Lilikoi Inn

I knew this was the place to go when I read various reviews on Tripadvisor that stated this was the best B&B they've ever been to in their decades of travel. Everything about Lilikoi Inn exceeded our expectations: The coffee and fresh fruit from their property, Shai's culinary masterpieces, the cleanliness of the rooms(and my husband is a clean freak!), the view from the lanai, Shai and Trina's activity suggestions, and the kitchen and common facilities. We stayed 3 nights in the Green Papaya room and wished we would have stayed there our entire time on the Big Island. Every morning, Shai cooked up such a large yummy breakfast that we wouldn't eat lunch until 2pm because we were so full. We were also traveling with our 16-month baby, and Shai and Trina were extremely accommodating in providing a sleeping mat, high chair, baby portions of food, and a chicken feeding show for him to enjoy. They also allow guests one complimentary load of laundry, which was wonderful considering we had a baby with us. Since Lilikoi in is in the mountains, the weather was refreshingly cooler than down by the coast. Shai and Trina are simply gracious people - they moved our car for us when we were blocking someone's car, they chased us down to give us their snorkel gear when they knew we were going to the beach, and they also gave us some of their poke stash to try. My only suggestion for future guests is to rent a 4x4 car or something similar because our Chevy Charger struggled a bit to get up their steep driveway.

Since we have stayed in only one Kona B&B, it might seem presumptuous to pronounce it "the best", but that's the call from a couple of B&B fans with a fair bit of experience around the US and Canada. Innkeepers Shai and Trina were very warm and welcoming, and Trina couldn't resist giving us a little hula lesson before we headed off to our luau. Shai is a farmer as well as a generous chef, and it is abundantly clear that he loves what he does, and that means special service for his guests. Breakfast is a hearty treat meaning there was no need for lunch till about 3 pm! Papayas, bananas, lillikoi (passionfruit) and avacodos fresh from the grounds not to mention outstanding coffee, also grown by the innkeeper. Shai and Trina have the commercial kitchen lacking at many Hawaii B&Bs, so the cooked breakfast course is hearty and delicious. The inn is located high up on the mountainside above Kona, making for cool evenings and great sleeping conditions without air conditioning (blanket actually needed). The view from the lanai where breakfast is served is fabulous. The setting is very quiet at night - no traffic and no frogs! Shai told us if we heard any noise during the night it would probably be the wild pigs foraging for avocados. The room (Lillikoi room) was very comfortable (not luxurious) with lots of room for your stuff, including a spacious bathroom with plenty of counter and drawer space.

We had an outstanding time at Lilikoi Inn during our 6-day visit of Big Island. Our days with Trina and Shai felt like living the coffee plantation life. From a big cool porch we took series of photos of picturesque sun sets and Kona’s lights below, but most of all enjoyed the rich and lovingly decorated breakfasts. All of Trina’s welcome and very worthwhile directions to her favorite snorkeling spots, hikes, shopping places and historical monuments turned out to be just what we had dreamed of. Shai’s cooking needs to be experienced!! Everybody looking for a warm welcome, a tropical garden, smooth home-grown coffee will find at Lilikoi Inn all what you are looking for in Hawaii.

Nestled up in the hills above Kailua, the Lilikoi Inn is a rare gem of a B&B. From the moment my girlfriend and I arrived, we were treated like family - Shai greeted us personally with a smile, a joke, and a delicious fruit smoothie. Our room was tastefully decorated with a beautiful wooden bed and a writing desk for my laptop – and they have wireless so you can check your email from paradise (if you care to.) After unpacking, we relaxed a bit on the lanai, which has a wonderful view of the town of Kailua and the harbor. It's a wonderful and romantic place from which to view the sunset, which we were able to do a couple nights, over a drink and some delicious guacamole and chips. The grounds include a farm with coffee trees, banana trees, papaya trees, an herb and vegetable garden, and chickens! They produce the freshest eggs imaginable to make the best omelets ever! The food was superb. Shai went to culinary school, and he knows food. 'Nuff said. The coffee served with breakfast was grown on site, it was delicious, and there was plenty of it; a great start for each day's exploration around the island. Our hostess, Trina, was wonderful and gracious, as well as an incredible resource for information about what to do and see. We had a guide book of course, but she had advice and recommendations for places that hadn't been mentioned, and they were great (for instance: a lesser-known snorkeling beach.) She is tuned-in to the local scene and provided fascinating background information about “real” Hawaii, not just what tourists experience. Along with Shai, who knows plants, animals, and the geography, they were able to answer all of my nerdy questions about the natural history and culture of this strange and magical island – greatly enhancing my travel experience. This was our first visit to the Big Island, and to the Lilikoi Inn, but it won't be our last!

We recently stayed at the Lilikoi Inn, Holualoa, Kona, Hawaii and found ourselves in a beautiful, modern hostel surrounded by a tropical paradise with views of the ocean. The food was excellent and beautifully served each morning and the rooms comfortable with private entrance and access to guest kitchen and laundry facilities. There is a hot tub on the premises as well as all manner of tropical fruit and coffee trees. The area is a boon for bird-watchers.

this is a gorgeous place with beautiful views from the lanai to the ocean, sunset, and orchard garden. We shared a lot of stories with both the owners, Shai and Trina, but we should say that Shai is just the ultimate host: making gourmet breakfasts, smoothies of their own organic fruits, going out of his way when we had to leave early for the whale watch and all we asked for was a little coffee, but he had coffee, wonderful fruit juice and a bowl of fruit/yoghurt/homemade granola there for us around 6. I had to store some of mine in the shared fridge to finish upon return. I always loved those newborn chicks running around with their mom. That's where the truly freeranging chicken eggs come from. We would come back to our Lilikoi Room any time, Sieglinde Lug and Lee Chambers

My Girlfriend and I stayed at the Lilikoi for 2 nights. The minute we arrived we felt the warmth and friendliness of the hosts Trina and Shai, almost like coming home. The whole place is like paradise. You get fruits and veggies from the own garden and if you are there in the right season even your coffee is home-grown. Therefore the breakfast you get every morning, is one of the highlight every day. Don’t you dare to miss it. There are no visible neighbours and you can't hear the road. You think you are in the middle of nowhere. But is only a five minute drive and you are in "downtown" Kona. The rooms are very nice decorated and spotless clean. But the real hit is the separate hot tub in the garden. The views from there are outstanding. The pictures you see on their and this homepage really give a good impression of the place. If we come back to Big Island we will definitely stay again at the Lilikoi, but that time for much longer.

We stayed at the Lilikoi Inn during the week prior to Ironman 2009 and it was a perfect spot. A little bit up the mountain so a bit cooler and quieter than Kailua town but just a short drive away from start and finish. The views are absolutely amazing and the daily freshly cooked breakfast made with local produce is just delicious. Room are nice, clean and have a lot of light. The atmosphere is friendly and family-like, you have to love this place. We'll be back!

My partner and I had the distinct pleasure of staying at the Lilikoi Inn on a recent trip to Kona. I should preface this by saying we're B&B devotees with very high standards. We wanted a B&B that was out of the touristy fray, had a seriously substantial (and delicious) breakfast and that had rooms that were tidy and kitsch free. Sp, to say that the Lilikoi met our standards would be an understatement. Shai and Trina are exceptional hosts, hysterically funny, attentive and 100% committed to making sure that one's stay at the Lilikoi is nothing short of perfect. Our room was beautiful and comfortable, and a stones throw from the hot tub-- bonus. Shai's cooking is outstanding! It was a real treat to know that a good portion of each day's breakfast came from Shai and Trina's 3 acre property tucked in the hills. Also worth noting-- Shai and Trina sometimes host dinners for guests...if you have an opportunity to partake, do! (I think all one needs to do is ask, the food is divine!!) We were treated like family and there was no question that went unanswered. "Where's the best place to snorkel?" "Where's the best local sushi place?" I'll close with this...we're already plotting a return trip, hopefully with friends in tow!

I stayed with my husband for 5 days and that was such great moments!! Spectacular view from lanai, wild secret garden, beautiful and clean room, lovely doggie and kitty,... Lilikoi Inn makes you feel you're just like in quiet paradise! I was also moved by owner's warm personality and hospitality. He has his background as chef, so you can't miss his yummy breakfast!! I miss fresh fruits and avocado from garden and perfect pancakes. Surrounded by coffee trees and fresh air, Lilikoi Inn will remind you of what the real life should be like. I will definitely choose this Inn for the next visit to the Big Island.

We have been to the Big Island before and stayed in different B&B's, but the Lilikoi Inn was easily the nicest, most conveniently located, and the best value. Just upland from Kona, it's also near Capt' Cook, the best place on the island to snorkel and swim with dolphins. The rooms were clean, large, and tastefully decorated, with really comfortable beds. The breakfast was delicious and incorporated many local tropical ingredients, many of which were grown right there on the farm. Shai, the chef/owner, has a catering background and it shows in his flair for taste and presentation. We haven't even mentioned the hot tub and the big lanai!! All in all the Lilikoi Inn is a great value for a lovely place, plus a truly welcoming stay for LGBT peeps!

We drove up to a beautiful home and were welcomed with a glass of lilikoi juice (passion fruit juice). This was the beginning of three amazing days. We were welcomed into a large beautifully decorated living room. Our room was right off the living room. It was a very large room tastefully decorated. I really loved the painting of the lilikoi vine and flowers. We also had a lovely private bathroom. Our teenagers were right next door. Their room had two beds and their own private bathroom. There was also a small kitchen were guests could do some cooking. The husband, Shai, appears to offer dinner to his guests once a week. We had a delicious meal of curried chicken, rice and green papaya salad. Everything was cooked to perfection. Even the setting was idyllic. They have a very large lanai off the living room. It has views of the ocean. A romantic setting for a romantic meal, of course we had two teenagers. The wife, Trina, was very friendly and gave us advice on what to do. She lent us flash lights to go see the volcano. She recommended a place to go snorkeling that was not in our trusted guide book (Big Island Revealed). This turned out to be the best coral we had ever seen. We have snorkeled in many places over the years, but this place was special. We even got to swim with dolphins and turtles. The beach she recommended was near the one that the guidebook recommended. We checked out both beaches. She was right, the one she recommended was better. The breakfasts alone make this my favourite B&B. The first morning we had lilikoi juice (I am still dreaming about that juice) and fresh omelets. They have their own chickens and you can really taste the fresh eggs. Someone in our family must have told them it was my birthday on a second day. They made a great fuss of me. We had french toast with lilikoi syrup. My only birthday wish is to be able to come back often, to be able to stand and watch the sunset from the lanai again while drinking yummy lilikoi juice.