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Minimum StayMagical - we highly recommend
Unusually beautiful home - we were surprised to find such elegance in a vacation rental. Well-maintained, great attention to detail. Open floor-plan felt very spacious. Beautiful furnishings. Gorgeous all around, inside and out. We especially loved the private waterfall on the property with the pool at the base of it - we dove in and discovered a cave behind the waterfall. Also enjoyed the hot tub on a rainy night, very romantic. Owner responded promptly to all our questions. Property manager was thoughtful and helpful too. Best experience ever in a vacation rental home. We'll definitely come back.
WilliamVisited on "August - 2017
Exceptionally beautiful
We loved it. Fabulous place - we had stayed at this exact property on a previous Big Island trip and we were happy to get to stay there again - and hope to return to it, too. We own a VRBO rental on the mainland ourselves, so we looked closely. We're very impressed with the way the Kapehu owners take care of every detail. Gorgeous home lovingly cared for, beautiful grounds meticulously maintained, unusually private ad quiet location yet very convenient within 15-25 min of every service, restaurant, shopping, etc. Both the owner and the property manager were friendly. pleasant, and responsive. Exceptional all around. We'd recommend it highly!
DukeVisited on "August - 2017
Heavenly - far beyond our expectations
What an awesome place - we sure lucked out in finding it. This place seemed as far from noise and cars as the deepest wilderness, with luxury to rival a high-end hotel. Yet it was just a short drive down a beautiful highway to Hilo. We have never in our lives experienced such privacy. The property manager was very friendly and said he lives only 7 minutes away if we needed anything, but the house provided everything we could possibly need. The large kitchen provided all the essentials for cooking our own meals, and we loved having dinner on that gorgeous lanai with the beautiful views of the valley and ocean. The house and the landscaping are impecably maintained and lovingly cared for. The location is central for exploring the main sights and adventures on the island, and we packed a lot in, from zip-lining to snorkeling to a boat tour to see the lava flowing into the ocean. We've been to Hawaii before but this was our first time staying on the East side, and we discovered we like the East side of the island so much better than kitschy Kona. Now we're hooked on East Hawaii and can't wait to go back! But next time we'll bring the grandparents and treat them to the Kapehu Retreat - it's big enough for all our extended family.
Marcy M.Visited on "July - 2017
BEAUTIFUL & SPACIOUS HOME
The owner of this property was extremely prompt in responding to our messages and needs from the time of inquiry to post-rental as well. The home was spacious, comfortable, clean, and gorgeous inside and out. The kitchen and bathrooms had modern, state-of-the-art appliances and fixtures and the large washer and dryer were top-notch, too. We loved how big and roomy the houses were, loved the grounds and how well-manicured they were, and found the lanai as a good gathering spot to sit and drink coffee and watch the sun rise. The sound of the nearby stream was so pleasant and calming and the windows all around the home let in natural light into the home. There were lots of interesting books related to Hawaii, hiking, fishing, etc. to read. It was especially nice to have the studio with 3 beds right off of the main house. It was close enough but far enough and also had a beautiful, modern bathroom. We enjoyed the hot tub as a few afternoons were very cool up there. This was such a beautiful and peaceful place to stay away from the hustle and bustle of town. It was always nice to come home at the end of the day.
Rona K.Visited on "April - 2017
Experience the beauty: Expansive views of the beautiful Hamakua coast and the ocean from the spacious veranda.
Experience elegance: Grand, architect-designed home, with marble and hardwood floors, wainscoting and fine details.
Experience nature: 2 streams and a private waterfall, fruit trees, 20 lush landscaped acres.
Experience serenity: No city lights or noise - only the gentle music of the flowing waters and the gentle trade winds in the palms.
Experience unparalleled privacy: no neighbors in sight.
Experience relaxation: soak in the hot tub: bathing suits option with no one around to see you. Or our property manager can schedule you with a visiting massage therapist for a nominal fee.
Breathe the fresh air: Vog is very rare in this particular spot in East Hawaii, because the volcano is south-west of Kapehu, and the wind usually blows in off the ocean from the north-east. (Vog is the volcanic smoke and sulfuric acid fumes that plague the Kona side of Hawaii.)
Ideal location: 'Out in the country' feeling, yet only 10 miles from downtown Hilo and 20 minutes from the Hilo airport.
All the stunning waterfalls and scenic canyons that the Big Island is famous for are a short drive to the north (for example, Akaka Falls is just 5 miles away). A short drive to the south brings you to the Volcanoes National Park, with the live volcano, lava tubes, petroglyphs, and many miles of wilderness hiking trails. Just a few minutes away are several black sand beaches for swimming or surfing, and the most pristine snorkeling reefs on the island. Also within a few minutes are several gorgeous botanical gardens and zip lines.
The climate at Kapehu Retreat House is perfect. Situated at 900 feet elevation, the air is cooler than at the beach or in Hilo town: upper 70's F to low 80's during the day, and upper 60's F at nigh most of the year. In the winter it can get down to 60 at night with a daytime high in the low 70's.
Despite being on the rainy side of the island, mosquitoes are rare at Kapehu Retreat House, because the eucalyptus groves on either side of the property emit a fragrance that is a natural mosquito repellent.
Amenities provided: The spacious home is beautifully furnished. The fully equipped kitchen has ocean views, granite counters, gas range, large refrigerator with ice maker and cold water, microwave, blender, toaster, coffee maker - everything you need to cook your gourmet meals. The indoor dining room has a beautiful mango wood table and 8 mango wood chairs, and the large outdoor dining table on the roomy lanai has 8 chairs. The living room has a fireplace for those rare chilly evenings. The marble-floored laundry room is equipped with a front-loading washer and dryer. You can park two cars on the carport to keep out of the sun and rain.
The large house has 4 bedrooms and 3 full bathrooms and a half-bath, plus an outdoor shower, and sleeps up to 10 maximum.
NO EVENTS: Because of zoning restrictions (the house is located on a 1-lane farm road), the owners are not allowed to authorize any events, receptions, commercial activities, or large gatherings on the property. Maximum number of people using the house: 10. Maximum number of vehicles at the house: 3.
The setting is utterly private. (In fact, in our hot tub, bathing suits are optional because no one is around to see you.) No city noises, just the sound of flowing waters, breezes through the trees, and bird songs. No roads or city lights are visible from the house, and the house is not visible from the roads, because there is a eucalyptus forest between the house and the nearest road. The scenery is gorgeous in all directions, especially the lush green valley sloping down to the ocean. It's located on the beautiful Hamakua Coast, which is filled with canyons, waterfalls, rivers, beaches, and botanical gardens. There are 2 thrilling zip line tours within a few minutes drive.
Hilo town is only 15 minutes away. There are several beautiful clear-blue swimming beaches right near downtown Hilo: Keaukaha Beach Park, Kealoha Beach Park, Richardson Ocean Park, Onekahakaha Beach Park, Leleiwi Beach Park, Lehia Beach Park - to name a few. Huge (people-sized) friendly sea turtles will swim with you at these beaches.
Other Activities: Volcano viewing, adventure sightseeing, Zip lining, diving, snorkeling, surfing, swimming, hiking, backpacking - everything you can ask for in a tropical vacation, plus a live volcano, is close by. In fact, the Kapehu Retreat House is located in the absolute most convenient spot on the island for accessing all the sights.
Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, of course, is a must-see. It's a good reason to stay on the east or Hilo side: the volcano and all the amazing sights in the National Park are much easier to get to from the Hilo side. (From the Kona side it's more than two hours to the volcano). In addition to spending several days sightseeing within the National Park, you'll definitely want to visit the Park at night to see the Hale MauMau crater glowing!
If you are an outdoor adventurer, the National Park is filled with wonderful hikes: short hikes, day-hikes, and overnight trips. One of our favorite hikes is a 3-day/2-night wilderness backpack trip to Halape Beach (with ruins and totems from an old Hawaiian fishing village, snorkel reefs and pristine sandy beaches) for the 1st night, and Keauhou Point for the second night, for pristine snorkeling pools and beaches. You'll need a permit from the Park Service, and they will provide directions and maps.