Pakalana Inn

The Inn’s proximity to downtown and the Farmers’ Market is wonderful, as is the free hotel parking behind the Inn. We walked everywhere around Hilo.|Previous reviewers’ descriptions of amenities are accurate; refrigerator and microwave a huge bonus. |Drawbacks: road noise. Bring earplugs. Owner is never on site, which was an issue when we wanted to split the bill.

I had a perfect stay at Pakalana Inn in late October, 2019. I was in a charming room with all the basics you need for a short stay. Walking distance into town and very close by the farmers' market. I was particularly impressed with (and grateful for!) the Inn's owner, Neil, who helped me find accommodation in Hilo when I had to stay another night and his was fully booked. I promised Neil I'd write a review here for him, and it's taken a pandemic to help me find the time to do so! Thanks again, Neil! Lauren

Neil is very accommodating checking us in early. Easy access to the room and front entrance. Rooms are extremely clean and comfortable. A little uncomfortable parking the car by myself but still happy once I get into the building. This is someplace that I will continue coming back to stay because it’s clean new and centrally located. Mahalo Neil , Paul and housekeeping for making my stay perfect.

Pakalana Inn is a lovely place to stay in downtown Hilo with charming decor and furnishings. My room had a nice kitchenette, a full size claw-foot tub, and full views of Hilo bay. Comfy bed and nice breezes. Neil was a fantastic host - he brought a breakfast basket of fruits on my first day and checked in on me periodically for anything I might need during my stay. Thank you - highly recommended!

We stayed here for 3 nights in Dec and it was awesome! I can honestly say that the place is nicer than what's shown in the pictures and we were very pleasantly surprised. The building exterior looks a little worn and sketchy, but the inside is newly renovated and the room looked like a cozy wonderful cabin. We were in room 2 (elua) and it was spacious for 2 with a comfortable bed, kitchenette and cozy chair for lounging. Only downside is that there are ants in the morning (careful with food you leave out) and spotty wifi (neil the owner indicated the modem would be changed soon, so that should fix it).||I would not hesitate to recommend this place to anyone. Excellent value, super comfortable stay, helpful owner and central location (in downtown, close to farmers market, shops, restaurants etc). And did i mention that Paul's place just below is a must go for breakfast? So good! Make a reservation

After an airbnb in Hilo, HI proved a disaster (and I got airbnb to reimburse totally), I stayed two nights here a week apart in two different rooms. My recommendation is all possible stars = excellent. The owner was swift to respond to phone calls/or emails, and I was delighted with the accommodation. Right in the middle of things (insofar as Hilo is a happening place . . .), comfortable and clean with enough amenities for me. The owner was very accommodating in check-in/check-out times within the parameters of his other guests (of course) and so very kind in personal interaction when I met him. The downstairs cafe was nice (shout-out to Paul for being pleasant and remembering me from one week to the next although I only purchased one cup of coffee since I had no reservation for more). Highly recommended, would stay here again for sure!

After a horrible stay at a place on Craigslist (bad idea I know).. I was able to stay at this lovely inn for 3 nights. The rooms were clean and you felt at home. Neil made me and my husband feel very comfortable during our stay. I would definitely recommend staying here. It's close to the farmers market and you can eat breakfast right downstairs!

Upon arrival our children were skeptical of Pakalanna because the exterior of the building is consistent with Hilo's old understated buildings. But upon entering we were so thrilled with this very sweet local family run business with 6 perfect guest rooms on the second floor and a great small coffee shop downstairs. Pukalana Inn is a little gem in Hilo perfectly situated, friendly with well appointed rooms and a wonderful owner.

This is a charming, tiny hotel located in the downtown area. You're only about 150 feet from the Farmer's Market and lots of stores and restaurants. Easy walking distance to almost everything. Our room had a nice view of a park and we could see the ocean/bay, too. My only (minor) complaint involves checking in. There's no front desk so figuring out the code to your door can be a little challenging. I recommend calling well in advance to get any similar questions answered. The room was very clean and attractive. The mini-fridge was also most welcome. Terrific location and reasonably priced.

I totally went off of Yelp reviews in choosing a place to stay while in Hilo. Okay, I also researched the place to make sure it was legit. As far as booking a room, its really easy. You do it online and you get to chose which room you want, granted it's available. You pay a one night deposit to hold your reservation. I emailed Neil to see if he could run the balance so that way the room was all paid up. No problem, he emailed me back letting me know that he could do it. After you've booked you receive an email with your confirmation number. DON'T DELETE THAT EMAIL!!! You'll need the last 4 digits to get into the main door AND your room door. There is no front desk and no one there to check you in or out ... or so we thought .. read on ... When we arrived in Hilo it was well past 6pm. What I didn't expect was for Neil to be there waiting for us. But there he was! He helped us get in and told us where we could find restaurants for dinner and told us about Pauls Place (which is directly below). He's really a nice guy! I was not prepared for how awesome the room would be. Honestly, if you can forgo all of the luxuries of a resort .. you will love it here. It is in downtown Hilo, a block from Hilo's Farmers Market, and close to literally everything. Our room that we had was room 5, which consisted of 2 queen size beds, private bathroom, a huge closet, flat screen tv, ceiling fan, a small fridge, a coffee maker, small dining table and a lounger chair .. oh did I mention we had an AC in there as well. Which, really wasn't needed since Hilo is always cool in weather at night. There's also free wifi if you need it. The room was clean and it was definitely quiet at night. I read a few reviews where they stated that the bathroom shower would leak out water when showering. Although our shower was huge and the ledge thingy on the bottom wasn't 'tall', we didn't get any water splashed outside ... maybe we were more careful? Idk, but if your not having some huge water fest in the shower there shouldn't be any water flooding your bathroom floor. The beds were comfortable and I honestly didn't want to get out of bed every morning. We never had any issues with noise in the morning. Pauls Cafe downstairs wasn't too loud. But, you know it's morning and all the noises start in the AM just like at home .. plus we were already out and about by 7am. Go figure ... Check out is at 10am, but if you need to extend the time just call Neil! I would most definitely stay here time and time again. It was really great to not stay in a big hotel and I felt very comfortable there. Recommend them? Heck yes!! Side note: We weren't able to try Paul's food while there :( So we plan to on our next trip there! 10/100 Challenge 2018

This place is awesome! The beds are comfortable, bathrooms are clean, and the owner is really nice. The location cannot be beat (less than a block from the famous Hilo Farmer's Market). Walking distance to the ocean, lots of coffee shops, restaurants, etc. We rented rooms 5 and 6 which worked perfectly for our family of four. Room five has two queen beds and room six has one queen bed. Room six has a little kitchenette and both rooms have fridges. These two rooms are adjoining so it felt like more of a suite and we could keep a better eye on the kids. The owner gave us a discount for renting both rooms. Very reasonable and we can't wait to visit again.

Pakalana? ka oi loa loa in every way.

Very nice room, good location, reasonable price, and Neil was very personable and provided great suggestions for restaurants nearby-- which we went to and liked. Our room was #5- two comfortable queen beds, fridge, microwave, two-person dining set, tv, ceiling fan, a/c, big spacious bath. Great inn that I recommend and would stay at again.

Yelp lead me to the Pakalana Inn, and, after a whirlwind journey around the islands, we returned for our last night in Hilo. The simplicity of the check-in process exemplifies the concept behind the place. It's no frills but you don't feel like you're missing anything. It's within walking distance of several main attractions in Hilo (the waterfront, the farmer's market, the Tsunami Museum, Two Ladies Kitchen, and so on). The only issue was confusion about where one parks when staying at the PI. All in all, I couldn't imagine staying anywhere else in Hilo. Hands down my favorite hotel in all of the island.

PROS Great location. Well maintained. Wi-Fi. Reasonable pricing. Conveniently located to quaint and friendly Hilo. Efficient virtual check in and payment system. Responsive staff. TO NOTE You can hear a little street noise (people and cars) at night; but it's not a problem. My room had a lovely tub/shower. The shower splashed water all over the place. TVs are a bit make shift. Windows a little sticky, hard to maneuver

I found this place by accident but it was the best decision ever to stay here. Paul's Place (a cafe) is downstairs and the rooms are upstairs which makes it feel like a bed and breakfast. It is within walking distance of everything (i.e. Farmers Market, restaurants, park, cafes, nicknack stores, supermarket, etc...) The entrance, stairs, and decor are very simple and clean and is (as someone else had stated), Cozy. I honestly felt at home here. The rooms are beautiful and the wood work was carefully done with lots of love and passion into it. The owner Neil is a super nice guy. We ran into him at breakfast and figured out we originated from the same area in California (small world). For my next visit to Hilo, I will be staying at the Pakalana Inn.

Everyone else is saying this, but I thought I would confirm. Rooms are clean, comfortable, and quaint. The inn is above a sweet breakfast place, and right next to the farmers market. The owner and his daughter are so cool. 10/10 would stay here again.

If your looking for a little place to call "home" for a few nights while in Hilo, The Pakalana Inn is it! It is so cute and comfortable and has the amenities you need for a few night stay. Neil the owner was very helpful in communicating the check in process well before we arrived, so it made it easy and seamless. Convienently located right next to the Hilo Farmers Market, you can grab a few local snacks for the room and also be walking distance to all Hilo Town has to offer. Not to mention the Inn sits right above Paul's Place which serves up amazing breakfast/lunch! When in Hilo, we'll be back again.

Holy crap I love this place! They have everything! Beds! TVs! Extra heavy pint glasses! Exclamation point! Neil is hands down the best hotel agent I've ever had the pleasure of dealing with! Anyone who gives this hotel less than a five star review should be tied to an ironing board and brutally tickled for one hour

Amazing place... Great service... Neil is a great guy. The overall service was above my expectations. Would definitely consider staying at the Pakalana Inn on my next trip to Hilo based on how easy and pleasant it was to work with Neil. Loved how close it was to a flee market that was opened on Wednesdays and Saturdays.

At first glance from the exterior my kids were nervous about Pakalana. The building is a classic old school hilo style building but upon arrival the inside was cozy and the owner so accommodating. There is a sweet little cafe inside and a nicely renovated interior with 5 or 6 wonderful rooms. It was a great little retreat, centrally located, family owned. We were very happy to have a made stay there for our one night in hilo.

Love! We stayed in room #3. It was clean and spacious. Kitchenette and bathroom were great (water pressure in the shower could've been better, but was adequate). There is no check in/out, you use a key code to let yourself in. However, Neil (the manager) was around everyday to provide extra towels, etc. and also available via email. The location is perfect, easy walk to the Farmer's Market and restaurants and shops. We will definitely stay here again next time we're in Hilo.

I'd say 3+. We were there for X-mas, visiting family in Hilo. I forget how I found the place, but turns out my dad, who flew in from Honolulu, was told to stay there as well. The location is pretty good, right in downtown Hilo. Just note that I think that visitors need to know downtown Hilo is...ummmm....eclectic. Sort of like a small Haight St in SF, Venice Beach in CA...Hippie/homeless/vegan/farmers market eclectic. Lots of random, interesting shops and places to duck into. Seems as they just redid the place. Everything was nice and new. But there were things missing due to the newness. No hooks in the bathroom, no soap dish in the shower, my dad's room only had cheap stools or the bed to sit on, and we had an old velvet chair. Parking can be a pain, and you can hear the noise from the other neighbors pretty clearly. Oh, and there is no "staff" on site...they gave my dad the wrong code to get in his room and it took him a while to figure it out. But with that said, you can't beat the price, the rooms are clean, and if you want to be in the mix in Hilo it is a great spot. My last time in Hilo was in one of the hotels on the hotel loop, and this place was MUCH better. I'd go again, and I'd suggest it to the right people. What it misses in luxury it makes up in many other ways.

The service is always amazing here. The people are nice and very flexible and accommodating with pretty much anything. Also, you cannot beat this price. I am a local and I love this place when I want to get away.

I love this place. Please don't judge by building appearance. It looks old and shaky but interior is exquisite. It has hard wood floor and 3 chairs: 2 woodens and 1 fabric. It has table and a small fridge. Also it contains microwaves and coffee machine. I travelled a lot and I can say this is a good place to stay for 1 night!

This little place is a gem in Hilo. The owner/operator, Neil, is awesome. We arrived early and he let us check in, our departing flight was later in the day, and he allowed a late check out. The Hilo Farmers Market is less than a 1 minute walk.

I highly recommend Pakalana Inn. The owner Paul is hilarious he likes to joke around also a very kind man. His food is delicilous. It's a cute little place, it reminds me of Italy sitting in a cozy bistro. He does not serve dinner.

My family and I stayed in Hilo for one night because of a funeral. I looked up different hotels in Hilo and from the pictures and reviews I liked the Pakalana Inn the most. We took the first flight out and went to the funeral and didn't check in until after 3pm so we had a lot of family ask us..."Where you staying?" When we told them the area it was in, they kept laughing and saying the place is scary and asking us if we just wanted to stay with them. Umm...no...Honokaa is too far! Some of them were even going back and forth from Kona. On Oahu a 10 min drive is too much for me so yeah...they're crazy. Lol. When we got to the hotel, I felt so satisfied. The place was BEAUTIFUL!! And there was food near by! It was so nice and comfy that I wanted to just spend another night but couldn't. Next time though now that I know you guys exist. :)

Found out about this through word of mouth and it was just what we needed. One block from the Farmer's Market. Owner is an architect who has remodeled the second floor of this historical building.

Found this place by frequenting "Paul's Place", and checked out the website, www.pakalanainn.com Some good adjectives to describe it are: Cozy, affordable, convenient. You'd never think the rooms were so nice by looking at the outside of the building, and the neighborhood in general. I'd definitely stay here again, and would recommend it to friends. The best part was the "no-key" entry (you use a pin# to open your door), and the trusting nature of the manager, Neil, who didn't secure any mode of payment from me prior to our stay. I'm looking forward to trying some of the other rooms. We stayed in room #2 (6 rooms total). The coffee maker and microwave and fridge were convenient to have. A couple more packets of coffee and more sweeteners would have been even better. The tub/shower was quaint, but needed to be just a few inches longer to keep water from splashing on the floor near the door. Not a big deal, but might save on future water damage. It was a little hot when we first arrived, but turning the fan on high, and opening the windows cooled it off quickly. Thank you, Neil, for such a unique, cozy, pleasant experience.

This place was a breath of fresh air. We were looking for a place in Hilo when we found the Pakalana Inn on Yelp. It had the extra touches that just made the trip a little bit nicer and a little bit easier. It was clean and tasteful. Very conveniently located in downtown. Comfortable. We will definitely stay there again.

I found Pakalana Inn through tripadviser and it seemed like the best place (location and price) to stay at given that there aren't any decent hotels in the area. I prefer not to stay in hotels that look like motels because I like staying in places that are somewhat cleaner. There are a total of six rooms in this building and each room has a bathroom. I don't think there's AC inside the room but there's a fan on the ceiling of the room and we slept with the windows open. It was actually nice sleeping with the windows open because the air wasn't too hot and it was not cold. I'd definitely recommend staying here if you're visiting Hilo.

This is more of a confirmation than an all together new review, since everything that's been said about the Pakalana Inn before is true. Its is conveniently located and very much centralized. The ease of checking in utilizing your confirmation number is also nice, though ours didn't work upon arrival and required a call to the Inn keeper via the cell phone number provided when you call the office after hours, which he was able to fix in minutes so it wasn't a big problem. The Inn is quaint and was adequate for our needs the room we stayed in was Rm.2 the bed was comfortable the room was clean though as stated previously there is a shortage of hooks and a soap dish in the shower still. The bathroom area is very old world in style as it doesnt have a door that separates it from the living area but it does have a door separating the toilet from the shower area, even though that door does have a clear glass pane in the center of it, which required a little bit of communication between myself and my wife to ensure privacy again not a huge problem. The square footage could have been optimized a bit better and for the ladies, there's no dresser at all but there is a closet equipped with hangars and a portable a/c unit if needed as well. The noise level at night was minimal however during the morning as stated earlier you could hear the Cafe downstairs, the music, conversations, street noise etc. Also the lack of curtains on the north facing wall allows for a significant amount of light into the room, which is fine when up and about but not helpful when trying to rest from a day of hiking, especially when accompanied with the aforementioned outer room noise. The Pakalana Inn is an overall worthwhile experience, with the biggest positive being its location to shops, markets, grocery stores, gas stations, bars, museum etc. A