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Rain Forest Apartment!

Apartment in Keaau with kitchen and patio

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Smart TV - Rain Forest Apartment! (Kea'au)
Outdoor dining - Rain Forest Apartment! (Kea'au)
Property grounds - Rain Forest Apartment! (Kea'au)
Interior - Rain Forest Apartment! (Kea'au)
Interior - Rain Forest Apartment! (Kea'au)
Tucked away in the rainforest, Honu Hale 3 offers a serene retreat amidst lush tropical gardens and orchids. As you unwind in this one-bedroom paradise, enjoy Hawaiian coffee, shower with collected rainwater, and drift off to sleep under starry skies.

Reviews

9.8 out of 10
Exceptional

Entire apartment

1 bedroom1 bathroomSleeps 460 sq m

Popular amenities

  • Kitchen
  • Outdoor Space
  • Barbecue grill

Add dates for prices

About this property

Entire place

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

Rain Forest Apartment!

Aloha
Our beautiful one-acre lush tropical paradise is located south of Hilo and near Kea'au and Pahoa Villages in the rainforest..
The one-bedroom downstairs apartment looks out lush tropical garden, orchids, anthuriums and lush tropical plants.
Queen bed in bedroom. and Double futon in living room
A piece of paradise to call home while you are on the Big Island. Go to sleep with frogs chirping and stars so bright you could almost touch them. Wake up to birds singing and complimentary Hawaiian coffee . Pamper yourself, shower in our collected rainwater.
Automatic quotes for 1 bedroom are for 1-2 guests/ additional guest $10 pr night per guest
We live on property behind the rental.
Please read house rules in apt. It is customary to remove shoes upon entering the apt.
SORRY NO ANIMALS!! NOT SUITABLE FOR CHILDREN! NO SMOKING!
We are in a residential/rural neighborhood 20 minutes from the Hilo Airport.
*Honu Hale 3 offers easy access to east side sites.
*15 min.(10 miles) Hilo town and Hilo beaches
*4 miles to ocean cliffs, and less than a mile from the main highway.
*25-30 minutes from Volcano National Park & Winery
*10 minutes from Keaau town
*12 minutes from Pahoa Village
* 25 min Botanical Gardens
*Free Zoo in a Rain Forest
*amazing Star Gazing at Mauna Kea

See the world's most active volcano, Kilauea. Swim with the sea turtles Botanical gardens, rain forest, waterfalls and desert are all part of our unique landscape. Visit our two interesting local farmer’s markets on Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday, where you can get fresh and organic veggies, local artisan hand crafted gifts, yummy ethnic foods and experience the local flavor.
Aloha and Mahalo,
Jim & Kepi Hains

We also have a budget friendly 1 Bedroom apt that may be available.
2 bed Apt/ a queen bed in each bedroom. .Double futon in living room Vrbo#73302
Our Lava /1bd apt. has 1 queen bed in bedroom. Vrbo#954412
We also have a studio apt. available.. Vrbo#99067


Property amenities

Beach

  • Beach loungers
  • Beach towels

Internet

  • Available in the apartment: Free WiFi

Parking and transportation

  • Car required
  • Parking on site

Kitchen

  • Blender
  • Coffee/tea maker
  • Cookware, dishware, and utensils
  • Electric kettle
  • Microwave
  • Paper towels
  • Refrigerator
  • Spices
  • Stovetop
  • Toaster

Dining

  • Dining table

Bedrooms

  • Bedroom
  • Bedsheets provided

Bathroom

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

Living spaces

  • Dining table
  • Living room

Entertainment

  • Smart TV with cable/satellite channels

Outdoor areas

  • Barbecue grill
  • Garden
  • Outdoor furniture
  • Patio

Laundry

  • Laundromat nearby

Pets

  • No pets allowed

Suitability/Accessibility

  • Smoking not allowed

Services and conveniences

  • Iron/ironing board

Location highlights

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

Things to do

  • Birdwatching nearby
  • Ecotours nearby
  • Fishing nearby
  • Hiking/biking trails nearby
  • Horseback riding nearby
  • Kayaking nearby
  • Motor boating nearby
  • Sailing nearby
  • Scuba diving nearby
  • Snorkeling nearby
  • Spelunking nearby
  • Surfing/bodyboarding nearby
  • Swimming nearby
  • Whale watching nearby
  • Winery tours 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 (host has indicated there is a smoke detector on the property)
  • Fire extinguisher
  • Deadbolt lock

General

  • Garden
  • Property does not allow children
  • Unit size: 650 square feet

Similar properties

Property grounds
Tropical Studio Apartment!
  • Washer
  • Free WiFi
  • Outdoor Space
  • Parking available
9.8 out of 10, Exceptional, 203 reviews
Tropical Studio Apartment!

Policies

Check-in

Check-in time starts at 3:00 PM
Contactless check-in available

Check-out

Check-out before 11:00 AM
Contactless check-out available

Special check-in instructions

You will receive an email from the host with check-in and check-out instructions
Information provided by the property may be translated using automated translation tools

Pets

Pets not allowed

Children and extra beds

This property does not allow children

Events

No events allowed

Smoking

Smoking is not permitted

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 deadbolt lock
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
Property Registration Number TA-053-388-2880-01, GE-053-388-2880-01

We should mention

A car is required for transportation to and from this property

Property is also known as

Rain Forest Apartment! Keaau
Rain Forest Apartment! Apartment
Rain Forest Apartment! Apartment Keaau

About the neighborhood

Located in Keaau, this apartment is in a rural area and by the sea. Lyman Museum and Naha Stone are local landmarks, and travelers looking to shop may want to visit Prince Kuhio Plaza and Hilo Shopping Center. Hobby Garden Hawaii and Hiʻiaka's Healing Hawaiian Herb Garden are also worth visiting. Kayaking and scuba diving offer great chances to get out on the surrounding water, or you can seek out an adventure with ecotours and horse riding nearby.
Visit our Keaau travel guideOpens in a new window
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Map
HI, Kea'au

What's nearby

  • Fuku-Bonsai Cultural Center - 10 min drive - 11.4 km
  • Hiʻiaka's Healing Hawaiian Herb Garden - 10 min drive - 11.4 km
  • Kilauea Caverns of Fire - 13 min drive - 14.8 km
  • Mauna Loa Macadamia Nut Factory - 13 min drive - 15.6 km
  • University of Hawaii at Hilo - 17 min drive - 18.9 km

Getting around

  • Hilo Intl. Airport (ITO) - 22 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪McDonald's - ‬8 min drive
  • ‪Kaleo’s Bar & Grill - ‬6 min drive
  • ‪Bite The Eye - ‬8 min drive
  • ‪The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf - ‬8 min drive
  • ‪Saucy Mama’s - ‬19 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is Rain Forest Apartment! pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

How much is parking?

Onsite parking is available at the property.

What time is check-in at Rain Forest Apartment!?

Check-in begins at 3:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Rain Forest Apartment!?

Check-out is at 11:00 AM.

Where is Rain Forest Apartment! located?

Situated by the sea, this apartment building is within 9 mi (15 km) of Hobby Garden Hawaii, Fuku-Bonsai Cultural Center, and Hiʻiaka's Healing Hawaiian Herb Garden. Pahoa Museum and Kilauea Caverns of Fire are also within 9 mi (15 km).

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Rain Forest Apartment! Reviews

Reviews

Exceptional

All reviews shown are from real guest experiences. Only travelers who have booked a stay with us can submit a review. We verify reviews according to our guidelines and publish all reviews, positive or negative.
More informationOpens in a new window
Rating 10 - Excellent. 127 out of 142 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 14 out of 142 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 1 out of 142 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 142 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 142 reviews

9.8

Cleanliness

9.6

Location

9.2

Property conditions & facilities

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Nancy H.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Lovely place to stay. Beautiful landscape and quiet area.
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2025

10/10 Excellent

Paula B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
The "rain forest" gardens were so luscious with a myriad of vines, ferns, flowers and towering plants with quirky little artsy items tucked in. We loved sitting on our porch whenever we were at "home". We felt very safe and welcome. The hosts stopped by to chat and let us know what was happening nearby. Loved that coffee and basic spices were in our kitchenette. Good location for our explorations.
Stayed 4 nights in Sep 2025

10/10 Excellent

Cynthia P.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Our favorite stay in Hawaii!!

Very clean, comfortable with beautiful artwork and gardens, and everything we needed for the stay. Our hosts Kepi and Jim were so friendly and helpful,recommending great places to eat and visit.places
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2024

10/10 Excellent

Tyrae D.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great location

Great location with soothing sounds of Hawaiian wildlife.
Stayed 8 nights in May 2024

10/10 Excellent

Pamela J.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location

jungle experence

loved the gardens and low road noise. lots of night time nature noises that i found very soothing
Stayed 28 nights in May 2025

8/10 Good

Stephen G.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Affordable lovely 3 day stay

We had an excellent 3 day stay near Hilo. We visited volcanos NP, Richardson's beach, the Macadamia nut farm, and a really neat little zoo close by. Great affordable place to explore the island from.
Stayed 3 nights in May 2024

10/10 Excellent

KMountain Farm girl

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Exceeded my expectations

I booked three separate reservations to get a taste of the island for our first trip there and honestly I would have loved to stay here the whole time.Wonderful hosts, beautiful gardens and the apartment was amazing. We will be back for our next stay and highly recommend
Stayed 4 nights in Feb 2025

10/10 Excellent

Raúl A.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

100% recommended

Overall a great stay in a great location!
Stayed 5 nights in Aug 2023

10/10 Excellent

Nancy S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Perfect stay for Hilo side of island

The property was perfect for our day trips to Hawaii Volcano Park, waterfalls and snorkeling on Black sands beach. The bed was comfortable and the space very functional. Host was friendly and helpful.
Stayed 3 nights in Feb 2024

10/10 Excellent

Lisa G.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Vintage artsy Hawaii

Love the artsy and home town feel. Garden is beautiful. Spacious accommodations. Only thing would have been better was bedding provided for the full sized futon; lack of sheet set and pillows for that bed. Every thing else was great!
Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2025

10/10 Excellent

Craig

Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities, communication
The hosts were wonderful! We had our space and privacy but we also had access to the hosts when we needed them. They provided wonderful dining and activity recommendations for us. We celebrated our 15th anniversary here and had a wonderful time.
Stayed 4 nights in Apr 2024

8/10 Good

Bethany L.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Beautiful Gardens

We enjoyed the garden area as it is beautiful. The little apartment is rustic but we were comfortable. It didn't feel as private as we like. There was a lot of foot traffic and conversation just outside our windows. But, overall it was an affordable place to stay with friendly hosts.
Stayed 7 nights in Mar 2025

10/10 Excellent

Aaron F.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Turtle Bungalow

A beautiful property with lush plants and trees, the Turtle Apt is a fantastic deal for the Big Island. It’s located near good restaurants, shopping, groceries, and gas, and is a relatively short drive from Hilo. The hosts are super friendly and accommodating. Just remember to bring some good plugs. The jungle comes alive at night with frogs, dogs, and roosters.
Stayed 28 nights in Dec 2024

10/10 Excellent

David V.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Peaceful and Pleasant

Wonderful property; the unit was nicely decorated, amply appointed, clean and tidy. The grounds were beautiful, verdant, peaceful and quiet (apart from birds and other wildlife). The hosts were warm and welcoming; very knowledgeable about the area and its attractions.
Stayed 5 nights in Nov 2023

10/10 Excellent

Martina S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Hawaiian paradies with rainforest garden

Our second stay with Kepi and Jim was like the first one - wonderful! The one bedroom apartment was clean and cosy with a terrace right in the garden. We loved our coffee in the garden every morning with all the birds around and the sound of the frogs at night. Wr highly recommend this place - that is Hawaii!
Stayed 4 nights in Sep 2024

10/10 Excellent

James Ryan B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

A short drive to everything

My wife and stayed a week and the place was great. A short drive everywhere. Hilo and great Snorkeling or down through Pahoa to the Red Road and Kehena (Black Sand) beach. Keep and Brian were great hosts.
Stayed 7 nights in Nov 2023

10/10 Excellent

Sarah L.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Fabulous tropical garden getaway

Kepi and Jim were wonderful hosts. Our unit was clean and comfortable. The surrounding gardens were lush and gorgeous. We loved the lights in the trees at night. Easy access to both Hilo town and Kilauea. We hope to come back and stay here again!
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2023

10/10 Excellent

Kerrie W.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Wonderful haven in a rainforest garden

We loved our stay in the downstairs apartment with our own outside terrace overlooking the garden. It was spacious with a comfortable sofa bed in the living room for extra people. It was great to have our own kitchen and to have a big jar of coffee provided to kickstart each day. It’s not far from the Volcano Park with easy access to Hilo. Thoroughly recommend staying here.
Stayed 8 nights in May 2024

10/10 Excellent

Rhonda W.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Beautiful property!

My daughter and I were blown away by the magical nature of our stay. The property is gorgeous and the artwork in the units is spectacular. The chirping of the frogs and the garden’s mini-lights made sitting on the patio in the evening the highlight of our day! Most of all, meeting Kepi and Jim was unforgettable. They are so open, kind and caring and went above and beyond to make sure we were comfortable.
Stayed 6 nights in Nov 2024

10/10 Excellent

Sarada A.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Tropical oasis

This property is one of a kind! Beautiful, clean, comfortable and artistic both inside and out! Jim and Kepi are great hosts!! Highly recommend!!!
Stayed 8 nights in Nov 2023

8/10 Good

Robin L.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Nice garden property

Unit had lovely outdoor space adjacent to garden. Unit itself was very clean but dark and dated. Hair dryer does not work adequately and could not get hot water for shower one morning. Location good for Hilo and Volcano National Park.
Stayed 5 nights in Dec 2024

10/10 Excellent

Tammy T.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Tropical Paradise

Very fast & reliable internet, wifi allows to work outside. Hosts are informative, very accommodating, and real pleasure. Close to many wonderful activities and great for long term remote workers! Ill be back!
Stayed 31 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

Becca C.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Just what we needed! Mahalo!!

This property was just what we needed. A solid location and Kepi was great at suggesting cool things to do depending on what day it was and what mood we were in. Beautiful oasis rain forest jungle property with plenty of wild life sounds which we definitely enjoyed and had fun with. Especially the coqui frogs with the funny story behind it. Thanks again for the wonderful stay!
Stayed 4 nights in Oct 2023

8/10 Good

Paul K.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Rainforest Get-Away

We loved our stay at the Rain Forest Apartment in Kea'au! The location was good for exploring the island in our rental car each day. We were surrounded by nature and beautiful gardens that Kepi and her husband maintained. We enjoyed the peaceful surroundings and found them very relaxing. Kepi and her husband were excellent hosts, available for our needs but respecting our privacy. Kepi's artistic talents enhanced the apartment and made it a unique place to stay.
Stayed 9 nights in Mar 2024

10/10 Excellent

Janet A.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

My Hilo Experience

This was a great property. I stayed in one of the one bedroom apartments with an extra bed in the living room. It was comfortable. The yard was beautiful. The owners were extremely helpful and easy to work with over the phone and by text. The gardens were amazing. This property was very easily accessible to the Hilo side of the island. We were about an hour from volcanoes national park and we were about an hour in the other direction from many great venues. Would I stay here again? Yes I would.
Stayed 5 nights in Feb 2025