SunnyRising (SF Bay Area, CA)
We are experienced VRBOers, but this was the best!!! The lodging was comfortable, value was high, the host family were amazing and will forever be in our hearts. We hope to return many times.
11/08/11 – Lee (Brenham, Texas)
Thank you Kaye for the wonderful stay! Our two girls really enjoyed their stay with Moochi the dog and all the lovely animals. Your farm is so peaceful. It was a peace of heaven in our stay.
08/30/11 – Genevieve (Montreal)
My family and I spent 4 days at this wonderful property. This home, and Kaye and her family, are just so perfect. It was so enlightening, I felt that I had the opportunity to become a better human being by simply just experiencing this stay with my family. The location is perfect, the hot tub was so enjoyable (a large wooden structure buckled together with steel wraps – so unique), the passion fruit is delicious and smells so yummy, the produce that Kaye generates is just sensational, and her generosity is touching. I have it made it a life goal to purchase land in the area as the altitude, proximity to so much to do, climate, and the ability to truly live sustainable is beyond what one could imagine – unless you decide to visit. I would like to the opportunity to give a special thanks to Kaye and her family for sharing their home with my wife and two children. Kaye, you are such a special person, I feel honored to have been in your company. My kids had such a great time; zip lines and the worlds cutest dog – Dasher – just to point out some of the highlights. Your attitude and approach towards life left an indelible mark on me and I will never forget it. With much love and appreciation, I can only hope and dream that I have another chance to visit your home. If I could put it into words I would thank you properly. Alas, I can not. Best forever to you and yours!
8/15/2011 – The McClure Family – Colorado
My daughter and I spent four beautiful days at Kaye’s farm and it was not long enough! I echo all the other reviews here – this is truly a special place, a rare vacation jewel on the Big Island – and we traveled the whole island. The location, climate, beautiful grounds, gardens, fruit trees, animals, birds, and layout & history of the property all surround you and make for an incredible experience – there is much soul in this place:) We absolutely LOVED the basket of fresh vegies from the garden Kaye brought us and made dinner at the apt every night because we couldn’t wait to cook with them! The eggs were divine, especially loved the blue eggs, and walking around the garden in the mornings visiting the chickens and chatting with Kaye – who is so generous with her time and a delight to visit with – as she went about her gardening. The apartment is gorgeous, beautifully decorated, extremely comfortable, I felt happy every morning we woke up there looking forward to french press coffee. I was relaxed and smiling the whole time we were there, very peaceful and serene. It really did feel like a home away from home. Beds were very comfortable, fully stocked apt, everything you need, and close to everything we wanted to do. Driving in this area is gorgeous, was a pleasure to go anywhere. We even did a beach day at Mauna Kea resort which was only 40 mins away – we had the best of all worlds. Favorites: the beautiful photos & artwork in the apt, all by Kaye’s daughter & son-in-law, the old-fashioned hot tub, playing foosball, bringing the pig our food scraps, walking the grounds, chatting with Kaye, and just being present in this special place:) We hope to visit again soon.
7/11/11 – Lynette Munson
We visited Kaye’s farm this summer to celebrate our daughter’s high school graduation and to re-visit the island of our honeymoon. We stayed at two other locations on the island for our week’s journey. But Kaye’s home and farm continued to leave a fond space in our hearts and we wished we could go back. A loving hostess, cozy accommodations, perfect views. Upon our arrival, Kaye gave us a personal tour of the farm and taught us many things to inspire us…malama aina. Fresh eggs and vegetables, feeding the pet pig are special memories. Cooking our dinner and breakfast took on new meaning. The philosophy of the farm suited our sensibilities and all the animals were suited perfectly to our daughter’s love for creatures. And her bed is still something she dreams about! A glorious time for the three of us. Kaye’s place is a little piece of heaven on a Big Island.
6/15/11 – Dave, Brenda, Bronte – Lakewood, California
We had the great fortune of spending 3 magical nights at the beautiful Keolamauloa in Paauilo, on the Big Island of Hawaii. Thank you Kaye, for hosting us. The love and great care that you & your family have put into the land was deeply felt during our stay. The apartment was beautiful & well appointed! We highly recommend Keolamauloa to anyone looking for a rejuvenating vacation
5/11 – Zizi, Flynt, & Luke- Big Island, Hawaii
I just came home and I already feel home sick! I am from the other side of the big island, a local who escapes from the vog. We stayed at this heavenly farm for a week, and we sure had a dreamy time there. The location is great, we went to Waipio Valley, Honokaa, and even went to Umauma Falls within 20 miles away from the location. The driving on the way to those places are nice coastal line which you enjoy watching the beautiful ocean. We also walked to get to the Hawaiian Vanilla Company where they have a nice lunch & tour. On the way back, we picked some peaches on the side of the street. My daughter (almost 3 yr-old) loooooooooves all the animals (esp. Aka and Hina-hina) and Kaye kindly prepared so many toys for her before our arrival too. Mahalo, Kaye! You made me feel very comfortable and communicative. Kaye’s family and friends there are all so kind. like other reviewers, I will definitely be back!
4/11 – Yoko – Kealakekua, Big Island
We arrived in the evening to a beautifully decorated and very clean well cared for apartment. We stayed for a month and each day more the place felt more and more like home. We enjoyed Kaye the owner and her family who all live and work on this beautiful farm. We received a basket full of fresh produce when we arrived. We loved that we were able to order more as we needed. It is a beautiful spot on big island. We loved its location up a beautiful drive out in the country away from general tourist spots. We loved being in a place where you feel like you are one of the locals. We loved how kind the whole family was. The farm is just stunning and a beautiful place to walk around. It was fun feeding the pig our leftovers. We loved the lilikoi hanging outside our door! We can’t wait to come back.
3/11 – The West Family – Nantucket
My husband and I spent 3 nights here at the end of a wonderful 10 days on the Big Island. After staying in a condo, then a rental house , Keolamauloa felt just right for exploring the Waipio Valley and eastern side of the island. Kaye greeted us and showed us around the apartment. It’s important to note that the apartment is the basement level of the main house but totally self-contained with private entry and it’s own patio area and big outdoor soaking tub. We did hear the family upstairs at times, but it wasn’t bothersome at all. The apartment was very clean, and the beds were wonderful. This part of the island is amazingly beautiful, with dramatic sea cliff vistas at the coast, soft green hills and forest near the farm.
The property is gorgeous, and Kaye brought us a basket with kale, taro, garlic, carrots and a few other veggies from the garden… and the BEST eggs I have ever had in my life. We had fun cooking taro & kale breakfast burritos from a recipie that Kaye provided, as well as just taking our evenings to read and relax.This is a wonderful option for exploring this area. We did the hike down and –ouch — back up Waipio, which was one of the highlights of our trip. The closest “big” town of Honokaa has a decent grocery store and some good restaurants, plus Waimea is only about a 1/2 hour away. All in all a wonderful stay. We would return without hesitation!!
3/2011 – BR from Oakland, Cal
Fantastic! Everything about the stay was wonderful! Home and surroundings are beautiful and comfortable. The hosts are lovely and make you feel at home. We loved the fresh food and eggs from the farm and the peaceful surroundings. The house is well equipped, tastefully decorated, very clean and the beds are great. My 3 year old also felt at home straight away. I sincerely hope life will throw me a chance to go back there. Go there if you can.
11/30/10 – Miriam – Amsterdam
Edith and I had a wonderful time during our four days on your farm. The apartment was clean, comfortable, spacious and very reasonably priced. Even though you are located in a quiet farm area, you are close enough to the main highway so that we could easily get to other places like Honoka‘a, Waimea, Waipi‘o Valley and even Hilo. We especially enjoyed the farm tour Sally gave us. Mahalo!
11/13/10 – John and Edith -New York City
We spent five nights at Keolamauloa in July, and had a truly wonderful time. The booking process was simple and friendly, and Kaye gave us excellent directions. She and her granddaughter welcomed us, and once we had settled in, she proceeded to take us on a tour of the farm, showing us the pig, the sheep and the vegetable garden. The family’s commitment to the land, and to the indigenous vegetation of Hawai’i, is evident in the way they run the farm. After meeting Kaye’s daughter and son-in-law, we went back to the apartment with a basket of vegetables fresh from the garden, and a box of the most delicious eggs we’d ever eaten. This first experience was a taste of a memorable week on the farm.
The apartment is private, airy and light, and the gentle breezes blow through the open windows. My favorite spot was standing at the kitchen counter, looking out over the grass and trees, at the white clouds in the sky. The air here is the kind of air you want to breathe forever: fresh and invigorating. The quiet is broken only by the occasional sounds of the chickens or sheep, Everything was extremely clean, and the apartment is tastefully and informally furnished. The apartment generally has a comfortable and relaxed feel, with interesting and appealing artwork on the walls, some by Kaye’s daughter and son-in-law. The beds are very comfortable, and there is plenty of storage space. One bedroom looks out on the peaceful koi pond in front of the apartment. The kitchen is fully equipped for real cooking, and there is plenty of counter space. We loved the hot tub, and the choice of inside or outside showers (under a passion flower creeper). The indoor shower is wonderfully roomy, with the option of an open window looking out on the garden. We could also eat inside or out on the porch, with a view of the sky, and the sheep munching peacefully on the grass, or the occasional visit from a cat. The washer and dryer were at our disposal and worked well. Kaye and her family were extremely friendly and helpful, without being in the least intrusive. At night, when the sky was clear, we could go outside, turn out the lights, and be awed by the incredible number of stars in the sky. We appreciated the opportunity to participate in the life of the farm in small ways: for example, feeding our peels and organic waste to their large pig, as a part of the composting process. When we were able to tear ourselves away, we explored the area. Keolamauloa is close to Honoka’a, a sleepy little town that we enjoyed, and beautiful Waipi’o Valley, which is definitely worth a visit (especially on horseback). From here one can also get to Mauna Kea for stargazing, through Waimea. (There are good health food stores in Waimea and Hilo: shop in one of these before driving on to Keolamauloa.) We were truly sad to leave this wonderful place. We recommend Keolamauloa with enthusiasm.
07/28/10 – The Gifford family, New York City, NY
Aloha Kaye, We had the MOST wonderful time staying here. Thank you for such a magical time. The peace and serenity that your property offers is just what we needed. We will be sure to be back. May God Bless you and your family as you maintain this special place. Malama Pono — A hui hou. XO
07/19/10 Val, Cindy, Tisha, Sean, and Kathy – Kailua, Oahu, HI
We spent two days here with our two teenage boys. The apartment was beautifully appointed, very clean, and very comfortable. We loved the outdoor patio and hot tub. It was much nicer than any hotel we could have stayed at. Kaye left us a basket of fresh vegetables from her garden and was very helpful – giving us some background about the local area and culture as well as tips about where to go in the area. The farm is peaceful and quiet – a beautiful setting that makes you feel, during the time you spend there, that you live on the Big Island. I will recommend this place to friends traveling to the Big Island as a “must stay”.
06/27/10 Caroline – Bowdoin, ME
What a wonderful place to stay! Keolamauloa was the perfect place for the four of us- two moms and their grown daughters. It is peaceful, beautiful and is made all the more so by such welcoming and thoughtful hosts. Thank you Kaye, Sally, Keith and Kia’i for everything! It was restful but stimulating and exactly what we were looking for. The Hamakua Coast must be one of the best places in the world, and staying at Keolamauloa sure helped us appreciate that. We will be back, with any luck.
05/11/10 Erin, Elissa, Sue and Beth – Woods Hole, MA
03/12/10 Kim & Yuri – Stockbridge, MA
Our week at Keolamauloa in October 2009 was an incredible experience. Hidden up in the trees overlooking the ocean, Keolamauloa is a beautiful, spacious yet cozy apartment with everything we needed. Our host, Kaye, was always there when we needed her – whether it was for travel advice or to show us around the farm. Our trip to the Hakalau wildlife Refuge with Kaye, Keith, Kia’i and Sally was once in a lifetime. Running into Keith and Kia’i on the beach made us feel like we were at home running into friends. An incredible trip. We will be back. Thank you Kaye, Keith, Kia’i and Sally.
03/09/10 Matt and Mel – Toronto, Ontario
Hello Kaye and family, we had such a nice time staying at your Farmstead. You were so gracious to answer all of our questions about your sustainable farming,and the whole ‘up country’ experience in general. We could easily have stayed longer. We look forward to seeing you in the near future. (read from carla’s travel blog)
03/06/10 Mitch and Carla – Lake Forest Park, WA
We fully enjoyed our stay on this organic farm: comfortable apartment, warm relaxing atmosphere with fountain outside bedroom window, great organic vegetables!, knowledgeable hosts and perfect setting. Recommend this to anyone, especially families, gardeners, and those who want to learn about Hawaii!
02/08/2010 – Kyra and Ray- Eugene, OR
Our stay with you could not have been more perfect! You have a beautiful place, beautifully situated – and we feel very fortunate to have found you. We especially enjoyed one of your cats who joined us for breakfast on the patio each morning, purring away…So were we! Thanks for everything…
02/18/2010 – Mary & Bob – Arlington, VA
We had a great time at the farm. Very relaxing and enjoyable. Having family on the Big Island, the farm was in the perfect spot to go visiting. We would like to thank Kaye and family for their Ohana lifestyle and thier Aloha ways. Thanks again, we will be sure to stop in and visit the next time we are on the Island we also shared our experience with our family in the mainland and they are looking forward to staying at the farm…Aloha Oe (until we meet again)….Mahalo’s
01/23/2010 – Anonymous
We really enjoyed our stay at Keolamauloa in May 2009. The apartment was very homey and perfect for the three of us. We loved the local veggies and fruit basket provided us, the welcoming hosts and the local knowledge. We were VERY happy we made the right choice and didn’t stay in the Kona Coast Area!!!! We highly recommend Keolamauloa.
-Julia, Dave, Susan
We enjoyed a wonderful week’s stay at Keolamauloa in August 2009. Kaye and her family could not have been more welcoming. The house is beautiful and the apartment spacious and perfect for relaxing after a day exploring the island. We would definitely recommend Keolamauloa as the place to stay on the Big Island.
- Katherine and Oli Walker – London, UK
We had a delightful stay! The setting was idyllic, and the accomodations comfortable, clean and convenient. Thank you for your wonderful hospitality. We look forward to future visits.
-Magnolia Stork – San Luis Obispo, CA
Keolamauloa is an absolutely beautiful place run by incredibly warm and generous folks. Far from the touristy beaches and hotels, you can truly relax here. My girlfriend and I would recommend this place to anyone.
- Toben Windahl – Oakland, CA
My family had an absolutely wonderful time. The setting is idyllic and calming. We can’t wait to have an excuse to go again!
- Caroline Burghardt – Brooklyn, NY
Thank you so much for our beautiful stay on the big island. We had a fantastic honeymoon and everything felt very homey. The accommodations definitely went beyond our expectations and we would love to visit you again in the future. I have posted some pictures of our stay on my picasa site, I will send you a link. I think we took some great pictures of Keolamauloa! Again, thanks for everything. mahalo!
- Cassandra – Portland OR
Such a great place to visit if you want to take in the country side without all the distractions of tourist traps. The farm is both beautiful and inspiring to observe, and if you feel like taking part in the harvesting, Kaye and the family make you feel right at home. The amenities are ample, with a stocked kitchen and bathroom, you can enjoy meals in when feel like it. The bedrooms are cozy and the wood fire place is a nice added warmth. There are ample windows to let in the setting sun as well. The roads around the property are quaint and quiet, with no noise from traffic, yet easily accessible to the highway. The location is great as it allows you about 30 to 40 minutes in either direction to the best spots in Hawaii, I would suggest this farmstead over a resort to anyone wanting to really get away.
- Beth McClung – Los Angeles California
It was great to stay with Kaye and her family at the farm stay. They could not have been more hospitable, helpful and friendly. The location is great – especially if you like to be off the beaten track – and the apartment is comfortable, well-equipped and clean. Hawaii Big Island is very interesting and impressive as a destination – with much beautiful scenery and a friendly, relaxed atmosphere. Seeing whales from a boat and from the shore in March was a real highlight -so was the Volcano National Park.
- Ann & Parmen Leontovitsch – United Kingdom
Our stay at Keolamauloa was truly inspiring. Kaye and her family are doing amazing things in this remote part of the world … with the land, in the community, and in the arts. It’s such a magical place – so peaceful and lush, yet also close enough to so many wonderful adventures on the Big Island. Oh, and the hot tub is to die for!
- Cherie Aarts Coley – Brooklyn, NY
