Howzit Hostels Hawaii — Hotel in Hawaii

The Howzit Hostel in Hilo is a fantastic place to stay, offering some impressive amenities that even surpass the Maui location—like the exceptionally comfortable beds and modern, clean showers. Hilo itself has a quieter, more local charm, making it an ideal destination for travelers seeking an authentic experience, which is exactly what I was looking for following an action-packed trip in Maui.

That said, having stayed at both locations, the difference in guest experience is hard to miss. The Maui hostel offers free tours and activities every day, which, along with the enormous social space, really brings people together and makes the place feel exciting. In Hilo, there are just two paid tours, and while they’re okay, it’s hard not to compare them to the free ones in Maui—which were equal or better in quality and didn’t cost anything. Adding more tours here, and making most of them free (or only charging for longer trips with fuel or entry fees), would make a huge difference to the overall experience.

It’s also clear that the Hilo hostel doesn’t get much attention in marketing. Social media posts rarely mention it, and even when they do, the pictures are often from Maui. This is a shame because the Hilo location has so much to offer and could attract more guests if it was promoted more—especially as a more relaxing, natural, and authentic follow-up trip to Maui.

The staff at the Hilo hostel were another highlight of my stay. Everyone I interacted with was personable and welcoming, and Shelby in particular went above and beyond to make sure that the other guests and I had a great experience. It’s clear that a lot of care and effort is put into ensuring guests feel at home.

A few small changes to the lounge would also go a long way—like adding a bit more seating in the common areas to encourage guests to hang out and connect. Space is more limited at the Hilo location, so it might require some creative adjustments to make the most of it. I also noticed an issue with the ceiling fans in some areas, where they’re positioned in front of lights and cause an uncomfortable strobe effect—particularly at the bench near reception and at the water/coffee station. Switching to hanging lights at about the same height as the fans could resolve this, assuming there’s enough space to fit them safely.

While Hilo might not ever have the same energy as Maui, that’s part of its unique appeal. With more focus on tours, activities, and marketing, it could truly shine as a hidden gem. The hostel is already a great place to stay, but with just a bit more investment and care, it could really be...

I don’t usually leave reviews, but I feel compelled to share my experience. As a mixed-race woman and a world traveler, I’ve stayed in hostels across different countries and cultures. I know what real community feels like—and unfortunately, I didn’t find that here.

I stayed at this hostel in Hilo for five days, paying day to day because I didn’t have much money at the time. Despite that, I was willing to contribute in any way I could. I asked if I could volunteer, even applied for a social media content creator position they were actively promoting on their Instagram. The position was open, and I had the skills and energy to offer—but instead of giving me a fair shot, I was met with excuses.

It became clear that the opportunities offered weren’t actually accessible to everyone—just to those who fit a certain mold. This kind of selective inclusion reflects a deeper issue.

The hostel markets itself as welcoming and laid-back, but in reality, it caters heavily to European travelers. The energy was subtly exclusive, culturally tone-deaf, and dismissive. I constantly felt othered and unseen. When you’re traveling solo and building a life from the ground up—as I’ve done in every place I’ve been—community, respect, and inclusion matter deeply.

What’s even more concerning is how the colonizer mindset still echoes in places like this. That energy disrespects the land and its people and places fear in the hearts of locals who’ve already endured centuries of displacement. A hostel should be a place of connection and upliftment, not one that continues the harm of exclusion and superiority.

I say this not with bitterness, but with a heart that knows people can change. My Irish grandmother—who raised me—had biases she never realized she held until she was exposed to deeper truths. I watched her grow with compassion and understanding when given the chance. And that’s all I’m suggesting for here: more awareness, more care, and more intentional inclusivity.

I’m sharing my story so future travelers of color, especially women, can move with awareness. I’m proud of my resilience, but no one should have to shrink themselves or feel unwelcome in a space that claims to be for “everyone”.

This is my honest experience—and I’m putting my...

This place doesn’t allow for local travelers who live on the island to come and stay here.

I came over from Kona side and booked a room here. I arrived at 5pm and they told me that it’s their policy to only offer dorms to guests who have pre-determined plans to leave the island.

That’s crazy because even when I do travel off the island I rarely have a specific exit date and time and a planned itinerary! This is really sad to see that this place doesn’t offer Kama’Aina stays nor did they give aloha.

I had nowhere else to stay at 5pm on a Tuesday right before the 4th of July!

I had to sleep in my car and not get a good night rest for my presentation the next day! Awful policies! The notice regarding this policy isn’t very clearly stated on the website either. This is written in a few words under the identification heading and not very noticeable as something that would cause a guest the stress of having nowhere to bunk for the night!

They should make it CRYSTAL CLEAR on the website when booking, (in more than one place, too), that they don’t honor any big island residents as guests! That’s terrible to see they don’t give love to the local island people. What a terrible business practice!

This place was definitely not filled with guests, but they don’t see my money as good enough to spend there because I’m not an international traveler and just live on big island!

Do yourself a favor! Don’t stay here and support these people who don’t support local island people! The cost might be a little more, but I highly recommend getting a room at the garden manor in Keaukaha across from Carlsmith beach! Way better with...