Pog's Place is exactly as advertised, and highly recommended for the independent traveller who wants a more authentic getaway experience. The condo is clean, beautifully and tastefully furnished, and has all the basics to get you going.
This is not a hotel, and you must be prepared to supplement with your own supplies, including toilet paper etc, but you will also benefit from other guests who have come through and left condiments and other extras in the kitchen and in the condo. I had a couple of minor snafus early on, but Julie was very quick to respond and resolve any issues or concerns I had. The staff and locals are very friendly and warm, and I felt safe travelling solo.
It takes some effort to get there, but the journey is worth it, and the drive down from Kona is absolutely beautiful. If you're looking for room service and the soft white sands of the resorts, then perhaps this location is not for you, but this bend of the Big Island is magical and stunning and has its own gifts and surprises that no resort could offer. A good home base if you're looking to explore the Volcano, South Point, and Hilo areas, as well as lots of good coffee farms along the way.
Do your homework about the ocean conditions and come with water shoes if you want to dip into the cool, choppy waters of the rocky black sands beaches. Hilo is a little over an hour away and has the calmer, warm waters that tourists often expect on vacation, if that's something you desire. But I suggest remaining open to the rugged beauty of Punalu'u and enjoying it for what it is, and not what you expect it to be.