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Kahi Malu (Kate's Volcano Cottage)

Volcano, Hawaii, United States

Kate's Cottages are two cottages located in the city of Volcano, Hawaii (very near the Volcano National Park). The smaller cottage is named Kate's Volcano Cottage, and the larger cottage is called Kahi Malu. Both cottages share an entrance (off Laukapu Ave), but each cottage has its own parking spot.

We booked the cottages online by emailing Kate. After arriving at our scheduled time, we called Kate, who arrived a couple minutes later to give us a tour of the place. She lives nearby, and is quite friendly and eager to help.

Kahi Malu

The master bedroom

While staying at Kate's Cottages, we stayed in the "Kahi Malu" residence. It is the larger of the two residences. There are two bedrooms, one bathroom, a kitchen, a living room area, and one small futon. In total, six people can sleep here.

When we first entered the cottage, the first thing we noticed was that it smelled like a cottage. It had the "nature/mold" smell that cottages often have.

The cottage has an "on/off" switch for the hot water tank. Ideally, you would only have the hot water tank on when hot water is needed. The cottage also had a small furnace in the main room to provide heat when needed.

The Bedrooms

The second bedroom

Kahi Malu had two bedrooms. The master bedroom was a bit larger than the other bedroom, but both were comfortable. Both beds were quite warm, and even had electric heaters (in case it got too cold). When we were there, it was warm enough that we didn't need the electric heaters.

The Bathroom

The bathroom

There is only one small bathroom at Kahi Malu, but if you don't mind taking your turn, it is possible to share it amongst six people without any problems. The bathroom has a sink, toilet, and small shower. The shower is a bit tired, and the other facilities aren't great, but they're certainly adequate for a cottage visit. The rooms were not cleaned during our visit, and the towels were not changed, but there were enough towel hangers that we were able to keep them clean and reuse them.

The Kitchen

The Kitchen

The kitchen is quite adequate, and is stocked with plates, cutlery, and some cookware. There is no dishwasher in the kitchen, so you have to clean the dishes yourself. As with most rentals, food isn't provided, so you'll have to bring groceries for whatever food you want to eat while here. There is a fairly large grocery store in the city, so you should be able to find whatever you need there. Just ask Kate if you have any questions - she's quite knowledgeable about the area!

Weather

The sitting area, with the kitchen table in the background

The weather in Volcano is often a bit cooler than the rest of the island. If you're coming from Kona, or elsewhere at sea level, you'll find that it's a bit cooler in Volcano. Shorts and a t-shirt may be appropriate during the day, but at night, long pants are more comfortable.

Cost

For six people, we paid $205/night. The listed price is $145/night for double occupancy, plus $15 for every additional person.