Erupting volcanoes, lush forests, and vibrant oceans. There’s no shortage of amazing things to do in Hawaii. However, choosing where to stay on the Big Island Hawaii can be a difficult dilemma. 🤔
If you are a first time visitor, you may be feeling overwhelmed when planning your vacation to Hawaii. I know that I was. There were so many options to consider.
But, we ended up having the perfect week in Hawaii and staying in three beautiful locations that we loved. We started our week on the West side, before venturing over to the quieter and more rugged terrains in the East.
So, now I’ve written this guide so that you will have no trouble choosing your accommodations for your Big Island Hawaii trip! From budget options to beautiful luxury getaways, I have you covered.
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Where to Stay on the Big Island Hawaii: A Breakdown
Choosing where to stay on the Big Island Hawaii can be overwhelming, especially on your first visit. There are so many towns to choose from and its hard to know where to make your home base.
So, I have written this guide below detailing everything about the areas, the best hotels, and tips on choosing your accommodations.
If you want to plan the perfect week on the island, find my itinerary here! ➡️
Where to Stay at a Glance:
If you just want a quick answer on where to stay on the Big Island, here are my picks!
- Central to it all: Royal Kona Resort
- Best resort for families: Waikoloa Beach Marriott Resort
- A romantic luxurious stay: Kona Village, A Rosewood Resort
- To be in nature: The Inn at Kulaniapia Falls
- For Volcanoes National Park: Volcano House
Breaking Down the Big Island Hawaii’s Geography
The Big Island of Hawaii is the largest island in the chain, but much of the land is uninhabited with looming volcanoes and lush land. There are really two sides of the island: East and West.
I recommend that you explore both on your first trip to the Big Island.
Few people stay on the North and South sides of the island, because they are more rugged and volcanic. So, there are some things to see there, but not as many places to stay.
On the East side of the island, you’ll find large resorts, white sand beaches 🌊, great snorkeling and cute towns along the way. It’s a very popular area to base yourself for your trip.
There are two main areas that I would recommend staying on the East side: Kona and Waikoloa. These two towns have tons of hotels and great restaurants to choose from.
While on the West side of the island, you’ll find it to be much quieter and rainier 🌧️. This side of the island gives you a great excuse to slow down as the pace of life is a lot slower over there.
Most people stay in the town of Hilo, which is the largest town on the East side. But, you can also stay in Volcano and be very close to Hawaii Volcanoes National Park.
Responsible Travel in Hawaii
Before you visit the Big Island, there are a few things you should keep in mind as a responsible tourist:
- Respect the land and culture: The Big Island is a sacred place for Native Hawaiians. Be mindful at cultural sites, don’t trespass on private land, and learn a few basic Hawaiian phrases if you can.
- Leave no trace: Stay on marked trails, pack out all trash (even food waste), and never take rocks, sand, or shells home.
- Drive and park considerately: Avoid blocking driveways, parking on vegetation, or crowding local neighborhoods.
- Support local businesses: Choose locally-owned shops, tour companies, and restaurants whenever possible.
- Listen to locals: If a beach or hike is closed, it’s for a good reason. Respect signs and posted advisories.
Kona – To Enjoy Beaches with the Family
Kona is one of the most accessible and family friendly areas on the island. It’s got resorts that are budget friendly, large restaurants, and great beaches.
Also, Kona is a very walkable town with many of the hotels being just steps away from shops and restaurants.
If you visit Kona, you’ll notice that it’s a bit on the cheesier side of things. But, it’s central to so many great spots on the island from coffee farms to great snorkeling beaches. 🤿
Kona is the place to stay if you want to be close to the action and bring the whole family!
Book your stay in Kona here!
Things to Do Near Kona:
- Go snorkeling at Captain Cook or Two Step Beach
- Take a Kona Coffee Farm tour
- Swim with Manta Rays at Night
- Visit Kona Brewing Co
Where to Stay in Kona:
On our trip to the Big Island, we stayed in Kona for 4 nights and had a great time. It was the perfect place to be able to make a home base. We were close to adventures and we got to enjoy the hotel amenities.
We stayed at the Courtyard one night and Royal Kona Resort for three nights and both were central to town. While the Courtyard had nicer rooms, the Royal Kona Resort had a wonderful swimming beach that we loved!
Best Hotels in Kona:
- Royal Kona Resort – A very large resort with a great bar, pool, and beach
- Courtyard by Marriott King Kamehameha’s Kona Beach Hotel – Family friendly hotel with tons of rooms and a pool
- Outrigger Kona – Another large resort in Kona with wonderful amenities
Waikoloa – To Indulge in Nice Resorts
Waikoloa is the place to stay if you really want the lap of luxury. Most of the resorts in this area are HUGE and have their own grounds to explore.
While there is less to do in the Waikoloa area, the resorts there are really top notch. Some of the nicest ones are known for having amazing golf courses, spas, and pools. But, they can cost you up to $1600 a night. 💸
There are secluded resorts that are perfect for honeymoon couples or large ones that have everything you and your family may want!
So, you should choose to stay in Waikoloa if you really want to stay at a resort and have all the nicest amenities at your fingertips!
Find the perfect Waikoloa Resort here!
Things to Do Near Waikoloa:
- Take a tour to Mauna Kea
- Visit a black sand beach
- Explore Waikoloa Petroglyphs
Where to Stay in Waikoloa
Waikoloa is really known for its large resort properties and most places are not walkable. So, you will have to rely on resort shuttles or your own car.
That being said, they wonderful resorts for honeymoon couples like the Mauna Lani or Kona Village. Or, if you want to bring your kids consider staying at the large Hilton Waikoloa or Waikoloa Beach Marriott Resort.
Best Hotels in Waikoloa:
- Kona Village, A Rosewood Resort – Amazing luxury resort with incredible grounds
- Mauna Lani, An Autograph Collection – Another fantastic luxury resort with a world class golf course
- Fairmont Orchid – The Fairmont has beautiful resorts
- Waikoloa Beach Marriott Resort – Large family friendly Marriott with great amenities
- Hilton Waikoloa – The Hilton has a whole village, so it’s great to say for the whole family!
Hilo: To Experience the Quieter Side of the Island
Now, if you want to get away from resort land and experience some peace and serenity, travel over to the East side of the island and stay in Hilo.
Hilo may be considered “large” for the East side, but it is really more of a small town. With sprawling farm land, lush forest, and cute little shops to explore. It’s also just an hour or so from Volcanoes National Park.
It’s the perfect place to escape the noise of your usual day to day life and learn how to slow down a bit. ☺️
Find a hotel in Hilo here!
Things to Do Near Hilo:
- See the beautiful Akaka & Rainbow Falls
- Visit the Hawaii Tropical Botanical Garden
- Go swimming at Carlsmith Beach Park
Where to Stay in Hilo
Unlike the resorts on the West Side, Hilo is much quieter with smaller hotels. Consider staying at hotels that feel a bit closer to nature like SCP Hilo or The Inn at Kulaniapia Falls.
We ended up staying in Hilo for three nights and we fell in love with this little sleepy town. While we were there we actually spent the time on a VRBO that was just above the The Inn at Kulaniapia Falls.
I want to go back to Hilo just to feel at peace again.
Best Hotels in Hilo:
- SCP Hilo – A wonderful sustainable and eco-friendly hotel in Hilo
- The Inn at Kulaniapia Falls – Gorgeous inn that is located right on the river with access to stunning waterfalls
- Grand Naniloa Hotel Hilo – One of the only resorts on the Hilo side
Volcano: To Be Near the National Park
Many tourists travel to the Big Island, Hawaii to see the amazing Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. 🌋 It’s an incredible destination with active volcanoes.
The town of Volcano is the closest area to the National Park. It has a small town with some great restaurants and lodges nestled in the forest. It’s the perfect place to stay while visiting this destination.
👉 Read more about visiting Hawaii Volcanoes National Park here!
But, if you are like us and want to be at the center of the action you can stay at Volcano House. This historical lodge is located right on the rim of Kiluaea Volcano, so it doesn’t get better than that!
Find the perfect place to stay near Volcanoes here!
Things to Do Near Volcano:
- Explore Volcanoes National Park
- Go to Punalu’u Black Sand Beach
- Venture to the Green Sand Beach
Where to Stay in Volcano
There are a number of great lodges to choose from in the Volcano area. This area is known for being a big quieter with peaceful lodges nestled in the trees.
We stayed at Volcano House, which is located in the National Park itself and we were able to see lava spewing from the volcano from our hotel rooms! I will never get over that experience.
But, other lodges in town are great options as well and may be a bit cheaper. People love staying at Volcano Village Lodge and Kilauea Lodge, which are just outside the park.
Best Hotels in Volcano:
- Volcano House – Stay on an active Volcanic crater in the National Park!
- Volcano Village Estates – These gorgeous bungalows are right in the town of Volcano
- Volcano Village Lodge – A wonderful peaceful lodge with hot tubs
- Kilauea Lodge & Restaurant – Another great lodge in Volcano that people love!
Final Tips for Choosing Accommodations on the Big Island
There’s no wrong choice when choosing where to stay on the Big Island Hawaii. All of the areas on the island are beautiful and serene.
However, during the peak seasons, these hotels can book up fast. So, just make sure to plan in advance to get the best prices on your lodging and ensure that you have a room.
I hope you fall in love with this slice of paradise!
Let me know if you enjoyed this guide in the comments!
👇 Dive into all of my Big Island Hawaii posts to help plan your trip 👇
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