Where the BEST Places to Stay Are on the Big Island
Trying to figure out where to stay on the Big Island and which places are the best?
I get it. There’s a ton of options, and it can be hard to know which ones are actually good.
That’s why I’ve scoped out hotels and resorts around the island and rounded up the best of the best—from the top spots for beach lovers and romantic couples to the best pick for families, budget travelers, and more.
Whether you’re dreaming of ocean views, cultural experiences, or just a comfy place to crash after a day of exploring, I’ve got you covered.
Big Island Areas Overview
It can be hard to decide where you should stay on the Big Island. You’ll need to factor in what activities you are planning to do and how many days you have.
Here’s a quick overview of the main areas to stay:
- Kona — The sunniest side of the island with tons of beaches, restaurants, and one-of-a kind tours. Great home base for first-timers, but it’s also the busiest and most touristy.
- Hilo — Lush, local, and down-to-earth with waterfalls and farm tours. Expect more rain and fewer sandy beaches.
- Waikoloa — Resort central with dreamy white sand beaches, golf courses, and curated activities. It’s convenient and polished, but feels more like a “resort bubble” than a cultural immersion.
- Volcano — Perfect for nature lovers who want Hawaii Volcanoes National Park at their doorstep. It’s quiet, secluded, and far from most beaches and nightlife.
There’s no wrong choice here, it just depends on what kind of trip you want. If you have time, you can split your stay as well.
Once you know your priorities, the island becomes much easier to map out.
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Kona vs Hilo – What Are the Differences?
Now let’s look at specific properties you should be considering…
1. Best Overall – Kona Village, a Rosewood Resort
📸 Kona Village, a Rosewood Resort Photo Gallery >>
✅ Pros: 81 quiet acres to explore by foot or resort bike; beach not easily accessible to public; restaurant ingredients grown on property when possible
❌ Cons: no tvs in rooms; does not participate in a major hotel loyalty program
📍Nearby Attractions: Kua Bay Beach, Makalawena Beach, Kona, Waikolola
Kona Village, a Rosewood Resort feels like the definition of luxury blending with nature, everything I imagine for a Hawaiian property. It’s set on an ancient fishing village with 20 cultural sites, including its own petroglyph field with over 400 carvings.
The resort offers individual hales (houses) for ultimate privacy (read: no sharing walls!), a beachfront bar that’s the closest to the ocean you’ll ever visit, and a beach with not one, but three different sands: white, black, and salt-and-pepper.
The entire property runs on 100% solar power and they utilize the panels as shaded guest parking.
This resort completely blew me away and is without a doubt the best place to stay on the island!
2. Best Luxury – Four Seasons Hualalai
✅ Pros: adults-only pool with swim-up bar; private aviation and airport lounge experiences available
❌ Cons: sad beige decor; not an ideal sandy beachline
📍Nearby Attractions: Kua Bay Beach, Makalawena Beach, Kona, Waikolola
With oceanfront bungalows, 8 fancy pools, a Jack Nicklaus-designed golf course, and a 28,000sq ft spa tucked into a tropical garden, Four Seasons Resort Hualalai has luxury nailed down.
You can snorkel in King’s Pond, 1.8-million-gallon “aquarium” carved in lava rock filled with 1,000 fish and an eagle ray.
Take your pick of oceanside dining at multiple restaurants.
3. Best Luxury (Runner-Up) – Mauna Lani, Auberge Resorts Collection
✅ Pros: extensive cultural activities; complimentary Mercedes-Benz usage
❌ Cons: small beach pockets instead of expansive beach
📍Nearby Attractions: Puako Petroglyph Park, Hapuna Beach, Waikoloa
Mauna Lani, Auberge Resorts Collection is a luxury resort on the Kohala Coast that blends modern elegance with deep Hawaiian roots.
Snorkel in crystal-clear waters, relax at the spa, play two championship golf courses, or wander through the adjacent Kalāhuipuaʻa Historic Park with ancient fishponds and jumping fish, a lava tube with a skylight, and (hard-to-find) petroglyphs.
4. Best Moderate – Royal Kona Resort
✅ Pros: all rooms have private lanais
❌ Cons: small swimming pool; no swimmable beach
📍Nearby Attractions: Ali’i Drive, Kailua Pier to catch tours, Holualoa
Royal Kona Resort is a laid-back, oceanfront property in downtown Kailua-Kona that offers a classic Hawaiian vibe at a reasonable price point.
The rooms are basic but large, and they’re clean.
Highlights include their small, private saltwater lagoon, on-site luau, and the famous Don’s Mai Tai Bar.
5. Best Budget – My Hawaii Hostel
✅ Pros: lots of secure storage options for stuff like bikes and surf boards; free parking
❌ Cons: private rooms have a shared bathroom
📍Nearby Attractions: Magic Sands Beach, Kahalu’u Beach Park, Ali’i Drive
If you’re looking for budget, I’ll give you BUDGET! My Hawaii Hostel is a cheap sleep option just a few minutes from downtown Kona, with dorms and private rooms, a communal kitchen, and a chill social vibe.
The Hele-On Bus has a stop at the front door and Da Poke Shack is directly across the street.
6. Best for Beach (Luxury) – Mauna Kea Resort
✅ Pros: Naupaka Beach Grill serves the best poke on the island
❌ Cons: renovations at Mauna Kea Beach Hotel are surprisingly disturbing during the day
📍Nearby Attractions: Hapuna Beach, Manuela’s malasada food truck, Kohala peninsula
Mauna Kea Resort offers two beachfront properties:
- Mauna Kea Beach Hotel – currently undergoing renovations through late 2025 but has a postcard-perfect beach and has a manta ray viewing deck
- Westin Hapuna Beach Resort – sits adjacent to Hapuna Beach, the Big Island’s largest white sand beach, with a more modern, upscale feel.
Take the complimentary nightly dining shuttle to enjoy restaurants at either property.
OR
7. Best for Beach (Moderate) – Waikoloa Beach Marriott Resort & Spa
✅ Pros: beachfront with easy access to boat tours and water toy rentals
❌ Cons: rooms are a bit dated; only one one-site restaurant
📍Nearby Attractions: Waikoloa Petroglyphs, Anaehoʻomalu Bay, Lava Lava Beach Club
Waikoloa Beach Marriott Resort & Spa offers direct access to Anaehoʻomalu Bay (A-Bay) and features three pools, including an infinity pool.
There’s comfortable lounging areas, an on-site luau, and walkable distance to Queens Marketplace & Kings Shops.
8. Best for Beach (Budget) – Spencer Beach Park
✅ Pros: cheapest oceanfront stay 😛
❌ Cons: can get busy with other campers on weekends and holidays
📍Nearby Attractions: Puʻukoholā Heiau National Historic Site, Hamakua Macadamia Nut Farm, Lapakahi State Historical Park, Waimea
Spencer Beach Park is a great spot for beachside camping, with calm waters, shady trees, and white sands.
It has a grassy lawn for pitching your tent, clean restrooms with showers, a large covered pavilion, bbq grills, and a basketball court.
A 10 min walk also gets you to a smaller, quieter beach.
9. Best for Couples – Inn at Kulaniapia
📸 Inn at Kulaniapia Falls Photo Gallery >>
✅ Pros: private waterfall access and room views
❌ Cons: no rooms with two beds
📍Nearby Attractions: Lavaloha Chocolate Farm, Rainbow Falls, Hilo Farmers Market
The Inn at Kulaniapia Falls is a serene, 100% off-grid stay (though you wouldn’t know it) near Hilo that offers exclusive access to a 140ft private waterfall where you can live out your Bachelor/Bachelorette dreams and swim, paddle, or even rappel down it.
With Asian-inspired rooms overlooking the waterfall, eco-friendly amenities, and locally sourced meals at their on-site restaurant, it’s perfect for a romantic getaway for couples seeking a peaceful, nature-immersed stay.
📍 Feeling overwhelmed planning your Big Island trip?
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10. Best for Families – Hilton Waikoloa Village
✅ Pros: families can stay entertained all day without having to leave the property
❌ Cons: no swimmable beach
📍Nearby Attractions: Queens Marketplace/Kings Shops, Waikoloa Petroglyphs, Anaehoʻomalu Bay
With three pools, including a 175-ft waterslide, a private saltwater lagoon for snorkeling and kayaking, a dolphin encounter, cultural activities and art installations, and even a tram and boat system to get around, Hilton Waikoloa Village offers an experience-centered stay that feels like a mini amusement park.
11. Best Volcano View – Volcano House
✅ Pros: lava views!; start your day early in the park before the crowds arrive; 2 restaurants on-site
❌ Cons: dated (but historic) rooms
📍Nearby Attractions: Volcano Winery, Mauna Loa trailhead, Punalu’u Black Sand Beach
Volcano House is all about location—you’re literally staying on the rim of Kilauea inside Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, with caldera views right from the lodge!
The rooms are simple and a bit dated…errr, historic (built in 1941)…but where else do you have the opportunity to watch real live lava from your room?!
12. Best for Manta Rays – Outrigger Kona Resort & Spa
✅ Pros: all rooms have a lanai
❌ Cons: no swimmable beach
📍Nearby Attractions: Kahalu’u Beach Park, Kona coffee farms, Captain Cook Monument trailhead
Outrigger Kona Resort & Spa sits oceanfront above Keauhou Bay.
Watch manta rays right from the hotel’s viewing platform or conveniently walk to the harbor next door to hop on a night snorkel manta ray tour.
Newly renovated rooms are comfortable and the 200ft waterslide is fun!
13. Best Motel – Kohala Village Inn
✅ Pros: walkable to shops, cafes, and tours in Hawi
❌ Cons: older rooms but they’ve been renovated with contemporary updates
📍Nearby Attractions: Pololu Valley, horseback riding, Waimea
Kohala Village Inn is a sweet little historic plantation-style motel right in the heart of Hawi.
It’s nothing fancy, but the rooms are self-check-in and more importantly are clean and comfy, like staying at a friend’s house. I thoroughly enjoyed my quiet stay here.
Now that you have an idea of where you want to stay, you might need help deciding how many days you need on the Big Island >>
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