Perfect little rainforest getaway! Connie was a great host. The house is adorable and the decor is thoughtful and calming. The kitchen was nicely provisioned with the basics for a home-cooked meal. The claw-foot tub, classy as it is, really isn't our thing--but the outdoor shower was delightful. Tons of screen windows made the walls almost melt away so that we felt the constant presence of the forest. We were charmed by the two geckos who were a constant presence in the living room, eating the fruit flies and occasional mosquito that managed to slip in. We were utterly charmed.
I was a little unsure about the location, there isn't much immediately around Orchidland Estates. But it turned out to be perfect for our purposes: centrally located to enjoy day trips to Hilo, Volcano, and the wild Kalapana coast. I highly recommend taking a Wednesday drive along the coastal jungle on Kalapana-Kapoho Road (access currently via Opihakao Drive, because of road closures and ongoing cleanup from the 2018 eruption in and around Leilani Estates), catch the sunset at Kaimū Beach Park to see the stark beauty of volcanic rock and new black sand beaches, then hit up the Wednesday night market at Uncle Robert's, with local food, drink, craft vendors, live music and dancing. Puna was everything we hoped for.