TripAdvisor Traveler Rating

We had a wonderful stay! The resort is beautiful. The pool area is big with comfy loungers/umbrellas. The waterfront views from the pool and bar are magnificent! The location is convenient to restaurants and shops!

We have stayed here many times and would not hesitate to do so again. The location is just fabulous! Our departure flight was cancelled because of the huge tropical storm, and we were able to book extra nights, but above and beyond that....the hotel supplied free meals for the guests. Many restaurants were closed because of the storm, and this offering was so appreciated. Mahalo!!

Royal Kona Resort is well situated in Kailua Kona - their open-air restaurant overlooks the ocean which splashes onto the rocks - quite nice! Our room was sizeable with almost a full wall of windows that could be covered with louvers for sleeping/darkness. And a deck with table and chairs. The fridge in our room meant that we were able to drink and eat there and make lunches for going to the volcano, a whole day trip. When a big storm forced the Royal Kona to close their only restaurant, the management saw fit to feed everyone a box dinner that night, and a box breakfast the next morning, a step above and beyond. Thank you!! Also, when we were stranded by a cancelled flight, the front desk was very accommodating. Didn't love paying the parking AND resort fees, though. But good staff!! I would recommend the Royal Kona to anyone I know.

We're back from a week at the Royal Kona and I want to tell you about this world-class hotel. Originally opened in 1968 as a Hilton and the first resort on the western side of the Big Island, the graceful curve of the main Lagoon Tower was designed to evoke the slope of Mauna Loa volcano. The Royal Kona sits on the most prominent geological feature on the Kona Town coast, dominating a coastal promontory in the center of the town that has since grown up around it. It introduced the legendary Don The Beachcomber tiki bar franchise to the island and it remains the best mai tai bar and restaurant in Kona. The property has undergone three major restorations, the latest currently underway, and remains a destination for enthusiasts of midcentury Polynesian-motif architecture and tiki culture -- as well as golfers, tennis players, families, international visitors, and discerning guests. I was concerned reading reviews describing the property as "dated" and wondered whether Hilton's surrendering the property years ago meant it was now suffering the benign neglect of a foreign holding company making minimal investment. This is not the case at all, and staff told us with great pride of the Honolulu family that now owns the Royal Kona and is investing in its restoration and reinvigoration. The southernmost tower currently is under renovation, and we were told that the Lagoon Tower and original restaurant pavilion are next on the schedule. We were much relieved to learn that Hawaiian owners are now attentive stewards of this iconic property, committed to preserving its legacy. The exterior of the towers show signs of aging but the property and the rooms are lovingly maintained by a dedicated crew: the housekeeping staff is terrific and our room was immaculately clean on arrival and thoroughly refreshed each day. Custom original furnishings have been reupholstered, beds are comfortable, and the in-room wet bar is a welcome feature. The hotel's bar and restaurant feature live music on the evenings when the luau is not taking place, and the staff and varied menu are excellent (shout out to Jamila, who answered our questions about life on this side of the island). Kailey at the front desk could not have been more welcoming or accommodating, and Monica brings an elegant and gracious feel to the shop where you'll find one of the best aloha shirts you'll see during your visit to the islands (spoiler alert: it carries the "Don the Beachcomber" logo design on the back with tiki embellishments on the front). The pool and lagoon will become your favorites escapes. We booked an ocean-facing room and were rewarded with a spectacular sunset out our window on our first night. The hotel is literally just feet from the shore and the soothing sound of the rolling surf breaking against the lava shore creates as serene an environment as you could wish for. Our sheltered balcony offered exactly the relaxation and ambience we were seeking. We'd had an improbable unbroken streak of great vacation weather prior to this trip, but Kona experienced a violent, prolonged storm beginning the second day of our stay. The staff bent over backwards to continue delivering sterling service and when strong winds and rain forced the closure of the outdoor restaurant and most nearby restaurants on our last night (a spectacularly rare occurrence), they set up indoor dinner and breakfast buffets free to all guests. The Royal Kona is sequestered off Kona's main coastal artery, with bars, restaurants and an ABC store within easy walking distance. The island is easily traversed by car and we made Kona our base for exploring the island. Pardon the length of my commentary, but this exceptional property deserves more than a brief passing review, and you deserve context to reviews noting the ongoing renovation. I can't offer up a better summary than to say we can't wait to return. Thanks to the Kona staff for a wonderful guest experience, you live the aloha spirit.

Nice resort, clean, reasonable, great views, great location to walking to Kona shops... My only complaint is I was basically asked to leave the restaurant/bar two different times by a rude greedy waitress as I was only drinking coffee for an hour, but waiting on friends to join me. She kept coming back and asking are you going to order food? Then explained they really only want you seated if your going to eat.