Big Island Lodging Part 2: Holualoa Inn

From intimate B & B’s to mega hotels, Hawaii Island, the largest in the state chain, is home to an abundance of accommodations. The lodging possibilities on this lava-rich island are just as exotic as its evening manta ray tours and trips to the active Kilauea Volcano.
Here, we present the 2nd of four intriguing properties, each packed with personality. You’ll get so stoked about your next Hawaiian adventure that you’ll be rummaging for your vintage Hawaiian shirt before you can say “Hang loose, bruddah!”

OPTION 2: FOR ART LOVERS AND ROMANTICS

The art community of Holualoa is one of my favorites. A lineup of historic buildings now houses a row of art galleries with exquisite works by local artisans. Visit Dovetail Gallery & Design for everything from hand-carved wooden boxes to fine grain cabinets. Then, venture just steps away to explore Glyph for silk paintings and sculptures.

Within walking distance to the town center is art centric Holualoa Inn. This one represents the jewel of lodging jewels. Nestled down a garden pathway which splinters off the main road, its secluded location beckons. This bed-and-breakfast sets the standard for what the ultimate B & B should be.

Consider the exquisitely plated hot breakfast where guests beg for the lilikoi French toast recipe, a canopied hot tub overlooking the Pacific, a mosaic-tiled pool, a rock labyrinth, and a garden with commissioned sculptures. And the list goes on. You can hike among the coffee trees as the inn harvests and sells its own coffee.

The Woman Behind Holualoa Inn

Who does stuff like this? Enter B&B visionary Cassandra Hazen, formerly a furniture retailer, and founder of the California Bed and Breakfast Association. Fifteen years ago, when she opened the 30-acre Holualoa Inn, she thoroughly honored Hawaiian culture with her design aesthetic. She wanted to create the quintessential home away from home, an exquisite cozy retreat for her guests. Taking advantage of her own creative sensibilities, she took a former private residence and transformed the interiors, installing high-end pieces with Asian and Polynesian touches from her store.

The immaculate grounds are so lush and bountiful with produce it’s not surprising that she employs a team of gardeners to tend them. The place is idyllic for weddings as it has its own amphitheater and a new, indoor event space.

About the Accommodations

Along with a separate cottage, the six rooms in the lavish two-story abode display custom decor, each with different furnishings and views. Then there is the stand-alone Red Barn, a glamorous renovated barn studio with sleek wooden floors, cathedral ceilings, and a full kitchen with high-end appliances, plus two decks and a walk in-closet as large as a bedroom. I could not get over how soft and silky the bedding was. Naturally, the inn sells that, too.

Outside by the main house, I fell in love with the crow’s nest, a covered balcony, perched on the second level, accessed by a stairway and a bridge-like ramp. The solitary haven is just big enough for a pair of lounge chairs and side tables. No one will bother you up there and it’s so still you can practically feel your heart beating.