By Natasha Bourlin
Waimea Country Lodge. Photo by Sarah Burchard.
Hawaiʻi Island certainly has its share of high-priced accommodations, especially on the Kona side of the island, however you can also find several options under $300 a night, allowing you to spend more on island adventures. Here are some ideas to get your planning started.
Pro tip: When seeking the most cost-efficient trip to Hawaiʻi, travel during shoulder seasons when schools are not on winter or summer break: January through May (except Memorial Day weekend) or September (except Labor Day weekend) through early November. During high travel seasons, lodging prices can skyrocket, so the more flexible your schedule, the more chance you have of finding the best deals.
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Photo courtesy of Kona Tiki Hotel.
An affordable hotel perched on the roiling Pacific a bit south of central Kona. Although pleasantly removed from the bustle of Kona, this hidden gem is still less than a mile from beaches and all of the action along Aliʻi Drive.
Highlights:
Oceanfront pool
Outdoor grills
Private lanaʻi
Ocean views
Kitchenettes
Rooms: Every room in this boutique property is oceanfront with lanaʻi, king bed and kitchenette. There is no TV to distract you from your epic ocean view. Who needs screens when you can watch the surf crash below your room, so close you’re left with the lingering taste of salt on your lips? With affordable prices and just a few rooms, including a corner suite with wraparound lanaʻi, the popular Kona Tiki Hotel books up quickly. Reserve your room as soon as your travel dates are secured.
Nearby Attractions:
Rooms from $250
Parking: Free but limited; street parking also available if lot is full.
Transportation: No airport shuttle available, rideshares and taxis from Kona International Airport (KOA) run upward of $40 and can go higher depending on time of day and season. If renting a car is preferred, the hotel recommends getting a smaller car as their parking lot has limited space.
Photo via @pacific19hawaii Instagram.
Located on a bustling corner of Kailua-Kona within easy walking distance from two small beaches along with a multitude of restaurants, bars and shops, the Pacific 19 Kona is a non-frilly motel with simply appointed and recently renovated rooms.
Highlights:
Pool with plenty of lounge chairs for relaxing
On-site coffee trailer serving hot and cold beverages
Rooms: With a couple of suite exceptions, most rooms are about 270 square feet with lanaʻi that aren’t so private but are all yours. Each room has a flat-screen TV, mini-fridge, snacks for purchase, safe and bathroom with toiletries and bathtub-shower combination. View options include town, garden, ocean or pool, although you’ll likely be exploring all that surrounds this property’s convenient locale.
Nearby Attractions:
Ali‘i Drive shops and restaurants
Rooms from $201
Parking: $25/night
Transportation: No airport shuttle available; rideshares and taxis run about $35 from KOA.
Photo courtesy of Holiday Inn Express & Suites Kailua-Kona.
Built in 2014, this is a newer, comfortable property in the center of Kona with gym, pool, business center and concierge services available. A bit removed from any beaches, it’s a short walk to Aliʻi Drive and many sights, activities and dining options.
Highlights:
Daily full breakfast buffet included with your stay
Pool and hot tub
Rooms: Clean, efficient, no-frills rooms. Each room is about 400 square feet and equipped with a microwave, mini-fridge, coffeemaker and air conditioning that you may appreciate during Kona’s balmy days. Several rooms offer ocean views.
Nearby Attractions: This hotel is within walking distance to the Kona Farmers Market and Kona Inn Shopping Village that boasts 50 shops and restaurants ranging from clothing and swimwear to jewelry and souvenirs plus Kona’s oceanfront dining and live music at popular watering holes such as Papa Kona Restaurant & Bar and Huggo’s on the Rocks.
Rooms from $200
Parking: $15 a day
Transportation: No airport shuttle available, rideshares and taxis will run about $35 from KOA airport.
Courtesy of Royal Kona Resort.
Designed to mimic the slopes of Mauna Loa, Royal Kona Resort’s sweeping façade is striking along the Kona skyline. This is the first major lodging property in Kona and Hawaiʻi’s history is celebrated throughout, with portraits of Hawaiʻi’s past kings and queens greeting you, and one of the island’s best lūʻau on-site. Don’s Mai-Tai Bar & Restaurant is on the resort’s first floor overlooking the ocean and often hosts live music, including the “Legends of Hawaiian Music” — a Thursday series that features legendary Hawaiian musicians such as Henry Kapono, Brother Noland and more.
Highlights:
Oceanfront open-air restaurant
Live music
Modest swimming pool
A tiny private beach suitable for wading
Rooms: Although built in 1969 and the island’s first large-scale, branded property, the Royal Kona has recently renovated rooms each with a private lanaʻi. Rooms include coffeemakers, mini-fridges and more.
Nearby Attractions: Walking distance to nearby establishments with live music and tasty cuisine such as Huggo’s On the Rocks, Foster’s Kitchen and Papa Kona Restaurant & Bar plus delicious local coffee at Island Lava Java.
Rooms from $240
Parking: $25 a day
Transportation: Airport shuttle services can be arranged in advance through Robert’s Hawaii or Speedishuttle, both of which are more cost-effective if you have a large group as they can run upward of $100 one-way. Rideshares and taxis will run about $40.
Courtesy of Paniolo Greens Resort.
Journey about an hour north of Kona into Waikoloa Village, where you’ll find an abundance of restaurants, shops and golf courses. You’ll also find turkeys and Hawaiʻi’s endangered state bird, the nēnē. Just down the hill 15 minutes, the cerulean waters and silky sands of Hawaiʻi Island’s world-renowned Kohala Coast await.
Highlights:
Barbecue areas
Pool and children’s wading pool
Hot tub
Tennis court
Robert Trent Jones Jr. designed golf course
Rooms: Ideal for families, villas at Paniolo Greens include full kitchens, private lanaʻi plus multiple beds or bedrooms, depending on your needs. Here you can even score a 1,400-square-foot suite for around $300 a night, if you time it right.
Nearby Attractions:
Kohala Coast
Hapuna Beach
Waimea
Rooms from $279
Parking: Free
Transportation: When staying here, you will likely want to rent a car, as Waikoloa Village is pleasantly removed from many of the island’s major attractions but centrally located to explore them. It’s a walkable .7 miles to nearby shopping centers. Rideshares from the airport can be pricey, ranging from $60 to $80 or more depending on season and time. If with a group, consider hiring a Robert’s Hawaii shuttle that costs about $168 and up one way, call for pricing.
Waimea Country Lodge. Photo by Sarah Burchard.
An hour north of Kona, in Hawaiʻi Island’s rolling hills, resides the historic town of Waimea. Surrounded by ranchlands, Waimea is home to the first Hawaiian paniolos (cowboys) who wrangled the cattle initially gifted to King Kamehameha I in 1793. Paniolos pre-date cowboys of the American West by three decades, the first arriving in Hawaiʻi in the early 1830s. History buffs and cowboy enthusiasts will love exploring the small town. Conveniently located off the corner of Waimea’s two main streets is the quaint Waimea Country Lodge. Remember to bring layers of clothing when visiting here, as the town’s higher elevation often brings brisk mornings and evenings.
Highlights:
On-site restaurant
Grilling area and outdoor dining tables
Rooms: Lofty, wooden ceilings top newly renovated rooms with comfortable beds and vibrant landscape photography in lieu of televisions. Some rooms feature kitchenettes.
Nearby Attractions: Walking distance to restaurants, art galleries, a historic theater, shops, museums and some of the best farmers markets on the island, such as the Waimea Town Market Saturdays from 7:30 a.m. to noon, the Kamuela Farmers Market at Pukalani Stables Saturdays from 7:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. and the Pukalani Midweek Market Wednesdays from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Rooms from $212
Parking: Free
Transportation: No airport shuttle is available. Rideshares and taxis to Waimea can be very expensive from the airport, upward of $100 one-way, and also challenging to acquire while staying there as rideshares in particular are uncommon in that area. Renting a car is best.
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