Dolphin Bay Hotel, Hilo

John, Annette and the staff treated us like family. Warm cinnamon buns, fresh papaya and bananas in the morning along with the best Kona coffee. John lent us umbrellas for the rainy morning and flashlights for the lava flows at night. The best service we've experienced ever! We only stayed two nights but should have planned on an extended stay. Weekly farmer's market is close by. This is the closest we've ever come to being true locals in all our island visits. Attention to detail was appreciated. For those who don't like the frogs at night there are ear plugs in the medicine cabinet! Don't know when but we will definitely be back!

I loved the people here, they were so helpful and friendly. Just the nicest people we met on the whole island. We booked a room in the afternoon and when we came back that night we found alot of bugs in it. I don't know what kind they were, but it doesn't matter they were everywhere. We left and went elsewhere. We considered the money well spent on the great information we got here.

We spent 4 nights here and it was the best place we stayed during our 10 days holiday. It makes you feel like you are in a friend's house, very relaxing with useful extra kitchen facilities(sponge, dish washin liquid, salt & pepper)with fruits from the garden, cinammon muffin and kona coffee. John, the owner and 2 ladies at the reception were always helpful. John was at the reception every morning to give advice on travelling plans and his knowledge about the volcano and the stargazing was very useful. We saved so much money by doing it ourselves. They supply ear plug for the noisy frogs, but again, it makes you feel that you are in the rain forest and that was nice.

Comfortable, cute, clean, and cheap. Hilo is probably the most Hawaiian of anywhere I have been. Dolphin Inn gave me and my family a hint of "old school" Hilo and what life might have been like there 40 years ago. Dont get me wrong, it was extremly CLEAN and the fact that they do not have air conditioning was kind of like camping without bugs and it being 65 degrees at night, every night. You could not ask for nicer people and they have in their lobby some of the most incredible photos of the volcano that you can find.

John Alexander truly goes the extra mile to make his guests feel welcome and comfortable. The hotel rooms are not fancy, but they are clean. The coqui frogs may sing you to sleep, but in the morning you wake up to a great cup of coffee, fresh papaya, and scrumptious sticky buns. Take a walk in the garden or sit in the lobby and talk story with John about the volcano, his adventures on the high seas, and sleepy old Hilo town. Ah...

The location, just blocks (and an easy walk) to "downtown" Hilo is convenient and the rainforest setting is delightful. Pride of ownership is evident in the attention to details, beginning with the reservation process. We promptly received a booking confirmation in the mail, along with a map to help us find our way. It was such a treat to find ice cold water already waiting for us in the fridge and 2 separate bouquets of anthuriums in our very clean room. Fresh flowers dotted the public spaces as well. Bananas, papayas, and even lychees were set out for guests' enjoyment. Wifi access is available but only in the small reception area so it can get a little crowded at times.

The Dolphin Bay Hotel is incredible. The rooms are clean, the beds are comfortable and the kitchenette is well supplied. The banannas hanging over the coffee pot, the bowl of fresh papaya and the rolls made it feel as if you were walking into your own kitchen. The open air facility is freeing and relaxing. The most wonderful thing about it is the beautiful park that is directly behind them. Strolling through my personal rain forest, looking at Orchids dripping from the trees and listening to the stream running through it was something I enjoyed every day....and night. We went frog hunting the last night we were there and found four of them sitting on wide leaf plants such as bananna. We were treated with friendly aloha, guided with one of their maps, to many beautiful places...what isn't beautiful in Hilo? We were provided umbrellas (which we didn't need) and flashlights for exploring. The Dolphin Bay Hotel helped me fall hopelessly in love with the wonderful town of Hilo. Mahalo!!!

My brother and our families shared a two bedroom unit for our first two nights in Hilo. My brothers wife researched the availability and chose the Dolphin Bay Hotel from the webs add. She picked the best place to stay the first time. John and his staff made our visit a pleasure. He loaned us umbrella's, a cooler and gave us valuable advice on where to visit. The room was exceptionally clean and modern, with even Wi-Fi access. The breakfast buffet was out of this world with papaya, bananas, rolls and huge amounts of fresh coffee. We will definitely only stay at the Dolphin Bay Hotel for entire stay next time we visit Hilo. Thanks John!

The motel is set in a tropical garden with lots of orchids, ginger, breadfruit, avocadoes, bananas, etc. Wonderful caramel muffins, fruit, coffee, tea, chocolate for breakfast. There is a laundry for guests' use. We had a very comfortable room with full kitchen and attached patio in the garden; this is not the usual sterile skyscraper hotel. It's in a quiet, safe residential neighborhood. The owner is a great planner of day trips and source of botanical knowledge. Don't miss!

This hotel is an excellent value, especially if you sped most of your time pursuing activities around the Big Island. All the staff is terrific, and the owner, John is a font of useful information. The rooms are clean and comfortable. The surrounding gardens are very nice...We had a great week!!