Lilikoi Inn — Hotel in Hawaii

Typically I use the overall rating and a skim read through the reviews, both good and bad, to decide on booking a place. I apparently didn't read the bad reviews on the Lilikoi Inn, because when I read them while there they summed up our experience :( The rest of our trip we were at airbnbs that cost $60 - $100/night and they were all much better than this dump. For us $200/night is a treat and the place should be nice!!||See my pictures. The public/shared areas of this place are filthy. I have a fairly high tolerance for some grunge, but it's truly gross. All the light fixtures are encased in dust, spider webs and spiders (dead and alive). My picture of a light fixture is the one directly over the sink and clean dishes rack.||"Guest Kitchen" is advertised as being well equipped - there are inordinate amounts of tableware - but I couldn't find a single pan. Let's consider the tableware - I had to dig through the silverware to find a fork that didn't have remnants of food on it. Likewise the plates. However we did receive a lecture about being sure to do our own dishes immediately so Trina (owner) "doesn't have to deal with them". When my spouse was doing our dishes in the evening, she brought hers out and put them in the sink next to him and said "I'll do those in the morning".||||One of the reasons we selected this place was the hot tub - it was our plan for our final evening in Hawai'i. When we asked to see it while checking in we were told in a manner that was both dismissive and unapologetic that it wasn't working. We also were regaled with a "poor me" story about having to wait "weeks" for someone to fix it. When wandering the grounds later I came across the hot tub - it clearly hasn't been used in a very long time. See picture - not pictured are the broken steps up to the platform the tub is on. It clearly hasn't been in use for many months - and if someone came to work on it they wouldn't be able to because it is full of and surrounded by junk. The website and description should be updated to reflect there isn't a hot tub.||||When checking in I asked Trina if they could prepare a breakfast to-go as we had to leave at 5:30am. The reply was admonishment about not disturbing them or the other guests, and a lengthy monologue describing ways to be quiet. There wasn't really an answer about breakfast at that time - but later I was gifted another speech about the fact that we had "lots of food in the fridge" and "can't you just make a cheese sandwich?". * see mitigating factors.||Trina reiterated about being quiet in the early morning another couple of times - but then their dogs barked at length several times during the night, which completely disrupted our sleep.||||Talking of dogs - one of the other negative reviews mentions that they feed their pets in the "commercial kitchen" - which they deny in ALL CAPS in their response. I witnessed her feeding the pets in the commercial kitchen, and then leaving the dirty dishes on the floor until the next feeding.||||Mitigating factors:||The location is ideal for spending a day or two near the touristy center of Kailua/Kona without being in the thick of it.||It's fun to drive up the hill and be perched above the beaches and town. The elevation provides slightly cooler temperatures which is nice for sleeping.||The lanai is a lovely hang out spot, we enjoyed watching the sunset.||Later Shai came and told us he was making us a to-go breakfast and it was nice to eat that at...

Typically I use the overall rating and a skim read through the reviews, both good and bad, to decide on booking a place. I apparently didn't read the bad reviews on the Lilikoi Inn, because when I read them while there they summed up our experience :( The rest of our trip we were at airbnbs that cost $60 - $100/night and they were all much better than this dump. For us $200/night is a treat and the place should be nice!!||See my pictures. The public/shared areas of this place are filthy. I have a fairly high tolerance for some grunge, but it's truly gross. All the light fixtures are encased in dust, spider webs and spiders (dead and alive). My picture of a light fixture is the one directly over the sink and clean dishes rack.||"Guest Kitchen" is advertised as being well equipped - there are inordinate amounts of tableware - but I couldn't find a single pan. Let's consider the tableware - I had to dig through the silverware to find a fork that didn't have remnants of food on it. Likewise the plates. However we did receive a lecture about being sure to do our own dishes immediately so Trina (owner) "doesn't have to deal with them". When my spouse was doing our dishes in the evening, she brought hers out and put them in the sink next to him and said "I'll do those in the morning".||||One of the reasons we selected this place was the hot tub - it was our plan for our final evening in Hawai'i. When we asked to see it while checking in we were told in a manner that was both dismissive and unapologetic that it wasn't working. We also were regaled with a "poor me" story about having to wait "weeks" for someone to fix it. When wandering the grounds later I came across the hot tub - it clearly hasn't been used in a very long time. See picture - not pictured are the broken steps up to the platform the tub is on. It clearly hasn't been in use for many months - and if someone came to work on it they wouldn't be able to because it is full of and surrounded by junk. The website and description should be updated to reflect there isn't a hot tub.||||When checking in I asked Trina if they could prepare a breakfast to-go as we had to leave at 5:30am. The reply was admonishment about not disturbing them or the other guests, and a lengthy monologue describing ways to be quiet. There wasn't really an answer about breakfast at that time - but later I was gifted another speech about the fact that we had "lots of food in the fridge" and "can't you just make a cheese sandwich?". * see mitigating factors.||Trina reiterated about being quiet in the early morning another couple of times - but then their dogs barked at length several times during the night, which completely disrupted our sleep.||||Talking of dogs - one of the other negative reviews mentions that they feed their pets in the "commercial kitchen" - which they deny in ALL CAPS in their response. I witnessed her feeding the pets in the commercial kitchen, and then leaving the dirty dishes on the floor until the next feeding.||||Mitigating factors:||The location is ideal for spending a day or two near the touristy center of Kailua/Kona without being in the thick of it.||It's fun to drive up the hill and be perched above the beaches and town. The elevation provides slightly cooler temperatures which is nice for sleeping.||The lanai is a lovely hang out spot, we enjoyed watching the sunset.||Later Shai came and told us he was making us a to-go breakfast and it was nice to eat that at...

Shai and Trina are an amazing couple that made my 7 day stay to The Big Island incredible . After reading some of the other reviews I can understand that some may be expecting a 5 star resort like the Fairmont Orchid where we dined on evening, but Liliuokalani is not that place. It’s was for us like visiting family, hosted by relatives we had never met but so were our instant good friends.This is an small inn run by a loving couple that show an honest interest in making your trip a wonderful event. There’s no manicured paths or ornate sculptures but it is a working coffee farm with a very comfortable bed, incredible views, and hosts that are the best. My daughter and I have traveled pre-COVID to Europe, Central America and on a 3000+ drive across the US. We have stayed in mega resorts , Airbnb’s and motor ins. Likikoi was none of these, it really felt like being home and made this vacation one of the best I have ever had. My 21 year old daughter gave me the greatest gift (compliments from a 21 year old are few and far between)when she said I have a travel knack for finding great inn’s and out of the way gems but she said this was my best find so far. Lilikoi is where we found that aloha spirt that is genuine and from the heart. Fresh roasted organic coffee with a papaya fruit bowl followed by an variety for egg or vegetable dishes made fresh based on our dietary choices. Morning discussion with hosts on best beaches, great shopping finds or special events to make our day trips special. Always a restaurant recommendation for best local foods and how to avoid heavy traffic. Sitting on the Veranda watching the sun set and having a fresh fruit smoothie appear from Shai kitchen made a great finish to a wonderful day. Yes they have dogs and cats, but they are quite keepers of the pease , napping most of the day and appearing only to share the sunset. There are many resorts changing hundreds or thousands of dollars per night for 5 star perfection but Lilikoi is not trying to be that sterile type of place. It’s Family. They get a five heart...