It's hard to describe what you will experience at Akiko's until you go there. When we first saw the listing on Airbnb, we knew right away that this is the place for us. Something about Akiko's life story, the nature around it and the Buddhist landscape energetically pulled us to make a reservation the moment we saw it and it was the best decision we made.
We booked the Mango cottage for a month and a half as we're a couple - both working remotely due to COVID. We also had access to the smaller cottage which is steps away. Even though the mango cottage is spacious, it was super convenient to have and the wifi always worked great.
Akiko provided us breakfast the first three days and there is always produce available like huge avocados, fresh tangerines, lemons and various island fruits that were absolutely delicious. There is a farmer's market close by every Tuesday with items like bread fruit burgers, coconut salad, and Joel's toothache plants.
The location is remote and you need a car to drive to Hilo for grocery shopping, laundry and shopping. The city center is only 20 minutes away and you have quick access to what the town has to offer. What's more special is the beach park next to Akiko's which is only a walking distance - the nature there is wild, savage and beautiful at the same time. Everytime we walked there we couldn't believe our eyes. There are waterfalls and large ancient trees that leads you to a rocky beach with strong waves.
What made our stay even more special is the daily meditations in the morning led by Akiko. They gave us the discipline we need in the morning and the motivation to stay on the path of truth and wisdom. Akiko's dedication to the Buddhist way is truly inspiring. We believe this experience will set the path for us to do what we need to do and be of service.
Lastly, we also had access to yoga sessions twice a week at the property. It was great to have that after a long day of work (or exploring) to turn the engine off :)
Mahalo Akiko for a magical experience at your bed and breakfast. We made wonderful memories that will stay with us forever. Thank you for everything!