What a great place to discover Big Island from. For those who do not like big crowds and want to live like Hawaiians. First, Kalapana weather is great. Far less rain than Hilo up north. Lots of sunshine and blue skies. The unit is just fantastic. Well decorated ans spacious it offers everything that you want. Kitchen is great and we cooked a lot. The hippie-like neighborhood is very friendly. There is a real community here that meets every sunday by the ocean...which is about 5 min walk from unit. Check out for those lava formation where waves crashes. I called it Pele's fingers!
Michael and Broadrick the innkeepers were great hosts. They were always promptly available for us for anything we want. The environment is so safe there that you do not mind if you forgot to lock your car's doors for the night. Its a quiet place. And how about that terrace on top of the unit? Gorgeous ocean view and stunning skies at night.
We would get back there anytime. We would gladly refer anyone there.
One has to take into acount that Big Island is...BIG. So be ready to drive a lot to get around. But what a nice playground to discover. Oahu takes a week to visit all. Big Island could take weeks and weeks depending on your time and budget.
I strongly recomand that people stay on Hilo side of the Island than on Kona side. Kona is dry-lava field environment with big resorts. Hilo side is green and lush. Surfers do not go Kona coast. Head straight to Honolii 5 min norht of Hilo...sickest surf spot in all Hawaii Islands and relatively unknown of tourists. From the unit you surf 45 min later.
1h15 for Volcano national park. 3 min for Kehena's black sand beach (nudist) and max. 30 seconds from heaven!!!

Worth mentioning: that catch water on site so you need to buy drinking water.

The rest is just picture perfect. Could not dream of any better place for adventurous visitors looking to get off beatten path. Touring the Island, we had the impression to comeback home every night.

We met the ever-smiling owner Christopher and we just want to thank him so much to live in Volcano and leave these paradise units for rent ahahah... until I gather enough money to buy it from him (wishful thinking).

Again this is YOUR destination if you want a sublime base-camp to discover Big Island like no-one. Dont look anywhere else and book quickly cause you are gonna bite your nails off if you let it pass by you. Then you will deserve to get rat-packed in Kailua-Kona huge resorts.

5 BIG STARS. What a great place. What a great Island. We had the time of our lives there!