Hale Kai Hawaii Suites - Oceanfront Hilo Lodging

I live in Hilo but stayed here for a week while our hale was under construction, and this is a gem of a find! I would definitely stay here again, and I look forward to referring friends and family here when our place is not available or we do not have room. I stayed in the Pele Suite which has a separate bedroom and living area, and a small kitchen and bathroom. The views are spectacular, and you can hear the waves just outside your door - I love falling asleep to that sound. The rooms were immaculately clean and well maintained, the unit was fully outfitted and everything worked properly. In addition to watching for whales and passing cruise ships, you can also watch the surfers who are nearby from dawn to dusk it seemed. Always something interesting to see! A bonus which I did not read closely enough to realize beforehand, is that each afternoon the staff leaves a lovey breakfast tray for the following morning (or whenever you choose to use it). Fresh fruit, muffins, yogurt and boiled eggs offer great options for breakfast or brunch. Coffee, tea, milk and other staples were also supplied. Both the housekeeping staff onsite and the office (reservation) staff were a joy to work with. Always friendly and helpful, including for the many questions I asked the office staff since our stay was rather last minute. I did not capture inside photos, but the ones on their site reflect it accurately. If you will be in the Hilo area do not miss this lovely spot! One follow-up regarding the reviewer who said there were ants in the room. She was correct that you do not want to leave any food out, but those of us that live in the tropics know there will be ants no matter where you are if food is not put away securely. That and the geckos are just part of the package!

This was a nice two-day stopover in Hilo for us on a longer Big Island tour. There are not a lot of great choices in Hilo, and the Pele Suites at least had a GREAT view. We enjoyed watching a cruise ship come in, but, alas, no whales. ||The parking is very difficult. We had the advantage of two or three units vacant, and even so, the parking situation is very challenging. We had a Nissan Murano, and it could barely function.||The bed was comfortable. Without A/C, I would not want to be there in a warmer month that December.||The kitchen very very limited. The little fridge in the room was nice, but we had enough stuff along that we also used the big fridge in the common room, which is a nice feature.||We never found the light switch for the kitchen light.||The stairs will be difficult for anyone who is mobility impaired.

This was an amazing find in Hilo! We stayed here for a family vacation and were able to book all 4 rooms for the 4 couples traveling together, so we had the bed & breakfast to ourselves. Highly recommend doing that!! Check-in was easy. The neighborhood is very calm and quiet. The rooms were clean, comfortable, and each had it's own charm! We enjoyed waking up for the sunrise and eating the light breakfast provided (fresh fruit, hard boiled eggs, muffins) on the lanai. The view is so incredible! We spent a lot of time here in between sight-seeing so we brought a supply of our own food and beverages as well - we were happily surprised that there was a full sized refrigerator in the common area between the bamboo and heritage rooms, so we were able to store these things in there too. Communication from staff was great and there were daily stops to replace towels if we wanted and set us up for the next day's breakfast. I would definitely stay here again!

The view from the room was awesome. Nice small table and chair outside the room screen door. Our door was bent up, and someone may have tried to break in before. It would not close completely. The room was a fair size, it was clean, and it had a small fridge and coffee maker. Fridge had milk, muffins, and fruit. The fruit was not ripe for 2 of the 3 days. Also, it had 2 hard-boiled eggs. Packaged great value apple and cinnamon oatmeal available. There was no internet or TV on the first day. Someone came to fix the internet and TV on day two. TV and the internet worked most of the time that evening. The pool was nice but was not cleaned until the day we were leaving. Parking was tough because the SUV had a very small space up on the hill, making it harder to park and to leave the property. There are a number of steps downward to get to the rooms, so if one is handicapped this would be a big challenge. There is a common area refrigerator for items to large for the small fridge in the room. There were a lot of ants in the room, so don't leave any food uncovered our out of packages. We had to adk for towels because there were only 2 towels and wash clothes for showering. There were 2 veach towels. The contact always responded and actually came to the room and tried to fix the problems. She was not able to fix issues, but she made a great effort. The manager compted one night due to all the issues with the internet and TV failures. On a positive note, we were able to see many whale steams from the porch, and that was awesome. Many little birds, a cat, and pretty lizards cane to visit. The location was great in Hilo. Even with all the issues, we would stay here again! If my husband, who is oxygen, is unable to navigate the steps, we would not be able to stay.

What a beautiful gem we found. We stayed for 4 nights. It was our basecamp to explore de area. Location can not be any better with beautiful beach views. We enjoy the sunrise from our bed! 5 min to Hilo. The closest beach is less than a mile away. We stayed in the Bamboo room. We loved it, comfortable, cozy, private and perfect for stars gazing. I only have one little sugestion...please add a full length mirror. Ah! And the breakfast 😋 simple but delicious. We enjoy our daily muffing along with the fresh fruit. We are definitely coming back!

If you are looking for a place to stay in Hilo look no further ! Hale Kai is true perfect B&B in town. It is right on the cliff above the ocean and all rooms are facing the ocean with their own private entrance from the terrace, meaning you will be able to enjoy these amazing views all along your stay. It is a little bit outside of town so it is super quiet and we greatly appreciated it. The rooms are very comfortable, modern, well equipped and beautifully decorated in a Hawaiian style. The owner is very friendly and wants to make sure you are enjoying your stay. He left us breakfast in our room for the next day when we would be out (because of Covid). While he lives above, his presence was unnoticed and our stay felt very private which is great. So much better than staying in a big resort or a hotel !

If you want to stay in Hilo look no further. This place is amazing. Perfect location for everything on this side of the island. Our room had an incredible morning sunrise every day, literally watching whales every morning, the view is hard to beat. The breakfast is very rotating fresh fruit, make your own coffee, a rotating pastry, hard boiled eggs, milk/bars/oatmeal, it's perfect for us. I would stay here again in a heartbeat if staying in Hilo!

Pros: Nice View| Cons: Everything else. Terrible breakfast, dirty 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, go elsewhere. || 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…

Pros: Great view, hot tub, pool 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, dirty 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...

The bed and breakfast is the perfect location if you want to feel a secluded space to enjoy the sun and sound of the surf, but with all the amenities. The rooms are spacious and have gorgeous unobstructed views of the bay. The bed is comfortable and the rooms are well appointed with a small refrigerator, sets of towels for the beach, and all the trappings for a nice breakfast. They are taking appropriate COVID precautions, but it does not feel like it impedes your stay. The proprietors are kind and have good information to share about things to do on the island. Highly recommended.

This is the "pristine" pool at Hale Kai - Hawaii. It is FILTHY! The hot tub also is non-functional. The cover that needs to be removed from the hot tub, requires one to wear protective gear as you must navigate your way through a series of massive spider webs in order to remove it. The cleaner for the pool does not work either. So, by the time one gets frustrated trying to get the hot tub to work and then gives up and heads to their room, the TV requires nothing short of an engineering degree to figure out and turn on. Oh BTW, your point of contact is more than happy to respond to you, an hour after the fact and tell you, "Oh the breaker may have tripped. I will SEND YOU A VIDEO on how to flip the switch." No thank you. If I am paying a price for a place with the amenities, YOU COME AND FLIP YOUR SWITCH IN THE DARK THROUGH THE SPIDER WEBS. NOT MY PROBLEM. NEXT, the bug problem is outrageous. This is NOT a place I would recommend to my worst enemy. I laid down on the bed to just try and forget it all... and not only is the bed as firm as a sidewalk, it is lumpy as oatmeal at scout camp. And to think, we have only been here 5 hours so far. I can firmly & unequivocally state that this is NOT going to be a place to return to again. Oh yeah, I forgot to mention, the filter at the side bottom of the hot tub appeared to have an unhealthy substance stuck to it. I'm not going in there even if they do repair the hot tub as it looked to be a foreign matter that is of a biological origin, if you know what I'm saying. So make your own decisions about places to stay near Hilo. But if your asking for my recommendation, Hale Kai - Hawaii will not be on that list.

I stayed here in the Bamboo room on a real quick one day trip to the Big Island. The location, on a cliff overlooking the bay was gorgeous. It was *definitely* worth waking up early to see the sunrise over the ocean (and I say that as someone who is not a morning person). I loved the sound of the waves at night...sometimes I use an app to listen to waves on my phone to sleep, here I had the real thing :) I could also hear frogs outside, which I knew to expect based on some other reviews. Reviews for another hotel around Hilo also mentioned frogs...so I think that is common around here. The frogs were a little louder than I would have preferred, but they didn't really inhibit me from sleeping. They did also get quieter later in the night. The hosts gave me a great suggestion for where to have dinner (Hilo Bay Cafe), and what to do around Hilo (go to the beach at Richardson's Park). They were also friendly and accommodating about breakfast. Breakfast is normally served on a open balcony on the second floor that looks towards the water. I was leaving really early in the morning before the normal breakfast time, so they made me a fruit plate and left it in the refrigerator the night before, so I wouldn't miss out. Wifi worked perfectly, and I never had a problem parking. It seems like they have a space for every room. If I come back to the Big Island and spend the night around Hilo, I'll definitely try to stay here again.

Hale Kai is a GREAT little b&b in beautiful Hilo. Try to reserve the Bamboo room; it's the most private and nothing short of absolutely charming. Service is personalized (by name) since the max. capacity is only a few accomodations at a time. This intimate number of guests, in turn, yields more respect for the property (i.e. you're probably not going to be blasting music at 3 am or leaving trash around the pool because everyone already knows who you are and which room you are staying in--insert evil eyes--) This is definitely a win-win for the guests and b&b owners alike :p Sunrise and bay views can only be captured in photos not words. Breakfast is entertaining because you're seated at a communal table and encouraged to share stories with those of different backgrounds. Also, spray a little repellant (only if you're concerned, because I left Hale Kai bite-free) and leave a couple windows open. The sounds at night are so amazing when you're getting into bed at the end of an exhausting, adventurous day...frogs croaking, crickets chirpring, waves splish splashing, pretty much a spa soundtrack..ahhh... I wished we could have stayed longer. P.s.- If you're new to east-side Big Island, take the tips that Rick & Maria have printed on a suggested itinerary for you. We followed it almost to a T and had amazing day-trips because of it. Hiking Waipio Valley is a must!

From our room all you see is ocean and the quaint town of Hilo in the distance; very beautiful grounds, tons of flowers. Such a peaceful setting, sleeping to the sound of the waves all night. Very Clean rooms, Comfy bed and soft towels. Our hostess is so sweet and kind. We will return! Ahui Ho, Michael and Patricia Murphy

A wonderful place with very welcoming hosts! Their breakfast are sooooooo good and each day brings a different assortment of food! Great location with stunning sunrises (when sky is clear!).

Loved this place! The views are amazing, hosts are friendly but not in your face, and the house has lots of beautiful details inside. Breakfast was abundant, with tons of fresh fruit and yummy macadamia pancakes. We stayed in the Bamboo Room, which is at the end of the house so your "private" patio is truly private (no one walking past it), and the view of the sunrise over the water- from the bed- is fantastic. The place was very clean, which is extremely important on that side of the island as bugs are everywhere (didn't see any in the inn). I would definitely stay here again and recommend it to anyone.

I chose to stay here based on the reviews from other users. The couple that owns this place is extremely polite and friendly. They were as helpful as you could ask for. I was just not that big of a fan. The view was amazing that I will definitely say. But to me this place was way over priced for what you got. Everything just felt really old. The Marriott in Waikiki was the same price and at least had air conditioning if you needed it. One of the nights we stayed here it felt like I was sleeping in the jungles of Vietnam. They advertise free breakfast but it was just not good at all. The second morning we chose to go pay for breakfast because of how bad it was.

We stayed here for our Honeymoon in December and were completely blown away by this place. We stayed in the Bamboo Room, which I definitely recommend. It's on the end of the lower lanai so it's the most private, but the other rooms are pretty private too. I've stayed in B&Bs that make you feel kind of exposed and this one is not like that, you can have as much or as little interaction with the other guests as you want. The room was spotless, bright and had an amazing view. There's an entire wall of window overlooking the ocean. There's also a waterfall shower in the PRIVATE bathroom. I loved it. The sounds at night are amazing between the ocean and the cocqui frogs... The frogs seem loud at first but, trust me, you'll miss them when they're gone. I had to download a track to fall asleep to when I got back home. Okay, and breakfast. THE BREAKFAST. The fresh fruit alone, oh my god. Lilikoi (grown on the property), strawberry papayas, pineapple, apple bananas.. mmm, I still think about it almost every morning. I loved the macadamia nut pancakes with homemade lilikoi and coconut syrup. There was also a wonderful frittata that I remember fondly. Every day we had a new breakfast and it was all really fantastic. This is coming from someone who has eaten in many superb restaurants. It also helps that you're eating an a beautiful spacious lanai overlooking the even more beautiful pacific ocean and breathing in fragrant sea and jungle air. Also, everyone was crazy nice, I have not experienced such friendliness ever. Maria herself, the guests, the caretakers. This won't apply to everyone but it's worth mentioning: We were greeted with leis when we arrived per Maria's request. I'm not sure if this is standard for honeymooners, I should mention that Maria is an old high school friend of my mom's. However, Maria wasn't there for the first few nights of our stay, so her friend Marilyn and Marilyn's husband were taking care of the place. When Marilyn found out we were getting married the next day, she made us more leis woven with beautiful white flowers to wear at our wedding! We were sort of eloping (in a non-secret way) and we weren't going to have any flowers and this was just the nicest gesture. I almost cried. It was absolutely amazing staying here and getting to know these folks. They made our Wedding/Honeymoon really special and memorable.

We had a great stay at Hale Kai Bed and Breakfast. Innkeepers Ric and Maria strike a great balance of being friendly, offering helpful suggestions for sightseeing, and letting us have our privacy. Breakfast on the lanai was not only delicious, but also a fun time to exchange vacation tips and stories with other guests. The rooms are large and clean with fantastic bed linens. My only hesitation to offer a 5th star is a problem we had with ventilation and climate control. Our bathroom was small and needed a better vent system - with such intense humidity our towels didn't fully dry. Also, we needed to keep window vents closed in our room as people could see in through the windows from the stairway, so our room could get quite warm at night. These concerns are only minor ones, though. I highly recommend that you look into Hale Kai when deciding where to stay on the east side of the Big Island.

Ric and Maria are awesome hosts! This place could not be more quaint. We got here at 10pm, and as we walked to our room from the outside, we heard this rhythmic whoosh-whoosh sound. The next morning, we woke to the freaking ocean. What a great way to start a vacation. The rooms are clean, well maintained. The food each morning was different, freshly cooked, and served on their upper deck, which gets you an even better view of the ocean. We stayed here 4 nights and had 4 different, amazing, warm breakfasts. The best part was having Ric and Maria be our guides. The very first day they go out of their way to make sure you have a full, fun, and safe itinerary for the entire trip. We were honestly sad to leave!

What a fantastic place! This was the 1st b&b I've ever stayed at and to be honest, I was a bit concerned. I travel about 100 nights a year, mostly Marriott properties so this was way out of my comfort zone. To my surprise, this place blew me way. The hosts were great! The food was awesome and the views unbelievable. I'd recommend to anyone lucky enough to be in Hilo.... At least for one night.

Lovely welcoming bed & breakfast. The view is amazing. The rooms (4) overlook Hilo Bay. The rooms are comfortable, clean and cute. The owners leave you on your own for the most part which is nice. Breakfasts are somewhat limited but are pretty tasty. The other guests were also unobtrusive but friendly. The night we were there the full moon rose over the water and gave a true "only in Hawaii" moment.

I had an amazing experience at this bed and breakfast. Rick and Maria are wonderful hosts with great knowledge of the island and knew all the cool places to send me. The rooms are very clean and the breakfast was very yummy too. I highly recommend this place.

Maria and Ric were amazing and their place was in the perfect location, completely comfortable, and the breakfast so inviting!

Great place to stay in Hilo as the hosts are friendly and helpful. Rooms were very nice and views spectacular! Would definitely stay here again.

This place was great from start to finish. The rooms were clean, the beds were comfortable, the food was good and the hosts were very helpful and friendly but not underfoot. The views from the balcony outside our room and the breakfast area were very pretty, and we saw whales! It was quiet and relaxing. (Also, there is now shampoo and lotion in the bathrooms now, since that first review). They also gave us a great set of options for dinner places, which was great as we hadn't been to Hilo before.

Staying in Hilo? Must stay at this B&B !!!! The views are great, the whales put on quite a show one morning at breakfast. Rick and Marie were very helpful and gave us great tips on what we should see. Maria provided an ample and delicious breakfast to start our day. I will be back next year!!

This is a fantastic bed & breakfast! I was traveling and found myself unable to find a hotel. I stumbled upon this B & B and feel so lucky I did. The hosts Maria & Ricardo are very nice people and they have a lovely property. I would recommend staying here to anyone traveling on the East side of the Big Island.

This B&B is fabulous. Had a great stay here for two nights on the Hilo side. It's about 5 minutes from downtown Hilo and directly beside a beautiful surfing spot-- if there's light out, you can always see the locals surfing or longboarding from the lanai. Ric and Maria are very sweet and helpful, but also laidback. Maria makes an amazing breakfast every morning-- I had an egg and ham frittata one day and sausage and Hawaiian french toast the next, and of course always fresh fruit. The pool is lovely and has a gorgeous view. Ask for the Bamboo room if it's available, though the Heritage room was a close second (I stayed one night in each). I will definitely be back.

What an amazing view! Maria and Rick are really great providing suggestions for various itineraries and dining spots. We didn't have a guide book, but they let us borrow one of theirs which is rated the best in Hawaii and would have purchased as suggested by a friend, but just didn't have time. (Hawaii Big Island Revealed) In addition, they provided big beach towels and lent us flashlights to see the lava flow. The breakfast was a bit limited and if you are a bit of a later riser as I am, not much food is left available. We stayed in the Heritage Room which was cozy and had a spacious bathroom. The drawbacks are no shampoo, conditioner, or lotion was provided and the bathroom is a bit on the old side. Also, there is no air conditioning, so it was pretty warm in the evening.

LOVE this place! Spectacular views of Hilo Bay from rooms, pool & hot tub. Fabulous breakfast every day made by Maria. Rick is great at helping you out on what to see & do while on the Big Island. Both Maria & Rick are great hosts, almost feels like being home. Aloha!!

Spent 3 nights at Ric and Maria's Hale Kai Hawaii B&B last week to explore the Hilo side before heading over to the west side - we loved it and thought it was a perfect find for what we were looking for. Privacy, ocean views, lovely grounds and pool, fabulous island breakfasts overlooking the morning surfers, sunrise right outside our door, friendly hosts with excellent recommendations for our day-trips in the area. Thanks Maria and Ric!

We spent 5 nights at Hale Kai B&B, and we had an excellent time. Our room was spacious and very comfortable with a private lanai. The bathroom was kept well-stocked and very clean. The view was absolutely spectacular. We had ready access to the pool and hot tub, both of which also faced the ocean. Though this house, like most on the island, was not air conditioned, the fans combined with the constant sea breezes kept us perfectly comfortable. Breakfast was home-cooked for us every morning and was served in sufficient amounts, with plenty of fresh fruit, coffee, and a variety of hot teas available as well. The best part, though, was Ric and Maria themselves. They were highly attentive, but somehow also completely unobtrusive. They were both very helpful and knowledgeable. Without the advice, maps, and guidebooks Ric shared freely with us, I doubt we would have squeezed as many experiences as we did into the few days we had on the Big Island. And when Hilo experienced a power outage on a night we were driving back in the rain, Ric met us in the driveway with a flashlight so that we could make our way back to our room safely. The only downside we could find about our stay was the rather tight parking, which we got the hang of by our second day there.