Yes, it's a bit off-putting when you pull into the parking lot, with the dilapidated exterior and many rooms yet to be renovated. However, the renovated rooms are just fine. The rooms over the water offer an amazing view of the bay and you are literally on top of the water! (Not that you can go swimming - there's no beach!). But they do have a new pool that is clean and nicely located at the edge of the bay (just watch the little ones as there don't seem to be any safety railings to keep them from tumbling down the rocks!). The beds are very comfortable and the modern decor with tile floors is attractive. The breakfast isn't recommended but will do in a pinch. It is a funky property - just stay in your newly renovated room, enjoying the view and then the rather depressing first floor won't bother you as much! We would stay here again.

Naniola Volcanoes Resort. April 16,17, 18, 2012
Resort nowhere describes this place. It is a dump. It calims that some of the rooms have been renovated, that is a joke. Well if you call putting ceramic tile throught out and wooden sliding doors for curtains maybe it coud be call a renovated room. See pictures of two different rooms. One renovated one not. Air conditioner did not work in the first room, so we were" UP GRADED" to a renovated room. I spilled a drink and cleaned it up with a towel and it was fifilty. The ceramic floors in the rooms have also not been cleaned. . I called the manager and she sent someone from housekeeping to clean the floor. All they did was fill the room with BLEACH. Which then we had to air the room out so we could breathe. .
The outside of the building is awful. It looks like it has not been cleaned in years. The pool and pool area looks like it has not been cleaned or seen a pressure washer in years. We stayed here 8 years ago and it was pretty good. But in 8 years it has gone to hell in a hand basket.

The outside of this place needs a paint job. The elevator interiors are wooden and etched with graffiti. There is no carpeting in the halls. The ice machine on the seventh floor was disgusting with rust and filth. The place has no lunch ir dinner food, not even a soda machine. They do have a breakfast buffet that was unmanned and not worth the over $15.00 price. The stores within the resort are primarily vacant. The issue seems to be that the place does not invest money into upkeep of the so-called resort. This is no resort. That said, the view from the room of the Hilo Bay was beautiful...but I would not stay here again. It is a poor representation of Hawaii.

I have stayed at Naniloa Resort on at least 5 occasions...and never been disappointed. The owners of this property may not be breaking land speed records in the reinovation department -- and there is defintely a ways to go -- but who is flush with cash these days! The rooms that have been completed are comfy, clean, and sophisticated. Beautifully decorated, almost zen-like. The rooms fronting the bay are very special. The corner rooms bayfront (Oceanfront) are spectacular. Naniloa Resort is a quiet little gem, with some way to go for glory, but heading in the right direction.