About the Reefhouse
The Reef House on Puako Beach Road has two private cottages with shared kitchen, dining, and lanais, outdoor showers, and a third of an acre of tropical gardens fronting on its own sand and lava beach*. Just a short swim out is the Big Island’s longest fringing coral reef and the best snorkeling in the state—a protected class AA ocean conservation district, winter calving grounds for endangered humpback whales, thriving sea turtle habitat**, ideal for every water sport from swimming, snorkeling, shorediving, surfing at the south end of town, kayaking, fishing–shore and deep–tidepooling, and sailing.
Redwood panelled, stylishly furnished with art, antiques, and every modern amenity, the Reef House cottages retain the feel and tranquil pace of Old Hawaii. Just offshore is the Jupiter Foundation’s hydrophone broadcasting all winter and spring real-time whale songs from Reef House waters to jupiterfoundation.org
Over 20 years of repeat guests have made the Reef House an annual habit. One (Oregon’s Paul C.) wrote an “Operator’s Guide to Puako” after a visit to sum up a perfect Reef House day in paradise:
When you hear Tweet-tweet-tweet, tweet, tweet, it’s time to get up. Smell the soft morning air and gaze on the golden light illuminating the palms. Set out for your morning walk—Ruddles at the end of the road, Waialea Bay, or the Mauna Lani & beyond. Back “home,” it’s tropical fruit salad with vanilla yogurt and nutmeg on the sea wall to watch for whales & size up the day’s snorkeling/diving possibilities. Catch the morning rays for an hour “power tan” then don mask and fins and join your turtle buddies in a dive or snorkel. Then a garden shower and its LUNCHTIME!!
Three-bean and potato salads, kim-chee, and a couple of Beck’s from the freezer with fresh lime. You can’t maintain this pace without pause, so grab that classic Ray Chandler detective novel and ease into the hammock for an early nap. As the afternoon nears its end, head down to Hapuna for some “bobbin” in the surf or body surfing. The Hawaiian legend says that if you miss a sunset at Puako, you won’t return, so be sure to be back in time for sushi and Tanqueray and tonics at the seawall, watching the big orange ball ooze down the horizon. Then fire up the kiawe charcoal in the grill and cook a succulent ono filet from Laau’s.
After dinner, wrap up in a beach towel on the loungers and sip an ice-cold sauterne while counting the shooting stars. When your lids start to droop, shuffle off to bed with your sweetheart and dream serenely of the next day to come!”
*By law the public has access to all Hawaii beachfront.
**A Discovery Channel television show on sea turtles was filmed from the Reef House.