Onion House, Hawaii- Independent Guest Reviews

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Guest video of their week at the Onion House

Painting of papaya tree done by guest, Candace Keller, on her third visit to the Onion House in 2015. 48 x 48" acrylic

Guest Reviews:

“Absolutely unforgettable! Staying at the Onion House was like a dream. It's difficult to put into words just how amazing it really was. We had many activities planned for our trip to the Big Island, but cancelled them because we could not bring ourselves to leave this beautiful home. This property is very private. The house itself is a work of art. It was immaculate upon arrival and fully equipped with everything imaginable...we wanted for nothing. The pool was absolute perfection... relaxing, refreshing, and with stunning ocean/sunset views. We had the pleasure of meeting Jeanne, the caretaker of the Onion House. She is an absolute angel, and was just a phone call away. Our only regret was not being able to meet Beth, who is an incredibly talented and accomplished artist. We did speak though and it was obvious she is one incredible woman. As artists ourselves, we found the Onion House to be a haven for inspiration. We left there feeling rejuvenated, both artistically and spiritually...and we will forever be grateful to Beth for opening up her home and changing our lives forever. ” -Patrick

I’m sitting here considering how I can express what the time at the Onion House has done for me. For some context, I graduated from high school in ’71. It was a time of idealism, dreams, and hope. More importantly it was a time for questioning established values (work hard, collect the coolest toys you can afford, find nice wife, raise good kids, and succeed)… then die.

I, too, eventually succumbed to the lure of the American Dream. Along the way, I misplaced my spiritual ‘Child of God’ self. I’ve become a workaholic, although at a job I truly like. I still know what beauty looks like, but I’ve forgotten what it feels like. In my case, ironically, I’ve had to succeed in order to afford to find myself.

When I discovered the Onion House, with it’s self-evident atmosphere, it called to me. I know everything is a matter of perception, but it was as if a sanctuary from life’s stress was being offered. I brought with me my favorite music, my ‘eyes of a child,’ and my hunger for renewal. My needs have been fulfilled.

I’ve never experienced a place that, day after day, made ALL of me feel so fine! If I can carry even a part of this ‘feeling’ I’ve rediscovered back home with me I will be much happier.

This place is an oasis of Zen!!!

Thanks Beth, Annie, Auntie Dofeen, Mr. Kellogg… for sharing the vision, possession, and haven with us. -Rod, Linda, and Cassondra
Grand Junction, Colorado

Aloha Beth, We are back home in Michigan with only fond memories of our stay at the Onion House. What an incredible place, it far exceeded our expectations. The colors, the sounds, the smells were a sensory delight. I felt that I was a part of a living work of art. I could sense a great energy surrounding me.

I am reminded of Henri Rousseau's painting "the Dream." that is what our experience was to us, a dream fulfilled. I want to thank you and especially your staff, you took great care of us. I believe that we have found a refuge to be able to escape to when we are in need. We will be back in the future. Mahalo, Frank & Debbie

Aloha Beth, I just wanted to thank you again for the opportunity for staying at the Onion House. That was the great experience that has really stayed with me. Its been almost 6 months and the wallpaper on my computer is a pic I took at night of the Onion House and I look at it every day and it brings me happiness. I hope the remodel went well and I hope to revisit in the future. Again, thank you so much and hope life is wonderful, and please tell Jeanne hello from us and she was awesome… -Koby

Dear Beth, I am forever thanking you. My family thoroughly enjoyed staying in your beautiful home. It was living in a piece of Art.
I cannot think of a more perfect way to experience Hawaii. My husband called it “exotic camping.” The openness made you feel more a part of the island experience with all the sounds and smells. I think you are right when you say the visitors keep the spirit of the house alive as it is always replenished by the emotions, happiness, and serenity the guests experience during their stay.

After staying there, I feel as if the house is not an inanimate object. It truly has a soul. This “essence” needs to stay alive. Thank you for allowing us to meet “your old friend, the Onion House.” You are very generous to share this privilege with us. Mahalo and aloha, Sharlene

After our last visit to the onion house we fell in love with the area, we both bonded closer together as a couple and are much more in love with each other… -Phil

Our stay at the Onion House was simply put, incredible! From the moment we eagerly stepped on to the property to the moment we regrettably stepped off the property, we were amazingly in awe of the beauty and peace we found in every nook and cranny. The old cattle pens were a joy to wander. The gardens with plumeria and hibiscus raining upon us was purely zen-like. Mix that in with the pure spirit of aloha brought by the lovely Jeanne, we were, and still are, in love with the Onion House. In fact, we are contemplating when we can once again enjoy the enchanting nature of your beautiful property. -Wade, San Leandro, California

What a vacation experience! My husband and I (in our early 40s) and our two boys (age 12 and 13) had a blast at the Onion House and the island of Hawaii. It is hard to believe, but the house is even more beautiful than the pictures on the website. It really is. Walking through the house is truly like being a butterfly. The stained glass panels, the translucent roof, the views of the lush landscaping, the view of the sea, and the view of the AMAZING and HUGE (and deep) pool is spectacular. I won't repeat all the other reviewers comments here, but want to add a few things not mentioned. We rented a convertible and it was such a great choice- it's a great way to see Hawaii and worth the extra expense. We drove on every major highway around the island at least once. The Onion House is easy to access all the island has to offer in less than a day. We tended to get up fairly early, take a morning dip in the pool, and head out for adventures and were always back for the sunset and the night swimming we all loved. The pool is lighted to change colors and it is so beautiful at night. If you are wondering about traffic and distances, we left for Volcano National Park at 7:00 AM, did a 5 hour bike ride around the volcano from 9:45 until 2:45 (it was beautiful), drove through Hilo, drove across the saddle road and visited the Mauna Kea ranger station, and circled around back to the Onion House by 6:00 PM. It was a long day, but we covered so much of the island. Another day we went on a snorkeling tour through Fair Winds on the Hula Kai, which is only a 10 minute drive away, but saw more tropical fish than I could imagine. Another day we drove to Polulo Valley, hiked down (about 15 minutes down and 20 minutes up) and looked around the black sand beach and mountains, stopped at a fruit stand and had fresh coconut juice, swam at Hapuna Beach (hot but gorgeous), and made it back for a luau in Kailua! Another day we went to Waipio Valley and hiked down a ways (but it takes longer and is more steep than Polulu so we didn't go all the way down) went to Akaka Falls State Park, and went swimming at Beach 69 and still made it back for sunset. Another day we visited a couple heritage sites south of Kona and snorkeled at Two Step- HIGHLY RECOMMEND. It only costs $5 to park and it was the BEST snorkeling we did anywhere. The grounds around the house are great and we even played hide and seek in the trails! Kids will love it and adults will be blown away!!! - Katie

The pictures of this home are not misleading. It is an amazing piece of architecture that is truly at one with nature. You will feel like you are camping in very high style. The birds and geckos are beautiful and the water features and 70' long pool are so serene. The walls are made of screen, stained glass, and lava rock. The landscaping is lush. It is like no other house in the world. You will feel like you are staying in the home of a close friend - there's nothing cold or impersonal about it. There is a sense of spirituality and peace here unlike any other place I've been. The owner / previous guests have provided things for all to use: music, books, snorkeling gear, and toiletries. The kitchen is fully stocked with beautiful plates, utensils, linens reminiscent of the Orient, and basically everything you need to cook each meal if you so desired, including condiments! There are plenty of beach and bath towels, a washer and dryer, and all the conveniences of home. From your first inquiry, Beth makes you feel so welcomed and I've found myself chatting with her via email over the course of the year - she's a wonderful listener with sound perspective - like a soul sister though we've never met in person! Jeanne, the caretaker, couldn't have been nicer. They consider you "Ohana" after you've enjoy the home and you will truly feel like family! Beth's recommendations for everything were spot on. She created a page for all to read and follow, in my opinion, to make the most of your stay. She recommended us to use Manta Ray Dives of Hawaii and ride horses at Na'alapa Stables and we loved both adventures! She suggested a fishing excursion that we did not listen to and were sorry we didn't....my oldest said after the disappointing fishing experience, "We should have listened to Beth!" I laughed as he only knew her name from my saying (after the mantas, a few restaurants, Two Step, and the horses they so loved) "This was Beth's recommendation!" I don't feel as though she recommends any particular place without a reason, probably from repeated personal experiences. The restaurants, beaches, waterfalls, volcano - all were perfectly described. This home is very private, but you are minutes from most places to see on the Kona coast and can drive to the other side for an excursion as well! -Dana

Hi Beth, Our stay at the Onion House was just magical. We are still reliving our beautiful memories of our recent visit. It was so great that though we had planned on visiting a different island next year, we are pretty certain that we want to return to your wonderful oasis. -Nancy

Beth, We had a wonderful time and enjoyed the house immensely. The unique nature of the architecture and grounds make you feel as if you are on another fascinating world far removed from the ordinary. I wish I could be of some help but I can't think of anything that could be improved. (anything you can do about the price of gas and milk?)
Thanks you for all your help. -The Menchens

Dear Beth, I really can't hope to adequately convey our gratitude for everything you, your lovely home and staff did to make our week in paradise so absolutely memorable and perfect. We came away wanting for nothing except to be able to return one day.

I don’t think a single soul that visits the onion house can return the same as it entered. There is such peace and tranquility to be found alongside nature at her finest. I dare say we are dearly missing the early morning song of the forest that heralded dawns arrival each day, the curious gecko’s who became such welcomed visitors and friends in so many places, (they truly are wonderful!) and the incredible sunsets that tucked in each days memories. What a gift to have been so lucky as to share in such a special place.

Our adventures outside the Onion House didn’t disappoint either. We found the guide book you provided invaluable and consulted it daily. We had the absolute thrill of a lifetime one day when we happened to be snorkeling in the Bay adjacent to the Place of Refuge. We swam forever it seemed with wild Dolphins! I still get goose bumps every time I relive the picture of them leaping in and out of the water like popcorn. At one point I hovered in the water with my face down, I could hear the Dolphins calling back and forth to one another and the sound was getting closer. The next thing I knew one was swimming straight for me and passed under a mere 5 feet beneath me. I really can’t tell you what that encounter was like and do it any justice. On another outing, (again found in the guide book) we encountered sea turtles basking along the shoreline at a beach just off the Marina. At first we didn’t notice them at all as they were so well camouflaged against the moss laden lava rock. What a thrill for us city dwellers! -Bev

Beth - We cannot begin to tell you how wonderful our stay at the Onion was! I close my eyes at night and wish I was there...that place haunts my mind. We truly had a great time and a true vacation...if my in-laws could have shipped my little boy and three cats to me you would have had some squatters on your hands. What a unique experience...I am so glad to know that a place like that exists on this big ol' earth. -Brittany

Our stay was fabulous -- it's a good thing we'd seen all the sights on a previous trip to the big island, because we were so in love with the house, the grounds, and all the creatures that live there, that we COULDN'T LEAVE THE PLACE FOR DAYS!
Mahalo a million times over for restoring and caring for the Onion as you do, and for opening it up to others. I can't think of a single thing that would have made our stay more perfect ... except maybe another week there! We took a LOT of photos and will send you some in the coming weeks... Again, mahalo -Jeff and Annene

I want you to know how sensational the house was in every way! I dream Hawaiian - I'm soooo busy catching up at work I don't even think about Hawaii during the daytime, but at night I have such vivid, wonderful dreams of the island and the house that when I wake up I'm never quite sure I'm not still there! It was quite an experience and of course, I want to come again as soon as possible. -Judy

Beth, Beth, how can we ever say thank you enough for the beautiful experience at the Onion House? Joe and I and my mother had the most relaxing and enjoyable time. I cannot think of anything that was missing. We did manage to get to a beach so Mom could put her feet in the oceon and one day we drove to Waimea so she could see the lava flows, we also managed to get to a coffe plantation. Other than that, the privacy and peacefullness at the house was the high point of the trip. The gecko's, birds, flowers, fruits and plants along with the sound of water in the pool made for a paradise. -Dawn

Six days is never long enough to spend on the Big Island, but this time it did feel like a real "away." Waking up in the middle of an aviary every morning, quickly followed by the sploosh-sploosh of Richard taking his morning swim, was as pleasant as could be. Lying in bed, gazing at the structure of the place, I felt as if we were camping beneath a giant stone and concrete palm tree, in a stained glass and screen cocoon. This is the first time that more photos have been taken of our "digs" than of our adventures. Still, I'm finding it impossible to convey the experience to anyone who wasn't there. Thank you. :) -Ellen

I can't sufficiently describe the joy, the romance and the whimsey of our stay at the Onion House. Thank you for saving, nurturing and sharing it--clearly your love for the Onion House is apparent even to folks "just passing through."

Perhaps the most remarkable thing about the House is that the thoroughly original (some would say eccentric) architecture actually creates an extraordinarily comfortable, functional and livable space--seamlessly joined to its environment. How often does one get to experience great art that is that the same time so accommodating, so EASY to be with…? I am sure I have never been so thoroughly comfortable and relaxed away from home...

26 days in Hawaii and the Onion House was definitely one of the highlights of our trip! Thank you for letting us experience the Onion House for those two days. My family never stopped grinning from ear to ear the entire time they were staying there. I thoroughly enjoyed reading about your Aunt and the history of the house. I have been sharing the story and pictures of the house with my friends and neighbors. Your Aunt is a character I won't soon forget. The overwhelming feeling I had while staying there was one of thankfulness that you restored the house and then let others experience it's unique charm. -Cindy

Words cannot express the amazing experience Gary and I had during our stay at the Onion House. We felt a unique connection to the beauty of the house and the surrounding environment. We both got so much more from our stay than we ever anticipated. We both felt very centered and peaceful at the end of our journey. It was hard for us to say goodbye to the house and Kona on Tuesday morning. Please send a heart felt mahalo to Annie from both Gary and I. It was like meeting up with an old friend from the first moment. She truly made us feel at home. And to you our gratitude for restoring the Onion House and sharing Auntie Dofeen's magic vision with others. -Linda and Gary

We got back from Hawaii last Sunday and I just wanted to let you know how much we liked the Onion House. Not only was it a continual feast for the eyes, it was absolutely fully stocked. We loved the beautiful pool, the serene pond with it's gorgeous evening and early morning flowers and even the Geckos. I don't usually enjoy cooking at all on vacations, but it was a pleasure to cook breakfasts and lunches in that kitchen. I'd love one like it at home. In short, the house was everything we hoped it would be and more. -Laurie

We loved the Onion House. It is the most romantic, secluded and beautiful home we've ever seen. We were only able to stay there for a few days, but we're planning a return visit. The pool is awesome, as is the view of the Kona coast. If you enjoy the feeling of living outdoors but don't like camping, this is the place for you. If we could move to Hawaii, this is where we'd want to live. -Mark and Stephanie

Beth, I just wanted to tell you how thoroughly we enjoyed our stay at the Onion House! It is an incredibly intelligent and creative work, and you deserve all the credit for nursing it back to health and sharing it with others. I've never been in a space that so naturally felt like home, and that made it all the more difficult to leave the house, the island, the friendly people, etc. We obviously hope to return at the first opportunity. Thanks again and again. -Mark, Chantal and Naomi

Aloha Beth,
Wow, just discovered your historical post on the Onion and family, fascinating is an understatement! It seems remarkable that you are "that" person that is aware of maintenance and have rescued such a unique home with such a unique story. We feel it's an honor for us to be able to stay there and we are very appreciative.