Makoa Kabin on Big Island

I spent the summer of 2025 at Makoa Kabin in Fern Forest, Big Island.

Way down a dirt road in a quiet little forest, Makoa Kabin is a peaceful retreat from the world. It is surrounded by beautiful tropical forest, and at night the coqui frogs lull you to sleep.

While the Kabin has everything you need to enjoy a nice vacation, the life it offers is one that is much different than city life. The bathroom and kitchen are open air. Given the year-round nice weather, this is not as crazy as it may sound to someone from the mainland. It allows for the peaceful forest to be a bigger part of your stay.

However, the Kabin is off grid. This means it uses solar panels and a battery backup. You’ll hear the inverter kick on to charge the battery during sunny days, and you’ll hear it kick on at night to shunt battery power to the motor in the fridge.

This means being more mindful. When living off grid, it makes sense to avoid opening the fridge at night, and to avoid watching TV and having all the lights on after dark. It’s better to go to bed at sunset and wake up at sunrise, following the rhythm of nature.

For some, following the rhythm of nature can seem hard at first. However, studies show that it’s actually really good for us to wake up with the sun and go to sleep when it gets dark. It helps re-set our circadian rhythms so that we can get better sleep.

The Kabin allows you to stay with your pets, so here you can see a picture of my duck Sizzle in the kitchen. She enjoyed the view and watching the chickens who live at the Kabin as they dug in the grass looking for bugs and worms.

I spent a lot of time on the deck just watching and listening to the forest. It was peaceful, and exactly what I needed after the first half of my year. The caretaker Jeanette was kind, thoughtful, and very patient with feathers being all around the yard.

Although staying at Makoa Kabin requires mindful use of electricity and water, I believe its charm outweighs any restrictions you might feel living closer to nature. I’d recommend a stay there.