My wife Jenny and I had a lovely stay at Eco Hale. If you are looking for somewhere off the beaten path, this is the place for you. At night, it seems as if you are staying in the middle of a jungle rainforest (though with surprisingly few pests; in fact, I didn't even notice mosquitoes at night). The cottage was clean and smartly outfitted; the owners included everything you might want for your Big Island adventures (snorkel equipment, beach chairs and towels, ponchos and umbrellas, etc.); Kaeo and Karl were even nice enough to leave us fresh fruit, banana bread, and other treats. I would definitely recommend Eco Hale for travelers eager to escape the resort scene and glimpse a bit of life in inland Hawaii. That said, it's barely a 25 minute drive (if that) to the Volcano Park or Hilo, so you are never that far from major tourist destinations.