About

Be Embraced by the Spirit of Aloha Hawaii
Volcano Boutique Bed and Breakfast Lodging
Hosted Vacation Rentals

Please scroll down to read our cancellation and other polices.

Dedication

Kathleen and Peter would like to dedicate this website in honor of the Hawaiian people, the ancestors of the land and Hawaiian elders that have blessed the land and the creation of the retreat.

Experience

The Volcano Rainforest Retreat lodging experience on the Big Island of Hawaii offers visitors a collection of distinct guest cottages, created with elegant simplicity in harmony and balance with the Hawaiian rain forest.

Its sense of place imparts a seamless feeling of connection between inside and outside, the accommodations and nature.The rain forest lodgings are interconnected by intimate paths, which wind their way through the misty, mossy landscape. This Hawaii Volcano retreat offers a unique setting for romantics, artists, nature lovers and world travelers seeking refuge and intimate contact with the living volcanic earth.

Spirit of Volcano Rainforest Retreat Bed and Breakfast Hosted Vacation Rentals

The spirit of these Big Island Volcano boutique accommodations is expressed simply, “We hope visitors will take with them a sense of ‘Aloha aina’ (love of the land). We’d be touched if guests deepened their respect and sensitivity to nature, and were inspired to preserve and sustain the natural life on our beautiful and fragile planet. We also hope that visitors will take quality time to nurture themselves and cultivate love and compassionate understanding for one another in their intimate human relationships.”
Kathleen Golden, Owner

Massage Services at Volcano Rainforest Retreat

The serene grounds and lodging at the Volcano Rainforest Retreat Bed and Breakfast & Hosted Vacation Rentals were developed to explore the potential for personal sacred living space as a healing art. Different massage and bodywork modalities with licensed massage therapists (LMT) and Hawaiian cultural practitioners are available by appointment.

General Policies

All rates subject to 14.96% Hawai`i taxes
Full amount required to hold a reservation
Visa or MasterCard preferred

Check-in is between 3:00-5:00pm. Check-out by 10:00am.
Call for early or late arrival, prior arrangements are necessary.

Please keep in mind that if you are flying into Kona, you are 2 1/2 hours away from Volcano, and if you are flying into Hilo, you are 40 minutes from Volcano.

Daily housekeeping service includes fresh food, towels, bed making, dish-washing and trash removal. If you have special needs, please let us know either prior to arrival or during your stay.

We request that guests care for our property. In the unlikely event that damages occur during your stay, damaged or missing items fees may be applied, especially for our colorful linens, towels and robes. White towels are available for peroxide hair or skin products.

Additionally, an ‘add on’ extra cleaning fee may be charged when a cottage is left in conditions that require extended cleaning time and attention. We will contact you to clarify any issues, and charge your credit card.

Only the Guest Cottage and Bamboo Guest House have cooking facilities.

The Retreat is available for small groups upon request.

Non-smoking environment

Rental Vehicle Necessary. No public transportation in this rural community.

Cancellation Policy and Fees

Booking Privacy Policy – Click here

Standard Cancellation Policy

Please be aware that once a reservation is booked, dates are taken off the reservation calendar, saved for our confirmed guests and no longer available to other travelers, so our policies will apply. The Volcano Rainforest Retreat is 40-80% booked six months in advance, due to travelers planning ahead for their Hawaii vacations. Guests plan ahead to have their choice of dates and cottages. Thank you for your understanding.

80% Refund for cancellations made 60 days or more, prior to the arrival date, this includes the 20% cancellation fee.

No guaranteed refund for cancellations received 60 days or less, prior to arrival date. 80% Refund only if dates can be rebooked, this includes the 20% cancellation fee. We do everything possible to rebook those dates. For any cancelled dates that cannot be rebooked, payment will be forfeited.

Changing Cottages or Dates for Existing Reservations:

We encourage guests to be clear and certain of their dates prior to making a reservation to avoid changes, which may result in financial loss to our business and/or our guests. We do everything possible to rebook those dates. In the event that reserved guests cannot avoid changes, the following policies will apply:

20% reservation adjustment fee will apply for any original dates that cannot be rebooked for changes made 60 days or more, prior to arrival date.
30% reservation adjustment fee will apply for changes made less than 60 days, prior to arrival date.

Holiday Times:

See our Holiday Times and Local Festival Dates

No cancellation refunds are guaranteed at Holiday times, Rainforest Run and Merrie Monarch Festival.
“We do everything possible to rebook any cancelled holiday dates. For any cancelled holiday dates that cannot be rebooked, payment will be forfeited. Thank you for reading over our link above to holiday times and festival dates, and please consider trip insurance”.

Trip Insurance:

We understand that sometimes your travel plans can unexpectedly change. Volcano Rainforest Retreat is a small Bed and Breakfast and cancellations or changes to your reservation can affect us greatly. Cancellation policies will be applied.

For your financial security, in case of any changes and possible emergencies, including medical conditions,we recommend that all guests purchase travel insurance.

We recommend to residents of the United States, CLICK HERE Travel Guard Insurance

Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.

Please note: We are committed to the safety of our guests. Volcano Rainforest Retreat has a Natural Disaster Cancellation Policy during times of volcanic eruptions, hurricanes and/ or tsunamis.
Call for more information. (See Natural Disaster Cancellation Policy)

Property Management

Volcano Rainforest Retreat Bed and Breakfast / Hosted Vacation Rentals is run by a property management team, owners, Kathleen and Peter Golden, our managers, and occasionally an on-duty property manager. Our management team cares for the guests and property daily, and when the Goldens are away. All manager contact numbers are listed in the guest cottage information binders. When occasionally off site, a message can be left on their phones. Calls will be returned as soon as possible. The on-duty manager’s phone number is also posted on the door of the Golden’s residence for questions or emergencies. When the Goldens are off island, the on-duty manager is at the property of the Bed & Breakfast / Hosted Vacation Rentals every morning and afternoon for a few hours, and stays overnight some nights out of consideration for our guests’ needs.

On Site Inquiries

Please respect the Goldens’ privacy at their residence. Call the owners and manager’s phone numbers posted in guest cottage binders.

Guests enjoy their privacy and respect other guest’s privacy in one of four unique guest cottages on the Bed and Breakfast & Hosted Vacation Rental grounds. Just five minutes away, enjoy social interaction at Hawaii Volcanoes National Park and at cafes and restaurants in charming Volcano Village.

Pet in Residence

We have a wonderful pet and companion cat, Lahi. She lives with the Goldens in their residence at the Volcano B&B and remains outside of the guest accommodations in consideration for visitors with allergies.

Allergies

Please let us know ahead if you have allergies to cats or feather pillows and comforters. We also appreciate guests informing us of food sensitivity requests a week or more before arrival, because that will make it more possible to meet special needs.

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The Art of Hosting

About the Goldens

Visionary Proprietors of Volcano Rainforest Retreat B&B / Hosted Vacation Rentals

When guests arrive at our Volcano Hawaii Bed and Breakfast / Hosted Vacation Rentals property set on one and a half acres of stunning rain forest, they are warmly greeted and treated like ohana (family). Like their visitors, Kathleen and Peter Golden also made a pilgrimage to the land of Aloha “once upon a time” in search of peace and beauty. Little did they know, when they left San Francisco in 1991 for the Big Island of Hawaii, that what was originally envisioned as their dream home location would evolve into a must-stay Volcano bed & breakfast destination.

Land preparation on the original half-acre, near Kilauea Volcano, began in 1988, when Peter and his son, Joshua, used machetes to carve the first path into the dense Hawaiian rainforest. In 1995, after building their 12-sided house on the adjacent land, the Goldens opened their original home as a guest cottage to visitors traveling to Hawaii Volcanoes National Park.

The creation of three additional structures as part of their personal living space gracefully evolved over 18 years as they conveyed their vision to local builders and craftsmen, building and weaving each living space into the landscape. Gradually, four separate hand crafted structures became a collection of bed and breakfast cottages / hosted vacation rentals. The Golden’s current home is also on the property where they enjoy sharing their creation and love of the land with the many visitors to the Big Island of Hawaii.

Based on excerpts from “Soul Architects”
By Loni Reader, Hawaiian Style Magazine

Private handcrafted cottages with skylights
Forest views and covered decks
Hot Tubs
Romantic gas fireplaces
Breakfast in the privacy of the bed and breakfast cottages
Kitchens and kitchenettes
Wine glasses and bottle opener
High Speed Wireless Internet
DVD/CD selection
Iron and ironing boards
Safe for valuables
Flashlights, headlamps
Guest parking and private carports
Volcano Village restaurants and galleries

Gratitude

The Goldens would like to express their gratitude to all those who work behind the scenes to care for the natural and man-made beauty at the Volcano Rainforest Retreat. By their on-going presence and service each staff person makes the bed and breakfast retreat / hosted vacation rental property a very special place, alive with heart and soul.

Peter and Kathleen are especially grateful to Carolyn and Roby LaPorte of Wowi Zowi, Website Designers, Website Internet Marketing. We especially appreciate their understanding of our artistic process in creating our retreat. It is not just a business, it is our life’s work together… the expression of our shared love of life and the land. We are so grateful for their capacity to step into our world and convey the essence and unique sense of place of the Volcano Rainforest Retreat. Their brilliance and co-creative force in photography, design, and layout has allowed us to more fully share our inspired vision with the world.

Special thanks to Anne Lee, who co-created the beautiful text and offered her creative, sensitive and artistic input throughout the entire development process.

What Our Guests Say…

“The ‘Sanctuary’ has been the highlight of our trip. It is the most amazing place we’ve ever been. We had to drag ourselves away to go see the volcano!”
R&C – CA

“We had a magical experience yesterday. The lava goes to the ocean is so wonderful and spiritual, more than any other experience. We understood why the native Hawaiians thought it was God. It is so big and emotional.”
Italy

“A truly magical & relaxing honeymoon stay in the rainforest. There is such a peace here – the environment, the art & creators, the light & water & wood.”

“The fragrant air, so crisp & clean at night lent to the solace of the Guest Cottage. We enjoyed every aspect of staying here. The wind chimes woke us up – We played gin rummy late into the night.”
Boston, MA