Rain Forest Retreat

THIS PROPERTY IS FOR SALE

Some of you may have reached this site through a recent MLS listing (225571). For purely personal reasons, we have decided to put Hale Hoku Mele on the market. With young family still living on the mainland and in Canada, we are not able to spend enough time here to warrant the annual maintenance that a property like this deserves. This was a difficult decision...we will continue to make the house available to family and friends as long as we own it, but we do not want to get into the rental property business. If you would like more information about the property, please contact our realtor on the Big Island terribrauher@aol.com

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Welcome to Hale Hoku Mele (House of the Song to the Stars). Located in the tropical rain forest between the town of Hilo, Hawai'i, and the not-to-be-missed Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park, this two-acre property is a refuge from the rest of the world. Here you will hear the oma'o bird singing his varied song at dawn and dusk, and the coqui frogs chirping at night, but precious little else in this quiet sanctuary. The 1,800' elevation means evenings are cool, sometimes requiring a sweater, and the sunny days are comfortably warm

(low 80's).

This is a view of the house from the garden area.

This is a view of the house from the driveway where you can park your car.

A view into the rain forest on a day of liquid sunshine taken from the lanai (Hawaiian for "covered deck").

Another view of the garden from the lanai.

Tangerines are abundant in the winter months on this 2-year-old tree.

The lanai is a perfect place to enjoy a meal or just to sit and watch the birds at the feeder.

A view of the living room from the front entry.

The living room from the hallway; the single bed/lounge sleeps one, and the futon/couch sleeps two comfortably; the triple-folded mattress on the floor next to the single bed/lounge can be unfolded to sleep one additional person, or used for seating.

The TV is hooked up to DirecTV satellite, and there is also a VHS/DVD player as well as a CD player. A selection of DVD's, VHS's, and CD's are stored on the entertainment center below the TV.

The bookcase in the hallway contains books about Hawaii as well as novels and DIY books.

View into the bathroom which includes a full-sized tub/shower.

Rain forest view out the bathroom window.

The window above the bed opens onto the garden area containing anthuriums, bromeliads, hapu'u tree ferns, and other tropical plantings. The nightstands were fashioned from the local waiwi (wild guava) trees by a neighboring artisan, George Benton.

The sliding glass door exits from the bedroom onto the lanai.

The kitchen is fully stocked with a blender, coffeemaker, toaster, microwave, gas range and oven, refridgerator and freezer, cookware, and dishes and cutlery, as well as local cookbooks.

Another view of the kitchen.

A favorite place to visit is Akatsuka Orchids on Highway 11 on the way to the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park; the array of orchids is incredible!

If you visit The Big Island in the winter months, you can often spot humpback whales breaching offshore.

The beaches on the Kona (west) side of the island are world famous; this is Hapuna Beach where the boogie-boarding is fantastic.

This is our young resident "i'o" - the endangered Hawaiian hawk who often lands on the red-blossomed lehua trees on the property.

Mauna Kea ("White Mountain") is the highest mountain on the island (13,700'), and in is covered with snow in winter. The observatories atop this mountain are world famous. You can easily drive to the visitor center at 9,000'.

A view of Mauna Kea through the clouds.

These chameleons were seen on the lanai railings one morning, obviously battling for territory; we also are visited occasionally by Gold Dust Day Geckos (the "Geico Gecko").

Halema'uma'u Crater at Volcanoes National Park has been spewing cinders and smoke for many months now. Everyone who visits The Big Island should spend time at the park - it's a very magical place!

We hope you will enjoy your stay at Hale Hoku Mele on The Big Island of Hawai'i.

Aloha!!