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Oceanfront Cottage in Scenic 'Old Hawaii' - the Original Rainbow Dreams Cottage

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View from Front Porch. Amazing view of the ocean. No other rentals compare.
View of front of Cottage, Porch.
Front Porch
Main Living Room, with views into both bedrooms.
Interior
Reviews
10 out of 10 Exceptional
2 bedrooms1 bathroomSleeps 484 sq m

Popular amenities

  • KitchenKitchenKitchen
  • Outdoor spaceOutdoor spaceOutdoor space
  • Water viewWater viewWater view

Check out the area

Map
Pahoa, HI
  • Popular LocationKehena Beach7 min drive
  • Popular LocationPohoiki Beach13 min drive
  • Popular LocationIsaac Hale Beach Park13 min drive
  • AirportHilo, HI (ITO-Hilo Intl.)59 min drive

Rooms & beds

2 bedrooms (sleeps 4)

Bedroom 1

1 Queen Bed

Bedroom 2

1 Queen Bed

1 bathroom

Bathroom 1

Bathtub · Toilet · Shower only · Outdoor shower

Spaces

Deck or patio
Porch or lanai
Outdoor shower
Kitchen
Balcony
Garden
Dining Area

About this property

Oceanfront Cottage in Scenic 'Old Hawaii' - the Original Rainbow Dreams Cottage

The Original Rainbow Dreams Cottage - with a spectacular oceanfront view - is the only vacation rental so close to the ocean on the scenic Old Red Road (Rural Route 137) in the small village of Opihikao.

Situated on the beautiful Puna Coast of the Big Island amidst a majestic 'king's-grove' of coconut palms, the cottage faces directly on the Pacific Ocean with stunning, 180-degree views framed thru palms and native, mahogany trees. Set within a tropical garden planted with over 100 coconut palms, exotic fruits and the fragrance of tropical flowers, this cottage is simply the best rental in the area.

Inside this private home is a new kitchen and bathroom with tropical decor and vintage koa wood, mahogany and bamboo furnishings. The cottage is set up with everything you need - a well-appointed kitchen, one full bath, an extra outside shower for washing off after the beach, and two bedrooms with queen beds and plenty of closet space. All rooms have windows to let the natural trade-winds in, and there is a front porch and a screened lanai on the side to enjoy the balmy air.

Rainbow Dreams Cottage is the perfect eco-retreat, where you can really get away from it all. We are entirely solar-powered, so alternative energy serves your needs with a few limitations to this rental. Because we are off the grid, there is limited cell service (2 bars) and no WiFi - just the beauty and the power of nature, and the sights and sounds of the ocean. Also, we have catchment water from the rain, so we advise using bottled water, or free Pahoa town water available at roadside taps, for cooking and drinking. Full-grid services are just minutes away, up the road or in the nearby town of Pahoa.

With a direct view of the ocean, you may spend your whole vacation simply gazing at the waves, yet the cottage is the perfect base for exploring the unique nature and culture of the Big Island. All along the coast in the Puna District, you will discover special places to explore, from scenic parks to sheltered coves. Three miles from the cottage is exotic Kehena Black Sand Beach, and two miles in the other direction is MacKenzie State Park, where steep lava cliffs form a rugged shore.

Hilo is the largest town on the Big Island with a quaint Old Town that features historic architecture, specialty shops, many restaurants, and nearby attractions, including Rainbow Falls, Banyan Drive, Lili'uokalani Gardens, and the "singing bridge' across the Wailuku River, to name a few.

Volcanoes National Park, is a major attraction, and the improved Saddle Road in between Mauna Loa and Mauna Kea Mountains is both scenic and convenient, connecting between our cottage and the Kona side of the island in a 2.5-hour drive.

Property manager

David Shaw
Premier Host
Premier Host

Languages

Spanish

Amenities

Kitchen
Water view
Outdoor space

House Rules

Check in after 3:00 PM
Minimum age to rent: 25
Check out before 10:30 AM

Children

Adults only

Events

No events allowed

Pets

No pets allowed

Smoking

Smoking is not permitted
We have a strict 4 person MAX rule due to limited parking, systems and water.

Damage and incidentals

You will be responsible for any damage to the rental property caused by you or your party during your stay.

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
On-site parties or group events are strictly prohibited
This property uses solar energy, plus eco-friendly cleaning products
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 not indicated whether there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher and a first aid kit
Property Registration Number TA-138-334-6176-01, GE-138-334-6176-01

We should mention

This property does not have any lifts
A car is required for transport to and from this property

About the area

Pahoa

Located in Pahoa, this cottage is on the waterfront. Mackenzie State Park and Kehena Beach reflect the area's natural beauty and area attractions include Pohoiki and Hobby Garden Hawaii. Hiʻiaka's Healing Hawaiian Herb Garden and Hilo Coffee Mill are also worth visiting. Make sure you get close to the area's animals with activities such as game walks and birdwatching.
Map
Pahoa, HI

What's nearby

  • The Point - 4 min drive
  • Kehena Beach - 7 min drive
  • SPACE Seaview Performing Arts Center - 8 min drive
  • Pohoiki Beach - 13 min drive
  • Isaac Hale Beach Park - 13 min drive

Getting around

  • Hilo, HI (ITO-Hilo Intl.) - 60 min drive

Restaurants

  • Cajun Paradise Farms - 39 min drive
  • Kalapana Lava Boat Tour - 3 min walk
  • Dosa Mama - 1 min walk
  • Kalani Honua - 5 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is Oceanfront Cottage in Scenic 'Old Hawaii' - the Original Rainbow Dreams Cottage pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

What time is check-in at Oceanfront Cottage in Scenic 'Old Hawaii' - the Original Rainbow Dreams Cottage?

Check-in begins at 3:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Oceanfront Cottage in Scenic 'Old Hawaii' - the Original Rainbow Dreams Cottage?

Checkout is at 10:30 AM.

Where is Oceanfront Cottage in Scenic 'Old Hawaii' - the Original Rainbow Dreams Cottage located?

Situated on the waterfront, this cottage is 1.8 mi (2.8 km) from Mackenzie State Park and 2 mi (3.2 km) from The Point. Kehena Beach and Pohoiki are also within 6 miles (10 km).

Reviews

10

Exceptional

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
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Rating 10 - Excellent. 117 out of 126 reviews" "
Rating 8 - Good. 8 out of 126 reviews" "
Rating 6 - Okay. 1 out of 126 reviews" "
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 126 reviews" "
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 126 reviews" "

10/10

Cleanliness

9.0/10

Amenities

10/10

Property conditions & facilities

10/10

Eco-friendliness

9.8/10

Check-in

10/10

Communication

10/10

Location

10/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Andrea

Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities, communication
The property is in an amazing location, opposite waves crashing on jagged volcanic rocks. It was very clean and i loved the furniture and style of the cottage. It is out of the way and off grid, so felt like a very different experience to Kona and Honolulu.
Stayed 5 nights in Jan 2024

10/10 Excellent

tanya m.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Beautiful cottage...beautiful setting...enjoyed every minute there
Clean private well appointed...porch has an close up ocean view...kitchen dining room too.. the sounds of the ocean waves truly lulled us tp rest and sleep on between our adventures.
Stayed 4 nights in Apr 2024

10/10 Excellent

Leslie R.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Most favorite!
Of all the VRBO houses we have stayed in, this one is probably our favorite! The location was ideal with the constant lulling sound of waves and birds we've never heard. Exploring the area was a lot of fun too. Especially discovering the lava flows from 2018 close by. The house was tastefully decorated with a lot of attention to detail including fresh flowers on the table upon arrival! AND very clean. No sign of any critters or bugs. Owners were very good about communication, and gave awesome detailed directions for everything. If we didn't live so far away we would probably go back ever year and stay at Rainbow Dreams house! Thank you David and Clay for sharing your lovely house to others through VRBO....thoroughly enjoyed every peaceful moment!
Stayed 8 nights in Apr 2023

10/10 Excellent

Renee B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Paradise
Loved everything about our off grid stay. Very cozy and lovely comfortable home in a Garden of Eden setting. Fun to see neighbors cats, rooster, chickens and the black wild boar come for a visit. Sleeping with open windows is a dream and you can hear coconuts falling, crickets, frogs, birds, ocean waves and the rooster is the perfect alarm clock to wake up to view amazing sunrises. Thank you for sharing your lovely home. Blessed Mahalo
Stayed 7 nights in Mar 2024

10/10 Excellent

Tina D.

Liked: Cleanliness, communication, location, listing accuracy
Disliked: Check-in
Paradise
Everything and more than we expected. Loved our stay !! Hope someday that we can return, its just amazing.
Stayed 7 nights in Feb 2024

About the host

Hosted by David Shaw

Host profile image
My partner and I have owned this property for 20 years, which we purchased in year 2000 as our Y2K getaway, and now we have recently retired and reside in the middle cottage. Previously, I led communications efforts for several large, nonprofit organizations in the SF Bay Area, including the Academy of Sciences in Golden Gate Park, KQED Public Broadcasting, the James Irvine Foundation and the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy. We are nature enthusiasts and love the natural environment that surrounds us here in this rural part of the Big Island.

Why they chose this property

We looked all over the State of Hawaii for our perfect place and found many areas that we loved, including Hanalei Bay on Kauai, and Hana, Maui, and this area reminded us of those areas, and we liked the nearness to Hilo, which is the second largest city in Hawaii after Honolulu. We especially liked the rugged quality of the Puna Coast and the primal feeling of the land in this area. Being "off the grid" and without cell service - turned out to be heaven. We have many repeat visitors, because people love coming back again and again to this very special and powerful place.

What makes this property unique

The Rainbow Dreams Cottage is extremely unique in its proximity to the ocean and its surroundings in an area that is entirely dominated by the beauty and serenity of the natural world. Also, the off-the-grid experience is becoming more and more unique as people need a place to unplug and get away from the daily bombardment of internet and email. For those that need to be connected, it's just a short drive from the cottage in either direction to access the web and cell service.

Languages:

Spanish

Premier Host

Premier Host
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