Kai Cottage in the quiet Pauka'a neighborhood a few minutes drive north of downtown Hilo is the perfect vacation spot for exploring Hilo, Volcano and the eastern coast of Hawaii Island. This plantation era cottage, built in 1966, is designed to take advantage of coastal trade winds by sitting up off the ground and boasting ventilation windows and ceiling fans. There are nice ocean views across the street from the front lanai. Kai Cottage has two bedrooms, each with a queen sized bed. There is one full bathroom with a combination bathtub and shower located between the two bedrooms, plus a half bathroom ensuite with the larger bedroom. We host up to 4 guests.
The kitchen has a bar height table to seat 4 people comfortably. We have cookware and dishes for most cooking adventures! Enjoy lounging in the living room with a full view of the ocean across the street or on the small front lanai. If you're an early riser the sunrise can be extraordinary here! There is a TV for streaming your own accounts and WiFi is free.
From our location take advantage of the sites of historic Hilo Town like Rainbow Falls, Imiloa Planetarium, Hilo Farmer's Market, and soooo many great restaurants and lovely shops. Downtown Hilo is just a five minute drive from Kai Cottage. Every visitor to Hawaii Island must check out Volcanoes National Park which is a nice half or full day experience. To the north of Kai Cottage is the historic Hamakua Corridor. Visit Akaka Falls, try a cow cuddling experience, or a vanilla farm tour!
Book with confidence—this is a licensed, legal vacation rental managed by professionals with decades of local experience. Always double check that you are booking a place that is operating legally in Hawaii - no surprises, just aloha! STVR: 19-365316 NUC: 19-1823 TA-021-648-2304-01
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Property Registration Number 3270160400000, GE-044-043-6736-01, TA-044-043-6736-01
Property # 4506364vb
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
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 that there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher and a first aid kit
This property has outdoor spaces, such as balconies, patios and terraces, which may not be suitable for children; if you have any concerns, we recommend contacting the property prior to your arrival to confirm that they can accommodate you in a suitable room
About the area
Hilo
Located in Hilo, this cottage is by the sea. Mokupapapa Discovery Center and Palace Theater are local landmarks, and some of the area's activities can be experienced at Naniloa Country Club and Edith Kanakaole Tennis Stadium. Pacific Tsunami Museum and East Hawaii Cultural Center are also worth visiting.
University of Hawaii at Hilo - 8 min drive - 7.2 km
Rainbow Falls - 9 min drive - 6.9 km
Port of Hilo - 11 min drive - 8.7 km
Getting around
Hilo, HI (ITO-Hilo Intl.) - 13 min drive
Restaurants
Kozmic Cones - 5 min drive
Cafe Pesto Hilo Bay - 5 min drive
The Temple Bar - 5 min drive
Puka Puka Kitchen - 5 min drive
The Booch Bar - 4 min drive
Frequently asked questions
Is LOOK! Kai Cottage coastal getaway in Pauka'a! pet-friendly?
No, pets are not allowed at this property.
How much does it cost to stay at LOOK! Kai Cottage coastal getaway in Pauka'a!?
As of 10 May 2026, prices found for a 1-night stay for 2 adults at LOOK! Kai Cottage coastal getaway in Pauka'a! on 10 July 2026 start from AU$211, including taxes and fees. This price is based on the lowest nightly price found in the last 24 hours for stays in the next 30 days. Prices are subject to change. Choose your dates for more accurate prices.
How much is parking at LOOK! Kai Cottage coastal getaway in Pauka'a!?
On-site parking is available at the property.
What time is check-in at LOOK! Kai Cottage coastal getaway in Pauka'a!?
Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.
What time is check-out at LOOK! Kai Cottage coastal getaway in Pauka'a!?
Checkout is at 11:00 AM.
Where is LOOK! Kai Cottage coastal getaway in Pauka'a! located?
Situated by the sea, this cottage is within 1 mile (2 km) of Hamakua Heritage Corridor, Honoli'i Beach Park and Honoli'i Beach. Naha Stone and Kalakaua Park are also within 3 miles (5 km).
Reviews
8.4
Very good
Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
The host did a great job in accomodating our requests and was readily available when needed. The property itself is beautiful...someone did a beautiful job of stone masonry in the backyard. Would definitely stay here again
HV Y.
Stayed 3 nights in Feb 2026
Response from VrboOwner on 4 Mar 2026
Mahalo nui for your review and kind words about our services! Our guests are everything, and we are always happy to help in any way we can :-) We hope to host you again if your travels bring you back to Hilo.
Warmest Aloha,
The Salt Water Hawaii Crew
Salt Water Real Estate, Hilo HI
Good location, fit our needs, host responded promptly. Fresh avocado was bonus and much appreciated!
H V.
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2025
Response from VrboOwner on 14 Jan 2026
We're so glad you enjoyed your visit! Come back anytime :-)
Warmest Aloha,
The Salt Water Hawaii Crew
Salt Water Real Estate, Hilo HI
From a partner site
2/10 Terrible
Lloyd & Bridget H.
5 Feb 2026
Great view and location, otherwise not so much
Rating Details:
The property manager was adequately helpful.
The vacation rental was very dirty.
I was very happy with the location.
I was very dissatisfied with the condition of the vacation rental.
Overall, I do not recommend this vacation rental.
Reviewer Comments:
The online pictures and reviews were not what we found upon entering the cottage for the first time. It was not clean or well maintained. We took our shoes off as we do at our home in CO. My white socks that I wore before unpacking my slippers were totally black on the bottoms. Our guest relations contact responded in a timely manner to our texts.
Lloyd & Bridget H.
Response from VrboOwner on 12 Feb 2026
It is super unfortunate that you were here during the volcanic eruption that sent tephra and ash into the air and all over the houses we manage. Floors everywhere were dusty and we're sorry this affected your socks and your impression of cleanliness. All of our managed properties are professionally cleaned and inspected - and we offered to come over and redo the floors for you. We hope prospective guests will read other reviews because the house is comfortable and we keep it very clean - it's just an old beach house with soft vibes and lovely views. We hope we communicate this well and encourage folks who want to relax in a nice Hilo neighborhood to book Kai Cottage. Warm Aloha, The Salt Water Hawaii Crew
From a partner site
8/10 Good
Oleksandr L.
9 Nov 2025
It’s alright
Rating Details:
The property manager was very helpful.
The vacation rental was spotless.
I was very happy with the location.
I was more than satisfied with the condition of the vacation rental.
Overall, I recommend this vacation rental.
Reviewer Comments:
Cosy little cottage. There’s no A/C, only fans - but it was alright (we didn’t stay in during the day). There’s no dishwasher, but it’s fine if you don’t cook and eat a lot at the cottage. The furniture is old, but it works. What I’d suggest is to put clear labels on all the light switches or write instructions, because it’s confusing: what switch is for what fixture or outlets, plus the remotes and fans - we ended up flipping switches to get lights where we wanted them and still didn’t figure it all out.
Oleksandr L.
Response from VrboOwner on 17 Dec 2025
Mahalo for your review, and for the suggestion about labeling switches. We are always grateful for tips from guests on how we can improve :-) We hope we can host you again next time you visit Hilo!
Warmest Aloha,
The Salt Water Hawaii Reservations Crew
Salt Water Real Estate, Hilo HI
From a partner site
10/10 Excellent
Paleah M.
28 Mar 2025
Perfect location, comfortable stay!
Rating Details:
The property manager was very helpful.
The vacation rental was spotless.
I was very happy with the location.
I was very satisfied with the condition of the vacation rental.
Overall, I recommend this vacation rental.
Reviewer Comments:
Our family of four had the best time at this cute spot. Honoli'i beach is just around the corner! Quiet and peaceful neighborhood. The house is well appointed with extra linens, beach towels, a well stocked pantry and fridge with all the basics for home cooking. The washer and dryer helped so much too. The frogs are loud at night but we LOVED it - our own white noise spa soundtrack. We would definitely stay here again.
Paleah M.
Response from VrboOwner on 20 Apr 2025
Mahalo nui for your review, Lauren! We are so happy that you enjoyed your visit and the conveniences that Kai Cottage provides. Come stay again, anytime!
Warmest Aloha,
The Salt Water Hawaii Vacations Crew
Salt Water Real Estate, Hilo HI
From a partner site
8/10 Good
Samantha T.
20 July 2025
July Vacay
Rating Details:
The property manager was very helpful.
The vacation rental was spotless.
I was very happy with the location.
I was satisfied with the condition of the vacation rental.
Overall, I recommend this vacation rental.
Reviewer Comments:
Absolutely beautiful location - just minutes away from the most wonderful pebbly sand beach, Honoli'i Beach Park, where you can also play in a lagoon undearneath the Hawai'i Belt Rd bridge. You can see the ocean waves from the lanai and you really feel nestled into the forest. The house was super cute and well laid out. Cons include a lack of attention to detail of the house - cheap curtains don't do much against the morning sun, the front screen door was broken, and there weren't ceiling fans and the floor fans didn't do much to circulate the air unless pointed directly at you.
Samantha T.
Response from VrboOwner on 23 Aug 2025
Mahalo for your review! I've alerted our maintenance team about the screen door, and we will let the owner know of your suggestions regarding blackout curtains and ceiling fans. We are so happy that you enjoyed your stay, and we hope we can host you again next time you visit Hilo!
Warmest Aloha,
The Salt Water Hawaii Reservations Crew
Salt Water Real Estate, Hilo HI