Paradise! You've heard it said of Hawaii before, but the magnificent site of seven landscaped acres of botanical gardens surrounding My Island Bed and Breakfast Inn will surely hammer it home. The lush and varied flora elegantly frames this three-story house, built around 1886 on the Big Island then subsequently improved upon with the conversion of the bottom floor from carriage garage into living room and kitchen in 1900 and the addition of the library, bedroom and bath in 1916. The original owners lived there through 1941, and upon their moving, the inn became a storage facility for museum pieces for the next thirty years until the Morses, born and raised in the islands, purchased it in 1972 and lived there as their residence. In 1984, they turned it into the B&B but still live here full time. Their objective is to keep the basic home in as close to its original condition as possible, but with some modern conveniences.

There are many interior attractions to My Island B&B Inn that become apparent from the moment you walk through the doors including the beautiful hand poured glass pane windows with stained glass, the "Edwina Jackson" model fireplace crafted in New York City in 1867, the stairway rails made of natural, untreated koa branches and the upstairs doors fashioned simply from boards nailed together. Six very comfortable rooms reside at the inn with three bedrooms in the main house, one of which acts as dormitory with a queen and three single beds. The garden units house the other three accommodation, each with private bath and entrance; two of which share a covered patio and one with kitchenette, color television and telephone.

Separate Guest House: A three-bedroom, two-bath guest home is also available on the estate offering a full kitchen, woodstove, color television and VCR, telephone, washer and dryer, and complete privacy as it is on its own acre lot. The house sleeps six people. Breakfast is included in with the guest house.

Enjoy a night, week, or longer in this century old missionary-style home nicknamed "Haleohu" (house in the mist). My Island B&B Inn is a member of the Hawaii Visitors Convention Bureau; Hawaii Island B&B Association; and the Professional Association of Innkeepers., Inc.

Let the bird's morning chatter (many on the endangered species list) be your alarm clock as you will want to enjoy a huge "stuff yourself" continental breakfast delightfully served family-style each day. Recommended local restaurants for lunch and dinner are Lava Rock Cafe, Kilauea Lodge, Thai Thai, and Kiawe Kitchen.

The real attraction here are the carefully cultivated flower and tree gardens with over 150 varieties of trees, shrubs, ferns, orchids, lilies, anthuriums, flowers and more. Take your time strolling through the grounds relaxing in the tropical yet temperate climate amidst all the wonderful aromas. Once you pull yourself away from the grounds take a one mile walk or bike ride to Hawaii Volcanoes National Park to see some more of mother nature's work.