333 Iliahi St, Hilo, Island of Hawaii, HI 96720-2399
Etrip
ZenHotels.com
Prices are the average nightly price provided by our partners and may not include all taxes and fees. Taxes and fees that are shown are estimates only. Please see our partners for more details.
Full view
View all photos (342)342
Room & Suite (104)
Dining (15)
What is Travellers’ Choice?
Tripadvisor gives a Travellers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travellers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
About
#1 of 7 hotels in Hilo
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Value
Travellers' Choice
Seasoned guidance for a wide range of Big Island adventures. Walking distance to downtown Hilo. Clean quiet & reasonable. All rooms with kitchens. Free WiFi Internet available. Rated nicest small hotel in Hilo.
Read more
Suggest edits to improve what we show.Improve this listing
Property amenities
Free parking
Free High Speed Internet (WiFi)
Wifi
Free breakfast
Non-smoking hotel
Room features
Private balcony
Seating area
Wake-up service / alarm clock
Kitchenette
Microwave
Refrigerator
Flatscreen TV
Room types
Non-smoking rooms
Family rooms
Good to know
HOTEL CLASS
HOTEL STYLE
Centrally Located
Location
71Somewhat walkable
Grade: 71 out of 100
57Restaurantswithin 1 km
55Attractionswithin 1 km
Contact
333 Iliahi St, Hilo, Island of Hawaii, HI 96720-2399
Getting there
Car HireSee all Hilo car hire
764Reviews11Q+A100Room tips
Reviews
Traveller rating
- 412
- 276
- 54
- 18
- 5
Time of year
Traveller type
Language
More
Selected filters
- Filter
- English
Popular mentions
Sort by:
Most Recent
We spent our first night on the Big Island here. Our daughter's flight was rescheduled due to missed connection so it was after midnight when we pulled in, but the folks here were very flexible to work out a way for us to get in. The next morning we woke up to a beautiful wonderland. Our six-year old grandson loved the little jungle trail. We all loved the banana bread, fruit, coffee. A very friendly place all around. And clean. Old school, but it was just right for us.
Read more
Date of stay: March 2023
Value
Location
Service
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Helpful
This is a clean older hotel just blocks from "downtown". The room was comfortable with lots of space. It was quiet in a nice neighbourhood. Very Nice staff. No formal breakfast but they do offer free fresh papaya, coffee and banana bread each morning. It was a bit humid but cool enough at night to sleep. There is a 24 hr. laundry 5 minutes drive away. I would stay here again.
Read more
Date of stay: January 2023Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Value
Location
Service
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Helpful
This is a great place to stay in Hilo. My two daughters and I shared a 3 person room with queen and twin bed. The accommodations were quite satisfactory and met our needs perfectly. The kitchen was a big plus and we cooked dinners every evening. Cookware was a bit limited but I made do with what was there. Housekeeping was wonderful (they clean and make beds daily, which is becoming increasingly rare). I requested extra towels and got new ones every day. This is an older, lived-in property...this is not luxurious, but you are paying very little to stay here. If you plan on touring the island, this place is perfect. If you are planning to lounge on property, find a resort. We visited in December, so we were fine without A/C. There was a powerful fan in the room. One big plus for this hotel was the superb coffee and delicious banana bread available every morning. The biggest drawback was the coqui frogs that live nearby, which are very loud at night. I was able to block the sound with You Tube 10 hour recordings of waves, fans, white noise etc. My daughters got used to the frogs and didn't even notice their chirping after a while. I would go back to Dolphin Bay the next time I am in Hilo. …
Read more
Date of stay: December 2022Trip type: Travelled with friends
Value
Location
Service
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
1 Helpful vote
Helpful
The dolphin hotel lmproves year after year Best beds and clean rooms Great bathroom and well equipped kitchen The staff are excellent and helpful Good parking if is raining Again. JOHN has a great attitude for his guests Close walking distance to town Quiet area of hilo and safe all around for walking
Read more
Date of stay: August 2022Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
1 Helpful vote
Helpful
Dolphin Bay is a true gem of a different Hawai'i. If you like glitz and glamour, stay at the Hilton. But if you want real folks, comfortable rooms, breezy lanai, inviting gardens, and a resident cat, chill here. We needed this rest. John is a knowledgeable host with a wry sense of humor. He knows all the best eats and sights. The staff is friendly and meticulous with cleaning, the grounds are beautifully kept. We will be back if we can ever afford the airfare again.
Read more
Date of stay: September 2022
Location
Service
Sleep Quality
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
1 Helpful vote
Helpful
Best in Hilo new beds sleeping on a cloud clean large rooms every thing a couple could ask for all supplied full bath room toiletries clean and fully stocked kitchen even a toaster After staying in wakiki this was a paradise quiet and plenty of parking Well done John
Read more
Date of stay: August 2022Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Room Tip: All rooms are great
See more room tips
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
1 Helpful vote
Helpful
We had driven over from Kona to Waimea and didn't properly figure the time so we found ourselves needing a place to stay in Hilo at the last minute. We took a risk staying at Dolphin Bay since we didn't know much about it, but found it to be delightful, clean, and the woman in the office gave us a very nice upgrade to a two bedroom Room which was much more space than we paid for. Beds were comfortable, linens bright and crisp and there is a beautiful garden adjacent. Very impressed. Kind of a throwback to mid-century Hawaii!
Read more
Date of stay: June 2022Trip type: Travelled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
1 Helpful vote
Helpful
This place fits in nicely with the general mood of Hilo: informal and a little quirky (in a good way). Our room was spacious with a small kitchen area a little patio to sit and eat breakfast on. Easy walking distance into town. It is not necessarily a quiet place but the sounds are all nature (birds, insects, probably rain). We very much enjoyed our stay.
Read more
Date of stay: April 2022
Value
Cleanliness
Service
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
1 Helpful vote
Helpful
If you want to sleep to the sounds of Hawaiian paradise (tree frogs that sound like birds) and be surrounded by lush greenery in an old but quaint room that exudes Hawaiian spirit, this is the place for you! I appreciated the home baked banana bread and coffee in the morning as well as the papayas. Kelly was super friendly and provided walking maps. The place is walkable from the shops and beach although after the first time I found a less sketchy path than what Google suggested (avoiding the unpaved path that hugs the coast).
Read more
Date of stay: May 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
1 Helpful vote
Helpful
+1
We stayed at Dolphin Bay for three nights in May 2022. It was even better than I had hoped for. Yes, the hotel is "dated" and not fancy at all, but scrupulously clean, comfortable, affordable and very convenient for exploring downtown Hilo, the Hamauka coast and Volcano National park. The bed was comfy, the light breakfast of fresh papaya and banana bread was much appreciated, and the sweet obese cat was friendly and made us feel right at home. John gives exceptional local advice, and has everything you could possibly need from umbrellas to maps to...? The gardens at the hotel are really lovely too. It rained our entire stay but we felt at peace and were able to really relax. We'd return in a flash!
Read more
Date of stay: May 2022
Location
Service
Sleep Quality
Room Tip: Second floor rooms are great.
See more room tips
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
2 Helpful votes
Helpful
PRICE RANGE
US$188 - US$212 (Based on Average Rates for a Standard Room)
ALSO KNOWN AS
dolphin bay hilo, dolphin bay hotel hilo
LOCATION
United StatesHawaiiIsland of HawaiiHilo
NUMBER OF ROOMS
18
Is This Your Tripadvisor Listing?
Own or manage this property? Claim your listing for free to respond to reviews, update your profile and much more.
Claim Your ListingDOLPHIN BAY HK$1,405 (H̶K̶$̶1̶,̶7̶1̶9̶) - Updated 2023 Prices & Hotel Reviews - Hilo, HI
Frequently Asked Questions about Dolphin Bay
Which popular attractions are close to Dolphin Bay?
Nearby attractions include Lyman Museum (0.8 km), Pacific Tsunami Museum (0.6 km), and Hilo Farmers Market (0.9 km).
What are some of the property amenities at Dolphin Bay?
Some of the more popular amenities offered include free wifi, free breakfast, and free parking.
Which room amenities are available at Dolphin Bay?
Top room amenities include a kitchenette, a flat screen TV, and a refrigerator.
What food & drink options are available at Dolphin Bay?
Guests can enjoy free breakfast during their stay.
What are some restaurants close to Dolphin Bay?
Conveniently located restaurants include Paul's Place, Moon and Turtle, and Two Ladies Kitchen.
Are there any historical sites close to Dolphin Bay?
Many travellers enjoy visiting Kaipalaoa Landing (0.5 km).