Big Island Bed & Breakfast

Bought in 2018 by owner Kelly, the Big Island Bed and Breakfast is a low-frills property that attracts travelers mostly looking to explore nearby sights such as the green-sand beach and the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. The 8,000-acre grounds are lovely and peaceful, filled with fruit trees, distant ocean views from some vantage points, and even a macadamia nut farm. Guests can enjoy fresh-picked pineapples and avocados, and even crack their own macadamias. The main house contains a fully equipped kitchen, ping-pong table, outdoor terrace with seating – where the free continental breakfast is served – some fitness machines, and a room where there’s a daily “Lava Show,” which is a viewing of home video footage of the 2018 volcanic eruption on the island. A saltwater pool and basketball hoop are by the property’s entrance.

Visitors should expect to encounter the friendly St. Bernard Annabelle, some caged macaw parrots, and roosters – who have been known to crow in the night. Owner Kelly lives on-site and is known to provide excellent information and insights for exploring the area. Bare-bones rooms and limited amenities won’t be well-suited to travelers looking for a typical chain resort, but it’s a good value for this quiet area.

The Big Island Bed and Breakfast is located on the Island of Hawaii’s less-developed southern coast, with little in the immediate area. The closest community is Naalehu, a seven-minute drive down the road, which is home to the popular Punalu'u Bake Shop for Hawaiian sweetbreads and malasadas. A gas station is also here. There are tons of outdoor sights in this general area, including South Point Heiau, which is the southernmost point in the United State and a 22-minute drive from the bed and breakfast. A must-stop for many visitors is Papakōlea Green Sand Beach, one of only four green-sand beaches in the world. It requires a bit of a hike, and staff can help give you pointers on getting there.

The Kula Kai Caverns are also about a 20-minute drive away, while the famous Hawaii Volcanoes National Park is about 35 minutes away. This southern coast is great for travelers looking to see a more rugged part of the island with little in the way of chain resorts, but note that both the Hilo International Aiport and Kona International Airport are 90-minute drives from the hotel.

There are four rooms at the Big Island Bed and Breakfast, plus two other rooms that are booked in conjunction with others (Black Sands and Volcano Rooms) as they lack their own bathroom. All of the rooms are low-frills and minimally decorated, albeit comfy with fans, fast and free Wi-Fi, and flat-screen TVs. Some rooms have patios, but they aren’t private.

Green Sands is a sunny standard queen room with an additional twin bed and two chairs. It’s cozy and attractive, plus has a mini-fridge and microwave.

Macadamia is another queen room with a twin bed in its own area that can be closed off. There’s a small table with two chairs, and the spacious bathroom has a shower and soap.

Black Sands is a large unit in a building detached from the main house. It has a deluxe queen and bunk beds in the same room, plus a table and chairs. An adjacent room with a full-size bed can be opened for an added fee.

Volcano is a queen-room with a twin bed. Travelers can book the adjacent Lava room, and the bathroom is shared between the rooms.

As a bed and breakfast, there’s little in the way of features here, but a few quality amenities are provided. For one, all rates include a continental breakfast that’s typically set up on a lovely outdoor deck. The spread consists of yogurt, pastries, bagels, granola, fruit, and delicious macadamia nut coffee. Guests can also use the fully equipped kitchen in the house, provided they bring their own food.

Near the hotel’s entrance is a decent-sized saltwater pool surrounded by loungers. From here, distant views of the ocean are visible. A basketball court with two hoops also sits over here. For fun indoors, there are a ping-pong table and air hockey table, plus a movie theater room where the Lava Shows are played.

A couple older exercise machines are also on-site.