Where to Stay in Hilo: Aloha Falls Retreat Review
A waterfall property in Hilo offers personalized retreats including massage, yoga and farm-to-table meals for couples, or small groups, in need of a reset.
This reporter was hosted by Aloha Falls Retreat for the purposes of this review.
Located a mile from downtown Hilo, in a thicket of sprawling vines, palms, grasses and tī leaves, is Aloha Falls — a two-bedroom house overlooking a freshwater spring, swimming hole and the property's namesake waterfall. Who needs ʻAkaka Falls when you have a waterfall in your own backyard?
The property is owned by Dr. Sierra Sugrue, a practitioner of naturopathy, yoga, massage and other holistic healing modalities. Her intention at Aloha Falls is to offer a space for rest and rejuvenation. In addition to build-your-own-private-retreats, she also leads small-group retreats focusing on transformation for individuals who are in a transitional time of their lives and are ready to start a new chapter. Her website promises you'll "leave feeling more rested, grounded, and connected to yourself.
When I wasn't embracing this scene from the lanai or kitchen breakfast counter, Dr. Sierra was treating me to a “spa day” with a sauna and swim in the fresh water spring — the ultimate contrast therapy. She also led me through a restorative yoga session and gave me a massage. In my free time, I strolled into town for dinner and went to the farmers market on Saturday morning. The experience was not only restful and rejuvenating, it also gave me a newfound appreciation for Hilo that hadn't registered on past trips. Maybe it was staying in a home on a beautiful, tropical-flower-clad residential road or the fact that I never had to interact with other hotel guests, making it feel as though I lived there for the time being, but I left feeling refreshed in every way.
I was there in October, after several major storms had passed through, during a window of time when the sun was out. The sun, in Hilo — what a treat! But don't let my experience fool you into thinking it won't rain while you are here. You are staying in a rainforest after all. Embrace it, it’s part of the charm.
Key Details
- Price range: From $700 per night (for two guests), add $50 for each additional guest
- Location: Residential neighborhood in Hilo, Hawai’i Island
- Best for: Couples and groups up to six people (house can fit up to three couples)
- Pros: Location, private waterfall and retreat amenities
- Cons: Need a car if you want to visit beaches
Location and Getting There
Aloha Falls Retreat is less than 15 minutes from Hilo International Airport (ITO). The easiest way to get here is by rideshare (about $20 each way). If you want to do some exploring while you are in Hilo — visiting beaches, driving the Hāmākua Coast, etc. — you will need a rental car. If you plan to spend most of your time enjoying the property and enjoy walking, you don't need a car — Hilo town is just a 20-minute walk away.
Accommodation
You will be staying in a two-bedroom house overlooking the rainforest and a gushing freshwater spring waterfall that feeds a large swimming hole underneath it. The house can accommodate up to six people, with three queen-sized beds (one is a fold-out couch in the living room), two full bathrooms, a lanai and a large, fully stocked kitchen with counter seating facing outside overlooking the waterfall. There is plenty of space for everyone to spread out and have their own personal space. The walls are adorned with local photography and a mural in the living room depicts the tropical plants and flowers you will find throughout Hilo. The house stays cool with ceiling fans in every room and its shady location underneath giant trees.
Amenities Deep Dive
Adding amenities to your stay is how you will build your own bespoke retreat. Dr. Sierra provides several options including restorative yoga classes, meditation, massage, cranial sacrum, myofascial release, naturopathic consultations, hot bath soak and sauna. Paired with the freshwater swimming hole out back, the sauna makes for the ultimate in contrast therapy. Her studio is located on the first floor of the property, making it convenient to show up for your treatments and classes — just walk downstairs and there you are. Yoga classes are held on the lanai of your accommodations overlooking the waterfall.
More amenities include: a welcome gift of curated locally made items, tropical fruit and farm-fresh eggs from Dr. Sierra's garden, coffee, tea, local honey, yoga mats and props and a fully stocked kitchen. Group retreats also include farm-to-table dinners.
Dining
The house will come stocked with breakfast items, coffee and tea. You can also opt for groceries to be waiting for you upon arrival, so that you can cook meals throughout your stay. You can also dine out in Hilo town, which is only a 20-minute walk, or 5-minute drive, away. Here are my recommendations:
- Booch Bar: Housemade kombucha on tap, plus salads, sandwiches and appetizers with many vegetarian options. I recommend this spot for lunch. Open daily, 8 a.m. to 9 p.m., 110 Keawe St., Hilo.
- Moon & Turtle: A mom-and-pop Hilo institution serving fresh seafood in a daily rotating menu. Make dinner reservations in advance. This is a meal you won't want to miss. Open Tuesday through Saturday, 5:30 to 9 p.m., 51 Kalākaua St., Hilo.
- The Hidden Nēnē: Speakeasy serving craft cocktails. Swoop by for an after-dinner drink following dinner at Moon & Turtle. Open daily, noon to midnight, 58 Furneaux Lane, Unit B, Hilo.
Things to Do Nearby
- Kayak Hilo Bay
- Enjoy a relaxing sunset cruise
- Go snorkeling at a black sand beach
- Take a whale watching boat tour (January through April only)
Value for Money
Most retreats, whether yoga, meditation or for something else, cost at least $2,000 to $3,000 or more for a three- to five-night stay. Aloha Falls is competitive with its pricing. With a base price of $700 per night (before add-on amenities), you could have your own personal accommodations without having to share them with anyone else (other than who you decide to bring) for three nights for roughly the same price. The value is in the privacy you have, the size of the house and the serene landscape that envelops the property. That, and having your own personal naturopath doctor on-site tending to your well-being, definitely adds value.
Who It's Best For
Best for couples or friends looking for a retreat of their own they don’t have to share with anyone else. The house is a little big for one person, but the experience of doing a retreat solo is invaluable.
- Address: Hilo, Hawai’i Island
- Booking Link
- Check-in/Check out times: Check in 4 p.m. / Check out 10 a.m.
- Parking: Free, onsite
- Airport Shuttle: Inquire with the owner of the property