Great tour! So interesting and our guide knew everyone's name and took great pictures of all of the…read moregroups. We had a great time learning about all the salts and the process they go through.

Definitely a fun and educational experience at Kona Sea Salt overall. Our tour guide was very…read moreknowledgeable and passionate about the history behind Kona Sea Salt as well as sharing information on how sea salt is produced and harvested and how it is tied into the Hawaiian culture. At the end, we got to sample various salt products with pineapple, tomatoes and cucumbers! We were also provided water with magnesium at the start of the tour, especially given how warm it gets as the day progresses. The other nice thing about Kona Sea Salt is that it's located right near the Kona International Airport.

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!

We had a great time on the Hawaii Forest & Trail Secret Waterfalls of Kona Excursion! Our guide,…read moreMark, was incredible--he kept everyone talking and he was genuinely interested in hearing everyone's travel stories. He was very knowledgeable and provided us with a wealth of fascinating information about the island. After a comfortable van ride, we hiked a beautiful trail that led us to a series of truly stunning, pristine waterfalls. We were treated to a delicious lunch from a local deli, and we loved that it was served in eco-friendly, completely reusable containers. On the way back, we made a perfect final stop at a local macadamia nut store. It was a fantastic experience from start to finish, and we recommend it!

We went on an almost 100% full (flower) moon. It was special to see the terminator line on the…read moreCelestron telescope - it had such great definition! The color of Mauna Kea with the moon shining on it was so magical all around us. There were some clouds that cleared pretty well by the end of our star gazing. We were the last ones up there so it got dark enough to see more than you'd expect with the moon. Jeff, our awesome tour guide, used a laser pointer to help us see the constellations we usually can't back at home. The images on the digital telescope like nebulas, the moon & star clusters were an amazing addition to have as keepsakes. My husband and I felt he made the tour a great balance of learning and fun. He had the group feeling like family before we even left from the pickup lot. Things to consider: I do recommend following the moons cycles booking this tour/your trip if this is especially important for you to see as many stars as possible. The sunset and views of the observatory's make it awesome anyways :) I struggled with altitude sickness around 12,000 ft. Jeff had made sure to let us know beforehand if we experienced any issues to speak up. I was hesitant as I know it would mean turning the whole tour around, but some tingling turned to dizziness and then a brief fainting. He immediately stopped the bus and helped ground me and make sure I was completely okay & coherent before letting me know our options for the tour. We made it up to the top with 2 more (included in tour) stops and I felt better with each one having more time to acclimate :) Thank you Jeff!! You handled this so professionally and I appreciate your check-ins for the rest of the trip. It's cold even with parka and gloves. It's so worth packing warm shoes and layers. The bus had ac and heat so that was great! Do it if you can! Awe-inspiring! Such an unreal environment that makes you wonder about so many things. Just take the precautions seriously, move slow and breathe deep.

Pleasantly surprised…read more Breakfast wasn't anything fancy with super thin slices of spam, an egg and cheese omlette, cinnamon buns, and cereal. With the spam, they really needed to serve rice. Thought it was kind of weird that you need to bring a voucher to breakfast, but no one came around to check it. The room itself was okay. The TV needed to be replaced as there was a green vertical streak that made tv watching unpleasant. The location of this hotel is great! It's near a lot of shops and restaurants and there's a McDonald's across the street.

This was my first time staying here due to the free breakfast benefit. The room and bathroom are…read morespacious, larger than other Kona hotels I've stayed at. I was a bit worried about the hotel parking but was relieved to know they have an overflow lot across the street and had no issues when we came back late evening. The hotel is a quick walk to Alii drive but far enough from the hustle and bustle. Our room was surprisingly quiet for the location. The staff was super friendly, the breakfast was quite good with a decent selection (cinnamon rolls, bagels, sausages, fruit, toast, eggs, oatmeal) and the kids even got some pool time in the morning before we headed out. Would definitely stay here again.

Aloha! My friend Kaylee and I absolutely loved our stay here! The resort had great amenities and we…read morewere glad it was relatively easy to fill up our hydros. I seemed like a safe resort as well, considering you had to tap your card to get in the parking lot and out. We walked over to the strip where we found more than 1 ABC store, a good sushi place we liked, and just to hear the waves crash too; all just a 5-10 min walk away from this resort! Staff were friendly, including the servers we had @ Don's Mai Tai. We also saw a few families with kids and thought we'd leave small turtles figurines around the common areas for kids to find. It was so fun! Would definitely recommend this place to the next friend that visits!

This hotel is located on the water but there is no beach, it's very rocky. The pool does face the…read moreocean and the setting is pretty. The hotel is dated but it was clean and sufficient for sleeping. The restaurant was pretty good after a long day of sightseeing. It's also located in a good location with lots of shopping, restaurants and bars close by.

The Village is located conveniently close to downtown Kailua and the Association dues are very…read morereasonable. The neighborhood is safe and the Association has done a great job getting abandoned vehicles removed.

There was a children's camp here this summer that my friend put on and I was one of the volunteers…read more. It was special for the kids . Problem is a woman named bj she is rude and her attitude almost ruined the camp . She was screaming at the volunteers in front of the kids on the last day. Aside from that it's a special area that can be used for special occasions.

Quaint hotel tucked in a little corner which we appreciated, especially when you are looking to…read morerelax. This may not be a great place for people who are looking for a night life, five star dining, or a busy shopping strip. This hotel is located next to a small road lined up with small restaurants and shops. Personally, we love it. We love it so much we have stayed here twice. Our kids enjoy the easy access from our room to the pool to the beach and back. We appreciate this place for it's simplicity. Our first visit we stayed on a regular floor and felt that some rooms needed a little refresh (although not terrible). Our second visit we stayed in the Marriott Bonvoy floor so the rooms were a little more refreshed (updated). We enjoyed the water refill station, all floors should have one. Staff - Staff has all been helpful and pleasant. Pool staff is the best. Pool - Our favorite place. We spend most of our time here. We love that they give you a wristband now so that it keeps out non-guests. Towels are passed out with a card given at check-in. It's easy and convenient. Pool staff walks around often and takes drink and food orders as needed. Beach chairs are a first come first serve basis, but we've never had an issue finding any. Beach - The convenience of having the beach at your fingertips is unmatched. My kids go from the beach to the pool multiple times a day. The beach is not usually crowded and you can find a spot to lay out a towel. If you would like to rent an umbrella and chair you can visit the rental booth right next to the beach - it is easy and convenient. If you are a hotel guest, you get one free rental (I don't remember the length) during your stay. This is a great snorkeling spot too and you can also rent a paddle board. We usually bring our own snorkeling gear, but renting is available too. Our kids are older and chose to snorkel near the port, but be aware the current/waves are stronger there. I would NOT recommend it for young kids, especially not without a vest. Food - We never ate at the restaurant. We grabbed coffee and breakfast from the coffee shop downstairs. It's pricey, but not bad considering the convenience. We also chose to walk across the street to eat breakfast and lunch. For dinner, we usually took a stroll down the main road to find a place to eat. There are PLENTY of options. Snow cone hours are odd at times, but if it's closed there is a great place across the street as a secondary option. There is an ABC store right next to the hotel. We opted to buy alcohol and snacks to keep in our room in our mini fridge. ___________________________________ MY CON: Sigh.... Our 2nd stay was during the TSUNAMI WARNING on July 29, 2025 - we didn't have a rental car until the next day so we had to rely on the hotel to relocate us to the local high school. It was also my child's birthday so we spent it evacuated. A lot of the guest who didn't have a car had to leave to the high school with no food and no water. We grabbed what we could and lined up for the bus. The ABC closed once the sirens went off, so we were left with no food. We were given NO instructions, we were only told to get on the bus and go. We had only ate breakfast and you can't imagine how hungry we were. No one had a car. No Ubers available. No restaurants open. We were lucky enough to find a worker who was kind enough to take my husband and another dad to a gas station to grab some items for our kids to eat. Yay to gas station sandwiches and Powerades. Once the emergency was cleared (10 hours later), we were allowed to come back to our hotel. Staff welcomed us back with a water bottle and a bag of chips (sigh). I was so annoyed by this gesture. I cannot explain why, because I shouldn't be - but I was. I am grateful and thankful that our family was safe. I am glad that we had the option to be bussed to the evacuation center. HOWEVER, in the future - staff should have an emergency plan in place to share with guest. There needs to be a form of communication for guest to receive updates. We were left with NO information, just dumped off. It was a very scary experience for us and having more details would have helped.

Bedbugs! My mother got bedbugs from this establishment after staying for multiple days. And she…read morecalled the hotel and nothing has been done. Terrible! Avoid at all costs! UPDATE:it's a week later now and still no call from the manager even though a call was promised earlier. They don't give a shit about their customers. Clearly. Actions speak louder than words.

We hosted our wedding and reception at Papa Kona Events. Wow! Planning the wedding was extremely…read moreeasy and done entirely via email with our amazing day-of coordinator, Chey. Pricing was reasonable especially compared to other venues on the Big Island. When it came time for the wedding, rehearsal and reception, everything went smoothly and according to plan. The food at the reception was great. I would recommend this event space for anyone hosting a destination wedding in Hawaii.

As a wedding planner, I've had the pleasure of working with Papa Kona Events for both onsite…read moreweddings and off-site catering, and they continue to be one of my favorite teams to collaborate with. Their professionalism, communication, and consistency make such a difference throughout the planning process, and my couples always rave about the experience. Papa Kona's onsite events are always beautifully executed--seamless service, attentive staff, and a warm, welcoming atmosphere that creates an unforgettable celebration. When we've partnered with them for off-site catering, the quality remains just as exceptional. They arrive fully prepared, their team is organized and efficient, and the food is consistently outstanding. Whether it's a small intimate gathering or a larger wedding, they handle every detail with care. As a planner, having reliable vendor partners is essential, and Papa Kona Events truly delivers. Their team is friendly, flexible, and solution-oriented, which makes wedding days smooth and stress-free for everyone involved. I highly recommend them for any couple looking for exceptional service and delicious cuisine on the Big Island.

Small yet perfect place to entertain young kids while on the big island…read more I was visiting my sister on Big Island and wanted to treat my niece and nephew (5 and 11yo) to a fun day. They had been to the Fun Factory before and requested that we go there. The place was much smaller and a bit old-school compared to what we'd find at Dave & Buster's but the kids still had a blast. There is no kitchen, so there is no food or drinks, but plenty of prizes to trade in for tickets won. Reload cards work on a tier system - I forget the details but the more often you go, the more you'll be rewarded (discounted games etc). I would definitely take the kids there again.

I had such an amazing time and took my nieces. Chester helped us and gave us such an amazing…read moreexperience. He went out of our way the whole time to give us our money's worth. He is a quality employee. We loved our time here and not only was it clean and quality, but we had quality family time! Thank you Chester. See our pic!

I was in for the surprise of a lifetime with a proposal at the end of my adventure…read more The Crew, Gavin and Reed and our driver Heno were awesome in coordinating this special experience for me and my now fiancé! Had the best experience the ladies in office were also sooo kind and supportive in the whole process. 10/10 experience and customer service!! Thank you botanical world adventures for a great day and unforgettable experience!

Set in the heart of a beautiful rainforest, Botanical World Adventures' Zipline tour is truly one…read moreof the most scenic excursions! Nick, Kavahi, Lish, and Heno are the dream team who helped guide us through the adventure, offering fun insights on the local flora and fauna along the way, as well as some some stellar "dad" jokes and banter! You truly can't go wrong with the ziplines at Botanical World--the team is communicative, enthusiastic, and safety conscious, while the location is unmatched!