Horizon Guest House — Hotel in Hawaii

I never write reviews. I can’t tell you why, exactly. Maybe I’m lazy. Maybe I feel like I’ve already done them a favor by giving them my business. But for whatever reason, I don’t. Which should clue you in to how great an experience has to be for me to sit here and tell you about it.

I’ve stayed at a lot of bed and breakfasts over the years, and if Horizon isn’t the best, it’s close. First, the property is absolutely beautiful. It’s expansive, with a long, uphill driveway that rewards you when you turn the corner and the lovely guest house comes into view. Landscaping abounds, there’s a burbling fountain, and around the back is an ocean view that can only be described as stunning. There’s a nicely stocked outdoor kitchen, a hot tub, and an infinity pool whose bottom is painted to match the color of the ocean, so you can hardly tell where one begins and the other ends. You have your pick of places to enjoy the delicious homemade breakfasts, but it’s hard to beat the view from the main lanai. Each of the guest rooms is comfortable, updated, very clean (as is the whole property), and comes with its own private lanai.

Then there are the innkeepers, Clem and Angus, who are not just super welcoming, but super interesting, as well: Clem, who puts out beautiful breakfasts day after day, is also a bit of a real estate entrepreneur, Big Island expert, farmer/rancher, and former tropical-fish dealer—oh, and also armchair architect, who designed the entire guest house with only the help of a draftsman; and Angus, a fitness devotee from New Zealand who also writes novels, collects first-edition books, and became a Lego master during the pandemic (his artistry is on display). They really couldn’t be more helpful or welcoming. Driving to Hilo today? Take this banana-nut bread with you. Going to Volcano National Park? Be sure to grab a couple of the umbrellas from the front door. You spilled a glass of red wine all over the place? No problem, we’ll take care of it. (Yes, that happened.) Nice, nice men.

A few other things to call out, not because they’re big deals, but because they’re small. Not only do they provide everything you need, they email you a long list of supplies, how many there are, and where you can find each item. They have outside motion-detector lights that follow you around when it's dark and overhanging eaves that trace the outline of the building to keep you dry. And while you’re out snorkeling or exploring volcanoes, some invisible force comes into your room to refresh towels and straighten up just enough that you know it was there, without ever disturbing any of your belongings.

There are a couple of … not caveats, but features you need to know. First is the location. Clem describes it as rural, which to a Midwesterner like me means cornfields and silos. This isn’t that, but it is Kona’s version of rural. You’ll need a car; you’re 15 minutes from good pizza and 25 minutes from bustling Kailua-Kona. But in return you get the nighttime song of the coqui; the affectionate dogs, Cleo and Ele; the goats and donkeys up in the meadow; and—wait, are those feral PIGS down the driveway? Why yes, they are, and they’re fun to see (for us, at least; for land owners and growers, not so much). The second thing to know is that this isn’t a place for young kids. Per the website, “Horizon Guest House is not designed for the safety and enjoyment of children under the age of 14.” That point was driven home when we were told that the pool was clothing-optional.

OK, we’ll leave it at that. Go and enjoy....

We came to the big island for the first time and wanted to stay at a property that was charming and quiet, but still had all the amenities. Horizon Guest House ticks all the boxes. First off, Clem and Angus and their 2 adorable labradors are the most welcoming of of hosts. We were warmly greeted by casually dressed humans and excited canines to immediately put us as ease after a long day of travel. The main house has a charming library with an eclectic mix of books, artworks, and Lego Star Wars sets that somehow works together. There is an open dining area that serves as the stage for a stunning westerly view of the coast and ocean where your worries just melt away as you dine on the fine generous breakfasts Clem prepares for his guests every morning consisting of cut fruit (some grown on the property), hot cereal, coffee, juice, and a variety of entrees that didn’t repeat over our 7 day stay. Having a hearty breakfast is great because you are well fueled to just be out and about without worrying about where to get breakfast and coffee in the morning. This property is best for couples as there are only 4 rooms with a single king or queen bed that are virtually identical to each other, but thanks to being offset, and having well trimmed privacy hedges, they are almost like 4 separate casitas each with their own lanai (patio). There are lush gardens with gorgeous tropical flowers surrounding the property while also having well groomed grass so your views of the ocean are unobstructed. In keeping with the atmosphere of peace and tranquility, there is no TV or A/C but you can connect to the good wifi and stream as you wish and the ceiling fan and a few open windows were comfortable even in July. Because there is a max of 4 couples, there is a good chance that you’ll have the property to yourself as the other couples will be out and about. It’s a great place to spend the whole day just being lazy or as a home base to go exploring the rest of the island. A wonderful perk is that they have laundry you can use and that same room has a full size fridge and freezer for stuff that doesn’t fit in the room mini fridge, coolers and ice packs for bringing picnic items to the beach or bringing home perishables from the numerous farmers markets, boogie boards, straw mats, beach towels, and snorkeling equipment including masks and fins. We took advantage of all of that during our trip. The best part was that if you make it back to the property for sunset, you can treat yourself to a sunset swim in a heated infinity edge pool and jacuzzi to which we availed ourselves at least three times. We had the most relaxing time during our stay. Clem and Angus were there to get recommendations and assistance from when we needed it, and invisible when we wanted privacy. Truly the best hosts. The only downside I see was it is a bit away from the main town of Kona, but Captain Cook is nearby and we found enough small casual restaurants and shops that we didn’t really miss Kona. If relaxing in a quiet, private, house in a stunningly beautiful setting and top notch hosts sounds like your cup of tea, don’t hesitate...

We came to the big island for the first time and wanted to stay at a property that was charming and quiet, but still had all the amenities. Horizon Guest House ticks all the boxes. First off, Clem and Angus and their 2 adorable labradors are the most welcoming of hosts. We were warmly greeted by casually dressed humans and excited canines to immediately put us as ease after a long day of travel. The main house has a charming library with an eclectic mix of books, artworks, and Lego Star Wars sets that somehow works together. There is an open dining area that serves as the stage for a stunning westerly view of the coast and ocean where your worries just melt away as you dine on the fine generous breakfasts Clem prepares for his guests every morning consisting of cut fruit (some grown on the property), hot cereal, coffee, juice, and a variety of entrees that didn’t repeat over our 7 day stay. Having a hearty breakfast is great because you are well fueled to just be out and about without worrying about where to get breakfast and coffee in the morning. This property is best for couples as there are only 4 rooms with a single king or queen bed that are virtually identical to each other, but thanks to being offset, and having well trimmed privacy hedges, they are almost like 4 separate casitas each with their own lanai (patio). There are lush gardens with gorgeous tropical flowers surrounding the property while also having well groomed grass so your views of the ocean are unobstructed. In keeping with the atmosphere of peace and tranquility, there is no TV or A/C but you can connect to the good wifi and stream as you wish and the ceiling fan and a few open windows were comfortable even in July. Because there is a max of 4 couples, there is a good chance that you’ll have the property to yourself as the other couples will be out and about. It’s a great place to spend the whole day just being lazy or as a home base to go exploring the rest of the island. A wonderful perk is that they have laundry you can use and that same room has a full size fridge and freezer for stuff that doesn’t fit in the room mini fridge, coolers and ice packs for bringing picnic items to the beach or bringing home perishables from the numerous farmers markets, boogie boards, straw mats, beach towels, and snorkeling equipment including masks and fins. We took advantage of all of that during our trip. The best part was that if you make it back to the property for sunset, you can treat yourself to a sunset swim in a heated infinity edge pool and jacuzzi to which we availed ourselves at least three times. We had the most relaxing time during our stay. Clem and Angus were there to get recommendations and assistance from when we needed it, and invisible when we wanted privacy. Truly the best hosts. The only downside I see was it is a bit away from the main town of Kona, but Captain Cook is nearby and we found enough small casual restaurants and shops that we didn’t really miss Kona. If relaxing in a quiet, private, house in a stunningly beautiful setting and top notch hosts sounds like your cup of tea, don’t hesitate...