Best Places to Stay in Kona (Top 7 Picks)

1. Kona Village, a Rosewood Resort

Luxury Resort

📸 Kona Village, a Rosewood Resort Photo Gallery >>

I’m not one to get all woo-woo, but I gotta say, Kona Village is what I picture when I think of a Hawaiian luxury escape that actually feels connected to the land around it.

It’s built on the site of an ancient fishing village and still preserves over 20 cultural landmarks, including its very own petroglyph field with more than 400 carvings (just imagine a morning walk through ancient art with coffee cup in hand).

Resort bikes are handily everywhere to explore the 81-acres of property.

Instead of hotel towers, you’ll stay in individual hales (houses) for maximum privacy, aka no hallway noises and some with no shared walls. Each room is decorated with original art by Hawaiian locals.

The resort beach has not one, but three types of sand: white, black, and salt-and-pepper. And it’s not easily accessible to the public so you won’t have many people to share it with.

The property is big on sustainability by growing much of their own produce and powering the entire resort with solar panels (Bonus: the panels also double as a shade for your car so it’s not a literal oven when you get in).

2. Royal Kona Resort

Moderate Stay

Royal Kona Resort is an easygoing, oceanfront stay right in the heart of Kona. It gives you those classic “Hawaii vacation” feels without totally breaking the bank.

The rooms are nothing fancy, but they’re surprisingly spacious and kept nice and clean. Every room comes with its own lanai, so you can watch sunset (or parking cars depending on your room-type).

There’s a small oceanfront pool, a saltwater lagoon and an on-site luau a few nights a week.

, and the iconic Don’s Mai Tai Bar (did someone say mai tai flight?).

There’s no beach at this resort, but you’re conveniently within walking distance from shops and restaurants on Ali’i drive .

3. Four Seasons Hualalai

Luxury Resort

If you’re going all out for your Big Island vacation (or honeymoon… or milestone birthday… or just because), the Four Seasons Hualālai is THE resort people dream about.

We’re talking oceanfront bungalows, a Jack Nicklaus-designed golf course, and eight gorgeous pools including an adults-only one with a swim-up bar.

The spa is a sprawling 28,000-square-foot oasis tucked into lush tropical gardens.

The beach is pretty narrow, usually just wide enough for a beach lounge chair, but it won’t be crowded.

One of the most unique features is King’s Pond, a massive, 1.8-million-gallon snorkeling pool carved out of lava rock, filled with over 1,000 tropical fish and an eagle ray you might just meet face to face.

You’ve also got multiple oceanside restaurants, super attentive staff, and some seriously luxe touches (like private aviation and lounge experiences).

4. Outrigger Kona Resort & Spa

Moderate Stay

If seeing manta rays is high on your Big Island bucket list (and it should be), the Outrigger Kona Resort & Spa is literally where you want to be.

The resort sits perched above Keauhou Bay, right where manta ray tours depart from, with their own manta viewing platform, where they shine lights into the water so you can watch them from dry land.

The rooms are clean and come with a private lanai, perfect for sunset gazing or morning coffee.

Kids, or kids at heart, will enjoy the 200-foot waterslide and oceanview pool.

The Club room upgrade is a money-saving deal with free valet parking, breakfast for 2, and evening pupus and drinks.

5. Courtyard by Marriott King Kamehameha’s Kona Beach Hotel

Moderate Resort

Courtyard by Marriott King Kamehameha’s Kona Beach Hotel is the only hotel in downtown Kona that actually has a white sand beach. It’s small, but swimmable, and perfectly calm, especially for kids. You’ll find water sport rentals right on-site, so you can easily try stand-up paddleboarding or snorkeling without needing to leave the hotel grounds.

The property also features a pool and hot tub, plus a luau held by the Kamakahonu National Historic Landmark, the last residence of King Kamehameha the Great himself.

There are two water-view restaurants on the property (plus a shave ice shop), and you’re just right on Ali‘i Drive for more shops, cafés, and the Kailua Pier, which is the departure point for many tours.

Each room comes with a private balcony

⚠️ Oceanview/oceanfront rooms are mostly partial views due to trees, the pier, and the resort’s tucked-away corner of the bay.

6. Kona Tiki Hotel

Moderate Hotel

If you’re dreaming of falling asleep to the sound of waves, Kona Tiki Hotel is your spot. This family-run oceanfront property sits on Ali‘i Drive but far enough from the hustle and bustle to feel peaceful.

Every tv-less room faces the ocean cove and has a private lanai, with very little space between you and the water. There is no AC in the rooms, but the natural ocean breeze keeps the rooms comfortable.

Out back, you’ll find a small oceanfront pool, plenty of chaise loungers and patio tables, and a shared grilling area.

Oh, and free parking is included, a rarity in these parts!

7. Holualoa Inn

Luxury Bed & Breakfast

Nestled 1,400 feet above sea level on a working coffee farm, Holualoa Inn is a romantic escape just 15 minutes above Kona.

There are only six guest rooms in the main house and two private stand-alone cottages, decorated in a warm, luxurious Hawaiian vibe.

Your stay includes a hearty breakfast made with fresh fruits from their garden and endless pours of their signature house-roasted coffee picked right from their orchard.

Be sure to schedule some down time in your itinerary so you can wander the property’s lush gardens and relax by the flagstone framed pool and hot tub overlooking the ocean vista.

Holualoa’s art galleries and cafés are convenient to walk to.

⚠️ This place books up way in advance, so don’t wait too long if it’s on your wishlist!