We were not expecting a lot and we got what we expected. Parking is a nightmare. The rooms are o.k., but look better on the website than they are in real life. Breakfast is good, not a foodie experience. The bathroom was TINY.

We travel on a budget but we splurged and booked two nights in the Bamboo room so we could be right on the water for at least a portion of our stay on the island. I was able to enjoy a beautiful sunrise both mornings right from my bed which was wonderful. The breakfast was excellent both days, our favorite was the stuffed papaya. The bed was very comfortable and the walk in shower was great. You must walk by all the other rooms to get to the Bamboo room at the end so it is the most private. I don't know that I would have been comfortable sleeping with the drapes open otherwise. The door to the Bamboo room is through the commons area where the refrigerator and stairway to breakfast is located. I had to put in ear plugs the first night due to the noise from the frogs, although it is a very consistant noise. They were less noisy the second night and I didn't need earplugs. I can see where some people might have trouble with the driveway parking since it is slanted and tight but my husband didn't have any problems. The hosts were very nice and willing to answer any questions we had.

We found the Hale Kai last minute and were immediately struck by how friendly and welcoming our hosts were. We dropped our bags off in the morning and Ric showed us to our room. He asked us where we planned to go that day and then suggested places nearby to eat and sights to see, including to return to the volcano to view it at night. Something that we wouldn't have thought of but was one of the most amazing things we saw. They had obviously gone to alot of trouble to prepare a list of restaurants and activities that they recommended in the area. Ric was happy to chat for as long as we wanted and answer all our questions.
The room was clean and had everything you would expect it should have, the bed was very comfortable and we had a really good nights sleep. The coqui frog was far quieter here than at other places in the area, we hardly noticed it from our room.
The following morning we had breakfast on the lanai, fresh fruit, sausage and portugese omelet. It was really delicious. The view over the bay was spectacular, an amazing place to eat and chat more to Ric and Maria. They gave us some more suggestions for places to stop on the way back to the airport, which were spot on again, and even gave me sound advice on how best to approach the surf in the small beach that we overlooked.
All in all it was a brilliant stay in a wonderful location made extra special by the hosts. For us they were perfect, they took a real interest whilst not being too in your face. We would definitely stay again and our only reget was that we only had one night there.

My wife and I were looking for a different way to visit the Islands.This was it.
We arrived late at night and Ric and Mari had everthing ready for us just like they said they would no surprises.
We stayed in the Bambo room a nice quiet room with a beautiful ocean view with spectacular sunrises.
Maria and Ric were great hosts,the breakfasts were to die for.Fresh fruit and juice,the best coffee in Hilo.
Ric is a wealth of knowledge when it comes to the area,places to eat and visit.I can't imagine staying anywhere else.Great location easy to find.Just four rooms so morning breakfast is comfortable with the other guests,got to meet some nice people not like the fast pace of a hotel.We will be back