Name: Royal Kona Resort
Address: 75-5852 Alii Dr, Kailua-kona, 96740, US

Royal Kona Resort

Hawaii - The Big Island - HI · United States

100 reviews shown

10/10

Exceptional

05 Aug 2026

Chris

Pretty solid spot. No hot tub.

6/10

Pleasant

03 Aug 2026

Pamela

We have to stay at the property many times, we are very disappointed in the new menu at the restaurant. Also, they are doing refurbishing and we were there 10 days and it saved. They got very little accomplished, but always had tools and equipment in our way.

6/10

Pleasant

03 Aug 2026

Manya

For the price and being ocean view its great.
But the hotel is a bit run down, lacking upkeep.
The lobby is nice and I can see that many years ago it was probably a gorgeous place to stay.
Location is excellent right in town, walkable to everything nearby. Restaurant on site had pretty good food.

Family_with_children

10/10

Exceptional

02 Aug 2026

Karl

An very enjoyable hotel

10/10

Exceptional

31 Jul 2026

mya

N/a

4/10

Poor

31 Jul 2026

Frank

We did not have the best experience. We were placed in the bay tower and our room had a nat and ant issue. The shower leaked into the kitchenette area as well. When we called to let the manager know, he let us move to another room in the main building. The new room had zero hot water. The hotel itself was so outdated. Location was fine.

6/10

Pleasant

30 Jul 2026

Chase

The property and employees were fantastic. The room, not as much. Multiple

10/10

Exceptional

27 Jul 2026

Samia

Ocean view

10/10

Exceptional

27 Jul 2026

Arnold Nathan

Best hotel to stay, best view to kona and the ocean. The breakfast it is so delicious must try it. Everything was easier staff very helpful and clean

10/10

Exceptional

27 Jul 2026

Joshua

Overall the rooms need updating however the room was really clean and did not have any issues during our stay. The bar and restaurant were overall pretty good! The staff I interacted with were all very accommodating. I would stay here again for sure! The private lagoon when open is awesome I had the most fun in there! Bring water shoes and stay away from walls and rocks and you will avoid the sea urchins.

10/10

Exceptional

27 Jul 2026

Arianna

Ac was perfect for the heat

8/10

Excellent

25 Jul 2026

Cornelious

The room have an amazing view of the ocean from our balcony and the o Lu issue we had with the room is that we did see two bugs which was a big disappointment. The pool could use some updating but was still enjoyable.

10/10

Exceptional

25 Jul 2026

Monalisa

Celebrating our birthday 🎂. Even with the construction 🚧 in some places it was a pleasant stay.

10/10

Exceptional

25 Jul 2026

Aubrey

It's definitely an older resort, but, listen, the ocean doesn't get old. It was clean. Views were fantastic. Staff was friendly. The lobby is beautiful. Great location. Luau on site. Food was great. Would stay again.

6/10

Pleasant

25 Jul 2026

Laura Ann

We had a great time in Hawaii. The location of this resort was great, but I have a hard time finding it as a resort rather than just an expensive hotel. I loved having the small lagoon, but dislike having to go to the second floor for ice. Also, in the room it would behoove them to put a full length mirror in the room other than just the bathroom. As a woman, this matters. We charmed our way with the person checking us in and she moved our room to have a better view, which was wonderful. We received a free Matai on our first day and it was nothing but watered down pineapple juice. On top of that the waitress was failed to smile or show us any pleasantry . They gave us a voucher for another Matai so we went in and this time it was very good. They had only one restaurant and it was only Okay at best. They did have a wonderful restaurant next door, Huggo’s and it exceeded our expectations. We went to local market so could have cocktails or breakfast in room. Lunch and dinner elsewhere. Other than front desk and concierge, who were both fantastic, no one expressed hospitality. Lastly, I left my cocktail ring by the television and it was not there when I packed to leave. I called four times, the last person’s name was Wendy. She tells me that housekeeping determines if it is valuable and should be turned into security, otherwise they keep it. I realize my cocktail ring is only a $400 value but do you know what this is costing Royal Kona. It’s reputation!

10/10

Exceptional

25 Jul 2026

stunning view from the corner oceanfront.

2/10

Poor

21 Jul 2026

Ben

The pictures online made the room and property look way nicer than it actually was. The staff was very friendly.

4/10

Poor

20 Jul 2026

Kevin

The resturaunt was fun, with live entertainment. But I would not call this a resort hotel. The rooms are dark and need updating. The pool area was not a pleasant environment. The entire location was not inviting or confortable.

Partner

8/10

Excellent

20 Jul 2026

Tamara

The staff were helpful. The view and the roar of the ocean waves were very nice! Property a little dated and needed some cosmetic work, but overall…I’d book here again.

Family

2/10

Poor

20 Jul 2026

Abanoub

It was really really bad experience. We don’t like anything about the resort
It was our honeymoon and literally got ruined because of them

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

19 Jul 2026

Pedro

is good and clean

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

19 Jul 2026

Farideddin

Everything was pretty good

Friends

10/10

Exceptional

18 Jul 2026

Aimee

Five stars for the category it’s in—not because it’s a luxury resort, but because it was absolutely perfect for us. The ocean view was one of the best I’ve ever seen, the resort was small, comfortable and relaxing, and the service was excellent. The rooms are a little dated, but we loved our stay and will 100% be back.

Partner

6/10

Pleasant

15 Jul 2026

Dana

Upon arrival, check in desk staff was too friendly. Curtly told we arrived before 4 pm check in time. We acknowledged that and went to find lunch. Upon our return at 3 pm, the room was ready. They did not call or text to inform me of that as promised. Room was spacious but old fashioned. Pool was beautiful. Pool attendant was not friendly. He reprimanded me for moving my lounge chair/umbrella to get better shade. Apparently that was forbidden even though the earlier attendant was helping others do that. In summary, the hotel is probably the nicest in that area. The staff could use training in better hospitality. Not sure if there is any nicer hotel on the Big Island, but I’d definitely research that.

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

15 Jul 2026

Kay

Although the rooms are dated, check in was smooth and the staff was AMAZING. It is obvious they enjoy their job. From the pool attendant to the restaurant staff to housekeeping. Really enhanced an already wonderful stay.

Friends

8/10

Excellent

14 Jul 2026

gloria

Room was spacious and clean. Coffee maker and fridge. The only issue is noise. The Bay tower ( I was on the 2nd floor) is located near the connecting walkway and guests were loud and the sound carries.

Self

6/10

Pleasant

14 Jul 2026

Donna

There were no mirrors or desk chairs in the room, sliding glass door to the balcony didn’t open, leaking tile in bathroom. Staff though helpful and kind. Noisy birds outside of room as well as music across the way in the restaurants.

Family

8/10

Excellent

13 Jul 2026

Michael

The building and overall interior are overdue for a makeover and clean up. For the price this should be better looking without cracks and old stained paint. In my experience this is should be a $150-$200 a night hotel. Anything above at its current condition is not worth it. The lanai was great sell for us included a slightly building obstructed view. Overall a good enough view of ocean and sunset. The plantar box on outside of lanai was non existent just a dirty stained area where plants etc should have been. One large roach visited us on the lanai. None noticed inside.
*Another hotel charging additional for parking is not appreciated when staying for more than a few days. It must be included at those prices.

10/10

Exceptional

13 Jul 2026

Jonathan

The hotels location was magnificent as were the amenities and employee’s but as the property is an older property things are a bit run down. Lower prices certainly help compensate for these deficiencies! I had a great stay!!!

Self

8/10

Excellent

12 Jul 2026

Lateisha

The place is on the beach and within walking distance of everything that you may need. It is a nice central location forall things Kona

10/10

Exceptional

11 Jul 2026

Gary

A beautiful resort that has something for everyone. I've gone twice with my grandkids, ages 2 to 18, and it's their favorite resort..... especially the lagoon!

Family_with_children

10/10

Exceptional

11 Jul 2026

Connor

Great

Friends

8/10

Excellent

10 Jul 2026

Jose

Beautiful location with the natural setting. Beatiful Hula shows. Close to restaurants. The resort could update the airconditioning to better climate control the rooms for better sleep.

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

09 Jul 2026

David

Dry helpful staff. The bar and the food was awesome. I loved the open air grounds.

Family

10/10

Exceptional

09 Jul 2026

LISEL

What I like most about the Royal Kona is the location. Beautiful waterfront views and close enough to walk to town and multiple shops/restaurants/farmers market. It's not fancy, brand new, or luxurious, but it has character. Yes it's clean and safe too. We enjoyed snorkeling in the little cove, the entertainment, and our free mai tais. I will continue to return every time I visit Kona!

Friends_and_family Family

6/10

Pleasant

08 Jul 2026

Tessa

Beautiful location. Great food at the pool bar. Hotel is very dated and could use some work.

10/10

Exceptional

07 Jul 2026

Jennifer

The location was great!

Family

8/10

Excellent

07 Jul 2026

Sarah

Great location - easy to walk to \"downtown\" area but not so close that you had to listen to all the traffic and noise at night. Staff was extremely friendly and helpful. Dennis, at the pool, was very personable!

The room was spacious and the A/C worked well. The room was a bit dated and worn but was comfortable with ample places to put our things. We had a partial ocean view and could see the luau area from our balcony. The fitness room was in the south building and when we arrived, there was water leaking from the ceiling and the ceiling tile was about to come down. I informed the front desk and they had someone over there immediately.

The only issue I had with the property was the lack of parking on nights of the luau. Since I'm paying for parking, I expected a parking space. When I came back to the hotel there were no spaces and I was told my options were to park in the alley area by the hotel (it was full) or along the Alii'i Drive (it was also full). So I had to drive around for 20 minutes waiting for the luua to get over to get a parking spot.

Family_with_children

6/10

Pleasant

07 Jul 2026

Daniel

Great location. Easy access to shops and restaurants. The bar and on-site restaurant are great. The room view was relaxing and peaceful. The bathroom was dated and the mattresses were uncomfortable. Overall, great spot for a quick stay.

Friends_and_family Family

10/10

Exceptional

07 Jul 2026

Arlette

Awesome view. Breakfast was amazing.

Family

8/10

Excellent

07 Jul 2026

Ray Don

Clean, good location, nicely designed, comfortable for a week’s stay, but age is unkind to this property, including for a time broken elevators forcing stairs to seven floors

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

07 Jul 2026

Paul

The location of this hotel was beautiful and perfect for being able to walk Kona

Partner

2/10

Poor

06 Jul 2026

Malinda

The hotel was under active renovation. It would have been ok but the smell of the paint was so strong it was nauseating. Wait till the renovation is done- should be good then.

10/10

Exceptional

06 Jul 2026

Susan

Beautiful view!!

Family

10/10

Exceptional

06 Jul 2026

Mark

Aloha vibes were high, great location

Self

10/10

Exceptional

05 Jul 2026

Ashley

Beautiful

10/10

Exceptional

04 Jul 2026

rajan

Always a pleasure to stay

Partner

8/10

Excellent

04 Jul 2026

Michelle

Can’t beat the location, close by historic Kailua-Kona and easy walking to shops and food, and views are spectacular. Hotel could use a remodel, and some staff pretty unhelpful (concierge not very helpful about luaua, parking attendants completely unprepared helping us to park when lot was full due to holiday festivities). Our room on 6th floor of Alii tower, bay side, balcony was unusable due to noise of deafening exhaust fan below us for the kitchens—such a shame, because the views were fabulous. Be aware that the Voyagers of the Pacific Luau is on the property, and the website indicates there are no discounts for guests, yet every guest is given a voucher upon checkin—but no refunds for us since we’d previously booked online through 3rd party.

Family

4/10

Poor

04 Jul 2026

Alexander

Unfortunately this hotel is just not maintained whatsoever. It's like staying in one's first apartment - water trapped behind the latex paint, all the wood is weathered, the glass door won't slide, the room smells like mold. This is far from the original Hilton... Classic case of shareholder profit over all else.

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

04 Jul 2026

Henry

Staff
The different staff recognized us, the return guests, when we check-in and check-out. All of them were friendly with smile and very patient to listen to customers preference.
We are very happy with the service and enjoyed the guest room very much during our stay.

Friends_and_family Family

10/10

Exceptional

02 Jul 2026

Jessica

Loved the ocean view and value of the stay. We left a large amount of money behind after leaving and they found it right away and made arrangements to send it back to us. The room was a corner unit with a perfect view of the ocean. Would highly recommend.

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

01 Jul 2026

CARY

Great hotel with a history. Can't beat the location and the vibe. Recommended!

10/10

Exceptional

01 Jul 2026

Charlton

Great experience!

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

01 Jul 2026

Forest

I’ve stayed here several times and I’m always happy with the service and the value that I receive. It’s also centrally located to downtown Kona so it makes it easy to walk around and the restaurants next-door. Amazing. Can’t enough good things about Royal Kona resort love this place!

Partner

8/10

Excellent

30 Jun 2026

Griselda

Great location! Great view of the luau evenings from the balcony. Rudy, the bellhop, was very kind, friendly, and super helpful. Maintenance staff was prompt to replace the malfunctioning mini-fridge. We wish the room had a microwave to reheat things. Also, parking should be included especially since resort fees are added to the bill.

8/10

Excellent

29 Jun 2026

Gage

Very nice staff especially the ones by the pool, food was delicious and hotel was by a lot of shops and 15 min walk to a beach

Partner

4/10

Poor

29 Jun 2026

Ivenette

The tower where I stayed is not well maintained. The balcony fascia is falling which represents a safety hazard if pieces fell on someone. One elevator was not working. The room is infested with little roaches.

Partner

2/10

Poor

28 Jun 2026

Alexis

The property is very run down, buildings are poorly maintained and the room smelled like mildew. There were multiple areas in our room that actual mold was present. When we called down to the front desk, the manager told us that every room was the same and there was nothing they could do, and that we should look into staying somewhere else.

10/10

Exceptional

28 Jun 2026

Tracy

Have been staying here for over 20 years! Going back soon?

Partner

6/10

Pleasant

28 Jun 2026

Pam

Room was average, coffee in the room was terrible. Beds were comfortable. Staff was pleasant

Family

10/10

Exceptional

27 Jun 2026

Laura

The resort was perfect! Waking up to the sound of the ocean was calming and the staff are very nice.

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

26 Jun 2026

Elva

The check in was easy, staff was very friendly. Absolutely stunning view. The front lobby was unlike anything I've ever experienced. Ocean view room was everything we expected and then some. Shop are walking distance. Lots to experience.

Family

6/10

Pleasant

25 Jun 2026

natalie

Skip this place!! Do not pay $500 a night for this outdated trash! Staff super rude, a million people there for luau! Best thing was the restaurant was excellent. Rooms are terrible and old. We checked in and some man walked right into our room and said oh I’m just here to fix your drain!!! Didn’t even knock !

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

25 Jun 2026

rajan

Very peaceful and quiet breakfast was great

Self

10/10

Exceptional

24 Jun 2026

christine

Wonderful hotel. Don the Beachcomber restaurant is excellent!!!! Fabulous location. Can walk to town—5 minutes with lots of browsing along the way.

Self

10/10

Exceptional

24 Jun 2026

Alexander

Room was clean and pool was small but nice. Good hotel for the Kona area. I do recommend. Restaurant was also good with tasty food. Staff was helpful.

Friends

6/10

Pleasant

21 Jun 2026

Andra

We started off a little rough getting put in a room that was in the middle of having the carpet shampooed. Back to the front desk to get a new room. Then we got trapped in the parking lot because the parking pass from the shampoo room didn’t transfer. Back to the lobby again to fix that so we could get out. The staff was wonderful though, Joy especially. She was super helpful with all of the issues we had! The view from our room was lovely and the AC was great. The little fridge in the room was tiny and had no freezer compartment, making it hard to travel with insulin. Overall it was a good place to stay, but for the cost we were a little disappointed.

Friends_and_family Family

8/10

Excellent

20 Jun 2026

Esteban

Everything was great about the resort i wasn’t happy about was going to the restaurant at the hotel and being ignored by two of your servers a female and a male .

Partner

2/10

Poor

19 Jun 2026

Anita

For my first time ever visiting Hawaii, I was expecting more out of my room stay. The property only had one available restaurant, the property needed updating and poor maintenance upkeep.
The Staff was very friendly and accommodating. We were evacuated from the south tower due to water and pipe issues. We relocated rooms 3 times during our stay at the Royal Kona.
Other than the room Our other Hawaiian experiences were AMAZING! Loved the island and its people! Mahalo!

Partner

6/10

Pleasant

18 Jun 2026

Sam

Air conditioner vent leaking; water leaking at the base of the toilet.

Family

8/10

Excellent

17 Jun 2026

Nevada

Clean but a bit outdated.

The housekeeping staff is incredible!! The Luau was fantastic! The common areas of the property were clean and maintained.

Our room was pretty outdated and mediocre. I wish there was a bit more lighting or lighting on the balconies at the least. Another big downer is the lack of coffee. I wish they offered free coffee or a coffee bar similar to most hotels. The coffee in the room is not very great but it is what it is.

Overall a good place to stay! The lagoon is very beautiful and fun. It did suck a bit when the surf was high and we couldn’t use it for most of our stay but we can’t tell nature what to do! I’m glad the staff valued safety!

Partner

8/10

Excellent

14 Jun 2026

Blake

Had a beautiful view from our room in the bay tower overlooking the bay and Huggos. The room was perfect for our stay, clean and comfortable. The resort is a bit outdated and needs a refresh, but nothing that took away from the experience. Parking is $25 a day and the resort fees getting charged at checkout was a bit of a surprise, but nothing too crazy.

Family

4/10

Poor

14 Jun 2026

Araceli

My room was a lot of cockroach

Family_with_children

10/10

Exceptional

13 Jun 2026

Kimberly

Hotel conveniently located in downtown Kailua Kona, walking distance to near by shops and restaurants. Bay view room had a wonderful view of the water. Dinner at Don Mai Tai was delicious with nice view of water and sunset.

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

12 Jun 2026

Marline

My family and I stayed at Kona Royal Resort for a week, and it was an amazing experience from start to finish. The room was very clean, comfortable, and well-maintained throughout our stay. One thing we especially appreciated was the air conditioning. There were a couple of very hot days on the island, and coming back to a cool, comfortable room made a huge difference. Having reliable AC was definitely a necessity and added greatly to our overall comfort.

The staff was friendly, welcoming, and always willing to help with any questions or requests. Their excellent customer service made us feel right at home.

Another great perk was the location. There were plenty of excellent restaurants nearby for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, making it easy to enjoy a variety of delicious meals without having to travel far.

The only thing missing was room service, but that was a minor inconvenience compared to all the positives. Overall, Kona Royal Resort provided a clean, comfortable, and relaxing home base for our family vacation.

We had a fantastic stay and would absolutely recommend Kona Royal Resort to anyone visiting the Big Island. We would happily stay here again! 🌺☀️🏝️

Friends_and_family Family

10/10

Exceptional

12 Jun 2026

Lindsay

Definitely would stay here again. Staff was so friendly, helpful, kind, and really got to know you. Luau was great! Good location with very affordable parking. Does have a hidden resort fee when you check in of $400 so be prepared for that b/c i was not aware and many people i walked past checking in also were not aware. Beautiful view of water from all rooms and sunsets! Bar open to the ocean was great and could see amazing sunsets from there. Easy access to in town eats/ coffee/ stores too walking distance! Will stay here again!

Family

10/10

Exceptional

12 Jun 2026

Janine

We loved our stay at the Royal Kona. The lagoon, gardens and vista’s were spectacular.

The resort is older and generally well maintained. There was a larger crack in our patio in need of repair. Free street parking if you can get a parallel spot.

Unfortunately, we lost an entire night stay $$$ due to necessary trip rescheduling. The resort was unforgiving as it was after the Expedia no refund/ change after the cut off date and not covered by the insurance we paid for (which only covered medical emergency, flight cancellation/
death). We did rebook but sadly paid twice for a one night stay.

Staff were helpful and friendly (especially when tracking down a lost credit card).

2/10

Poor

12 Jun 2026

Gocha

We had a very bad experience

Friends

6/10

Pleasant

11 Jun 2026

Inside the bedroom has a small and bathroom with small too , and very old furniture with cheap bed sets, restaurant online say close on 9:30pm , but 8:35pm when we get there the waiter says it’s only can do takeout not dinning there. So we can’t enjoy out dining in and need rushed meals for take back our hotel room

10/10

Exceptional

11 Jun 2026

Monika M

Overall, it is a good choice for travelers looking for beachfront resort with a good location and authentic Hawaii feel.

Self

10/10

Exceptional

09 Jun 2026

Linda

I love the Royal Kona and have stayed there many times since 2018. It is an older resort, but the pool, the lagoon, and Don the Beachcomber restaurant are wonderful, as are the members of the staff.

Family

10/10

Exceptional

09 Jun 2026

Harvey and Sharon

It was perfect.

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

08 Jun 2026

David

The room right above the ocean slept like a baby would definitely come again

10/10

Exceptional

08 Jun 2026

John

The Royal Kona is THE classic hotel in Kona. It sits at the end of the Alii drive strip, just at the edge of downtown. It is beautiful, clean, and the staff goes out of their way to make you feel comfortable. Plenty of parking (pay daily), and it is a very short trip to shops and restaurants with live music, great food, and views.

Partner

8/10

Excellent

08 Jun 2026

Barry

Wondet

Family

10/10

Exceptional

07 Jun 2026

Trevor

Awesome 👌 top notch

Business Family_with_children

6/10

Pleasant

07 Jun 2026

Jacqueline

The walkability was great. Bathroom felt very outdated. Small pool. Workout facility was very outdated. Wouldn’t revisit.

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

07 Jun 2026

Gabrielle

I loved staying at Royal Kona. The staff are so lovely and helpful.

Friends_and_family Family

6/10

Pleasant

06 Jun 2026

Justin

I was somewhat

10/10

Exceptional

04 Jun 2026

rajan

Beautiful

Family

10/10

Exceptional

04 Jun 2026

John

The room was clean, the bed amd pillows were very comfortable, and the location was great! We really enjoyed the pool and outdoor restaurant. Everyone was so friendly. The exterior of the building has a lot of deferred maintenance that needs to be addresed. We would go back as it's a beautiful setting right on the ocean.

Friends_and_family Family

10/10

Exceptional

04 Jun 2026

Jake

Corner oceanfr

8/10

Excellent

03 Jun 2026

Claude Steven

The bartenders and the staff were the best part

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

03 Jun 2026

John

Loved the ocean view and had a great dinner in the restaurant.

Partner

4/10

Poor

03 Jun 2026

Ashok

Very disappointing stay. The mattress was extremely uncomfortable—I could feel the springs the moment I sat down on the bed, making it difficult to get a good night’s sleep.

Additionally, my room was located right next to a busy road, resulting in significant noise throughout the stay. What made this even more frustrating was that I had specifically requested a room away from both the elevator and the road when making my reservation. Despite those requests, the hotel staff assigned me a room in exactly the location I was trying to avoid.

Overall, the lack of attention to guest preferences and the poor quality of the mattress significantly impacted my experience.

Family_with_children

6/10

Pleasant

03 Jun 2026

pratap

lagoon tower is not clean and very bad maintained

10/10

Exceptional

02 Jun 2026

Angie

My stay was wonderful and would stay here again!

Family