This small inn has won mega kudos from the big travel pubs (T&L, Conde Nast Traveler, etc) and for good reason. The property is utterly gorgeous, an historic house that was formerly a cliffside plantation. The gardens have copious fruit trees and six types of bananas. The fruits are served at breakfast in the mornings. The Hamakua Coast is dramatic with the everpresent distant ocean blue juxtaposed against steep cliffs. Although this is technically a B&B, its a lot more like a luxurious small inn with top-grade service and furnishings (don't be misled by the seemingly frumpy room decor on the Website). Rooms are big, clocking in at over 500 square feet per room. Almost all have stunning ocean views. Nearby you can hike to the impressive cataracts of Akaka Falls. You're close to the up-and-coming one-horse town of Honoka'a (no, not an oxymoron) the galleries of Honomu and funky Hilo. The town of Honokaa itself is a wonderful one-horse town with a fabulous antiques / junk shop, the Honoka'a Trading Post. Honomu, an even smaller town of galleries and storefronts, has an amazing glass collectibles shop, Glass from the Past. The innkeepers offer a ton of activities -- on propriety yoga instruction, cooking classes and, of course, weddings are most welcome.Locals thought highly enough of this place to give it awards for best B&B in the Hawaii Herald-Tribune, the local daily.

Palms Cliff House
Rooms from $175 per night, no children under 12, discount for stays of four nights or greater, 808-963-6076

—Alex, 09/06/06