Sometimes, you just need to “get away”. Sugar Shack is built for lounging, being in harmony with the ebb and flow of day and night, and quiet evenings free of light pollution to stargaze. It’s a misnomer to call it a shack. It is a gem of craftsmanship. You can sense the passion of the artisans who built it. We treated this gem with care.
The coastline here in Kalapana is one of the most beautiful of the Hawaiian Islands. The day starts early with sunrise at the cliff at the bottom of the neighborhood. Then, a one mile walk down to the black sand beach to watch the pods of dolphins frolic. Afternoons were spent reading a book on a shady cliff with a view of the crashing waves. We drove the ‘red’ and ‘green’ roads, exploring both stark black lava from recent eruptions and forested lanes with dangling vines.
Pahoa, a 20 minute drive, is the closest town for restaurants, shops and provisions. We liked Malama Market(Whole Foods meets Trader Joe’s) and Island Naturals(health food). Locally, there is small cafe, a one mile walk, that serves coffee and ice cream.
There is a hippie, artsy vibe to the community. We felt safe in the neighborhood, which is very quiet and dark at night. We left the house unlocked without concern while we were out, prudently as travelers, taking our wallets.
After our week stay, we felt revived and reconnected to the majesty of nature.