All of our Hawaii Accommodations
To help you plan for your two-week trip to the islands of Hawaii, I’ll be sharing all of the places that we’ve stayed during our trip. I’lll provide the direct links to book and a brief review of our experience there. Read on for more!
Oahu
Hale in Paradise Diamond Head and Ocean view
Accommodation Type: Airbnb - Entire Home
Location: Waikiki, Honolulu
Price per Night (USD): $93
Pros: Location, views, cleanliness, bed, decor, size, amenities, wifi, price.
Cons: None!
Overall Rating: 5/5. I absolutely loved this Airbnb. This was our first stay during our trip and it set the bar high. This was a renovated studio condo in a high-rise building whose units were a combination of hotel rooms and private condos. The building is located in Waikiki and is just a 10 minute walk to the popular main strip. There are also plenty of bus stop locations nearby. The lobby floor included a full-scale breakfast restaurant (we didn’t get the opportunity to go, but the menu looked appetizing), a casual breakfast takeout restaurant, a convenience store, and burger/sushi/noodles takeout restaurant. We ate from both of the casual restaurants and the food was delicious for a fair price. The room itself is a good size for two adults. The unit was immaculately clean, had fast wifi, and boasted incredible views of Waikiki. The bed was soft and the shower water was hot. It included a mini fridge, microwave, coffee maker, and a couple bottles of water. Just great, overall.
Accommodation Type: Room in Boutique Hotel (but we booked through Airbnb)
Location: Wakiki, Honolulu
Price per Night (USD): $120
Pros: Location, atmospheric bar and pool, friendly staff.
Cons: More dated space.
Overall Rating: 4/5. We enjoyed our time here, not really because of how the space looked, but because of the people we met at the bar. This hotel isn’t amazing, but it meets the standard expectations for hotels. The rooms were fine, albeit it could use a few updates. What I loved about this hotel was the proximity to Waikiki and the Ala Moana mall (which has a superb food court with lots of affordable food. We walked there a couple times to eat during out stay), the friendly desk staff and bartenders, and the overall ambiance that was at the bar and pool (lots of great music being played too). There were always guests hanging out at the bar, and we struck up conversations a few times with them (we ended up going out to dinner with one couple we met; that was a wild but good time). They also offer you a welcome drink and free parking if your stay is 2+ nights. If the rooms were updated, this place would be perfect!
Maui
Accommodation Type: Airbnb - Private Room and Half Bath in Shared Home
Location: Paia, Maui
Price per Night (USD): $107
Pros: Price, location, amenities, atmosphere, historic home
Cons: Not the most stylish place
Overall Rating: 4/5. This place was special, and I love staying at Airbnbs like this. Why? The energy of the place. “Mike’s House” is a historic, classic Hawaiian house that is owned by the host Rina and her husband (we learned that it’s been passed down through the generations). They use the house entirely for Airbnb and list out all of the individual bedrooms. In a way, it’s like a traveler’s boarding house, and those are always fun because you run into travelers from all over the world. Rina’s family lives in a separate house next door. Paia is the first stop on the Road to Hana and is a very expensive place to stay. Mike’s House was the only affordable option I could find, and it honestly provided great value. The room was spacious and the bed was comfy. The shared full bathroom was incredibly clean and large. I enjoyed showering in it. Each room has its own microwave and mini fridge, and there’s a full shared kitchen. Rina also offers car rentals, and we rented a Chevy Impala from her at a fraction of the cost from the car rental companies. I would absolutely stay here again.
Accommodation Type: Yurt with private bathroom
Location: Hana, Maui
Price per Night (USD): $130
Pros: Unique stay, ocean view, outdoor shower, privacy
Cons: Mosquitoes (but bug spray and repellent coils are provided)
Overall Rating: 5/5. I mean, it’s not just everyday that you get to stay in a yurt! This place was incredible. The inside was clean, cozy, and had a nice design. The yurt was positioned on a hill that overlooked Hana Bay. Listening to the sound of the waves throughout the day and night was awesome. The outdoor bathroom was a cool experience, and I was surprised at how hot the outdoor shower got! Even though I got bit by mosquitoes quite a bit, I wasn’t bothered because we were outside, after all. This made for one of my most memorable accommodation experiences. In order to book, email info@luanaspa.com. The rate is only accepted in cash.
Big Island
Accommodation Type: Private Cottage with ensuite bathroom and terrace
Location: Volcano, Big Island
Price per Night (USD): $330
Pros: Splendid decor, garden jacuzzi tub, beautiful property, breakfast, hospitality, private terrace, robes
Cons: Overpriced, cleaning wasn’t thorough
Overall Rating: 4/5. This place, along with the yurt, was supposed to be the grand hitter. At a whopping $330, I booked this room for Abraham’s birthday so that we could have a day of luxury. I wasn’t disappointed with this place, but I didn’t enjoy it as much as I enjoyed some of our other stays. Let’s start with the pros. The property is stunning. The grounds are filled with beautiful gardens, ponds, and Buddha statues. It was super quiet and the atmosphere was serene. The owner and Manager, John Kim, was sweet and offered amazing hospitality. I called in advance to say that it was Abraham’s birthday, and John left a handwritten birthday note and a complimentary bottle of wine on the bed. The breakfast included quiches and delicious fresh fruit. The room was decorated in a fusion of Japanese, Korean, and Hawaiian style, there was a large smart tv and electronic fireplace, and we enjoyed lounging around in plush robes. The bed was also incredibly soft and comfortable. Now, for the cons: generally, the space wasn’t in as top condition as I would have expected for the price point. Namely, parts of the bathroom wasn’t thoroughly cleaned, and I saw hairs and stains in the tub, shower, and toilet from previous guests. The robes were a bit worn and could have been replaced, as were the outdoor seating set. The microwave was filled with crumbs and other food particles from previous guests. I learned that Mr. Kim cleans the room himself, and it appears that his standard of cleanliness needs to be increased by a little. Because of this, I think the experience was overpriced.
Delightful Plantation Home on Reeds Island
Accommodation Type: Airbnb - Private room in shared home
Location: Hilo, Big Island
Price per Night (USD): $65
Pros: location in Hilo, the host, cleanliness, the lanai, provided breakfast, historical home
Cons: None!
Overall Rating: 5/5. This was another stay that I absolutely LOVED. Everything was perfect. The home is a historical Hawaiian planation house and it was gorgeous. It carried a lot of charm. The photos don’t do it justice. The host, Marlene, was the sweetest lady that prepares breakfast for guests every morning. She and I had a nice convo after Abraham and I arrived, and I admired her book collection. The best part of the home is the lanai (porch) that includes a swing. The home is well-situated in Hilo and is a short drive and a decent walk to everything. The price point is also a steal. I wish our stay here was longer!
Accommodation Type: Airbnb - private room in shared home
Location: Kukuihaele, Big Island
Price per Night (USD): $85
Pros: Proximity to Waipi’o Valley, ocean view, fruit trees, natural setting
Cons: Dusty room, full of gnats and other bugs, no ventilation in room, odor in bathroom, thin ceiling where footsteps and noise could be heard.
Overall Rating: 3/5. Ugh. I was not happy with this place. The best things about this Airbnb were outside the home itself. The house is another historical plantation house that has a rich history offering boarding for workers in the early 20th century. The host and his family (including kids) live on the top level of the house, and the bottom level has a shared bathroom, common area with TV, and the three bedrooms that are listed on Airbnb. This level of the house is dingy and dark. And dusty. Gosh, the dust…it was everywhere. I had trouble sleeping for the one night we booked due to all of the dust and no fans in the bedroom. The bathroom had a weird order in it. Now the worst thing about this listing was the bugs! I’ve never seen so many gnats in a place that’s supposed to accommodate guests. It was so gross, ya’ll. I gave the host this feedback in a private review. I was better off never booking this place and driving to Waipi’o Valley straight from Hilo.
Accommodation Type: Airbnb - private room in shared home
Location: Kailua-Kona, Big Island
Price per Night (USD): $90
Pros: Proximity to tourist area of Kona, clean room and bathroom, nice outdoor area with hammock, open kitchen, view of ocean
Cons: Uninviting host
Overall Rating: 4/5. I enjoyed our one night at this place, especially after the grossness the night before. The only critique that I have is that the host wasn’t really friendly (but he wasn’t mean either, so I suppose not everyone has to be friendly). All the spaces were super clean and comfortable. The home is in a neighborhood that sits on top of a hill, so there’s a view of the ocean. The house is a short drive from the center of Kona town, and is a 12 minute drive to the airport. There’s also a hammock in the yard (which I didn’t get to use, but it was nice nonetheless). This place ticked off of all of the boxes.
I hope you found this blog helpful! If you end up booking any of these places, let me know in the comments. If you have any questions about finding accommodation in Hawaii, I’d love to answer those as well!