The Best Hotels on Hawaiʻi Island, According to our Editors
From luxury resorts to budget-friendly hotels, here are our editors' picks for Big Island’s best stays.
Best for Self-Care: The Fairmont Orchid
Best for Island Vibes: Four Seasons Hualālai
Best for Luxury: Mauna Kea Beach Hotel, Autograph Collection
Best for Hilo Lovers: Grand Naniloa Hotel — A Doubletree by Hilton
Best for Families: Hilton Waikoloa Village
Best for Getting Away: Waipiʻo Wayside Bed and Breakfast
Best for Budget Stays: Hilo Hawaiian Hotel
Best for Beach Lovers: The Westin Hāpuna Beach Resort
Best for Herb Kāne Fans: Herb Kāne Plantation Guesthouse
Best for Eco-Friendly Travelers: SCP Hilo Hotel
Best for Self-Care
The Fairmont Orchid
The Fairmont Orchid.
Photo: Courtesy of Fairmont Orchid.
Fairmont Orchid is a luxury oceanfront resort set on 32 acres along the Kohala Coast on Hawaiʻi Island. Here, guests are mere steps from an emerald lagoon and a white sand beach. But that’s not all. The resort boasts a 10,000-square-foot pool, six restaurants, cultural activities and an award-winning spa. Health and wellness gurus and enthusiasts will want to book a treatment at the resort’s Spa Without Walls. Guests can restore their bodies with a massage in a cabana built above flowing streams or along the peaceful shore. After a day under the sun, whether by the Fairmont Orchid’s luxe pool or exploring Hawaiʻi Island, sit down for dinner at Brown’s Beach House. The alfresco dining spot is a beautiful place to soak in the sun’s golden rays as you savor dishes made with local ingredients.
Best for Island Vibes
Four Seasons Hualālai
The Four Seasons Hualālai.
Photo: Courtesy of Four Seasons Hualālai.
Surrounded by stunning beaches and a landscape shaped by lava, Four Seasons Hualālai is one of the best hotels in Hawaiʻi for those looking to unwind and embark on adventure. Located on Hawaiʻi Island’s western coast, the resort recently underwent extensive renovations. Four Seasons Hualālai boasts an elegant and sleek appearance but what sets this resort apart is the absence of any high-rise towers. Instead, you’ll see mostly two-story buildings that were designed to fit into the island’s natural setting and that accentuate indoor-outdoor living. Inside, the resort’s chic rooms feature neutral tones with tropical patterns and classic Hawaiian touches. But with access to the Hualālai Sports Club, guests won’t be spending a whole lot of time in them. The club is equipped with a yoga studio, tennis pavilion, four-lane fitness pool, rock-climbing wall, sand volleyball court and a 1,300-square-foot fitness center. After working up an appetite, guests can enjoy fresh seafood at ʻUlu Ocean Grill.
Best for Luxury
Mauna Kea Beach Hotel, Autograph Collection
The Mauna Kea Beach Hotel Oceanview Room.
Photo: Courtesy of Mauna Kea Beach Hotel.
The Mauna Kea Beach Hotel isn’t just a resort, it’s a piece of architectural beauty. Developed by American businessman Laurance Rockefeller and opened in 1965, the hotel’s timeless midcentury modern lobby and rooms are stunning—to say the least. Better yet, the resort fronts Kauna‘oa Bay, a gorgeous stretch of beach. One of the best hotels in Hawaiʻi for those who are seeking out luxury accommodations, the Mauna Kea Beach Hotel won’t disappoint.
Best for Hilo Lovers
Grand Naniloa Hotel — A Doubletree by Hilton
The Grand Naniloa Hotel — A Doubletree by Hilton.
Photo: Courtesy of Grand Naniloa Hotel — A Doubletree by Hilton.
If you’re looking for a place to stay in Hilo, on Hawaiʻi Island, look no further than the Grand Naniloa Hotel Hilo – a DoubleTree by Hilton. One of the biggest and best places to stay in Hilo—where accommodation options are limited—the Grand Naniloa Hotel offers panoramic ocean views from its spacious rooms, stand-up paddleboard rentals, bike rentals and more. It’s also only a five-minute walk away from the heart of Hilo, making it easy for visitors to explore what the town has to offer without worrying about driving or hunting for parking stalls.
Best for Families
Hilton Waikoloa Village
The Hilton Waikoloa Village.
Photo: Courtesy of Hilton Waikoloa Village.
Located on the ever-sunny Kona coast, the Hilton Waikoloa Village is a perfect retreat for families. One of the largest resorts in Hawaiʻi, Hilton Waikoloa Village has an on-property tram and boat to ferry you to your room because it’s that big. And more space means more room for activities and keiki-friendly programs, like the massive Kona Pool, which features a 175-foot waterslide, rope bridge, hot tubs and a sandy children’s beach. Cultural classes—which range from ʻukulele lessons to lei-making workshops—are also available for guests, and are great for the whole ʻohana.
Best for Getting Away
Waipiʻo Wayside Bed and Breakfast
The Waipiʻo Wayside Bed and Breakfast.
Photo: Courtesy of Aaron K. Yoshino.
Okay, so this may not technically be a hotel, but the Waipiʻo Wayside Bed and Breakfast is in a class of its own. Tucked away amid the neverending flora of Hawaiʻi Island’s northern coast, this quaint five-bedroom house opened in 1988 and, at the time, was the second legal bed and breakfast on the island. The B&B’s outside lounge area overlooks the ocean, and the toughest choice here is trying to decide whether or not you want to snuggle with Princess, the 18-year-old cat who has been living here rent-free her entire life, on the deck’s patio chairs, or to put your feet up in the hammock of your dreams. Either way, you’ll feel miles away from the nearest town, Honokaʻa, in a place so remote cellular coverage is non-existent. (Don’t worry, there’s WiFi.)
Best for Budget Stays
Hilo Hawaiian Hotel
For those looking to save a little on their Hawaiian vacation, the Hilo Hawaiian Hotel has great rates on rooms that are hard to beat. With a prime location right on Banyan Drive—the heart of little Hilo town—you can easily explore Hilo without having to rent a car or worry about parking. And with a large freshwater swimming pool, a sun deck, complimentary parking and private lānai (verandas) in most rooms, you’ll feel right at home in this affordable accommodation.
Best for Beach Lovers
The Westin Hāpuna Beach Resort
The Westin Hāpuna Beach Resort.
Photo: Courtesy of The Westin Hāpuna Beach Resort.
Located mere steps away from one of Hawaiʻi Island’s best beaches—Hāpuna Beach—The Westin Hāpuna Beach Resort is the ideal location for beach lovers to stay in Hawaiʻi. One of the longest stretches of sand on Hawaiʻi Island’s western-facing shoreline, Hāpuna Beach comes in at half a mile long and is known for its sandy shore break that is perfect for families to play in as it never gets too large or unruly. When you’re done, there’s more than enough room on its shoreline to find a place to lay down your towel and get some much-needed R&R. The Westin Hāpuna Beach Resort is just as fantastic as the beach it shares its name with, with several delicious dining options on-property, access to the award-winning 18-hole Hapuna Golf Course designed by Arnold Palmer and a 6,800-square-foot freeform family pool and an adult-exclusive infinity pool, overlooking Hāpuna Beach.
Best for Herb Kāne Fans
Herb Kāne Plantation Guesthouse
The Herb Kāne Plantation Guesthouse.
Photo: Courtesy of Herb Kāne Plantation Guesthouse.
If you love Hawai‘i, you’ve probably heard the name Herb Kāne. His paintings and written works are unequaled in the way they depict Hawaiian culture and history. And you can stay in his old home, on the foothills of Mauna Loa on Hawai‘i Island. The Kāne Plantation Guesthouse is a 27-acre avocado farm that doubles as a luxurious B&B, and its three suite options are perfect for visitors looking to enjoy some peace and quiet in a lush, tropical environment.
Best for Eco-Friendly Travelers
SCP Hilo Hotel
The SCP Hilo Hotel.
Photo: Courtesy of SCP Hilo Hotel.
Traveling green is a great way to give back to the community you’ll be visiting while also reducing the massive carbon footprint generated by the act of traveling, and there’s no better place to do that than at SCP Hilo Hotel. Featuring environmentally friendly decor, locally sourced provisions and cultural workshops, SCP Hilo is one of the first EarthCheck-benchmarked hotels in the state (EarthCheck measures key environmental indicators, including energy and water consumption, waste production and community commitment).
Every experience is independently chosen by our editors. Bookings through our links may earn us a commission.
