This was our first time on the Big Island and, prior to staying at Ma'Ukele Lodge, we stayed in a new condo at Waikoloa Beach. That condo was a modern, anonymous, soulless place that could have been anywhere; fine, but we wanted to experience "real Hawaii"!
Ma'Ukele Lodge gave us exactly that - amazing hosts who went out of their way to ensure we were comfortable and made the most out of our vacation, to the incredible breakfasts on the lanai while watching the surf crash on the beach, to being located in the heart of the Puna coastline, where you can easily explore less tourist-filled locations!
Raven and Mark need a special mention, as they are absolutely lovely. Raven is a New Yorker who moved out 15 years ago, and made us feel so welcome in her home. She contacted us beforehand to allay any fears we might have had around the volcanic eruptions (that are miles away), cooked us amazing breakfasts of fresh fruit, French toast, pancakes and more, and kept our room clean and tidy throughout, always leaving us little treats when we got back from a day on the road.
Mark is local and part-Hawaiian, and a treasure trove of information! He would greet us with a hand-drawn map of his recommended itinerary for us, based on our interests, and every one of those created some magical memories that we'll treasure forever.
The room was awesome with three four-poster beds, the outdoor shower incredible, and we will definitely be back! No more mega-resorts for us!