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“The Falls at Reed's Island is a new vacation rental located in Hilo's upscale enclave, Reed's Island, a mile from downtown Hilo. The three-bedroom house is perched at eye level to one of Hawaii's most beautiful waterfalls, and is flanked by the Wailuku River and rainforest. The Falls at Reed's Island features private bathrooms, hot-and-cold soaking tubs and views from every window.” - Modern Agent
Historically home for the Hawaiians was not on the beach, they lived in the valleys where the weather was appealing, inspirational, serene. Legend has it that Reed’s Island, (original name “Koloiki”) was the play ground of the Alii. Imagine staying in what seems to be deep in a rainforest, but just a mile up river of Hilo Bay, where a Hawaiian King spent his time.
Guest comments from Honolulu - “Thank you, thank you, thank you! We have loved the experience of this magical place. The soothing cascades of the waterfalls, the falling rain, the calls of birds, the black rocks and so many colors of green just overload the senses and provide an un-imagined tranquility. Steve told us of this paradise - but even he could not prepare us for this setting. From dawn to dark we have been captive and can only speak in low voices as if not to break the spell. Thank you for sharing this all with us. We leave with memories and feelings that will last forever. Much aloha, ....”
Reed's Island is a Hilo neighborhood where the wealthy built their homes in a bygone era, and it still holds that reputation today. “feels like being on a private island”.
The Falls at Reed's Island, was one of four properties featured in The New York Times - "Secluded Retreats on the Big Island" and was featured on the TV special - "Around the World in 80 Homes" produced by the Fine Living Channel, owned by the same folks that bring you HGTV - Home and Garden TV.
The Falls at Reed's Island is about 1 mile from old historic Hilo town and Hilo Bay “The Beautiful Bayside City”. The land is more vertical than horizontal, a sliver with about 700' of frontage on the Wailuku River, the largest river in the State. It is protected by a fragment of State land on its side away from the river, and the land across the river is protected by a conservation easement. When on the property, it seems deep in the rain forest, although it is really in downtown Hilo.
Designed by San Francisco architects David Morton and Thomas Cordell, as their private vacation home in Hawaii. Completed in 2002, the narrowness of the site dictated the uniqueness of the house layout, three comfortable private bedrooms with baths, surrounded with large windows opening into the magical rain forest setting. A kitchen building, a pavilion with large windows on all sides surveying, as from a crow's nest, the two gorges and the waterfall. The three buildings are joined by a long screened lanai, with a colonnade of posts made of native Ohia tree trunks. Interior wood is untreated Port Orford cedar from Oregon which has a pleasant aroma.
Over eons of time the river eroded the gorge down on the North side of the island to a level of about 85 feet below the island, leaving the South gorge high and dry about 30 feet below the island. With cliffs flanking both sides, this dry channel is an ideal site for a garden, the bottom is a near level grass area. It undulates the length of the property, culminating beyond the tip of the old island at a cliff overlooking the active North gorge and a grand waterfall directly below. The house exterior is mostly black, with black anodized aluminum windows giving the feeling that the house emerges from the black lava rocks below.
KEY FEATURES:
• Riverfront
• Private Hot Tub
• River View
• Secluded
• Near Boat Launch
• Near Shopping