Homes for Rent in Pepeekeo, HI

Pepeekeo, HI, is a small community on the eastern side of Hawaii’s Big Island, situated less than 10 miles north of Hilo. Historically part of the Pepeekeo Sugar Company plantation, the area transitioned to residential use after sugar production ceased. Today, Pepeekeo offers a rural setting along the Hamakua Coast, with access to locally owned businesses and services, and Hilo’s amenities are a short drive away. The community features county-run green spaces like Kulaimano Park and the Pepeekeo Community Center, which offer sports fields and host various events. Outdoor attractions are plentiful, with nearby cliffs, beaches, and parks such as Honolii Beach Park, Akaka Falls State Park and the Hawaii Tropical Botanical Garden. Housing in Pepeekeo ranges from smaller plantation camp houses along Mamalahoa Highway to large coastal estates in the gated Pepeekeo Point subdivision. Children attend schools in neighboring Papaikou and Hilo, with Hilo Intermediate School receiving high ratings. Local businesses include Onomea Country Market, Piilani Kitchen and What’s Shakin’ Big Island, and larger stores are available in Hilo. Residents maintain their own septic systems, and while the central community has county water access, more rural, multiacre property owners rely on rainwater catchment systems or wells.