This is a very clean 3 bedroom 2 bath home with two pull out sofa couches to sleep up to 10. It was an old post office that was renovated into a private home and there are old doors and wood trim throughout the house including the ceiling. It has great character but also one newly renovated bathroom and modern kitchen with granite counters. The windows above the kitchen cabinets provide great light. Hardwood and ceramic tile floors with very comfortable beds in the bedrooms. Plenty of towels, shampoo, conditioner, soap, sunscreen, and little extras like Q tips, cleaning supplies, and a fully stocked kitchen with snacks such as coffee, cookies, chocolates, and snack mixes. The washer and dryer came in handy and made our stay very comfortable with laundry soap provided. There were 4 full snorkel sets and we made good use of them. If needed, some noodles and float vests for kids. Beach towels also available.
The location of the house is perfect. It is directly across the street from Richardson's park. This park has a small harbor swimming area safe for children and also a swimming and snorkeling bay with a small black sand beach. It is easy to walk across the road carrying snorkel gear and walk right into the water. Plenty of reef fish and room to explore with small swells and waves. The park also has volcanic rock and a pond that changes with the tide and if you check carefully, there are sea turtles resting in the pools. We also saw two eels and more reef fish in these pools. It is a short 5 minute drive to downtown Hilo and great places to walk around the neighborhood. Great local restaurants or easy to prepare great meals in the home. Full sized refrigerator/freezer, and oven/range/microwave.
We stayed over Christmas and there was a fully decorated Christmas tree. Attention to these little details are seen throughout the house. The kitchen is fully stocked...many pots, pans, coffee grinder and coffee maker, toaster, rice maker, etc... TV with Roku, wifi access, board games, children books and a baby grand piano. Enjoyed watching the sunrise from the front porch and listening to the crashing waves while falling asleep.
We all agreed that we would stay here again and were very pleased with the house. The location is excellent for exploring the Hilo area and easy access to roads leading to the other various parts of the island. We loved the tropical rainforest atmosphere and the smaller sized urban area. The farmers market was a great place to explore, we met some locals fishing off of the pier and enjoyed a morning hot Bikram yoga session with more locals. Everyone was friendly and kind. We felt safe, relaxed and comfortable. What more can you ask for?