Hilo Bay Hostel

I wanted to leave a review for anyone searching for the status of the hostel. As far as I can tell it was sold to a new owner and reopened as a hostel under the name "Howzit Hawaii Hostel". The rooms are listed on Airbnb from what I've found so far and the place looks like it's being managed very well with wonderful reviews.

In April of 2023 my wife and I were lucky to be able to stay a few days in this one-of-a-kind hostel. We were in the process of completing an around the country train trip with a rail pass. Out of the blue, an offer from Southwest airlines appeared with a round trip airfare of $200.00 each from Oakland airport. We were able to book the trip and will NEVER regret the experiences and memories we had. We were told that we were in the last group that would stay at the hostel as it was being sold and closed soon after we left. It indeed has ceased to exist as a hostel but apparently the building might still reopen as something else. I can't seem to find any current info (02/24/2024). Again, we count ourselves so lucky to have been able to see, stay, and experience this once-in-a-lifetime treasure. RIP Hilo Bay Hostel

Worst experience ever. Please steer away from this hostel - unless you are extremely exhausted and have very high tolerance towards hygiene. We stayed for 3 nights in a private room and had no option for refunds since we prepaid it on a hotel booking site. 1. Check in was quick and thankfully we arrived slightly before they were closed at 9pm (saw some reviews that some had to be left outside since no one was there to open the gate) 2. Bathroom does not come with shampoos. Not extremely dirty but saw some strains of hair which were not picked up. It does have separate bathroom and shower room so that's great. 3. The kitchen does not provide drinking water. I didn't even dare to venture the kitchen. 4. Now, we come to the best part - the room. The bed was comfortable and firm enough (maybe because we were too tired). Spotted more than a few juvenile cockroaches (means the father mother and grandparents were probably around too). I took a call at the dresser and killed at least 5 of them in 10min. It was the worst hostel experience that I ever had. We eventually gave up and just braved through the 3 nights. 5. The hostel is located next to the main street and located at the second floor. So do bring some earplugs. During our stay some men were fixing the road so we were up for 2 hours at least during midnight. 6. Plenty of street parking. 7. Some guests were smoking weed at the common area. 8. Internet is spotty and unstable.

The Hilo Bay hostel was a last minute booking for me for an overnight stay in Hilo. Kurt the manager was super friendly and helpful when I called to book the room. And was very pleasant and helpful when I checked in. I was staying in a private room which was very spacious, albeit a bit out dated, but the bed was comfortable and there was a fridge in the room. I did think the accommodation was on the pricey side for what you got. The lock on my door was broken and tuck to the wall with gaff tape, so basically my room wasn't secure. A bit of an odd vibe overall in the hostel. The Christmas tree was set up with lights on.. and its May. There was a lot of stuff laying around collecting dust, and the place was very dimly lit giving it a really closed in and erie vibe. In addition there was an older Gent parked in front of the TV in the common area... during the day and night. Another odd thing was that when I booked the room, I was informed there was only 1 room available, but over the time of staying there I only saw/heard 3 other people. It wasn't busy at all. The bathroom and toilet facilities were below average. The bathroom area was unclean with wet towels all over the floor and a strong smell of damp and mould. No windows or exhaust fans in the bathroom. I dont think the showers/bathroom had been cleaned in some time. I didn't use the kitchen facilities at all. The building is in a very central location, however being so close to the main road there as a lot of noise throughout the evening from traffic and people on the street. I did have an uncomfortable encounter with some locals on the street outside the hostel and felt concerned about my rental car getting broken into at night. Kurt advised me of the best place to park the car and had indicated that there has been some issues with cars being broken in to when parked in that area. I wouldn't choose to stay at this hostel for an extended period of time, but for a quick stop over, it was satisfactory. I also think that the place would be much more appealing/comfortable if it was cleaned and some maintenance completed in the bathrooms.

Not nice!!! Overpriced! Rooms next to street are traffic loud!! Kitchen closes early ' is locked. No cold drinks or hot food. Shared restrooms are not so clean as shared by entire hostile. Staff was grumpy & outright rude at times. Staff sits in public gathering area all day & watches TV. Wouldn't stay there again!! Charged 10. For a towel at chek in. Not a fun place. Hardly any laughter by guests.

Hilo Bay Hostel was awesome and gave me just what I needed my last week on the island while I moved. I came in with 2 suitcases and a back pack with valuables as well. I had no issues storing all of my things and you can lock valuable items in a locker. I paid for the shared room and didnt see a reason to pay for a private room. I basically just needed to come back to eat and crash from the night. They had all the kitchen amenities you'll need to cook and store food. All in all an awesome place for the price, ended up being around $200 for the week. Walked everywhere I needed, wish everyone there the best! Thanks guys

Very nice staff and I enjoyed the library-type atmosphere where people were chill and respected your space There is so much to do immediately outside from rock wall climbing to restaurants with an every-Friday night concert next door. My favorite was the farmers market a few blocks down with plenty of shopping along the way. In addition, Bay Inn has a very strong and trusted security gaurd on staff while you sleep.

The most caring, understanding, and helpful owner of anywhere i have ever stayed. The owner and coordinator Stanley went out of his way to help both my Fiancee and myself in such a tough time and managed to do so while also making us feel right at home. The location is fantastic and the staff is just the same. Truly blessed to have been able to stay in such a homey atmosphere. Thank you so much for this opportunity.

This is a great location and a cool old building. What kills it for me is the giant TV that is the focal point of the common area. Nobody talks to each other because the giant TV sucks everyone in. And you hear it everywhere. Oh, and cigarette smoke is constantly coming in because they have a smoking patio right outside. Ugh I come to Hilo often but will not want to come back to this place, sadly.

First off there is a massive rat and roach problem. I can hear the rats running along the wall but that does not phase me. What upset me is Linda's treatment of an African American patron. She was verbally abusive, accusatory and then kicked him out without cause. My phone was dead otherwise I would have included a recording. Why 2 stars, when I read reviews I tend to avoid the 1 stars and 5 star rating.

I state that I have traveled far and wide around the world and I have never found myself as bad as in this place. Let's start from the beginning, as usual I book through booking.com and I receive instant confirmation of the reservation after paying for the first night of the 4 booked (the other three I would have paid upon my arrival as written on booking). 5 days before my arrival I received an email from the hotel saying that they would have canceled my reservation if I had not immediately paid the full amount and that they have never received the deposit for the first night, so I immediately call the structure and even reluctantly I go to meet him by paying everything to avoid problems even if once you have the confirmation from the booking you are not required to do anything more !!!! In the next email they confirm my reservation and say that the door of the hostel is open from 9am to 9pm. On the day of my arrival my flight is delayed by 2 hours and I arrive at 9:30 pm at the hostel certainly not my fault. The doors are closed and nobody opens me, I call 10/15 times and NO ONE ANSWERS ME. In short, if anything happens they don't give a damn about you and LEAVE YOU OUT. They have absolutely no respect for the customer. The next day I explain what happened and I am told that it is my fault and that after 9 they no longer care about you. (Of course since I had already paid) The guy from the reception (the only really nice person) tells me that he will ask the manager at least for the refund of the first night but the manager obviously refuses categorically. Not to mention the rooms with ALL THE WINDOWS BROKEN AND THAT DO NOT CLOSE with the ensuing noises and everything that can enter, the shower and everything else dilapidated. TERRIBLE EXPERIENCE ABSOLUTELY AVOID COMING HERE.

This is the most disgusting hostel I have every had the misfortune to stay in: This place is infested with giant cockroaches and ants. They are in the bedroom, and can be seen crawling up the walls in the middle of the night, I saw one crawling in my bed one night. These cockroaches are all over the kitchen getting into all the dry food items, and all over the utensils...cockroach droppings are on all the plates and utensils in the kitchen. The showers are covered in black mold and are filthy, and have only ice cold water 24hrs a day. The toilets have tiny cubicles and are always filthy inside with urine on the seats and floor I encountered feces on the seats on a couple of occasions, the door latches are broken on the cubicles. The kitchen is always dirty with cockroaches and ants everywhere. This place is unfit for human habitation, and needs to be shutdown by the city. And to make matters even worse. The drunken bald-headed owner is extremely rude and obnoxious, he doesn't even allow a person to make a phone call in the middle of the day while on the premises. I was attempting to call my pharmacy to schedule an appointment for a COVID test. My call got rudely interrupted by "Slap-Head" the owner of the hostel. Who rudely ordered me to continue my call outside the premises.

I stayed at Hilo Bay Hostel often off and on for two years when Covid hits the United States from March 2020-December 2021. The owner Stanley is amazing, through, thoughtful and efficient. He changed my life at 69 years old. The hostel manager's Kirt (retired Marine) dedication and professionalism is aboveboard. He cares deeply about this 'Historical Site' the hostel is located in. Very clean facility and kitchen to die for, it has every cooking accoutrement a cook needs. See a few of my memories in these pictures I've uploaded. A must see/stay if your visiting the 'Big Island'. If you go during Thanksgiving, Christmas or 4th of July your in for a generous feast compliments of Stanley. The Lanai downstairs is gated and secure; nice for morning coffee and cigarette! Located right downtown for easy walk to shop, shop, shop! Great prices and private room's if you don't want 'dorm' style. I made lifelong friends here.

Hilo Bay Hostel is PRETTY DAMN AWESOME. Sorry for the language, I never really use it. I found this place while looking for a cheap place to stay for a few days when I had an interview to attend in Hilo. I wasn't planning on spending all my fabulous yet limited time in Hawaii in the hotel, so I knew I didn't need a fancy $100 room. Honestly, if you're shopping around for fancy hotel rooms in Hilo, there aren't that many great choices anyway. I made my reservation online and got a prompt email confirmation the next morning. My flight got in really late but there was still someone there at the desk waiting for me, they're really friendly!! It was kind of confusing at first because I've never been to a hostel (ok I'll admit I was a little scared) but the people in the shared living area were just so chill that I felt like I was back in college moving into dorms! Onto the rooms: I ended up trying two different rooms because they were fully booked the nights I was there. The dorm style rent-a-bed only option was super cheap, but I decided to go for a private room. The first night, those were all taken so I got bumped to a dorm style room with bunks (I got it to myself). There was plenty of lighting, beds with plenty of blankets (but you won't need them bc it gets SO HOT at night), and a nice fan to keep the room cool. The second day, I got moved over to the room I actually booked, and I definitely liked the personal room better! Of course it was smaller, but it came with a mirror and mini-fridge. They also left a cute postcard and chocolate on the bed, and the water in the fridge was complimentary. Shared space: living area was cute, there are computers that you can pay to use but wifi is free if you bring a laptop. Kitchen has everything you need, but is closed late night. Showers/bathrooms were clean too, and great to use as long as no crazy ladies decide to sit naked in the shower room for extended periods of time... I'm just personally uncomfortable with that. Actually I think she was clothed and just sitting there while I was waiting to undress. Hmm!! GOOD EXPERIENCE, and it's walking distance from a ton of cool places in downtown! Definitely try it out! :D

I'm staying here for at least a week and one of the people who do the cleaning spoke roughly to me to leave my room. I never felt so ill-treated ... without telling them that the other night I found a rat in the garbage can of the bathroom. I would ask the owners to change this man who treats clients badly. I do not think I'll go back to this place...

If you want explore Downtown Hilo this is good well managed place to stay. I was sized up by Manger and he placed in room with a couple of other people that were quiet and looking for a good night rest. Bathroom and Showers worked and were as clean as can be expected with many guests local that were in town for a concert. I giving this place five starts based what it offers for the price and the fact it is well managed. Understand it a Hostel not a Hotel.

Nice hostel in an old, converted hotel. Nice old building. Comfortable, and the residents are pretty quiet, except for the cockatiels, love birds and dog. Not a party place Slightly run down (our room's door knob kept falling off), but not at all shabby. No breakfast included (free coffee and tea), and kitchen is on the smaller side. Internet access, and tables to plug in a laptop. No air conditioning, but there are fans I all the rooms. One washer and dryer available. Overall I liked this place. It felt very comfortable, and I think it would be great for families and those wanting a quieter stay. Good price, too.

This place was great! We stumbled across it by accident. We rented a private room in the hostel for the night for $75. We had our own private shower and two full sized beds. Close to a lot of businesses in the Hilo Bay area, we walked everywhere. I recommend walking over to Garden Snack Club for dinner. This hostel was originally a hotel but was recently discovered after being boarded up for 35 years. The owners turned this into a fabulous place to stay. We heard that regular hotels in the area can't offer as nice of rooms as we stayed in on our visit.

Super cool place. Great history, awesome staff. Very clean.... Like germaphob clean. historic building. Met nice peeps, downtown so close to everything. My room is nice and comfortable. Feel safe and welcomed. They have shared areas that are cleaned throughout the day. first time in a hostel. Great experience!!!

I am a project manager with a communications company who sends employees to Hilo on a regular basis. I tried booking a room for one of my guys with this place and cannot get anyone to answer emails or phone calls to get a confirmation. I have tried calling multiple times and sent repeated emails to the only address provided with no response. The lack of simple customer service when attempting to book a room is enough for me to look elsewhere.

A nice clean and safe place to stay if you're looking for a budget lodging. $28 will get you a nice big bed (twin?) and nice location in Hilo. There is free parking across the building. Many restaurants, shops, and cafe all within walking distance as well as the famous Hilo Farmer's Market. The owner was very nice, a true gentleman with aloha spirit. He has a nice collection of belogings guests left behind for sales. You really shouldn't buy a used toothpaste for $3 but it's funny to look at what's for sale. The place is kept very quiet and clean, which is the way I like. I realized that Hawaiian hostels aren't like European where there's a bar right downstairs where kids get drunk and wasted and crawl back up to the beds at 3AM. Hawaiian hostels are kept quiet, clean, and usually alcohol-free. My kind of living, especially when you can get it for under $30 where mid-quality hotels run for $120. Nothing bad to say about this place. I'd def. stay here again if I"m in Hilo again. Someday...

I have stayed there three times and would stay again! Great budget accommodation, clean, relaxed atmosphere, good location near all the downtown Hilo shops. Friendly staff who will show you to your room, free WIFI, nice kitchen, cheap quarter laundry. You do have to make your own bed, but that is pretty normal for most hostels. The building is old and has great character. You should be aware that this is a no frills kind out place, but it is clean and charming. I couldn't ask for much more for the price, except that the dryer worked a little better! Oh well, I probably put too much stuff in it. I could definitely recommend this place to someone who is looking for a budget place in town.

Not recommend! Ok clean and a big bed that's what you get! Crappy service and the owner wasn't around, in fact no one was around!

It's a beautiful place, and a convenient location. Although, hang on to your wallet and dignity. I have stayed there numerous times, and discovered that the Owner, Scott Owens, is SHADY. And he has a reputation as such. There are not many options for affordable hostels in Hilo, but, please, everyone, do some more research and don't just take my word for it. Trust me, I've lived on the island for years now. His reputation is well known as a real scheister Please be warned, steer clear of Hilo Bay Hostel, despite positive reviews. Scott Owens travels around a lot, and when he is not there, it's not a bad place. But there is a reason why this creep travels around so much. Mahalo for reading, and Aloha! Be safe!

Loved this place- clean facilities, wonderful people, diverse crowd filled with people who are all incredibly kind and warm. Definitely would come back here.

This is not a hostel, this is home! There are not many hostels out there, but this one has CHARM, CHARACTER and the most helpful hostel owner ever. We saw the hostel and walked up these dark brown stairs and at the upper level you find the main area. Seriously, it is so nice decorated. I actually felt like somewhere in New Orleans. Books to read, wonderful kitchen, its own birds, computers, clean bathroom, clean rooms. The hostel is quiet and definitely a place to relax. If you go to Hilo, then book a night at the Hilo Bay Hostel! You won't regret it.

This was a wonderful place to stay! The staff was very friendly and helpful. I felt safe and welcomed the whole time I was there. I was glad to see that the women had completely separate bathroom and showers from the men. Didn't have to do the co-ed showering thing. This hostel, which was previously a hotel, has wonderful woodwork and a quaint feel to it. It's within walking distance to lots of shops and eating places. Make sure to eat at the restaurant down the street called Pineapples. Awesome menu, top-notched servers and a lovely open-air setting.

As of October 2012, great staff, young backpacking crowd, good location. top notch hostel! we even got a bottle of wine upon checkout for free!

Professional, welcoming, organised, clean... Has all the makings of the ideal hostel. Old school decor, boarding house vibe, well kept kitchen, bathrooms and dorms. Friendly and thorough staff. Cos the place is so well run, plus the safe, homey and placid atmosphere, it tends to attract the older solo travellers and school/college groups from time to time... Can detract from opportunities to mix and mingle, but still a communal atmosphere depending on what crowd is blowing through. While beds are super comfy (bottom bunks are double width, yeo!) and plenty of space in dorms, early street noise and sunlight in the mornings are a killer... Don't expect easy sleep ins. Location is fab, right in centre of town making it an ideal base to check out Hilo, and explore the east side of Big Island.

I would say staying here was almost like staying at a hotel. Except for the sharing a room part. The rooms were clean, the decor was nice, the bathrooms were very clean, and the staff are friendly. This is a relatively modern hostel, and well worth the money. What made me chuckle to myself a little was the display cases all around the lobby full of stuff people had left behind. The owner had put price tags on them and you could buy stuff ranging from earrings to sneakers to god-knows-what. Don't leave your stuff behind.

This was my first hostel experience, and it was a nice experience. My usual accommodations were books due to the Big Island Marathon. I was over from Kona side for the race. I stayed in Room 1 which has two full beds, and private bath. The room is spacious with 12 foot ceilings and faux vintage decor. The room also features a mini fridge. Linens and towels were provided. You make your own bed. The bedspreads were a bit used, but everything was fairly clean. Room 1 can be on the loud side at night if you leave the windows cracked, as the ambulances use this road to go to the hospital. Sirens went by multiple times that night. Also, it was St. Patrick's weekend. So, it may have been an anomaly. Also, this room is very bright as the hallway light shines though a window into the room. Looks like there was once a curtain there, but wasn't there during my visit. Overall, a pleasant experience, and I would certainly consider returning on my next overnight trip. I will make sure to bring my own pillow, and small curtain to cover up that hall window. :)

Larry, the night security, is jammin! Braddah is hardworking and keeps the place in check! I would stay here any given night! The place is clean and comfortable considering it's a hostel. Good for short and long term stay. This place get plenty of aloha.

The place is clean, has a big full equip kitchen and has a great location (dowtown Hilo). However, the room gets really hot at night, the matress are very uncomfortables and the rules are very strict (kitchen close at 9h45 pm and you can't drink in the lobby after 10:00 pm) like if you were in a camp vacation. The worst is the night staffs. We arrived at 8h45 pm to prepare our dinner and the kitchen was closed. So we asked at the guy who were working if we can go in the kitchen and he told us that we were arrived too late. After he checked the time he decided to let us go prepare our dinner but he came at each ten minutes to see if we had finish. At 9h47pm, when we cleaned the dishes, he came back and told us the get out of the kitchen immediatly and if we don't he will call the police. He was agressive when he were talking to us. Finally when we were eating in the lobby he decided to turn off the lights at 10:00 pm. We decided to not stay this night same if we payed for. The Hilo hostel bay doesn't represent the Aloha spirit.

Nice hostel located in downtown Hilo. Very close to a lot of good food and to the main strip of shops. The hostel was kept clean and other guests were generally respectful and sociable. The staff are very nice. I stayed here for about a month upon moving to the Big Island and really enjoyed my stay here. Definitely recommend!

One of the best hostels I've ever stayed at (better than Hosteling International). The owners work hard at trying to make this seem like a "home". Understand this is not a "youth" hostel. People of all ages stay here including families. Public parking is available nearby. We flew into Kona and drove over to Hilo just to stay here. It was worth it.

Avoid this place. No one to check us in when we arrived. When I called the office it just endlessly rang. I had to drive three hours home and then the hostel preceded to charge me saying I should have updated them with my arrival time. The security guard who was outside should have checked us in but he just laughed in our face and closed the gate in us. When I tried to get refunded they said it's fault

Stayed here in March 2011 with my husband in a private room with two beds. The room was actually right next to the shared bathrooms, and it wasn't too noisy at all, except for the people, like my husband, who were battling nasty hacking coughs. The room was clean, there was no a/c, but there is a nice ceiling fan and lots of windows to help with that. The guests were actually made up of an older bunch of people, so we didn't have any issues with any craziness. There's free wifi if you have a computer, and this place is in the heart of Hilo. All the stores and food places are within walking distance. There's a parking lot diagonal from the hostel so parking is not an issue. It's a good place to stop if you want to check out Akaka Falls and the volcano park, though I thought staying in the city of Volcano was also pretty cool.

I stayed here a few years ago with a friend from Kona when we came over for the Merrie Monarch Festival. Speaking as a middle aged woman living on the Mainland, I must say that this place was very comfortable and welcoming, and the historical building very beautiful. It's right in the middle of old downtown Hilo so everything is in walking distance once you've parked. You certainly can't go wrong with the price and to my own surprise would recommend this place to all ages if you don't mind basic accommodation. It was delightful. 4 stars only because its a hostel and not a hotel.. but we had a great stay here.

This was my first time at a hostel, and I thought it was nice. The owner was really nice.

This hostel isn't perfect. It's in an old building (former hotel), and the showers aren't hot. But what makes the place worth five stars is the management. I had checked in on a Thursday morning before going to my property in Naalehu to do some work. That afternoon, while on my way back to Hilo, I blacked out and hit a solid lava embankment, totalling my pickup and putting myself in the hospital. Not too long after being admitted, I received a call from Terry, the HBH manager. He said, "We're here for you. What do you need?" I almost dropped the phone. I had spoken to Terry for maybe five minutes. We were a small step from being total strangers. I mentioned that my reading glasses had been lost in the wreck. Fifteen minutes later someone from the hostel appeared in my hospital room with a new pair of reading glasses. That is the aloha spirit, and that's worth far more than a hot shower.

Get some sleep. Take a shower. Chat up the guests from everywhere. All ages. The staff is friendly and helpful. Located downtown close to good food and what passes for nightlife in Hilo.

This place is my home away from home. For $27 a night, you get a clean dorm bed in a room with 7 other people, a shared shower/bathroom area, a shared kitchen, and a shared common area. Also access to wifi. The people who work here are so kind, and will go out of their way to help you, if need be. I was apprehensive the first time I stayed here, months ago, but after my first night, I wasn't disappointed, and felt very comfortable. It's safe, clean, and you don't need to worry. The majority of occupants seem to be foreign, but English speaking, and no one bothers you. Lights out is at ten, and most people in the dorms are super respectful so you won't have any issues getting shut eye. I have stayed here many times since my first night, and as a local born and bred girl, I can tell you that this place radiates aloha. You will have everything you need, no one will bother you, it's clean, safe; and the staff is there if you need them and are very helpful. If you are trying to find a place to stay for a night or a month, I recommend this place. I stayed at a neighboring hostel a few weeks ago only because Hilo bay didn't have any beds available, and it was a terrible move on my part. The other place couldn't hold a candle. I highly recommend Hilo bay hostel, and will return time and again should the need arise. It's also very close to food places, the bus terminal, the beach, within walking distance. It's fun, one night people were playing pink Floyd on guitar in the lobby, not rowdily, but just a small jam and singing sesh. Just a good place for people of all cultures to collide and for new people to meet, plus you can have your privacy as well.

First time in a hostel, I think we picked the right one. Obviously. Excellent value, we had enough to stay in a private room. Staff was really nice. the place is very welcoming and secure. Right in downtown. Only issue was the toilet was broken (lever and chain). No big deal, just had to get my hand wet after using it... lol I would come again. If you are unsure, just go here. It really was great. Oh and the laundry can be in high demand, it is kind of a race to get the laundry done as fast as possible... some of the guests can be rude, not the hostels fault of course.

I cant say enough good things about this hostel! I spent 8 nights here this month and wish I could have spent more! The staff is amazing! Thanks to David, Del, Terry and Susan for always being accommodating and sweet to me. Coffee was always fresh and bathrooms and kitchen were always very clean. The beds are comfortable and public areas are great :) WiFi was fast! This place is better than the pictures make it look. I left this hostel with many new friends that I hope to see next time I am in town.

Excellent hostel. My girlfriend and I stayed two nights here and had a wonderful experience. The staff are courteous, helpful, and friendly. The owner, Terry, is in the business for all the right reasons and was extraordinarily helpful with recommendations and suggestions around Hilo. Great decor, very clean, fully equipped kitchen with a large refrigerator, coin washer and dryer, clean bathrooms, wonderful dining/lounging area, and great location. Great place!

This is my fav place to stay in Hilo. Right downtown, affordable ($30/night in the dorm, and only $69/nite for private room). It's an old hotel, so don't expect luxury, just good lodging. Kitchen available so you can cook, free wi-fi, free parking, laundry available. A great place to see the real Hilo. Lots of shops & ethnic restaurants nearby. Love this place! (And I've been staying here for work & for visits for over 11 years!)

Hilo Bay Hostel is a great place! Would stay there again for sure! Terry and his staff were very friendly and helpful! Had to cancel some of my days and they were very understanding! My friends and I had a very nice time there! Room was clean and comfortable! Would definitely recommend it!

This is such an amazing place to stay, I honestly could not say enough good things about this place. The only drawback is that the traffic noise in the female dorm is loud, particularly at night, but I was so tired that I had no problems beyond the first night. It's clean, the kitchen is large, they have a nice patio area filled with plants and it's an easy walk to many restaurants, stores and a small grocery store. Really the best thing about this place though are the people, I have never met a staff that would go so far to help their guests, my sister and I stayed for awhile and left for a couple of nights to go to the other side of the island and they were actually concerned because they thought we were going to be gone for only one night. There are other examples with other people, but this review would be way too long. We also met some awesome people while there, we had no problems with anything getting stolen, everyone seemed to be out to meet new people and at least have a good conversation.

Fantastic hostel! Had a great time. The hostel is well located, very clean, comfortable with loads of character and the staff and other guests were very friendly and helpful. There is a fully equipped kitchen to store and cook all of your food, a dinning area, internet area, courtyard garden and lounge area to hang out in as well as adequately sized rooms. We only stayed a few days but managed to see a lot of The Big Island's most amazing attractions through the guide at the hostel. I have only stayed in a handful of hostels throughout parts of Europe and Australia but can say this is definitely the best Hostel I have been to. Thoroughly recommend it.

needed to find a place for my brother from california without ever seeing the place or meeting the people in person. and let me say, they went over and beyond with helping me. they were very trustworthy, great, giving, loving people. thats very hard to find these days. so im so very thankful to everyone there.