The only thing I can say positive about this place is it's in a decent location and reasonably clean. Even though its the cheapest place in Kona to stay, Its way way way over priced for what one receives. The staff is horrendous and unethical. They will find a way to make it far more expensive than advertised and take advantage of you due to limited other available options. They create all sorts of ludicrous expenses to inflate the cost. Ones I saw during my recent stay. A late check in fee.. a late late check in fee. A baggage storage fee if you show up before check in hours, and a storage fee to leave them for even as little as an hour after checking out. A short stay extra cleaning fee for those not staying enough days by the owners whimiscal mood that day. The lady who runs the place is unethical, untrustworthy, and exceptionally rude to everyone, and will take advantage of you during your stay. They will creatively create a fee of an extra 20 to 40 a day for whatever your situation is. I know the cheaper price is attractive but your best option will be to find a budget hotel thats still expensive and stay elsewhere. Be warned, You will not have a good experience here and will end up spending way more.

NO STAY. TERRIBLE. Very minimal, even for a Hostel. Zero AC. You're better off down the road at My Hawaii Hostel for the same price with much more amenities or the resorts for an extra $50. Booked same day, then deeply regreted. Been waiting an hour for the "manager" to show and give us a refund because apparently the regular worker can't. 😒🙄 He led us on for a while about her showing. She never did. I made him call her only for her to be incredibly rude and tell us that "there's nothing she can do" which is a whole lie. Please don't waste your time or money.

Not one to usually leave reviews but I feel extremely disappointed by this hostel, first hostel I’ve stayed in after 7 months of backpacking that charges customers for leaving luggage and doesn’t allow customers to stay in the common area post check out whilst waiting for a flight. Feels exploitative and contradictory to Hawaii’s global appeal of being tourist friendly and a relaxing time. Very expensive for what you get, I hope for future backpackers to big island, Kona sees more hostels open, to raise customer service standards and make prices more reasonable. Hesitant to recommend but unsure if there’s any other options!

150 dollars a night, to stay in a closet with no A/C. staff are rude and more concerned with taking your money and getting you out then having an enjoyable stay. ive never stayed anywhere that wanted to charge my partner and i €40 to store our bags after checkout, you would think three nights at 150 would be enough of a charge. kitchen is adequate and the room although small was clean. over priced, no beach in sight, rude unhelpful staff sums up the experience

I stayed in a mixed dorm room. I loved the location! Close to the trolley stop and to twon. The room is decently sized and fairly comfortable. However I’m very disappointed in the cleanliness and comfort. The bathroom outside of the room was ok, the shower inside the doorm had an unpleasant odor.Sadly I had bugs make their way under my mattress sheets and there were ants in the room. The kitchen provides the bare minimum( refrigerator, an electric stove, coffee maker) however it closes at 10 and doesn’t open until 6 so .. no midnight snacks. The staff however is absolutely helpful and friendly. The hostels hang out spots are ideal for multiple groups to converse and have a good time. I would stay again if the cleanliness improves :(

DO NOT stay here. I booked a stay with them back in February 18th. I ended up cancelling my stay because the hostel I was at had available space. I cancelled within their cancellation policy and it's currently March 24th and I still haven't been refunded. I've exchanged multiple emails with them and still haven't received my money. I am currently filing a fraud complaint with my credit card company to get my money back. WORSE hostel ever.

This hostel is utterly terrible, dingy and the worst accommodation I have ever stayed at. It was dirty everywhere, had a weird stench throughout the hostel, also smelt like weed, staff were very unfriendly. Beds were really uncomfortable, The A/C would intermittently work, which also made it hard to stay and sleep inside a stuffy room and to make matters worse, whenever I turned on a light, it would attract insects into the room, which made me so uncomfortable and I was not able to relax. It almost felt like an unsafe environment, honestly was elated when I left when I did. I do not recommend this place, you are better off staying at a hotel. This place is lucky that i am giving them a star, because I honestly wouldn’t rate it, just utterly terrible and disgusting.

I'm a local and have stayed here over the last few years on occasion but no more! What finally did it for me was total lack of Aloha spirit from a manger/prob owner who couldn't allow me to finish a business phone call before interrupting and me out right at check out. If you want to be treated only as a piece of profit, this is the place for you. About $100 for a dorm bed after hidden parking costs, you think you would be allowed a extra minutes after checkout to be talking on the phone. Wasn't able to charge my phone either. Was on the edge of the property out of the building when owner went out of her way to walk up and very rudely asked me to leave minutes after checkout. I just checked out handed in my towel on time. Would have charged me an extra day if I didn't pay cash. All we can get from you with NO ALOHA... She doesn't give two cents what other customers feel either. Don't come here unless the terrible attitude changes (it may someday)...

Manage your expectations - it is a hostel after all, but the location is really strategic and probably the cheapest in the area. The closest beach is only 4 mins walk away! I was skeptical and anxious to come after reading many negative reviews about this place, their hygiene and unfriendliness. But it turns out to be fine - I had a private room with an ensuite shower and toilet but it was literally in the room itself. I personally don't mind so much because it is a hostel after all and it is convenient for me to have a bathroom and shower without having to share (the price of a private room is $185/night for the ensuite). Noise travels within the walls but they have quiet hours and I did not have any problems with this. As for the staff, as long as you listen to their instructions properly (such as stripping down the sheets, pillowcases and towels upon check out) they are fine. We asked the staff nicely if we could hang around the common area and promised not to use the kitchen/bed/shower and they were generous enough to allow us to do so. They do not have breakfast service like some hostels but they have a fully equipped kitchen that could be used by all if you want to save money and cook on your own.

My boyfriend and I stayed in a private room. The private room and bathroom were great. Amenities included a kitchen, a/c in private rooms, a few parking spots on the hostel grounds ($10/day) and street parking up the road. The last hostel that I stayed at was very loud at nearly all hours of the night, Kona Beach Hostel was quiet and very laid back. The hosts were friendly. There's a gate that leads down toward Ali'i Drive for easy access to markets and restaurants.

I rarely write reviews and I almost never complain about accomodations. But this one, I had to do: I am deeply disappointed with my recent stay at Kona Beach Hostel. The place was dirty and unkempt, with a strong odor throughout the building. To make matters worse, the staff were incredibly unfriendly and unhelpful, making it clear that they did not want to be bothered with the needs of their guests. You are not allowed on their property after the 10am checkout in the morning. They threatened to call the police if we would not immediately leave when we were sitting in the outside area waiting for our Uber. I would not recommend this hostel to anyone and will be sure to tell others about my terrible experience. It was a complete waste of time and money. Unfortunately, it is one of the only ones in Kona.

The location was good but the Lady at the reception was very, very unfriendly. She first told us that we couldn't check-in because the person who booked the trip wasn't present. BUT we had e-mail contact with them in beforehand where they stated clearly that check-in wouldn't be a problem even if that person wasn't present. Even after showing her the e-mail, she still blamed us and was annoyed that we didn't cancel the trip and booked a new one (for higher prices!). Way too high prices for the rooms and keeping the luggage after check out is 20$ per person! With a nicer treatment, the stay wouldn't have been such an unpleasant memory.

the only good thing about this hostel is the location. it’s dirty, unfriendly, the owner is down right rude to the customers, walks into rooms & shuts lights off as your using them! it’s all about the money not the customer, i would never recommend it or stay there ever again, very dirty it needs to be inspected!!!

The Kona Beach Hostel was a terrible experience from start to finish. The unfriendly woman at the front desk made us feel unwelcome from the moment we arrived. Her attitude was unwelcoming and made us feel uncomfortable throughout our stay. To make matters worse, we were not allowed to leave our bags after checkout and were instead threatened with additional charges if we did not leave immediately. I would not recommend this hostel to anyone due to the poor customer service and hostile environment.

The facilities are good for a cheap stay. Everything you need like a kitchen, bathrooms, showers, and towels are included. The only downside is the staff is not very nice. Kinda treat you like you’re stupid. Besides that a good place to stay for cheap.

Hostel accommodations are fairly standard for a hostel, nothing fancy but fine. Great location, walkable to the beach and town of Kona. Leaving this review because staff went above and beyond for me. I accidentally left a favorite bathing suit behind and they were kind enough to ship it back to the mainland. Very much appreciated! Mahalo!

This place is AWESOME. Location is fantastic, prices were fair, and the hostess was very kind to us. I highly recommend going for the deluxe private suite. It is half the price of a hotel in the area and is extremely spacious. I will definitely be staying here again when I return. Thank you for your kindness and hospitality! Mahalo!

I loved my stay at the Kona Beach Hostel. Staff (Victoria) was friendly, helpful and thorough. They went above and beyond to make my stay comfortable. Room and washrooms are clean and kitchen is decent. Lots of outdoor areas to relax and enjoy. Honl's beach is across the street and it's a short bus ride to Magic Sands and Kahalu'u Beach. Bring a boogie board and/or snorkel gear. You might be able to borrow from the hostel. Location is great - short walk to the shops, restaurants and Farmer's market. Supermarket is a little far if you don't have a car.

Same price as a hotel and definitely a worse experience. My husband and I thought it may be cool to check out the hostel scene here, but it was a mistake. We booked a private room with a bathroom months in advance. We arrived at 4:30 (1.5 hours after check-in time) and were told that our room wasn't ready because of a late check-out. We were offered a room without a bathroom instead, or the front desk attendant said we could go to another hostel about 20 minutes away. She then told us that if we took the room without the bath, they would waive the one-day cleaning fee they add. The cleaning fee is around $22, where the price difference for the room was $30. We were also leaving very early the next morning for the airport, so I did not want to stay at a farther away hostel. I expressed this, so the attendant asked us to step away while she called the manager. Lo and behold, she came back and told us that they were "changing the carpets" which is why the room wasn't available, but they can wait to do that, so we can have the original room we booked. (The rooms don't have carpets - but the drapes were removed, so maybe the curtains were being changed?) Either way -- why would they do work on a room that they know has been booked months ahead of time? Why tell us it was due to a late checkout originally and try to get us to stay somewhere else? It left a bad taste in our mouth from the get-go. The fees are ridiculous, as others have mentioned. Even still, we weren't expecting anything glamorous for the accommodations (we've stayed in many hostels before), but the place was dingy and run-down. There was no toilet paper in our room, there was trash left behind, and the bed was laughably hard. We were woken up by other loud guests multiple times (not necessarily the property's fault, but still something to note, as I saw other reviews note that it was a quiet hostel). This place is clearly trying to scam people out of money and exploit their location. Stay at a hotel instead.

Definitely does not deserve some of the one star ratings and rants that were posted here. This is still a HoStel, folks. Sure if you are looking for AC in your room, don't come here, you get a decent fan at max. While there are other hostels out there with probably a warmer welcome and better overall service (like actually being present during check-in/check-out times) the facilities are actually quite nice. located close to the beach with free parking and a lot of space outdoors with shadow to hang out. it offers everything you would expect from a hostel. And yes there are some extra fees (like single night cleaning fee and local taxes) but if you read the T&Cs during booking, you know what you're expected to pay. One night in a dorm was about 75 USD in total. If the prices are fair in comparison to other hostels in the area, is up to you to compare and decide.

Only stayed here for a night but was a really fun place. Got bored and walked around, was in the beach in 3 minutes walking. Cool Gazebos and lots of space to meet people and talk. Stayed in a private room and that was nice, way better than you'd ever get in a hotel for this prize.

Could be so much better ! The place is nice and we'll equiped, however they make it so complicated for tourists : you have extra fees for late check in, only one night stay, towels etc. A hostel should be ready for all these situations, that is called customer service. They can learn from other hostels.

We had a perfect three night stay here this week. The location is perfect, the staff were helpful and friendly, our private room and bathroom were clean, the grounds and the building were impeccably kept..what more could we ask for? Yes, they do have some extra fees, like the $40 we paid for a late check-in, but it's all in the contract. A lot of people are down rating this place for clearly stated policies. You can avoid surprises by reading these and knowing what to expect.

First time on Kona side, 1st time at this Hostel. The STAFF are amazing especially Vika the manager from Ukraine of all places. The grounds are well kept, the vibe is peaceful and laid back. The buildings and rooms are charming. There are bathrooms & showers in unique places on property. Beautiful trees, shrubs, 🌵 & succulents on the grounds. Basic Hostel rules apply here. Smoking is allowedbONLY in designated areas. Many refrigerators to keep items cold Excellent choice if you're frugal like me. Book direct with this Hostel & tell them Marcus from Waikiki sent you.

Excellent hostel. I work in hospitality. I had a great time. Staff was very pleasant and accommodating. I met many people hanging out at the big table. Place was clean and well organized. Parking was on site and easy. Slept well after all my adventures because of 10pm curfew, most people wake up 8 am. Locks everywhere for safety. Will not think twice before staying here again. Would be my first choice!!! From AZ.

the staff were rude - they were barely there so when people needed to check in/out it was difficult to find them and also noisey dorm mates there was no one to ask to change room or enforce the quiet hours rules. there are many hidden fees that aren’t told to you when you check in. It’s ridiculous that you aren’t able to stay on the property after check out at 10am. We left our bags in our friends dorm but when we came to collect them the staff cornered us and charged us for leaving them there (even though they weren’t in the “secure” luggage hold) and threatened to chuck our friends out of the hostel if we did not pay a $40 fee that we had never been told about. It was extremely intimidating as a young person to be cornered by an adult with authority. If u do stay here make sure to strip the bed and empty the bin because I can imagine they’d charge you for not doing that either 🙃 the hostel was $600 for our stay so it wasn’t exactly cheap ! The kitchen closes at 10pm which although doesn’t seem late it makes it really difficult to get water during the night. The website and hostel world say you are provided with a towel but this was not the case. It also claims to have a reading light which also isn’t there. On the plus side the island is beautiful, Kona has great bars and eating places and we made some great friends - just try a different hostel !

I loved my stay here. Victoria at check-in was very helpful getting me settled. The facilities were emaculate. Well stocked kitchen and separate grilling area. Walking distance to restaurants and shopping.

I loved this spot. Rooms were clean and everything needed was there- very clean rooms, sheets and towels, shampoo in the showers, pots, pans and plates. The kitchen closes at 10:00pm to keep it quiet for the guests, but there is a fridge and place to keep food when the kitchen is locked, so when I got up for 3AM conference call, I could nosh on snacks easily. The staff are GREAT! Everything one needs to know is on the website when one books, so hearing a couple young girls complain about the one night fee and a minor storage fee for suitcases/backpacks made it clear they were unhappy in their own lives. They tried bitching out one of the staff who was kind and professional to them in return(I was impressed!!!). There is ALWAYS a staff person on site, and there is a doorbell that rings all over the campus, so if you can't find the person (who may be room cleaning or hanging laundry on the line) it is very easy to get them to run up to the receptionist desk to help you. The folks I met in the dorm were so nice, and since the hostel is walking distance (less than 5 minutes walk) to a nice beach park across the road, I saw beautiful sunsets. The larger beach near the town pier is about 20 minutes walk, and is shared by a hotel-but is definitely for the public...and I went there because its an Ironman Triathlon swim spot and I wanted my photo taken at the sign :-) I enjoyed sitting on the lanais (deck) for ocean breezes and views, and watching the sunset into the ocean. Such a beautiful spot this downtown Kona hostel has. Lots of room in the dorm. NOTE: a previous reviewer said they left their suitcases in the room for the day after they "checked out", to save on the storage fee. I personally saw how inconvenient that was to the rest of us in the room as well as the housekeeping staff. The guy who's bed it was left next to said, "I don't really know these tow girls, so had nothing to do with this" I felt bad for him, but not the 2 girls who were informed by staff that it was not appropriate and the storage fee would apply. I applaud the hostel for holding folks accountable for good behavior. Hostel living isn't for everyone, and balancing guests who try to take advantage of the system(as these tow girls certainly did), I did see one of the smaller dorms and it has air conditioning. Kona is a warm location, but even though it is I didn't have trouble sleeping. There is a locked gate at the Ali'i Drive entrance, and I was given the code to get in any time...I walked down to On the Rocks for mai-tais at sunset- ten minutes maybe. Easy location at this hostel to get around town. Park your car on Walua Road and walk- its way easier than paid parking in town. I did see a local person there, and its clear that the hostel is for tourists, not locals. The local person got pissy about the hostel not having locals rates, and then whined about the price. Seriously, the staff person held it together fine, but I wanted to scream: don't let that whiner stay here! Otherwise, everyone was super friendly and welcoming, and the staff guy who was building a new roof over the porch was friendly, too. Highly recommend Kona Beach hostel.