Shanda is a very kind and caring host: we could not have been happier at her place.
I can only repeat what other reviewers have already said: this place is amazing. We loved the location: it is 12 minutes from the highway and these twelve minutes transport you into a secluded tropical garden with orchids dangling from the trees, birds or paradise, pineapples, palm trees and so many others. The last bit of the road may SEEM wild, but it is only because of the scenery around it – it feels like you are driving through a jungle. As for the road itself, it is paved and well – maintained: we drove it in the rain and at night and it could not be easier.
The house is less than 30 minutes from the Volcano park. The park is open 24 hours, and it offers amazing opportunities just before and after the sunset: you can see the lava glowing in the dark, you can drive down the Chain of Craters Road just before the sunset, which is breathtaking. Also, we had the Thurston lava tube (which is teeming with people during the day) all to ourselves. It is also about 30 minutes to Hilo, so you can go to a beach or a waterfall in the afternoon and head to the Volcano Park in the evening.
As for the amenities, everything worked perfectly: hot shower, strong WIFI, stove, washer – dryer – everything. There are beautiful porches around the house and welcoming strings of lights around the property, so for those who worry about “off grid,” please don’t, it is better equipped than a “regular” house.