Exceptional 10 /10 Peaceful Forest Paradise
Guest rating: 5.0 / 5
Overview
Lava Forest Retreat is a hosted vacation home in Leilani Estates, near Pahoa, on the eastern side of Hawaiʻi’s Big Island. Its two-acre property is surrounded on three sides by native Hawaiian forest, with fruit trees, flowers, birds, and open northern breezes.
Guest suite
Guests have the entire upper floor of the two-story custom home, including a bedroom with a queen bed, private forest-view lanai, two closets, and a separate living room with a queen sofa bed. The lava-themed suite also has a desk, mini-fridge, microwave, coffee maker, and private marble-tiled bathroom with a walk-in shower and multiple shower heads.
Shared amenities
The owner lives in private rooms on the lower floor, where guests have shared access to a furnished living area, fully equipped kitchen, meditation room, spa bath, and indoor and outdoor lanai. A washer and dryer, free Wi-Fi, free parking, and a covered outdoor seating area are available; the home also has a whole-house UV water filtration system.
Food and nearby dining
The shared kitchen includes a gas range, dishwasher, microwave, air fryer, blender, and mixer, and the property has an outdoor grill. Nearby options include Puna Poke and Grill, Kaleo’s, Black Rock Cafe, and Pele’s Kitchen, each roughly 4.3–4.5 km away; Pahoa’s shops and restaurants are about a five-minute drive according to the property description.
Location and activities
The rural, mountainous setting is a base for exploring the island’s forests, coast, and volcanic landscapes. The property description places the ocean about 15 minutes away and Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park about a 40-minute drive away; nearby points of interest include Mackenzie State Park and Lava Tree State Monument. The Leilani Estates Leilani Ave @ Oneloa Street bus station is listed 613 m away.
Best for
This retreat suits couples and nature-focused travelers looking for a quiet, forest-surrounded stay with a private lanai and a distinctive lava-themed suite. It also works well for visitors planning day trips to coastal sights and Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park, with a kitchen, laundry, and free parking for a more independent stay.
Travel tips
Plan around the rural location: the property description puts Pahoa about five minutes away, the ocean about 15 minutes away, and Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park about 40 minutes by car. A bus station is listed 613 m away, but transit service details are not provided; Hilo International Airport is listed about 31.6 km away. The owner lives in private rooms on the lower floor, and the lower-floor shared spaces are shared with the owner.
What guests say
The supplied reviews praise the host’s warmth and helpful local suggestions, as well as thoughtful provisions that made guests comfortable. Guests describe the surroundings as lush, quiet, and spacious, and one review mentions enjoying walks and runs nearby. The room, multi-head shower, and forest-and-sky views from the bath also stand out in the comments. No negative themes appear in the excerpts provided.
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