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!

The property is spectacular, and the views are endless However the highlight for us was employees…read morelike Virgil, who took care of our every need with a smile. Thanks again, Virgil, Tym & Bee Yean

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.

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.

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.

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!

Gracious first impression, disappointing follow-through -- particularly considering the stars they…read morecarry. Check-in was warm and the complimentary upgrade lent a genuine sense of hospitality -- one the stay itself never lived up to. The air conditioning was broken and clearly overdue for servicing. Housekeeping was inconsistent at best: personal items had been moved in ways we found inappropriate, bed linens went unchanged for stretches, and the towels bore visible stains on two different occasions. Most concerning was a basic hygiene failure we witnessed directly: a housekeeper handled the trash bin and then, without changing gloves or washing hands, proceeded to handle and place our fresh towels. That is not a lapse in polish -- it is cross-contamination, and at a property of this caliber it points to a gap in training and supervision that guest-facing warmth cannot paper over. We've shared the details with hotel management and trust the Fairmont brand team will want to look into this. One expects a Fairmont to get the fundamentals right. This one did not.

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.

This resort feels like a place that was once incredible but has slowly lost its shine. The best…read morecomparison I can think of is an old theme park that used to be the place to visit--now only a couple of the rides are running, yet admission still costs the same. Would I stay here again? Probably, depending on the circumstances. However, it wouldn't be my first choice. Biggest Issues: -Cleanliness Unfortunately, our room did not feel clean when we arrived. There were cobwebs hanging from the ceiling, a dead cockroach on the floor, dead moths, and noticeable dust buildup along the baseboards and behind the TV. I know some of the rooms have been renovated, but we weren't fortunate enough to receive one of those. - Resort Size & Getting Around This resort is huge, which can be either a positive or a negative depending on where you're staying. One of the biggest disappointments was that the canal boats were not operating. I found out they had been out of service for over a month for maintenance with no estimated reopening date. My kids would have absolutely loved riding them, so that was a letdown. The tram system also needs improvement. If you happen to miss one, expect to wait around 45 minutes for it to come back. It makes several stops across the property, and there really should be two trams running at all times. We had a heavy stroller, and lifting it onto the tram often felt like more work than simply walking. ** Choosing the Right Tower Matters We stayed in the Ocean Tower, which is the farthest from the lobby and most of the restaurants. The upside is that it's closest to the pool with the lazy river and smaller water slides. There's also a pool bar, a coffee shop with pastries and açaí bowls, a small gift shop, and laundry facilities (although every laundry rooms we checked was out of order). Even though we didn't pay for an ocean-view room, we could still see the ocean from our balcony, which was a nice surprise. If I stayed in this tower again, I'd request either a renovated room or a ground-floor room with direct access to Buddha's Point and the pool area. Even getting from our room to the nearby pool felt like a trek. The Palace Tower has the nicest appearance and reminds me of the Venetian Hotel in Las Vegas. It's centrally located, so nothing is excessively far away. I also heard these rooms have been renovated, making it a good choice if having a nice room is your priority. That said, it's not particularly close to the main attractions besides the Italian restaurant, which is only open for dinner. Personally, I don't think I'd choose this tower. If I came back, I'd most likely stay in the Makai Tower. It's closest to the lagoon, the major pools, and several dining options, making it much easier to get around. It's still not directly next to everything, but there's an elevator that makes getting to the pools and restaurants much easier, especially for anyone using a stroller or wheelchair. Traveling with a stroller made this resort more challenging than I expected. While there are accessible routes, they're often indirect and time-consuming. For example, walking from our room to the Lagoon Grill took over 30 minutes. For families with young children or anyone with mobility limitations, that's something to seriously consider when choosing a room location. Dining Having multiple restaurants on-site was convenient, but the operating hours weren't. The three main restaurants--the fine dining restaurant, Italian restaurant, and Tap Room--only opened for dinner. The breakfast buffet was expensive, although there were less expensive plated breakfast options available until around 10:00 a.m. Between breakfast ending and dinner restaurants opening, it sometimes felt surprisingly difficult to find food late in the morning or early afternoon. The good news is there are several restaurants and shopping centers just a few minutes away, and the resort offers a paid shuttle service if you don't have a car. You could easily spend your entire vacation without leaving the property. Overall, we still had a good trip. The staff was consistently friendly and helpful, and there are definitely things to enjoy about this resort. However, it feels like a property that has enormous potential but could really benefit from better maintenance, improved transportation, and more attention to cleanliness. With a little extra care and investment, I think this resort could become a truly great destination again.

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!

I recently stayed at one of the smaller resorts, and what it lacks in size, it more than makes up…read morefor in comfort and convenience. One of the best things about this property is how easy it is to get around. Unlike larger resorts where you feel like you're constantly walking from one end to the other, everything here is close and accessible. It creates a much more relaxed and cozy experience. The beach is also within easy walking distance, whether you choose to go left or right. Another major advantage is the location across the street from two shopping malls, both offering restaurants and shopping options. The convenience of being able to walk to everything is truly priceless. If I'm remembering correctly, the malls are called King and Queen, or something very similar. In one of them, there is also a grocery store that is impressive in its own right, with cooked food and a wide variety of items you might need during your stay on the island--or even if you are not staying there. I will review that grocery store separately in another post. Overall, this is a great choice for anyone who values convenience, walkability, and a more intimate resort setting.

My experience sadly wasn't good! Chair scraping on the floor…read moreabove us woke me up all week Netflix didn't work! Fire alarm went off at 3:30 am a few nights!!!!!! Not even a message No one answered the phones In case of emergency this would have been a disaster ! Brian is the manager in charge of the Timeshare portion We ran into him a few times Each time he asked our room number and said he would " make it up " to us He didn't do a thing ! We ran into him again . Same conversation Same promise to help w the noise from above He did nothing Just lip service I have been an owner 22 yrs Have travelled all over hawaii This was the most disappointing stay ever Long dark hallways !!!! Everything is "nickel n dime " Beach we knew "sucked " as we were told And they did Not returning here