Honaunau, Hawaii, is home to the Horizon Guest House. The property is located on 40 acres of land overlooking the ocean, with a reportedly 20-mile coastline view from the pool, according to the owner. There are four suites available for guest reservations, all of which include a private bathroom and deck. Available to patrons when staying at the guest house is access to a pool, jacuzzi, and a deck with a barbecue area. Other features available to visitors are a breakfast served every morning and a guest utility room that has snorkeling equipment, towels, and beach chairs, to name a few items. There are animals, such as donkeys and goats, on the premises that visitors are able to interact with. Availability for the guest house is open year-round for accommodations, with the busiest time for the business being between January to March. Activities in the area include visiting the various beaches and snorkeling sites.
The Horizon Guest House is located on 40 acres of land on the Big Island of Hawaii. "Contemporary" is how Clem, one of the owners of the business, describes the four-unit guest house. All four of the units were designed with the same layout by Clem, with the only differentiating feature between the rooms being "slight differences in [the] furniture," says the owner. Three of the rooms offer king-size beds, while the other features a queen-size bed. Private patios adorn the suites. The rooms have a bar area with a mini fridge and walk-in showers.
Features of the property include an infinity pool with a jacuzzi built into the corner. "A 20-mile coastal view" is one feature of the pool area, which is one of the reasons people come to stay at the property, says Clem. The bed and breakfast is at a relatively higher altitude, allowing guests to look down at the beaches. Surrounding the guest house is a 15,000-acre cattle ranch, which provides privacy, states the owner. There is also a guest utility room that has a refrigerator, ice maker, snorkeling equipment, beach towels, boogie boards, and beach chairs, which are free for visitors to use.
Common areas in the Horizon Guest House include a formal dining room, a living room, a lanai (the Hawaiian word for patio), and a library. Another area visitors can use include is a patio by the pool that features barbecue facilities. The acreage of the property is home to two rescue donkeys and two goats "who are friendly," says Clem. Patrons are "invited to walk around the property," says the owner, where they have the opportunity to see and interact with the rescue animals.
Breakfast is served daily at the Horizon Guest House in the space between the kitchen and living room between the hours of 7:00 to 9:00 a.m. Patrons are able to grab their food and choose to eat at several places on the property, including the lanai, poolside, the formal dining room, or the library. Typical items to be served during the morning meal include a fruit platter, with the fruit being provided from the orchard on the premises; baked goods; and beverages such as coffee, tea, and juices. Overall, the breakfast is buffet style offering various items of food. Clem, who is also the cook for the bed and breakfast, can make accommodations for patrons with food sensitivities or allergies. The staff will typically ask for these types of requests when guests first arrive on the property when they take them on a tour of the premises.
Horizon Guest House is located at a relatively higher elevation on the Big Island of Hawaii, which is one of the biggest draws for the business, says Clem, one of the owners. Those who stay at the guest house must be 14 years or older. According to the owners, this policy is enacted to try and preserve a more mature atmosphere for the premises. The only exception to this rule is if patrons reserve all the rooms in the house during their stay. Other policies to note include animals not being permitted and the pool and jacuzzi area only being available between the hours of 8:00 a.m to 9:00 p.m.
Clem wants his guests to feel relaxed and be able to unwind when they stay at the Horizon Guest House. He reports the property is not meant for parties but instead for "privacy and quiet." Clem and his spouse, Angus, live on the premises and try to make themselves available for patron's needs; they also have interactions with visitors every morning during breakfast. The owners try to make a visitor's stay all-inclusive, meaning features such as breakfast and access to the guest utility room and its contents are included in the price of staying at the Horizon Guest House.
"Our consideration for our guests" is one of the main things the Horizon Guest House is known for, says Clem. One previous patron of the property left a review saying, "This was the perfect place for our last few days in Hawaii because it allowed us to truly relax. Clem and Angus are lovely people and hosts, and their house is nothing short of magical. The room was great; the bed was comfortable, great pressure in the shower, a small fridge, and a coffee machine." The owners report they try to have the mindset of putting patrons first and making themselves available to give recommendations for things in the surrounding area. Attractions in the area include the beach in front of the guest house and two of the reportedly "best snorkeling spots in the state of Hawaii," says Clem. Both of these sites are within 15 minutes of each other. One is called the Place of Refuge National Park, and the other is Honaunau Bay. Volcano park is about an hour and twenty minutes away from the property, which is another place common for patrons to visit. Black Rock Pizza is one place that Clem recommends to his visitors when staying at the guest house. Other restaurant recommendations include Keei Cafe and Teshima's Restaurant.
The Horizon Guest House is open year-round for reservations. The winter time, specifically January through March, is reported by the owners to be the busiest season of operation. With being in business for over 20 years, Clem notes that about twenty-five percent of his business are repeat guests.
The design of the Horizon Guest House building was made by the current owner, Clem Classen. Clem originally purchased the property in 1994, and construction began in 1997. The three years between these time frames were utilized to prepare the land for construction and the business in general. The following year, after the building started to be constructed, the Horizon Guest House received its first guest. Clem currently runs the business with his spouse Angus Meek.
Clem remarks that for him, owning a bed and breakfast was always something he wanted to do. "I wanted to create a job setting that was as nice as I could get it," he says. In preparation for starting a bed and breakfast, Clem stayed at a few properties in the industry to familiarize himself with the business and see what he wanted for his own bed and breakfast. During this time, he remarks he was able to identify how he wanted to run his business. Since building the business, Clem hasn't had to make any changes to the property since he constructed the building. In regards to Clem's favorite part of owning the guest house, he states, "I get to travel all around the world without actually leaving." The property has received guests from many places, allowing Clem and Angus to meet people from all over the world.
86-3992 Mamalahoa Hwy
Honaunau, Hawaii 96726
United States
Bed and Breakfast
Clem Classen and Angus Meek
