Honokaa is a quiet town with a couple good restaurants. Waipio Valley is right around the corner. I think it'd be better to stay in Waimea. Mai's place is very nice and clean. the shared living room is a great spot to socialize with the other guests. Met some really nice people while there. the only issues I had were the room was slightly smaller than I expected which really wasn't a big deal, and the pillows were flat and uncomfortable. I'd recommend bringing your own.