We just returned from the Big Island after an overnight stay at the Naniloa. We were fortunate to get an early check-in as our flight from Maui arrived around ten AM. The front desk staff were very nice and bent over backwards to see to all of our needs. We had an ocean view room overlooking Hilo Bay and Coconut Island. The room was great and up to our expectations, however the grounds were in very bad shape. The pool area decking was covered with mold and the elevator carpets were very badly soiled. It seem that there was an idiot thet wanted everyone to know he was there that scraped his initials into the elevator paint. I just heard on this mornings news that the hotel has entered into chapter 11 to get protection from creditors. I hope all goes well for them

The room is far behind what it looks on their website pictures, is not cozy at all: tiny, hard-floor, everything is hard other than beds, absolutely bare walls, you can hear you echo, and you can clearly hear other people steps coming along corridor. I think it's Ok to stay one or two nights there if you get good deal, and all you need is just a place to sleep, beds were not bad, pretty comfortable, just turn fan on to keep it going all night to drown other noses coming from corridor.

I will preface this by saying that this place looks like a crack den and my husband had to drag me in, since we had already booked and had no other options (we were leaving for Maui the next morning). The building is gross - the roof is covered in moss and the walls outside all have mildew. The lobby & elevator are equally as nasty - BUT, the rooms were actually very nice. They were large, clean and completely remodeled. I've posted pics of the room & the view, which was also quite nice. I can't recommend this place and knew it would not be nice from prior reviews, but we were island hopping and only came to the big island to see volcano national park and take a helicopter tour. It served its purpose. Once you get in the room, you don't want to leave since teh buidling and surrounding area is really run down. I would recommend you spend the day at the park for as long as you can and grab dinner, only heading here to sleep.

The grandeur of the nature is striking in this aging hotel. Time wears away even the greatest palaces, but the natural beauty of the Hilo Bay, the spectacular views of Mauna Kea vocano and fresh sea air make up for the fading paint exterior. The rooms are clean and simple and the room service is excellent. The rooms are spacious with fresh air balconies overlooking the sea and Coconut Island. I will trade natural beauty and easy access to a swim in the sea for all of the most modern amenities and Amusement Park amenities of newer hotels. Importantly, the modest prices reflect the simplicity of the hotel. Both downtown Hilo and Hilo Bay in one direction, and beautiful seaside parks in the other direction are accessible by walking.