Dolphin Bay Hotel

Last minute booking via the hotel's website but turned out to be the best choice I've made after browsing online, couldn't 100% decide on where to stay near/around downtown Hilo, considering safety, convenience, comfort, also accessibility. Yes, the hotel is definitely old, you cannot expect 5 star luxury or amenity but the building & roons are very clean and well maintained. I was worried about insects or bugs in the room, which is very common(and indeed, nothing surprising) anywhere in Hawaii (my home included) but to my surprise, I did not see any single bug in the room during my stay. Also, carpet, linens, towels, floors...all very clean. My room had a kitchen with full-sized fridge, sink, and smaller oven/cooker w/venti-fan - they are also very clean. Downtown is literally a couple of blocks away, numbers of restaurants/cafes in walking distance. Easy access to the Belt Road which is very convenient for getting around. All the staffs are helpful, friendly and the front staffs are knowledgeable. Aloha hospitality right here! Banana bread, some fruits(banana & papaya when I stayed), and freshly-brewed coffee are served every morning at the reception area. I know some ppl mentioned the coqui frogs but they weren't that bad - you're in the tropic zone, I found it soozing bedtime rainforest sound effect. No AC in the room but ceiling fan plus breeze from windows did a miracle, it wasn't any issue for me at all either. Overall, I really enjoyed the stay, will definitely return when I visit Hilo again.

We had such a lovely time at the Dolphin Bay Hotel! The place is definitely older, but it's been well maintained and the rooms are very comfortable. Plus, including nice coffee and papayas for breakfast is a nice touch! The location is fantastic for doing anything in Hilo, and meant we did more in the city than we might have at a place further out. And the staff here was the friendliest of anywhere we stayed in Hawai‘i — we so appreciated how considerate and helpful everyone was. We loved our time in Hilo, and we'll definitely stay here again if we get the chance to come back! ☺️🐬

The Dolphin Bay Hotel captures the essence of aloha with its warm, welcoming spirit and no-frills charm. Tucked away off the beaten path, it offers a quiet, laid-back escape from the bustle of more touristy spots. My husband has stayed here every time he’s traveled to Hawai‘i’s Big Island since 1983—a testament to the comfort and connection this place offers. While it’s missing some common modern conveniences like air conditioning and a contemporary décor, the rooms are comfortable, cozy, and have a relaxed, homey feel. A special treat awaits each morning with fresh banana bread and fruit—a simple touch that makes you feel truly cared for. Perfect for travelers seeking authenticity and comfort over luxury. Be sure to seek out and pet the resident cat, Boots. He’s so cute! And don’t miss walking through the garden behind the hotel, where you will find beautiful flowers and all the tropical sounds!

If you want a low-key, tropical and casual but extremely clean and respectful place, stay here!! Our room was the “superior queen” that had a queen sized bed and full kitchen and full bath. The shower was incredible (water pressure & time it took to get hot water). The front desk/staff were welcoming and very friendly and helpful. They provided fresh banana bread, papayas, and oranges each morning along with tea & coffee. Located on a quiet side street, it was a lovely spot to escape the Hilo busy areas. Would highly recommend this place!

We stayed here for five nights (four in a one bedroom apartment, which wasn't available when we added a fifth night two days prior to arrival). The rooms were clean and comfortable. Having the kitchen available was a plus. The room was very calm and quiet at night. Plenty of parking in the back. Super helpful and friendly hosts who made the room switch after the first night seamless (in fact, they bent over backwards to accommodate us). Easy walking distance to town. Would definitely recommend staying here if visiting Hilo.

Sweet hidden little gem of a place. Rooms are very dated, however easily overlooked as hospitality from staff is so amazing. Complimentary morning coffee, fresh papayas and banana nut bread are offered to guests. Lovely green lush garden in the back of the hotel. Parking available. Love this place.

If you are looking for an accommodation at Hilo, that's place to stay! We loved it! Felt very authentic to the island, super nice management, rooms are clean, roomy and have kitchenette! They offer a yummy papaya, homemade banana bread and coffee in the morning. There was a big stock of banana hanging in the lobby, the sweetest bananas we had on the island! There is garden there too.. Very quick drive to the center, so location-wise is perfect! Highly recommended staying here! Great place and it is well managed.. Unfortunately, we didn't see the famous cat, but next time😀

So sad the Dolphin Bay hotel has been closed. Comfortable and confident lodging with free good coffee, banana bread, and fresh fruit from the property each morning.

Pleasant and quiet hotel, if you don't mind coqui frogs, reminiscent of old Hawaii. The coffee, banana bread, and papayas in the morning are appreciated.

Clean spacious room, full kitchen, nice neighboring garden. Friendly and helpful staff, fantastic banana bread!

We stayed for a couple nights while in Hilo and you can't ask for a better little hotel. The rooms are comfortable, and while there is no AC with the windows open and the fans on we slept great. The scenery out back is lovely, its in a great location, and if you are a cat person there are some sweet feral cats as well as the cats at the hotel itself! :P The staff is all wonderful; very friendly and we received some excellent food/drink suggestions. And the coffee and banana bread for breakfast was a great option when we didn't feel like going out for breakfast! The frogs are pretty crazy at night- honestly they were so loud and regular that it was like white noise and it actually helped me sleep, but they do provide earplugs in the bathroom if its an issue.

I wouldn't recommend The Best Place and the most beautiful place Naniloa and SAVE BANYAN DRIVE! It's the prettiest street in Hilo Banyon Drive W Queen Liliuokalani gardens there is a bait shop and cruising through the park to coconut island it's absolutely gorgeous and safe with that laid back feel and people are walking I just would not recommend it's a risk and it's not always safe in Hilo

This was the hotel that saved my trip! I had to leave an Air BNB unexpectedly, and I had to book something with almost no notice. When I called the front desk to inquire about availability I was greeted by a very pleasant person. I showed up and she took the time to show me several rooms so I could choose between them. She also shared directions to favorite beaches and dining places nearby. This is a great little vintage classic: super clean, soft cotton sheets, coqui frogs chirping outside, free fruit, a full kitchen, and a 5 minute walk to downtown Hilo. Oh, and an amazing shower! Excellent value and beyond friendly. This is not a resort. Just an honest hotel that feels familiar, unassuming, and welcoming. Highly recommend!

Just about everything I said about Wild Ginger Inn, also applies here. In fact, they are so close as 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!

Our home away from home. Mahalo to the staff for the aloha and yummy continental breakfast. This isn't for people looking to modern comforts. It 's that old school family type of vibe. It's lovely and we enjoyed our stay there. It's in a beautiful setting and in a convenient location. I would recommend to other families that are on a budget and looking for simplicity.

It is small tucked away from main down town Hilo. Quite charming and welcome atmosphere. I love the garden they have and listen to birds at rounding the property. I will be back if I come to Hilo. This place was surprisingly great and guest service was great and very friendly.

Great place to stay for a reasonably priced local-style vacation in Hilo. Conveniently located minutes from downtown Hilo with complimentary coffee, papaya, & banana bread every morning. Staff are extremely friendly, responsive, & accommodating.

I got upgraded to a nice room with a complete kitchen Their staff is friendly and kind They have morning coffee with banana bread and fresh papayas out in the lobby area for their guests to help themselves to.

Dolphin Bay is my must-stay hotel anytime I visit Hilo. The staff is always warm and helpful, the rooms are clean and spacious and all boast a full kitchenette. Mornings offer early coffee and fresh fruit and fresh-baked banana bread, and lots of good advice from the desk about local sights and activities for the day. It's an old-style family-owned motor inn offering free parking, free wi-fi, expansive TV network offerings, a bookcase full of an array of books to borrow or take with you, a jug of fresh water in the fridge, and a cat to keep you company while you nap. A lush garden full of endemic plants and ripening fruit invites a morning walk - it's like a little miracle jungle in the middle of city. I've been staying there almost 30 years and John's family has kept the rooms fresh and comfortable but still a little nostalgic. No AC, but lots of fans and breezes. and. of course, coquis. Dolphin Bay is my favorite hotel on the whole island, especially now that Door Dash has brought room service!

Old school motor inn- perfect imho. We had room 16 which comes with it's own sweet cat. So bring (lo calorie) treats. She's a little fat. Our balcony overlooks the garden. Nice for sitting in the morning to enjoy coffee and evening night cap. I love the birds and frog sounds at night. No A/C but our room was always cool. Bed comfy. Kitchen has all implements to cook. Only salt and pepper. No sugar or oil. Bathroom spacious and clean. Easy walking distance to restaurants and KTA. We particularly liked The Pineapple. Food ok- but nice open air atmosphere, friendly service, and pleasant live acoustic music.

Clean, quiet and beautiful grounds. Fresh coffee, papayas and banana bread. Hotel staff including the cat are helpful and friendly.

Pros: *Staff are very friendly, informative, helpful and kind. *In the morning, they have coffee and delicious banana bread. *Our room had a stove, refrigerator and microwave *conveniently located *beautiful garden Cons: *Rooms could use a little updating *cockroaches in our room

They said they had recently upgraded their wifi and it showed; worked remotely from this hotel for a week. Lots of corporate video calls via Google Meet and one via Zoom, all hours of the day, and hardly a single issue. Also streamed NPR every morning and evening, watched some YouTube videos, and streamed some Peleton workouts on my phone. Again, no issues. Given how important work was, I was grateful that this worked as advertised and things went well. The staff said they were at 70% occupancy that week, so it wasn't for lack of usage by other guests. It was mentioned some people were booking monthly, so I'm presuming there are some remote workers like me running Zoom calls or whatever. Compared to a big corporate hotel, amenities are minimal, but for a small town on a tropical island, this hotel has the necessities. Downtown Hilo is 5-10 minutes walk away, with lots of local restaurants, both upscale and homey. Parking is free. The location overall is excellent. One thing to note is that there's no heat or A/C that I saw, just a ceiling fan (or maybe there are more expensive rooms with that?). With the tropical climate, I don't think you need it but if you're super-sensitive to temperature, or just love coming home to a dry, cool room after a hot, humid day out, then this place may not be for you. There's a garden in the back with little bits of seating here and there. You have to walk down the hill a bit. Lush and tropical. Quite nice. Staff is friendly and responsive. Seems like a family-owned little enterprise, with a small group of staff that run the show. They seemed genuinely passionate about showing their island to you. I think the only feedback I have is to install some hooks, or a standing coat rack or folding drying rack, to hang towels and clothes on. With the amount of rain Hilo gets and the humidity that takes longer to dry, I found myself using all the available chairs to drape clothes and towels over. Bathrooms: Spacious and clean. Given the humidity, sometimes takes a little while for towels to dry.

Absolutely fabulous affordable weekend getaway place! Got delish coffee, homemade banana bread, fresh papaya daily. If you don't mind the sound of the Coque frogs, the place perfect starting point in Hilo to adventure from. They have a complete kitchen, a little garden out back to roam. I'm a painter so it was great pix fodder for me. staff Kelly was very attentive.

Good hotel , friendly staff. Rooms with kitchen has stove, refrigerator and microwave. Close to downtown for shops ,restaurants and farmers market. Good price and don't charge a resort fee! Has a parking lot and has good free coffee. Would stay again.

Returned to Dolphin Bay recently. Not often you can come back 11yrs later and find it better than before. John provides fresh banana bread.coffee and fruit for a lovely start to your day. Helpful, knowledgeable staff in a nice quiet neighborhood.

A nice place to be provided large bath , good size kitchen , the microwave I was too close the the kitchen table. Other than that , very clean and sanitary rooms. Towels smelled crispy clean . Love the open windows & high ceilings.

Found this place thanks to Yelp which gave it the best listings in the area. Got a room with a queen bed and arrived with the help of GPS as it's in a residential area. More motel than hotel but had a nice feel to it. No air conditioning but aside from a ceiling fan they had also installed a pretty nice heavy duty fan aimed at the bed which made it very tolerable. Luckily not too hot out (70's) but the tree frogs which surround the area are crazy loud so I didn't close all windows but The white noise from the fans helped drown most of that out. Small functional kitchen which also had a large container of drinking water in the fridge which was welcomed. They had papayas and bananas available as well as coffee for breakfast in the main lobby which we brought back to our room and prepared. The sheets and towels are clean and white, my only criticism is that I did find several long black hairs from probably the previous tenant in the bedroom and bathroom which made me believe that they could've done a better job cleaning the apartment in between uses.

I have stayed here twice now with my husband, and his family has stayed here many times since the 1980s. We love this place! Great staff, clean, beautiful courtyard and garden, and it is charming! We're not resort guys. I like to pack our day bag and head to Volcano NP, or go for a hike, then head back to the hotel, have dinner on the lanai, and crash. I'm the morning, they have coffee and banana bread and fresh fruit at 6AM, then we are ready to go again! It's perfect! Also, it's walking distance to downtown Hilo, but you wouldn't know it; it's surrounded by lush vegetation. I wouldn't stay anywhere else.

The owner was very kind and helpful!! I highly recommend planning your visit to Dolphin Bay Hotel!!!

What they advertise is not what they offer. There are no bbq pits- there is no breakfast. This place is not as nice as they claim it to be. It is not anywhere near an ocean beach unless you consider a 5 feet long patch of sand one on a crowded highway. Your best bet is to avoid this place.

What an amazing stay. Access to free fruit, a beautiful tropical garden, and the room is perfect with large shower and a kitchenette. When I come back to Hilo I will definitely be staying here again. 15 min walk to shops and restaurants.

The good: * Lots of amenities including a kitchen, fridge, free breakfast (banana bread, coffee/tea and fruit). The banana bread is so good, it's bananas. The papayas are also unbelievably fantastic. * Extremely thoughtful and delightful details like napkins with cartoons on them, pre-chilled container of water, kitchenware, flowers, hair drier * Brandon was very nice and accommodating and offered to give us tips on where to be a tourist * Large, scenic outdoor area for relaxing * Location to downtown Hilo (though it gets pretty sketchy to walk at night, since the bridge path is not lit at all). The meh: * WiFi is crap, but stop looking at your phone and go outside * Outside is consistently loud (animal sounds), but it ends up becoming white noise. Alternatively, just bring some earplugs. * Bugs, but I'm fairly certain that's unavoidable anywhere on this island (you will understand when you see the windows on every building in town). The room itself is immaculate. Will definitely come back

My stay on the big island was unexpectedly extended by one day. In looking for a place to stay, my only real criteria was affordable and clean. Well, this place not only met those criteria, it exceeded every expectation I had. The owner who checked me in was so wonderfully hospitable and took time to orient me to the surroundings and explained the free fresh fruit and local coffee available for guests. He walked me to my room where the cleaning staff was just finishing. He greeted them by name and talked briefly with them as well. It was obvious that guy is living his passion for providing a great place to stay for anyone visiting the big island. If my travels ever take me back to the big island, I will absolutely be staying here again!

This was a perfect place to be close to downtown but nice and quiet. Staff was very friendly and I love the cozy feel of this place. I only stayed one night so didn't get to use the kitchen but it was nice to have it and I plan to say here again in my next island hop trip. Mahalo for the great place!

Nice enough room and facility and a cut above most of the local hotels. Dinged because of a few issues: WiFi kept dropping signals. Could not resolve with the pm manager; overpriced by my estimation by 10-15% for this quality. Parking is easy and staff was friendly.

This is definitely NOT a hotel. More like a tiny motel. I believe there are only 14 rooms in the middle of a residential one-lane road. There is very limited parking, very hard to find, and located in the close proximity of drug users. Even the parking is taken up by employees. "High" people roaming the streets at all hours and very scary for a senior citizen. The rooms are clean but super shabby and some of the windows are screen-only. Because it's in the middle of a "jungle," you will have bugs and critters in your room. Years of living in Hawaii taught me to fill the bathroom sink with water and leave the light on, closing the door. In the AM, you will find hundreds of little, black, flying insects. Mosquito bites are guaranteed. No elevator so it is definitely not for handicapable folks. Employees are friendly and the complementary banana bread, coffee are decent but there is definitely NO places to eat without driving (you wouldn't want to walk around the area anyway). I won't stay here ever again. I have a friend who owns property in the next city and will stay with her next time. The reviews from other Yelpers are definitely misplaced or are travelers that don't go out much. Probably should give this place 1star but the front desk worker is cordial. Please don't expect this place to be a "hotel" because you will be disappointed.

We liked this hotel for the reasons listed below: - Kitchen facilities and dining table, so we could store the groceries and dinein, if we wanted - fresh coffee, banana bread for breakfast,and fresh fruits available all day - Jungle like backyard where we can experience the nature - Walking distance to downtown for exercise They also offer free wi-fi, and the staff was very friendly. I am very glad that I found this place, and highly recommend this hotel.

My son and I absolutely love Dolphin Bay! Home away from home very polite staff with wonderful hospitality with loving care and kindness yo animals as well. Never felt so welcome comfortable and safe. Look forward to more vacations here. If I could stay forever I would.

Very cozy, it's almost like having a small apartment b/c of the kitchenette and there is a ridiculous long closet. I would stay here again no doubt, best hotel in Hilo. Pros: 1. Walkable to downtown, this is a very nice plus. 2. Kitchenette (see pictures I posted) 3. Clean Bathroom 4. I was suprised that Dolphin Bay Hotel had a flat screen, it was small but modern. 5. Free coffee, hot chocolate, pastries, papayas, and apple bananas in the morning. Actually, at any time of the day (AM or PM), you can pick up free papayas and apple bananas. 6. Beautiful landscaping and fruit trees 7. Had a good neighbor vibe. 8. Front desk is helpful, she gave us a map and circled for us where to go. 9. They practice being green, because in the morning, they request you bring the ceramic mugs from the room, they don't have disposable cups for coffee. Cons: 1. Not many rooms, so reserve early. 2. No AC, we came in Jan so it wasn't too hot. Don't know how it is during August. 3. Those frogs are loud, there's a reason why they give you earplugs. It's a delicate balance between keeping the door open for cool air and drowning out the frogs. If you're a light sleeper, this could be a problem for you. You could wear the earplugs but who likes wearing earplugs to sleep. 4. TV is small Advice: The office closes at 7 or 8pm so make sure you arrive before that or let the front desk know about your late arrival.

My boss had cautiously recommended this hotel. "It's not fancy" she warned. The Dolphin Bay Hotel is a small older hotel located in a residential area not too far from central Hilo. The accommodations are nothing special, though the rooms do include a full kitchen. It is the expertise of the management and the attention to detail that set this place apart. From the moment we arrived we were asked if we would like recommendations on where to eat and what to see. Maps were immediately pulled out, marked up, and detailed instructions were given to find all the special spots. The hotel property includes an extensive lovely garden with orchids, bromeliads, banana trees; a tropical paradise. The lobby area has free wi-fi available. Also in the lobby area are fresh bananas and papayas. Umbrellas are available for the inevitable rain. A bookshelf of novels for those that forget reading material sits in the hallway. The staff will gladly loan you flashlights for night-time lava viewing. There are even ear plugs in the bathroom medicine cabinet to help drown out the croaking of the frogs at night. I highly recommend the Dolphin Bay Hotel for anyone that doesn't need first-class or resort accommodations.

What a great place to be So beautiful here . Everyone who works here is beautiful sweet people . They are all nice and helpful ! Stay here and you will be very happy ! It is just perfect and amazing ! Great clean rooms ! Comes with everything you will need for your stay and more . The coffee and breakfast are amazing and fresh . The grounds are something out of your dreams . I give them am A+ all the way around !

We stayed in room 14 for two nights during our a short trip to see the Volcanoes National Park. The hotel is conveniently located near the Hilo airport and downtown. If you don't have a car you can still walk to several places. The room had a nice kitchen that was very well stocked with supplies, including dish soap and microwave. It was great to even have ice in the freezer. We had a hiccup with the WiFi connection because that particular room has a weak signal. I loved the steady pressure and hot water in the bathroom. I appreciated the fresh coffee and light pastries each morning. The cranberry-orange muffin was delicious. The garden in the back was very serene. Also, we got great sight seeing suggestions with a personalized map based on the time we had available. If you arrive late at night, it's easier to park in the street.

This place was great! Not what I expected at all. We got the 2 twin room which had 2 beds, a nice, clean bathroom, and a full kitchen with utensils and everything you'd need to cook... Including a full fridge! The bathroom mirror had some earplugs which were super helpful. I couldn't hear the frogs or anything outside. I appreciated that! There was tea, homemade banana bread, the most delicious apple bananas ever, and papaya for free every morning. The man that checked us in was really friendly and gave us some tips of what to do. This place was really close to everything in Hilo but also quiet and secluded. There was a little walkong path... With some spiders... But that was nice and quiet. The only reason I gave Dolphin Bay a 4 was because the WiFi was spotty. I wasn't in the room much but none of my devices stayed connected very long. Either way, I'd definitely stay there again. I loved it

We stayed here a couple years ago and really liked it. I would much rather have PRACTICAL than FANCY. Love having a kitchen, and having fruit and danish for breakfast. And yes, with the door to the lanai open, the sound of frogs at night was a bit overwhelming in the living room. Just have your MP3 player and earbuds handy! The Dolphin Bay Hotel is a gem of a hotel in a gem of a city. I'd love to go back!

Highly recommend this hotel. Stayed one night before Thanksgiving 2019. It was a Great stay! The room is very practically good with full kitchen. The help desk staff was so friendly and helpful. Breakfast was not fancy, but fresh island fruits and banana bread& coffee/tea. I liked it very much.

The location is excellent, the room is very clean. Full kitchen. Breakfast has the best banana bread, home grown papaya and incredibly good coffee. The hotel is in a lovely garden property. The rooms need to be updated but you are a good value. Best part is the owner John who has lived in Hilo his entire life. He is an amazing resource and very available. I would stay here again.

You guys rock and are so kind , caring! Clean rooms , right by singing bridge ! It's a hidden gem . Very quiet , I just loved it ! John is the nicest person ever and his crew is amazing !

Very nice hotel room for the price tag. actually, I would not call this place a hotel. The rooms are more like studio apartments in my opinion. We were warmly accommodated after trekking from kona, to ocean view, ka'u, then to volcano and our eyes were weary and feet tired. The rooms are large and spacious. Even having a dining room area complete with table and chairs, and a fully stocked kitchen complete with anything you would need from dishes to mugs, to can and wine openers (although we did not partake). The full size refrigerator came equipped with ice and water. The room had a stove with pots and pans for the longer staying guests. The bathroom was also decently sized and also came stocked with shampoo, soap, and even ear plugs (but why would anyone want to drown out the sounds of nature?!- we didn't need these). I woke up early for coffee, banana bread, papaya and fresh bananas on the vine. Some of the best I've ever had! The energy to this place is definitely mellow and I appreciated that. A private lot in the back protects your rental car and belongings. Thank you dolphin bay for accommodating us on such short notice! We will definitely be back.

I am a travel nurse and I stayed in countless hotels in Hawaii during my transition to getting an apartment and this one was my favorite. Friendly staff, papayas, bananas grown on the land and banana bread out for the guests everyday and the outdoor grill felt like home. I love how everything is outdoors and anti plastic/pollution. Such a good vibe

A great place to stay in Hilo! Highlights: very clean, easy walk into town, yummy coffee, fresh fruit, and banana bread in the morning, beach towels, snorkeling gear, and great service. The rooms may appear a little retro but are very clean and comfortable. John and his staff made our stay in Hilo exemplary with their knowledge of the island and friendly service. We will be back!

Hate to give them 5 stars...but what a great place I hope I don't ruin it. Small hotel, owner run, spotlessly clean, thoughtful service, beautiful gardens, within walking distance of the Hilo historic district. Our room had a small kitchen so you could 'eat in' if you needed to...great if you have kids. Very good value for the price. Not 'just a motel' as someone said: but a wonderful boutique hotel in a garden setting. Oh one thing; there aren't any dolphins or a Bay for that matter but don't be picky. A garden jungle is just outside your door...but would stay at the Garden Jungle Hotel? No; I didn't think so.

If Rick Steves ever writes a guidebook for the Big Island, I'm sure the Dolphin Bay hotel will make his list. It's a great value, a convenient location and is owned and operated by locals. All the rooms have kitchenettes, which is great if you want to do your own cooking and save some greenbacks (but bring your own dishes and cookware). It's located a short walk from downtown Hilo--so you're right by a bunch of shops, a KTA supermarket and the farmer's market (open everyday but Friday until 4pm). Each morning there is fresh coffee, pastries, bananas and papaya--an excellent way to get a jump on the day. It's also a short drive from Rainbow Falls, Boiling Pots and Pe'epe'e Falls. Now for the not-so-great: there's no air conditioning. However, there are fans in the bedroom, so in my experience it wasn't too uncomfortable. Unfortunately there is an infestation of coqui frogs in the area. They begin croaking (it sounds more like a chirp) as soon as the sun goes down and they don't let up until sunrise. It is a constant noise, like crickets on steroids. There is no way I'd have gotten a wink of sleep if it weren't for the complimentary ear plugs. I also encountered one very large cockroach in my room, but there was also a cute little gecko on my private lanai, so those two even out by my reckoning. Would I stay here again? Yes. One doesn't visit Hilo for the sandy beaches (there aren't any) and some of the touristy beachfront properties looked downright sad. In spite of its rough edges, the Dolphin Bay is a solid value.

At first I was shocked when i called them, they dont do bookings by email, its by phone and they mail you (YES, USPS) the paperwork, anyhow, I booked this place after seeing the rave reviews on tripadvisor, it was such a great decision. good location, in proximity to downtown shops and foods. John and the entirety of his staff, are extremely friendly, hospitable, informative, and knowledgeable. John is not afraid to share with you things to do, places to eat at. You can seriously sit with him over morning coffee and chit chat, time flies for some reason, maybe its his personality, maybe its his tone of voice. There is fresh fruit, papayas and bananas at all hours of the day in the front office, coffee and baked goods in the morning, and avocado for the picking from the trees in the back (though I didnt go out looking for it, so its unconfirmed). The layout of the room is definitely otherworldly, or old-worldly, which is quite neat to see. The room is big enough for 2, it is clean enough in the places that matter, linens were exceptionally clean, as were the bathroom, sink and shower. Bathroom stocked with lotion, shampoo, conditioner, and soap. Each unit is appointed with a kitchen, which is adequately stocked and CLEAN! Wifi, parking, cable TV included. Iron, ironing board, hair dryer, coffee maker, toaster, pots pans dishes cups glasses silverware etc. Shower is hot and pressure is good. towels are provided (shower and beach types) and they are CLEAN! CLEAN CLEAN CLEAN! The room quality sells this hotel, the personality that comes with it seals the deal and keeps customers coming back.

My only complaint about the Dolphin Bay is that it's really just a motel, and $139/nt seems like a lot of money to pay for a room. We did enjoy staying at DB, being in a quiet neighborhood but within easy walking distance of the heart of Hilo is a real plus. The rooms are so nice and clean and the bed was super comfortable - better than many in far "fancier" hotels. So there's that, and the friendly staff. And Hilo is such a cool little spot, I would definitely stay at Dolphin Bay again (tho I guess another complaint could be - what Dolphins? What Bay? - neither was in sight)

I love to travel. It gives a person an opportunity to relax, explore and inquire about the places s/he visits. Traveling also affords you the insight of how life is in that particular part of the world. More importantly, traveling helps remind you of your own life in the context of that place. You are what you are. I'm on day 3 visiting the town of Hilo on the big island of Hawaii. Having read an airplane magazine ad for property on the Big Island, I was curious on what that really means. Hence the visit to the Big Island and another excuse to take a vacation. There are no resorts, nor any fancy hotels in Hilo. Why? it's just not Hilo's personality to do so. Or maybe because the weather has something to do with. There's alot more rain on the eastern part of the island than the Kona side of the island; it's like that with all the Hawai'ian islands. Hilo is working class town with an old school Hawaiian charm that time forgot. Having stayed at the Hilton Waikola Village and the Holualoa Inn (www.holualoainn.com) on the first 5 days on the Big Island (Kona side), my expectations for Dolphin Bay Hotel were slightly compromised I asked my co worker who has land in Hamakua Coast where to stay in Hilo, he had no reply. I asked my good friend who grew up in Waimea ( Kamuela) where to stay in Hilo, he said he's never stayed a night in Hilo so he had no recommendations. I picked this hotel because it was recommended by Wizard Pub and the Lonely Planet. I didn't like the Dolphin Bay Hotel. I wanted to leave the first night I stayed here. I've stayed at nicer motel 6 and Best Western hotels in the past. Having travelled for work and got a taste of finer things in life, this was a step down for me. People who stay at Four Seasons know about Motel 6 | Comfort Inn | Super 8 , but they just don't cross the line and stay in one. But over time, I started to appreciate the Dolpin Bay Hotel. The hotel itself is close to down town, but in an area where there's many older, run down buildings. But downtown Hilo is old and run down. It's not KONA! that's the whole point. The Dolphin Bay Hotel is not trying to be the Four Seasons,the Fairmonts, or the Hilton's of the world. You are what you are. I'll never be a NBA or NFL player so I don't pretend, neither does the Dolphin Bay Hotel. The Dolphin Hotel is run and owned by John Alexander. It's not owned by shareholders and run by corporate big wigs. The Good: The staff ( Verna, Anita and John) are the most friendliest and thoughtful people on the island. They gave tips on places to eat, places of interest with maps. On an afternoon looking for a good beach for my two year old son, they not only gave me a map but also give me a beach mat and a beach towel. They'll do they best to accomodate you. Every morning they put out coffee and the most delicious cinamon buns from a local bakery (O'Keefe's and Sons). The hotel also offers bananas and papayas. Take as much as you want. The hotel is clean , sparan clean. No cockaroaches. Walking distance to downtown Hilo. Roman style tubs, kitchenettes with pots and pans. refrigerator and microwave. Beautiful rain forest garden in the back of the property. You're not held hostage for pricy food options like you are at the Kohala / Kona resorts. The Bad: no pool. no air conditioning ( you don't need it on this side of the island ) the hotel was built in late 60s / early 70s and it needs some updating. The garbage truck pickup at 5:30am on Friday mornings. You can hear the coqui tree frogs all night long; while it adds a tropical feed to the ambience, I wanted less of it. Bottomline: If you plan to stay in Hilo for 1 to 2 nights, this is a good place for the money. The staff is helpful. If you have young children who likes a pool, this is not the place to go; you should stay on the Kona side and do day trips to the island. If you want real to stay a month long in Hilo, with hawai'ian friendly staff, this is the place to be. This trip makes me realize that I'm a snob. Just because I have money doesn't mean I need to spend it on a fancy resort. Hipsters of Yelp, it's good to go native when you travel! There's good people in Hilo. and some of them work at the Dolphin Bay hotel!

Excellent place to stay. The lady at the front desk was nice and gave us some pointers on where to shop in hilo (hint it's along Front Street). We stayed 2 nights here and had no issues with our neighbors. There was a lot of bird chirping noises at night that you could hear in the living room, but they provided ear plugs. In the morning, the hotel provides free banana bread, bananas, papayas, hot chocolate and coffee although we didn't really get to take advantage of it. The location is convenient and close to downtown Hilo.