Biognostic Lodging for
the Naturally Curious
Human Travelers
- Pricing Breakdown -
- Basic Cost -
Each hosting platform takes their share of any payments, and while we are hosted on VRBO and Airbnb, Hipcamp allows us to set a simple rate with both of our lodging options, while others recommend their sliding scale fee which we use as they also take larger fees. You are also always welcome to contact us by phone or email to book directly. We review all requests personally regardless of how they are made.
- CLEANING FEE -
We do not charge a cleaning fee, Yes You heard that right, as it is accounted for in our overall cost being a minimal need of cost and materials, there really isn't a reason to do this. So please just be mindful of making unreasonable messes.
Yes we have on the very rare occasion had to clean up after guests who were clearly not meant to stay with us. But the overwhelming majority of considerate guests know when they have left an out of ordinary mess, like one guest who spilled wine up the wall (We didn't ask how), and they left a kind gratuity knowing it was our job to clean. Such guests are always a delight to host!
As we did originally charge only 9-12$ on cleaning fees so with all the recent targeted adds from companies like the Hiltons and other large chain brands we've just decided to avoid this topic of "Cleaning fees" all together.
- Taxes & Other Tributes -
Recently Hawai'i added yet another tax for lodging providers to ask of guests. This has expanded the already confusing paper work of collecting 4 separate taxes from traveling guests, which we then have to file in the most absurd ways possible. So please understand the following taxes are added to our price as a requirement by law from the State and County totaling *17.962% :
*4.1885% State General Sales Tax
*10.25% State Accommodations Tax
*3% County Accommodation Tax
*0.5235% County General Sales Tax
Because of these increasing taxes, many small homeowners who rent out to their personal residence as lodging to travelers, not to be confused with the multiple property management companies or chain hotels hiding behind BnB brands, have decided to charge higher "cleaning fees" as cleaning in not subject to the Transient taxes. So you guessed it, the absurd 200, 500, even 1000 dollar cleaning fees that many people complain about, are fueled by satirical adds funded by hotel chains, are actually one way to save you from paying taxes.
As these transient taxes have increased all over, know it is a revenue that is also essential with the increase in travel as they benefit communities who see this influx of non-residents adding to the use of community resources. We all should pay our "fair share" of taxes, and rightfully so as simple things like cost of living are more problematic for higher touristed areas.
With the advent of the more and more BnB options, property managements who once rented longer leases to nurses, teachers, students, military personal, seasonal farm workers, and a whole heap of specialist needs, are now renting to tourism, making residential living less affordable. We live in an AG-1 zone and use our land for agricultural means. In doing so we have opened our food forest development to guests as an eco-experience. In addition, we fully support those in residential areas trying to get by renting out a spare room, or guest house on the property they actually own AND reside on. Not all BnB's are ran or owned by those who also call them "Home." Please know if you choose to rent a BnB for your travel needs, if it is actually owned by those hosting you, or if it is one of the problematic companies that is pushing out residents their communities. This is also why we fully support the need for higher end hotels like The Hiltons, as they are not occupying residential communities, and also so that we don't have to host unrealistic demands of those who do belong in a climate control, white gloved, 5-star hotel. Even if the Hiltons get tax breaks while wasting large amount of community resources.
These are problems, and so many others, taxes help with, so we appreciate your understanding being part of the economic prosperity for the communities your travel to, and everyone that makes it possible!
- Gratuity -
We provide a service with our simple lodgings. That service is perceived by everyone differently. Some see the fresh bread we bake, or the forest and fruits we tend as part of that service to their unique stay. Maybe some conversation over morning coffee we share is a friendly unexpected service you'll enjoy. The recommendations of how to experience local spaces with reverence, or just the techniques we've gathered living off grid, that if we knew a decade ago, we would have understood we could do what we're doing here anywhere twice as easily. Gratuity is different to everyone, but it is a show of gratitude still. We know some guests stay with us because they are on a budget coming to Hawai'i, and we are more than affordable for the experience we offer, so genuinely kind review is the most gratuity that experience is afforded. Others have left small things they feel would be of appreciation for our homestead or future guests, we have many beautiful stories of these tokens, and so do out animals. And when afforded a few leave a monetary amount knowing it's in their ability which, we assure is always put to good use! My Grandma Faris would always say "Take what you need, and leave what you can," as gratuity is not an obligation, but a show appreciation. If you are grateful for the experiences over your stay, then please leave what you can, and you will forever have our heartfelt Mahalo!