The Bartender Gregory all round great personality Himself is ideal customer service attitude read more

First, it's hard to find. But after being there I think they want it that way. The karaoke DJ favored the locals, the tourists barely got to sing, I felt like this was a locals only bar, tourists are welcome to buy drinks, but don't expect to sing at this karaoke bar. It's too bad too, because the vibe was good, and it was 40% tourist. Not like it was 100% locals juicing the vibe. I felt like the 40% tourists were more electric than the locals, but the locals got to sing 90% of the songs. Bottom line, if it wasn't for a good bartender would give a lower rating. The guy running the karaoke at this karaoke bar favors the regulars, which I understand, but it also means tourists feel unappreciated and left out. If you want to sing, stay out. If you want to hear locals sing this is your place. For example, one local lady sang 5 times in 2 hours, I put in 2 requests and got to sing 1. So if you want to hear other people sing and get treated like an unwanted tourist, this is the place for you. read more

Showed up Friday afternoon to a gathering of a bunch of angry white dudes that for the entire time it took me to finish a drink complained about illegal border crossing, fentanyl and justifiable wars etc. I eventually just put my ear buds in. The drink and service were fine but Friday must be a hangout for people to air their grievances with life. read more

Great local bar with great bartenders. If you need a drink late at night, this is your place to stop.

we've been coming to Sam's for years. great drinks and the karaoke djs have been awesome. until tonight. this karaoke dj is the worst and most disrespectful man I've ever met. after 2 hours of waiting and seeing multiple singing multiple times before us I thought I'd talk to the dj and give him some constructive criticism. by the way I have been a karaoke dj since 1989 when karaoke was just introduced into the US. i started off by saying with a crowd this big I know it's difficult to make everyone happy. but I could help you with that since I've done this for years. his response was FUCK YOU! I mean I was only trying to help this guy in a bar my wife and i have been going to for 13 years. now this is Hawaii. small town. every knows everyone. Sam's Hideaway. we will never come here again. and all the people we have told about this place and raved about it, we will tell them and everyone else me we to go there. but if ownership contacts me, a Hawaiian regular that you fired that guy, we may change our minds. it's unfortunate because all previous karaoke djs have been awesome. but this guy is so rude and pretentious it blew my mind. sorry Sam's. after all these years we are taking our business elsewhere read more

Fun place to let loose and meet locals! Sang karaoke while sitting at the bar--everyone friendly and talking together

Best bar in Kona! Bartenders Sam and Michael are so friendly and fun. Will definitely be back!

My husband Justin and I Lisa walked in to Sam's to order the bar tender accused me of being intoxicated. I rarely drink alcohol and had no alcohol beverages that day. We only went in to order a drink and get our parking validated so we could go next door and get a bite to eat. Very unwelcoming and quite the jerk wiring that day. We know the owner Bailey and I hope she takes care of her rude bartender. read more

Sam's is our favorite place to go! The service is always top notch, karaoke is always a blast, and they keep the place so clean. My tab after a full night there is only ever like 30-40 dollars, I'm always stunned! We love our KJs, bartenders, and security guys. Thank you Johnny, Smiley, Mike, Mike, Micah! And thank you Jeffers for the amazing hot dawgs outside! read more

This place is really tucked away off of Alii. The bartender was very friendly and the drinks were a reasonable price! They don't offer food. I did notice they have Karaoke in the evenings at $1 per song! I'll try that next year! read more

Loved Sam's Hideaway! I ended up going multiple times during my 7-day trip because the vibe was so good. The karaoke was always fun to listen to and the crowd was super friendly. The DJ, Kyleigh, was awesome and made the whole night even better. This place honestly became one of the highlights of my trip. Definitely a must-visit if you're in downtown Kona. Can't wait to be back in Kona to go here!! read more

Love this place, had my 82 birthday here and they have some of the best bartenders in Kailua.

So I was just in Kona for my solo Birthday Vacation and I definitely wanted to check out Sams. I heard it was a great dive bar and it was! A lot of local, karaoke was fun and I made friends easy. Getting a drink took a bit but it was busy in there. Very small but I would def go back anytime I go back to Hawaii!! read more

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Best way to catch a VIBE....... I looooooovvvvvvvveeeee it ova hurrrrrrrrr.... Good clean fun. read more

Sam's Hideaway - Karaoke after 8 pm...... - Dive Bars Near Me - Kailua-Kona, Hawaii

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Badass little bar in the back of an outdoor mall in Kona. Great servers, cheapest drinks in the area, free parking a short walk away. We came here three times while in Hilo. I was drinking Mai Thais and mixed drinks, so I can't comment on their beers. The two servers we had were each great. It's a tiny bar with only one person on a shift. They kept our drinks full, were fun to talk to, and even served us popcorn without asking. The locals love this place. Retired boaters, motorcycle clubs, local blue collar workers. Fun stories. Apparently the bar was featured in a Greatest Catch TV show - so look it up! read more

Sam's Hideaway - Cheap! - Dive Bars Near Me - Kailua-Kona, Hawaii

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We are trying different dive bars and this one is at the top of my list. We went on Monday during the day. One reason was they are the only ones that validate parking. But beside that the bartender and local customers were among the friendliest people. And the drinks were great. If Derricks there ask for an old fashion and how here learned how to make it. We felt at home here, like locals but we always try to be "local". read more

Great spot for cheap drinks, karaoke, and to chat with some locals. The Mai Thai was for sure the cheapest and strongest I had while in Hawaii. We had a little trouble finding the place since it's down the center of a mall area, and it's pretty small. If you are coming from the main road Sam's will be in about a block and on the left across from a little sheltered smoking area that also has a Sam's sign. read more

Sam's Hideaway - Mai tai - Dive Bars Near Me - Kailua-Kona, Hawaii

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Their sign "All Roads Lead To Sam's" perfectly describes my experience with them. Because of them, my 2 week vacation on Big Island went from great, to awful, to fantastic. A lovely Lyft driver recommended Sam's to me and my group of friends so we decided to visit on our last night in Kona. We had an amazing time with the help of bartender Derek, and security guard Josh. The drinks were cheap and amazing. The karaoke vibe was so fun and entertaining that we decided to join. It is definitely a place I would 100% recommend for any visitors in the area. Unfortunately, the next day I lost my wallet. We went on a hike at Pololu Valley and that was where I thought I lost it. Luckily I still had my phone and passport and the items inside my wallet were replaceable, but it was still upsetting. We stayed near Hilo and Pahoa for the next 7 nights. On the last day, we had a late flight out of Kona so we drove back to the west side of the island. It was a last minute decision (literally 1 hour before our airport check-in) but we decided to end our vacation with some goodbye shots at Sam's. I ended up sitting right infront of the sign. And my boyfriend happened to ask them if by any chance they found a green wallet there. And Derek, our same bartender, said he did! So he spent the next half hour contacting his boss and me still being in shock, I finally saw my green wallet in his hands... right infront of me... even after I've accepted it has been lost to the island a week ago. This was amazing! If it weren't for my friend suggesting shots last minute, and if it weren't for my other friend saying we could walk to Sam's, and if it weren't for my boyfriend asking Derek, and if it weren't for Derek and Sam's taking care of my lost wallet that had its own vacation in their safe for a week, I wouldn't have gone home with my wallet and everything in it. All our roads definitely lead to Sam's. Mahalo for an amazing experience! read more

Sam's Hideaway - Dive Bars Near Me - Kailua-Kona, Hawaii

Great place for good drinks and friendly people. And if Chris is working behind the bar, don't say anything negative about Bo Jackson! If you want a truly laid back bar to go to without any fu fu bling and fakeness, then this is the place. read more

Sam's Hideaway - A great visit!!! - Dive Bars Near Me - Kailua-Kona, Hawaii

We were on the lookout for cheap maitais and Sam's was the place! You really can't beat his $6.50 price in the area. It's divey, local, and loud. It's indoors, has bathrooms, and jukebox music. No food is available for purchase. Highly recommend this place for cheap drinks! read more

Sam's Hideaway - Mai tai for me! - Dive Bars Near Me - Kailua-Kona, Hawaii

I didn't eat when I went there. But the staff was so friendly. We sang karaoke and had a few drinks. Visiting from the mainland and it was a great experience. read more

Sam's Hideaway - Dive Bars Near Me - Kailua-Kona, Hawaii

This bar right here is the most iconic dive bar in kona! The service is right on point! people and bikers welcome. Air conditioning on point and it's definitely a nice hideaway! Come one come all and hang out and chill for sure. I've been coming here for years and I will coming for more! Come on down to Sam's hideaway and join in on the local talk story and forever good times! Amber is the utmost attentive bartender as well....I hope to see you rolling through the red door! read more

Sam's Hideaway - Amber the bartender - Dive Bars Near Me - Kailua-Kona, Hawaii

I have to say this HOME is Iike none other! It's a wonderful place to celebrate any occasion, but also a great space to be yourself and "hideaway." Special thanks to all of the great hospitable fam here, but especially Celeste! It's not this place that makes this woman stand out, but the culture definitely is elevated by her shining character! The first time I met Celeste, she was quick to support me as an individual and genuinely cared, but she also made a spot on *chefs kiss* gin martini with the right level of dirty! Thank you Sam's fam!! read more

I love Sam's! My boyfriend and I visited on our first night in Kona and had a blast. Affordable cocktails ($8-10 each - I recommend the mai tai), a bartender who made good drinks and had a lovely singing voice, and karaoke all night ($1 per song request). There's no song list/book though, so come prepared with a few of your favorite hits if you want to sing! Loved the vibe here and everyone was friendly. It wasn't too crowded on a Thursday night, but that's exactly what we were looking for. read more

Super friendly neighborhood bar. Great drinks and fair prices. The short Time we where their we felt welcomed. read more

Fun little spot, an air conditioned hole in the wall the dive bar, minus the stickiness of a dive bar. Lots of TVs for sports, friendly clientele and staff, nights get pretty busy w the karaoke. Eclectic crowd, older folks, tourists, locals, bachelorette parties, the local workers having an after work bevvie. Affordable pricing ANDdddd they validate parking. It's a vibe read more

Super fun local bar, right in the heart of Kona. Great vibes and a perfect place to karaoke!

Absolutely our fav bar in Kona! The best bartenders around, the best regulars, and great karaoke. Celeste always has the best drink specials and fun jell-o shots. I almost don't recommend this bar to anyone to keep it all for myself!!!! read more

Sam's Hideaway - fantastic, perfect, amazing, delicious mai tai made by celeste! - Dive Bars Near Me - Kailua-Kona, Hawaii

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Loved the Mai Tai Jell-O shot! And the Mai Tai was good also. Bartender was great. Will definitely visit again read more

Sam's Hideaway - Mai Tai - Dive Bars Near Me - Kailua-Kona, Hawaii

Friendly staff, good turnout for karaoke which is why we came. Good song selection and karaoke host, local crowd. Restrooms need cleaning. read more

Service is great. Whenever I'm in Kona this is my go to spot. This is a comfortable local bar. Karaoke starts at 8

Day 1: Great drinks, nice folks, great bartender (Alora). Day 2: Greg was awesome, too! He also poured great drinks. Great music as well. More good folks! Other bartenders came in to hang - a real good sign. Day 3: Chris was awesome. We perfected the Mai Tai strength for my wife, so she's not knocked out after 1. read more

Our fav karaoke bar every time we're in Kona and also we meet lots of locals too! :) read more

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This little gem of a place is significantly brighter with the presence of my favorite bartender, Celeste! She's attentive, friendly, and makes a tasty cocktail! read more

10/10. We were sitting at the bar minding our own business, watching karaoke when a man in a chef hat rolled a cart through the bar handing out corned beef sandwiches. Those were also a 10/10. Would i recommend to anyone? Heck yes. Best bar in Kona. read more

Sam's Hideaway - a person holding a drink and a fan - Dive Bars Near Me - Kailua-Kona, Hawaii

Had a great experience at Sam's..daytime was the best because of Celeste.. she was so sweet and accommodating! Will be back.

Always good vibes and a great time! Yamashita Wednesdays are my favorite! Mike and Celeste are the best, RC Kona is next door for a good sandwich that you can bring in and eat while you enjoy your drink. 10/10 read more

This place is a divey vibe for sure. It's fun, and friendly. It's loud, a definite local crowd. It's a cute little place.

Great local bar with great priced drinks in a friendly and welcoming environment. Located right in the heart of downtown Kailua Kona. Good vibes and even better staff! Best part is $2 validated 24 hour parking!! Don't miss this gem, right off the beaten path! read more

Sam's Hideaway - Bloody mary - Dive Bars Near Me - Kailua-Kona, Hawaii

This place is so badass and the karaoke DJ doubled as the bouncer. Haha. He announced I was next, threw a guy out, and changed the song without breaking a sweat. So much fun and cool place. read more