Avis Waipio Valley Botanical Garden STVR Reg#19-365284 NUC# 20-1848

Fantastic home and property right on the King's Trail! So many lush, tropical plants and trees surrounding a beautiful home. Truly a magical experience. My family and I enjoyed every minute of our stay. The trail to the beach is one of the most beautiful hikes on the Island. Kristi and Sukumar are very gracious hosts and very easy to communicate with. 10/10 will definitely come and stay again!

We loved our stay in Waipio! Beautiful property with plenty of space and remarkable comforts of home despite being well off the grid. Gorgeous black sand beach just a hike away, waterfall with swimming hole steps from the house, lots of fresh citrus. Accessing the property is certainly a challenge, but the hosts are accommodating and lead you down the first time. Don't arrive after dark!!!

I had the extreme Good Fortune of visiting Waipio Valley Botanical Garden Complex with 8 of my closest friends on a Full Moon weekend. It was a Pivotal Weekend for all of us. I’m unable to communicate how amazing and special it was for each of us. The valley speaks for itself. If you have come this far you may already have some idea that Waipio is one of the most magical places in the world. Visiting under a full moon means you can appreciate its incredible beauty day and night. The Botanical Garden Complex complements the Valley Perfectly. Careful and thoughtful architecture integrated with the sloping hill it sits on. So you can walk around outside around the back up the hill and enter the house thru myriad doors and entrances. There is so much to explore! Unique, Elegant Bedrooms and a beautiful loft (“The MoonTower!”). Lavastone Showers! Picturesque Baths full of Hot Water felt so good at the end of a long day [or night]. Each room’s window has a unique vantage point to the wondrous jungle outside. I discovered I Love Indian Art: in particular Madhubani style paintings. There is beauty to admire everywhere – inside and outside. Murti sculpture. A fantastic collection of incredible books – 3 nights was no where near enough time to appreciate everything they provide for us. There is delicious fruit in abundance. We had lots of fat juicy citrus ready to enjoy. We might have discovered some amazing new cocktails. Plants are identified with signs and descriptions. I was so happy to find the Kaffir Lime tree and smell a fresh cracked leaf.. The caretakers were considerate and checked in on us. Satellite Internet was totally usable though if you intend to stream NFL playoffs you should turn down the video quality down. Waipio Valley Botanical Garden Complex Touched Us Each and I will never be the same. Warmest Mahalo to our Hosts!

If you ever get a chance to spend time here, please do! The amazing home, location, waterfall, black sand beach - and the overall experience will stay with you forever. Most importantly to me and my family with two smaller kids, we wanted a tremendous host who cared about our well-being, our safety, and any concerns we had being in such a remote location. We got all of that and more. I can't say enough about Sukumar and Kristi other than a big MAHALO and thank you for this amazing experience that we will all remember forever. If I can ever serve as a reference for you and others considering, I'd be more than happy to do so! Mike

Sukumar and Kristi were awesome! So quick to respond to all of our questions and deal with any concerns (like delivering a new propane tank for the grill). The location is remote and bit challenging to get to, and it was a little stressful driving down into the valley in the dark due to travel delays. The property is beautiful though, and we loved hiking to the beach and waterfall and enjoyed all the amazing plants and wild horses and other wildlife. My advice for anyone considering a visit is to be sure to plan your shopping for meals and any other items you'll need (definitely bug spray) carefully as coming and going is not easy. I'd also say it is probably not a good destination if you have very young children or anyone with mobility issues; there are lots of steps and stairs and a pretty steep hill to climb to get to the house. It was a great place for the older teens and adults in our group who enjoy hiking and getting out into nature. The house is spacious and comfortable, although the arrangement of rooms/beds is a bit odd, with one large room with a king bed in the main house and all the rest in the other, and some rooms up flights of spiral staircases. We made it work, it was just a little different. The kitchen is pretty basic, without electronic appliances (microwave, dishwasher) due to need to conserve batteries that run on solar power with a back up generator. We managed fine, it just isn't fancy. Overall we enjoyed a unique and fun experience in a beautiful setting!

Our family of 14 stayed for 4 nights over the Thanksgiving holiday. The Waipio valley is a spectacular and remote part of the Big Island, we really had no idea what was in store for us in visiting this beautiful and lush area. The drive down into the valley was an experience in itself, a steep 25% grade on a narrow road and then 6 river/creek crossings. 4WD is essential. Once there we didn't need the vehicles again as driving back out of the valley is 30-40 minutes and not easy. We enjoyed hanging out at the house, walking to the black sand beach which we did with babies and young kids, visiting the nearby waterfall, and just exploring the property and picking tropical fruit and seeing the wild horses. The home is comfortable but you will need to constantly monitor the solar/battery system, turning on/off the generator from time to time to keep the batteries charged, and keep an open mind as having a home in this remote part and keeping it maintained is no small feat. The kitchen was fully functional and we were able to cook a fantastic thanksgiving meal but no dishwasher so lots of hand washing. Also this is the jungle so bugs, spiders, critters, feral cats are present so make sure your guests are aware. The inside/outside especially at the upper house where most guests stay is blurred so make sure no one is averse to critters. Such a unique and special place and opportunity to stay in such a beautiful and remote location. Highly recommend for those looking for an adventure and to stay in one of the most beautiful places in the world.

This was our second stay and I am certain not our last. From the moment that you start the descent by 4x4 into the valley, the road least traveled and stunning views ahead, set the stage for what is truly a gem of an experience. You must bring your sense of adventure, all your groceries, and your pre-conceived ideas about a Hawaiian vacation, and be prepared to fall in love. The estate is surrounded by lush gardens and fruit trees. The home itself is well equipped with all the basics, as well as some not-so-basic items such as cook books, tarot cards, board games and puzzles, yoga mats, and even boogie boards! The hosts are incredible humans, and they truly want to take care of you and make sure the stay is memorable. The 40-min walk to the secluded black-sand beach is a must, and it's iconic from any angle but especially this one... the waterfall, which doesn't get too many other visitors, so it's 'almost' yours alone, is only 5 mins the other way. Wild horses, chirping birds, flowing rivers, and the 'sounds' of the tropical gardens' special kind of 'silence' will mesmerize you and have you wishing for a slower pace and appreciation for nature, for a long time after you depart...

The valley is incredible, and the property is as good as it gets. I stayed in a newly renovated and remodeled cabin on the botanical garden for Bout a month. The property managers were both incredibly hospitable and accomodating, and made the entire experience unforgettable. The main houses are gorgeous, and if you get a chance, do rent them out. The nearby waterfall and black sand beach were exquisite, neighbors friendly, fresh tree-picked fruits delicious, and wild horses a sight to behold. Looking forward to returning in the future.

This experience was everything I was hoping for. The location is, as advertised, remote. That means we were in the rain forest for trues! Slept soundly to the sounds of the forest. Woke to the sounds of the birds. We slept in the upper house which has several open air windows with only mesh to keep the bugs out, meaning you feel like the magic of a Waipio is right there as you sleep. Can’t wait to stay again! If you want adventure, and memories, this is the place!!!

Expect rain while staying in a rainforest. It rained every day mostly all day of our week stay. We couldn’t get in on our first day because the road (which is difficult on good days) was closed due to high water at the multiple water crossings. However once there the house is beautiful and the setting magical. This is a trip for the adventurous but well worth the trouble once you get there.