Puakea Ranch

We had two short stays at the Ranch - at the start and end of our holiday on Big Island. The first was in James Cottage that we enjoyed for its spa and cozy feel. Our stay included a BBQ meal on the deck - just wonderful as the sun was going down. ||The second stay was in Yoski's house as our daughter joined us. Loved its privacy and different inside and outside spaces. Easy to get supplies at nearby Hawi plus great pizzas and breakfast. The outdoor areas are expansive at the ranch allowing you to just wander or sit on one of the chairs and hammocks, or under mature trees. The pools were great too after a long day of being out and about.

We have been coming to Puakea Ranch for 16 years with our family. It is truly a magical place. The property and cottages are divine. There has been so much love and special touches put into the property keeping it's historic quality. It is an authentic Hawaiian experience. Each year our experience gets better and better, and different, as our children grew up. It was always a highlight vacation for them and they have so many fond memories we will always cherish. It is a 5 star stay and ranch life experience the Hawaiian way. Thank you for providing such a unique escape.

We went to the big island for my husband to participate in the Half Ironman on May 31st. We decided to get out of the resort's area, and we stayed at Puakea Ranch. I'm so happy we did! Such a magical week - this is not your typical Hawaiian vacation – think historic, private, remote, nature, serene, inspiring. We loved it there so much – breathtaking views, so much wildlife, flora and fauna, secret corners to explore. Hubby recuperated nicely in such a relaxing environment. ||We stayed in James Cottage. It was so sweet!! I love the bath-house, the rain shower is so nice, after stepping out of our private courtyard hot tub with an ocean view. Our bed was super comfy, loved being able to have all the windows open all night with breeze blowing. All of the houses look adorable!!

This Magical spot is located in the perfect area to authentically experience the Island's magic. The grounds are beautiful and true to the land of which is was built upon which is rare to find. I really enjoyed the comfy fluffy linens and perfectly curated antiques which gave the luxury experience an authentic edge. Access to laundry, kitchen, grill, and natural pool was a game-changer for a more connected group visit, allowing us to gather and appreciate the beautiful location. As someone who enjoys vacations that give you much more than an hotel stay can, the Ranch really marked all the boxes.

We had a wonderful 5-night stay in the Miles Away cottage at Puakea Ranch! The resort was so peaceful and beautiful. Our 9-year old daughter enjoyed swimming in the pool and playing with the cats. We loved relaxing in our cottage in the evenings, cooking and soaking up the gorgeous sunsets. I would recommend this beautiful spot to anyone visiting the Big Island.

The grounds are gorgeous and the two pools are a delight. Homes are airy and spacious with relaxation zones a plenty. George the peacock is super chill and just give him some space and he will hang out. There's 2 cats who will steal your heart and your breakfast.

We enjoyed our recent 2 night stay at the Miles Away cottage at the Puakea Ranch, it being a very unique stay on this less traveled area of the Big Island near Hawi.|The cottage was fully equipped, and comfortable, yet retained its from another era charm and sense of place and time.|The secluded lava rock pool was a nice setting, and the steps away from cottage bath house a special and memorable experience. The few suggestions we shared were welcomed and quickly integrated which will further enhance future stays for all Mahalo Puakea Ranch, we hope to return for a stay at Yoshi’s House next visit.

This is a self server commune. There is no staff, no security, no room service, no cell service...nothing. If you can find your building on this run-down site, there is a combination lock to get in. There are animals and rodents running around everywhere. The owner lives somewhere on the property but is inaccessible. She is also a scatter brain. After taking my money and emailing me a clear confirmation of our stay, she then double booked my stay forcing me to make a change for the second half. I gladly made the change because this place is not as advertised. It is a dump. Stay away!

Puakea Ranch is our home away from home in Hawaii. This the perfect place to slow down, relax, and unwind in a beautiful natural setting. Our family has been coming to the ranch since 2011 and have stayed at every cottage. The ranch offers comfort and amenities while maintaining a rural and country/private atmosphere. We love the views, its peaceful and beautiful country style. These homes are beautifully kept and so special to our family. We love staying at the ranch with our kids and plan to continue to visit every year. Christie, thank you for another wonderful stay!

Most of the reviews are several years old. I stayed here this summer. Pro: nice but not great grounds, location good for exploring far northwest corner of island, hot tub at James Cottage Con: owner not on site while we were there making communications difficult, following refers to James Cottage: very poorly maintained, needs through cleaning, ants a major problem, weird setup with bathroom in separate building, curtains on one side only Owner says in welcome email that it's a ranch and not a resort as if this excuses the condition of the cottage. I expect things clean, in good working order and controllable ant/bug issues but got none of this here.

Heaven on earth! We stayed in the Miles Away cabin with our two kids and it felt completely private and was stunningly beautiful. The cabin was charming, the dipping pool refreshing, and our hosts helpful and welcoming. Our kids loved hanging with the farm animals and we made salads from the communal garden each evening. A lovely getaway that feels truly remote but is only a 30 minute drive from the resort beaches. We will be back!

My family and I just got home from a 4 night stay at Puakea. This place is amazing. It's beautiful, comfortable, authentic, relaxing. I wish we had more time there. The staff (Christie, Josh, Fara, Chris) that we met could not have been nicer. We stayed at the Cowboy House and enjoyed the horses, the garden, chickens, pools, hot tubs. Our kids ran wild the entire time. We really enjoyed our time there.

Last May we were lucky enough to stay at Puakea Ranch for 5 days with our family and have our fairy tale wedding. We rented out James Cottage, Cowboy House, and Yoshi House + the Detached Dining Pavilion. All the houses were so unique, charming, authentic Hawaii feel with an updated chick interior design. Loved the indoor/ outdoor bathrooms. The two pools were so peaceful and refreshing, one with a fantastic ocean view. We spent many days just relaxing in the pool with family. Also the whole family loved having the roaming chickens, duck, and Dolly the friendly sheep. The day of the wedding, it was so nice and easy to have the wedding on site. In the morning we made breakfast with fresh eggs from the chickens, and herbs from the garden. We took a dip in the pool, and made mai tais. The vendors showed up and created the wedding of our dreams. For our wedding we had a day of coordinator to insure smooth coordination between site, vendors, and set up. Our wedding planner took care of communications making the day seamless and relaxing. We were looking for a very authentic, casual, intimate setting with natural beauty, where we could relax and enjoy the day. This place exceed our expectations! Will definitely be back. This place feels so special to us and intimate it feels a bit odd realizing so many others stay there and feel the same way. Almost want to keep this hidden gem all to our selves. We will be back Thank you Christie & Josh!

Be careful - we had a very suspect experience trying to book with Puakea Ranch. A friend of ours months ago needed to cancel. They offer refund only in a voucher for the same property (which obviously is very hard to exercise, vs. say one night fee or something). We tried to use his voucher. They offered us a date. We took it, they confirmed via email. They then emailed us back later saying someone else booked the room. They all but admitted the other booking came after they confirmed to us via email. They offered an alternate date that was unusable (because we already told them our travel dates and booked the flight), and wouldn't offer anything for the mix-up - not even extending the voucher. Of course they would confirm a new paying customer, and cancel on us, since our use of a voucher meant they weren't getting as much money. In our email exchange (they didn't return my call or pick up), they repeatedly wouldn't answer my questions directly. I would avoid this property if you don't want your trip unexpectedly turned upside down, with no recourse.

I might regret this -- this positively reviewing such a gloriously discreet bastion of beauty, tranquility, and elegant grace. For Puakea Ranch is our spot to vacation and we'd hate to lose our rental spot to more tourists! We dream all year about our few weeks at Yoshi's House or Miles Away as we work here in Wine Country. I'd wager all cabins and rooms aRe as gorgeously appointed at Yoshi's or MA. Both rentals are fabulously decorated with a slightly shabby-chic yet stylishly Hawaiian, island vibe. Private pools, hen house to collect eggs most mornings, a great loop to exercise and run, epic views of the water and Maui, wifi, cable, spotless grounds, and even a pig to eat compost...? I could go on and on. But really, that we cannot wait for our annual vacation Puakea speaks volumes in itself. 5 Stars in Every Way.

We spent a week here this summer, a magical week of cool breezes, splashing kids, fresh produce and luxury care. What is luxury? Some might like cold air conditioning, or fancy restaurants and stores. I like those. This is something different. Our group was two families and we rented two houses. Ours had a hot tub, theirs a small swimming pool. We were 100 yards away, perfect to chill out on our own, visit them, or just send a kid or two over their way like candy-seeking missiles. Both families have talented amateur chefs, so the garden was a delight. Beets, greens, onions, carrots and herbs as fresh as the morning air. Ripe fruit, too, papayas, mangos, bananas, macadamia nuts. All yours for the taking. The community pool is like Brigadoon, hidden in the tall grass but immaculately maintained and landscaped. I could go on and on, but summarize like this, every moment of our week there got better and better. Thanks, Josh and Puakea Ranch. P.S. Hawi Town is great, too. Amazing coffee. The sushi restaurant is excellent. Bamboo place not so good. P.S.S. Explore this place. Its an adventure for children and adults, alike.

Puakea Ranch is a slice of heaven on earth. My husband and I stayed at the ranch in early Nov. 2010 at Yoshi's House. Wow! We were looking for a tranquil spot to relax, and got that and more. - A beautiful and well appointed cottage with a bath house to die for and modern ammenities - Lovely and very well maintained grounds that mix the old (old Plumeria and ancient Hawaiian stone walls) with newer landscaping - Exquisite sunrises and sunsets at the pool - Swinging on the swing under a large tree canopy while the afternoon rain shower is happening all around, but not on you - Relishing a morning view of Maui while sipping your coffee on the lanai - Getting your breakfast eggs from the chicken coop instead of the super market and fresh organic veggies from the vegetable garden Time stood still at Puakea Ranch, and we loved every moment.

My family and I stayed at the Cowboy House at Puakea Ranch. Our time there was spectacular! The ranch was like a wonderland for me and my little brother. The house is old, but you would never know it. We learned from Uncle Josh all about the long history of cowboys on the ranch. So cool! The house is spacious and the beds are really soft. I slept like an angel. In the mornings, I woke up excited to go exploring and get fresh eggs for breakfast. The kitchen is bright and cheery, we could see the horses in the morning from the window. I loved the bathroom, it had rocks on the walls and a shower that was like rain falling from the sky. I also liked that our house had a big swing in the front hanging from a mango tree. We even had a jacuzzi, it was a nice way to end the day, so warm and relaxing. The garden was right behind our house and full of vegetables. We ate fresh corn, cucumbers and picked fresh herbs for our spaghetti sauce. But to me, the animals were the best part of the whole weekend. We met Bo, the puppy, when we first arrived. He was our buddy the whole time, maybe if you're lucky, he might be your buddy too. Uncle Josh let us help feed the animals. We helped feed Pili, the super pregnant pig, Oreo, the duck and Blue and Abby, the two horses. We fed the chickens and the goats. We even got to watch the Ironman racers ride by on their bikes! There was a pool that was a short walk from our house that felt like we were going to a secret hideout. I loved the fresh mountain air and being so cozy at night. I wish we could have stayed longer. This place is very special. I just know that anyone who has the chance to stay at Puakea Ranch will love it just as much as we did. Aloha, Nai'a age 9

On past trips to the Big Island [our favorite island] we've done all the big Kona hotels, but for a family trip with our two adult sons and their families, we decided to try something different. Luckily, we found Puakea Ranch, rented three cottages, and are now in the 6th day of a 9-day stay. The place is simply wonderful. Instead of waking up to noise in the hallway in a big hotel, we leave all the windows open, feel the tropical breezes and wake up to the sound of the local birds, cows, goats and horses. And the three cottage plan works wonderfully for our family. Puakea Ranch offers the feeling of old Hawaii, before the big hotels arrived. Quiet, private, low-key. Fresh eggs in the morning, chickens running around, goats, cows and horses nearby. Last night, Christie the owner, arranged for a private caterer to put on an outdoor dinner with traditional Hawaiian musicians. The caterer, Taylor Made Catering, was fabulous and the ambiance of the Ranch and the music were magical. A bonus is being in the less-populated area of Hawi, five minutes away, a quaint old Hawaiian sugar town which franchises have not yet found. Everything is local and home-grown. Nearby, we have hiked into the Pololu Valley, done zip-lining with Kohala Ziplines, played golf at the local Hawi 6-hole course, and had a good dinner at Bamboo restaurant, also with traditional Hawaiian music. The only local clunker is Zest Restaurant, which should be avoided at all costs. We have access to all the big hotels and did a great luau and dinner at Mauna Kea, played golf at Mauna Kea and Mauna Lani, hit the big beaches at Mauna Kea and Hapuna and taken our 3-year old grandson to Spencer Beach, a toddler-friendly beach---all 20-30 minutes away. We definitely will return to Puakea Ranch.

We booked the Puakea Ranch and all buildings for three days in September for our daughter's wedding. While we had hoped for a beautiful wedding memory, we do not have that at Puakea. Communications went back and forth with the owner, Christie Cash and the caretaker Josh. I arrived before my daughter to find Josh who had promised several things, in the process of leaving. He was flying out for a non-emergency trip and his mother would help us. We were left with someone who had no idea what the promises were. This was a red flag in the very beginning. We checked in on Friday afternoon. Several of the cottages and the streamline trailer were not ready or cleaned yet. Christie had said there would be lights in the pavilion where we had our rehearsal dinner catered, but it was empty and dark. Our group ate dinner in the dark using our cellphone flashlights to light our way and our food. Lights were put up the next morning for the wedding reception. Guest parking is on the lower part of the property and guests have to walk up an unpaved, dusty road. We were given the use of a golf cart to help bring people up to the wedding from the parking lot. The cart is battery operated and was not fully charged and ran out before the event was over leaving people to wander in the dark down the long gravel road. This was a challenge for the older guests and those that were in high heels, not knowing they would have to walk that far. We had tried Tiki torches, but the wind blew them out along the pathway. Josh's mother was nowhere to be found during the event and did not pick up the phone when we called down to her house asking for assistance. One of the main reasons we decided to book this venue was because we were told that if we booked the entire ranch, we could play music as late as we'd like to, since there were no neighbors for miles around. When we did our first walk through of the property in January, Josh stated that one of the benefits to a wedding at this location was that the music did not have a curfew. We were told the dancing could go until 11:00. At 10:10 Josh's mother came and said there were complaints from the neighbors and the Hawaiian curfew was 10. We promptly stopped the music quite awkwardly and shut everything down. The morning after our daughter's wedding, she received a very threatening email from Christie Cash, who lives in Southern California and is not even in Hawaii. This was the worst part of the stay. This was a terrible email to get. Our daughter was notified that she was being fined $1,000.00 for noise disturbance. This fine was never mentioned anywhere and it was definitely not in the contract. The wedding consultant and dj were also threatened in the letter. The fine was taken out of a debit card that was put on file for incidentals. When we confronted the owner we received the following email: "In any event, if you want me to refund your card, I need you to make up for this by posting 4 Fabulous, STELLAR reviews about your experience, and the ranch as the location for your wedding and the cottages for your guests. Please do not mention the lanterns as my neighbor went crazy about this too, I just did not bring that part up to you. Please post on Wedding Chicks, Venue Lust, My wedding.com, The Knot and Tripadvisor. Once I see all of them up, I will refund your card $500.00. I think this is a fair deal and we can both feel better about it." (-Christie Cash) We did not feel comfortable lying about our experience about staying at the ranch and working with Christie Cash, so we contacted her letting her know we would be only posting honest reviews and would appreciate the refund of the fine. We believe that review sites are for honest feedback to give future guests a heads up on what to expect for their experience. We have tried to contact Christie Cash several times since and have not heard anything back from her or her staff. She still has our $1000. I have been a top reviewer for Trip Advisor with almost 400 reviews. I have never been propositioned like this nor do I read a review and consider that someone is covering up the truth with a bogus five stars review. The setting is beautiful and we do have some wonderful pictures and memories of the wedding. Just beware that if you do book a wedding here there could potentially be some broken promises and hidden charges. We would also recommend not using a debit card as the owner charged us the $1000 and we could not stop the payment. Pay with a check so there are not any additional non-approved charges. We hope this review is helpful and that wherever you do book you have a wonderful experience.

I have never stayed at a worst accommodations ever in my entire life.There were insects crawling all over the place and I was bit in middle of night. It had razor sharp teeth and I got out of bed and left the property immediately. I DO NOT recommend this property. They don't let you know about the insect problem until AFTER they get your money. We dealt with cockroaches, Geckos(which are cute), a black squirrelly thing that was crawling on the floor. I could go on. The cottage we stayed in had a "lagoon" which hadn't been cleaned in I don't know how long. The walk/hike was on grass/gravel paths that were very slippery and not good for people with knee/hip problems. You had to hike up to Main house for the festivities. Nothing close by to buy food or supplies. If I didn't like someone, I would recommend this hell hole. When you go to Hawaii, you expect comfort and beaches. Not here, you get NOTHING!! Plus, never stay at Miles Away cottage. FYI And, don't try to phone or email Christie, she will never respond. Evil I always try to post positive reviews, but not this one.

Just a quick update......I have been a few times since my first stay. It just kept getting better. If you want the real feel of old Hawaii, this is it. Relax and enjoy the Aloha spirit. I'm homesick.........

A delightful setting with the best of the mountains and beach in the distance. We stayed in Yoshi's house with our daughter, and she loved running out to the pool and visiting the animals on the farm. We lack any culinary skills, but hired a local chef and went into nearby Hawi for meals. The Mauna Kea, Mauna Lani, and Hapuna Beach resorts are also about a 30-minute drive and offer good dining options. It's a unique and fun experience!

We had such a peaceful, enjoyable experience here. I'm so glad we chose to try something a little different! Fresh food out of the garden, fresh eggs in the mornings, fresh fruit from the trees. Everything we needed was right there, but it was also nice to know that if we needed anything else, it was a phone call away. We played some games, went to the beaches, played music, lounged at the pool, took a day trip to the volcano, read a lot. Did some yoga. Could not have unwound so completely anywhere else.

We traveled to the big island in late February. After reading about Puakea Ranch in Sunset Magazine, we were excited to try something a little different. We decided to split our stay between the Four Seasons and Puakea Ranch just in case...knowing the Four Seasons would not let us down. We were not sure what to expect from the ranch, but the reviews we read were all great. Can I say that no matter how glowing this review is, it will never live up to how absolutely wonderful Puakea Ranch is. This is the most unique, special, beautiful, private vacation experience we have ever had, not to mention how reasonably priced compared to the Four Seasons! The beds and linens at Puakea were more comfortable and higher quality! Our pool was totally private, we could have skinny dipped if we wanted. Cable, wifi, phone and parking, all included. Oh, and the fresh eggs from the ranch hens...amazing and also included, along with the fresh mango and papaya all from the ranch. No line item charge for the incredible beets, lettuce and herbs we picked from the garden either. The best part, walking out our front door to two gorgeous white horses all saddled and ready for us. An amazing and very relaxing stroll around the ranch at dusk, with whales beaching in the ocean just beyond. I had to pinch myself to make sure I wasn't dreaming. Puakea Ranch is an experience. While the resorts have a certain allure, I can honestly say, especially after getting my bill from the Four Seasons, I would have gladly stayed at the ranch our entire trip and plan to next time.

Unique, gorgeous, luxurious and comfortable. Puakea Ranch is the real deal. My son and I were looking for a true destination in Hawaii, a place to base ourselves and relax, we not only found it, but will be coming back as soon as we can. On a beautiful property overlooking the pacific with rainbow views to Maui, the carefully and pristinely rennovated paniolo ranch houses were better than any pictures could suggest. We stayed at James Cottage and loved the private hot tub where we stargazed under the avocado and mango trees, and can't wait to come back and stay at the larger houses with their individual pools. If all this weren't enough, Claudia the caretaker of the property was an amazing gem and personality, was uniquely generous with her time and was an incredible instructor, giving my son his first horeseback riding lessons and allowing me to refresh as we rode around the ranch on trails and rolling meadows. The organic gardens, the fresh eggs in the morning, the proximity to the north Hilo beaches, Pu'ullu Valley, and being right there in Hawi was just the right mix if getting away from it all, and proximity to restaurants and recreation. I travel a tremendous amount and see it all, from cookie cutter to resort and I always seek places that are unique, and there are precious few. Christies Puakea Ranch is that real deal place. Selfishly, I almost don;t want to post this, because it might be 'discovered', but it deserves to be. Don't even think about it twice, just get here. And enjoy.

We stayed in the Miles Away Cottage for our elopement and first leg of our honeymoon. I don't have a lot to add to the other reviews except to confirm that this place is just magical. Everything is so calm and peaceful; the colors of the landscape are breathtaking; and we loved the ability to cook most of our meals with fresh ingredients from the garden. Oh, and the beautiful, friendly horses roaming the pasture near the entrance just added to the sense of fantasy.