Waipi'o Lodge

The garden is lovely, and there's a well equipped outdoor kitchen with two tables and a shared bathroom with hot water. The ocean view is only from the upper tent area, though, so you'd have to stand right in front of a tent that might be occupied to see it. We found the rooms in the house to be in very poor condition. They're underground in the basement, with small, dirty windows, no airflow, dust, and a bad smell. The walls looked unsettling, and I didn't want to guess what was under the paint. The website photos don't show the building as it really is. The room wasn't very clean either: the windows, walls, blinds, and pillows were dirty. I felt uncomfortable staying there. Noise was another problem. The hosts live above the basement rooms, and we heard every footstep, including late at night and before 6am. On the night we arrived, their guests' children ran, shouted, and played piano, and it was impossible to relax. The host apologized and said they had visitors, but the noise went on. I felt ignored and wondered why we weren't treated as guests too. Other reviews also make it seem like noise is a recurring issue. This was my most expensive rental on the Big Island and by far the worst. The value for money is terrible, and there are much better places for less. People who rent the tents seem to leave better reviews, but I'd avoid this place if noise and lack of respect bother you.

The rooms were comfortable and neat, and the lodge has plenty of facilities for storing and cooking food. It's an easy walk to the Waipio lookout point. Great place to stay. I'd strongly recommend it to travelers and will definitely come back!

We only managed one night because of our schedule, but I'd gladly return. The Waipi'o Lodge has a great Hawaiian feel, and thanks to the host family for making the place available to share. We were lucky enough to have the whole basement area to ourselves.

The outdoor kitchen is excellent, and the view is great. It's very quiet here, and although you can hear some noise from upstairs, everyone was respectful and kept quiet overnight. The place matched its description and the price is hard to beat. I wish we'd booked one of the outdoor tents. Maybe we'll be back.