What an incredible find this inn is! This 30-acre property in Holualoa town above Kona began its life in 1978 as the vacation retreat for Thurston Twigg-Smith, former publisher of the Honolulu Advertiser newspaper, and his eight children. A 1987 remodel turned it into a boutique inn, and so it remains today with the current owner taking over in 2005. Some of the original furnishings remain with added touches from the current owner’s travel to Bali and other places. The flooring is all eucalyptus and immaculately maintained. (You are asked to leave shoes outside in exchange for booties they provide.) The spectacular views include 16 miles of Kona coastline and can be enjoyed from many of the rooms, the pool, the hot tub, the massage hale (therapist on-call), event pavilion and ohana room. The grounds also feature an Art Garden and Land Preserve, which include a meditative path, specially commissioned sculptures and even an amphitheater amid the lush flora and coffee trees. Each guest room and suite enjoys its own private bath and expensive bedding. (They sell the sheet sets.) The Coffee Cherry room has a private outdoor hot tub—perfect for couples. The rooms do not have A/C (you don’t need it at the 1,400-foot elevation), phone or TV (except Plumeria Suite and Darren Hill Cottage). There is a TV in the ohana room, which also has a full kitchen (no oven but a grill outside) with all the utensils, dishes, glassware, etc. You can store your wine (or other foodstuffs) in the fridge. Basically, think of it as your home away from home (if your home is a gorgeous, picturesque slice of Hawaiian paradise). At night the staff leaves but is available by phone if needed. You are given keys to common areas and are on your own to enjoy the piano in the living room, the pool, gardens, etc. Speaking of gardens, they grow over 5,000 coffee plants and serve their own signature Kona coffee at breakfast and all day. Anything you want or need, the staff will try their best to accommodate you. Special diets are no problem. They grow most of the produce they serve. The cottage has a full kitchen and the Red Barn a kitchenette, but your stay includes breakfast at the main house.
The entire house may be rented, and many events are held at their pavilion, which is lovely and has a catering kitchen, restrooms and a massive manicured lawn. Although there is no age limit (anymore), the area isn’t child-proofed, and there are no gates around the pool. It’s more of a quiet, romantic getaway anyway. You will feel pampered and happy here—so happy, in fact, that it may require a security team to haul you off the premises. Rooms are 295–330 sq. ft., suites are 416–525 sq. ft., the cottage is 700 sq. ft., Red Barn is 1,400 sq. ft. 2- to 3-night minimum.
76-5932 Mamalahoa Hwy, Holualoa