The Hostelz.com Review
The recently renovated Hilo Bay Hostel's most intriguing feature is its past life. Built in 1911, this historic site served as the gateway to a speakeasy. Look closely at the Hilo Bay Hostel sign on the grand staircase that leads to the second floor hostel. There are small windows on both sides of the sign. A secret passageway leading under the stairs allowed a signaler to give the green light (all clear) or the red light (warning -- cops) to patrons passing by on the street.
Located in downtown Hilo, at the corner of Waianuenue and Keawe Avenues, Hilo Bay Hostel is quieter these days. It is conveniently located near the bus terminal at Mooheau, the farmer's market (Wednesday and Saturday), the library (cheap, if slow, internet) and good eats like Ocean Sushi and Bear's coffee shop.
This hostel has tall ceilings, beautifully restored wooden floors, a spacious commons area with internet available, and super clean kitchens and bathrooms. Perhaps its most surprising asset is double beds. Yes, double beds. Separate male and female dorms are freshly painted with Hawaiiana portraits featuring famous surfers. Ask about the tromp l'oeil, or French realism mural out back. Look out the window from room #9, it seems a dark figure across the way is peaking through blinds looking back at you!
Review by L.C.
Located in downtown Hilo, at the corner of Waianuenue and Keawe Avenues, Hilo Bay Hostel is quieter these days. It is conveniently located near the bus terminal at Mooheau, the farmer's market (Wednesday and Saturday), the library (cheap, if slow, internet) and good eats like Ocean Sushi and Bear's coffee shop.
This hostel has tall ceilings, beautifully restored wooden floors, a spacious commons area with internet available, and super clean kitchens and bathrooms. Perhaps its most surprising asset is double beds. Yes, double beds. Separate male and female dorms are freshly painted with Hawaiiana portraits featuring famous surfers. Ask about the tromp l'oeil, or French realism mural out back. Look out the window from room #9, it seems a dark figure across the way is peaking through blinds looking back at you!
Review by L.C.
— Exclusive Hostelz.com Review
August 2004
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Hilo Bay Hostel Details
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Hostelz.com Guest Reviews
It is what it is. A good clean place with a friendly knowledgeable staff. Not without its faults though, Hilo Bay Hostel has Wi-Fi but the access is not free, there is no pick-up or drop off to the airport (Hilo is not the easiest place to get around inexpensively to/from the airport). Not the best place in town -- the best place is down the street. — Hucbald , United States (2009-12-15) I've seen many, but none matches this one. I've been to hostels all around the world. I don't think there is one that can match the Hilo Bay Hostel. It is in an historic building, beautifully maintained, one that looks as though it has never been renovated because it has been maintained. The place is highly clean, grand, organised, charming, spacious, and just the best I've ever stayed in. I give it an unqualified five stars recommendation. — douglas ploehn , californian (2009-04-02) Awesome Great hostel. Lot of charm and character. Friendly staff, clean and close to everything. Right in the heart of Hilo. Enjoy the Farmers Market, Strawberry Mochi from Two Ladies Kitchen, and the Loco Moco from Koji's. Will book another stay next time on the Big Island. — Happy Camper , USA Hawaii (2008-09-24) The first hostel I stayed in and I was taken surprise at how clean, friendly, and organized the place was. The staff was excellent, full of ALOHA, and showed me around the hostel and provided clean sheets and free tea in the morning. Smacked right in downtown Hilo and minutes away from the Farmers Market and grocers and gift shops. I stayed for two nights and the guests consists of international travelers and students. And because you are in downtown, at nights it can get a bit loud from bars outside. The showers and separate toilets were clean and maintained regularly. The kitchen is spacious, clean, and leads you to a mini-garden lounge downstairs. Overall it was very soothing and relaxing and great people to mingle and network. — Yiu-Cheung (2007-03-22) Surprisingly, this was the cleanest hostel I've ever stayed at, most importantly, it had uncharacteristically clean facilities. The atmosphere was relaxed, friendly, and at an unbeatable rate! There's a great little dive less than a block away that has good food, is relatively small, and serves great drinks. And, this is so rare in Hawaii, has free parking across the street if you decide to rent a car. I stayed in the girls' dorm and it was fantastic! — andrea (2007-02-28) I have been to many hostels in my life and this is the best one by far. I left another place because of too much noise. I shared a room (Room #9!!) with 2 double beds with a woman just passing through. she had to leave and I splurged the next night and had the room to myself ($50) because it was so beautiful and a nice change from being in a dorm (which was quite small there). Really nice feel with high ceilings, wood everywhere, quiet and clean. I was only in Hilo for a few days (great place very laid back and relaxed compared to Kona area) and wish I could have stayed longer to be in this hostel! I will be back! — Laura (2006-05-27) We are two Spanish guys (Jorge and Miguel) and we were staying at this hostel for one week on April 2006. It was an excellent choice! The Hilo Bay Hostel is on a wonderful neighbourhood (downtown Hilo). The staff is very kind (thank you so much for your kindly attention) and we met there a lot of travellers. — Jorge (2006-04-25) Stay here!!! It's right in the centre of town and is a spotlessly clean hostel which actually feels more like a boutique hotel. Dorms, kitchen, bathrooms and communal areas were all excellent. This is a lovely historic building which has been renovated with style and care. The only thing that was a slight problem was traffic noise but this is irrelevant given all the pluses this place has. I stayed here because I wanted to be somewhere central and not reliant on a shuttle service. The Hilo Bay Hostel will soon be running their own tours which will be one more reason to stay at this great hostel. — Solo Travel Girl (2005-07-21) What a charming experience here. My room was spotless, comfortable and even had a private bathroom with shower and plenty of hot water. Excellent location, walking distance to movies, restaurants, shops, parks and the ocean. Kitchen, tv, internet and other amenities which made this a delight. Even a small library should you wish to curl up with a good book before drifting off. Obviously, I love this place and plan to return here whenever I can. — Mel (2005-07-04) I stayed in this hostel in March 2005 and I just can say that it's great! The staff are very friendly and the best thing is that it's pretty clean! I love this place and I hope someday to come back to Hilo and stay there! — Guto (2005-06-13) You'll find yourself thinking that you want to buy this place and turn it into your home. For $18 you get trade winds and ocean views, HOT STAFF, (*kiss* for ROB), and just about the cleanest hostel in the world. If this place doesn't make you happy then there perhaps is a personal issue at hand which has nothing to do with Hawaii or the hostel. It's a fun place, thanks to ROB and the gang!
JUDY
***** (Five stars) — Bill is odd... this place rocks! (2005-06-05) This hostel is fantastic!!! Newly renovated, great location — it's the best hostel I've stayed at in all of Hawaii. Clean, safe, classy — I would totally recommend it. Hilo is way nicer than Kona-Kailua too, much more laid back and less touristy. The scenery is beautiful around here. Nice little outside courtyard, immaculate bathrooms, stripped wooden floors, comfy beds — and all for $18 per night. It's excellent. — UK Traveller (2005-05-22) Staying here was a fantastic experience and I would recommend it to anyone. Staff were very helpful. — Alex (2005-03-11) Hilo Bay Hostel is a delight. Centrally located and clean, it has a friendly and helpful staff. The notice board provides all the info you could be looking for. It is very well done! Compliments to the staff and owners for a great hostel! — A.C. (2004-12-27) I loved this hostel so much — it certainly has the furthest thing from a hostel environment. The building is ultra-classy, and it's located in the best spot in Hilo. I would recommend it over the other hostels in Hilo. — M3 (2004-11-13)