This lovely little cabin is such a nice place to stay. It’s in the cloud forest above Kailua-Kona, so it’s much cooler on average than down the hill. The chorus of tree frogs at nice is a delight to listen to while falling asleep. Pro tip, though: maybe bring ear plugs if you’re a light sleeper, as they do sing all night. The space is private, shielded from the driveway and main house by thick tropical plantings. The kitchen is equipped with things to make breakfast, which is nice to start the day with something light: coffee (K-cup, French press, or pour-over are all options), a toaster, a hot water kettle. There isn’t a spade to really cook properly other than a hot plate. But that works fine, and there are pots/pans to use. There is a grill on the back deck, so it would be super easy to make something like grilled corn-on-the-cob and sausages for a simple stay at home dinner, no kitchen needed.
The house is about 6 miles up the hill from Costco - strongly recommend their gas (compare $3.13/gal vs $3.50-$4.10 elsewhere). It’s about 45 minutes to Waimea, 2 hours to Volcanoes National Park, and 2 hours to Hilo, so everything is very driveable.
FYI for divers: the house is at 2300’ elevation, so use your own judgment when staying here. My wife and I spent several days diving, and came back to the house after arriving at the harbor. No symptoms of the bends, but again - your mileage may vary, so decide for yourself if you’re OK with this elevation. We didn’t factor this in when booking, and were a little apprehensive - it turned out just fine. We dove with Big Island Divers, and were not disappointed by their knowledgeable and friendly crews.
Close to many coffee farms with delicious tastings. Try Da Poke Shack for an excellent lunch. Merrimen’s in Waimea was a nice fancy last dinner on the island with excellent food.