We had no idea how magical a vacation we were embarking on. Our mornings were coffee and sweet rolls (Lava Java) and meanderings around the lagoon - no urge to "get going" just slow down and relax, look at the tide pools. We spent the days at beaches, volcanos, or driving the island - and a few of them we spent at the house just lounging around, swimming with the turtles and chatting with the locals about this secluded paradise.

Our evening ritual included sunsets from the lanai and then dinner from the bar-b-que (we didn't eat out once!). We soothed our babies to sleep walking along the balcony, played cards or dominos at the table (or wandered by torchlight) and fell asleep to the calming rhythm of the sea. Our children nicknamed the house the "gecko house" due to the kindly animals who joined us in the evenings! This place is truly spectacular, the peace & quiet, the land, the sea - all combined to make us forget about time and business and focus on the importance of family and nature. We were joyful here and we look forward to our return. Thi, special thanks to James - he is the perfect caretaker, mellow and helpful at the same time. His respect for the property and guests shows how much he values where he lives and how vital he is to the ongoing life of the property - I hope you are able to benefit from his care and kindness for many years. Also, the locals are very kind to the guests - this was so nice. We utilized many of the locations/things to do from your website, this is very helpful. James also recommended the "Hawaii - the Big Island Revealed" guidebook which was excellent for historical info, other locations, and drives around the island. Lastly, I bought my son a children's book called "Goodnight Gecko" which is about a gecko who lives in a house in Hawaii on the shore. When I read it to him he always talks about the "gecko house" we stayed at and how much he wants to go back.

Thanks to you and Ian for making this memory for us.

This was the third time my husband and I have vacationed here-the first time we were newly-weds, the second time we brought along our ten-month old daughter, and this third trip we returned with her little brother (and my father and his wife) so they too could fall in love with the exquisite ocean front accommodations of the Robertson Plantation House: the "turtle" lagoon, and the "quiet" lagoon, both located on either side of "hammock point." We frequented all three areas daily-no car seats, no tantrums, just a stroll across the lawn away.

We settled effortlessly into our new routine: sleeping to the ocean surf, waking 6 am to the sound of the morning doves cooing under the eaves, and watching the spinner dolphins as they passed while we ate breakfast on the lanai. Afternoons, we dumped mangoes and vanilla ice-cream in the blender to ward of the 2 pm sleepies, and then, succumbed regardless to a nap in the hammock on the point, which James so kindly put up and took down for us daily.

Evenings, we watched for the rust colored "Sunset Cruise" ship to pass as the sky paled, and enjoyed the tiki lamps so faithfully lit by James. The one night I couldn't sleep, I was able to peruse the many bookshelves in the house, retiring to the couch with a fairy tale collection, a book on the Kennedy family, and a 1950 anthology of Japanese literature. The fully-equipped kitchen had everything we needed. We felt safe and secure knowing James was on the property and felt protected by Mango (the dogger!) and his night time patrols. They both went out of their way to make us feel welcome and taken care of.

In search of the perfect words, we decided to let each member of the family have their say: Kallista (4 1/2): "I liked the fishies. And I liked the little baby purple sea urchins. I liked the curtains in that bathroom by the washing machine."

Orion (2 1/2): "Playing baseball!(Kallista translates: "You mean croquet?!" Orion nods vigorously.) I want to go get Daddy to go back to Hawaii tomorrow."

Melie (5, the dog) left at home with godparents: "How could you?! A screened lanai from which to watch the moonlit ocean by tiki lamp?! And three balconies to snooze on in the sun? Those chocolate covered macadamia nuts you brought me back as consolation were fabulous, but don't expect me to forgive you anytime soon."

Grandpa: "What a fine place to frolic with the grandchildren, the fishes and the friendly turtles."

Grandma: "The fresh green trees were alive with brilliant yellow birds, two kinds of cardinals, and exotic java sparrows. Bright green and turquoise geckoes abounded, tame enough to get a good look at. We awoke to bird songs each morning-a great way to wake up in paradise."

P. S.
Mark (the Daddy): broke his free diving record-and dove to 102 feet. Managed to emerge from ocean bleeding in 6 places, with 13 sea urchin spines in elbow by going out of the coral cove at low tide with pregnant wife (in bikini) in tow. Wife emerged without a scratch, and Mark fulfilled his ex-Navy SEAL daily high-adrenaline requirement.

Tania (the Mommy): plans to take out an extra life-insurance policy on the husband for the next trip...because we'll be back to introduce the newest member of the family sometime after March, 2006, once the baby is old enough to fly. We are ever grateful the home is open to visitors and look forward to our next stay. Thank you, thank you. The James Family.