The Inn at Kulaniapia Falls

This is an interesting hotel and it’s not for everyone. My wife and I stayed here for two nights in mid-June in the Princess Kaiulani room and its sort of a spartan existence in a nature retreat. The room we stayed in had few of the amenities that people expect from a modern hotel room. No TV, microwave, ac/heat, mini fridge, or kettle/Keurig. There was a hair dryer though! The rooms are clean, the staff is lovely, the bed was comfy with a bit too many pillows and blankets. The stay includes made to order breakfast, except that you have to order breakfast in advance of a choice between egg scramble, breakfast panini, and French toast online. The dining area also includes a communal area with a coffee machine, hot water kettle, instant oatmeal, muffins, juice, and breakfast bar snacks. There's a fridge with bigger snacks and cold water for purchase via tap payments. We did not utilize the extra charge private dinner option. The primary draw for this hotel is the private waterfall and it’s a big draw in addition to the natural serenity. The waterfall is massive, multi-tiered, even in the dry season and you can view it from the dining area and many of the rooms. It’s a short hike from the Inn down to the waterfall pool where there are kayaks and standup paddle boards for rent. The water is cold even in June and lovely to swim in. Just don’t drink the water or get any in your eyes due to leptospirosis. Avoid going in the water if you have open cuts as well. If water sports isn’t your thing, they have repelling down the waterfall as an extra charge recreational opportunity. Bring flip flops/slippers or water shoes. Be aware that the Inn sells days passes to non-overnight guests, but for a few morning hours, it’s purely reserved for overnight guests. Make good use of that private time to have your own private waterfall. There is a nature trail that passes various Buddha statutes and places to mediate, read, and otherwise relax. Just bring bug spray. The trail is quite easy with a gentle slope. There’s a covered but open-air pavilion at the intersection at the bottom to head to the waterfall or keep going downstream. Parking is included in their lot. The coqui frog issue is rabidly out of control here and it gets loud at night. We were okay with it but bring ear plugs as the frogs are quite noisy. The biggest downside we faced was the drive. There are no streetlights on the rural road that’s at most 1.5 lane widths often with overgrown vegetation on both sides and you often have to pull into the dirt or plants to let another vehicle go. Late night driving is especially wild with that Jurassic Park feeling of raptors about to attack. There are two gates, one at the Amauulu road shortly after turning in from Waimaku street and one right before the Inn. You use the same passcode to get open both. Allegedly the gate before the Inn is supposed to record your plates and automatically open but it didn’t work for us. This Inn isn’t for everyone and little kids may get bored during extended stays, but for nature enthusiasts, this is a definite must visit.

We stayed at The Inn at Kulaniapia Falls for one night while exploring the south side of the Big Island, and it was such a unique experience. Falling asleep to the sound of the waterfall outside our room was magical! We hiked down to the water, where guests can swim or kayak, and also enjoyed the nearby organic farm and chocolate tours. Unfortunately, the private chef had injured his finger the day before, so dinner plans fell through and we survived on Subway, but even that became part of the adventure! A beautiful and peaceful place worth experiencing.

We stayed in the Pagoda House which was perfect for our family of 5. The resort was a PERFECT blend of adventure and peaceful relaxation. The option to kayak, paddle board and swim at the base of the waterfall was a huge hit with the kids. My (very brave) 10 year old and husband repelled down the waterfall and the instructors/guides were amazing and made my 10 year feel safe and confident. Breakfast was simple and fresh and delicious. Details were thoughtful throughout the stay. This included an honor fridge with wraps and snacks for guest arriving after hours (the resort is a bit of a drive from town), umbrellas placed throughout the resort, and water, coffee, tea and fruit always available to grab. The staff was friendly and very helpful. Even the little black cat was very welcoming. The whole stay was such a unique once-in-a-lifetime experience and I feel very lucky we were able to stay here. Mahalo!