Onizuka Center for International Astronomy Hotels

"The Thomas Guard house is a very special place! The setting is spectacular, with waterfall and jungle views from multiple lanais. There was plenty of space for our group of seven to spread out (including three kids and two grandmas) - everyone had their own bedroom and bathroom, which was ideal for our family. The house is beautifully and lovingly restored and well-maintained. There is no air conditioning, but each bedroom has a ceiling fan and a floor fan, so we all slept in relative comfort. It does get hot so be prepared if you have folks sensitive to heat, but the trade winds do help cool everything down. For guests with young kids, adult supervision is a must if they are outside. The beautiful river setting comes with a steep drop-off along the banks.We arrived the day of a tsunami warning. Charlotte was very kind and was very quick to answer our questions about safety and our ability to check in, which we very much appreciated.Lastly - if you are a light sleeper (or sensitive to noise) - bring ear plugs or white noise. There are lots of lovely jungle critters that are active at night. One in particular (a frog?) made a repetitive sound that kept only one of our party up (me!). Thank you to Charlotte for sharing her one-of-kind home with our family for a special Hilo vacation."

"Customer service is excellent. Love the cookies & complimentry drinks. Some areas need cleaning, such as the stairwells which we had to use because of elevator issues. The rooms were very comfortable but there was a few areas that need attention. The shower hose was very moldy."

"Our stay was great! This property is upgraded from the last stay about 5 years ago, and beautiful. Staff was awesome!"

"Comfortable, clean and convenient. It was a nice hilltop location with a great view. The economy room was cute and cozy. The living areas were enjoyable places to spend time. The walls were thin, but guests were respectful of the quiet hours. "

"Just as described. Thank you Laurel and Kelani again for sharing your space with us. About a 25 minute drive into Hilo. "

"good."

"Our stay at Jim and Kim’s property was truly unforgettable. From the moment we arrived, we were surrounded by peaceful beauty—breathtaking views, gentle breezes, and the soothing sounds of nature, from roosters to cows in the distance. It felt like pure serenity.Jim and Kim were phenomenal hosts—kind, welcoming, and genuinely thoughtful. One moment that especially touched us was when we asked if we could pick a banana from the trees for our daughter, who absolutely loves bananas. Not only did they say yes, but the next day, after returning from an excursion, we found that they had lovingly cut and gifted us an entire bunch. It made our day, and we were able to share the delicious fruit with our visiting family—who couldn’t stop raving about how amazing they tasted!The property itself is a little haven. My daughter and I adored spotting geckos and gently “befriending” them with fallen papayas. Their sweet dog was a joy to see around the property, and every sunrise, sunset, and star-filled night felt magical.Even our family from Honoka‘a and Waimea, who came to visit us during our stay, were blown away by the peaceful views and said they wished they could stay with us just to experience that same sense of calm.This place is more than a vacation rental—it’s a peaceful retreat filled with heart, beauty, and the warmth of two genuinely kind hosts. We are beyond grateful for the experience and would return in a heartbeat."

"This is a well-maintained and well-managed small hotel"

"Just absolutely awesome "