Is Escape to a Beautiful Off-Grid Getaway! pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

Where is Escape to a Beautiful Off-Grid Getaway! located?

Situated by the sea, this vacation home is within 9 mi (15 km) of Star of the Sea Painted Church, Pahoa Museum, and Kehena Beach. Lava Tree State Monument and Mackenzie State Park are also within 9 mi (15 km).

Escape to a Beautiful Off-Grid Getaway! Reviews, Deals & Photos 2025

10/10 Excellent

Joel P.

Feb 21, 2024

beautiful escape

I loved the house!!! It was immaculate and I was impressed with the off grid aspect - you wouldn't know you were off grid . It was comfortable and fun!! I have already recommended it to my friends and family.

Stayed 3 nights in Feb 2024

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

Jul 20, 2022

Perfect stay in the lush Puna jungle

Really cute home with all the amenities. Recommended by a friend who stayed here before. Close to everything but feels remote. Very nice stay. We will recommend to our friends and family.

Stayed 9 nights in Mar 2022

10/10 Excellent

Diana R.

Jul 24, 2022

Perfect Romantic Spot

It was absolutely wonderful! We loved the charming decor, spacious rooms, and amenities. It was our anniversary and it was the perfect romantic spot with sunny days and rainy nights, nightly coqui frogs chorus, lush jungle privacy and close to beaches and town. Mahalo!

Stayed 7 nights in Mar 2022

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

Oct 30, 2023

Perfect Getaway

This quaint home is in the perfect location right between the little town of Pahoa and the beach areas near Kalapana and Kehena. It's nestled in the jungle, peaceful, quiet, private but near enough to neighbors to know we are always safe. This is my fourth stay here. I keep returning because it's so perfect for me, and at a great price. The home has everything we could possibly need for a very comfortable stay. We enjoy the open design layout along with nice Hawaiian decor. We will be back!

Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2023

This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Linda W.

Apr 12, 2017

Excellent location for our purposes

This is our second stay at this lovely cottage and probably won't be the last. The area is very quiet but still close enough to activities to make it fun. Had a great night at Uncle Robert's. The music was fantastic. Can't wait until you get the solar installed so the generator won't need to be used just for lights.

Stayed 5 nights in Mar 2017

10/10 Excellent

Morgan G.

Jan 30, 2023

Great Little Off-Grid Hawaiian Bungalow!

A wonderful area in the rural Hawaii jungle yet pretty central to the shops in Pahoa and not far from the nightlife in Hilo!! Such an adorable off-grid Hawaiian cottage stocked with dishes & utensils for food prep. However, the stove/oven was broken upon arrival and not mentioned on the listing which impacted our ability to make food.

Stayed 7 nights in Jan 2023

This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Andrea J.

Apr 10, 2015

A trip to remember

Our stay was one that my family and I will always remember. Off grid living was such a great experience...a challenge for my kids but deffinetly something they needed! We got to spend Quality time together without the interruptions of technology. The house was very clean and welcoming! We all loved it! 😊

This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Lucifer K., San Diego

Nov 20, 2014

Great off-grid escape!

When coming to explore Hawaii's gorgeous puna district my family was looking for volcanoes, hot pools, snorkeling, hiking and a great place to use as a base. The efficient layout and simplicity made meal preparation, showering, sleeping and getting ready for the next day easy. The rain pattering and the roof was just the right sound to make slumbering easy! Our two kids loved sleeping in the enclosed lanai listening to the frogs. If your into enjoying and exploring more than tv's and x-box's than this could be up your ally.

6/10 Okay

Alan N.

Apr 1, 2022

Punahou Review

Not satisfied with the house manager and her house responsibilities.

Stayed 96 nights in Dec 2021

This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Eric H., Moose Pass, Alaska

Feb 24, 2016

Lovely home

We had a wonderful trip to the big Island and staying in your off-grid cabin was a huge part of the success. Everything about the cabin was just as described on the VRBO website. The property was clean and inviting. I know earlier reviews mentioned water problems but those have been addressed as we had no issues with a ready supply of hot water. The propane refrigerator kept everything cold and the oil lamps were very relaxing and more than enough light at night. We didn't even finish the first tank of Gas in the generator during our 9 night stay. The local area had so much to offer we feel like coming back for another stay just to take advantage of those items. The fact that it was off-grid helped us enjoy the evenings as a family because the usual distractions were not around. The neighbor who let us in to the cabin was an excellent help in finding our way around and helping us get things set up. I have already recommended this to my father. Mahalo from the Hiatts!

Stayed 9 nights in Feb 2016

This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Linda W.

Nov 30, 2016

Beautiful Jungle Cottage

This beautiful cottage fulfilled our needs perfectly. We were there to work on a lot we own in the neighborhood, but also to have some fun and relaxation. We especially enjoyed the warm pond at Ahalanui Park. Going to Uncle Robert's for the Wednesday night market and music was fun. And the Farmer's Markets are not to be missed. The house was well equipped. It should be described as a studio as the Queen bed is in the main room with the dining table and the kitchen. The enclosed lanai in the back is like a living room. Shortly after we left Sara (the owner) called me and we discussed some suggestions that I had and I was glad to hear that she had replaced the water pump. I would like to suggest more solar lights outside. When you arrive after dark it is hard to see to put in the code on the door. Also guests would be wise to bring a flashlight. And Sara, I'm sorry that we broke the globe on one of the oil lamps.

Stayed 21 nights in Oct 2016

This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

George 'Alan' M.

Apr 24, 2016

What a beautiful place you have Sara. The whole neighborhood is friendly and laid back. The

What a beautiful place you have Sara. The whole neighborhood is friendly and laid back. The house is great. Never did meet Marcy tho. And I didn't try her cell due to no reception or internet. No worries we got by just fine. Having grown up on a homestead in Alaska starting in 1959 and knowing that the days would be shorter than Alaska I came prepared with my own headlamps. Now the subject of off grid..I have an off grid system at my home with solar panels inverter/charger batteries and back up generator that is considered off-grid. Mine is 4000W so I have lites TV Elec Frig etc. 240V AC power off-grid. Works well but was a considerable investment. I started with a single small solar panel 12v batteries and a small affordable 120V inverter that gave me lights (LED) TV Power chargers and the such. Low power usage If you were to put a small panel up and a small power inverter it would put some power in for lights and such. If people not used to the proper usage left lites on etc the inverter would shut off automatically. And the Honda would need to charge to reset power. A small setup like that would be affordable and make the whole experience very relaxing in my own opinion. A sight line that shows the water level in the tank would round out upgrades to your place that would take anxieties out for the folks visiting your place. Oh and update your book for folks coming in the future it's good but not quite accurate. I hope we did you well while we stayed there. Thank you for having us. In it's current setup I would rate your place a 5 star and recommend it to to world as a place to consider staying at. Alan Meyer

Stayed 8 nights in Apr 2016

4/10 Poor

Adina M.

Jan 17, 2020

Liked: Listing accuracy

Disliked: Check-in

Know What You are Getting Into!

This is a mixed review. If you have been reading the reviews, you can see that some of them are very good and some are poor, and now that we have stayed here, I can see that both are accurate. First, the pluses: a peaceful, "off the grid" stay in a beautiful, lush and un-touristy part of the Big Island. If you like "glamping," if you want to get away from the slick hotels and all that, this is great. If you like fresh limes growing in your front yard, the sound of coqui frogs at night, and friendly geckos sharing your space (often in the bed with you!), this is the place for you. The other HUGE plus was Matt, the property manager. if he had not been so responsive, we would not have been able to stay at this place at all. He visited at least 4-5 times, was late for work once because he stopped by to make sure all was well, came over late at night, brought a cistern of fresh water, and was beyond helpful. The fact that he NEEDED to come by so quickly and so often is part of the negative, which you will see below. The cons: When we arrived, there was no power. The water pump also runs on power, which meant there was no running water. This was because the solar-powered battery had run down in the week before we arrived, and when the charge in the battery gets too low, it trips (to save itself from overheating) and then completely stops being able to receive a charge from the solar panels. There was nothing at all about this in the instruction booklet that was provided by Sara, the owner. I called her to let her know there was no power and she said, "You know it's off the grid, right?" Yes, I knew it was off the grid, but it was supposed to have things like lights and running water, which it did not have. Sara was not on the island and told me to call Matt, which I had. Matt was amazing. He brought over a generator, which immediately got the lights and fans running. However, the water pump can only be run by the battery and NOT by a generator, and the generator can't charge the battery, which meant we had to hope for a sunny day the next day in order to get running water. In the meantime, Matt brought over large buckets of water so we could flush the toilet but there was no other running water in the house. Luckily the battery got charged enough to run the water pump by the next afternoon. The system had more problems in the following days, overloading and stalling and Matt had to come by three more times. Bottom line: don't expect perfection.

Stayed 7 nights in Dec 2019

2/10 Terrible

Trudi R.

Apr 3, 2019

This property is misrepresented in the description and photo’s

If we could give this property a zero star or a negative we would. We informed the property owner that we would be staying for approximately one month and that during that time my mother and our two sons would visit for four days. Sara responded with “Great! They will have plenty of room and I don’t charge extra for additional guests.” As we were boarding our flight to Hawaii we received a text message indicating that the washer and dryer does not work and that we would have use a laundromat in town. As we entered the neighborhood where the shack was located we felt as if we were driving through a salvage yard. Plenty of unimproved properties and junk vehicles sitting alongside the road. As we pulled in the driveway the carport that is advertised as a garage was occupied by an old junky truck. Still trying to be positive we entered the property to find that it is actually a studio and not a one bedroom home. As you open the front door the bed is directly to your left and small table to your right. The room that she claims “acts” as a second bedroom is actually a screened in porch with a bunckbed and small sitting area. There is not one closet or dresser for your clothes. Our suite cases would have to be kept on the floor. In review of the property description we realized that the pictures are of the same areas only with the furniture rearranged including beds in different locations to give the appearance of something that it is not. After a long day of travel even taking a shower was a challenge as the water cycled from very hot to very cold. Again still trying to make it work we contacted the maintenance man about the washer and dryer as well as the WiFi and the house not actually being a one bedroom. He informed us that the washer and dryer are a problem and would likely not work during our stay. He did indicate he would try to fix the WiFi but said it is sketchy. When we mentioned the description he said he apologized and had been trying to get Sara to change it for some time. At this point we contacted VRBO. In their review they agreed that the property was misrepresented and moved us to another location. We have continued to try contacting the property owner beginning the day of our arrival. She will not take our calls and now will not respond to text. Worst of all she is not refunding ANY of our money that we paid her in advance and in good faith for our stay. She will likely respond to this with a myriad of excuses. Please beware!

Stayed 10 nights in Jan 2019

8/10 Good

Linda W.

Nov 14, 2022

Disliked: Communication

The location was just what we needed

This was our third stay at this cottage. I think it may have changed owners since our last stay in 2017 and it needs a little work. Two things the book said were there but were missing were a Bryta water filter and a French Press coffee maker. And a few things that should have been there are a fire extinguisher, first aid kit, can opener and maybe some games. We had some trouble with the stove. We couldn't get the oven to light at all and there were times when the burners on the stove would not turn off. A couple of times we had to really fiddle with the knobs to get the gas to turn off. That could be very dangerous. I was glad to see that the solar system is up and running, but there is still a problem with the hot water. We discovered the only way to take a shower is to turn on the water in the kitchen sink while you take a shower. Then the water pump will stay on. I know the book says not to take long showers to conserve water, but we had abundant rain while we were there. And you can take a shower while someone else washes dishes. We had the same problem in our cabins in Alaska and the solution was to get rid of the low flow shower head. We rented this cabin while we were working on our property in the neighborhood.

Stayed 5 nights in Oct 2022

10/10 Excellent

Graydon C., Dryfork

Mar 27, 2021

For those willing to rough it a bit, and be modest with resources, it is a perfect location

Very beautiful location and perfect for the modest traveler who does not want luxury.

Stayed 28 nights in Feb 2021

10/10 Excellent

Laura F.

Dec 11, 2020

A True Hidden Gem

This little home is absolutely wonderful and is in the perfect location; right in between the quaint town of Pahoa and Kalapana. You will be sung to sleep by the sweet lullaby of coqui frogs every night 😌. The home itself has everything you could possibly need for a very comfortable stay: a fully stocked kitchen with a gas range stove, fridge/freezer, all kitchen utensils you could ever need to cook amazing meals, an island with tons of space to prepare food, a huge sink, a French Press and much more. There are three beds in total: one queen size bed in the main living area and a bunk bed (which my som LOVED) in the screened in lanai (which also has a full living room seating area) and they are SO comfortable! There is a full bathroom stocked with bath & hand towels, soap, cleaning supplies etc. The layout of the home is open concept and has such darling decor (kukui nut and seashell necklaces drape over picture frames and mirrors and there are some wonderful books to read as well). There is also a dining room table to be able to enjoy your meals or your morning cup of coffee ^_^ It was so easy to get in contact with the owner. She was very quick to answer any questions we had and made us feel so welcome. Everyone in this neighbourhood is so friendly and loves to chat. This home does not come with a tv but who needs tv when you have such beauty surrounding you and so many things to do?! Don’t worry, the internet is super fast, hehe. I HIGHLY recommend this place if you’re looking for the perfect, peaceful getaway.

Stayed 1 night in Dec 2020

8/10 Good

Lori N.

Feb 25, 2020

Private and Unplugged

Charming getaway. Quiet and private. WiFi not great but it means you can “unplug” and relax with the silence. There’s a trick to working the hot water in the shower. I normally stay in resorts that come equipped with every amenity. This was an experience for sure. I would definitely recommend this unpretentious cottage. Mahalo nui!!!

10/10 Excellent

Todd W.

Feb 7, 2020

Very relaxibg

Loved the quiet and not rush of the usual resort, it was very quiet and peaceful

10/10 Excellent

Travis T.

Jul 19, 2019

Stay in black sands

I’ve stayed here a month. It’s been a wonderful thing. I love the rural location. It’s very quiet and tucked away in a tropical sweet spot. My granddaughter loved the bunk beds. It’s been a wonderful stay for me. Thanks Sara!

10/10 Excellent

John M., Portland, Or

Apr 4, 2019

Enjoyable experience again

This was our second time staying here, this time the house had solar electricity which really made it comfortable by not having to run a generator. Well stocked kitchen, and nice Lanai.

Stayed 12 nights in Mar 2019

8/10 Good

Mark W.

Mar 12, 2019

Definitely off the grid, but just what we needed.

My wife and I are campers, so with that said, we were right at home with this rental. The house is a basically a studio with a bunk bed in the lanai. The bedroom dining room and kitchen are one room with a bathroom, and the lanai has some very nice patio furniture and a bunk bed for extra sleeping. Definitly worth the money we paid. If you are looking for quiet and peaceful this is it. This unit, like most has a catchment system for water, but a Berkey is available for filtering the water. Solar power only, so no TV please. Never had a problem with water or power. Visits to the Black sand beach and Uncle Robert's were memorable to say the least. Great restaurants are available in Pahoa, including Kaleo's, Pele's Kitchen, and the Black Rock Cafe. All on all, we had a great time and are looking forward to our next trip to Hawaii.

4/10 Poor

Leon F.

Feb 15, 2019

Did not meet expectations. Online description is not up to date.

My wife and I rented this home for a week when we traveled to Hawaii for our honeymoon. We were looking for something simple, but comfortable. This house grabbed our attention as it had great ratings, was affordable, and had everything we needed without the extra distractions. Washer, dryer, hot water, indoor plumbing, electricity, no TV, quiet, etc. We had all these things and it was amazing...for a day. After a day of hiking to remote beaches, browsing through markets and shops in Hilo, and a full day of adventures, we were looking forward to returning and taking a much needed shower. We returned to our quaint little home to find to our dismay, there was no power. No problem, candle light is romantic. However, the water ran off of an electric pump. No shower, no running tap water, no flushing toilet. This lasted for three and a half days as we and Matt, the truly amazing manager of the property, worked on the generator, the solar panels, and the battery system trying to restore power and running water to our home. 3 1/2 days of evenings by candle light, taking sponge baths and flushing the toilet with gallons of water we would fill on our adventures during the day. When we contacted Sara, the owner, the second day of having no power or water she stated, "It is part of off grid living, you'll just have to make the best of it", then proceeded to blame our situation on the one time use of the advertised washing machine (the dryer was out of commission with a broken belt). She stated, "all the updates to the advertisement are written in the welcome guide", which we were unable to find until the third day as it was buried under magazines and travel guides (It's an unmarked photo album if you are looking). When we attempted to speak with her about alternative options for in case power was not returned, she refused to speak on the subject and quickly ended the conversation. The power and water returned on day 5 of our trip, thanks to Matt's efforts, and we greatly enjoyed the rest of our stay in Pahoa. As we both grew up in rural eastern Oregon, we are accustomed to "off grid" living and did not have a great deal of trouble adjusting to make the most of our trip. Running the generator, ensuring safe drinking water, and trouble shooting the power system was not difficult. However, in the end, our experience at this house was not as advertised and was not what we believe that we paid for as part of our honeymoon.

Stayed 7 nights in Dec 2018

10/10 Excellent

Claudia F.

Mar 9, 2018

Quiet retreat

We really enjoyed our week's stay in the house. It was super easy to access and had everything we needed. The lanai offered a space for reading and listening to the frogs and rain. Clean and great location. We also used the kitchen a lot which helped to save $$ on eating out all the time. It was a good distance from Volcano and Hilo too.

Stayed 6 nights in Feb 2018

10/10 Excellent

Carrie A.

Feb 14, 2018

Really Peaceful 🌴

This is our second stay at this sweet home. This time we stayed for eight days and again were not disappointed. The house is adorable and well appointed. Excellent basics are there and doesn’t take much to make it your own for your visit. We love the kitchen! The back room is very nice with a great set of bunk beds if you have extra visitors with you. Honestly we never use the back as cute as it is.....and it IS really charming. We gravitate always no matter the time of day to the front porch . The propane fridge and hot water work well. Generators equally work perfect and honestly it was fun to have wifi this time even though it is a non essential for us. Love the area. We spend every day at Pohoiki swimming, sunning and make great use of the local restaurants in the evening. A small town with tons of options . Uncle Robert’s on Wednesday is SO much fun. This is a quiet pleasant neighbourhood.....great to fall asleep listening to the frogs. Sara is very good to do business with. Easily accessible. And to her credit and the gentleman she has in case of maintanence issues ...we have never needed. Says a lot. Thank you so much Sara!

Stayed 8 nights in Feb 2018

Members save 10% or more on over 100,000 hotels worldwide when you’re signed in

Escape to a Beautiful Off-Grid Getaway!

Photo gallery for Escape to a Beautiful Off-Grid Getaway!

Reviews

Entire home

Popular amenities

About this property

Entire place