I was happy to discover this accommodation was in fact not to far from Kona Kailua airport or difficult to locate. The room I had (fig heaven) was no in the main complex and was situated as a cabin out doors. The washroom was also a short walk outdoors, at times difficult in the dark of night, but worth it for the stunning starry views. The cabin was modest and clean and felt different from a hotel room, owing mainly to the fact of its location as a cabin situated outside. I was also happy to discover that there was produce available for all of the guests to partake, grown directly on the property with care. This was definitely a highlight of the Banyan Tree Sanctuary. The other thing to note is the shared kitchen space, which on the whole was good for those wanting to do their owning cooking or preparations on the property. One drawback of the shared kitchen was the general cleanliness; while guests were asked to clean up after themselves after cooking, and dishes were always done by someone, leaving the space free to use, there were spaces in this kitchen (i.e. tea towels, certain corners) that were in need of proper grime removal. I would be aware of this for those guests who have extremely high cleanliness standards; since this accommodation also has a tree fruit farm/garden, this may be in part a reason for the nature-focused, and non-clinical approach. It should also be noted this accommodation is also a family home. Therefore guests are made to feel welcome to an extent, but beyond that, also may risk feeling they are invading the 'family space' of those who reside at the property. In all, I would not return to stay here again were I to visit Kona, however, I would highly recommend this location for younger travelers (20 somethings), couples looking for a cheaper getaway/retreat, or older travellers who are low-maintenance with fewer accommodation standards. That said, the bathrooms were cleaned properly every day, and the serenity offered by the property on the whole was a nice change of pace from your typical hotel scenario.

This is an amazing place. Stayed at their Dragon's nest with private full bath. If you are looking for the convenience and regular amenities of a hotel, this is not a place for you. But, if want to take a deep breathe and suck it all in - the bountiful nature, the fresh air, the fragrance of the flowers and the fresh fruit, this is THE place! Rarely during a vacation, I experienced such peace and tranquility! The owner Rae is awesome, too...he was very helpful in recommending nearby activities and provided an educative tour of their fruit garden. A staff, Nora, too was wonderful. Overall, I would highly recommend this place if you want to experience a different lifestyle for a few days!

The banyan tree sanctuary is like visiting a family member and a yoga retreat all in one. The sanctuary is a community with one large house and several small bungalows scattered over the property. There seem to be several permanent members who live there and a couple of volunteers who are there to learn about the vegan and yoga lifestyle. I spell this out because it's a unique community and you should review their website before going. Everything is exactly as advertised so make sure it's the right fit for you - and for their sake! Some helpful details. - it's not on the beach but centrally located. It's 15 min from the airport and all Kona activities and water sports. Very easy to get to by car. - at the same it's WONDERFULLY secluded. It's up in the mountains where it's cool, dark, and peaceful. It's quiet at all times and really lets you relax. - Rae and the volunteers are extra friendly and nice. He communicated very thoroughly and responsively leading up to the visit and throughout. He was as available as we needed him or as removed as you wanted to be. Perfect balance. - we stayed in the kahuna room which was nicely appointed and comfortable. It was one of the rooms in the main house. We had a private bathroom down the hall which was clean and just like your bathroom at home. I'd recommend a room in the main house or the dragon room to get private bathrooms. Some of the bungalows have shared bathrooms that require an outside walk so be careful. - there's several large community areas including a kitchen that's very clean for a community kitchen. Every room has their designated fridge space and everything is labeled nicely. Some heads up: - there are designated quiet times (after 9), and it feels like people could hear any noise you make in your room, so be prepared for that. - there was a lock on our door you could lock while u were sleeping but couldn't when u left. So we had to leave our valuables unattended while we were out. We believe his is consistent with the community's principles of trust etc and so we learned to let our worries go. Everything was of course fine, but something to be aware of. OVERALL: it was a wonderful stay at a remarkably unique community. Our only regret is that we didn't make more use of the facilities. Just make sure it's the right fit for you.

We stayed here for 4 nights and really enjoyed it and would highly recommend it. If you are used to staying in a large chain hotel, this is certainly different. Does it have a concierge, no but it has wonderful knowledgeable hosts who will help you have a great time in Kona and Big Island. Does it have room service, no but you have fresh roast kona coffee in the fridge, a grinder and coffee machine and there is a selection of free fresh fruit from the garden available in the morning. There is no valet parking, but free parking under the Banyan tree. Our room had a huge balcony with table and chairs for eating, a sofa for reading on, a great view of the garden, birds, butterflies and flowers and the coast and sunsets. It is in a quiet secluded location but only 10 mins by car from coast and town, but elevation makes it a bit cooler. very glad we stayed here and Rae is a perfect host.

Loved it. Wish I could have spent more time. Would love to live there. Great vibe. Very clean and respectful. Gorgeous landscape and amazing view. We stayed in the dragons den. So cozy and sweet with great view. Loved the red robes for shower and sauna. Everything had a special touch.

Love it here. Great management, wonderful views, highly recommend. Fresh fruit in the morning. Peaceful setting. This is a hidden gem in Kona. There are many selections of rooms and it's easy to get to any places in Kona.

We cannot say enough wonderful things about Banyan Tree Retreat! It was a fantastic experience - we will definitely return. We actually extended our stay by a day because we didn't want to go home! A few things that make this place special: -The peace and tranquility. Sitting on acres of land, the sounds of the birds and the ocean breeze is enough to make you say ahhhh and feel totally relaxed. We participated in restorative yoga which was fantastic. Rae provided us extremely relaxing massages upon our arrival. -The beauty. Because you're up in the hills, you'll get a little more rain and clouds, but it creates a beautiful, tropical paradise. -The fruit! With tons of bananas, mangoes, figs, papayas, and avocados as big as your head, you just can't go wrong! -The adventure. It's not a 5 star resort, but it's better. It's letting you participate with nature, feel comfort and at ease with your surroundings, all while being a short drive into town and accompanied with high speed Internet :) I would absolutely recommend Banyan Tree, especially to a young couple without kids. I'm definitely going to return with friends. We stayed in the Fig Heaven cabin. It was perfect. Quiet and secluded but also open air and fun. It's a short walk to the bath house which had abundant hot water and water pressure. If you prefer slightly more posh accommodations, Banyan Tree does have a variety of rooms to choose from. The communal kitchen was perfect and had everything we needed. We enjoyed sitting in the salt water pool (no chlorine!) and hot tub. If you're going to the Big Island, don't miss Banyan Tree!!

You don't go to the Banyan Tree Sanctuary for a hotel room: This place is dedicated to well-being, simplicity, joy of sharing in all simplicity. Rae, Benjamin and the whole team are amazing. We didn't want to leave!

A friend called last minute to ask if they had room for us, kindly Rae, the manager, "shuffled" and they came up with the Kahuna Room for us.... we are sooo pleased they did! Thank you Rae! We loved our time here.... we dipped into the hot tub with awesome ocean views and the sanctuary (good for yoga etc), and we met lovely people including Benjamin (the owner) who serenaded us with his guitar. We meditated deep in the lava flow cave too! Even though the Kahuna Room does share a bathroom with two other rooms (which were full) it was always available when we needed it which was great! It's all very clean and the use of the open-air kitchen and living space with great views is super! Quiet, peaceful, conscious! We'll be back!