Our four-day stay at the Hilo Honu Inn was special - not just in the context of our week-long visit to The Big Island last week - but when compared to all vacations our family has ever taken. We booked the Samurai Room - with its Japanese themed furnishings and an unobstructed view of Hilo Bay from the sitting room. Our girls loved having their own room and separate beds, and my wife and I enjoyed restful sleep in the king-size bed, coquí frog chirps notwithstanding! We had our private parking spot, and all major attractions were a few minutes to half an hour away. Breakfast was a bowl of fresh fruit - lichee, mango, papaya, kiwi, grapefruit, melon - along with juices, lemon-infused water, tea, and fresh-brewed coffee, followed by something more filling, like banana-macadamia pancakes, quiche, French toast, or scrambled eggs and bacon. But the best part of breakfast was the conversation - with our hosts Gay and Koa - who we had all to ourselves for three of our four mornings. We talked for 2+ hours every day about Hawaiian flora and fauna, music, arts, history, language, and culture. Gay danced the hula for us and Koa played his favorite Hawaiian songs for us. They showed us their workshop - where they teach how to make feather leis, woodwork, ceremonial masks adorned with coyote teeth, traditional weapons made with tiger shark teeth, and countless other Hawaiian artifacts. I can go on and on, but that still won't do justice to what our stay meant to our family, so I'll share photos of what our girls wrote in their guestbook. Thank you Gay, Koa, and Hilo Honu Inn for a lifetimes worth of special memories. We will be back to stay with you next time we visit Hawai'i. read more

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This was the best place I've ever stayed at!!! Gay and Koa, our hosts, made not only this stay but also my and my cousin's entire trip very special and memorable. They went several extra miles to make our stay comfortable. They were the definition of hospitality and made us feel very special. We stayed for a total of four nights. Every morning, Gay and Koa would make breakfast for us, which always included a generous bowl of fresh-cut tropical fruits and a glass of passion orange juice. The first day, we had scrambled eggs and bacon. The third day, we had macadamia nut and banana pancakes with Gay's homemade lilikoi syrup. The fourth day, Gay and Koa made us banana French toast. The second day, my cousin and I skipped breakfast because we were waking up early to go to Volcano National Park. Without being asked, Gay gave us an insulated bag to keep our food cold, made sure we had enough water, and gave us her homemade banana bread as an extra snack (which proved to be much needed during our hikes). I really appreciated her kindness and sincerity. On the days we did have breakfast with Gay and Koa, we talked for 1+ hours. I have learned so much about Hawaiian culture from them and feel so inspired by their passion to conserve Hawaiian culture, traditions, and natural environment. They gave us a tour of their workshop where they would koa woodworking and feather lei-making. They taught us about the history of the Hawaiian people and the meaning behind each of their artistic pieces. They also regaled us with stories about their lives, which were so interesting and riveting. As someone who loves to learn about different cultures and to listen to stories, I wish there had been more time in the day to just talk to Gay and Koa. They are a wealth of knowledge. My cousin and I agreed that staying and talking with Gay and Koa was the best part of our vacation! They treated us as if we were family, and I will miss them dearly. read more

My son declared this his favorite place he's ever stayed - I think that's partially because he had his own room (we stayed in the big suite on the top floor), and partially because the breakfast on our first day was incredible. ;) The hospitality here is true aloha, and you are definitely part of the family when you stay. We loved the Samurai Suite - a big king bed in the main room, and a separate room with two win beds. Huge soaking tub in the bathroom plus a separate shower was great, and there's a separate sink and mini-fridge outside of the bathroom too. Hilo is a small town, and this location is fantastic - less than 10 minutes to pretty much everything you'd want to see and/or eat. ;) read more

It's been my third stay and I totally recommend a stay here. Feeling conflicted because the more I recommend Hilo Honu Inn may make it harder to book next trip lol. Loved how relaxed and warm Gay and Koa made me feel. Breakfast is so delicious, freshly made by our hosts. We have discovered so much more about Hawaiian culture just by Gay and Koa sharing their stories. The rooms are a treasure of Gay and Koa's passion for all things artistic, what you would expect from two artists. Looking forward to my next stay. read more

My wife and I stayed in the Samurai Suite for 4 nts this Dec and had a delightful time. This suite is very spacious and well appointed and is well suited for a family of 4, with complete privacy. The proprietor, Gay is an excellent host and really goes out of her way to make you feel comfortable, without being intrusive, and is very accommodating including making many suggestions, i.e., restaurants, points of interest, etc. She also served us a delicious breakfast which included a generous selection of fruit at the peak of perfection. This B n B is in a very nice neighborhood, a short distance from downtown Hilo and is very clean and well maintained. We will stay here again when we return to the big island. Enjoy! read more

We happened upon the Hilo Honu Inn online, read the reviews, and booked. The Hilo Honu Inn's owner, Gay, did not disappoint. Our stay was more than we could have imagined. Gay made us feel right at home from the start and provided us with some great conversation, a great breakfast and some Hawaiian history lessons as well. Even my ten-year-old son was deeply engaged in conversation. We stayed in the Samurai Suite - a perfect fit for our family of four. It had privacy and a great view of the Hilo bay. Add to that the sound of the many different birds in the morning - fantastic! The Hilo Honu Inn is beautiful, close to downtown Hilo, about a mile from Rainbow Falls, and has off-street parking. We will definitely stay here in the future and will direct visiting ohana there as well. read more

I had a great experience. First of all, they are running a very professional business. Room was out of a 5-star hotel - actually I shouldn't say room, it was like an apartment complete with a living room, bedroom and bathroom. Second, hosts were very nice and I truly enjoyed talking to them. They were very interesting people with vast knowledge about ecology and farming in the island, and they gave very good suggestions on where to go and what to do. Third, it was a good location that was close to lots of restaurants and reasonable driving distance to all the east and north coast attractions. And finally place was very clean and breakfasts were delicious. Overall great experience, I wouldn't change a single thing. read more

My stay at Hilo Honu inn was just perfect in every way! The home is beautiful, comfortable, clean, and peaceful. The owners are lovely people and will do everything to make you feel perfectly at home and welcome. I can't say enough good things, it felt like I was staying with an old friend or family member. Ahhh dreamy times in Hilo!! read more

At the height of the recent volcanic activity I decided to change my original housing plans for the Big Island and found the Hilo Honu Inn. It was a great find, as Gay, the proprietor, was the perfect hostess. She is warm and welcoming, a great conversationalist, and will personally take care of any needs you have. Although not native-born, she has totally embraced the Hawaiian culture and aloha spirit and has learned - and is skilled at - the arts of hula dancing and feather weaving. She also makes tasty breakfasts, and selects fresh fruits at the peak of their flavors. Love the local fruits she serves! The Inn is very clean and well-maintained. No insects seen, no mildew - an achievement in a tropical environment. I believe each room has a window air conditioner, which helps to remove some of the humidity from the Hilo air. The neighborhood is very quiet at night, and the private parking area is a convenient bonus. I had absolutely no complaints. A very minor irritant I noticed is that when I was in the shower and my wife turned on the faucet or flushed the toilet, the water would get cold for several seconds. Given that this is a large residence, I don't consider this a deal-breaker, just an avoidable irritant. The location of Hilo Honu Inn is perfect for exploring the Hilo area and the entire east side of the Big Island, including Volcanoes National Park which is about 20 (?) minutes away by car. It was closed during our stay due to the eruption, but there are many other places to visit along the coast. We enjoyed our stay at Hilo Honu Inn. Highly recommended, and be sure to get to know Gay. The Inn is the reason you'll want to stay there; Gay is the reason you'll want to return! read more

When I'm going back to Hilo next year, I know where I'm going to stay! This place is clean, beautiful b&b with a wonderful host. This house has an interesting history of a Japanese immigrants and even after the current owner purchased it, she tries to maintain the history. They have a beautiful Japanese room. We didn't stay in that room, but the host was nice to show us around the house and talked about the story of the family who used to live here. We stayed at this place just to sleep, because there are so many things to do out in hilo. Also, the host was very knowledgable about the area and very helpful. She recommended us what locals do and great places to eat. Every room is adorable, has a different character and is very clean. She made a delicious, healthy breakfast, a bowl of fresh local hawaiian fruits was my favorite and we had a nice chat. read more

This beautiful B & B is just wonderful! Newly remodeled, great views (from the suite) and gracious hosts! This is the best bathtub soak, nights rest, and glorious fresh breakfast I have ever had! The hosts are sweet and lovely people. Couldn't recommend this place more. read more

Great place to stay: Comfortable and well-appointed, with sumptuous breakfasts. The friendly owner is a transplanted mainlander who's become a guardian of Hawaiian lore and traditions. Allow an hour for breakfast, because she loves to brief you about local attractions, their cultural background, and regional characters and politics. Very worthwhile - we found her advice and ratings uncannily reliable. Gay has stocked the living room with a library alcove of interesting Hawaiian books and videos, and plays great Hawaiian music at breakfast. She also has a folder of menus for Hilo and nearby restaurants, which she can supplement with personal recommendations. We found that guidebook descriptions didn't accurately set our expectations for this place, nor for Hilo. It's a "B&B" with no doilies and no cat. It's actually a sprawling 1920s house - like a mega-bungalow - that's been upgraded with lots of woody elegance. It's in a quiet residential neighborhood, about a mile straight up a gentle hill from Hilo's compact waterfront downtown. As for Hilo, it might technically be "Hawaii's second-largest city after Honolulu," but don't expect Waikiki. Hilo feels mostly like a small town - although one that sprawls a bit, and now has suburbs in the Puna district to its south. Overall, we found Hilo, and the Big Island as a whole, to be refreshingly homespun and low-key. Probably the closest thing to Old Hawaii that we've experienced. This island isn't a glitzy international resort like Waikiki. Nor is it a colony of Southern California like Maui, or an enclave of Northern-Californian hippies like Kauai can be. The Big Island is its own thing. We found it friendly and enjoyable, with lots of unusual sights to enjoy. read more

The owners of the Hilo Honu Inn are awesome. For me, I received the extra platinum treatment. It is a very nice place with a lot of history behind it. Plenty of parking for your rent a car. Breakfast was great. I loved the layout of the top floor for families. If you are looking for a bed and breakfast close to downtown Hilo, this is the place. read more

Great location. In much demand; book early. Great innkeepers (the owners). A little pricey. read more

Hilo is the perfect place to get away from the resorts and stay in a B&B. You cannot go wrong staying at this one. It is run by the sweetest woman who sees to your every need. Our family of four from the Carolinas felt completely at home on the other end of the country. The accomodations are perfect and the breakfast starts your day off perfectly. I cannot say enough about the comfort and kindness we felt here. We really hated to leave. read more

Let me start by saying I'm NOT a bed & breakfast person AT ALL, but this place has me sold! Terrific rooms, wonderful breakfast and above all else, a wonderful host. Gay went above and beyond to make us feel welcome. Couldn't recommend this place more. read more

Our stay at Gay's lovely bed & breakfast was a highlight of our family trip to Hawaii. The home is full of history and beauty, and Gay was an amazing host with heart. She prepared scrumptious breakfasts, and if you love tropical fruits, you're in for a treat! During breakfasts, she shared so much of her love for her adopted home, and I felt a connection to her and her community of friends (whom she met through her hula group and other activities). We stayed in the Samurai Suite, which was ideal for us; my husband and I stayed in the main room, and our teenagers stayed in the twin beds in the other room. The fans kept us cool and comfortable, and we loved being able to sleep open to the nighttime air and nature sounds; but when our one teen (whose body likes Arctic temps) got warm on occasion, air conditioning was available in that room. The Hilo side of the island is cooler and wetter than the western side, but it rained mainly at night or for short stretches during the day. Months ago, we booked 6 nights for August; then as the time got closer and the volcano wreaked havoc on nearby areas then all but stopped, we worried that we might not have enough to do, with all but a distant part of Volcano National Park closed, parts of the southern shore (e.g., Kapoho hot ponds) covered by new lava, and red lava no longer flowing. (We also knew the volcano had devastated people's lives so didn't want to be insensitive, whiny tourists.) But there was so much to do anyway, and we left not having done everything we'd wanted. Activities? We went to Richardson State Park expecting a so-so local beach, and it blew us away. We love snorkeling but hadn't expected much in terms of reef health; but toward the right side from the lifeguard station, not immediately but a bit further in, we found surprisingly healthy reef. Fish were everywhere, so our kids saw many even without getting quite to the healthy-reef part. (Also, please use reef-friendly sunscreen and don't stand on rocks--coral tries to grow there and gets stamped out.) And if you clamber over lava rocks further to the right, preferably with better shoes than our slippers (local term for flip-flops), you'll see more wild ocean and probably some sea turtles who've come in to rest. Later in our vacation, we stayed on the Kona side and got up early to go to the Mauna Kea beach; that was a gorgeous beach, and it was supposed to have some of the best snorkeling in the Kohala region, but the reef was not nearly as healthy. (We never made it to the Captain Cook area so can't speak to the snorkeling anywhere there.) We also loved the Botanical Gardens north of town (but it's the only place in all of Hawaii that we needed mosquito repellant--still not nearly as bad as Maryland), and we saw some waterfalls but not all we'd planned. We liked the Imiloa museum (culture and astronomy); but if you want to go up to the Maunakea observatory visitor's station, plan it early during your stay and check their website at 3:00 p.m. on a T, W, F, or Sat to see if star gazing is on for that evening (vs too cloudy), then arrive plenty early before the parking lot fills up: http://www.ifa.hawaii.edu/info/vis/visiting-mauna-kea/star-gazing-program.html . The Hilo farmer's market is really cool, and the Pahoa one is supposedly, too, in a different way. For hiking, there are lots of very short walks near waterfalls, but a lot of the great hikes are in Volcano National Park, which was closed, and a lot of gorgeous land on the Hamakua Coast is privately owned. So we went to Waipio Valley and hiked down the rugged jeep/truck road to a gorgeous black sand beach; the walk back up is brutal (long & steep) but fine if you're in decent health, bring water, and take all the rest breaks you need. We really enjoyed Hilo, too, a neat, funky, real-life town with many cool shops, eateries, galleries, and small museums; it feels safe but is pretty dark after the sun sets, because of the need to avoid light pollution for the telescopes, so we hung out there mainly during the day. read more

If you're looking for a beautiful upscale place to stay in the heart of Hilo that isn't a cookie cutter hotel, than THIS is the place to stay. Super clean, private full bathroom in each room, plush beds, amazing breakfast and the most accommodating hosts you can imagine. Come and go as you want, convenient off street parking. Simply amazing. read more

The Hilo Honu Inn is a peaceful, well cared for bed and breakfast in a historic family home about a 15 minute walk from downtown Hilo. The home was converted into the bed and breakfast it is today about 10 years ago. The innkeeper's love of the property is palpable. Her stories about the Japanese-American couple that built the home, raised their children, and suffered through World War 2 bring the home to life. Her love of the property is also manifest in her care of the property, which is well furnished and exquisitely decorated. Our bed was extremely comfortable and our breakfast delicious and healthy. I've stayed in many bed and breakfasts that I have enjoyed. I can't imagine one being better than the Hilo Honu Inn. read more