Shipman House Bed & Breakfast Inn

Shipman House is uniquely "Old Hawaii"--location, architecture, furnishings, gardens, and hospitality. Huge guestrooms with free Internet. Five blocks to Historic Downtown Hilo's excellent restaurants and multicultural shops. Explore... more

Here is what guests had to say...

"Outstanding!!!" 6/3/2008
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Stayed On: 5/2008

Staying at the Shipman House was the highlight of my entire trip to the Big Island of Hawaii. It is by far the most elegant and exquisit bed and breakfast on the island. The innkeepers, Gary and Barbara Anderson, were extremely gracious to their... read more


"AMAZING with a capital "A"" 5/21/2008
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Stayed On: 5/2008

I have read the other reviews and I absolutely agree how wonderful the hosts Barbara & Gary were. They were so imformative on things to see and do! We have an open agenda to just explore and they pointed out the best places to go in our time. It... read more


"Wonderful referral..." 5/11/2008
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Stayed On: 5/2008

Hi- We stayed at Shipman House in May, 2008, and were referred by LOCALS- that is, friends who have a house in Hawi, Hawaii. They said it was THE place to stay in Hilo, to make a completely Hawaiian vacation. It was indeed. We love history, and... read more


"A Romantic Birthday Weekend" 5/5/2008
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Stayed On: 4/2008

What a wonderful surprise when I arrived at the Shipman House. I had no idea where my husband was taking me for my birthday weekend, as we departed Honolulu on Hawaiian Airlines. I was thrilled to be in such a historic and gracious home. The... read more


"Best breakfast but beware..." 3/31/2008
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Stayed On: 2/2008

The Shipman house has a lot of good and bad things. Good - Historic old house on a nice property. Owners have had it in the family for years and really care about it. Breakfasts are sumptuous and consist of home grown fruits and fresh baked... read more

Innkeeper Response
Thank you for the review. We appreciate your pointing out the "bad things", but want to assure you guests should not be surprised by any of them on arrival. About 10 years ago someone else mentioned the no-shoes-in-the-house and the no-rolling-luggage-indoors policies, so I made sure both are posted clearly on the website, in the initial email availability response, and in all confirmation letters. We want all guests to be completely aware before they commit to a reservation here. Our National Register home's original floors are all soft Douglas fir, easily marred by hard shoes, grit and rolling luggage. In Hawaii, it is customary to remove shoes before entering a home, and locals wear slip-ons. We are also very careful to inform potential guests that all rooms involve stairs, and they may have to carry their own luggage. The part about not rolling luggage indoors is underlined. Because it is so pleasant on the island's Hilo side, air conditioning is generally unnecessary, but all rooms do have ceiling or table fans, just in case. In 11 years, we have had just six guests request a television. Our website states we have no televisions, but I would be happy to add it to the email correspondence, too. Coqui frogs arrived at our end of the street about 5 years ago, bringing their nocturnal 'bird' chirping. We do provide earplugs in each guest room for those who find the frogs unpleasant, but most visitors like their song, as you did. We want to thank you for this opportunity to clarify some of our B&B's little quirks.

- Barbara Andersen (innkeeper)

"Experience Historic Hawaii at it's Best" 11/12/2007
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Stayed On: 10/2007

Shipman house is a rare jewel in B&B's. The rooms, house and grounds are impeccable. The furnishings are mostly original to the house and filled with the history of the house. Gary and Barbara are extremely warm and inviting and obviously love... read more


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Contact Information


Shipman House Bed & Breakfast Inn Bed and Breakfast
Shipman House Bed & Breakfast Inn
131 Ka`iulani Street
Hilo HI 96720
USA
Phone: +1-808-934-8002
Fax: +1-808-934-8002
Toll-free: +1-800-627-8447
Innkeeper(s)
Gary and Barbara Andersen
Rates:
$219 - $249
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Reviews

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Read all 6 Reviews
Review Shipman House Bed & Breakfast Inn, Hilo, HI

Photo Album

As Hilo Bay sparkles beyond the bamboo and palms, a tropical still-life of homegrown fruits welcomes you to breakfast on the lanai. Tart, juicy limes and passion fruit complement sweet, succulent papayas, rounded out by apple bananas, starfruit, and assorted local favorites. What will it be this morning? Smoothies? Muffins? Try them all, and don't miss the macadamia granola!After a full day of rocking on the verandah or hiking in the jungle, fall asleep to the pitter-patter of rain or the nocturnal sounds of the rainforest. Decorated in island woods and fabrics, your large guest room evokes the airy simplicity of Old Hawaii.
If these walls could talk, they would tell of visits by Queen Liliuokalani, author Jack London, even Cecil B. DeMille, who filmed "Four Frightened People" on the property. The Shipman House is like a museum, but you may touch, sit, sleep on, and play the keys of history.Discover an Ikebana arrangement of anthuriums, a 1912 Steinway Parlor Grand "B" piano, hand-rolled curved glass windows, and more on your self-guided tour of the house.  Guests who play are invited to tickle the same ivories played by Hawaii's last monarch, Queen Lili`uokalani, as well as by many of the Islands' other well-known musicians.
Auntie Clara's Shell Room looks across a rainforest to Hilo Bay.Lili`uokalani Garden, a beautiful place to walk, is 5 minutes from Shipman House.
Reflections from an early morning stroll. The two geese are Hawaii's state bird, the endangered nene, saved from extinction by Herbert C. Shipman.