Jason was a brilliant host, very accommodating and easy to communicate with. The king suite was immaculately clean, fully stocked, and really reflected the effort he's put in to making it a comfortable place to stay.
We had the chance to talk for a while before heading over to Volcanoes National Park and spent some time hanging out with his dogs Jasper, Baxter, and Jack - all very sweet and friendly. The location at the end of a road means you look out from the window/lanai at a well kept lawn with fruit trees and an all-natural backdrop beyond the fence.
If you take the nearby trail to Shipman Beach be ready for a mostly flat but still somewhat challenging 2.5 mile hike (if it's been raining recently). If it was dry it wouldn't have been any issue, but the mud and pooled rainwater means you have to be a bit nimble on your feet to avoid getting your feet wet. Water shoes would have made this no problem, but I stubbornly stuck to my sandals and regretted it. The payoff is a secluded beach with about as many turtles as people that's protected by a natural breakwater for great swimming with no significant waves. The coast before the beach is beautiful with clear blue waves crashing against black lava rock cliffs.
Late night food is tough to come by in Hilo, but we were served at Hilo Burger Joint right before 10pm.
Mahalo for showing us some true ho'okipa, Jason!