Retreat to a Zen-like setting in the Trees Slow down and relax in this unique octagon studio on a working coffee, vanilla and chocolate farm. Private lanai with lush tropical views and a magnificent Queen of Burma tree right out your door! Watch the stars through the octagonal skylight above the bed. This is the perfect place to de-stress, meditate, read, write, dance, create and breathe! Luxury linens and BedJet air system make for a very comfortable sleep surrounded by nature. Aloha and welcome to our Zen Treehouse! TREEHOUSE This detached, unique redwood octagon-shaped building was originally an artist studio and is situated among the treetops away from the main house, overlooking lush tropical gardens, a seasonal stream and meditation hut below. You do not need to climb ladders or stairs to access the Treehouse, however there is a sloped entryway that can get wet or muddy during rainstorms, so please watch your step. COMPLIMENTARY CHOCOLATE FARM TOUR...AN AIRBNB 5 STAR EXPERIENCE! Included in your stay is our complimentary Chocolate Farm Tour, provided we have a tour scheduled during your visit. If there are no Experience scheduled during your stay, we will try our best to give you a private, abbreviated tour which may or may not include making chocolate, depending on kitchen schedule. The value of the Chocolate Farm Experience for 2 is roughly equivalent to one night's stay in the Treehouse. This 3-hour in-depth Agri-Tour tour covers how coffee, cacao (seed-to-bar) and vanilla are propagated, grown, harvested and processed into the products we all know and love. Included are an array of refreshments, tastings and locally made gourmet ice cream. The highlight of the tour is making your very own chocolate to take home in our certified farm kitchen. Check out our reviews on Airbnb Experience/Chocolate Coffee & Vanilla Farm Tour/Papaikou, HI. A GENEROUS AMOUNT OF GOODIES! Enjoy an ample supply of Hilo Shark's 100% Hawaiian coffee, cacao tea and pure dark Hawaiian Chocolate, all grown and produced right here on the farm. There is fresh fruit (seasonal) and a supply of staples for you to use during your stay and you have plenty of cooking options. Our water is county approved/treated and is sourced from local artesian springs, so drinking from the tap is perfectly ok. BATHROOM & OTHER AMENITIES The private, sheltered bathroom is just around the corner on the covered lanai, surrounded by a bamboo forest and complete with flush toilet, sink and double-head shower massage, plenty of hot water, toiletries and soft towels. Enjoy nature from your private lanai with comfortable seating, grill, outdoor dining, coffee & wine bar and a welcoming Zen foot bath to pamper you. AND THERE'S A POOL! (Subject to conditions) Use at Own Risk. NO ALCOHOL The pool is an older, 5' in-ground cement pool for refreshing dips. We deep clean the pool weekly, but the surrounding trees often drop leaves and flowers into the water which you may need skim out with the net. Night swimming is permissible, but please be mindful of our neighbors and refrain from loud talking or splashing after dark. The gate is kept locked to protect neighborhood children and the key is accessible by reaching over the gate. Pool may be closed without notice for maintenance or weather related conditions OTHER AMENITIES OFFERED (Subject to Availabilty & Season) Yoga or Meditation, anyone? We have yoga mats, blocks, bands and balls as well as cushions, incense, singing bowls, art supplies and reading materials to bring out your inner OM.... GRILL: There is a propane grill for you to use. Please do not leave grill unattended. It is your responsibility to clean the grill after use. If we have to clean your baked-on food, or if food is left and becomes rancid, you will incur a charge of $50. BOOGIE BOARDS, BEACH & SNORKEL GEAR: You are welcome to borrow the beach and snorkel gear in the entryway and it is your responsibility to clean, sanitize and return them properly when done. Failure to clean/sanitize these items will result in a fine of $50 or the cost to replace them, whichever we deem necessary. WASHER/DRYER (subject to availability) Guests staying 7+ nights 1 Load Only $25 use fee We need to use the washer and dryer daily here on the farm. Our Washer/Dryer are only available by appointment for guests staying a minimum of 7 nights. You are limited to 1 washer and 1 dryer load only. Please leave $25 use fee in the jar to cover cost of utilities and supplies. Please do not leave the premises while doing laundry and do not leave clothes sitting in the machines for extended periods. They will be removed! There is a full service laundromat nearby in Hilo, they've got it all! WHY DO WE CHARGE A CLEANING FEE? The $100 Cleaning Fee is for the 6-hour cleaning and sanitizing protocol we perform IN ADVANCE of your stay. The Cleaning Fee is NOT for maid service after you leave and it is expected that you will be respectful of the space. The Treehouse is private and completely separate from any other structure. The screened-in doorways allow for clear ocean breezes to flow through the studio. Cleaning/Sanitizing Protocol (in addition to Standard Cleaning Practices) *We disinfect and steam-clean all floors, surfaces, rugs and appliances before you arrive. *We assure that dishes have been properly washed, steamed and air dried. Note: Please leave your washed dishes in the drainer and we will sanitize and put them away. *We deep clean/sanitize bathroom and stock ample toiletries, supplies and towels. *We change out and update with freshly laundered bedding, towels and linens with backups in the dresser before each stay. We also provide extra beach/pool towels, accessories and products. *We re-stock staples and ensure an ample supply of our Hilo Shark's 100% Hawaiian coffee, teas, chocolate and macadamia nuts, pantry staples, fresh fruit (in season), creamer, local honey, vanilla sugar and more. CHECKING OUT: * We do not require you to do any heavy cleaning before you check out, but we do ask you to ensure the following for health and safety reasons: * Leftover Food: Please do not leave out any food items or wet trash that will attract insects or critters. There is a stainless steel, double trash can located next to the grill in the entryway where you can leave wet trash (extra bags provided under sink). Meat scraps and unwanted leftovers can be left in the covered compost bucket, refrigerator or freezer. * Dishes should be washed after use and left in the drainer so we can steam, dry and properly store them. Please notify us if you break anything so we can replace it before the next guests arrive. * Wet towels should be hung on the coatrack outside the door or draped over the lanai railing. Please do not leave wet towels on furniture or in a pile on the floor or bed as they attract centipedes who seek out damp places to hide. * THAT'S IT! We take care of the rest. HOUSE RULES ACKNOWLEDGEMENT Zen Treehouse Retreat & Unique Farm Stay THE SPACE: You will have use of the private lanai and entire Treehouse studio. Parking is limited to 1 space. There is a short walk across a lawn and a slight slope to enter the side lanai (umbrellas and flashlights are furnished) and a wagon is available to haul suitcases and groceries. If you have an AWD or 4WD vehicle, we will show you where you may drive across the lawn and park closer to your entrance, WEATHER PERMITTING. You are welcome to explore our orchards and grounds but please ask permission to enter the greenhouse, chocolate kitchen or cabana (‘she-shed’) or other private areas. WHAT WE DO NOT ALLOW: VISITORS NOT APPROVED BY HOST *The grounds and pool area are for registered guests only and we ask that you do not invite or bring visitors onto the property without receiving approval and parking instructions from your Host IN ADVANCE. Bringing unauthorized guests or visitors on the property will be considered grounds for terminating your stay without refund and you and your visitors will both be asked to vacate the premises immediately. *No parties or gatherings are allowed without expressed, written permission. No exceptions. FOOD DELIVERIES *We do not allow food deliveries to the farm for security, safety and liability reasons. If you break this rule, it will be grounds for terminating your stay without refund and you will be asked to leave immediately. Note: If you arrange to meet a food delivery driver down the road next to the school, you may do so and bring the food on to the property yourself. FILMING, RECORDING & POSTING ON SOCIAL MEDIA *We do not allow social media and/or live streaming for promoting, exploiting or featuring our property and/or brand without our expressed, WRITTEN authorization. If any part of our property is used for the purpose of advancing a Guest’s social media exposure or for their status or monetary gain, you must have our written permission IN ADVANCE or face possible legal consequences and fees. Personal photos are fine, but representing our property, farm and/or business for Guest’s own social media posts, podcasts, Youtube, TikTok and the like, is strictly forbidden without our written permission and could result in legal action, including attorneys fees. Mahalo nui loa for Agreeing to our House Rules and signing below. Your hosts live in the farmhouse on-site. We make it a point to be here when you arrive to introduce you to the farm, animals and show you some things you'll need to know to be comfortable during your stay. If possible, plan to arrive while it is still light outside, as the Treehouse is removed from the other buildings and it can be disorienting when you can't see your surroundings. Your hosts are up early for farming and retire early, so late arrivals are discouraged unless we discuss it in advance. If your flight is delayed or other unforeseen circumstances arise, we are fine with that, but please keep us informed. Once you are checked in we will respect your privacy, however he layout and nature of our facilities mean there will probably be times when we meet in passing, either as you come and go or as we go about our chores. Please be polite and acknowledge us with a smile or wave. If you are looking for a place with no interaction, or if you have no interest in the farm or retreat aspects of this listing and only want to come for the location and great reviews, we respectfully ask that you find something that suits your preference so folks who really want to experience the entirety of what we have to offer have the opportunity to do so. Mahalo for your understanding! Papaikou is an historic plantation village located on the Big Island's beautiful Hamakua Coast across Hwy. 19 from the 4-mile Scenic Drive leading to the popular Hawai'i Tropical Bio-Reserve & Garden and more. Our 100-year-old farmhouse was originally built as a plantation manager's home on 2 rural acres planted in coffee, cacao, vanilla and lush tropical plants, flowers and fruit trees. We are on a dead-end street in a safe, quiet neighborhood where many of our neighbors have lived for many years and often over generations. We are a short 10-minute drive from Hilo where you will find beaches, parks, shopping, restaurants, tourist attractions and a great farmer's market. There is limited Hele-On bus service with pickup nearby, however a car is highly recommended. Please let us know if you will have more than 1 vehicle. It will be a short walk across the grass to reach the Treehouse (wagon provided), or if you have a 4WD vehicle, you may wish to park directly next to the Treehouse during your stay. The village includes a church, school, community center and post office all within walking distance. THE TREEHOUSE IS OPEN-AIR SURROUNDED BY NATURE The Treehouse is intended to provide the experience of living in a Tropical Rainforest surrounded by nature. It is a fully enclosed structure with 3 sets of French Doors; 2 of which have fixed screens to bring in the ocean breezes and sounds of nature. The 3rd is your entryway with a walk-through screen and closing glass doors. You will undoubtedly see bright, green geckos which are a part of Hawaiian culture and are often found indoors in this part of the state. They are your friends and eat mosquitos and other bugs and we cheerfully live among them because they are next to impossible to keep out. You will see them many places on this part of the island, including restaurants and other indoor venues. There are friendly, carpenter bees who bore into the redwood building. Don't worry; they are not interested in you and will go about their business. Please do not scream and run about or try to bat them away; they are not aggressive toward humans. Rather than kill these important pollinators, we choose to live among them and honor their place in nature. There are wild pigs you may see down by the stream. They are also a part of nature and Hawaiian culture. Please do not approach them and let us know if you see any so we can check the fencing. In addition, you will see an incredible variety of birds, flowers and critters. At least 70% of this island (below a certain elevation) have coqui frogs; a tiny, invasive frog with quite a loud voice. They are active in the early evening and throughout the night, especially during summer months. Most people find their song a soothing, background noise and often mistake them for birds; but if you are a sensitive sleeper, you may want to opt for a hotel with windows that can be fully closed and air conditioning. Early morning is filled with the sounds of the awakening rainforest and you may be greeted with a chorus of birdsong. You may see other natural critters during your stay as well; which is a part of the experience. These insects and other critters are inherent to this tropical setting and each plays a role in the natural ecosystem. You may encounter mosquitos, flies or midges, wasps, rodents, roaches (who live in the banana trees) centipedes, African snails and fire ants. We do our very best to control all of the above before you arrive, please advise us if you encounter any during your stay. You can mitigate the possibility by not leaving out uncovered food or dirty dishes, and by immediately wiping up any spills. Centipedes seek out damp piles to hide, so please don't leave towels and clothes piled on the floor. We provide hangers and luggage racks to store your stuff. WORKING REMOTELY While we understand that most folks need some time each day to check on work activities, we discourage extensive work-from-home type situations. Our wifi is strong and generally reliable, however during inclement weather, our electricity (and therefore our cable) can go out without warning and may take some time to restore, depending on the circumstance. The intended role of the treehouse is to serve as a retreat surrounded by nature on a working farm. During certain times of the year, there may be farm related activities or noise from equipment during the day which are unavoidable.