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Private Garden Cottage on 5 acre country estate /Walk to the Botanic Gardens!

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your current months are December, 2024 and January, 2025.
December 2024
January 2025

Photo gallery for Private Garden Cottage on 5 acre country estate /Walk to the Botanic Gardens!

Aerial view
Smart TV, DVD player, books, music library
Outdoor dining
Unclassified image, 4 of 30, button
Iron/ironing board, WiFi, bed sheets, wheelchair access

Reviews

9.8 out of 10

Exceptional

Entire home

1 bathroomSleeps 353 sq m

Popular amenities

  • Parking available
  • Barbecue grill
  • Outdoor space
  • Kitchen
  • Air conditioning

Explore the area

Map
Hilo, HI
  • Hawaii Tropical Botanical Garden
    5 min drive
  • Honoli'i Beach Park
    9 min drive
  • What's Shakin
    13 min walk
  • Hilo, HI (ITO-Hilo Intl.)
    20 min drive

Room options

Similar properties

About the area

Pepeekeo

Seaside stay .Stay at this Pepeekeo cottage and you'll be within half a mile (1 km) of Hamakua Heritage Corridor and 2 miles (3 km) of Onomea Bay. Hawaii Tropical Botanical Garden and Onomea Tea Company Estate are also within 2 miles (3 km).

What's nearby

  • Hawaii Tropical Botanical Garden - 5 min drive
  • Coconut Island Park - 15 min drive
  • Rainbow Falls - 15 min drive
  • University of Hawaii at Hilo - 15 min drive
  • Port of Hilo - 15 min drive

Getting around

  • Hilo Intl. Airport (ITO) - 20 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Onomea Country Market & Cafe - ‬4 min drive
  • ‪What's Shakin - ‬5 min drive
  • ‪Onomea Country Market & Cafe - ‬4 min drive
  • ‪Blue Kalo - ‬11 min drive
  • ‪What's Shakin - ‬13 min walk

About this property

Entire place

You'll have the entire home to yourself and will only share it with other guests in your party.

Private Garden Cottage on 5 acre country estate /Walk to the Botanic Gardens!

Aloha!
Our country estate is in Onomea, 6 miles north of Hilo, on 5 tropical acres with garden and ocean views. Onomea Guest Suite is a private cottage with garden views of flowering royal Poinciana trees, sweeping monkey pod trees, mango, lychee, mountain apple trees, coconut palms, and many varieties of other palms. The most repeated description by our guests is 'peaceful'. The suite has a studio layout... bedroom, living room and kitchenette all in one ample main space, and a lovely stone-tiled bath with high ceilings and gorgeous light. Guests love the shower which feels like its outdoors because of all the high windows above the shower space. The covered lanai is enjoyable rain or shine for dining or relaxing. Our royal palm-lined road is one of the loveliest in all of Hawaii. Artists frequently come to paint it! Within walking distance is the old donkey trail to Onomea Bay, a breathtaking bay along the old Scenic Highway. You can also walk to the Hawaii Botanic Gardens and What's Shakin' Smoothie Stand (fresh fruit smoothies, wraps, sandwiches, coffee, tea.....)and by car, we are equi-distant to Volcano National Park, Waipio Valley and Mauna Kea Visitors Center, just of many other attractions in the area. (see more below at 'Things to Do').
A queen bed, plus a twin bed provides a comfortable sleeping for up to three. The kitchenette has enough cooking appliances that you won't miss the stovetop or oven. You'll find the barbecue on your lanai and many kitchen appliances on the countertop or in the cabinets.
(Don't forget to READ OUR REVIEWS!!)
A few notes about our guest suite....and us! .......
Our guest space was completed in March 2011, a project lovingly created over two years. The bathroom and shower are wheelchair accessible and there are no steps between parking and entry to suite. My wife and I live in the main house which is an entirely separate building attached by a breezeway and a central courtyard with a fishpond and burbling fountain. I am usually available to help you with directions, dining suggestions or simply to come up with extra pillows!
By car, within 10 minutes, are the magnificent 419 foot high Akaka Falls, the charming village of Honomu; and the nearby city of Hilo, center of commerce on the east slope of Mauna Kea and home to the renowned Hilo Farmers Market.
Some other activities we recommend you think about during your stay, here on the east side of the Island of Hawaii......
Hawaii Tropical Botanical Garden (1.3 miles away and a lovely walk on country roads), Volcano National Park, horseback riding in Kohala or Waipio Valley; a zipline adventure; several nearby beach parks, (Richardsons, Carlsmith, Honolii), Liliokulani Park and Japanese garden, Akaka Falls, Rainbow falls (there are a host of other waterfalls you'll see driving along the Hamakua coast) snorkeling, photography, hiking; bird watching; a visit to the 13,980 foot summit of Mauna Kea where 12 international telescopes are redefining our understanding of the heavens the Lyman Museum, the Tsunami Museum, the Hilo zoo, Mauna Loa Macadamia Nut farm and factory, the lovely scenic highway(walking distance from us) and the old 'red road'.... both bring to life a Hawaii long gone in most other parts of Hawaii.
If your dates are flexible, you can see our calendar if you scroll down past the photos of the suite. Please check the calendar for availability and contact us about any questions. Mahalo!
GE and TA Tax Number: TA-095-813-2224-01 GE-095-813-2224-02

Property manager

Randall Duryea - Reservations Concierge

Languages

English

Property amenities

Beach

  • Beach sun loungers
  • Beach towels

Internet

  • WiFi available

Parking and transportation

  • Onsite parking
  • Car required

Kitchen

  • Refrigerator
  • Microwave
  • Oven
  • Spices
  • Cookware/dishes/utensils
  • Paper towels
  • Electric kettle
  • Blender
  • Toaster

Bedrooms

  • Bed sheets provided

Bathrooms

  • 1 bathroom
  • Shower
  • Hair dryer
  • Soap
  • Towels provided
  • Shampoo
  • Toilet paper

Living spaces

  • Living room

Entertainment

  • Smart TV with cable/satellite service
  • DVD player
  • Books
  • Music library
  • Video library

Outdoor areas

  • Patio
  • Barbecue grill
  • Garden

Laundry

  • Near laundromat

Work spaces

  • Desk chair

Comfort

  • Air conditioning

Pets

  • No pets allowed

Suitability/Accessibility

  • If you have requests for specific accessibility needs, please contact the property using the information on the reservation confirmation received after booking.
  • Wheelchair accessible
  • Designated smoking areas
  • Note from host: Strictly Outside on lanai with all windows closed.

Services and conveniences

  • Iron/ironing board

Location highlights

  • Near the sea
  • In a rural location
  • Near a hospital
  • Near a zoo
  • Near the bay
  • In a village

Things to do

  • Fitness facilities nearby
  • Bicycle on site
  • Whale watching nearby
  • Hiking/biking trails nearby
  • Ecotours nearby
  • Golf nearby
  • Jet skiing nearby
  • Surfing/body boarding nearby
  • Birdwatching nearby
  • Hiking nearby
  • Wildlife and game walks nearby

Safety features

  • Carbon monoxide detector not reported (host has not indicated whether there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property; consider bringing a portable detector)
  • Smoke detector installed (host has indicated there is a smoke detector on the property)
  • Fire extinguisher
  • First aid kit

General

  • Unit size: 570 sq ft (53 sq m)

Policies

Check-in

Check-in time starts at 3:30 PM
Contactless check-in available
Minimum check-in age: 21

Check-out

Check-out before 10:30 AM

Special check-in instructions

You will receive an email from the host with check-in and check-out instructions

Pets

  • No pets allowed
  • Note from host: You MUST talk to us about your pets, Please!

Children and extra beds

  • Children are welcome.

Important information

You need to know

Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card, or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
Onsite parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Host has not indicated whether there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property; consider bringing a portable detector with you on the trip
Host has indicated there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher and a first aid kit
This property is managed through our partner, Vrbo. You will receive an email from Vrbo with a link to a Vrbo account, where you can change or cancel your reservation
Charges for extra guests may apply and vary according to property policy.
A cash deposit, credit card, or debit card for incidental charges and government-issued photo identification may be required upon check-in.
Special requests are subject to availability at the time of check-in. Special requests can't be guaranteed and may incur additional charges.
    This property is managed by a professional host. The provision of housing is linked to their trade, business, or profession. Onsite parties or group events are strictly prohibited. For guests' safety, the property includes a fire extinguisher, a smoke detector, and a first aid kit in each accommodation.

Property Registration Number GE-095-813-2224-02, TA-095-813-2224-01

Property is also known as

Peaceful Garden Lovely Country Estate /walk Historic Onomea Bay

Private Garden Cottage on 5 acre country estate /Walk to the Botanic Gardens! Reviews

Reviews

9.8

Exceptional

Rating 10 - Excellent. 125 out of 141 reviews" "
Rating 8 - Good. 13 out of 141 reviews" "
Rating 6 - Okay. 3 out of 141 reviews" "
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 141 reviews" "
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 141 reviews" "

10/10

Cleanliness

9.6/10

Amenities

10/10

Property conditions & facilities

9.4/10

Eco-friendliness

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

peter v.

Liked: Cleanliness
Superstars
Wonderful location, amazing accommodation, unquestionably the best of the Big Island. We will return.
Stayed 4 nights in Nov 2024

10/10 Excellent

Wendy R.

Liked: Cleanliness
Pleasant experience
Beautiful property. Quiet and peaceful. Far enough away from town yet close enough to all amenities and activities. Very convenient. Our host Randall accommodated our every need.and provided wonderful local insight into hidden gems and attractions. We would definitely recommend this lovely studio to anyone wishing to visit this side of the Island.
Stayed 13 nights in Aug 2024

8/10 Good

Karin V.

Liked: Cleanliness
Little advice
I manage properties in the HOA sector. I understand this is an owner/manager, so perhaps not exposed to other properties/processes. First, there is no explanation of the TV. It is an older smart TV that requires you to "back out" of the current screen by hitting "exit" several times. Newer TVs allow for one or two button presses to get out of a movie/episode that you no longer want to watch. It will bring you to a home screen of a channel. This is different and should be explained. Not only that, but I believe the batteries are low so it takes several touches to get what you want and sometimes it times-out. Having replacement batteries available would be great. The blankets in the dresser were musty-smelling. We needed to put it outside in order to stop the smell. These should be checked regularly. Although the printed welcome newsletter stated it and so did Randall, there are no ear plugs available. I forgot not once, but TWICE to ask and suffered through each night of coqui calling. Again, the inventory levels need to be checked each time. I ADORED EHU, the dog.
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2024

10/10 Excellent

Jennifer K.

Liked: Cleanliness
Garden Oasis Convenient Location
My husband, five year old and I stayed here for 3 days. We really enjoyed our stay! It was a beautiful open floor plan, artistic decor with big slider windows leading out to the patio. At night there was a wonderful cross breeze and sounds of geckos and coqui frogs floating on that breeze. It was in a convenient spot, not directly in town but close enough to go out for food, drinks, beaches, etc. The owners were kind and quiet. Their dog was such a sweetheart, our daughter loved the encounters with him and the chickens! Beds were comfortable, shower was pretty amazing. Amenities were as described just read them over. Kitchen has no oven but we got by just fine w their electric appliances for cooking. I would highly recommend this space for a small family or couple.
Stayed 3 nights in Jan 2024

10/10 Excellent

Martha S., Santa Fe, New Mexico

Liked: Cleanliness
Beautiful view
Well located for visiting Hilo, Volcano, many other sites on the Hamakua coast. The host, Randall, is exceedingly helpful and friendly. The cottage perfect for a couple. We often did not wish to leave the view from the lanai.
Stayed 5 nights in Jan 2024

10/10 Excellent

Kristofer N.

Liked: Cleanliness
Great location, wonderful hosts
Randall and Donna were absolutely wonderful - both in advance communication and informative chats when we arrived. Randall provided several excellent recommendations for local sites to visit. The property is well situated - 5 minutes from the Hawaiian Botanical Gardens, 10-15 minutes from Hilo and about 45 minutes from Waipio Valley/Honoka’a. The bathroom/shower - with vaulted ceiling and large windows made it feel like taking an outdoor shower. Highly recommend this property if you are looking for something different from the resort experience!
Stayed 4 nights in Dec 2023

10/10 Excellent

Tim S.

Liked: Cleanliness
Wonderful Stay
Would recommend to anyone. We enjoyed every aspect of our stay. Randall provided some great recommendations.
Stayed 3 nights in Dec 2023

10/10 Excellent

Wojciech K.

Liked: Cleanliness
Recharge your batteries!
Stay here to truly recharge your batteries! The room was clean and the garden is very beautiful and peaceful. The host, Randall, was very friendly and helpful. We had a great vacation.
Stayed 9 nights in Nov 2023

10/10 Excellent

Rachel

Liked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities
Lovely and well supplied
Stayed 4 nights in Sep 2023

10/10 Excellent

Bridget

Travelled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities
About 10-15 min from Hilo, it was a beautiful and relaxing oasis. Just off the scenic drive and near the botanical gardens, not far from many other attractions. Thoughtful touches like beach towels, umbrella, hangers, and reusable shopping bags. Great retreat with welcoming hosts. Highly recommend!
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2023

10/10 Excellent

Anne C.

Liked: Cleanliness
Garden of Eden
What a beautiful property! Waking to the saffron finches and cardinals is an experience we will never forget. The apartment was well designed and extremely comfortable, with everything we needed to have a wonderful time in Hilo. Preparing Randell and Donna were gracious and helpful hosts. Make sure you check out Carlsmith Beach, the botanical gardens and the four mile "scenic route." Can't wait to come back!
Stayed 5 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

Larissa

Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Wonderful cottage, quiet relaxing atmosphere
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

Henriette A.

Liked: Cleanliness
Oasis in Hilo
Beautiful, peaceful and relaxing. Lovely hosts
Stayed 4 nights in May 2023

10/10 Excellent

Michele S.

Liked: Cleanliness
Comfortable, private stay with beautiful sunrises!
The Garden Cottage was everything advertised and more! Conveniently located for several tourist activities including Volcanoes National Park, Hawaiian Botanical Garden, Onomea Bay, impressive waterfalls, horseback riding and more. The host was very accommodating with great recommendations for restaurants and activities. Highly recommend! Thank you for a peaceful and relaxing stay!
Stayed 4 nights in May 2023

10/10 Excellent

Jocelyn B.

Liked: Cleanliness
Beautiful and comfortable
Our group (3 adults) had a great time staying here for 2 nights. I only wish we could have stayed longer! Definitely the most peaceful place I stayed in Hawaii.
Stayed 2 nights in Apr 2023

10/10 Excellent

tim v.

Liked: Cleanliness
Away from the crowds
This was the perfect place to escape the Big Island crowds. Very quiet and wonderful place to relax.
Stayed 15 nights in Feb 2023

10/10 Excellent

Marjorie M., Beaverton, Oregon, USA

Liked: Cleanliness
Unique VRBO
The Garden Suite was exactly as described in the listing and the pictures showed clearly what to expect. We stayed two full weeks and had a wonderful time using the location as a base from which to see the Big Island. The beds were very comfortable and the morning sunshine through the trees made the beginning of every day special. The Suite is very well-equipped, private and Randall goes the extra mile to make sure you are comfortable and have everything you need for a perfect vacation. He is also available to answer questions and offer suggestions for day trips. His generosity and attentiveness made our stay delightful. If you love the experience of staying in a sub-tropical rainforest along with all the creatures found there, this may be the Big Island place you have dreamed of finding.
Stayed 14 nights in Oct 2022

10/10 Excellent

Susan d.

Liked: Cleanliness
Wonderful Guesthouse
Randall is an accessible and welcoming host. The Garden Suite is a well constructed and beautifully appointed place. It has everything we needed for our four night stay. A location is ideal - very quiet yet close to Hilo, waterfalls and the botanical garden.
Stayed 4 nights in Nov 2022

10/10 Excellent

Briana A.

Liked: Cleanliness
Wonderful hosts & stay!!
Stunning sunrises from the lanai, and a beautiful space to enjoy the islands! Spacious bathroom and nice open layout for the main room. We loved that our stay felt very private away from the hustle and noise of the city even though Hilo was a short 15 minutes away. Would definitely stay again, and highly recommend!
Stayed 4 nights in Sep 2022

10/10 Excellent

Michael V.

Liked: Cleanliness
Very Nice
Good value. Host was kind and thoughtful. Went out of his way to make our stay comfortable.
Stayed 14 nights in Aug 2022

10/10 Excellent

Kristina R.

Liked: Cleanliness
Beautiful and peaceful
This is a beautiful location. We only stayed two nights and pretty much were on the go the whole time. So, we basically only showered and slept. But, it was very peaceful and I loved hearing all the surrounding sounds of nature. Would definitely recommend.
Stayed 2 nights in May 2022

10/10 Excellent

Jill Y., Cameron

Liked: Cleanliness
Beautiful Stay!
We had a wonderful stay here. The property was perfect for my husband and myself. The house has beautiful views and it was a great location to explore the island. The owners were very helpful and friendly.
Stayed 4 nights in May 2022

10/10 Excellent

Amy D.

Liked: Cleanliness
Perfect, serene garden getaway!
Truly peaceful and relaxing. Great location, fantastic space and the rain and birds made it magical!!
Stayed 4 nights in Apr 2022

8/10 Good

Joshua B.

Liked: Cleanliness
3 Nights in Hilo
My wife and I stayed here for 3 days during our honeymoon trip to the Hawaiian islands. We wanted to visit Hawai'i because of all the awesome outdoor adventures that are unique to the island. Our favorite things were the Mauna Kea summit tours with stargazing, the volcano national park, and visiting Laupahoehoe point. Randall and Donna's property was a good location which allowed us to travel to all of these amazing places. The studio room itself was great and the property was very peaceful. We both slept great each night. Randall was always available to help with any questions and his dog E'hu would happily greet us everytime we are returned to the property.
Stayed 3 nights in Mar 2022

10/10 Excellent

Jamie C.

Liked: Cleanliness
Beautiful location!!
My husband and I thoroughly enjoyed staying at this little cottage in the jungle! Randall and Donna were so nice and helpful. It surely is a little slice of paradise! Even though we didn't do any cooking there was just what you would need to cook a nice meal. So much to do on the big island, would definitely stay again if we get the chance!
Stayed 6 nights in Feb 2022