Talk Story with an Advertiser: Volcano Heritage Cottages
Lorna Larsen-Jeyte saw Tutu’s Cottage while taking a walk down Hale Ohia Road, thinking it was for the first time. She and her husband Albert had just come back from vacationing in Norway and Lorna saw a for sale sign. She immediately fell in love with the property, thinking she could make it like a Norwegian summer cottage. What Lorna remembered later was that she had lived there when she was eight years old with her dad and stepmom—they would go there on the weekends from their home in Hilo!
Lorna and Albert bought the cottage and completely renovated it. At the time, they owned Kīlauea Lodge and considered it the “13th room.” During the mid-90s they were getting more requests for multi-generational travel accommodations, so this was a perfect addition.
In 2008, Ola‘a Plantation House was for sale. Loving the idea of another project, Albert bought and renovated it and it became the “14th room” at Kīlauea Lodge.
When the couple sold Kīlauea Lodge in 2018, they kept these two vacation rentals. Each cottage sleeps up to five people.
Lorna reflects, “Both our cottages are quite different. Albert’s was built by a plantation manager, it’s quite elegant. Boone Morrison called it a Hilo-style plantation house. Albert fixed it up. The furniture in the living room is from the 1940s, it’s authentic rattan, recovered with Sig Zane fabric. The bedroom has a four-poster wood bed, it’s a replica of the Kawananakoa family bed in Hulihe‘e Palace. The kitchen has been modernized, but made to look like it’s from the 30s.”
Tutu’s Cottage is a simple house, not as large as Ola‘a. It has koa furniture, and is also upholstered with Sig Zane fabric. They both have an “upcountry look” that is seen in other high elevation towns, such as Kamuela, and Kula on Maui, usually featuring koa wood or rattan, with flowery Hawaiian fabric.
One of the things that is so nice about both cottages, being across the street from each other, is they are walking distance to Volcano Village. Families can walk from the cottages to the restaurants and galleries, and are just five minutes from Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. Lorna and Albert’s cottages have been rated as five-star Airbnb Superhosts and VRBO Premier Hosts!
Whether you’re visiting from another part of the island or another part of the world, reserve a Volcano Heritage Cottage!
Volcano Heritage Cottages
Hale Ohia Road, Volcano Village
volcanoheritagecottages@gmail.com
volcanoheritagecottages.com
