Hugh and Elvira's place is an absolute gem, and they are some of the BEST hosts I have ever had. From the moment I arrived, they had thought of everything, even filling the fridge with breakfast goods because my flight got in late and I would not have time to get to the grocery store. They made me feel right at home!!
I worked remotely from The Mango House -- the Internet is super high-speed with no issues whatsoever taking video calls, watching YouTube/Netflix, etc. throughout the day and having multiple people and many devices on the WiFi at the same time. For cell service, I've found that AT&T works best here, but this can vary greatly across the island when driving + traveling to different spots. This house is ideal for work-from-home; from the porch to the bedroom to the kitchen, there are many different places to set up with Zoom-ready backgrounds, which I thoroughly enjoyed.
The location is remote (about 40 minutes drive south from Hilo), but I absolutely loved it. I feel like I got the true Hawaiian experience and the locals are all so friendly; I made a lot of friends at the local cafes in Pahoa & Hilo that I frequented. You are surrounded by amazing coconut, avocado, lime, and mango trees (probably more varieties, too!) with an amazing view of the ocean from the porch. From your bed, you are surrounded by windows that provide an amazing view from sunrise to sunset. There was a rental car shortage during my stay, but it's worth the money, because you will definitely need a rental car -- no Ubers down your way. My rental car was not available until two days into my stay, but Hugh and Elvira graciously offered to drive me into Hilo as well as showed me some nearby beaches and spots close to the house (there are a lot of scenic spots and beaches just minutes away from the house!). You'll see incredible wildlife (geckos, nenes, and more) from your porch, and I personally loved getting to know their two dogs, who are such sweethearts.
The bedroom is super home-y (and large!) with a nice breeze. Even in the summer, it was so pleasant. I was concerned about not having AC, but the breeze and weather were so nice even in June and July, and many early mornings I even needed to put a sweatshirt on! Rain can be sporadic, even when it's sunny! That's just Hawaii climate for you, so be prepared and don't leave your car roof open. While everything at Mango House is connected outside, everything is well-covered for when those sporadic showers come.
As a long-term stay, this place is amazing. Hugh and Elvira graciously brought me many Hawaiian treats throughout my stay, brought clean sheets frequently, and other household items that I needed. They are very responsive and communicative and respectful of my privacy. The kitchen is well-equipped for cooking with both cookware + basic spices and sauces. They provided great insights and recommendations on local spots when I arrived!
Some recommendations for your stay:
Hilo:
- Pineapples Restaurant - an open-air restaurant with great vibes; super busy, call ahead for reservations
- Hawaii Zipline Tours - a phenomenal morning experience with great staff
- Jackie Rey's - good happy hour spot with amazing edamame
- Hawaiian Style Cafe - huge portions of food for a good price!
- Hilo Bay Cafe - a fancier dinner with an amazing outdoor porch that overlooks the bay for dinners!
- Ponds - a great casual spot for lunch that overlooks Hilo Bay
- Poke Market LLC - another great poke spot for lunch; go early, because they can run out of certain things!
- Seaside Restaurant - the volcano shrimp are amazing! one of my favorite restaurants
- there are many nice beach parks as well as Coconut Island to explore. Some are great for snorkeling!
Keaau
- Foodland - known in the Hawaiian Islands for their poke bowls! (can get groceries here; I personally went to Target closer to Hilo!)
Pahoa
- Sunrise Shack - their iced coffee is amazing with coffee ice cubes!! and fantastic acai bowls; their staff is incredibly kind and bubbly!
- Uncle Robert's - go for their Wednesday night food and entertainment (take cash! $20/person cover)
- Drive on Red Road to the 2018 lava flow and the new beach it created as well as go to Kehena Beach (black sand beach) which is on the road to Uncle Robert's!
Other Parts of the Island
- Mauna Kea Sunset & Stargazing - an absolute wonder! make sure you read ahead on the requirements to go the whole way to the top; I stayed at the Visitor's Center, which was perfect for me. Also take warm clothes!!
- Green Sand Beach - one of my favorite experiences ever, take cash ($20/person) to take a ride from one of the locals down to the beach (so worth the money!!)
- Punaluu Bake Shop - malasadas!! go early~
- Manta Ray Tours in Kona!