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Review of Hale Kai Hawaii Bead & Breakfast

Hale Kai Hawaii: a homey B&B in Hilo

Once upon a time, Ricardo and Maria, a geologist and an artist based in California, decided to change their lives and move to Hawaii. There, they created a home which they eventually opened up to visitors. And thus the Bed & Breakfast Hale Kai Hawaii was born.

Hale Kai Hawaii Bead & Breakfast

Hale Kai Hawaii Bed & Breakfast

Welcome to Hale Kai B&B

Welcome to Hale Kai B&B

 

When someone starts a guesthouse for the pleasure of receiving guests and not just for the sake of business, you know you are bound to enjoy great hospitality. And this is exactly what happens at this B&B in Big Island’s main city, Hilo. Unlike other cities in more popular islands of the archipelago of Hawaii, like Maui or Oahu, things in Hilo happen at a slower pace. You can breathe in a much relaxed and pleasant way of life, without many touristic interferences to speak of. Right outside Hilo, Hale Kai is a great base to start exploring the Big Island.

 

All rooms at Hale Kai are ocean-front, affording incredible views out to the ocean and to the city center of Hilo. On clear days, you may even see a little smoke on the horizon, coming out of Kilauea Volcano – but there’s nothing to worry about as the volcano is located inside Volcanoes National Park and from afar all you get to experience is the visual thrill.

Heritage Room at Hale Kai B&B

Heritage Room at Hale Kai B&B

En-suite bathroom

En-suite bathroom

 

All rooms have en-suite bathroom with shower, fan, cable TV, internet connection and the best bed we experienced while traveling in Hawaii (not too soft, not too hard, just perfect). The bedroom glass doors let in a lot of natural light and open up to your own individual sitting area on the outside lanai. Inside, the decoration is contemporary Hawaiian, replacing the elsewhere over-used flower patterns with more subtle tropical details and impressive photography work on the walls.

Outdoor sitting at Hale Kai

Outdoor sitting at Hale Kai

 

We enjoyed our time at the Heritage Room pictured here, but there are other rooms with added comforts, such as the Pele Suite that includes a kitchenette. In any case, there is a small common room, with a fridge and microwave for everyone to take advantage of.

Common Room

Common Room

Flyer and info about Big Island in the common room

Flyers and info about Big Island in the common room

 

Every morning, guests are invited to come up to the terrace, where breakfast is served. An array of fresh tropical fruits and delicious cooked dishes are enjoyed in a communal table shared with other guests staying at the B&B. The travel talk from all corners of the world, paired with the ocean breeze, make for a great start of the day!

Breakfast at Hale Kai

Breakfast at Hale Kai

Hawaii Island coffee and morning tea

Hawaii Island coffee and morning tea

 

Of course it doesn’t hurt either that you get to eat home-made preparations that mix the tradition of a cooked American breakfast with a certain Hawaiian gourmet essence. Expect dishes such as coconut-macadamia pancakes, basil and feta frittatas, Hawaiian sweetbread French toast, mango-apricot scones, Portuguese sausage and, of course, Hawaii Island coffee.

Basil & feta frittata and Portuguese sausages

Breadfruit frittata and Portuguese sausages

Home-made apricot scones

Home-made apricot scones

 

There is plenty to do in Big Island, but relaxing is also encouraged around here. For that, Hale Kai has an inviting outdoor area with swimming pool and hot tub, surrounded by a pleasant garden with colorful flowers.

Swimming-pool as seen from the upper lanai

Swimming-pool as seen from the upper lanai

The garden at Hale Kai

The garden at Hale Kai

A detail from the garden

A detail from the garden

 

For the days out, the team at Hale Kai has put together a booklet with a very good collection of tips and recommendations, not only for things to see, do and eat in Hilo, but in other locations around Big Island too. From Hale Kai, it is easy to depart on day trips to several beaches and natural attractions, such as Akaka Falls. For your convenience, beach towels are provided too. And if you have any doubt, be rest assured that Ricardo will give you extra input and advice.

This is exactly what makes Hale Kai B&B great: it’s not just a place to enjoy a cozy room and a delicious breakfast. It is a place where you are bound to feel amongst friends, that is, feel at home.

 

More info:
halekaihawaii.com
stay@halekaihawaii.com
111 Honolii Place
Hilo, Big Island of Hawaii, HI 96720


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10 Comments

  • That breakfast looks righteous Zara! Eggs, a little bit of meat and the trimmings. I also love a good breakfast to start the day and this homey spot does indeed hit the mark. At least from the imagery ;) As for the view it’s breath-taking. Polynesia has that type of “paradise” energy few spots on earth can recreate. I felt the same way in Fiji, which is Micronesia. That central and South Pacific vibe is so pristine, so clean and so different and you can’t beat the island mentality either. Just gotta feel it.

    Thanks guys for the paradise pictures and for your review!

    Ryan

    • Zara Says

      Thanks for the comment, Ryan!
      We found the atmosphere to be quite paradise like in Big Island. While other places we visited in Hawaii were also naturally beautiful, this island had a much more relaxed vibe… with visitors, yes, but not too crowded either. At Hale Kai we found a great spot to enjoy this relaxed mode at night too! And, yes, the breakfast was yummy! ;)
      Cheers!

  • What an awesome place to stay. Hawaii is on my travel for so long, now i know where to stay ;) btw, such yummie food!

  • Jacqueline O'Brien Says

    We enjoyed our stay, too, but how did I miss the hot tub?

  • caroline Says

    I live in Hilo but I’m always looking for a place to run away to for the night once in a while. :-) I need to stop by and check it out!!

  • Anita Catita Says

    I never really thought about going to Hawaii, but just looking at this place makes me want to go!

    • Zara Says

      Beyond all the hyped and commercial stuff one knows about Hawaii, there’s lots of good stuff to be enjoyed there! We’ll be posting more about Hawaii soon! :)

  • Phoebe Says

    What a beautiful place. One day, I too would like to say, I packed n dashed to Hale Kai, Hawaii, where did you packndash to? A little piece of paradise.

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