The Inn at Kulaniapia Falls

Absolutely phenomenal! This Hawaiian jungle retreat was pure paradise. The waterfall was breathtaking, and the all-organic breakfast was a daily highlight—especially the standout spinach omelette. The owner was not only incredibly helpful but also quite knowledgeable about the island! A truly unforgettable experience.

The little inn is in a beautiful spot in a beautiful place. Our family had a great time enjoying the grounds—hiking, kayaking and rappelling down the waterfall. The breakfast was really tasty and the rooms were very comfortable with a nice cool breeze in the evenings. The bathrooms are modern and completely updated. A truly beautiful spot with friendly innkeepers and adventure guides.

What a beautiful experience. If you want an all inclusive resort this is not the place for you. However, if you are into nature retreats, the experience was phenomenal. We swam in the private waterfall everyday and the rooms were clean and comfortable. There was no air conditioning in my room but it was not a problem at all.

The place was absolutely stunning. The views were breathtaking. You could see the waterfall perfectly from the Inn. The Waterfall itself was magical. I went swimming and when I left, I felt like a new man. I would highly recommend this place for a private retreat or escape.

Staff is super chill, location is absolutely beautiful, amenities are all in place. This isn’t a 5 star hotel, and that makes it perfect. This is a place for people looking to disconnect from the daily grind. You could waste an entire day just enjoying the sights and sounds of nature. I definitely recommend this place for lovers of nature.the star gazing is also out of this world!

It's hard to describe how magical our milestone anniversary trip was, and we owe much of that thanks to our time at the lodge. We rented out the whole house for a group of friends and family and had the absolute most memorable and best time. Our positive experience started with hands-on help booking for such a large group. Our group ranged from elementary aged kids all the way to us grown adults, and every one of us had a phenomenal time. By the end of the trip the kids said they wish we had stayed at the lodge longer versus our other stops. As world travelers the lodge still ranks as one of their top experiences. Our highlights were the early mornings to stroll the beautiful property, pick fruit, evening rain storms, paddle the falls and enjoy coffee with a view. On the rainy nights we played flashlight tag amongst the trees and hunted for fun little creatures with the kids. The staff were amazingly helpful and suggested some incredible takeout options in Hilo. If you enjoy the natural beauty of Hawaii, personal hospitality, and like a reprieve from beach and scorching sun this might be your perfect spot.

I rarely leave reviews but I feel this one is necessary. I was one of the group of 10 that tried to check in on 7.29.25. We had already reserved 2 rooms. The last family’s phone died and intended to reserve a room at the site. From the minute we arrived, the property representative was inhospitable. I had just been on their website and assured this family that the property had rooms available on their site. However once we arrived at the property, we were told that we couldn’t be accommodated. Emotions ran high as we were under a tsunami warning and stranded. In the end, the property found cabins to accommodate us. But by that time, we no longer wanted to stay and certainly didn’t feel welcome. As far as misrepresentation, one family did book a room for 4 that accommodated 3. We were told under no circumstances they could let that happen. That family was willing to book another room for the additional person. Response to reply: The majority of your reply is false. I apologize for any poor language from any of the families (we didn’t have a leader). I honestly don’t remember it but I do know emotions were running high. Especially, after you stated “Our problems were not your problem.” Lastly, we had money and you had room. As stated in your reply, you felt it was more appropriate we should sleep in a shelter. I think that speaks for itself.

-Response to owners reply. We did offer to book additional rooms to accommodate our group. We've never been to a hotel that could only accommodate 2 people per room. We were also explicitly told that we cannot fit any extra people into any of our rooms. Money was not the obstacle here. We were also in the process of booking a 3rd room. You knew this because you told my wife to do it online. The real issue was the lack of empathy, guidance, and rude demeanor, which made a stressful situation worse. Providing helpful alternatives, that didn't involve separating our group, upfront could have made all the difference. -------------------------------------------- I am absolutely appalled by our experience at this hotel and feel compelled to warn others. We were on a cruise ship docked in Hilo, Hawaii, when a major tsunami warning forced an evacuation on July 29, 2025. Our ship had to depart for safety, leaving us stranded with three families totaling 10 people (including kids). Desperate for a safe place to wait out the alert and relax until we could reboard, we quickly booked two rooms online, figuring we'd sort out the details upon arrival. From the moment we walked in, things went downhill fast. The lady at the front desk immediately asked how many people we had. When we said 10, her response was a curt "Absolutely not – our rooms only hold 3 people max." We explained our situation and offered to book additional rooms right then and there to accommodate everyone – money wasn't an issue; we just needed shelter during an emergency. But she flat-out refused, claiming they "couldn't accommodate" us, all while delivering this with the most unprofessional, rude, and snobby attitude imaginable. It felt like we were being judged and dismissed, as if our crisis was an inconvenience to her. We weren't about to split up our group or leave anyone behind, especially with young families involved, so we decided to cancel the bookings entirely and find somewhere else. Only THEN did she suddenly "remember" they had five cabins available that we could book instead. Too little, too late! By that point, her behavior had soured the entire interaction, and we'd rather walk the streets in the midst of a tsunami warning than give this hotel a single dime of our money. This place showed zero compassion or flexibility during a legitimate emergency.

If you're going to book anything on the big island, let this be your top 1. We booked in the morning so it was cheaper. Our pass included 5 total hours with access to the private land, waterfall, and restaurant. It's definitely worth the price. The gal who showed us around is probably the sweetest person I've ever met. She's great at her job. We also booked their paddle boards for an hour as we are frequent paddle boarders and really wanted the photo-op of us on our boards in front of the waterfall. They have life jackets on site and I do recommend grabbing one cause after you're done paddle boarding, you can just float in the water. It's so refreshing!

So there are many different ways to enjoy this place, each with different price tags. 1) you can buy a day pass and come to hike/play in the waterfall area, limited passes each day. 2)you can stay overnight in a cabin with no bathrooms, and just a phone charging station. For extra charge you can get a hot breakfast served near the falls. 3)you can stay in a room or suite. The rooms fit 2, some larger suites/houses fit 4 and have electricity and attached or shared bathrooms, so check carefully what you book. We stayed in the Pagoda House, a 2-story house with 2 bathrooms, full kitchen and living room, 1 king bed, 1 sofa bed, 1 rollaway bed...and it's close to the waterfall. Parking space next to house, walking distance to breakfast area and short hike down to the water. We loved it! Breakfast was included and was just a simple hot breakfast, but perfect. Location: The drive was 12 minutes out of Hilo, best to do your initial trek during daylight because at night there are no streetlights. Waterfall: depends on the rainfall, we went on 2 great weather days. SUP, kayak, or swim at your own risk. Overall I loved it. It's unique, you don't feel like you're in Hilo, or anywhere really. You are in a forest away from traffic and people and it's so peaceful...except at night when thousands of Coqui frogs start their mating calls. That's when you know you are still in Hilo,

Celebrated our 21st anniversary here and it has become one of our places. We are locals and are thrilled that we can so easily return here for many celebrations to come. Can't say enough about the beautiful property, sweet critters, lovely staff and amazing, locally sourced food. The breakfast each morning was very tasty. The private chef prepared dinner for our anniversary was beyond our expectations. To wake to the falls each morning was a dream! Mahalo nui loa! A hui hou (until we meet again)!!!

I really loved staying here! It's a bit of a trek to get here from the town, but luckily there's not too much traffic, and people do indeed drive with aloha here. Once you reach the inn, it is very secure and safe! (The big yellow gate in the front has the same gate code as the inn.) The people who run this inn are super friendly and really care about the land. I stayed in the main house, and the room was so spacious! There is even a balcony with awesome rocking chairs. The bathroom was very comfortable, and the water always reached a nice warm temperature. I was a little shocked to see that there was no tv, but I honestly didn't need it. There is so much to do that you don't even miss the tv. Every morning you can have breakfast on the patio overlooking the waterfall, and the breakfasts were really tasty! I also had the amazing opportunity to have a dinner here. While pricey, it was well worth it!! You won't regret it! The chef, Jessie, is extremely creative, and she uses very local ingredients! Every single course was exceptional! And the best part of this inn is the private waterfall! It is really beautiful, and it was so relaxing to hear it while falling asleep.

My room was in a building with about 5 other rooms and a shared kitchen/dining area. Room was attractive and well decorated, but small by modern hotel standards -- nightstands, an armoire, but no desk and only 1 chair. The kitchen/dining/public area was decently appointed with snacks, coffee, and cocoa, but the knobs had been removed from the stove so cooking was disallowed. Breakfast was good but not memorable. The staff were nice and friendly. From the marketing, you get the sense this is a well managed, well staffed luxury resort with tons of activities and gourmet meals (and room prices to match) but the reality didn't live up to it. The falls is the main draw and well marketed but you had to get permission on a daily basis to actually swim in it. There are 2 paths down to the falls -- one is long and gradual and rather pretty, the other rocky and steep. Mosquito repellent is a must. Everything seemed a bit inconvenient, from having to select your meal the day before to the gate codes to getting the swim permission. The night light in the bathroom wasn't working, and I brought it to the desk expecting they would just swap it, but it was "oh sorry" and they wouldn't be able to get me one till the next day. You don't stock a spare night light, seriously? The road to get there is long and unlit, not especially dangerous or challenging but just inconvenient. I would not bother with this place again.

We stopped in here and had a fabulous time. We stayed in one of the cottages, and it's mature Hawaii. Yet the waterfall the grounds, the staff and the amazing chef are all fantastic!! We had a dinner on a price fixed basis from the chef on two nights. And both dinners were fabulous!! The dinners were of the kind and quality that can only be found at the finest restaurants . Which, for Hilo, this chef's dinners were at the very top of the restaurant food chain. Go Greg! Highly recommended!

Would definitely NOT recommend staying or dining here. You are paying for waterfall access - not the room, and not the service. You can basically expect a motel room. The waterfall is beautiful. Save your money and absolutely do not pay for the chef's table dinner or its accompanying "wine pairing" - both are a terrible value. You pay Michelin star prices for subpar food, service, and wine. The wine pairing involved all of 3 half glasses of wine that weren't served in tandem with each of the 6 courses or intentionally paired with any of the dishes. The poor chef does all the prepping, cooking, plating, serving, and busing with zero support. Most dishes were unseasoned, dishes that should have been served hot were served at room temperature, and the dessert that should have been frozen was melting. We highly recommend having dinner at Moon and Turtle in Hilo. They serve amazing food at a fraction of the price.

We purchased 2 day passes , looking forward to visit these falls. We are visiting and thought this would be a great experience, we made a reservation. Got there and couldn't get in to waterfall since it was muddy we rescheduled for next day and conditions were bad again. We called and asked for refund since we weren't able to use the passes. Turns out they give you a gift card. So if you are from out of state, and you can't. One back to use your Gift card they keep your money. We asked if we could use it to have lunch there and there has to be a 24hr notice for that because apparently they only have suffice food for the day for their guest who stayed there. It's unfortunate that because of businesses like these visitors are turned off. We stayed in Hilo because we wanted to support local businesses and the beautiful people. But this business is not playing fair. What do you guys think?

Love, love everything about this place!! The waterfall, kayak, hiking and the shared house was amazing! I'd highly recommend staying here

I was underwhelmed with the experience for several reasons: 1) the room looks much nicer in the online photos than they are. The rooms are dated and uncomfortably small. They lack the basic amenities you expect these day like a fridge and microwave. 2) the place is a pretty long drive to Hilo which is the only place you can have dinner( except for the nightly gourmet meal at $139 per) 3) the breakfast was mediocre at best 4.) while the grounds are beautiful, swimming or SUPing in the pool is pretty hit or miss. If there's any significant rain in the mountains and the falls are running big or the water is murky the pool is closed. In three days we were there the pool was not open. If I had it to do over I would book a room in town, call ahead to see if the pool was open and uf so just buy a day pass.

If you're looking for a different Hawaii lodging experience, I recommend this place & the Pagoda Guest House. It is a private property that's secluded and remote, although it's only a 15-20 minute drive from Hilo town, 1,000 feet above sea level. First of all, know that Hilo has frequent rainfall, so bring an umbrella, and expect rain at any moment. Second, research the varied accommodations (some rustic) and see what's best for you, comfort-and budget-wise. Because I seek comfort & privacy, I booked the Pagoda Guest House for three of us. It is pricey like what you would expect to pay for a luxury Waikiki hotel. It's true, you do get what you pay for! This is a beautiful rain forest retreat. There's no swimming pool or spa or air conditioning. It is quiet and tranquil. Very safe - there are two entry gates with codes. You can sleep with the windows open! The room: The Pagoda Guest House has a full kitchen, so buy your groceries before you come (the one-lane, hilly & sometimes winding road is pitch black at night, so you might not want to leave the area). The house was clean & organized. It has a spiral staircase leading to the master bedroom, so consider this if you have mobility problems. The king-size bed is at window sill level and has the best view of the breathtaking waterfall. The sheets on the bed are soft and the mattress is very comfortable. There's an adjoining half bath (toilet & sink). You can see the sun rise from the window. There's a ceiling fan and a portable Dyson fan for your comfort. There's a dresser & a desk. Downstairs living room has a pullout queen sofa bed and a smaller bed (upon request). There's a dining table and a full bathroom. There's a TV. There's WiFi, a computer. BTW, there were no bugs, contrary to some reviews I read. The breakfast is included if you book the Pagoda. It's served in the balcony dining room in the main building. You pre-order online. Currently, three items offered are a panini, scramble or French toast. All are delicious. A small bowl of fresh pineapple is offered (perfectly sweet). The adjoining Ohana Room has delicious coffee 24 hours a day, as well as tea, hot chocolate mix, packaged muffins, etc. You have a view of the waterfall from the dining area. You can walk down the trail to the waterfall. I loved the bamboo trail. There are many beautiful backdrops for photographs, including stone Buddha statues. You can book kayaks, paddleboards and rappelling if you wish (for a fee).. The waterfalls and streams are so beautiful. The whole ambience of this place is calm, serene and natural, away from the chaos of the city. The staff are friendly and helpful. A farm tour is available, ala carte. We booked it & Aidan led ours. Dress for the weather. In our case, it drizzled a little at the beginning but the sun came up for the rest. He showed us the many types of trees and plants that grow there. There's a fenced-in area where there are free roaming, egg-laying chickens and a rooster. The tour is educational, lasts about an hour. Aidan was excellent. If you enjoy gardening, it's perfect. You could attend a three-hour cooking class after the tour, at an additional fee. Aidan is also the chef. I opted out on that (too costly; I already paid enough for the expensive lodging). This place is great to get away from the hustle-bustle of the world. I recommend it.

This was place was a HUGE disappointment!! The grounds were beautiful and if you want to do the waterfall activities I'm sure that would be fun but DON'T stay overnight. The bed had 10+ hairs in it and the general manager was not helpful or understanding in the least. We ended up only staying one night (versus two) and lost money since the general manager wouldn't give us any type of refund. The only thing he/she would do for us was offer us $100 off a waterfall activity simply so they could take even more of our money. This general manager definitely needs a course in customer service.

My family and I reserved a chef's table reservation for this past week, and we were delighted to find that Lisa and her team's attention to detail is almost as marvelous as the creativeness of her craft. From unimaginable dips, to delectable local fish dishes, the group makes a valiant effort to change the narrative on what one can do with Hawaii's many resources. And knocking it out of the park every time. Highly recommend! 10/10

You can't beat this "off the beaten path" stay with its own private waterfall....it is absolutely stunning! We were staying in Kona for 7 days, so as a surprise my husband booked a night at the Inn at Kulaniapia Falls to break up our stay...the rooms were simple but had everything we needed. The highlight of our stay was booking the waterfall repelling excursion!!! And swimming in the pond afterwards. We highly recommend for a peaceful, serene, and unique experience!

Wow... beautiful location. Great place to get away from everything and relax. I recommend it for couples and fall in love again!! We came to the island to celebrate our 25th wedding anniversary. I couldn't have asked for a better way to start my trip here at the Falls!! We stayed for 2 nights.. even tough I would have loved to had stayed longer the mosquitos where just killing me . I am super allergic to them and going down to the falls was torture for me. Even though I can't be out there at night or near the waterfall due to the mosquitos this place is amazing!!! ( I have tried everything to keep them off me, nothing works.. im just that sweet) But Amazing place to relax and forget about everything!! There is 2 trails you can do to walk down to the falls.. also they have paddle boards and life jackets if needed. The room I chose was tiny.. but they offer everything you need.. the Breakfast that's offered with the room is outstanding!! Especially, eating out in the lanai overlooking the waterfall and listening to the water and all the nature noises. The staff is super friendly.. the girl who checks you in just superb!! Come and check them out if you need a little getaway from that busy day in day out life!!

We were really looking forward to this trip. But a week before leaving my husband injured his foot. He needed surgery and we had to cancel. I had lost my itinerary and contacted the hotel a weeks before leaving. The confirmation they sent did not show that we had purchased our tickets through a third party. It did state a 72 hour cancellation policy. I contacted them at 8:32 am on Monday June 5th. We were supposed to check in on June 8th (4pm). So, within 48 hours. They did not contact us for over 24 hours and claimed we were now not in the window of 72 hours. That they actually use a 12:01 start time three days in advance, not 72 hours, which is not what their paper works claims. Besides being disappointed over canceling a trip, worrying about my husband's foot and being out a grand, he was RUDE, and that the main reason for this post!

Fabulous little B&B outside of Hilo. Every room is different. But they have painstakingly decorated each one. You reserve your time for breakfast in advance via an app, and make your menu choices. There is always coffee and tea available in each house. But the real star here is the grounds. The waterfall is stunning and you see it from some of the rooms and you can hear it from many of the rooms. There is also a bamboo grove / garden that meanders down to the river. The location feels remote, but it's only about 12 minutes into downtown Hilo. The road is well paved, but twisty. I was glad we had Google maps to make sure we got there.

Daypass Guests! I can only review the grounds, and not the Inn, but, this was a wonderful experience for our family! First of all, it's not super cheap...$50 per person, but they limit the number of people you can reserve. So it was one other party of 3 and our group of 16. (Though we had 4 not be able to make it.) Understand, there are no refunds, so when you book, really plan on making it there...it's worth it! We arrived 10 min past our reservation, but they give you a 30 min grace period. The greeting was pleasant; allow about 10 min for checkin, signing waivers, going down the rules, etc. This is Hilo area, and therefore wet, drizzly, rainy off and on, but the daypass area is beautiful! In spite of it looking gloomy, the swimming area water is actual quite comfortable and warm. They offered us some bug spray, and even let us take it with us to the falls area, to just return when we got back up. We were sent through the bamboo garden, which really is beautiful, and leads down a green, wet, sometimes muddy path towards the waterfalls. It was suggested we could do it barefoot; I attempted...I have some tough feet and succeeded, but there were a few points where it was super muddy and even rocky that made me feel a little tender. I suggest tennis shoes or water shoes, and to tread carefully...took us about 10 minutes to navigate down to the loft. The loft is a nice covered gazebo, aside from the falls and pools, with views of the trails, and waterfalls. They had lots of benches and seating there, a countertop, and some musical activities. Plenty of room for our family to hang out and leave our belongings. (We took backpacks of day trip stuff (sunscreen, towels, etc) and cooler backpacks of lunch stuff and snacks and drinks. We spent the next 3 hours walking the trails, taking photos, climbing rocks, and playing near the major waterfall. In that pool, they had 2 paddleboards and 1 kayak. We took turns and enjoyed our time. Walking back, is uphill, but still not too bad when you just take your time. However, so not slow thru the bamboo or grassy field cuz the mosquitoes were savage!

I absolute loved this place. I will start by saying that when we checked in we were greeted by Lexi who was extremely charismatic and helpful. She gave us a tour of the property and gave us tips to enjoy our stay. Service was excellent. The biggest perk of this place is the access to the private waterfall which we enjoyed a lot. This waterfall was even better than many we went to in Maui and we had it all for ourselves. You can use their paddle board and kayak at no extra cost. Breakfast is included and served from 8:30 to 9:30. We had a fresh panini that was delicious with an amazing waterfall view. It's also nice that you can enjoy snacks any time you want as well. Tip: don't forget to take a walk through the Bambú garden, it's really nice. If you are in Hilo this is definitely a great place to stay and in my opinion worth the price. Based on location and service I would say definitely 5 stars, however I'm giving it a 4, because the rooms even though equipped with everything you need they are not the most updated. All in all I will definitely be recommending this place to anyone that visits Hilo.

This is more a retreat than a hotel. There are 10 guest rooms or so. Had to take a country road - some one-lane to get here. But once here, the view is beautiful. Room is quiet, except the sound of waterfall. I like the access to kitchen, snacks and refrigerator. More like home. Room is on the small size, but clean.

A MUST STAY location on the Hilo side of the island. Even if it's just for one night you won't regret it! The personal waterfall right outside the Inn, hiking trails and working farm all make this for a unique and unforgettable experience. I stayed here earlier in the year and can't wait to go back!

As much as I wanted to do a 5 star review, there were a few things that caused me to go 3 and was hard to not go to 2. We traveled to the Big Island for part of our honeymoon to do a Volcanoes National Park tour. The rest of the time we wanted to relax and found this cute place that is remote from the city. The place had a waterfall which was cool! It had a private chef cooked meals.... We thought but upon arrival, they were in the process of trial runs and that feature was not available to guests. So we were forced to drive 30 minutes into the city for meals. We simply wanted to relax at a zen looking resort and not worry about much. Breakfast was simple but required reservations from 8:30-9:30. Typically the food arrived 30 minutes after your reservation time. So don't plan anything after. The breakfast area was a bit of a walk for some guests and there are no bathrooms in the breakfast area. There is a grill in the breakfast area but that was also not accessible for guests to use. There was a kitchen stove but not accessible for guests to use for a quick pizza or something to avoid driving into town for a meal. The bed was comfortable. The Wi-Fi barely worked in the room we were in. The massage was good! For a property with 21 acres, I felt very crammed into my small room during my stay. I'd suggest getting some hammocks for guests to enjoy the property. Or bring your own camping hammocks. There is a lot of potential but some work to do for the prices. We chose to pay over $300 per night for the amenities/add-ons listed but did not deliver what we expected.

This is a cozy Inn hidden from city noise. It was a great experience staying here. Limited rooms which equals little to no guest noise. Almost like your own private Inn. The staff was super friendly and attentive to Amy of our needs. Breakfast with the falls in the background was amazing as well. Definitely recommend staying one or two nights to experience the tranquility of nature. Mahalo Nui!

I've been to Hawaii exactly once and this is where we stayed. Couldn't have made a better virgin trip to the big island! They aren't far from the Helo airport (I think it was all of 15-20 mins), but you do sort of feel like you're lost on the way. We followed the Google map instructions with our rental and we (what seemed like) drove in this ginormous circle as we turned left and left and left - but have no fear your map isn't misleading you, paradise does indeed await at the end! The facility is simply lovely - all of their Hosts are lovely and the facility is welcoming. We stayed in the Pagoda Guest House which has a view of the Falls. The sound at night is the perfect lull to sleep! They have Happy Hour in the evening, it's a great time to meet other guests and sit and enjoy the view of the falls. They offer a few different experiences you can book, my husband and I did the Lava Tube. It. Was. AWESOME! I don't know that I can describe it properly - in short, lava from a volcano flows through the ground and dries and creates these lava tubes. Hundreds of years later we get to walk through these tubes! Literally, there is dried lava all around you. It's the coolest thing I've done, maybe ever! Their chef, Dayson, works either 3 or 4 nights a week - you NEED to make sure and reserve at least one meal with him. All of his meals are personalized to his guests. The experience is fantastic, as you get a course he lets you know what has been plated and how it's prepared and if any of it came from their farm (which is next door). Speaking of the farm, we got a fantastic tour of the farm with Megan - another Chef, she works on the farm side of their facility. A farm tour sounds a little dorky, but it isn't - it's absolutely intriguing! They've got all sorts of room options, scroll through their website they're all lush and so pretty. Their farm has some options that are (what I'll call) rustic and totally off the grid (electricity enough to charge your phone and that's it). So they really to have something for everyone. This will be a repeat visit for sure!

We stayed here in October. It was pouring rain. I would love to return when the weather is better and I plan to. This unique and private property is situated in an amazing spot. This family truly owns a piece of paradise. I would love to give it 5 stars. 5 stars for the location. 5 stars for the staff. 5 stars for the breakfast. The rooms just need some updating. The bathrooms could be renovated and they could use some new mattresses. Then again, this is such a special place--so special it makes up for it.

More like 3.5 but for the price, I will round down. I recently stayed here for 2 nights during our time in Hilo. The location of this hotel is pretty awesome, very isolated and very quiet which was awesome. The waterfalls are awesome and the whole experience and sound of it are awesome at night. Breakfast is included and is just ok, not like a good B&B but more like a continental breakfast at any 3 star hotel. What really wasn't awesome at all was the bed in the Jade Garden Cottage. It was something I wouldn't even give away to someone. I almost literally got sea sick just moving around in this thing. The actual mattress is fine but the frame is super wobbly and loud. I slept horribly here for our 2nd night. The previous night was awesome but we wanted to "upgrade" but wound up spending more and sleeping a lot worse. Overall, this property has the potential to be amazing but someone tried to cut corners in the wrong places which is disappointing for the price point. But it's 75% of the way there. Oh, and the staff, specifically Alex was awesome.

We did the day pass and really enjoyed our walk around the falls and the bamboo garden. The water was too rough for us to go in on the day we were there (rainy) but nice nonetheless. Very nice place for a picnic lunch.

One of the most magical places I have ever been blessed to visit. Truly a life changing experience. The staff was very helpful and genuinely kind. Mahalo for allowing us to visit. We will be back regularly

I wanted to love this place, but unfortunately I can't give it five stars. This place was dirty and has bed bugs. We came here from an outer island for business, and have always wanted to stay here. When we first got there, we had to sanitize the door handles and the toilet. There was visible grime on the handles. I understand being short-staffed during the Pandemic, but the rooms were not clean at all. We were really looking forward to the "breakfast" part of the stay, only to discover they were too short staffed to offer breakfast. This would have been fine, but the price is way too high to not have the breakfast included, and no other accommodations were made. We noticed bed bug bites after the second night. When this was brought up to the staff, they insisted they didn't have bed bugs, and it must be mosquito bites (they are not, very small and in groups of three). When looking for extra toilet paper, we discovered a drawer that had several cans of bed bug spray, so the staff is aware of their bed bug problem. We also decided to have the dinner "experience." While I believe this could have been great, the main courses were inedible because they were either undercooked, overcooked (burnt), or way too salty. It was not worth the $240 we spent. With everything going on, I do understand that it is hard to keep staff and the business going, but they did not accommodate the few guests that they had. I would not recommend this place to anyone, and will not be going back.

Diamond in very rough condition: We live several months a year on the West side of the island and wanted a Staycation. The pictures looked beautiful and we were already familiar with the general area from visiting Lavaloha with our family. Rather than leaving this review with 3 Stars, I decided to review several components of our stay. Site: 5+ Stars: The site is remarkably beautiful. It is one of the more beautiful areas on the island. It is easy to reach by car located just 10-15 minutes up the mountain from Hilo. Hospitality 2 Stars: The new owner has so much to learn about hospitality. At check-in the young woman Marie asked us to sign a waiver for injury on the property and explained the dangers. That was the extent of our welcome. No one showed us to our room! No one checked to see if we were comfortable between 2PM check in until 6:30PM when we came down to dinner. The owner did greet us at that time explaining that he had just returned from Seattle. He told us a good deal about himself, but when we asked about the history of the beautiful property, he was called away and never returned. When we left the next morning no of the staff said good bye or asked about our stay. We would have told them. Cleanliness 2- Stars: This is COVID and no one including the chef, waitress, receptionist were wearing masks. There was no doubt our food was cooked without the safety of a mask. The chef was the last person to leave the kitchen. Cups were left on the counter. Dishes seemed to have been washed by hand and stacked in a dish drainer over night. Amenities: 1 Star: Lacking. This property advertises breakfast and wine with dinner. We were told that because of COVID they couldn't serve breakfast. REALLY.... they charged us $100++/person for a 4 course dinner the night before. Instead there was a bowl of fruit with a particularly rotten orange, one package chocolate muffin from the day before and power bars. To be sure there was dry packages of oatmeal to heat up in the microwave but I don't drink milk so there was no accompaniment. Property condition: 3 Star: I'm giving 3 stars because I know how hard it is to keep up property in Hawaii. However, lots of deferred maintenance they that could be completed. They advertise a paddle board that we found with a peeling finish. The one canoe also looked in need of repair. Our room was clean enough but the bathroom could use improvements. For the price of the room, we would have expected a better shower and shower head. I know this is not a good review and I'm sorry to write it. Surely the host might consider some consultation on successful hosting. I would have loved to be able to recommend the Inn to all my friends on the West side of the island. Unfortunately, I just can not.

This is an absolutely amazing property. We stayed at the Pagoda Guest House, which meant we had the entire building to ourselves. This property is totally off the grid but the lack of A/C is completely justified as the climate and the breezes from the windows coupled with ceiling fans that circulate air means nights were nice and cool. The chefs table dinner was quite the treat as well. It's served outdoors overlooking the Falls and was absolutely delicious. Finally the staff is extremely friendly and accommodating. This is a unique property and its combination of scenery and sustainability made it perfect as we celebrated our 25th Wedding Anniversary.

Pros: 1. As soon as I walked towards the residence building I was at ease and knew my money was spent well with the gorgeous and relaxing waterfall we immediately saw at the Terrance/ dinning area. I was apprehensive with this whole bed and breakfast idea and not sure if the money spent was worth it, but it was just amazingly breathtaking! 2. We came a few hours earlier and luckily our room was available! The owner showed us around briefly and welcomed us in. 3. The noise of the waterfall didn't bother us at all and might have been also comforting for our little one. 4. It was nice and cool at night and we didn't have to worry about air conditioning. In fact I had to turn off the ceiling fan at night because it was nice and chilly enough. 5. You could swim or kayak at the waterfall if it's not too rough. We just chilled and walked around a bit enjoying the scenery and racking macadamia nuts we collected in the Ohana room. 6. They offered a nice breakfast that included local coffee and Belgium macadamia nut waffles! 7. Last but not least, the were completely down to earth and friendly! They offered suggestions, ideas, and were such great hosts, always checking in on us but still giving us privacy. Cons: 1. Furniture is not my style- somewhat outdated- but it was fine. Seriously though the scenery in general trumped that. 2. No options for lunch or dinner on premises. They do however offer suggestions to restaurants that you could drive too. We just ate out for lunch and purchased our dinner and ate it on the premise. 3. Mosquitos!!! Conveniently they offered mosquito spray and that just took care of it completely. I'd advise you to bring your own if you are particular about the smell. 4. Although the towels were cleaned and smelled fine, it appeared to have light stains on them that just didn't seem appealing. 5. The drive in can be a bit scary if you don't have a 4x4 since there's only one road most of the way. Since it's not like there's busy traffic or anything it's fine, but it would suck if a car was coming the opposite way for you to move to the side if you could or have to back up..... Overall I would really give them a 4 and a half. But seriously, it was definitely worth the money, a great bed and breakfast experience, and such welcoming and friendly service otherwise. It may not be a 5 star luxurious hotel, but I would still highly recommend them for something different!!

During our stay at the Big Island, we did AirBnB, except for the Inn at Kulaniapia Falls. I wanted that to be the highlight for our trip. The online pictures and reviews captivated me, so it was enough for me to get excited. By mystery, I got my wife excited as well, but she didn't know where we were going. Before visiting Kulaniapia, we went to Akaka falls, and made it into the inn toward the late evening, just in time for their happy hour. We winded and winded up the road to the inn with my wife looking at me wondering where we were going. The winding road kept going and going -- a narrow unpainted road going up the hilo hills -- and even I began to think that it was a longer path than I expected, but I knew that the result would be an inn next to a wonderful waterfall near Hilo, HI. When we arrived, we met Tony, the evening host, took off our shoes, were invited to wine during the happy hour, enjoyed the view of the waterfalls, the landscape, the view, the sunset, and also enjoyed appetizers. Tony was very welcoming. He provided general information about the inn, recommendations for dinner in Hilo, and also helped us make reservations for dinner that night in Hilo. The other guests were friendly as well, and it made for a very peaceful stay. The river view room had a partial view of the falls, but a nice view of the sunset over Hilo and the nature through the coast. The bed was a comfortable King bed, and overall it was a pleasant stay. The Inn provided a much appreciated breakfast in the morning, which waffles, fruit, coffee and other offerings. After breakfast, we borrowed a kayak and paddle and waddled out to the foot of the waterfalls, and took turns with my wife. After check-out, we also wondered through the bamboo trail and took great pictures and took the scenery. The landscape is beautiful. Thank you Kulaniapia!

Kayak near a private a waterfall! We really enjoyed ourselves. Beautiful upscale Asian influenced accommodations, astride a unique location (waterfall) with farm to table opportunities. There were three of us but I could totally imagine this as a terrific location for larger retreats. The staff was fabulous. We will happily return!

This place is seriously awesome. Rustic, well out of the way, beautiful, quiet, and had a great family pride feel to it. The folks are friendly and the view from the breakfast patio is nothing short of amazing. The road in is long and dark and it really separates this place from the hubbub of Hilo down below. The walks down to the waterfall and the bamboo garden are wonderful. Bring a good book and prepare to relax, or use this place as an evening retreat after you spend the day in Hilo or elsewhere. If you want a real natural rainforest experience, complete with the gentle sound of a real waterfall all night, come stay here. If you want air conditioning and blue skies all day long, this place isn't for you. There are bugs, and while there are screens on the windows, there are not on the doors. There are no elevators. They leave the key in the door for you so you can quietly check in by yourself, so there is no front desk per se. If you want those things, you should stay in Kona. I read some other reviews and people were complaining about the lack of street lights and air conditioning, and those are exactly the sort of things that would ruin this place. Why come to a rain forest and then spend all your time in air conditioning? And street light pollution would ruin the night sky. Thank God those folks said they would never stay here again. Good riddance, I say.

This place is disgusting. Came here for honeymoon and had to leave immediately - drove across entire island to get away. No locks on doors, trash in bedroom along floor, and owner is not accommodating whatsoever. Stay away. Drive by the waterfall if you must, and then drive far away. Note that most pictures of this place are of the exterior (land which you can find away from this hotel and all over Hawaii). Disappointing because we booked this place and all other hotels were booked as we left this hotel, so we didn't get to explore Hilo. Such a shame, and such a scam.

Absolutely unreal setting, We LOVED this place. The rooms are clean and comfortable, but the beautifully maintained grounds are otherworldly. We fell asleep to the soothing sounds of the waterfall and chirping frogs with a breeze blowing through the large windows. Awoke to a gorgeous hike on the property and a great splashy time on the kayak and paddleboard in the private lagoon under the waterfall! All for a price less than the musty Holiday Inn we recently stayed in. We would have stayed here longer if we could. Not to be missed!

The drive up the four-mile private road is scenic, through groves of macadamias, some cocoa, and other pastoral fields. The physical location of the Inn is very very nice, and it is enjoyable just sitting listening to and seeing the waterfall. Lexi checking us in could not have been nicer, more positive, or more helpful. Let me say we enjoyed our stay, BUT. The Inn needs to change a few things, particularly if they continue to charge the nightly rates they do (close to $300 in our case). The construction is pretty basic, cheap doors, locks, faucets, artwork,etc. The towels and linens need replacing, as do the curtains (holes, really), and the mattress was soft for our liking. OK, so it's Covid we get it. There is no room housekeeping, and we can live with that - although other places we stayed offered it. Other places we stayed this trip did breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The Inn has put a decent cooked breakfast on hold (at least we assume they used to offer one), and replaced it with a smatteriing of Costco-bought crap which they leave out full time. Here we are in the land of fruit and we have plastic fruit cups. We have individual cereal boxes, but no milk (sorry but macadamia nut milk does not work for us). Packaged muffins, granola bars, and some apples and oranges? No orange juice or any juice. It's billed as a "touchless breakfast bar" but everyone is touching everything. It would be much safer to offer a cooked breakfast served to each individual. There are large bags of granola to dump into a bowl and then pour macadamia milk onto. No staff showed up either morning till 9:30 or so to replenish anything. It's too bad because the balcony with tables is so picturesque. We did get several semi-automatic emails inviting us to book a chef's dinner, which we tried to do in spite of the very pricy cost. Turned out the chef was not available either of the two nights we stayed there, so dining on the deck was out. We would have understood and been satisfied if the price was not as high as it was. Granted this is Hawaii, but we feel the price warrants a more boutique environment, which could be achieved with a relatively small cash infusion. The place was pretty full, so I guess the owner feels he's bringing in the bucks without much upgrade or renewal. Sorry to give you two dots for the rating, but your overall rating needs to come down. Mahalo.

Very, very unique property. The 15 minute drive up a one lane road to get there is a bit of a pain, but it's all quickly forgotten once you arrive. It's as beautiful as it looks in the pictures and the people running it are super nice. Easily the most interesting place to stay around Hilo as long as you have access to a car.

This is a really neat place to "get away from it all." I never slept better in my life! The grounds are really nice... not fancy and manicured nice - but wild and natural. We stayed at the "Harmony House," which is the newest building, I think. The room was simple and clean. You could hear the sound of the 120 foot waterfall from the room. Breakfast was good - included eggs, waffles, local fruit, breads, coffee, juice, tea, etc. The hostess at Harmony House was so friendly and helpful. They have 2 short trails on the property - one goes to the waterfall, another through some of the biggest bamboo plants I've ever seen. You can swim in the pool at the base of the falls, if the Innkeeper says it's safe enough. When we were there - there was either too much water (unsafe), or the water was terribly muddy. It just depends on the day! If you do walk down those trails... wear long sleeves and long pants or use mosquito repellent. I didn't, and I was getting eaten up down by the water. Bummer. There are no lights on the long road out to the property - so go in the daytime. It's pretty far from everything, and once it got dark - we didn't really feel like making the long drive into town. This is both good and bad... you are literally away from everything - very peaceful, but if you want to go out for dinner or something - it's an effort. We brought a cooler, and picked up food in the day to snack on at night, to avoid the drive into town. I recommend a ground floor room, for convenience sake. The Orchid Room was nice, since it had the bath tub - though the tub is pretty square - can't really lay back in it. Hot tub on the grounds seemed nice... but it was downright cool. I bet they would have fixed it - but I didn't bother mentioning it. I was happy without it. All and all - the place was pretty awesome. Comfy bed, great surroundings, friendly people, good breakfast. Internet access in the common room, if you need. "Green" hydroelectric powered. Dish Satellite TV. Sounds of frogs, birds, and waterfall... very relaxing. Oh - I should mention, no AC - but the temp was totally fine for me. There was a ceiling fan - and screens on the windows... worked fine!

This place is simply amazing. Just a short drive from downtown Hilo takes you to the most secluded and beautiful B&B in the middle of the rain forest. Definitely an "our secret hideaway" type of place and it feels as if you have the place to yourselves. Because we arrived at night, our first look at the property was at dawn and wow... it completely took our breath away. The seeing the waterfall against the dense jungle just below the terrace we stood on seemed surreal. The photos we saw of the property just don't come close capturing how beautiful and immense the surroundings are. The trail down to the waterfall is charming and loops around to connect to the Bamboo Garden trail. There are some sections of the trail down by the fall and the river that are very soggy so if you choose to walk all around, you may want to consider wearing proper footwear to keep your feet clean and dry. When we were there the entire trail was damp and sometimes slippery, but it is definitely worth walking down and seeing the falls from below and along the river. If you don't want to go all the way down, there is an observation deck about half way down with a terrific view. The Bamboo Garden is charming and I was pleasantly surprised at the variety of the bamboo species complete with placards with their history and descriptions. We stayed in the Princess Kai' Luani room at the Residence building. The room was very cozy, comfortable and clean. At night, you sleep on the softest sheets while listening to the waterfall, coqui frogs and the occasional rain. In the morning, we had the view of Hilo Bay bathed in sunrise. Our breakfast was prepared by sweet Laura. She would greet us with the biggest smile and cook us eggs to order and waffles filled with macadamia nuts. The kitchen island was filled with the best pineapple we've ever had, so sweet and juicy. Then there was the freshest mango, passion fruit juice, taro & sweet breads and Kona coffee all from local farmers. Then we would take our plates to the terrace overlooking the waterfall and enjoy the view while savoring every bite. Delicious! Len and Jane, the owners, have done a terrific job with the property and I like their "hands off" style allowing us to explore the property at our own pace. They are so relaxed and friendly, making us feel completely comfortable as if we are good neighbors and friends. Oh! And Coco Channel, their standard poodle is a total delight. The only negative thing I can think of was the lack of water pressure in the shower. Maybe it was just our room and needed to be fixed but the times that I spoke with Len or Jane, I just didn't remember to ask. Also, getting to the inn can be a little tricky especially if you arrive at night. Just make sure drive slow and keep your eyes open for the small signs posted at various intersections on the single lane roads. So enjoy the Inn at Kulaniapia Falls! Just leave a room available for our next visit! Mahalo!!!

Oh, what an experience!!! We loved every second of our stay here. The room was basic, comfortable and clean, the location-superb! There is a lovely trail that leads you to their own private gorgeous waterfall, filled with lush plantation, absolutely breathtaking. The breakfast is amazing, loaded with fresh fruit, fresh baked local breads and their amazing home made macadamia nut waffles. Yummy. And the best thing about this place is the staff. Loving, caring, friendly and will help you with everything you need. We just fell in love with them. So Ayanna, Lenn and the rest (I'm terrible with names, I'm sorry!) thank you for an unforgettable vacation! We will miss you guys Sharon, Yshay and Nadav

Kulaniapia Falls is the most amazing location I could ever dream of to host my wedding this September 2019. We bought out the entire inn for 3 days and invited around 20 guests. It was a wedding experience unlike any other... it wasn't just a destination wedding, it was a 3 day long Wedding Festival just for us! We bought enough food and drinks that our guests could use the existing kitchens on the property and cook and eat together. Every morning Shay and Keoki (Kulaniapia staff) made us the best most authentic breakfast you could ever dream! WOW the waffles, even if you're not a waffle person, YOU WILL BE AFTER having these waffles especially with the Hawaiian Coconut, Lil Koi and other flavored syrups they have. When our wedding day came, Jasmine (Kulaniapia staff) was OVER THE TOP INCREDIBLE AND SO SWEET helping us in so many ways to make our dream come true. It was more than we could ever imagine and it was a experience we'll never forget. We had SUCH AN INCREDIBLE TIME that our guests ALREADY WANT TO COME BACK AGAIN NEXT YEAR FOR OUR ANNIVERSARY! So already as I type this I'm planning to be back with 20+ guests next year! I couldn't recommend a place more and there couldn't possibly be more amazing staff on their team. Everyone working there isn't there as a job but more a way of life... there's something magical about Kulaniapia Falls and you can pick that up fast from the passion with the staff alone. And to lead this amazing staff is one of the owners Christophe who couldn't be more humble and inviting. Truly a great guy on all levels and one I'll consider a friend from this experience and on. I look forward to my return visits to this magical paradise and I recommend you all try it when you can.

Words, photos, videos unequal to the task of describing the falls and surroundings of the Inn. Magnificent. We stayed in the Jade Cottage. Wonderful covered lanai overlooking the falls and rain forest....amazing way to enjoy a cocktail to end or--coffee to begin--your day. Best part of our week on the Big Island

We stayed in an inn room. The room was clean and tastefully decorated. Tranquil atmosphere. Enjoyed a glass of wine on the porch facing the falls. A restful night with rain and waterfall soundtrack. Full breakfast with eggs, fruit, toast, waffles, juice, and coffee. Only a short drive from downtown Hilo. Lovely grounds surrounded with lush vegetation.

THIS IS A TREASURE I'M GLAD TO HAVE HAD THE CHANCE TO EXPERIENCE!! Everything about this stay, from check in to check out, was INCREDIBLE!! Wolfgang checked us in, greeted us with a tour of the property and the numerous amenities available to us. Being that we checked in at 8pm, we really didn't see much in regards to our surroundings. The Pagoda house that we booked was GORGEOUS!! A beautiful stand alone home located right above the waterfall!! Clean, modern, comfortable lay out, it was everything I had hoped for and more. When we woke the next morning, only then did we realize how BEAUTIFUL the property and it's surroundings were!! I can't speak highly enough of the Inn at Kulaniapia Falls!!! If you're looking for a major resort surround by thousands of others, this isn't your place!! If you want to truly connect with the island and the energy of this beautiful location, THIS IS THE PLACE FOR YOU!!!

The grounds are beautiful beautiful beautiful. The waterfall was gorgeous and very peaceful. Not crowded at all and quiet. Very relaxing in the daytime, as we got to paddle board in the waterfall pool. Breakfast was also lovely. However, don't expect a high end resort at all. There is literally no front desk to check in and several phone calls just rang and rang, with no return calls. I left several voicemails for Lenny asking about access to a fridge and again when we were lost in the dark, but no one has ever called us back. Speaking of which, they really need some street lamps or some lighting along the path to drive here, it's very scary at night. Even when you arrive, you have no clue where you are going. We stayed in the orchid room and it's rustic. The lack of air conditioning is no problem at all. But the water pressure in the shower is non existent. Also there is mold on the paint above the shower. Lastly, someone really needs to clean under the bed. There is so much dust and garbage under there. We dropped a pair of glasses under the bed and it was so disgusting to reach under there I am cringing just thinking about it. There was an empty can of red bull, a dirty earplug, and tons of dust. It really should take five minutes to swiffer it, I hope the staff will consider doing so. In the end, I still have a great time because the nature is what you come to experience here.

They have a waterfall worthy of a state park, but hope that that is enough to satisfy guests. We stayed in the Residence suite, right off the lobby - it was incredibly noisy! Their chimes kept me awake the first night. The owner clearly does not want to make capital investments in the property. Suggestions: - soundproof the rooms, with triple pane windows, to drown out the din of hundreds of coqui frogs -add AC to each room - I was hot even with two fans (Hilo is in a humid rain forest) -add a code - required handrail to the treacherous muddy steep path down to the base of the waterfall. Also, buy a second kayak! Add protein such as bacon, eggs, etc. to the breakfast, and expand the hours beyond only 8-9 AM.

The property is beautiful and everything was very clean, but the advertising for this place definitely made it sound much better than it really was. My husband & I stayed in the King Kamehameha room. Yes, it is a corner room, overlooking the falls, but (1) they've moved the bed to the middle of the windows, so you actually had to get ON the bed to see the falls and (2) they've put a bright turquoise metal roof over their breakfast room which blocks most of the view of them from the 8'x6' lanai. Other things about the room that disappointed were the very, very firm bed pillows (my ear actually went numb in the night), the bed that rolled one toward its middle, and the fact that the hot water took, quite literally, 5 minutes to reach the shower. The furniture is beautiful black lacquer Japanese, as they said, but the only closet in the room is an armoire with the 4' hang-up space filled with a blow-up bed and extra bedding (but, alas, no extra, softer pillows), leaving nowhere to actually hang clothes. The night was fairly warm, but the falls, while lovely, are really loud. Because of this, we kept only the bathroom window open. The noise didn't bother my husband, but it disrupted my sleep. They advertise, with permission, that we could swim in the pond, but the water was said to be a cool 67°. Besides, when we called the proprietor on our cell phone (no house phone could be found), our call was never, ever actually returned. We had an early flight and had to skip breakfast, so I can't comment on it - although photos of it looked delish. When we booked the room, we noted that we had to leave early and wouldn't be able to stay late enough for the breakfast, which is only served from 8:00-9:00, but they didn't offer any alternative or a discounted price. Bottom line: We won't be back. For the $226 the room cost, we'll find somewhere else to stay the next time we're on the Big Island's wet side.