I stayed for 2 weeks at Joe & Leanna's beautiful oasis, and I had the most wonderful time -- I truly cannot recommend this place enough! I've stayed at a lot of Airbnbs over the last few years, and this one topped the list for me by a long shot. The immersive nature experience was absolutely magical and I felt incredibly relaxed, happy, and reset. While you are here, you truly feel at one with nature - wake to the morning light and fall asleep to the sounds of the jungle.
And it is so cozy - in the evenings, with the rain coming down, turning the fairy lights on and cooking outdoors is so lovely.
The hosts are incredibly kind and responsive! And I was amazed at what a great job they have done with the place. Every little detail is carefully thought out and well designed; small touches everywhere that make the home feel especially magical.
Some details on the space:
* It is very private. It feels like a a full retreat experience, but without all the other people around.
* Kitchen is well stocked, with a stovetop and full size fridge.
* Bedroom is lovely - the bed is super comfy, there are lots of outlets to charge your devices, and plenty of room for your stuff.
* Shower is great! Heats up quickly and also it's such a fun experience to get to shower outdoors! And the outdoor tub is a treat too.
* WiFi worked great. I was working full time remotely for my job, and had no issues at all. In fact I would say the connection was a lot better than many of the mainland Airbnbs I've stayed at.
* The laundry is right next to the kitchen and I really appreciated how accessible and convenient it was.
A few tips to anyone considering a stay here:
* Do not let the location dissuade you! While the island's main attractions are a bit far (Hawaii Volcanoes National park is about a 45 minute drive, and the Kailua-Kona side of the island is about 2 hours), there are tons of hidden gems in the area, and the hosts provide a guidebook with a lot of local suggestions. I highly recommend the Puna Trail which is just down the road by about 1.5 miles: you will see tons of sea turtles at the beach!
* Do be aware that this is the jungle, and you will hear it! Particularly the frogs! I personally loved drifting off to the sound of their ribbits, but if you are a very sensitive sleeper, you may prefer to find somewhere that is less embedded in nature. :)
If you decide to book it (which you definitely should), a few more tips:
* Hosts will mention this to you in directions, but to re-iterate: on arrival, I recommend using Apple maps, it seems to work way better on the island. And you need to be put the full address in, otherwise you'll be led several blocks away. This can be confusing especially if you are arriving at night.
* Don't be afraid of the wild pigs - these are common and they are not aggressive. You can easily scare them off.
* Definitely follow the hosts instructions about not leaving food out. Remember you are in nature, and Hawaii nature is full of small critters!
Thank you to Joe & Leanna for such a wonderful stay!!! I can't wait to return and will be recommending this spot to all my friends.