Howard’s place is exactly what the title implies: homey, convenient to downtown Hilo, and a cottage feel. The decor is tasteful and the couches and beds are comfortable. It was perfect for us- traveling as 2 couples. The coqui frogs at night were soothing and didn’t interrupt our sleep. Hilo is a wet town and therefore feels a lot like a rainforest. So keep that in mind if you see bugs or geckos. You should expect that when staying in a town like Hilo, it wasn’t abundant but we noticed it and they didn’t bother us. Just be mindful of leaving food out (bread, etc)
Howard was a great communicator. Gave us recommendations, made sure our check in process was smooth and more. Their house feels like a home away from home. If you expect a high end resort feel, don’t go the Airbnb route. But we loved being able to be so close to town, walking distance, and short driving distance to all the great restaurants. Stay here and you’ll enjoy your stay in Hilo so much more.