Wai Ola Springs

Is this a real hot spring?

Yes and no. Wai Ola Springs was a real place: a small retreat center on a 10-acre homestead in Opihikao, on Kamaʻili Road in the lower Puna District of the Big Island. Its owners described hot mineral water on the property that came out of the ground at about 110-115°F43-46°C and was pumped into above-ground tubs. So the heat was real, but this was never a natural pool you could walk to. It was a private property that hosted soaks by arrangement.

The bigger question is whether it still exists as a business. The center’s website was last archived by the Internet Archive in August 2024. When we checked in October 2026, its domain no longer existed at all, and we found no newer booking page, listing or visitor report. We have marked it as temporarily closed, with an unconfirmed status, rather than send anyone down a rural Puna road on the strength of an old page.

We also could not find an exact location for the tubs. The map pin on this page marks Kamaʻili Road in Opihikao, not the property itself. The center never published a street address on its website, and we have not tried to work one out.

What to expect

If the center is operating, here is what its own pages described in 2023.

• The soak: Hot mineral water was pumped from an on-site source into above-ground tubs near a small bathhouse with shared bathrooms and outdoor showers. The website talked up the water’s mineral content. Treat any health claims on a site like this as marketing.
• Group bookings only: The owners hosted groups of six or more for a two-hour soaking block, and asked for a donation per person. They took reservations by email, not at the gate.
• The setting: A 10-acre rural homestead with fruit trees and gardens, run as a community retreat center with a yoga space and shared kitchen.
• Off-grid living: The property ran entirely on solar power and rainwater catchment. Guests were asked to leave hair dryers, kettles and other heating appliances at home and to go easy on water.
• House rules: The owners described an alcohol- and drug-free environment and asked guests to leave shared spaces cleaner than they found them.

The website did not say whether swimsuits were required, whether children were welcome or whether pets were allowed. Ask about all three if you get a reply.

Getting there

Opihikao is a small community in lower Puna, on the eastern tip of the Big Island. Kamaʻili Road runs through the forest toward the coast at Opihikao, southeast of Pāhoa. Pāhoa is the nearest town with shops and fuel, and Hilo, with the island’s eastern airport, is the nearest city.

Without a confirmed booking there is nowhere for you to go. This is private land in a residential, rural area. Do not drive down Kamaʻili Road looking for the property, and do not walk onto any lot with tubs or steam vents. If the owners confirm a booking, they will give you directions.

Roads in lower Puna are narrow, often unlit and sometimes rough. Drive in daylight if you can, and fill up before you leave Pāhoa.

When to go

There is no meaningful season advice for a place we cannot confirm is open. In general, Puna is warm and wet all year, with heavy rain possible in any month, so expect muddy ground around outdoor tubs. Hot water at 110°F43°C or more is more pleasant in the cooler evening hours than in the midday sun.

Prices and booking

All of the following comes from the center’s archived website and may be out of date.

• Group soak: In 2023 the soak page asked for a $20 donation per person for a two-hour block, for groups of six or more. Some later listings mention $25, which we could not check against the original site.
• Rooms: The stay page listed queen rooms at $100 a night (two-night minimum) and a king room at $120 a night, each with a $50 cleaning fee, plus weekly and monthly rates. Rooms had private entrances but shared kitchen and bathrooms.
• Booking: By email, or by text to the number on the contact page. The online booking page showed nothing available by mid-2024.

If you find a working contact for the owners, confirm that the center is open, that the tubs are in use and what you will pay before you travel.

Rules and etiquette

When it was operating, the property was a home and a community as much as a business. The owners asked guests to keep personal items out of shared spaces, to clean up after themselves in the kitchen and bathhouse, and to follow the house guidelines. Arrive on time for a booked soak block and leave when it ends, because the next group may be waiting.

Respect the neighbors too. Lower Puna is a quiet rural area, and many residents are wary of visitors hunting for steam vents and hot water on private land.

Where to stay nearby

The center itself offered rooms, but we cannot confirm it still does. Otherwise, lower Puna has vacation rentals and small retreat properties scattered through the forest, and Pāhoa is the nearest town with places to eat. Hilo has the widest range of hotels and is the practical base for a day trip down to the Puna coast. Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park is also within reach from Hilo.

Safety notes

• Water temperature: Water at 110-115°F43-46°C can scald within a short time. Test any tub with your hand and keep soaks short.
• Health: Check with a doctor before soaking in very hot water if you are pregnant or have heart or blood pressure problems.
• Geothermal ground: Puna sits on an active volcano. Steam vents and cracks can be hot enough to burn and may release volcanic gas. Stay away from any vent, on any property, unless the owner has made it safe.
• Private land: Entering private property in search of hot water is trespassing and can be dangerous. Only visit with an invitation.
• Remote area: Emergency help is a long way off in lower Puna. Tell someone your plans.