What to expect:
-Most calming sunrise & sunset lighting you can imagine
-Pineapple plants, papaya trees, banana trees, other fruit trees on the premises
-The rain "walks" here which means it rains for about 10 minutes every 2 hours until around 12pm. Then it's sunny. Then around sunset time the walking rain starts again.
-Pohoiki Hot Springs within a few miles at Isaac Hale Park (MUST GO, SO WARM!!)
-Kehena Beach (Wild dolphins swim here and interact with the humans -TAKE FLIPPERS AND SNORKEL MASK PROVIDED BY LEITH, DO NOT SWIM WITHOUT THEM)
-Convenience store with the best coffee you've ever had and unique local drinks + Lava Rock Park/Beach
-The drive from Kona to here is about 2 to 2.5 hours. DON'T let that discourage you.
As a tourist, you will not notice the time passing because you will be too busy gawking at the wild goats, nenes, chickens, volcanos, hilly fields, lava rock fields, lush rainforesty views of Hilo and climate changes as you ascend and descent above and below the clouds. If you drive at night, you may even see bats (like I did!) or pull over to stargaze (like I also did - it's so clear at night that you can see the milky way at times) It's worth the drive & you can't find a place like this on any other part of the island.
If you have T-mobile cell service like me, you will have zero service once you past Hilo/Pahoa and head towards this place. Honestly, this was the best thing that could have happened because it forced me to live in the moment & use my phone for pictures instead of checking social media. Leith has strong wifi at the house, so load your gps map before you leave for the day & you'll be good to go!
Best airbnb I've ever stayed at - hopefully you'll say the same!