48 Best Hotels in Big Island, Hawaii

In the hills above Puuhonua O Honaunau National Historical Park, this guesthouse offers quiet elegance, complete privacy, and beautiful ocean views from every room. With a focus on nature, the house is tastefully furnished in tropically inspired earth tones. The bath products are 100% organic, and the yummy full breakfasts are as close to organic as they can muster, with produce grown on-site. Common areas include a kitchenette and living area with a high-definition television, DVD library, and computer with high-speed Internet.

Complete modern kitchens, tiled lanai, and washer-dryer units are found in every suite of this comfortable oceanfront condo complex with a welcoming entry lobby and reception area that feels like a hotel. The nearest sandy beach is 2 miles away, but the pool is next to the ocean and 50 of the rooms are oceanfront. A second, ocean-fed saltwater pool sits at the edge of the property, perfect for relaxing in the waves. Although the complex is not within walking distance of downtown Kailua Village, there are plenty of convenience stores and delis nearby.

Villas with terra-cotta-tile roofs are set amid landscaped lagoons and waterfalls at the edge of the championship Waikoloa Village Golf Course. The spacious units—ground and upper floors are available separately—are privately owned, so furnishings vary from unit to unit. Sliding glass doors open onto a large lanai, and picture windows look out onto rolling green fairways. All units have full kitchens and washer-dryers. Check the website for separate online-booking rates and specials. There's also free access to tennis courts, a swimming pool, outdoor barbecues, and the fitness center. A daily $10 amenity fee includes Wi-Fi, newspaper, parking, coffee, and security safe.

These slightly older condominium units, spread out among three low-rises on the ocean side of Alii Drive, are situated at Kona's most popular surfing spot, Banyans, and also just a couple of minutes' drive from Kailua Village and within walking distance of popular Magic Sands Beach Park. Kitchens are fully equipped. Choose between the lower-priced mountain view, midrange partial ocean view, and more expensive oceanfront rooms. There's a great Hawaiian poke café (Da Poke Shack) nearby, plus a liquor store across the street.

Quirky yet upscale, this accommodation features four artistically distinctive rooms that unveil beautiful views of the rain forest from a great location five minutes from Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. The hotel offers daily housekeeping, imported linens, custom-made wooden bed frames, a garden gazebo, a koi pond, and a six-person hot tub. It's one of several properties under the umbrella of Kilauea Hospitality Group; another is Lokahi Lodge, which has cozy rooms with comfy beds and plenty of exposed beams and wood. The group's most reasonably priced lodge is the Volcano Hale, which dates to 1912 and has a communal kitchen and fireplace.

Units in this circa-1950s motor lodge are modest but charming, as well as clean and inexpensive; a glowing lava-flow sign marks the office and testifies to owner John Alexander's passion for the volcano. Stunning lava pictures adorn the common area, and Alexander is a great source of information for visiting the national park and for exploring the back roads of Hilo. Coffee and fresh fruit are offered daily with banana bread. Four blocks from downtown Hilo, in a historic residential area called Puueo, the hotel borders a verdant 2-acre Hawaiian garden with jungle trails and shady places to rest. Guests of the hotel return repeatedly, and it's ideal for families who seek a home base. Six additional units across the street are for long-term stays.

This first-rate resort overflows with tropical gardens, cascading waterfalls, a sandy beach cove, a meandering pool, a lagoon for the kids, and all the luxury amenities. All guest rooms have private lanai, and many have partial or full ocean views. Excellent on-site restaurants include the flagship Brown's Beach House, The Orchid Court, Hale Kai, Brown's Deli, and the outstanding Binchotan Bar and Grill. Guests enjoy the tennis center, the Spa Without Walls with private massage hales (houses) set amid waterfalls or on the oceanfront, and the largest and most impressive swimming pool among the resorts. The lavish Hawaii Loa luau is followed by a show that combines modern and Polynesian dance. There's lots of beach equipment to rent, plus rental bikes if you want to pedal to the nearby Shops at Mauna Lani. The beach has a protected cove ideal for swimming and wading, and the fitness center comes fully equipped.

These large and comfy town houses and condominiums, located just off the fairway of the Waikoloa Beach Course, are a short walk from Anaehoomalu Bay. Designed in the style of plantation-era homes, these villas are decorated with rattan furniture and tropical themes and come complete with top-notch appliances in fully equipped kitchens. A five-minute walk from the upscale Kings' Shops, the facility has its own infinity pool, a lava-rock whirlpool spa, and a small gym next to the pool.

Beautiful views everywhere, polished wood floors, custom furnishings and linens in warm earth and cool white tones, and Hawaiian fine artwork make this oceanfront resort a peaceful, luxurious retreat. Ground-level rooms include outdoor garden showers. The 600-square-foot bungalows are large and luxurious, with spacious slate-floor bathrooms. One of the five pools, King's Pond, is a freshwater pond, with thousands of tropical fish and a spotted eagle ray that guests have the opportunity to feed daily. The seashell infinity pool, family-friendly and surrounded by cabanas and palm trees, has a clear view to the ocean beyond. The on-site Hawaiian Cultural Center honors the grounds' spiritual heritage, and the sports club and spa offer top-rate health and fitness options. The resort's on-site restaurants (ULU, Beach Tree) are world-class. Hualalai's golf course has hosted the PGA Tour Champions Tour and the Senior PGA Tournament of Champions. Despite its quiet opulence, the resort is super kid-friendly, with a great activities program.

Hilo isn't known for its fancy resort hotels, but the Grand Naniloa, built in 1939, attempts to remedy that situation in grand fashion, paying homage to hula, Hawaiian culture, and Big Island adventures. Art photography of the ancient style of hula graces the walls, halls, lobby, and guest rooms, and the open-air lobby unveils stunning bayfront panoramas from its vantage on the peninsula. Rooms are contemporary in style, nicely appointed, and outfitted with standard amenities. The corner oceanfront rooms offer prime views, while harbor views prevail from other rooms. Just off the lobby, KapohoKine Adventures operates an on-site store and activities desk where guests can easily book ziplining adventures, volcano tours, and other treks. At the hotel's main entrance, the Willie K. Crown Room is a concert hall and theater. Located poolside, Hula Hulas restaurant has open-air dining overlooking Hilo Bay. The Hula Lounge lobby bar presents live Hawaiian music nightly.

In cool, upcountry Holualoa, Hale Hualalai offers two exceptionally large suites with exposed beams, whirlpool tubs, and private lanai, but perhaps most memorable are the breakfasts—owner Ricky Brewster was a chef at Four Seasons Hualalai Resort's Beach Tree restaurant. These are as varied as they are delicious, reflecting individual guest preferences—from Italian margarita frittatas with tomatoes and herbs grown on-site to Punaluu sweetbread French toast with Tahitian lime gastrique and crushed pecans. Ricky even grows and serves his own Kona coffee. Each 650-square-foot suite has a private entrance and sunset views, making it perfect for couples.

On a bluff above Honolii surfing beach, this modern, 5,400-square-foot home is 2 miles from downtown Hilo and features four rooms—each with patio, deluxe bedding, and grand ocean views within earshot of the surf. Fresh flowers and artful decor add a warm tropical touch. A continental breakfast is served every morning on an outdoor deck or in the kitchen's bay-window dining area. From their lanai, guests can watch spinner dolphins or migrating whales during the season. These are ideal accommodations for honeymooners and empty nesters.

Here, above the sea cliffs in North Kohala, sustainability meets luxury without sacrificing comfort: the resort generates its own solar and wind-turbine power, harnesses its own water, and grows much of its own food. Beautiful floors are made from sustainably harvested woods, and rooms take advantage of natural light and ventilation to keep energy usage low. Surrounded by 50 acres, 20 of which are a dedicated conservation area, the retreat feels both luxe and completely hidden from the world. Handsome rooms have high ceilings, elegant doors, crown molding, and private balconies. Three cliff-side hales (houses) with kitchenettes offer ocean views. More affordable options are available at the retreat's Yurt Village, which includes access to the saltwater infinity pool and fitness center. Breakfast is sourced from the resort's garden supply, augmented by island-fresh ingredients from local farms.

This renovated landmark hotel has large bayfront rooms offering spectacular views of Maunakea and Coconut Island on Hilo Bay; street-side rooms overlook the golf course, and the hotel is within walking distance of Liliuokalani Gardens. Most accommodations have private lanai; kitchenettes are available in the Banyan and Ocean suites, and the custom-made furniture in every room evokes a feeling of Hawaiiana. More bay views are on tap from first-class WSW The Steakhouse, billed as Hilo's only authentic steakhouse, and at the Waioli Lounge and Cafe, you can get a grab-and-go lunch or enjoy cocktails and appetizers. The Banyan Art Gallery showcases local artists. 

A charming old Craftsman home lovingly restored by a friendly and hospitable couple from North Carolina, the inn offers quite a bit of variety in guest room size and decor, though every room has a fridge. The Honu's Nest provides fantastic views of the sunrise from the comforts of a large bed. The larger Bali Hai Suite has a sitting room and a window seat that looks out on tree ferns, orchids, and anthuriums. Upstairs, the entire second floor is the Samurai Suite, furnished with traditional tatami mats and antiques imported from Japan. Breakfast is delicious and usually includes homemade baked goods. 

Gondola trams glide by, pint-size guests zoom down the 175-foot waterslide, a bride poses on the grand staircase, a fire-bearing runner lights the torches along the seaside path at sunset—these are some typical scenes at this 62-acre megaresort. Shaded pathways lined with a multimillion-dollar Pacific Island art collection connect the three tall buildings, while Swiss-made trams and canal boats shuttle those who want to bypass the long hallways and meandering paths. Though there's no ocean beach, seaside trail leads to Anaehoomalu Bay, one of the island's most beautiful tropical beaches. An ocean-side saltwater lagoon is great for families. Modern rooms in neutral tones have private lanai and are large enough to accommodate the families that flock here. The flagship restaurant, KPC (Kamuela Provision Company), presents incomparable coastline views. Although some may find the resort a fantasy version of Hawaii, others love it for its one-stop-shop approach to a Hawaii holiday.

While the location feels more parking lot than island paradise, this practical and comfortable hotel (one of Kona's newest) isn't far from the ocean and offers lots of pluses, from nicely appointed rooms to a fitness center. You'll also find a swimming pool, a hot tub, and a lobby with fireplace, as well as complimentary breakfast (rare for a Kona hotel). All rooms have fridges, microwaves, and 42-inch TVs. Just steps away are plenty of restaurants, cafés, and shops, not to mention the historical landmarks and waterfront attractions of Historic Kailua Village. 

Tucked away by Keauhou Bay amid a plethora of coconut trees, this well-maintained enclave of blue-roofed villas offers lots of amenities, including an 11-court tennis center (with a center court, pro shop, and lights), swimming pools, hot tubs, a fitness center, waterfalls, and covered parking. Guests are minutes away from the island's best snorkel cruise, plus the many dining and grocery options at nearby Keauhou Shopping Center. The tennis center has hosted international tournaments featuring top WTA tour professionals.

Six spacious rooms and suites—plus two vintage, one-bedroom cottages perfect for honeymooners—are available at this 30-acre coffee-country estate, a few miles above Kailua Bay in the heart of the artists' village of Holualoa. Stunningly appointed with Asian furnishings and fine local art, the inn offers "garden-to-plate" breakfasts including Kona coffee grown on the property, fresh fruits, homemade jams, eggs from the inn's coop, quiches, French toast, and macadamia-nut butter. On-site are rooftop gazebos and a mosaic-tile swimming pool, hot tub, fireplace, guest kitchenette with refrigerator and utensils, massage pavilion, tropical gardens. There's even a meandering coffee trail through archaeological sites. The inn offers an open-air pavilion for weddings and retreats. Two cottages, one a vintage farm building that has been transformed into a large bridal suite, feature a kitchenette and dressing room. The inn often sells out well in advance, so plan early. 

Surrounded by McCandeless Ranch on 40 acres in South Kona, this place may seem remote, but it's actually just a short drive from some of the best water attractions on the island, including Puuhonua O Honaunau, Kealakekua Bay, and Hookena Beach. The gated driveway winds past herds of goats, donkeys, horses, and cows. Offering four suites with private entrances and lanai, plus beautiful ocean views, this tastefully appointed inn has an open-air living area, plus a media room with a DVD library of 1,500 titles. Buffet breakfast is served by the owner, plus there's a barbecue facility by the pool. Snorkel and beach gear are available. 

On a 5-acre coffee farm above Kealakekua Bay, proprietors Mike Martinage and Greg Nunn operate a grand yet very reasonably priced B&B in a home featuring a 2,000-square-foot wraparound veranda with excellent views of the bay and the entire Honaunau Coast. The outdoor lava-rock shower is a treat, and the authentic Hawaiian cedar steam house, swing, and outdoor hot tub also offer panoramic views. Full breakfasts include ingredients harvested from the property, including homegrown, 100% Kona coffee. Greg was once head of housekeeping at a five-star resort on Maui, and it shows. A detached cottage in back of the main house provides additional accommodations for families.

You wouldn't expect to find a top-notch B&B in Kau, but just up the road from South Point, this grand residence offers large private suites with locally harvested hardwood floors and private lanai with ocean and mountain views. Choose between a full hot breakfast or a farm-to-table breakfast presents locally sourced fruits and baked goods—and comes with award-winning Kau estate coffee. For those who want to explore the area's green- and black-sand beaches, or hike to the Kahuku unit of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, hosts Kenny Joyce and Kilohana Domingo are happy to share their knowledge of the area. The inn prides itself on its programs involving Hawaiian cultural arts, and guests may take part in Hawaiian feather arts or weaving workshops.

With 30 rooms in the center of Waimea, this newly renovated boutique inn offers beautiful accommodations that feature Hawaiian-style bed linens and paniolo art, along with polished, upgraded decor such as barn doors, high-definition TVs, granite countertops, and rainfall showerheads. Some rooms even have kitchenettes, but a continental breakfast is included in the price. Baths are equipped with locally made, eco-friendly Hawaiian body products and plenty of fluffy towels.  

The 18-acre grounds provide a peaceful and verdant background for this low-rise condominium complex bordering the Keauhou-Kona Country Club and within a five-minute drive of the nearest beaches (Kahaluu and Magic Sands). The property has three swimming pools, two tennis courts, hot tubs, and barbecue areas. Large units have koa-wood cabinetwork and washer-dryers. The proximity of Keauhou Bay and Keauhou Shopping Center makes this complex an excellent choice for families.

The former home of the late, legendary artist Herb Kane, this luxury boutique guesthouse occupies a 16-acre avocado farm overlooking the South Kona coastline. Internationally traveled proprietors Michael and David leave no stone unturned; amenities include fresh flowers, evening turndown, robes and slippers, Molton Brown products, and tropical fruit baskets. Herb Kane's iconic artwork is displayed in all the suites. Detached from the main residence, the Kane and Kanaloa suites are spacious and private. The Kane Suite opens onto a water garden and porch, and includes koa furnishings designed by the artist along with a minibar, library, marble bathroom, and atrium Zen garden. Breakfast features ingredients grown on the property.

A mile from the entrance to Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, this lodge built as a YMCA camp in the 1930s is now a pleasant inn, tastefully furnished with European antiques, photographs, and authentic Hawaiian quilts. Of the 12 accommodations on the property, all are heated and have private baths; seven have gas fireplaces, and one has a wood-burning fireplace (the Honeymoon Deluxe Room). The charming one-bedroom cottage on the property is perfect for romance. A central common room, the Hale Aloha Building, offers a wood-burning fireplace and library. For a quintessential Volcano Village experience under the stars, guests can use the covered outdoor hot tub, which seats seven. The Lodge's restaurant is open to the public and features island-inspired cuisine for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

These modern, impeccably furnished condos offer far more high-end amenities than the average condo complex, including both an infinity pool and a sand-bottom children's pool at its oceanside Beach Club, a fitness center, and a hot tub. It's within walking distance of Anaehoomalu Bay and the beach and close to shopping.

Just below Keauhou Shopping Center, this resort offers furnished condos on 21 acres with pleasant ocean views and a host of on-site amenities, including two swimming pools, beach volleyball, a cocktail bar, barbecue grills, a hot tub, tennis courts, a fitness center, hula classes, equipment rentals, and children's activities. There is even a small restaurant on-site. The complex is within walking distance of a movie theater, grocery store, Longs Drugs, and cafés and restaurants. Scuba and snorkel trips depart from nearby Keauhou Bay.

Cradled between a lovely grass park and Magic Sands Beach Park, this older condo complex is great for swimmers, surfers, and sunbathers. The studios vary because they're individually owned, but all are spacious and light, with oceanfront views right above the surf. Most units have lanai. The new Magics Beach Grill is a fantastic, popular on-site eatery.

This B&B, with its rare location within walking distance to splendid Kealakekua Bay, offers three high-luxury rooms with kitchenettes in the main house that share the pool-patio area, as well as two suites with more room and privacy in the detached Ohana Cottage. Gorgeous, well-appointed rooms feature plantation-style furnishings and decor with Hawaiian touches. The property, renovated in 2019, includes a sparkling, chlorine-free pool. Romantics take note: facing the emerald pali (cliff) is a lovely, grassy space with a small gazebo, should you wish to renew vows or pop the question.