Check-in: Our trip started out on a rough note, as we were unable to access the unit. The lockbox on the door was jammed and the code provided was not working. We were unable to get ahold of the host for assistance due to her being 6hrs ahead of us in California. To be fair, we were an hour later than we had planned to arrive, but it still was unfortunate that there was no means of assistance at check-in. After 40 minutes of messing with the lockbox in the rain, my husband was able to unjam the box and let us into the unit. When Linda was able to respond, she didn't seem very concerned that we had had a bad experience or that the cleaning crew did not leave the lockbox set correctly.
Security/Privacy: The sliding glass door leading to the patio does not lock. While the unit is on the second floor, there is literally a ladder hanging right below it. We raised this issue to Linda, but she just said that she never thought to lock it. May not be an issue for everyone, but it made us uneasy.
Cleanliness: The unit description and reviews indicate that the unit is rustic and may be a bit musty due to the humidity in the rainforest. Totally understand, but I think the unit is kept a bit worse than advertised. There are cobwebs throughout the unit, especially overhead. The towels were very old and abrasive with a musty smell.
Appliances: Other reviews have indicated that the fireplace was not working, so we weren't surprised that it did not work during our stay. The microwave keypad was not fully functional. If you wanted it to cook, you had to select one of the presets and then just open the door when you got to a cook time that worked for you. The first night, the gas stove was also not working - none of the burners would light and filled the unit with a gas smell from our efforts. When I let Linda know - again, did not seem concerned and just asked if it was all of the burners that were out. We tried again the second day and eventually got two of the burners to light. It's pretty lame that the appliances advertised are not reliable and you don't find out until you're in the middle of the rainforest.
Location: Location is obviously amazing. Insanely close to Volcanoes National Park and accessible to Hilo.
Overall, we got what we paid for. Our only expectation would be that the listing be a bit more descriptive of the current condition of the unit and appliances and to improve the check-in process and availability for troubleshooting.