Halemanu ( House of Birds) is a "green" cottage near Cape Kumukahi, the place of the sunrise. A tranquil place to decompress from your busy life… to sleep soundly, dream deeply caressed by ocean breezes and the sounds of the waves. There is truly an “ Old Hawaii” feel on this ancient land with old rock walls wending through the jungle along a road lined with 300 year old mango trees that opens to the rocky verdant ocean cliffs of the lower Puna landscape.<br /><br /><b>The space</b><br />Halemanu is only 10 minutes from Pahoa. It feels remote, yet is close enough to all services of a small town. <br /> <br />The property has many different varieties of fruit trees, fragrant flowering trees and bushes, colorful ornamentals, bamboos, orchids and bromeliads. The giant monkey pod tree spreads its branches far across the property like a center piece that all the landscaping fans outward from. There are hibiscus flowers in a variety of colors, red flowering ginger, torch ginger and Awapuhi ginger in summer that can be used to wash your body and hair. Shanna has lovingly tended these trees and plants for over 30 years, and the beauty of this property is unparalleled. It is a veritable botanical garden. <br /><br />A partial list of the fruit trees are as follows: 7 varieties of avocados, Jackfruit, Soursop, Rollenia, Marang (a legendary fruit available only in summer), coconuts, many varieties of bananas, Surinam Cherry, Mamay Sapote, Chico Sapote, Soursop, Papaya, Cacao, Allspice, Vanilla Vine, Orange, Meyer Lemon, Jaboticaba. Feel free to wander around the orchard, but please note- there are 2 beehives in the orchard so steer clear and leave a wide space around them. If you are allergic to bees please let us know before you arrive. Fruits all have their special seasons of ripeness, and not all of the above will be fruiting at the same time. If you want to try chico sapotes try the springtime, most avocados are summer through early winter, some fruits are year-round. Summer has the most variety and abundance of fruit. <br /><br /> In one direction you can walk down the old road lined with ancient rock walls and towering mango trees that opens up to the ocean cliffs. Or follow a jungle path that leads to huge tide pools for swimming in (directions in the guide). In the other direction towards the new lava flow there’s a 2 mile trail that leads to the magnificent new black sand beach that was made in the 2018 lava flow. So new it doesn’t even have a name! Currently crews are working to reopen the coastal road that was covered by the lava.<br /><br />Kehena beach is a black sand clothing optional beach known for a party vibe on Sundays. Careful swimming there, the ocean can sometimes be rough. <br /><br />Hilo has a string of beaches ending at Richardson with great swimming and snorkeling. You can also swim in a waterfall pool on the Wailuku River near a place called the Boiling Pots. Just north of Hilo is a Botanical Garden at Onomea Bay. The east side of the Big Island has too many magnificent places to visit to list here!<br /><br />Of course there is Volcano National Park an hour away, a wonderland of hiking and walking opportunities, and depending upon geologic circumstances, you can sometimes see red lava oozing out of the rocks or exploding from Hale’mau’mau Crater.<br /><br /><b>Guest access</b><br />The whole house is yours, and feel free to wander around the property. In the orchard please be aware of the beehives, and watch where you walk as there are hidden holes here and there, though nothing dangerous.<br /><br /><b>Other things to note</b><br />As of May ’26, there is a rand new memory foam mattress, so you will sleep in comfort in the full sized bed. If guests need to sleep apart, the cushions on the couch are very comfortable. All the kitchen ware has also been replaced, there are some basic condiments, and you will have everything you need to cook simple meals.<br /><br />You do not need to rent an SUV, but if you are unaccustomed to driving on a bumpy dirt road with pot holes and puddles, and you want to be able to park right next to the house, then an SUV may be your best choice. If you prefer to save money and walk a few minutes up a small hill to the cabin then a budget-priced rental car will be fine. <br /><br />We have wifi if you need to work from home.<br />Halemanu is on solar power, and because it is not a large system we alter aspects of our lifestyle. Absolutely do not bring blow dryers, curling irons, or any heat-producing appliances. Leave the electric toothbrush and electric razor at home. You may bring a small speaker. Only 1 laptop may be charged at a time- and all charging must be done during the daytime. Do not leave any more than ONE phone charging at night. If you over-use our system, you could be left with either no power for a day or 2, or a large penalty if the system is damaged. If you can follow these rules you can have wifi, the fridge, a phone and a laptop with no problem. Please ask any questions at any time about our solar.<br /><br /> We use a cast iron pan to make toast rather than a toaster. Our refrigerator is a chest freezer on a special timer, so dealing with your food in a horizontal setting takes some getting used to. We ask that you use no more than 2 lights at a time, and to turn off any not in use. And PLEASE never leave the ceiling fan running at night or when you leave the house.<br /><br />Because Starlink uses a large amount of our solar power, we turn it off at 10 pm. If you need it to be on later you may request it- further use will depend upon cloud cover and time of year. <br /><br />Just a suggestion… but what if you used this time to not look at a screen? Perhaps read a book (I have some excellent books on the shelf above the stove), play Scrabble or a card game, or sit on the deck and listen to the night sounds. Of course if you want to watch a movie on your ipad, just download it during daylight hours. <br /><br />We catch rainwater and it is stored in the large catchment tank that you can see from the kitchen window. This water is not potable for drinking, but is safe for showering and washing dishes. Please use the Berkey water filter on the counter for drinking, cooking, and brushing teeth. Pour water from the sink into the top canister and it will drip down into the bottom when it is filtered. Fill it before bed and you will have all you need for the next day. <br /><br /> There is a locked gate with a combination that must be opened and closed manually. We ask that you keep the gate closed in respect for our neighbors that share the same driveway. <br /><br />Unfortunately we cannot accommodate any children under 8 years old. The house sits up high and a young child could easily fall from the lanai or steps, and the loft and ladder would be dangerous for little ones.<br />Upon reserving, please let us know if you would like to bring children that are 8 or over. There is an extra $10/night charge per person if we are able to accommodate them. <br /><br />Most couples are comfortable in the small but cozy loft with a full size bed. Note- FULL SIZE BED. A permanent ladder leads to the loft. The loft ceiling is low and most adults will not be able to stand upright. If you are not traveling as a couple and want specifics about other sleeping options please talk to the owner. A twin size tri- fold foam mattress can be provided that can be laid on the floor, or the cushions on the couch are very comfortable. <br /><br />We have a sensitive septic, and ask that you put a minimum of TP into the toilet and refrain from flushing each time you use it whenever possible, as that can use up a lot of water in dry times.<br /><br />The shower is downstairs, surrounded by tall plants and made private with a door that you are welcome to leave open or closed- the plants also provide privacy. There is a motion light for taking showers at night that can be moved to shed light where you want it, and you can turn a switch on it so that it will stay on while you need it, or turn it off completely. Please let your Alex or your host know if the shower is too hot. It is set to one warm temperature only with our off-grid on-demand water heater, and guests are not able to change the temperature. If you want a cool rinse or to get the sand off your feet feel free to use the hose.<br /><br />We are a “green” accommodation, and that also applies to trash. Trash is separated into GARBAGE (in the can), GLASS (under the sink), and COMPOST (in the bucket). Recycling in Hawaii only takes glass- NO plastic or cardboard. There is no trash pick-up on the road- we put it in our car and take it to the Pahoa dump ourselves. If you like to drink alcohol and create a lot of empty bottles, please take those yourself to recycling at the transfer station(dump and recycling center) in Pahoa. Extra trash in the tropics creates problems with ants, roaches and other critters so we ask that guests be responsible for how much trash they create at Halemanu. Long term guests will be responsible for dropping off their own trash.<br /><br />We do not provide towels, as we do not have on-site laundry facilities due to limited solar power, so we ask you to bring your own towels. If that is too much bulk for your luggage let us know- we keep some extras clean towels around for this.<br /><br />You will not be the only person on the entire 2 acre property. The Caretaker is Alex, and he lives in the farthest cabin over from Halemanu. He comes each evening to check the numbers on the solar equipment in the garage area under the house. He is available for questions if you see him around, will bring you fruit, take care of emergencies. Mainly he spends his time in his cabin meditating, and will give you lots of privacy. We also have someone who comes to tend the landscaping as needed, as well as a Beekeeper/ coconut climber who shows up now and then. <br />TA-130-500-8640-01