Big Island Lodging Part 1: The Inn at Kulaniapia Falls

From intimate B & B’s to mega hotels, Hawaii Island, the largest in the state chain, boasts 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 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 1: Paradise for Nature Enthusiasts

Hard to describe in words. Perhaps epic or Shangri-La-like? Think about your own description after a stay at the Inn at Kulaniapia Falls in the town of Hilo – the wettest place in the US with over 200 inches of rainfall annually. This lush inn puts the P in “paradise,” with a waterfall literally in your backyard.

In 1993, Lenny Stanton purchased an overgrown plantation. He transformed it into an eco-friendly, off-the-grid, hydro-powered inn. You see, the land was being sold off in a liquidation sale by a sugar company. Ever the risk-taker, Lenny never saw the site until after the purchase. Not even made public until he started hacking away at the foliage, Lenny named it Kulaniapia meaning heavenly strength in Hawaiian.

Stanton designed and built a series of cottages along with the main house, situating the buildings with astounding views of the falls. Always a self-starter, he learned to harness electricity from the falls.

A hiking path from the inn down to the immense falls leads through a forest where Lenny planted a collection of rare and exotic bamboo. A covered gazebo with an unobstructed view of the falls sits squarely in front of it. And yes, Lenny made that, too.

Introducing “The Farm”

Today, the inn is owned and operated by former Silicon Valley tech entrepreneur Christophe Bisciglia (a Lenny Junior, if you will) who is building more lodging on the 42 acres. So far, he’s designed and built three charming, one-room cabins on the upper section of the property called “The Farm.”

Are you comfortable with detached restroom and shower facilities 150 feet away? Are you comfortable meeting others in a beautiful barn-turned-community kitchen and gathering area with gleaming hardwood floors and cathedral ceilings? People seeking more of a camping vibe than a hotel experience love it.

In the off-the-grid Farm, there’s no electricity and the tiny huts are simply furnished with a teak bed and nightstand. Many will attest that the ocean views from the front porches make up for these shortcomings, however.

Sleuth Your Way to the Inn at Kulaniapia

Finding the Inn at Kulaniapia requires a bit of sleuthing. You ascend a hill away from the downtown corridor and make a series of turns before reaching the private gate where you’ll enter a secret code. It shouldn’t take more than ten minutes from the base of the hill. Once you arrive, plan on dropping your bags for a few days. Breathe deeply. Take advantage of hiking to the falls, swim at its base, and kayak, of course. Borrow a bicycle and roam the premises. Indeed, the accommodations are simple. But, a lovely continental breakfast with tea and Hawaiian coffee, granola, and an energy bar or two kick off the day’s activities. Come for the peace and quiet and stay for the excitement of the falls.