My Hawai‘i Hostel

I'd recommend this hostel to any of my friends. It was my first hostel stay, I came in a bit nervous but friendly staff (SO to Kyle & Noah) eased my nerves immediately as they were warm & welcoming. Rooms were clean, lockers were available, community areas were clean & welcoming. Beaches and restaurants within walking distance and a bus stop in front of the hostel. Met many wonderful people here and I can't wait to go back.

I stayed in the co-ed room as it was the only thing open for last minute booking. It was safe, comfortable, and so friendly. I can say that I made friends that touched my heart, both in the other guests as well as the staff. There was a familial atmosphere. Very good feelings at this hostel. I hope to return and would recommend to anyone looking for a good, affordable room in Kona area.

Aloha! My roommate was sick and musty the whole 3 days and 3 nights I was there. I helped her heal with a tuning fork and left the windows open for the most part to breath! Outside of that, it was fine. I wish I could’ve got a lower rate, moved to a different room, or a refund because my roommate was a part of staff. Mahalo! (I also kept being told to be quiet, yet 3 people talked outside my front door til 2am!)

I stayed 6 nights, staying in their private room. It was well run, reasonable, and central to everywhere I wanted to go. The room was clean, the bed comfortable, and quiet hours enforced reasonably well. Definitely will stay again next time I visit Kailua-Kona. |A+++

My Hawai'i Hostel is THE BEST. I have lived in Kailua-Kona for almost 15 years and driven by this hostel many times but had never stayed there. 2024 was the very worst year of my life. I lost my husband, Lawrence, the great romantic love of my life, in February of 2024. As if that was not bad enough, after he passed, I experienced a stupid amount of landlord trauma/drama, instability, and chaos for most of the latter part of 2024. A friend of mine kindly gifted knew about all of this and kindly gifted me 2 nights in a private room at My Hawai'i Hostel, and it was exactly what I needed most. I woke up the first morning with tears in my eyes because I felt safe and otherwise "good" for the first time in far too long. I am very empathic and "feel everyone's everything," and the energy of this place is very positive, which I attribute to the wonderful Jenaya, the rest of the staff, and what I can only assume is the "guiding philosophy" of the hostel. It feels very European in the sense that it feels very communal, but if you want to stay to yourself, that is OK, too. The location is also amazing because it is across the street from Banyans, where you can get into the water yourself or watch people bodyboard, surf, etc. If you are lucky, you might see a world-class surfer out there, as some of them have been known to surf Banyans. I have nothing but good things to say about this place. Do yourself a favor and stay there. Mahalo, Jenaya and staff. I will return again at some point just for fun. Aloha, Kimber. : )

Very clean, comfy beds and everyone was super friendly. Great location, you can walk or grab the trolley to beaches and places to eat. Quiet hours were actually quiet, you can get to bed in the AC and deal with the jet lag if you need to.

Great place with amazing people! I’ve now stayed at My Hawaii Hostel twice and have felt at home both times. The current staff (Luna, Kaysha, Chloe, Cello) made my last stay exceptional with their kind hearts and impressive work ethic. The hostel is further from town, but it is worth the extra bus rides and Ubers to stay here! Keep your plans open for adventures with strangers that will turn into your best friends. 🤍

Despite good reviews, this was one of my worst hostel experiences. The staff are immature and gossipy and are quick to ignore guests they didn't clique with and talk badly about guests they don't like. Also the bathroom and shower situation is absolutely disgusting.

My Hawaii hostel is a cute little place near downtown Kona. It is a small space, so it's a very social hostel. I mention this because there is very little space to find a corner for yourself, if that's what you want every once and a while. Upon arrival it was hard to find a person to check on because the "office" is in the kitchen -- which is fine if I'd known! There were quite a few people there so I wandered around until a staffer member noticed I wanted to check in. After that it was smooth sailing. Aside from all that, the facilities were good and staff was very friendly! They do have parking, and there's a stop for the trolley right out front.

I would like to say I'm sorry I have to write this negative review. First, I like to say I love staying here and appreciate the staff. I've stayed here maybe 7x. It's had always been a good experience Unfortunately, recently there has been change to the rooms. It's still an affordable fun place, but if you need to sleep in a cold room, Im just warning you that the old reviews are dated. They recently locked the Ac remote to the wall and it cannot be changed to be colder. There is air blowing but it's not cold enough to sleep 8 people in a room in the tropics. Unfortunately, now the rooms are quite uncomfortable and I'm warm sitting in the room with nobody in it.

This is my second time staying at a hostel and this place compared to the one I stayed at in Cancun (Mayan Monkey) is underwhelming in comparison. First of its pretty small and the pictures online make the rooms seem bigger than they appear but they are quite smaller. I know this hostel is much smaller than the first one I stayed at which I didn't mind because this hostel was peaceful and quiet. Not a party hostel at all very laid back. KEEP IN MIND THEY DO NOT ENFORCE WEARING A MASK ON THEIR PROPERTY. Didn't bother me because I was gone most of the time anyway. What I disliked most is the rooms are upstairs and the bathrooms are downstairs. The other hostel I stayed in the rooms were huge so the bathroom and showers were in the room. Imagine having to pee in the middle of the night you have to get up, put on your shoes take your keys with you go downstairs use the bathroom and come back up several times throughout the night. Very annoying. Bathroom/shower quite small and sometimes stunk. Some type of room deodorant or spray would help. Sometimes there wasn't even toilet paper. Being that the shower and toilet are one the floor would be fully wet. Also the female dorms had no mirrors! I don't know why they don't get a mirror from Walmart up the street and put them in the rooms. Especially the female dorms. Also would've been nice to have a list of local restaurants and bars around the hostel guests could visit. No one told me the infamous Da Poke Shack was right across the street! Shameful I wasn't told this. First day I checked in I was showed a bucket of beach towels guests could use. Next day all of them were gone and I never saw any again the remainder of my stay. Upside the beds are comfy and it's pretty quiet at night not to mention the nightly room rates are very reasonable seeing it's Hawaii!

First let me start by saying, I am extremely picky and I guess as my friends say, boujie , LOL. I just got back from my Hawaii trip.. first time ever in a hostel. I wanted to go out of my comfort zone and also save money at this time as I have some goals I am working on. I researched each hostel, read reviews and honestly cleanliness was my primary concern. I was pleasantly surprised.. First, it was easy to book. Second.. Adam... I have never felt more welcome ANYwhere. He greeted me so warmly, checked me in in 5 mins and took me for a tour of the place. Super cute, inviting, welcoming, and home-ee Now, please understand, it is Kona, it is Island, the hostel is open air in a way and it is somewhat humid in the bathrooms at times and a bit musty, but nothing awful...this is not the four Seasons... so if you are not willing to step out of YOUR comfort zone and have this kind of experience then don't book it and leave a bad review. The staff here work hard and talking to other visitors that have frequented hostels, they were all very happy and surprised actually here. It Is shared living quarters and you have people from all over the world so hygiene is different for some people... but.. the staff are constantly cleaning, sanitizing and making sure the place is in order. I loved the seating with umbrellas that have LED lights to enjoy a nice evening and grab a book and hot cup of tea or beer and enjoy it. There is a full kitchen with all utensils and machines for you to use. Fridge, where you mark your items and everyone is super respectful. Coffee and tea and provided and water. Bathrooms are available as shared or 2 private. BBQ is back for your own use. The staff can do laundry for you same day for $5. There is a bulletin board full of local information and coupons. The bed.. WOW.. the bed was SO comfortable.. sheets white and clean. Very well working AC in each room. There are lockers in the rooms for your personal items but not for luggage. Under the beds have plenty of room for that. Free hi speed WiFi. Nice location. Water pressure in the bathrooms are fabulous. Another cute lounge area in the kitchen with books and comfy chairs. In the evening most travelers are hanging out, Talking, eating and cooking, so it is a great place to meet people, or if you are an introvert that's cool too. Location: you are literally across the street from a beach with gorgeous sunsets. You are walking distance to a liquor/ convenience store & few small places. I myself rented a moped for $60 a day from Kona Mopeds and I HIGHLY suggest that as well to hit the main strip of restaurants, bars and shopping. There is also a local trolley called the Hele on which is $2 as well which is great and the stop is right in front of the hostel.. All in all, I really enjoyed my stay.. yes, I was a little uncomfortable at first because I am so nit picky but I just realized, hey, I am here to sleep and shower and then enjoy the Island. So, if you are trying to choose a hostel, choose this one. You won't be disappointed. P.S: Adam, I hope you get a bonus for your outstanding service and kindness. You made this gal's first time to Kona great!

room was clean, staff was nice and the bathrooms were clean as well. this being my first hostel experience wasn't a bad one and i would return again.

This place did not honor our booking. My fiancé and I booked a mixed 4-person room for 2 nights months in advance since there were no privates. However when we arrived to check in, the staff said they could not honor our original booking. Instead we were separated. She was rebooked into an 8-person room while I was rebooked into a different 4-person room. The booking was placed months in advance. We even called in ahead of time and left a note in the booking. The only plus side is that Jason and the staff were all very nice. For any lodging, one of your fundamental jobs you can't screw up is the booking. For travelers arriving late at night, you literally have no choice but to deal with what you have and that was the situation we unfortunately found ourselves in with this place. Avoid this place.

I stayed for 3 nights as a lone, budget traveler. Above all, the bed was comfy and clean. The room didn't get overheated or cold - had both AC and ceiling fan, and I napped at day and night. I am a sound sleeper so late night noise which did occur Thurs night (no surprise) didn't bother me. Will note on my last night, I did feel rudely awakened by a roommate who couldn't find something and just turned on the lights at midnight without much warning except a blunt, "Cover your eyes!" But ya can't pick your bunkmates. The reception area was open to the outdoors and doubled as a small kitchen. The free beach towels and chairs were a nice touch. Parking was never an issue but I was only there M-Th. Staff was always pleasant and I took advantage of the $5 laundry. A few things made me nervous about the cleanliness factor - some grime in the showers, and saw a little mouse run by me in the reception area (which is open to the outdoors and doubled as a small kitchen/coffee/food storage area). But I did enjoy my stay and the things that bothered me were probably not an issue for most folks and truly, the price at $40 a night cannot be beat for the area.

Wow, what an amazing experience!!! :) Clean, Friendly, Good Vibe & attention to detail you can actually see first hand. The owners & staff were so inviting and welcoming, how am I supposed to leave? lol :) Thanks Andy & Crew!!!

I booked but couldn't stay after all. I arrived at midnight due to travel delay and I appreciated the staff waiting and receiving me at that late hour. I cannot review security, atmosphere, cleanliness and facilities because I didn't stay after all.

Great spot. Great staff. Easy location (bus in front is free and takes you up and down west shore. Easy to walk to public beaches and there is a corner market next door. Bathrooms are clean (showers don't get hot as far as I know - but not sure). WiFi is strong. Kitchen has plenty of items, including coffee grinder and pour over item plus paper filters. Thanks!

I decided to stay at this hostel based on reviews from various sources (Yelp, Hostelworld, Google reviews etc); they all concurred that it was the best hostel in town, and they were right!!! My Hawai'i hostel is very clean and nicely decorated. The rooms are well kept. The staff provides bedding and towel. The staff was very friendly and knowledgeable. They offer laundry service for a fee. There is a community fridge for guests to keep their food and there is also shelves to keep food items that do not need to be refrigerated (they provide you with essentials to mark your food so it doesn't get eaten by other guests, make sure you use labels etc.). They also have bike rentals and snorkel gear rental. They have beach towel and boggy board (no fees) for guests to use. They grow a few herbs in their garden (basil, rosemary etc.), and guests are welcome to use it for cooking. The hostel has the usual hostel amenities: pots and pans, fresh coffee every morning, tea and electric tea kettle etc. They have two individual bathrooms and one co-ed bathroom. In the front of the building, they have table where you can eat or relax or talk story with the other guests or the staff. The trolley stops in front of the hostel, which makes for easy commute to town or Magic Sands beach. The trolley stops at key points in town such as Kahalu'u Beach Park (great surfing spot), Kailua Pier, Target, Kona Farmers Market, and Kona Brewing etc. so it was very convenient while I was visiting. Across from the hostel is the famous Da Poke Shack, they sell very fresh and good poke. Overall, I was very satisfied with my stay at the Hawai'i hostel. I strongly recommend it. It is very safe for solo female travelers.

Wow! What a great place to stay in Kona! The location is perfect and less than two miles from Kona town center. It is walkable or a quick bike ride (bikes are $10 for a 24 hour rental from the hostel). They also rent snorkel gear for only $5 per day. My Hawai'i Hostel was clean and everyone was kind and friendly. We paid $40 for a bed in a shared dorm (7 other people, bunk beds) that came with clean sheets, a towel, a locker (with lock) and access to a fully stocked kitchen! I was really impressed that there were two private bathrooms with showers and a communal bathroom with two stalls and two showers. We never had to wait more than 5 minutes to use the bathroom or take a shower! Everyone was super friendly there. The only reason for the loss of the star was around the money and credit card security. All transactions were completed in the kitchen- a very public place- and the systems were slow. We ended up having to repeat our credit card information several times in a very public place, which was uncomfortable. Hopefully, in the future, they can take information security into account!

My stay at My Hawaii Hostel was amazing. The staff was friendly. The facilities were as described and clean, but most of all the bed was amazingly comfortable! Thanks for an awesome stay!

Great place for families! The owners, staff and pups are amazing!!! We had our own private room with 4 bunks for our family of two girls age 11 and 9. The community kitchen was a great place to dine and chat with other travels. The accommodations are well kept and very clean! Can't wait to stay again!

What a beautiful hostel.l! Clean, walk to beach, beautiful rooms, kind owners, overall a "10" for everything. I will be back and tell everyone. The best hostel I've ever stayed in.

Super chill. Awesome staff. Friendly hostel-goers with a sick patio for lounging that makes it really easy to meet new people. Love it

Probably the nicest hostel I've ever stayed at! Everything is decently new and very clean. They have a well stocked kitchen and communal space is plentiful. The staff is also super helpful if you need ideas on where to go and what to see. One of the managers, Katie, even let me borrow her flashlight when I went hiking at the Volcanoes National Park. I stayed in a 4-bed dorm downstairs. They provided a towel, and my bed was super comfy. Everyone was very respectful of each other's space and belongings. The room wasn't very big, but it's enough to accommodate us. They also have little lockers with a lock for your personal belongings. There are two shower stalls and three bathrooms in the main bathroom downstairs, and two separate shower/bathrooms in the back. Laundry service is also available for your convenience. They have communal beach towels for you to use too. Location wise, super convenient. It's less than a 10 minute drive to "downtown" Kona, right across the street from the ocean, in a quieter neighborhood, and there's an awesome poke shop and a place to rent snorkel gear ($8 for 24 hour rental, or $16 for the whole week) right across the street too. There's also a little market that's a 2 minute walk away. Other than that, there aren't many food options in the evening within walking distance. There's very limited parking at the hostel; there's room for maybe 7 cars? However, I just ended up parking my car next to the church down the street. Parked there for 3 days without any issues. In sum, I had a wonderful stay here. I met some awesome people from all over the world and learned a lot about Kona. Definitely recommended!

This place is awesome! Everything is fairly new and very clean, and it's in a great location! Close to downtown Kona, the bus stop is right in front, one of the best surf spots (Banyan's) is right across the street, beach access is a short walk, a mini-mart is a few steps away, and a poke restaurant is also across the street. The staff is friendly and helpful with information about the island, and the front lanai is a great place to hang out and meet people. This is the best hostel on the west side of the island! I definitely recommend to anyone visiting the Big Island! You can't beat the price for everything you have access to!

I love this place. Fate brought me here and it can bring you here, too. The spirit of aloha is alive and well at My Hawaii Hostel. Amen.

I am MORE than satisfied with the hospitality that I received at this hostel.The location was excellent, loved that it sat right across from Banyans beach! GReat surfing there! The location is a mile away from Magic Sands beach (a local sandy beach you'll wanna visit!) Only 3 miles away from coconut grove- a cool little area in town where you can hop through a few bars or get some really good pizza (get sum' pizza is my favorite!) The bathrooms and showers were clean, management was especially accommodating; I was able to store bags and surfboards without any problems. The Internet was blazin fast. I would definitely recommend this hostel to a friend, or a fellow traveler!!

I sincerely appreciated that this hostel was so understanding with my late arrival due to numerous flight delays and cancellations. Lisa was enthusiastic and welcoming despite it being so late. I don't think hostel life is for me anymore, though. My bunk was wobbly and my dorm mates frequently woke up, shaking the bed or noisily shutting the door. I didn't get much sleep at all. I was awake against my will at 6 am due to jet lag, but I still had trouble snagging a shower due to how busy it was. Maybe a private room would have been more appealing for me.

Love this hostel!! So nice and clean, good space in the rooms and god beds! Creds to the owners for hiring supersweet employees. Location is really good to, close to both beaches and town center. Would definitely stay again!

Everyone working here is amazing ! I haven't stayed in a hostel for a long time, but the option to get a private queen room with a bathroom tempted me out of it. You can make friends if you want, as their are always people lounging around the common area. But if you need your privacy that's available also. Even though it's a "hostel" my room was nicer than some hotels i'd stay at. I'd recommend this spot for anybody on a budget in Kona.

I loved this place! Wonderful people, thick matresses, sunny, clean, open. Would definitely stay here again :-)

Not close to the night-life as I had expected based on the info they give to me. I did not rent a car, so had to hitch hike to get anywhere and its not easy to do at night (But VERY easy on the daylight). The front entrance is right on the street level, or Alii Drive, the main drag through town. It was super noisey, but out back it was a bit quieter. Lots of small sitting areas, and the guests were very friendly. Too crowded for my taste. It was FULL HOUSe, but I think they have too many people jammed into the space. If everyone brings a big backpack, which they do, there is no room to move. I wish there were a couple less beds to make it ok to find your way around the floorspace.

Hi all, I came here for a quick shower since I had to head out to catch my flight. Friendly staff and cheap for a quick shower.! Thanks staff you were very helpful!!

Loved it. I had a private queen room on the first floor which faces the street and has the patio furniture out in front of it. Although it was noisy, I used earplugs and I was fine to sleep. The location is great, right across from the beach in Kona. The area by the beach is hotter and dryer than the jungle /upper rainforest area but the mosquitos are far better down by the beach than in the jungle. Location is great; guests were respectful of the quiet hours; the community space is great, community available food and drinks, fridge space for individual guests food and such; free coffee, tea, and water; clean comfortable bed, not super hard like a lot of miserable hotel and Airbnb beds. I was actually rescued from a scary unsafe situation from an Airbnb the night before and got this room very last minute...the morning I was promptly leaving my unsafe Airbnb. This place was such a welcome comfort after a bad experience. AND it has AC! I was so surprised to see it has air conditioning in every room! Amazing, and wonderful. The community bunk rooms looked good too but I was happy to have the privacy of my own queen after what I had been through. The showers are nice, there are private showers and shared space ones; water wasn't hot and water pressure wasn't good but it is inconsequential as far as I'm concerned when the outside temp is above 85; warm water is just fine for showers. Rooms are super reasonable and the staff is nice and welcoming. I appreciated the staff's willingness to store my luggage until my room became available. I've stayed in hotels that were far inferior and cost 5x as much. If/when I return to Kona, I will be staying here again.

Very comfortable and cozy, clean hostel! Great place to stay if you're looking for something affordable in Kona. Mickayla and Kelsee were outstanding hosts! The environment was very welcoming and had a true aloha spirit. I would definitely stay here again!

I was at the Hostel yesterday cleaning the windows, and I will say that I was very impressed with the layout of the facilities, friendliness of the Owners and staff. I have stayed in many Hostels on the mainland, and I would definitely recommend this Hostel to anyone CV coming to the big Island that wants a Fun, and Affordable Hawaiian vacation!

When first arriving at the hostel, it seemed great. We had a great time and were enjoying our stay until we found out there were bed bugs. One of our students was covered in bites which were confirmed to be bedbug bites by urgent care doctors. The owners denied that they came from them and assured us that we had brought them with us. In addition to refusing to take responsibility for the bedbugs, the staff also began eating our food, which we had purchased, and making our students uncomfortable when they went to retrieve the food before moving on. After moving to a new location, we were informed that other groups that stayed there had the same experience. There was also little tolerance for teenagers. The staff made our students feel as if they were intruding and unwelcome in the common areas. Students were discouraged from gathering together in common areas, and were reprimanded for speaking in even slightly raised tones. Would not recommend staying here unless you want to be covered in bites.

Owner was very welcoming. Rooms were very clean and have AC. They were still under reconstruction so there weren't many others staying at the hostel. It's right across the street from Banyans, a local surf spot. The bus stop is directly in front of the hostel. Just a short walk to the nightlife of Ali'i Dr. Plenty of parking if you have a rental car. I enjoyed my stay and would recommend to any and everyone!

I've stayed in many hostels in many different countries and this was probably the nicest I've been. The cleanliness was exceptional and the beds and linens are new, fresh and clean. I stayed there two times. It seems also to attract very friendly people. The owner advised me on local attractions and I was most pleased with her recommendations. I would definitely stay there on a return trip and recommend it highly.

This my my very first hostel experience. Very Clean and quiet. Off the beaten path of town which is a plus for anyone wanting a little peace and quiet. Very clean bathrooms, friendly Staff (Jade) and great atmosphere. Only needed a bed to crash but think I found a new place to stay when in Kona.

Clean and modern hostel. So nice to not have to stay in an old dingy hostel! So worth the price for a solo traveller. Free onsite parking and great staff.

I stayed here for two nights after a tour I did on the Big Island. It's a very clean, organized and welcoming hostel. One of the best hostel experiences I've had. The rooms are very clean, comfortable beds and you even get a towel. They have a great WiFi and the kitchen has everything you need. Everyone who worked there was very nice, they store your luggage for you when you stay a bit longer then your checkout time. It looks exactly as on the pictures. And the building is not far from small beaches and a short ride into town. I definitely recommend staying here!

This place is amazing! Feels like home Staff was very sweet, hilarious, and very helpful! 10/10 I will be coming back for sure!! We got the luxury of a private room that was very clean and cozy. Shared kitchen was very functional, modern, and cute! I would absolutely recommend that you stay here! Plus there are cute dogs to pet, what a bonus!

Great place to stay! The staff and other hostellers made me feel at home and gave me great suggestions for places to check out and things to do. Lucked out with an awesome Christmas party!

This is the cleanest, best organized hostel I have ever stayed at. The bunks are very nice with new white linens, throw pillows, and complementary towels. The two owners are on site daily and they care about the facility. The layout is great and the bathrooms are extremely clean. Cleaner than my home bathroom I hate to admit. I highly recommend My Hawaii Hostel.

Well. I have to say. After experiencing the warmth and heart of many of the locals it was disappointing to come across the rudeness of the gringo in charge of the hostel. My husband and I were wandering around and happened to stumble into the hostel (hostile). The white lady said "are u staying here!?!?" And clearly blocked the way for us to check it out. We really just wanted to check it out but we got no further than the tables beside the highway. I've travelled all over the world and I've never come across a hostel that wasn't welcoming. They are places to meet and greet and recommend to other budget travelers. They never feel like a gated community. Not this one. I hope this lady never goes to Burkina Faso or anywhere else in Africa. She will have a lot of gatekeeping to do cuz the locals and the wanderers all mix it up at the hostels. No wonder she calls it "my Hawaii". It's clearly all hers.

My flight had been cancelled for a night & my flight was postponed to the next day. My friends where already staying at the hostel waiting for me. My friends told the staff that I wasn't coming in that night. I know there is a 2 day cancellation notice but the problem I have is that they rented out my bed to someone else that night & when I asked for my money back the owner refused to refund me my $40.00. This is only $40.00 & if they need it that bad then they could keep it. This is not good business practice. I know my friends & I will never go back. I am also sure the owner is aware of that but doesn't care. I would have understood if she didn't rent the bed out to someone else. Making double the amount for the same bed & same night. Knowing that the customer was aware of this. The money should have been refunded. This goes to show what kind of person owns this hostel. I would rather stay in a hotel for double the price & then stay there again.