A Home Away From Home

AZSaluki (Phoenix, Arizona)
Review submitted: May 21, 2013   Date of arrival: May 9, 2013

We spent a total of 10 nights on the Big Island. We stayed the first 7 nights in Kona and spent the last 3 nights in Hilo at Lopaka's Family Lodge. We knew we made a good decision the moment we pulled up. The Lodge is located in a beautiful neighborhood. It is the kind of area we would like to live in if we were fortunate enough to reside on the Big Island.

While we were already happy with our choice before we even got out of the car we were immediately impressed with the beautifully maintained property and the genuine hospitality provided by Bev. Before we even got to the door Bev came out and greeted us with a warm Hawaiian welcome. The unit was perfect for our needs. The bedroom was a good size and had a nice walk in closet for all suitcases. The bathroom was clean and well stocked. The kitchen came equipped with everything we would need. The great room has a breakfast nook that was perfect for morning breakfast and a TV area good for winding down after a long day exploring. The washer and dryer is also really convenient when you are away from home for a long time. While we didn't get to enjoy it that much one of the best features is the large patio and the wonderful view. It is obvious Bev takes great pride in this property.

Bev was the perfect host. She immediately made us feel like family. She is such a wonderful person we could have sat and talked to her all day. She was very attentive to all of our needs Staying here you really get spoiled. You get much more personal attention and TLC than you ever could by staying in a hotel.

The area is conveniently located near Rainbow falls and several restaurants and stores. We spent a good portion of our days exploring Volcanoes National Park and the Hamakua Coast. We found the unit was centrally located to exploring both of these regions.

We really enjoyed our stay at Lopaka's. If we ever find ourselves in Hilo we will certain stay here again. We have already recommended this place to friends and family members.

Recommended for: adventure seekers, age 55+, sight seeing, romantic getaway

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A very special place!

Dave (Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada)
Review submitted: April 24, 2013   Date of arrival: April 8, 2013

We really enjoyed our stay at Lopaka's Family lodge. The lodge had absolutely everything we needed and more. The kitchen was the most well appointed of any place we have ever stayed. Fun and convenient to cook in! The lodge was immaculate and tastefully decorated with all the comforts of home. Bev was most helpful in providing information about the Hilo area and has supplied the lodge with a variety of guide books and interesting publications about Hawaii. Many extra touches make Lopaka's a super place to stay. It is in a quiet residential neighborhood and the drive to town is only a few minutes.Since one must drive to the volcano areas and other Island attractions we found that the location was excellent. When in Hilo - stay at Lopaka's!

Recommended for: adventure seekers, age 55+, sight seeing, romantic getaway

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Lopaka's: We had a lovely time!

Leslie N. ()
Review submitted: December 4, 2012   Date of arrival: November 28, 2012

Please make my previous review 5 stars. The four stars was a mistake!

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Lopaka's: We had a lovely time!

Leslie N. ()
Review submitted: December 4, 2012   Date of arrival: November 28, 2012

We very much enjoyed our comfortable stay at Lopaka's family cottage. Bev was most accommodating and friendly. We feel like we have made a new friend in Hilo! The cottage was very comfortable and the options flexible. Our 10 year-old daughter wanted to sleep in the bedroom with us so Bev graciously brought in an Aerobed and told us to move furniture around any way we wished. The view off the lanai is gorgeous and be sure to get up early and catch the sunrise. The view is worth it!
It is a 10 minute drive to downtown which was a little inconvenient but did make it quieter.
The cottage was immaculate and Bev provided unscented laundry detergent/fabric softener which was most appreciated!
We enjoyed the food at Ponds (great seafood) and Kuhio Grille (fantastic Lau Lau, more traditional Hawaiian food). The food at Island Naturals was also great.

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Fantastic accommodations!!

TwoHikers (Bozeman, Montana)
Review submitted: November 18, 2012   Date of arrival: November 6, 2012

Bottom line - you'd be crazy to stay anywhere else in Hilo. Wonderfully appointed kitchen (including a salad spinner, spices, oils, etc), the place so clean you can almost eat off the floor, beautifully landscaped grounds and a hostess who is eager to accommodate your every need. We are currently staying at a condo on Kauai and it can't compare with the Lopaka Family Lodge. We have been totally spoiled, probably for ALL accomodations anywhere. The place is conveniently located to both the Boiling Pots and near the start of the Saddle Road, plus routes north and south along the coast. The views from the Lanai are super and sweeping.

Recommended for: adventure seekers, age 55+, sight seeing, romantic getaway

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Lopaka's Family Lodge

Karenne (Sydney, NSW Australia)
Review submitted: November 9, 2012   Date of arrival: October 19, 2012

Lopaka's Lodge is a very clean, comfortable and beautifully appointed home away from home. Everything you could possibly need while travelling was provided, just as described in the listing. The location, in a quiet neighbourhood on the slopes above Hilo, was easy to get to, had great views and cooling breezes.
Bev is very welcoming and generous with her suggestions and information but only when needed, and very respectful of your privacy.We couldn't have found a better place to stay and wouldn't hesitate to recommend it to our friends. Mahola Bev.

Recommended for: age 55+, families with young children, sight seeing, romantic getaway

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Helpful votes: 2 / 2

Words and photos do not do justice to this place

Ajay G. ()
Review submitted: September 18, 2012   Date of arrival: September 8, 2012

the bottom line...my family is very great full for Lopaka's Family Lodge. It is clean, spacious, and most important of all the owner is wonderful. The architectural features and design of the house makes it comfortable and very cozy..more a less a home away from home. I would move there is I could.

Recommended for: adventure seekers, age 55+, families with young children, families with teenagers, sight seeing, romantic getaway

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E Komo Mai..in Hawaiian..Welcome, Enter

Ajay G. ()
Review submitted: September 18, 2012   Date of arrival: September 8, 2012

Nothing short of Wow! The location overlooks the airport and port of Hilo. The place is exceptionally clean and in a great neighborhood. The most wonderful part of the place is, the owner, who is right there when you need. I say need her because she does not invade your space...but will make suggestions.

Photo's and this review does not do justice to this place. My family is very grateful for such a place in Hilo.

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Lovely Hilo accomadation

Susanne & Keith North Carolina (Durham, NC)
Review submitted: September 8, 2012   Date of arrival: September 1, 2012

This is a lovely place to stay. The view is great. Bev has stocked the place with everything that you need and more!! And she is a great host, there when you need her. Our stay just could not have been better. I would reccomend this place to everyone. When we come back, we will stay here instead of the Kona side. Many thanks, Bev.

Recommended for: age 55+, sight seeing, romantic getaway

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A real home away from home

Alison G. ()
Review submitted: September 6, 2012   Date of arrival: August 24, 2012

This was an absolutely perfect place to stay...immactulately clean, comfortable, and very attractive. Bev was a gracious host that stocked Lopako with every possible item that you could possibly imagine. The attention to detail, down to the night lights in the bedroom, made for a very lovely stay. Beautiful location and a great place to take long morning walks. I would recommend this lodge wholeheartedly and would love to return myself.

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Great Home

Jennie A. ()
Review submitted: August 19, 2012   Date of arrival: August 6, 2012

This rental is quite spacious, very nicely maintained, exceptionally clean and incredibly well equipped - the kitchen has better equipment than I have at home. The location is very convenient for touring the island and accessing Hilo and Bev, the owner, is very helpful. We really enjoyed our stay.

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Outstanding stay.

Julie (Austin, Texas)
Review submitted: July 16, 2012   Date of arrival: June 30, 2012

I stayed at Lopaka from June 30 to July 7, 2012. I'd never stayed at a vacation rental before, so I wasn't sure what to expect. What I found exceeded even my best hopes. Lopaka was a beautiful location and Bev the perfect hostess. I was on the Big Island visiting family, so I didn't need much help with visitor info. Bev provided complete privacy and was there only when we needed her. The interior of the rental is even better than the photos. The view from the private lanai is gorgeous with views of Hilo Bay and the airport. We spent nearly every morning sipping coffee watching the sun rise over the ocean and the planes land and depart from the airport. The residential area is very quiet and close to downtown Hilo. The rental is separate from Bev's house, so it greatly increases the privacy. Bev was very thoughtful and it showed in Lopaka having everything a traveler might need and Bev also found a way to add a Texas flair to our stay (we're from Austin, Texas). I highly recommend Lopaka for those traveling on romantic adventures or with children (not sure if they can be the same :) My biggest needs when staying elsewhere are cleanliness and privacy. Lopaka was tops in both areas. Don't waste money on hotels. The price for Lopaka was reasonable and Bev very gracious. While in your Hilo, be sure to check out Ocean Sushi. Fantastic sushi at unbelieavably low prices. It's where the locals get their sushi, so you know it's good and reasonably priced. Enjoy!

Recommended for: adventure seekers, age 55+, families with young children, families with teenagers, girls getaway, sight seeing, romantic getaway

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Very nice place to stay.

Wei W. ()
Review submitted: July 14, 2012   Date of arrival: June 26, 2012

We really enjoyed our stay in Lopaka's. The vacation home is very spacious. The washer and the dryer are quite handy for us. The view is great even when you look from the kitchen. Also we found a very nice asian market just nearby. It is the perfect place to stay if you love the lushing surroundings. We will definitely come back again next time we visit the Big Island.

Thank you very much, Bev.

Wei and Mian

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Truly Feels Like Home!

Hawaii Lover (United States)
Review submitted: July 3, 2012   Date of arrival: June 19, 2012

Lopaka's family lodge is actually more spacious than the photos show. It was so clean and sparkling that all looked new. The bed is extremely comfortable and the shower was very well designed and very clean.

The owner makes you feel so welcomed and treat you as if you were a long time friend.
She has great suggestions of the area and knowledgeable ..she is very thoughtful and intuitive of your needs.

The lodge is equipped with all the things one needs and much more.
It is located conveniently in Hilo town, but still in a peaceful area with a wonderful view from the private lanai.

I strongly recommend this beautiful lodge .

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Lopaka's Family Lodge

Sherri D. ()
Review submitted: May 16, 2012   Date of arrival: May 9, 2012

My friend and I stayed almost a week at Lopaka's in May 2012. The lodge is beautifully decorated, very clean and comfortable and had all sorts of extras that I wasn't expecting such as beach towels and mats, a lovely veranda and an excellent view. Bev, the owner could not have been nicer or more helpful. We hope to stay there again soon. Mahalo, Bev from Sherri and Annabella

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Lopaka Stay during Merrie Monarch

Donald O. ()
Review submitted: April 16, 2012   Date of arrival: April 11, 2012

Bev,
We want to thank you for your hospitality. Your home is very beautiful, and the view is breath taking. We left some items for you to use. The foam cooler would come in handy for future guests.

We would like to request to stay again next year if that's possible?

Thanks Again!

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Home away from home

John B. ()
Review submitted: April 9, 2012   Date of arrival: April 1, 2012

This was one of the best vacation rental experiences we have ever had and we would highly recommend it. It is located in a residential area, but it is a very quiet neighborhood and the lanai is very private. The layout is well thought out and Bev has provided everything you can think of including things like laundry facilities, beach mats, sun screen, guide books, maps, attraction brochures, wifi, etc. The kitchen is well equipped and has everything imaginable. All of the furnishings are new and spotless. Bev is a wonderful person and a gracious host. If you want a clean quiet place to stay in Hilo you can't go wrong.

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March 2012

Footsie (United States)
Review submitted: March 26, 2012   Date of arrival: March 20, 2012

Wonderful location central to the Big Island east side locations you want to visit. Quality furnishing and beautifully decorated. Nice lanai to enjoy after a busy day sight seeing and Bev was a wonderful hostess. I would definitely stay there again if I come back to the area.

Recommended for: adventure seekers, age 55+, families with young children, girls getaway, sight seeing, romantic getaway

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Home away from home!

Rose (Oxnard, CA, USA)
Review submitted: January 19, 2012   Date of arrival: January 11, 2012

I really enjoyed staying at Lopakas! This is definitely a home away from home! The place is impeccable and amazingly beautiful inside and out! Enjoy making yourself a home made breakfast made in the full kitchen while watching the sun rise every morning from the deck! You'll get a great view of paradise with the full greenery you can view as far as the eye can see! Bev was an excellent host and tour guide! She has great suggestions and can show you beautiful land marks and waterfalls just walking distance from Lopakas! I really recommend taking a walk around the block to see the beautiful homes and a quick hike to Rainbow Falls!! Don't forget to check out the Hilo Farmer's Market too! Please come to Lopakas!

Recommended for: adventure seekers, age 55+, sight seeing, tourists without a car, romantic getaway

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A true home away from home

Flauta (New York, NY)
Review submitted: January 11, 2012   Date of arrival: January 3, 2012

I have stayed in many places that I have searched for online and thought I have had fair luck with them. However, I must say Lopaka's was far better than I had expected. I found the description of the property quite accurate and it was impeccably clean and organized. One could tell that the owner had put in a lot of thoughts to the place as you notice all the amenities provided. The owner was very helpful and was willing to be available for any of our concerns. The property is located in a quiet residential area but not too far from town. You have views of both the ocean and the mountains.
Having a beautiful full kitchen, we ended up eating in most of the time but went out once to a truly authentic Japanese restaurant hidden in the Hilo Shopping Center(Miwa Japanese Restaurant). We had sushi made by a friendly, veteran chef. Highly recommended!
Our experience at Lopaka's Family Lodge was nothing but pleasant and welcoming. We would recommend this property to anybody who may have the chance to visit that side of the island.

Recommended for: adventure seekers, age 55+, families with young children, families with teenagers, girls getaway, sight seeing, romantic getaway

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Lovely, well-located apartment in Hilo

Phillip (Davis, California)
Review submitted: December 22, 2011   Date of arrival: December 17, 2011

The apartment is owned by Beverly, who is friendly, responsive, and lives immediately adjacent. The location is excellent: a stone's throw away is Rainbow Falls; just slightly further one finds a farmer's market, Cafe Pesto, and more. There is a pleasant Lanai from which one can see the sea. The home is well-furnished, with a good collection of cookware (even a rice cooker), guide books, and DVDs. The neighborhood is residential and friendly; walking the baby, lots of people stop to say hello. While there is only one bedroom, the sofa in the living room converts to an unusually comfortable bed on which two of us quite easily fit. We stayed only briefly, but were quite happy with the apartment and hospitality. Highly recommended.

Recommended for: age 55+, families with young children, families with teenagers, girls getaway, sight seeing, romantic getaway

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Great stay!

Chris P. ()
Review submitted: September 2, 2011   Date of arrival: August 30, 2011

The place is truly a home away from home! Bev surely does all of the little things very well that you don't notice unless you stay at other places. We were even welcomed with leis! The place is close to Mauna Kea and VNP and downtown Hilo as well.

Recommended for: adventure seekers, age 55+, families with teenagers, girls getaway, sight seeing, romantic getaway

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amenities!!!

Barry (Craig, Alaska, USA)
Review submitted: July 28, 2011   Date of arrival: July 13, 2011

Yes, no 5 star hotel provides the amenities and supplies that Bev has thoughtfully prepared. Convenient location, just 5 minutes by car to town, and surprisingly quiet and private given the suburban location. Spotless, modern, and comfortable. Super value. Thank you, Bev!!

Barry & Lena, Alaska and Tuscany

Recommended for: age 55+, sight seeing

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Lopaka's Lodge is Perfect

Montclair1518 (Jamaica Plain, MA, USA)
Review submitted: February 6, 2011   Date of arrival: January 9, 2011

Lopaka's Lodge was the perfect home away from home for our month in Hilo.

The hale outdid all of our highest expectations. We cooked many meals in the fully-equipped kitchen. We spent many hours enjoying the view and the breezes from the private lanai. We even had fresh-squeezed juice from the oranges on the tree in the yard (definitely not something we can do back home).

The house is in a quiet neighborhood on the slopes above Hilo and served as the ideal base for us to see many of the coolest places on the Big Island: Volcano National Park, Waipi'o Valley, Mauna Kea, Puna (for snorkeling with turtles!), the Hamakua coast and, of course, lovely Hilo itself. No matter what strenuous adventure we set ourselves to do, it was so great to know that a relaxing, comfortable house (with a laundry machine) was waiting for us at the end of the day.

And Bev herself is fantastic and welcoming and generous. She thought of everything we might need (including a Hawaiian dictionary, which turned out to be quite handy). She brought up garden-grown tangerines and bananas when neighbors had extras. She basically made our stay here as good as it could be. We also enjoyed getting to know her friendly dog Sampson! We were very sorry to leave and hope we will be able to make it back soon.

Recommended for: age 55+, families with young children, families with teenagers, girls getaway, sight seeing, romantic getaway

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Lopaka's Family Lodge

Kaki and Lopaka (Hawaiian names) (Windsor, CA, USA)
Review submitted: September 25, 2010   Date of arrival: September 6, 2010

***
Bev's hale was the wonderful place we hoped for on our first trip to Hawaii, our gift to ourselves for our 50th anniversary. Located in a quiet neighborhood on a hill above Hilo, we opened the doors to the cool ocean breeze to look out on the city and breath-taking dawns.
Bev provided everything: fully equipped kitchen, incl. coffee, tea, even dry soup for when we came in late. All the comforts of home and more: laundry room; walk-in closet, etc, in working order and spotlessly clean. Gracious, Bev lives the Aloha spirit. She provided a Hilo map and, when we asked, told us of places to eat, sites to see (such as Kilauea). We esp. enjoyed the Farmer's Markets, both in Hilo and Puna and will recommend Lopaka's Family Lodge to our friends, hoping to return soon. Aloha and mahalo to Bev. Kathy and Bob.
***

Recommended for: age 55+, families with young children, families with teenagers, girls getaway, sight seeing, romantic getaway

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Helpful votes: 5 / 5

Loved this property!

Sandra Gayle (Napa, Ca. USA)
Review submitted: May 7, 2010   Date of arrival: April 30, 2010

We had a wondeful time at Bev's Hale! She is so warm and inviting, just like her " home away from home ' that she has decorated and designed for her guests. She has thought of everything you could possibly need there and then some.It's a great location, and she can give you advise on where to eat, etc. for she has lived there for some time.We will be going back soon,and would highly recommend this rental for a couple or family. it's a bargain for the price!

Mahalo,

Sam an Sandy

Recommended for: age 55+, families with young children, girls getaway, romantic getaway

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Helpful votes: 3 / 3

A Home Away From Home - Highly Recommend

Kilicat (Kailua, Hawaii, US)
Review submitted: March 28, 2010   Date of arrival: March 20, 2010

My family and I (total of 4) had a great time at this Lodge. The owner was very hospitable and had good advice for activities and restaurants. She is truly an example of the Aloha Spirit!
The lodge was clean, very comfortable, and well-equipped. We cooked a lot of our meals and found the kitchen well-stocked and the appliances were easy to use and well-maintained. The beds were comfortable and easily accommodated 4 people.
The property is near downtown Hilo, Rainbow Falls, and Boiling Pots. The description is accurate regarding location and amenities.
We ate at Uncle Don's Ohana Grill in Hilo four times because we loved it. We would recommend the Oxtail Soup - winner!
Would stay here again!

Recommended for: adventure seekers, age 55+, families with young children, families with teenagers, girls getaway, sight seeing

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Helpful votes: 3 / 3