Mahalo indeed! Like everyone else has already said, Mahalo Kai is a truly remarkable place, not only for its unusual structural design, but also for its warmth, privacy, and surroundings. Inside, you'll love the minimal yet tasteful design and detail: bamboo blinds, hardwood floors, funky artwork, teal color scheme, and plenty of places to sit and relax. Functionally it's all there too: a private bathroom with a strong rainfall shower, full-sized oven and fridge, windows and doors everywhere for those coastal breezes, a great bluetooth speaker (one of the best actually!), a wide desk for two people and laptops, and a surprisingly comfortable bed. Outside, though, is where Mahalo Kai really becomes special, with its non-chlorinated pool, outdoor shower, lush trees and plants, lava rock walkway, and easy access to both the parking spot and - once fence construction is complete - the front yard. The owners also own the adjoining property, ensuring total privacy while you're outdoors. As for the location, for us it was perfect. We don't like resorts or touristy attractions when we travel for the most part, so being in this secluded area, with a very nice rental car (NOT a Mustang, Camaro, Wrangler, or Malibu!) to take us around to other areas of the island, was exactly what we wanted. We love driving and exploring, and hiked Waipi'o up north, shopped in Kona out west, checked out the volcanoes in the middle, and of course, enjoyed every inch of the beautiful southeast, especially the Pahoa-Kalapana road and all the little alcoves in the woods looking out over the Pacific. Kehena Beach was beautiful and a must-see, and Pohoiki was breathtaking, in the sense that lava just recently created it, while destroying everything along the way. In between these black sand beaches is the gorgeous MacKenzie state park, where you will be sure to find a private cliff looking out over the ocean, great for an afternoon picnic or quiet meditation.
All in all, I can't think of a better place to enjoy the Big Island, if you're even just slightly adventurous. Avoid those overcrowded western resorts, and go live a little with the locals in Puna. Mahalo Ben for the use of what I'm sure is one of your life's joys, and we were blessed to have been able to experience it even just for a handful of days. Aloha!