We stay here 2 night's and love everything about this place. This is definitely a hidden gem. The…read moreowners are so friendly and the animals make this place truly a special place for families and those just wanting the privacy.

Though I haven't had the opportunity to stay here, I have spoken to the owner, Gaye, at length…read more She is such a dear lady. The setting at Mountain Meadow Ranch is breathtaking. I can't wait to book the cottage for my family the next time we're on the Big Island!

My girlfriend and I stayed 2 nights in the Chinese Room during our recent trip to the Big Island,…read moreand staying here was definitely one of the highlights of our week. Not only is the house beautiful and the location great (just 4 miles from the turnoff from highway 19 and 5 miles from the Waipio Valley Lookout), but most importantly, Jacqueline is an incredible host. She was incredibly friendly, knowledgeable, and just a joy to spend some time with. She has been living in this area for the past 35 years and has all of the best tips on where to go and how to spend your limited time. She gave us great suggestions for restaurants in nearby Waimea (25 mins away) and things to do during our hike down into Waipio Valley. Will definitely plan to stay here again on our next trip to the Big Island!

My sister stayed here as we had the sad task of settling our mothers affairs after her passing…read more Jacqueline, the owner / hostess / chef couldn't have been more accommodating. The home and grounds are well maintained and rooms very nicely appointed. No chemicals are used inside the home and a lot of the fruit that is served for breakfast is grown on the property. Excellent choice for those who appreciate organic living. Sweetie, the house cat is darling and not at all bothersome, she's a lovely addition to the warm welcome you feel here. We WILL be back!

It's almost one-year to the day that my husband and I arrived at Holualoa Inn for our honeymoon and…read moreI'm realizing that I never left a review. This place was absolutely dreamy and the staff was so kind. We stayed in the cottage and really loved the privacy it offered. We had our own spacious lanai to watch the sunrise each morning. Breakfast was delicious and fresh. They made special accommodations for us vegetarians which I greatly appreciated. Coffee was so good and the view from the dining table was breathtaking. As far as location, you're definitely a little off the beaten path which is what we wanted. There are some small shops and restaurants to walk to, but for the most part you'll probably be hopping in your car to head to the beach and busier parts of the island. Hawaii is meant to be explored, no matter what inn or hotel you decide to make your home base. But Holualoa Inn is truly magical and I'll never forget my time there.

Great new place in the charming town of Holualoa! This has everything atmosphere, excellent food…read moreand wonderful service! The menu is small but said they gain items to their menu. The staff was all so friendly. The garden area was so elegant and charming. Cannot wait to go back!

This is most awesome beach ever (I've been to many beaches), and the hotel is very good too…read more One caveat is if you have mobility issues, this might not be the place as there's a bit of up and down stairs to get to the pool and beach. But we enjoy going up stairs for fun. I'm sure they have some accommodation, tho. One disappointment is they don't great each other by saying HaPuna matata. I got blank stares when I tried this. But it is really good pun, no? Food is expensive, out of compound restaurants are distant, so pay and enjoy as it was very good.

Love the Hapuna Beach Hotel. We have been coming here for over 20 years and the service is always…read moretop notch. There has never been a bad day or anyone that has been anything short of providing the best service. They understand how to treat guests; with an abundance of mana! The rooms are comfortable, spacious and private. They have laundry facilities so that is super handy! In all our stays, just lots of great memories. Every-m time we come back, it feels like coming home. Love this place.

Gorgeous place, loved swimming in the waterfall. The cabanas are adorable and it was a great place…read moreto glamp but still use the shared kitchen house. It was not particularly private, but thankfully the staff were all fantastic, helpful, and kind. It felt like staying with friends.

Five Stars for expectations met, not a five star resort…read more A charming house in the rainforest that is truly off the grid. There is a fully equipped kitchen inside the house so bring your provisions and enjoy home cooked meals. There is a farmers market in nearby Hilo for stocking up. The "included breakfast" is actually a voucher for a nearby bakery that makes delicious pastries and coffee. A perfect stop before heading up to Akaka Falls. You will experience everything the rainforest is known for, sudden downpours, humidity, bugs, and amazing night sounds. Fortunately, the mosquitoes didn't bother us because we had a half a dozen geckos patrolling our room. The aromas of flowers and foliage waft into your room on the ever present tropical breeze that comes up from the ocean. No man made A/C here, just nature. The semi-outdoor bathroom makes this a Hawaiian Fitzcarraldo adventure destination. Don't worry there is a second shared indoor bathroom for the city folk. I've stayed in plenty of European hostels when I was younger and this sort of reminds me of a grown up version. I've never booked an airbnb property before so I'm assuming most guests are stupid. There seems to be a sign on every wall reminding you of various house rules. I'm hotel people so I found that odd. I'm glad we found this place and had the chance to spend a couple of nights closer to nature.

What a fantastic resort and location. The hotel grounds, facilities and rooms are quite nice and…read morethe staff is friendly, professional and knowledgeable. The Ka Lihikai bar was terrific and Aaron was our amazing server. My wife had the frozen Mo'o and I had the Famous Ka Lihikai Tia and both drinks were fantastic. We also had the mushroom appetizer which was yummy. Highly recommended

Well after years of me giving 5 star reviews here, recent management and structural changes here…read morehave soured the experience, and we likely wont be returning. #1 change is the forced $30/day Valet only parking. Up until recently they allowed self parking across the street in another lot. Sorry, $30/day plus tax plus multiple tips/day and the loss of valuable vacation time standing in line waiting for valets to get the car is a non-starter. They have PLENTY of available parking space here, this is just a money grab. They also changed up the breakfast offering. Hilton offers an $18/day/guest benefit to purchase food, instead of setting up a continental breakfast. This used to work well when they setup in the lounge area with grab and go offerings reasonably priced, like spam musubi, pastries, fruits. But no more; now the only offerings are the vastly overpriced Ka Lihikai restaurant, and you cannot get breakfast there for anywhere near $18. The lovely morning coffee service that they used to have in the open air lobby has moved to a claustrophobic little meeting room. Art - sad to report that they're removed the ultra-classy Kim Taylor Reece B&W Hawaiian culture photos and replaced them with ordinary tourist-grade photos. Pillows huge and firm (not good) hard as rocks. You do get a minifridge, but no microwave. Lovely views of the working Hilo Bay, pool, and Mauna Kea, Mauna Loa.

The Spa without Walls experience was a treat far beyond the majority of the high priced other…read moreresorts along the Kona Gold Coast. A really incredibly trained masseurs professionals with good energy and support staff as well as an outdoor garden accompanied with the sounds of wild birds and ocean waves that lap you into a trance like state. We recieved a kamaaina discount which we are grateful for. Mahalo to all who made our birthday experience amazing. The champagne offered at the end was a treat. Chocolate strawberries, stunning finish to a glorious day. Mahalo plenty!

The Fairmont Orchid has honestly become an annual tradition for me, and at this point I don't see…read morethat changing anytime soon. The resort itself is absolutely stunning. It feels like full luxury from the moment you arrive. As soon as you walk into the open air lobby, you can see straight through the entire property, the pool, the palm trees, and the ocean views all lined up in front of you. That first impression really sets the tone and is one of the standout features of the resort. Another major highlight is the private lagoon beach. It is calm, swimmable, and perfect for all ages. They provide complimentary snorkel gear, and you will almost always see sea turtles in the water, which makes it feel like a true Hawaii experience. Poolside service is also great, with drinks and snacks available, and there is even a taco truck that is perfect for kids or a quick casual bite during the day. Located on the Kohala Coast, the views are some of the best in all of Hawaii. Whether it is sunrise walks or sunsets by the water, the setting alone keeps me coming back year after year. The rooms are clean, comfortable, and well done. Not overly flashy, but they do not need to be because the environment does most of the work. The resort layout flows really nicely, from the open air lobby to the oceanfront paths. Dining is a big plus here. Brown's Beach House is the main restaurant and definitely a highlight, great food, right on the water, and an amazing sunset vibe. For breakfast, Orchid Court has a daily buffet that is consistently solid and easy. There are also a few other options on property, so you are not limited. Amenities are strong across the board. The gym is 24/7, which is a big plus. The spa is great and adds to the overall experience. If I remember correctly, even the pool runs 24/7, which is rare and makes late night swims a nice option. What really stands out is the value. It is definitely on the higher end price wise, but still not as expensive as places like the Four Seasons Resort Hualalai. If you time it right, Costco Travel sometimes has great deals, like pay for four nights and get the fifth night free packages that can also waive resort fees, and provide some additional resort credit. I have so many great memories here, which is a big reason why I keep coming back. The only downside is that in recent years they have started charging for parking, which feels unnecessary at this level. Overall, I love this place. The setting, the consistency, and the overall vibe make it somewhere I look forward to returning to every year. Easily five stars for me because of the memories, although the parking would probably bring it down closer to a 4.5. Overall one of the best resorts in Hawaii, just keep in mind about the resort fees and parking!

Love the Hilton Waikoloa - here for my husband's company retreat. They did amazing planning with…read morethe hotel. We stayed at the Palace tower. Nice renovations. The boat is no longer operable. There was one tram in service. We did walk most of the time. The hall staff Joseph was so friendly & cheerful with his services. The food was really good as well.

The good, the bad, the indifferent. Stunning views…read more Beautiful, well kept grounds. Overall, food is good and lots of options throughout the very large property. The natural ocean water lagoon is a nice change from a pool, but don't expect it to be teeming with sea life. Occasional fish and turtle will wander in. Dolphin experience is both cool and sad. Dolphins are well taken care of, but kept in very small pens and forced to interact with tourists. If you're at all animal activist-minded, not the property for you. The bad: The customer service is mediocre at best. Which is jarring coming from previous trips to Maui and Kauai, where service is paramount. Left standing at front desk in Hilton Diamond line for 20mins while guests walked up to main line and were helped. Property is aged. Rooms are fine. If you're a fitness person and you plan to use the gym, this is where the hotel website blatantly lies. The fitness center is two old, windowless room with horrible, dingy prison lighting. The equipment is broken, heavily rusted and at least 25-30 years old. Huge disappointment. (See pictures) The indifferent: There's no natural beach. Not uncommon for Kona. But sad that there's no access to tire-pools or ocean unless you swim/trek out beyond the lagoon. The Monorail is PAINFULLY slow. Be ready for a lot of walking (property is huge), the wait for the monorail (that doesn't travel in a loop, so if you want to go one way but the monorail is travelling the other, you have to wait for it to come back) because the wait-time is even more painful. Will update with more details as they come. Final Day / Checkout Thoughts: - Disappointing service at the breakfast buffet. Yesterday, we were sent away because we walked in 5mins after final seating (but made to stand and wait at host desk for 10mins). Ignored, so I asked a server, who refused to seat is. Okay, rules are rules...but then there's nowhere else available until 11am. Today, we show up at 9:45am and they tell us it's a 15-20min wait (and we counted 15 empty tables). They either need to hire more staff to accommodate the guests (as it's the only place to eat), or offer something else as an option. The buffet wasn't entirely bad experience. Sara, at the omelette bar, is everything bright and friendly you'd expect from aloha spirit and hotel team member. If she makes a pretty amazing omelette with a smile. As we walked out of the dungeon gym today, we stumbled on to another small workout room upstairs. All windows, couple pieces of equipment, kettlebells. Shame on the desk attendants for not saying anything (we just followed the signs). Disappointing.

The price felt fair overall, but I think many reviewers weighted the cleanliness and renovated…read morerustic aesthetic too heavily. Having stayed in 2-5 star hotels across the U.S., this property is a good example of how subjective hotel ratings can be. Hilo simply does not have the newer luxury resort inventory you find on the Kohala Coast, so don't assume another hotel is upscale because it has "Grand" in the name. I can understand the appeal of its boutique-style, active-traveler, eco-conscious, customer-friendly atmosphere, hence the skewed 5-star ratings. Our biggest disappointments were room size, cooling performance, and noise/poor acoustic privacy. I'd still give it a low 4 stars because of the location, cleanliness, Aloha atmosphere, and staff friendliness. The property offers very basic accommodations in what resembles an old Travelodge/Motel 6-type property but cleverly renovated. The owners clearly understood that with clean rooms, vinyl plank flooring, fresh paint, and updated furniture, and a hint of a Zen/Environmental/Aloha vibe, they could offer a strong alternative to Hilo's aging high-rise hotels. While there are wheelchair ramps, the property has three stories and no elevators which means you'll have to carry your luggage up the stairs for most the upper floors. Some rooms face the inlet/ocean across the street fronted by a very old looking fish pond, while most others look across to each other with a small garden areas between or the decent pool area (no hot tub.) There's free lobby coffee in a large pump dispenser since rooms lack coffee makers, plus complimentary bikes and paddleboards. A very small lagoon beach is directly across the street, with two decent restaurants within a stone's throw. Downtown Hilo is about a six-minute drive but probably not walkable for most people. Rooms are compact, and the bathrooms are tiny with no exhaust fan. The bed leaned softer than average, and the TV was smaller than most modern computer monitors. The A/C struggled with Hilo's humid climate but managed to keep the room barely cool enough for comfortable sleeping. Shower pressure and temperature were acceptable, though the showerhead sat around chin height for me at 5'11". The biggest drawback was noise and lack of sound privacy. The glass louver windows provide almost no sound insulation, so you hear everything outside your room -- kids running the halls, conversations, foot traffic, and nearby guests. Anyone outside your room could easily overhear conversations inside. There's also noticeable jet noise due to the airport proximity, though fortunately I don't recall hearing flights between 10:30 PM and 6:30 AM. Rates are typically less than the nearby aging high-rise hotels with more upscale branding (and more uneven reviews). If SCP is at least 20% cheaper than those competitors, it's probably the best value in Hilo. If it fits your budget, I would opt for the ocean view rooms with the balconies at the SCP. The hotel appeared to be finishing renovations on its last older rooms during our stay, so many of the older 1-2 star reviews are probably no longer relevant

The staff is amazing! From the desk to cleaning crew, Trisha is so kind! Everyone always so…read moregracious and went above and beyond. Truly tried to do everything and anything possible for my Mom and I. thank you! Also loved the Koi pond we looked out over and the views. The room was clean and comfortable(mattress is amazing) but it is an older hotel and could use some updates. Faucets in the shower were sticky and hard to turn. No fan in the bathroom either. New mirror is great though! Construction on the first floor was very loud as well as traffic due to thin walls. Banyan drive felt very sketchy and unsafe at night and neither of us wanted to walk in that direction Coffee at the front was excellent and got our days started right! From check in to check out was so smooth and easy!

We had such a great stay here. The property is beautiful, the pools are relaxing, and the access to…read moreA-Bay is perfect -- just a short, easy walk to a gorgeous beach. The resort never felt overly crowded, which made the whole trip feel really peaceful. Our room was cleaned every single day, and we loved that they offer free washers and dryers for guests. It was such a nice perk -- we dried our towels daily and didn't have to deal with sandy, damp stuff in the room. Everyone we interacted with was so nice. The bell desk even held Tim's glasses for us so we could go out one evening without worrying. The concierge team was also super helpful and actually helped us book our next Marriott stay in Kauai. The on-site restaurant, Hawaii Calls, was great -- amazing Mai Tais and solid food overall. The only thing I'd skip is the little coffee shop; we paid for parfaits and it just wasn't worth it. The only minor downside was that our oceanfront balcony wasn't quite as "oceanfront" as we expected for the price, but it was still a lovely room and didn't take away from the experience. We loved our stay here so much we already booked another Marriott for our next trip. Beautiful resort, great service, and a perfect base for exploring the Big Island.

We've been coming to the Waikoloa Hilton for about 15 years now and have visited a handful of times…read moreover that stretch. With that history, I can say with confidence that the experience has noticeably declined and our most recent trip made that hard to ignore. The biggest frustration is the cuts to on-site transportation. The boats that used to ferry guests around are largely gone, and the tram service seems to always be down. That leaves you walking and this is not a small property. Depending on where your room is, you're looking at close to half a mile to a mile between points, which is brutal when you have kids, luggage, and all your gear in tow. The on-site activities and amenities have also thinned out compared to what they used to offer. It just doesn't feel as full and vibrant as it once did. That said, there are still genuine highlights. The valet service was excellent, incredibly kind, and complimentary for us. The day pass option is solid if you want to come for a visit without staying overnight, and towel rentals are included with that service. The resort's layout is actually a plus in one way if one area gets too crowded, you can easily move to a completely different pool or section and have an entirely different experience. The ocean connection to the resort is genuinely special too we went snorkeling and spotted turtles and fish right there, which was a highlight for our whole family. The hotel rooms feel like they've slipped in quality over the years, and the buffet prices have gone up significantly while the food quality hasn't kept pace. Convenient? Yes. Worth the price tag? Not really anymore. My honest recommendation: skip staying on property and instead Airbnb or find a different t nearby timeshare we've done it and it's a great way to enjoy the area at a much better value. Then come do a day visit at the resort to enjoy the amenities without the overnight sticker shock. We still love Waikoloa and will keep coming back, but the resort itself needs to invest in what made it great a decade ago.