Protect Nature
Honor Mother Earth through mindful, sustainable living every single day.
Hilo, Hawaiʻi
Wildlife Habitat
Eco Village
Inspiring humanity to protect Mother Nature — and to create happiness for others.
Our Purpose
Giving Back to the Island
Giving Back to the Island
That Gave Us So Much
After 26 years of calling the Big Island home, we feel an almost immeasurable gratitude for this island — and for the aloha with which it welcomed our family.
Somewhere along the way, that gratitude became a question: How can we give something back to the place that has given us so much? Our answer is Wildlife Habitat Eco Village — a small, evolving project on 20 acres of the lush Hāmākua Coast, just above Hilo, where we bring people closer to nature while working to restore the land we call home.
"We use Mother Nature not simply as our inspiration, but as our greatest ally."
— Mau & Paola
Our vision is to combine reforestation, clean energy, and meaningful encounters with nature, so our guests can experience Hawaiʻi responsibly. Rather than simply visiting the island, we hope they slow down, reconnect with the natural world, and leave with a deeper appreciation for what makes Hawaiʻi so extraordinary.
What was once native forest, later cleared for sugar cane and cattle, is becoming a young forest again — Mau and Paola have planted 2,000+ trees, one tree at a time. We are still growing, learning, and planting along the way. But we believe small ideas can take root — and that when people reconnect with nature, they may also be inspired to protect it.
Help Others
Share knowledge, resources, and kindness to uplift those around us.
Create Happiness
Inspire joy and purpose — because a better world begins with a better heart.
Life on the Land
The Ranch
A working homestead where animals roam freely and the rhythm of nature sets the pace.
Cows
Gentle grazers that keep our pastures healthy and teach us patience.
Sheep
Soft-footed companions who wander the hillsides in peaceful flocks.
Chickens
Free-range birds that bring life and laughter to every morning.
Panchito
A wild Nēnē — Hawaiʻi's state bird — who visits often. Mau planted fruits he loves and built a pond just for him.
Our Favorite Visitor
Panchito is a wild Nēnē who chose Eco Village as his home. Mau planted the fruits he loves and built a pond just for him — and Panchito keeps coming back. He greets guests on the lawn, swims in his pond, and reminds us every day why we restore this land.
A Place Where Life Thrives
Cows, sheep, and free-range chickens share the land with Panchito, a wild Nēnē who has made our ranch a second home. Every creature here is part of a greater ecosystem — one that mirrors the balance we seek in our own lives. Visitors leave with a deeper understanding of what it means to live alongside nature, not against it.
Restoring the Land
2,000 Trees — and Counting
Mau and Paola have planted 2,000+ native and non-native trees on their 20 acres above Hilo. Wild birds are already returning to nest among the branches — and when guests visit, they are welcome to help plant more and experience the joy of reforesting Mother Nature. Every tree is a promise to future generations.
This ranch exists to heal the land, not just live on it.
Day after day, Mau and Paola plant, water, and care for native and canopy trees on land that was once native forest, before it was cleared for sugar cane and cattle. As the forest grows back, so does the wildlife — birds, pollinators, and creatures like Panchito find food, shelter, and peace here again.
Every Airbnb stay directly supports this mission. Guest income goes toward buying more trees, maintaining the ranch for them to thrive, and continuing the work of bringing birds back to the land.
- 2,000+ trees planted on our 20 acres
- 900 native trees & shrubs planted with the USDA NRCS
- 100% of vacation rental income reinvested in the land
- Wild birds returning as the habitat grows
Self-Sustained Architecture
Built to Give Back,
Built to Give Back,
Not Take Away
Every structure at Eco Village is designed to sustain itself — generating its own water and power, producing no waste that harms the land. We built this way so we never pollute Mother Nature.
Architecture in Harmony with the Land
From the ground up, our buildings were planned to operate independently of outside utilities. No fossil fuels, no chemical runoff, no burden on the environment — only a closed loop of rain, sun, and wind working together.
Self-sustained architecture is not a luxury here. It is a promise: that human shelter can exist without harming the world that shelters us.
- 100% off-grid — no connection to polluting power lines
- Self-contained water cycle — collect, purify, reuse
- Zero harm to soil, air, and surrounding wildlife
- Built to last generations, not seasons
Rainwater Harvesting
We collect rainwater from the sky and purify it for daily use — drinking, cooking, bathing, and nurturing the land. Every drop is a gift we never take for granted.
Solar Power
Hawaiʻi's abundant sunshine powers our entire Eco Village through solar panels. Clean, quiet electricity — straight from the sun above.
Hilo · Big Island · Hawaiʻi
Stay With Us
Looking for an Airbnb in Hilo on the Big Island? Our small, off-grid guest bungalows sit on a working eco-ranch — and every stay helps plant the next tree.
This is not a typical Hawaiʻi vacation rental. Our bungalows are powered only by the sun and supplied with rainwater, so guests experience a simpler, more conscious way of living — waking up among cows, sheep, and free-range chickens, with views across the young forest to the ocean. Income from Airbnb bookings goes directly toward buying more trees, maintaining the ranch, and bringing wild birds back to the land. When you stay here, you become part of our forest-restoration journey — 2,000+ trees and counting.
- Hilo Airbnb on a wildlife habitat eco-ranch
- Your stay funds reforestation on our 20 acres
- Self-sustained, off-grid living with modern comfort
- Wake up to farm animals and mountain views
- Pure rainwater and 100% renewable energy
- Learn sustainable practices firsthand
Inside the bungalows
Common questions
Where is Wildlife Habitat Eco Village located?
We are at 620 Kulaniapia Dr., Hilo, HI 96720 on the Big Island of Hawaiʻi — a short drive from Hilo town and a peaceful base for exploring the east side of the island.
Can I book an Airbnb stay at Eco Village in Hilo?
Yes. Our small, off-grid guest bungalows are listed on Airbnb. Every stay helps fund reforestation — Mau and Paola have planted 2,000+ trees on their 20 acres above Hilo.
Are the bungalows off-grid?
Yes. Our bungalows are powered only by the sun and supplied with rainwater, so the ranch can operate without fossil fuels or connection to polluting utilities.
What makes this Big Island Airbnb different?
You stay on a working wildlife habitat eco-ranch with cows, sheep, chickens, and visits from Panchito the Nēnē. Guest income is reinvested in planting trees and restoring habitat for wild birds.
The Founder
Meet Mau
A dreamer, a builder, and a guardian of the earth — together with his wife Paola Barbis, who shares the daily life and heart of Eco Village.
Mau did not simply arrive in Hawaiʻi — he sailed here. Over three years, he crossed oceans in a 30-foot boat he built with his own hands, departing from Peru and spending 45 days alone across the vast Pacific Ocean.
After 26 years of calling Hawaiʻi home, Mau and Paola feel an almost immeasurable gratitude for the island and the aloha that welcomed their family. Eco Village — and the young forest growing on their land — is how they hope to give something back.
That journey — of courage, craftsmanship, and unwavering faith in something greater — is the same spirit that built Eco Village. Mau and Paola created this ranch not as an escape from the world, but as an invitation to it: come see what is possible when you live in harmony with nature.
"The ocean taught me patience. The land taught me responsibility. Now I share both with anyone willing to listen."
— Mau
Mau and Paola are sailing again — sharing stories from the sea, the land, and life at Eco Village on their blog, Dulcinea Adventure.
Read Their Blog
Moments at Eco Village
Gallery
Join the Movement
Get Involved
Whether you want to book a stay, volunteer, or simply learn more about sustainable living — we would love to hear from you.