FAQs

Are children allowed at the Aloha Guest House?

Children twelve and over are welcome. On certain occasions, younger children are allowed so call us for more information. Please remember that our rooms can only accommodate two people. We are sorry, but our guest house is not suitable for infants and toddlers.

What time is breakfast?

Our organic and fresh homemade breakfast is served each morning at 8:00. Since our breakfasts are not buffet-style and require considerable preparation, there is no early or late seating available.

Can you accommodate my dietary restrictions?

Our farm-to-table breakfast is not buffet-style. All of our guests are served the same hand-crafted and labor-intensive meal each morning. We do not offer individual breakfasts to suit each guest’s specific dietary restrictions. However, we do serve some gluten-free items and we can usually accommodate vegetarians and pescetarians. Unfortunately, we can not accommodate vegan or 100% dairy-free requests.

Do you have a minimum stay policy?

Yes. For most of the year, we have a 3-night minimum stay policy. Svetlana and I comprise the entire “staff” of the Aloha Guest House and we also tend to a 5-acre organic fruit farm. This policy allows us more time to give personalized attention to the needs of our guests.

What are your check-in and check-out hours?

Our earliest check-in time is 4:00 p.m. and our latest check-out time is 10:00 a.m.

Do you have a cancellation policy?

Yes. We have a liberal cancellation policy, but please remember that we are a small, family-owned business and not a large hotel. Cancellations, especially close to your scheduled arrival date, are difficult to rebook. We know that emergencies happen and plans change, but we do ask for your consideration. Please be as certain as possible that you intend to stay with us before booking your reservation. Mahalo Nui Loa!

Cancellations requested 14 days or greater before your arrival date results in a full refund less a $50 administration fee. Cancellations requested less than 14 days before your arrival date, result in a full refund minus the amount of the first night of the reservation. If you cancel on your arrival date or do not show up, no refund is issued for the entire reservation.

What is the weather like on the Big Island?

That usually depends on where you happen to be at any given time. The island of Hawaii has 11 of the 13 climatic zones in the world. Almost any weather is possible; you can be in brilliant sunshine, pouring rain, snow, or desert-dry all on the same day! During the winter it is possible to experience a 60F degree temperature change when driving from the summit of Mauna Kea to Ali’i Drive in Kailua-Kona.

Where can we see dolphins or sea turtles?

Of course, wildlife can be unpredictable, but there is an excellent chance of seeing dolphins and turtles while you are diving, snorkeling, kayaking, or swimming on the Kona Coast. Turtles are usually found feeding near the rocks of many beaches, while dolphins are regular visitors to nearby areas such as Kealakekua Bay, Honaunau Bay, or Ho’okena Beach Park. Many of our guests have had up-close wild dolphin encounters while snorkeling in Honaunau Bay (Two-Step), which is only 15 minutes away from the Aloha Guest House!

How far is the volcano from the Guest House?

Volcanoes National Park is a 1 and 1/2 hour's drive going south on Highway 11. There are also many scenic areas to enjoy along the way. Some of the big attractions are the Green Sand Beach at South Point and Punalu’u Black Sand Beach.

What is it like driving up Old Tobacco Road to the Guest House?

Coming up Old Tobacco Road, you will pass ancient stone walls from the days when the Hawaiians grew taro. You will also pass coffee farms and macadamia nut orchards. If you are lucky, you might see wild turkeys, pigs, chickens, or pheasants. If you relax and take in the scenery as you drive, you will enjoy the sense of living in Old Hawaii.

Old Tobacco Road is a one-mile, one-lane, semi-paved farm road. It winds up from the highway and is bumpy in several spots. Our road is not dangerous to drive; it just requires a little patience as the typical speed is approximately 8-10 MPH. This type of road is not unusual for rural South Kona and we even get UPS and FED-EX deliveries to our front door. Over the years we have seen a mix of guest vehicles ranging from large SUV's to convertible sports cars, and all have successfully traveled up and down our road. Last month we even had guests arrive in a Chevrolet Spark! Some guests think our road is fun and adventurous, some think it is a non-issue, while others are a little wide-eyed when they first arrive but quickly become accustomed to the drive. There has only been a small minority who have had problems driving up Old Tobacco Road, and this usually happened due to a combination of a late-night arrival and being exhausted after a full day of travel. It is a good idea to have our very accurate printed directions available as you drive up Tobacco Road. What I like to remind everyone after their first drive up to our guesthouse is that we are at the end of the road……literally. What that means is we have spectacular views, no highway noise, security (no one comes up here but us), perfect year-round temperatures, and we enjoy all the glory that Hawaiian nature has to offer.

One last thing about driving up Old Tobacco Road, my wife makes the trip up and down almost daily without any problems, and she says if she can do it, so can you! 

» Driving Tobacco Road – YouTube video