First, the positives… Location A+, coolness of being able to walk right out on the lava field A+, furnishings A+, cleanliness A. I’d recommend it highly if it weren’t for… Communications got a D. I am very happy that the previous guests experienced good communications from the host. We did not.
The host never contacted me with information on how to enter the premises. We had no instructions on how to enter the home. Upon arrival, my sister telephoned, I texted the host multiple times at the number listed. She never responded, ever. (We had to enlist the help of the other lodgers at the property.) Directions contained factually incorrect items: the actual numerical address sign outside of the property did not exactly match the house sign numbers in the written directions.
The listing promised washer and dryer. There was a washer and dryer in an outbuilding laundry room, but the door was locked. The house manual stated our key would open the locked door. It didn't. Because the host did not answer our telephone calls nor our texts, we finally resorted to e-mailing about the laundry room. She finally responded to e-mail, but after we had already checked out.
In summary, you may enjoy this property if you have a high tolerance for flaky communication, complete lack of response from the host and factually incorrect information in the house manual. The property and the location are pretty cool. You may enjoy yourself.
I am aware that I sound like a crank, but this arrival was my worst arrival experience on airbnb, ever.
One other hint …. Improvement in directions: We had no GPS because neither our Verizon phone nor our ATT phone got any reception. So we had to rely on the written instructions provided by the host. We followed the instructions headed south on 130, but at one point, we faced an unexpected traffic circle. The host’s directions were completely silent on what to do when arriving at the traffic circle in the middle of 130. Using the only information on an address I had (Pahoa), I took the 1st exit, following the sign to Pahoa. Wrong. The correct instructions are: at the traffic circle, take the 2nd exit to Kalapana.