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Cargo Container HomeOnTheLava~ Ocean & Volcano View Sleeps 4 ~ Julie’s Sunrise

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December 2024
January 2025

Photo gallery for Cargo Container HomeOnTheLava~ Ocean & Volcano View Sleeps 4 ~ Julie’s Sunrise

Beach
Unclassified image, 2 of 26, button
Terrace/patio
Fridge, microwave, coffee/tea maker, cookware/dishes/utensils
Smart TV

Reviews

9.0 out of 10

Wonderful

Entire home

1 bedroom1 bathroomSleeps 4

Popular amenities

  • Parking available
    Parking available
  • Kitchen
    Kitchen
  • Barbecue grill
    Barbecue grill
  • Free WiFi
    Free WiFi
  • Mountain view
    Mountain view

Explore the area

Map
Kalapana, HI
  • Star of the Sea Painted Church
    8 min drive
  • SPACE Seaview Performing Arts Center
    13 min drive
  • Kehena Beach
    15 min drive
  • Hilo, HI (ITO-Hilo Intl.)
    48 min drive

Room options

Similar properties

About the area

Pahoa

Located in Pahoa, this vacation home is within a 15-minute drive of Star of the Sea Painted Church and The Point. .This vacation home is 30.1 mi (48.4 km) from Port of Hilo and 6 mi (9.7 km) from Kehena Beach.

What's nearby

  • Star of the Sea Painted Church - 8 min drive - 3.8 km
  • SPACE Seaview Performing Arts Center - 13 min drive - 10.1 km
  • Kehena Beach - 15 min drive - 9.8 km
  • Volcano House - 65 min drive - 69.3 km
  • Kilauea - 69 min drive - 73.2 km

Getting around

  • Hilo Intl. Airport (ITO) - 48 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Kalapana uncle Roberts awa bar - ‬9 min drive
  • ‪Karuna Foods - ‬10 min drive
  • ‪Uncle's Kitchen - ‬9 min drive
  • ‪Uncle's Kitchen - ‬9 min drive

About this property

Entire place

You'll have the entire home to yourself and will only share it with other guests in your party.

Cargo Container HomeOnTheLava~ Ocean & Volcano View Sleeps 4 ~ Julie’s Sunrise

As of January 2021 the Solar System has been upgraded. Beautiful 1 Bedroom 1 Bath eco-friendly off-grid home built on an old lava flow out of 3 cargo containers. But once you step in this home you will have no idea you were inside former containers. It was built with quality and function in mind. There are 3 large sliding glass doors for an incredible breeze and views of the ocean & old lava landscape. We have large windows to view the Kīlauea Volcano.
The whole building is 2 homes. The other is a 3 Bedroom 1 Bath also available for rent. Providing for 12 adult guests total

This beautiful shipping container Home was built on an old lava flow. It’s has clear ocean views, an expansive view of Kīlauea volcano out the back, it’s eco-friendly in so many ways, off-grid utilities (solar power and UV filtered water catchment), surrounded by amazing lava landscape, awe inspiring night sky filled with more stars than you have ever seen before.

The home possesses so many cool features. The first wonderful piece of furniture is the highly functional sofa & ottoman that not only lifts up to provide storage but it also converts to a full size bed. You will also be drawn to the exquisite mango wood that was used for the countertops in the kitchen & bath. Once you see the pebble stone floored bathroom you will again be amazed at the size. Inside you find a one of a kind Petrified wood vessel sink sitting on a great piece of mango with mango wood bordered mirror. As you will see in the photos you get to enjoy a rain shower in the large shower enclosure. Then climb on the comfy mattresses on the bunk bed that was custom made by a local Hawaiian. You will find this home was built in such a unique and quiet place you might not want to leave.

Please Note: The address that is showing on the website is for planning purposes. It is not exact but it is close due to the property being in a remote location. An exact map is sent to all guests prior to check in. Volcano National Park entrance is approximately 1 hour away, Pahoa is about 20 minutes and Kehena black sand beach is about 10 minutes away.

God has blessed me with this place so I can share it with others. Whether you are looking to be a tourist and see all the amazing sites or to just be at peace with yourself and nature this is the place for you.
There are NO Coqui Frogs to keep you awake at night here.

Surveillance Camera Disclosure: due to the remoteness of home and to protect the property we have installed 5 exterior surveillance cameras. Camera 1 Is mounted at the end of the deck with a view of the driveway. Camera 2 is mounted in the middle of the deck area with a view of smaller home’s entrance. Camera 3 is mounted at the other end of the deck with view of the larger home’s entrance. Camera 4 mounted at end of container home above the storage doors with a view of the water catchment tank. Camera 5 is mounted on the back of the property with a view of the propane tanks. They are not hidden and are obvious white cameras. There are Absolutely NO cameras inside.
Make yourself comfortable in this vacation home, featuring a kitchen with a refrigerator and a microwave. A kitchenette makes it easy to prepare your meals. Complimentary wireless internet access keeps you connected, and a Smart television is provided for your entertainment. Conveniences include a coffee/tea maker and an iron/ironing board.
Guests will find features like onsite parking.

Property manager

Ron

Languages

English

Property amenities

Internet

  • Free WiFi

Parking and transport

  • On-site parking

Kitchen

  • Fridge
  • Microwave
  • Coffee/tea maker
  • Cookware/dishes/utensils

Bedrooms

  • 1 bedroom
  • Bed sheets provided

Bathrooms

  • 1 bathroom
  • Rainfall shower head
  • Soap
  • Shampoo
  • Towels provided
  • Toilet paper
  • Hairdryer

Entertainment

  • Smart TV

Outdoor areas

  • Decking
  • Barbecue

Pets

  • No pets allowed

Suitability/Accessibility

  • No lifts
  • Smoke-free property

Services and conveniences

  • Iron/ironing board

Safety features

  • Carbon monoxide detector not reported (host has not indicated whether there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property; consider bringing a portable detector)
  • Smoke detector installed (host has indicated that there is a smoke detector on the property)
  • Fire extinguisher
  • First aid kit

Policies

Check-in

Check-in time starts at 4:00 PM
Contactless check-in available

Check-out

Check-out before 10:00 AM
Contactless check-out available

Special check-in instructions

You will receive an email from the host with check-in and check-out instructions

Pets

Pets not allowed

Children and extra beds

Children are welcome

Important information

You need to know

Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card, or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
Onsite parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Host has not indicated whether there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property; consider bringing a portable detector with you on the trip
Host has indicated there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher and a first aid kit
This property is managed through our partner, Vrbo. You will receive an email from Vrbo with a link to a Vrbo account, where you can change or cancel your reservation
Property Registration Number GE-057-873-8688-01, TA-057-873-8688-01

We should mention

This property does not have elevators

Cargo Container HomeOnTheLava~ Ocean & Volcano View Sleeps 4 ~ Julie’s Sunrise Reviews

Reviews

9.0

Wonderful

Rating 10 - Excellent. 51 out of 70 reviews" "
Rating 8 - Good. 8 out of 70 reviews" "
Rating 6 - Okay. 4 out of 70 reviews" "
Rating 4 - Poor. 3 out of 70 reviews" "
Rating 2 - Terrible. 4 out of 70 reviews" "

9.6/10

Cleanliness

8.0/10

Staff & service

8.6/10

Amenities

9.0/10

Property conditions & facilities

10/10

Eco-friendliness

Reviews

6/10 Okay

John T.

Other world-like but misleading
First, this property is cool if you know what you are getting into. This is way off the off the grid living. You are staying on a lava field in a shipping container. That is the cool part. It is remote, and just wow for sunset and sunrise. The host, Ron, was nice and communicated well. The location on VRBO makes it appear on Chain of Craters road just near the famed sea arch in Volcanoes National park - a big reason we picked it. However just a bit east of there the road has been closed there for decades from a lava flow, and the property is on the other side so it actually takes about an hour to get to Volcanoes Park. Best way to pin actual location is to look up Red Lava B&B on Google maps: a different shipping container in the same field. It is isolated. Last few miles dirt road. You won't have access near by so best to stop in Pahoa to load up on a few things. Now pics may appear to be all alone ( believe some are older), but there are several neighbors...a few built right in front of your view towards the ocean. These folks are all off-griders living in very rustic conditions. The host makes several notations and instructions about where you can park, where you can walk and when you can head out in the morn (not before 830am) specifically because of "grumpy neighbor". There are two separate units here attached and one has only 1 bed room w bunks & no air. Other larger unit w/ king or queen bed. Listing pics seem to mix it all. Overall, unique exp for a night.
Stayed 1 night in May 2024

10/10 Excellent

Stella, west palm beach

Stayed 2 nights in Feb 2024

4/10 Poor

Jacqueline

Travelled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness
Unfortunately we only stayed one night of our four night booking. The location was inconvenient (my fault for booking here) but there were other issues. There’s lots of messages from the host about a “grumpy neighbour” so do NOT park here, don’t walk by his house etc which made the vibe very sketchy especially being in the middle of nowhere. I love living off grid but the setup is a bit poor, once you checkin there’s notes saying don’t use the microwave at night as it can drain the battery (there’s nowhere close by to eat and there’s no other way to cook/heat food), don’t shower late as the pump might annoy the neighbour etc. it was cool seeing the lava flow and I feel for the people in the area that had to rebuild but I would recommend only staying a night, or just drive out here for a couple hours.
Stayed 4 nights in Feb 2024

10/10 Excellent

Joshua

Liked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities
Stayed 1 night in Jan 2024

10/10 Excellent

Wim D.

Liked: Cleanliness
amazing location / unique
loved the walk to the rocks. amazing sunset and rainbows.
Stayed 1 night in Aug 2023

8/10 Good

Julie

Travelled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities
This cargo unit on the lava was an amazingly unique place to stay! We were worried about not being able to find the property because of the remoteness, but the owners directions were spot on and we found it without any problems. The bedroom was a little stuffy due to the lack of circulation, but other than that, the unit was very well built and very comfortable and clean. We loved walking on the lava out to the cliff. The owner left great directions and markings on the rocks so we stayed on the allowed path. Very cool experience!
Stayed 1 night in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

Jami C.

Liked: Cleanliness
Remote Stargazing
This property was just what we were looking for on our trip. The directions to find the place were clear and it was way easier than we were anticipating from the other reviews. Views are great and the stargazing was fantastic since there’s no light pollution. If you’re looking for a getaway off the beaten path, this is the place for you. We loved our stay here!
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

Joseph L.

Liked: Cleanliness
Great stay, lovely landscape
The house and landscape were gorgeous. It was a unique feeling stepping on rock that’s only a few years old. Explored the lava plane and it was jaw dropping. However, as we returned, we were shouted at by the “grumpy neighbor”. Maybe we were in the wrong, but we tried staying out of the neighbor’s property. Regardless, would highly recommend, it was the only thing that rubbed us the wrong way
Stayed 1 night in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

Etienne B.

Liked: Cleanliness
Great stay on the lava
Off grid but not that far (20 minutes) from grocery and restaurants. The walk on the lava field is worth it!
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2023

10/10 Excellent

DIMITRIOS, HOUSTON

Travelled with group
Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities
A unique dwelling built on a unique environment, on this planet, or should I say out of this planet! A two-night stay is way too short to appreciate the beauty of the surroundings. My heart aches for all the property that was claimed by the volcano, but now, 5 years after you can witness life and creation spawning out of the multiple layers of lava! Definitely revisit and undoubtedly recommend. Alooooooha!
Stayed 2 nights in Apr 2023

10/10 Excellent

Joseph

Travelled with family
Liked: Amenities, property conditions & facilities
Very unique. Off-grid experience was vey nice.
Stayed 1 night in Apr 2023

10/10 Excellent

Dana

Travelled with group
Liked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities
Staying in a container home is unique and this one is well designed and clean. The location in the middle of a lava field is a surreal experience. We all really enjoyed our stay
Stayed 1 night in Mar 2023

8/10 Good

Frejus D.

Liked: Cleanliness
Good experience overall
Amazing surroundings.
Stayed 2 nights in Feb 2023

6/10 Okay

felicia s.

Liked: Cleanliness
Too off grid for us
Overall the property was as described. It was clean and was off grid however there were some things that did not work well for us. When we arrived at the property there was no wifi. Not usually a big issue however in the unit there is no cell service and we had to leave to get messages through to Ron. At times we could not get them to go through due to the location of this property. It was recommended to keep the unit locked up for safety however when doing so there was no airflow leaving the unit very hot. The inability to keep the unit locked while sleeping and no cell service provided safety concerns for us therefore we did not stay after the first night. If we were not concerned about being able to make or receive calls in case of emergency or keeping the unit locked while we slept it would have worked well for us.
Stayed 3 nights in Jan 2023

10/10 Excellent

debi M.

Liked: Cleanliness
Great historical experience.
Accommodations are clean and comfortable. Accommodations meet meeds in a very quiet, private environment. Would stay again.
Stayed 3 nights in Jan 2023

10/10 Excellent

Wilmonda M., Austin, Texas

Liked: Cleanliness
Unique!
A perfect escape from any touristy places…it is an unique experience to walk on the lava AND to sleep in a container! A perfect spot for star-gazing! The place is pleasantly clean and comfortable.
Stayed 2 nights in Dec 2022

10/10 Excellent

Lauren G.

Liked: Cleanliness
A Unique Getaway
The lava field and ocean views are an unparalleled experience! The location is very remote, and far away from the resorts and crowds. The property manager was very responsive and communicative. Overall a great stay if you are looking for a unique experience!
Stayed 2 nights in Dec 2022

10/10 Excellent

Nikola M.

Liked: Cleanliness
Power of Lava
It was an awesome, unique experience and I admire everyone who choose to live in this area permanently. The lava all around gives you chills. It's so powerful! The place itself was clean and had everything we needed after a long day of exploring. Sleeping was comfortable even if it was 3 of us in the smaller container . We had no issues finding the place but I would recommend coming in in a day light the first day. If you are trying to walk on the lava towards the ocean, make sure you stay on the "trail". There are little palm trees planted marking the direction and also white sprayed errors on the lava. Otherwise you will be under supervision of one of the neighbors. I guess he is just protecting this special place. I'll definitely come here again.
Stayed 3 nights in Nov 2022

10/10 Excellent

Octavio

Travelled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities
The owner was very nice, and shared all the details needed of the property before hand. The stay was very pleasant.
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2022

6/10 Okay

Verified traveller

Liked: Cleanliness
It Did the Job
The reference point for finding the property was terrible. There are two distinct vehicles that the owner could’ve referenced for finding the place, rather than the mile reference. Not everyone can make it out during the day due to work constraints. I also thought we were right by the ocean and would be able to hear the sounds. For the price, it was OK. It served its purpose; we needed a place to sleep and bathe.
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2022

10/10 Excellent

Kyle J., Calgary Canada

Liked: Cleanliness
Fun Experience on the lava
This is our 2nd time staying at these properties. This time we took the time to walk to the cliffs. The owner has wrote up and sprayed arrows out exactly where to walk to get to them. Saw a beautiful rainbow while walking. Fun experience to stay in the shipping container on the lava!
Stayed 1 night in Sep 2022

10/10 Excellent

Jasmina H.

Liked: Cleanliness
A great experience
The property itself is accurately described. Bunk beds are doubles so I would sleep two kids on the top level and two avg sized adults on the lower. The couch in the living room is not as comfortable as I expected but my son preferred his own room with a door. The kitchenette has limited supplies, so it’s better to bring food home than try to cook full course meals. But we didn’t go there to cook gourmet dinners. Think one pot meal… We went there for the experience and location. There is no cellphone service in the area and therefore you need to feel comfortable being in the dark in the middle of nowhere, especially at night. There are neighbours but the closest contact we had was the waves they gave as we drive by each other. I recommend a keep for this road. We met a photographer who has a sign out front called Hot Foot Photography and found him to be lovely - we bought some of his work which I would not be able to find anywhere else. Our host was responsive and informative and the info book he provided was helpful. The lava in the daytime glimmers like gems and is stunning! You can walk through the same type of field at the national park. Listen to the locals and the host about going to the edge of the cliff to see the water. It’s a 200+foot drop and the waves crash all the way up making it slippery. Combined with the trade winds that are extremely strong and you have the perfect environment for falling to your death. Apparently 10 feet of the cliff fell into the ocean during the last storm…so be careful and do not go out there at night. Just be smart and watch your kids. We found the night sky to be beautiful everywhere. But where else can you sit outside for hours and not be cold or be disturbed by cars? We saw many falling stars, the Milky Way and enjoyed the sound of the wind… no frogs! Would I do it again? Maybe. Am I glad I did it once? Absolutely!
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2022

10/10 Excellent

Maria delaluz

Travelled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities
It was an amazing experience!!! Loved every thing about staying there!! It had everything we needed . Saw rainbow almost every morning, The Milky Way and beautiful stars!! Definitely would stay here again!!!!
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2022

8/10 Good

Cassie B.

Liked: Cleanliness
Lava Field
Directions were easy but in the daylight to first find the property. Very clean and just enough space for my husband and I. It is off the grid so be sure to stop on the way for food or anything you’ll need. There was limited items in kitchen but enough to get us through the weekend!
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2022

10/10 Excellent

Jamie E.

Liked: Cleanliness
Experience of a lifetime !
Staying here was an amazing experience that you would not get staying in town. The stars at night are unbelievable! So peaceful and quiet. So thankful that we took time to slow down and relax and enjoy this marvelous place. The walk to the cliffs was longer than it seemed, but so worth it! Beds were super comfy. We had no issues with power. Ron was very responsive with any questions I had. The neighbor got a little grumpy with the other people who were staying in the other unit. They were walking down to the water at 6:15pm and he yelled and swore at them because it was too late and going to get dark. Honestly, he was really just looking out for them, but had a little too much to drink, so he was loud and I seen. We walked it the next morning and he was kind and just warned us it was a long way and we better have good shoes on. There was a very nice woman that I talked to that owns property right here, but only has an outhouse on it. She comes sometimes from the mainland and just sleeps in her van right here. She gave us lots of great tips and a history of the area. The grumpy neighbor came up at night and was very loud and yelling at her about something, but she made sure to walk down with him away from this property so he wouldn’t disturb us. Overall, this was an experience of a life time and I wish I had more time to stay here.
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2022