Staff - super friendly and helpful staff throughout the hotel, from the front desk, the parking…read morevalet, bartenders, and housekeeping staff. They have a good team working there. They really make the hotel what it is. Room - we had a standard king room. Great views overlooking Hilo Bay. The room was very clean and comfortable, perhaps the only downside was I couldn't get the air conditioner down far enough because I like my room really cold. The in room coffee was actually pretty good, but you can get better coffee in the morning at the restaurant for free. They give us lots of towels. No complaints about the room.. Food and Drink - we were out and about the whole time so we didn't actually eat any meals at the hotel, but we did have drinks at the lobby bar. The drinks were good and stiff, and the bar had great views of the bay. It's a nice place to unwind after the day.. Parking - we chose self parking, it's cheaper than the valet service. However, the self parking lot is actually across the street from the hotel. It's not a far walk by any means, but the self parking lot itself is basically gravel and can be uneven in spots. At night that parking lot is somewhat poorly lit. If I'm someone who has mobility challenges or balance issues, I would not park there because I think a fall is a possibility. Location - back in the day, Banyan Drive was really a nice hotel district. There are many decent hotels which catered to a lot of local people. Over time many of the hotels there became rundown, and frankly the Grand Naniloa is probably the nicest property in the area. The area around hotel is by no means sketchy, it's quite safe to walk around at night. Ito has an underrated restaurant scene. Lots of good places to eat. Talk to the hotel staff they will tell you where to go. It's about 45 minutes to an hour to drive to the volcano. Closing Thoughts - the hotel is not perfect but it's still pretty good. Some parts of the hotel need some work. The elevators tend to be a little older, I think they could expand their food service options. They really should do something about the self parking lot at some point. Would I stay at there again? Definitely, I stay there because the staff is terrific, and the rooms are clean and comfortable, and if you're visiting Hilo, it's a fine location.

Let me say first and foremost that the maintenance staff here is 5 stars, they're awesome. Big…read moreshoutout to Cody for helping fix my room's AC twice in one stay. He's the man. As far as the hotel, location is great but the hotel is overpriced for its quality. The facilities and infrastructure are incredibly outdated. The AC in the first room I was put in broke so they put me in another room, and the AC in that second room broke too. Of the three nights I was there, the elevator was not functional for two nights which meant I was walking up and down 10 flights of stairs. When the elevators were working, it took anywhere from 5-10 min. Spend your money elsewhere. This hotel is not worth it.

Very comfortable place. We visited Hilo from Kona and didn't want to drive back. So we found this…read moreplace. It didn't have AC but the fans kept us cool. The Mark was very hospitable and got us situated.

Just about everything I said about Wild Ginger Inn, also applies here. In fact, they are so close…read moreas to be within walking distance of each other. The bonus is that the man that runs the show here, John, is incredible! We were doing a backpacking trip at trailhead known for break-ins and John let us store our luggage here while we hiked and camped. When we came back, it was waiting for us in our rooms, I almost never receive service this good anywhere, let alone at a hotel this affordable! John is also one of those rare people you meet in the service industry that isn't just into making quaint small talk for the sake of it. He doesn't robotically recommend things everyone knows about. He really knows every nook and cranny of the island! Everyone else we told about our hiking trips on the island just met us with puzzled looks. John had done those hikes and had useful information to contribute about those hikes. Stuff you couldn't get with just a Google search. I LOVE competent and friendly people that know exactly what they are talking about! So many folks these days just run their mouths in a desperate attempt to make conversation, whether what they are saying is actually useful (or even true). John, if you read this, and ever come to Alaska, look us up, we'd be happy to do the same for you!

Lotus Garden Hilo The Lotus Garden is a proper garden with…read morenative Hawaiian landscaping and natural plants growing everywhere, filling the space with life. It is a compound of different types of living quarters. My favorite place is a studio on th main street. It is a sexy room with a separate sitting area to sip coffee in the mornings. You can hear the energy of morning musings. The outdoor shower has a great water feature that lulls you into sleep like a lullaby. Peace and tranquility reign here. If you are looking for the big box, first-world amenities, don't stay here. There are birds chirping, Coqui frogs and even a few mosquitoes. If you want air condition and perfectly coiffed lawns, go stay somewhere else. But, If you want to "feel" like you are in Hawaii- stay here. Bring your walking shoes because you literally walk to everything you need. KTA is literally across the street. Close to the farmers' market and shopping at all the unique shops in Hilo. Meg and Jasper are a delight. No matter what I have asked of them, they do their best to accommodate. French pressed coffee in the morning, and a Kendrick's and tonic in the evening. If you are lucky, Jasper may play you a song and Meg will tell you of her adventures. Don't just stay one time- this place is always evolving just like a lotus flower, a symbol of rebirth.

Rustic accommodations in a tropical paradise. This location is in the heart of Hilo, with close…read moreproximity to local fine dining, groceries, and the local farmer's market. This hidden gem provides cottages in a lush garden with a koi pond, serene statues and the sounds of nature in the evening. Access to local venues with live music and shaved ice around the corner. Easy free parking across the street. Cottages featuring nature's air conditioning, small kitchen, private living room, porch, and private bathroom. Stroll through the lush garden area and check out the koi pond.

Pros: Great view, hot tub, pool…read more Cons: Not what it used to be. I've stayed here at least three times since the early 2000s. Gone are the days of live-in hosts who greet you, prepare great breakfasts on the communal deck where you mingle with the other guests, and provide a sense of welcome. I get that all that can change with new ownership and especially in the wake of Covid, but the place is in need of maintenance. The huge view window in the Bamboo room we rented was filthy. Breakfast was marginal. Very sterile rent/check-in process. We are not picky travelers and prefer to be self-sufficient with meals so we brought a lovely fresh fish to grill and they no longer provide an outdoor BBQ! A disappointing stay in comparison to our past experience here.

Pros: Nice View Cons: Everything else. Terrible breakfast,…read moredirty room, missing smoke detector, no staff on hand. Ignore the old reviews and pictures. They describe a very different place and experience. We were bitterly disappointed. It's called a bed and breakfast. This is technically true. There is a bed, and you get breakfast. If you want to be welcomed by a smiling inn keeper and served a piping hot, freshly cooked breakfast, stay somewhere else. First, there is no welcoming staff (or staff at all other than housekeeping). The property is currently managed by a company that runs multiple places on Big Island. We arrived at noon and got a message to just go to the room (it was unlocked) and grab the key. On the plus side, we did ask to check-in early at noon, and that was accommodated. We had the Bamboo room which is more private than the others. Second, the room was dirty. The coffee maker had not been cleaned. There was a bunch of coffee in the paper filter, with several dime-sized blobs of mold. The pot still had some liquid coffee in it (see picture). There was some green something or other on the nightstand. After a few hours, my wife noticed that her socks had turned black, so we walked around in sandals the rest of the time. The shower is moldy (see picture). Third, calling the breakfast uninspired is high praise. When we arrived, inside the small refrigerator in the room we found a plate of cut fruit, two muffins, some milk, two Yoplait yogurts, and a bowl with two hard boiled eggs. That was to be our breakfast for the next day. We ate the fruit, one muffin and the yogurt. The next day, the pattern repeated: a new plate of fruit appeared in the fridge, but no extra muffins (gotta finish them if you want more!), and the yogurt was replenished. That pattern repeated the third day, so that's the extent of the breakfast. (They also have some standard oatmeal packets and granola bars on the desk that looked picked over). Is the fruit plate a collection of local Hawaiian fruits like papaya or pineapple? Nope - bog-standard bananas, apples, cantaloupe, and strawberries. And since it's cut the previous day, the banana and apple start to turn brown by the morning, even though it's in the fridge with plastic wrap on it (see pictures). Oh, did I mention that our room was missing the smoke detector? It had been pulled out, so there is just a hole in the ceiling with wires hanging out (see pictures). The view is great, I will say that. Bottom line, look elsewhere. You've been warned...

My wife and I stayed here for two nights in mid June in the Princess Kaiulani room…read more This inn isn't for everyone. There are few of the amenities that most people expect of hotels. Many of the individual rooms have no TV, microwave, ac/heat, mini fridge, or kettle/Keurig in the rooms. Fairly Spartan, but the rooms are clean, the staff is great, the bed is comfy, and there is a decent but limited hot breakfast included every morning. When we went there was a choice between egg scramble, breakfast panini, and French toast. There's also a communal area with a coffee machine and hot water kettle. Instant oatmeal, muffins, juice, and breakfast bar snacks are included. There's a fridge with bigger snacks and cold water for purchase. You're really here for the waterfall and the natural serenity. And both are wildly spectacular. The waterfall is huge, multi-tiered, strong even in the dry season and you can see it from the dining area and several of the rooms. Inn policy is to check in with the innkeeper to see if the water is safe to enter but even if you don't go in, it's relaxing to just read on the deck to the sounds of the waterfall. There's kayaks and standup paddle boards for rent. The water is cold even in June but it is quite refreshing to take a swim in. Do not drink the river water and avoid getting any in your mouth or eyes. For the outdoor enthusiasts, they offer repelling down the waterfall. The Inn does sell day passes to non-overnight guests but waterfall activities have a few morning hours exclusive to overnight guests. When we stayed, the Inn had low occupancy and it was nice having the morning waterfall all to ourselves to paddleboard and swim. There are two trails on the property that both lead to the waterfall. There's also a covered open air structure down river with seats to enjoy nature. Buddha statues are placed along the bamboo trail. Both trails are pretty easy and it's hard not to feel some sense of calm with this much lush jungle. Totally a place you can just peace out, write your novel, read, or just commune with nature. Parking is included in their shared lot. Coqui frogs are out of control and it can be quite loud. We didn't have problems sleeping but you may want to bring ear plugs. Bring bug spray for the mosquitos, slippers/flip flops or water shoes for the waterfall pool and hike. There's a communal box of supplies containing mostly sunscreen. The drive to and from the Inn is rather sketchy as it's through rural Hilo with no street lights, several blind turns on a 1.5 wide road with often very overgrown plants on both sides. Vehicles have to pull off into dirt or plants to let another vehicle pass. Do not recommend driving it late at night, especially when it is raining. There's also the main gate to the Inn and a main gate to the rural road right off from more urban Hilo that closes at night, but also can be opened with the same code you get from the Inn. If you're a nature lover and love waterfalls, you'll find this place absolutely enchanting. But if you're looking for a Waikiki style experience, you'll want to look elsewhere.

My family and I loved every minute of our stay at The Inn at Kulaniapia Falls. The setting, the…read morerooms, the staff, and especially the Chef's Table Dinner experience. The setting is so beautifully stunning that I wish we planned a day to simply stay on the property. The waterfall, the rainforest garden walk, the bamboo trees, the sounds of exotic birds singing - It is now what I imagine the Garden of Eden must have been. If you enjoy the calm spirit-rejuvenation of nature, do not pass up any opportunity you have to stay here! It is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. The rooms have a charming decor befitting this Hawaiian paradise, embracing the natural surroundings. The staff were all super sweet and accommodating, and they do it all: make breakfast, clean the rooms, act as a personal photographer, you name it! The breakfast they made was delicious and made to order. We didn't get to meet the innkeeper in-person, but he was amazingly helpful and accommodating with our multiple reservations on the phone. The highlight of our stay was undoubtedly the Chef's Table Dinner with Chef Lisa A. as our private chef and connoisseur. We felt so elegant and comfortable as we were wined and dined with such local luxury. As described, it is small, exclusive dinner with uniquely Hawaiian ingredients, created in the kitchen steps away from our table and the waterfall. Chef Lisa is a culinary artist, as well as brilliant chef! We felt like we were lucky tasters on an episode of Master Chef. We all got to taste Hawaiian delicacies that few others on the mainland have ever tasted. Chef Lisa was super gracious, generous and modest. She taught us a great deal as she warmly explained each course table-side. Her love of food and Hawaiian culture translated into divinely delicious dishes. Thank you, Chef Lisa, for all the magic you created for us in the kitchen! Our stay here, overall, could not have been better! We are so grateful that you had rooms available for all of us!! Mahalo, from the bottom of my heart!!!

Our respite stay after a full day of chasing Volcano Craters and remote petroglyphs…read more Ten minutes from the park exit, just had dinner in the park. Works out great , self check in. Old fashioned but just right for the Area.

This was a great fond for us. We have never been on this island. Literally 3 minutes from Volcano…read moreNatl Park. We stayed in Rm 9. Convenient path to car and hot tub. We used the hot tub 2x and it was perfect temp. I thought it was crazy for a gas fireplace in room. We used it 3x because it was rainy here. Staff was helpful by providing us ice and utensils and glasses that we could leave in room. They don't want you drinking the water so they provide a 5 gal jug of water. Good to bathe in but not drink. They provided a small fridge, coffee maker, toiletries. The room was big enough that they could have added a coffee table by fireplace to set your drinks on. No TV but we had our own electronics. WiFi was on point. Ample parking. They don't do daily room service unless you ask. The sound of the birds at night is amazing. They communicate right away via text for anything you need. I would definitely stay here again.

We had a great experience staying at the Hilo Hawaiian Hotel and would definitely come back…read more The best part of our stay was the staff. Everyone we interacted with was friendly, welcoming, and genuinely kind. A special shoutout to Charla at the front desk. She was professional, patient, and handled a difficult guest with grace while still making everyone else feel taken care of. Employees like her really make a difference. The location is beautiful. The ocean views are amazing, there's plenty of parking, and it's a nice area to walk around and enjoy the scenery. Our room's AC worked great, which was much appreciated after spending time outside. The hotel itself is clean but could use some updating. I think it would be nice to modernize certain areas while still preserving the Hawaiian history and charm that gives the property its character. There are also a few maintenance items that could use attention. For example, our towel rack was very loose and some bathroom finishes were showing wear. We also really enjoyed WSW | The Steakhouse. The service was excellent, and the bartender was knowledgeable and made great recommendations. Overall, if you're looking for a comfortable stay with beautiful views, friendly staff, and a relaxing atmosphere, I'd definitely recommend staying here.

I think if you're familiar with the properties on Banyan Dr. you know the Hotels are old. I don't…read moreexpect much, we always stayed at Uncle Billy's (RIP) but decided to try here. First off, the Lobby area is absolutely beautiful and parts of the Restaurant is still under construction. However, the rooms are dated.. extremely dated. We had three rooms for our Family, all on the 8th floor, and our room smelled of straight mildew as soon as we opened the door. Unfortunately we couldn't keep the door open to air it out as it was also extremely humid and there were swarms of termites on the balcony. The wallpaper was bubbling all over the walls, and the rug and chair fabric looked as if it were better to just toss. The minifridge was also busted.. it would freeze all our beverages that weren't placed in the freezer. Annoying but I'd rather it be frigid than warm. The bed was very comfortable and clean.. as well as the bathroom. No signs of rust or mold. No bugs were seen in the room. Front desk was flustered when we checked up, there were a lot of activities in Hilo town this past weekend so although they weren't overly friendly, they weren't rude. Parking is onsite but of course first come first serve. It's nice that they have a garage under as well but if you miss snagging a space, there's street parking. It was a great visit for us so we do recommend it if you get your room at a decent rate. The property is very well kept and the elevators are relatively fast but the location itself is very convenient to everything you need to do.

Nothing good to say about this place…read more We couldn't stay because it was bad from the moment we got there. Hot water would take 15-20 minutes to get to the shower. No ice machine, no internet, no TV, no place to set your luggage except the floor. The pictures must be old because when we got there it was more rundown. Stairs were sketchy and the place really needs some work all around. Unsure why anyone would give this place a 5 star review when I am giving it one star because you have to give something. Do not make a reservation unless you want to give your money away because they have it posted that if you have a complaint about this place built in 1911, it will not suffice to get a refund of your first day if you don't cancel 24 hours prior. I highly recommend asking to see your room and tour the property before choosing to stay there so you know what you are getting yourself in to.

if I could give it minus stars I would. I urge you not to stay here. Everything is rundown what…read morethey call a superior room is a dump. They will tell you your room will have a king bed, but they give you a queen there are no phones, TV or alarm clock in the room & the toilet wobbles. There are holes everywhere. Someone tried to enter my room, and suddenly the manager claims it was a room check. I don't understand it and she didn't seem to care about my safety or the fact that I got an anxiety and had to sleep with when I open I didn't even feel safe to leave the room with my belongings to go into town to get something to eat. It was a nightmare. I didn't trust to leave my belongings for fear that someone would enter my room to steal them by the way, the manager says her family sleeps at the hotel. It's more like a motel dump.

I am a regular at this hotel whether it be if friends are visiting from out of town or my family…read moreand I just need a staycation. Every time I am here, it gets better and better. The staff is always welcoming and accommodating, the rooms never cease to amaze me and the ambience feels just like home. I highly recommend SCP for any type of trip. My dog very much approves as well!

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