E Como Mai.
Kalopa Homestead Guest House is centrally located on the lush, green
Hamakua coast midway between the Kona and Hilo airports.
Peaceful & quiet setting at the 1700 foot elevation on the Mauna Kea
slopes of the Hamakua coastline. Enjoy an ocean view through the
eucalyptus trees and watch the occasional ocean liner or barge and tug
boat go by.
This private, spacious, 2 bedroom cottage has many amenities
including a full kitchen, a extra large whirlpool tub/shower, free local
calls, private phone with plug for laptop.
There is a private yard for sunning or for the kids to play. No other
guests to disturb your privacy.
Take a stroll and within minutes be on walking trails that allow you
to see waterfalls!
This central location is ideal for exploring all the Big Island
sites. All for a reasonable price with breakfast included!
The Farm:
On Kalopa Homestead estate we grow Hamakua coffee, macadamia nuts,
bananas, oranges, grapefruit and papayas to name just a few. Our guests
enjoy these home grown treasures as part of their breakfast fare.
Our dairy goats supply us with creamy milk with which we turn into
luxurious homemade soaps supplied for our guests use and also for
unusual tropical scented gifts to purchase.
Our kids (baby goats) often bring out the kid in our young and even
our older guests.
If we have kids during your time here and you have a desire to taste the
farm life, we'd love to share the fun "chore" of feeding time!
Rooms:
Relax in your own cozy living room, read a book, watch TV, a video,
play a game, enjoy the birds in the bird feeder outside the window or a
romantic smoldering fire in the wood stove during our cooler seasons.
The spacious, open beam ceiling and pine walled living room is
comfortably furnished with leather sofa and recliner as well as a
futon/sofa TV/VCR & DVD player. We have a satellite dish as well as
an antennae for local television reception.
Our private 2 bedroom cottage consists of one bedroom with a queen
bed, the other, 2 twins.
A continental breakfast is delivered to your dining area each
afternoon for you to savour the following morning.
The kitchen is fully equipped with coffee maker, grinder, toaster,
microwave, blender, stove and refrigerator as well as pots and pans,
dishes and eating utensils.
You may prepare dinner in your kitchen or there are several small
eating establishments in Honokaa or even Waimea.
We provide an ice chest so that you may pack a lunch for your island
explorations.
Enjoy a relaxing soak in the double size whirlpool tub/shower in the
full bathroom. There is an additional ½ bath for the rest of your
family so soak away!
The inevitable laundry must be done so we have provided a full size
washer & dryer in the laundry room. A private phone (with a plug for
your laptop), a wood stove (for the occasional cool morning), hair
dryer, alarm clocks in both bedrooms and luxurious home made soaps are
just some of the amenities you will enjoy while relaxing in your
comfortable home away from home.
Perfect for honeymoons, families and couples. The guest house sleeps
up to six people when using the sofa/futon in the living room.
Places To See:
Honokaa:
A quaint one street town with a western flavor filled with lots of
fun small shops to visit and explore including antique and Hawaiian
shops. Eateries include: Cafe El Mundo's for Italian, Jolenes Kau Kau
Corner for some local dishes and Tex drive-in offers plate lunches and
their famous hot malasadas. The Honokaa Peoples theater is open
Friday, Saturday and Sunday for Cinema entertainment and at certain
times hosts the Honokaa Music Festival.
Kalopa State Park:
Kalopa State park is a beautiful lush 100 acre native forest which
contains mostly native trees, shrubs, ferns and other forms of life
rarely seen in much of Hawaii today.
There is an easy 0.7 mile loop trail that will take you through an
ohi`a rain forest. This forest contains ancient ohi`a trees, some of
the largest ever recorded. The ohi`a create an upper canopy beneath
which grow in abundance kopiko, kolea, pilo, hame, olomea, hapu`u and
other native species.
Another trail is the Kalopa Gulch trail. This trail leads you along
the Kalopa and Hanaipoe gulches which are as deep as 150 - 200 feet
deep and originate near the summit of Mauna Kea. These gulches were
formed by the meltwater from the Pleisocene glacial icecap of Mauna
Kea. There are two choices with this particular trail system, a
minimal 0.5 or a 1.5 mile hike.
The endangered io ( the Hawaiian hawk) can be seen on occasion as
well as the ope`apa`a (the endangered Hawaiian hoary bat)and the
auku`u (night heron). Many other introduced birds can be seen and
heard while in the park such as cardinal, linnet, melodious laughing thrush,
white - eye, Kalij and ring - neck pheasants
There is a pavilion with tables for picnicking and grills for
bar-b-queing for those who are reluctant to leave this place of
peaceful birds singing and lush greenery.
Waipio Valley:
A trip to Waipi`o is like going back in time to the "old
Hawaii". It is a mystical place.
Step back in time when you enter the gorgeous Waipio Valley. The
Hawaiian Valley of the Kings. Although King Kamehameha was born in
Kohala he was secretly raised in the Waipio Valley to protect him
until he could become King.
For over a thousand years it was inhabited only by Hawaiians and is
the basis for a lot of Hawaiian folklore. It does not take a lot of
effort to imagine what this valley was like before the settlers
arrived. The people who live there today have very simple laid back
lifestyles. There are taro farms, fish ponds, mountain apples,
avocados, bananas, lilikoi (passion fruit), guavas, breadfruit,
coconuts and coffee to be seen all along the rough roads of the
valley. It is a jungle that has always been known for it's abundance
of food including wild Waipi`o pigs.
The Valley is 1000 feet deep and a mile across. The Waipi`o river
meanders through the valley fed by many small and one very magnificent
waterfall. This waterfall is the tallest free falling waterfall in the
United States! After a rain the walls of the valley are littered with
many small tumbling waterfalls. At the mouth of the river there is a
black sand beach where many of the locals surf and fish. Across the
river there is the steep wall with a six mile trail leading to the
Waimanu Valley. This valley is smaller, more remote, less cultivated
and more luxuriant than Waipio`o.
Transportation into the valley is by four wheel drive only. If you
would like, there are several companies that offers transportation
into the valley. You may choose to explore the valley by a van tour,
mule drawn wagon tours and horseback rides if you do not have a 4x4
vehicle. For those in good physical condition there is a small parking
area at the summit where you may leave your car and walk down. Allow
about 20 minutes to walk down and 45 back up. The hike up is very
strenuous. Remember to bring sunscreen and water!
Kukuihaele:
Old Plantation community with a nice small Art Gallery called
Waipio Art Works featuring local woodworkers, watercolors, painted
silks and a large selection of books.
Also our family's favorite stop after an outing at Waipio Valley:
delicious home made Ice Cream!
Waimea:
Home of Parker Ranch. It was once the largest privately owned ranch
in the USA. The is fun children's park for little people and great
dining places as well as a great gallery.
Hapuna Beach Park:
45 minutes. One of the most popular white sand beaches on the
Island. Showers for rinsing off and rest rooms are available. Several
picnic and BBQ spots available.
Spencer Beach Park:
45 minutes. A great beach for the little ones. Tide pools to splash
in. Showers, restrooms and picnic area.
Lapakahi Historical Park:
45 minutes. A 600 year old Hawaiian fishing village. You take a
self guided tour through the restored park. Hours 8 am - 4 pm.
Mahukona:
A wonderful snorkeling/diving area in deep clear water.
Hawi:
1 hour. Magnificent drive over the Kohala volcano and great area
for horseback riding. Paniolo Riding adventures. The Kohala mountains
were the first volcano on Hawaii and Hawi remains a step out of time
with stunning vistas and views. You will find the statue marking the
birthplace of King Kamehameha.
Hilo Direction:
40 minutes. The drive to Hilo is accented by waterfalls and small
scenic and historical parks. Lapahoehoe, Kolekole to name a few. A
stop at Akaka Falls with a short 1 mile round trip walk is a great
place to stop and stretch your legs.
Scenic Drive:
45 minutes. Traveling from Hilo to Honokaa you can take a four mile
loop through a lush rain forest. Surrounded by bamboo, streams and
tropical vegetation. Visit a tropical Botanical Garden with streams,
waterfalls and ocean views galore.
Richardson Beach Park:
1 hour. Black sand beach with nice shaded sitting areas. Usually
cooler than on the West coast.
Volcano National Park:
The volcano has been very active of late and great lava viewing can
be seen especially at dusk or later. Mauna Loa is swelling and it is
believed by some that there may be some activity soon.
