Royal Kahili, Big Island

The Royal Kahili is a cozy, family-oriented condo resort located on Alii Drive, between Kona downtown and Keauhou harbor. The resort offers easy access to shopping, restaurants, and places of interest in Kailua Village. Guests can enjoy ocean views from the pool area, as well as proximity to popular surfing spots like Banyan Beach and Lyman's Beach. The complex features a heated saltwater pool, hot tub, koi pond, lush tropical grounds, and BBQ area with outdoor dining. Additional amenities include beach gear available for borrowing, a large onsite community library, and a well-stocked local store within walking distance. The resort enforces a strict no-smoking policy and quiet hours from 9 pm to 9 am. With its central location and family-friendly atmosphere, the Royal Kahili offers a comfortable and convenient stay for vacationers exploring the Kona Coast.

Royal Kahili Average Rates


As of October 2024, the average price of a 2 bedroom unit at Royal Kahili is $297. The average takes into account Hawaii's 18% accommodation tax as well as the cleaning and booking fees rentals charge. Also note that prices vary depending on the specifc unit and season (holiday rates are usally much higher). Visit the Royal Kahili Rentals page to see specific unit prices for your dates.

What Do Guests Think? An AI Analysis of 139 Guest Reviews


Reviewer Portrait

The following executive summary is based on a comprehensive and impartial AI analysis of guest reviews. Keep in mind that all units are individually owned, and review scores among units can vary considerably.

The Royal Kahili condo resort on Big Island receives generally positive reviews from guests, highlighting its great location, amenities, and the cleanliness of the units. Many guests appreciate the easy communication with hosts, the well-maintained pool and garden areas, and the added bonuses such as beach equipment and comfortable beds. The views from the condos, especially the ocean views, are frequently praised. Some negative points include issues with maintenance, such as a noisy refrigerator, outdated furniture and decor in some units, and occasional cleanliness concerns. The elevator being out of service is mentioned multiple times, posing challenges for guests with mobility issues or those staying on higher floors. Despite a few negative experiences, the overall sentiment is that the Royal Kahili is a comfortable, convenient place to stay, with many guests expressing a desire to return in the future. This summary is based on a comprehensive analysis of 139 guest reviews.

Recent Royal Kahili Reviews


The condo was the perfect size for a family of 4. Well equipped with everything we needed to make meals and also items for our beach days (towels, chairs, umbrella). We had no issues whatsoever with the condo itself; our only issue was the rooster(s) we heard every morning starting around 4:30am.
Gloria
April 2024

We loved our stay at the Royal Kahili. The unit was perfect for our family and in a great location! Excellent base camp for Big Island adventures.
Julie T.
April 2024

By far the best VRBO our family has rented! Super clean property, super white towels and sheets, property is nicer than the pictures. My teens picked this property because of the 80’s Hawaiian vibe and we loved it, so fun! Great location! The extras like the beach chairs, beach towels, snorkel fins, and games in the property made our trip! Thank you! We will be back!
Michelle M.
March 2024

Condo is in a great location but needs updated.
Margaret E.
March 2024

The complex is beautiful! Starting with the parking space, right by the elevator. From there an easy walk past the Koi pond to the condo. Once in, it’s easy to cool the unit down because there’s excellent cross ventilation. There are plenty of fans, and AC too. The furnishings & decor are very nice. I wish I had read all the items provided & could have packed much less! So much of everything! The pool & grounds are very well maintained. We grilled several times. The lanai has an amazing ocean view. It also overlooks the pool which I enjoyed because our grandchildren joined us mid trip. We are Alaskan, so they really enjoyed being in an outdoor pool. My husband also liked the hot tub. The only downside, is the property next door is undeveloped, but has roosters who crow before dawn. But you can’t hear them with the lanai door closed. The thoughtful owners provided very nice beach, chairs, coolers, etc., for enjoying the ocean as well. This unit is perfect for anyone looking for a relaxing easy Hawaiian vacation.
Mike and Pam A.
March 2024

This condo is spacious and has a great layout and view. My 9 &4 year old grandsons swam in the pool everyday. We found everything we needed in the kitchen. There are some pool and beach toys available to use. Location is within 5-15 minute drive to several nice beaches and shopping villages. We had a lot of fun!
Wendy E.
March 2024

Our family had two nights here when we arrived in Kona. Pool area was great to hang out. Condo was good size, just dated. Loved listening to the ocean from the balcony (though the street between condo and ocean can be busy). It was a great spot for us to hang out and have very quick access around town.
Kirk S.
March 2024

The condo was in a great location. We were in walking distance from the beach, shopping, and restaurants. My family enjoyed staying at the condo. I would recommend it when staying on the big island.
Teresa
March 2024

Great property and pool area, conveniently located across the street from the ocean. Beautiful sunset views!
Karen R.
March 2024

The property was dated as was evident in the picture, but it was clean and functioned well for us. Good location and nice view of the ocean, even saw some whales one day. The pool deck and hot tub were wonderful.
Gerhard B.
March 2024

Beautiful condo, and view.
linda k.
March 2024

Property was as described. Great location, host, and communication.
David N.
March 2024

We were stunned when we entered the Condo. It’s like we flashed back to the 70’s. I am not sure what they consider upgraded. Everything seemed like old. The carpet was dirty. The tile in the bathrooms were cracked and had mold and the place looked like it had been painted by a child. Booked for four nights and stayed one night. No response from property manager and the owner said he had no involvement in the place and hung up on me. No refund. Out $1600!VRBO was no help either.
John F.
February 2024

Nicely done
Doug L.
February 2024

This apartment was a great basr for exploring Kona and amazing sights on the west side. Our host was very helpful with recommendations for restaurants.
Walt B.
February 2024

The condo was as advertised and the pool area was an oasis after a long day on the island. Great location near Kona! The VBRO app was a challenge however, as it would not let me sign in to reply to the host's messages.
Delane D.
February 2024

Awesome view and great location-airport,shopping, and dining all within easy driving distance. Good communication with the hosts and easy check in. We were able to walk across the road to watch surfers riding the waves and beaches were just a short distance away. While having dinner on the Magic Grill patio one evening, we were entertained by whale’s playing off shore. Thanks Kristi and Jim for sharing your condo with us.
Joan A.
February 2024

Nice location.
Leslie G.
February 2024

We had a great stay! place was very clean and comfortable, manager was so nice she asked if we needed anything? I said yes sharp knifes! (I was using my pocket knife) the next day there was a new set that was wonderful. Thank you again.
Dorene D.
January 2024

It was a perfect stay. Great location, beautiful gardens, pool, and outdoor eating areas. House was clean, well stocked and had a jungle like view. Pool sparkle; spa had heating prob but owner got fixed. Will stay again.
William B.
January 2024

So cozy! Right across from the beach. I miss having coffee on the balcony and lidtening to the birds chirping, or petting random cats in the parking lot lol its a very comfortable place. The bed in the master is honestly more comfortable than the one i have at home. Very close to downtown. Parking spot is a little tight! Kristi was very communicative and friendly. We plan on coming back next year. Theres also a sign in book that you can see who stayed and what they did, great resource when youre trying to figure out local things to do.
Tanya C.
January 2024

Very comfortable place to stay with everything we needed. Great location. Owner was always quick to respond. Check in and out made easy. Would love to stay again if we make it back!
Barbara S.
January 2024

Our stay was good. Had another place cancel on us last minute and ended up here. The unit is large and well equipped. Location is nice and the common areas of the property and really nice. Nothing wrong with the unit but the interior design is dated.
Michael C.
January 2024

The kitchen is stocked very nicely! Lots of towels! Beach chairs are convenient. Great TV! A noisy rooster so I would recommend earplugs which we had. Clean quiet pool area.
Annette W.
January 2024

This unit was very clean, a great location and was stocked with all the amenities you could possibly want for a trip to the big island! The owner of this condo was extremely thorough on what was provided at this location! We had the trip of a lifetime! Highly recommend staying here!
David S.
January 2024

We had a great time on the Big Island and the stay here made it even better. It was the perfect home base, from the well-stocked kitchen to the pool to the AC to the great selection of books. The kitchen even had a crock pot, which was great for starting a meal and heading out for the day. During our stay, we ran out of trash bags and new bags were delivered the next day. Great place for a family of 4!
BenAndMalinda L.
December 2023

We enjoyed beautiful sunsets and rainbows from the balcony! Very clean condo complex and the pool was wonderful. Very nice place and hosts. Mahalo!
Kathy C.
December 2023

We are a family of 4 from Honolulu and this was our first time to Kona. The unit was in a good location and was nice and spacious. A/C worked great and we don’t have central A/C in our house so it was a real treat. We cooked an entire Thanksgiving dinner in the kitchen. Having the master bathroom with big shower was super nice. Having the box of pool/beach toys was a nice touch. Our 15 year old and 2 year old loved the pool which was clean and a good temp. The only annoyance on the trip was the roosters in the woods nearby which start crowing at 4:30am! Overall we really enjoyed and would stay here again. The unit really is big and open and has a comfy feel.
Rebecca P.
December 2023

The condo was perfect and exactly as described. We had all that we needed for a great stay. Several beaches were within walking distance and only really required a small drive to wherever we wanted to go. The whole team's kindess was amplified when my daughter became sick and we had to extend our stay by one day. Ed and his boss found us a unit in the same building to occupy. I was very impressed and grateful for their kindess. I would highly recommend.

December 2023

We really enjoyed our stay. The condo has everything you need except for snorkeling gear, which was no big deal to rent. The coolers and beach towels were perfect for our daily outings which took us completely around the island to hike and snorkel. It is so beautiful! The view is amazing and the condo is so quiet. We were able to pick up fresh island fruit from the open air market just down the road and cut it up to have for breakfast with coffee while sitting on the lanai. The location is great and Ms. Rebecca communicated extremely well with us. We have already talked about returning to this location again!!! We would definitely recommend to anyone including our family and friends who are looking to going.
Angel G.
November 2023

The place was good. The master bathroom can use so cleaning of the mildew in the shower. Loved the washer and dryer. Thanks
Roy M.
November 2023

Ed's place was perfect ! Great location and amenities. Very easy communication with the host and he made sure we had everything we need. We stayed during the Ironman and I would stay there again if needed.
Maude S.
October 2023

This place is in a great location. Even though it’s quite old, the building seems to be well maintained and in a good condition. It is very quiet and comfortable place for vacations. The hosts are very nice and responsive. We enjoyed the staying and will consider coming back in the future.
KAN
October 2023

Can't beat the view off the lenai on this unit! Decently close to good food and beaches. Overall great stay.
Isaac G.
October 2023

The condo was clean , the backyard very pretty and the
Roxanne G.
October 2023

Perfect place to stay
kelli s.
October 2023

Ed was great to work with right from the start. Quick to respond to communications and always very friendly. The condo was easy to find, right off Alii Drive. Condo was close to parking spot, 3rd floor but elevator was steps away from parking and front door to condo. Condo was very clean, well laid out and had so many bonuses in small necessities. The beds were comfortable and the AC was amazing when we needed it. We would stay here again and also recommend to friends and family if they travel to the big island.
Darcy I.
September 2023

The refrigerator was so noisy. The air conditioning helped very good to cool down.
Itsu M.
August 2023

We had an amazing stay at Ed's condo in Kona! Its is so roomy and the perfect space for the 4 of us! The kids really enjoyed having their own bed and said they were so comfy. My husband and I slept very well too! The grounds of the condo are so beautiful and we enjoyed the pool every night! Ed is a super host and only a quick text/call away. When we spoke he gave us some good recommendations on beaches and food. The condo is in an ideal spot to travel around from and you can hear the ocean. If you are thinking of booking your stay here, do it!! We cant wait to come back and stay again.
Shelly T.
August 2023

Our family of four loved this well appointed condo. It is just as described and included everything we could need. It was very clean. Communications with Ed were great: he was quick to respond. The pool and BBQ area is also great! Highly recommend staying here.
Marie-Josée C.
August 2023

Our family of four loved this well appointed condo. It is just as described and included everything we could need. It was very clean. Communications with Ed were great: he was quick to respond. The pool and BBQ area is also great! Highly recommend staying here.
Marie-Josée C.
August 2023

Nice and good ac
Leroy E.
August 2023

Beds were plenty comfortable - place was clean and it was just across the street from the ocean and in a good central location. Pool and hot tub were nice too! Would stay here again - even met other condo owners who were very welcoming
Seth G.
August 2023

The property was exactly as described. We are a family of 4 with a 17 & 20 year old. Our vacation times together are very limited. We were so grateful for opportunity to stay there. My oldest went on a few fishing charters which ended up only catching beautiful boat rides. We also did the manta ray night tour, went to Kona a few times, did a few hikes, went to Maunakea and the National Volcano Park for the sights. We went to several beaches to swim and snorkel. The one right across the street was nice to snorkel in too. This is my third time visiting Kona. It has really gone downhill with homelessness, litter and drugs. We didn't have any problems, you just need to be aware (like most other places these days). My 17 year old wanted to jog into town after dark to find his dad and brother, but i didn’t want him to. I enjoyed the lanai daily. The pool, garden area is gorgeous and so enjoyable at night. Ed is a great communicator and graciously allowed us a late check out since we had such a late flight. We had one small issue. The wheel of the twin bed broke (salt air is hard on metal). I had the perfect size extra sturdy box to keep it off the ground and level. Ed really wanted to get that fixed for us during our stay, but we were ok. I also appreciated the washer, dryer and how well the kitchen was stocked, especially salt and non-stick spray. The pan didn’t work to well for scrambled eggs, so i baked them. My regret is not staying longer. Mahalo!
Danette O.
July 2023

What was supposed to be a beautifully crafted review has now turned into a warning to future guests!!! I will never book with this host and I am here to tell the world that they have been forewarned! The host lives on the mainland and will not be there to physically make sure the property is in good shape before your stay. Instead, she relies on an incompetent and shady property manager to be her eyes and ears and solely trusts them because she deems that person to be “honest” while you, the guest is assumed “dishonest”. I don’t know about you, but when I go on vacation, the things I check for are hot running water, a comfy bed, and a generally clean place to stay. I didn’t know I was responsible to inspect the place for damages and repairs needed. If that was the case, why am I shelling out money to stay when I should be paid to be the property manager? At any rate, there was a seal loose in the master bedroom when we arrived. When we shower, we don’t wear our glasses and thought it was a door handle since it was protruding out as a loop. Of course I didn’t take any pictures or report because I didn’t deem it as damage and I never denied seeing the loop handle. Again, it’s NOT my job to look for and report damages. At any rate, we were charged for damages that we didn’t cause. We requested for proof that the shower was NOT damaged before our stay and she couldn’t provide that. Since I had no recourse, I will let karma handle things from here on… Becki.
John T.
July 2023

clean and great location
George T.
July 2023

Large master bedroom with renovated bathroom. Good location near white sands beach. Costco, Walmart, Target and Long's within 20 to 15 minutes. Lot's of restaurants near, including mom and pop restaurants.
Carmela F.
July 2023

Elevator was out of order. It appeared to not have been functioning for some time. Loud maintenance in morning in downstairs condo. Place was fine otherwise.
Lee H.
June 2023

This condo was perfect for our stay in Kona. The location was ideal and the view was amazing. This is the best condo in the complex with a direct ocean view right over the pool. The condo had everything we need. Even overstocked. The property was extremely well maintained - workers out there spraying down the pool area early every day. The BBQs are brand new and even music and nice lighting while out at the pool or dining outside with the waves crashing just across the street. It was a long drive to visit some other parts of the island and wondered if we’d regret not having a place in Hilo for part of our stay but absolutely worth the extra driving to come back to this place. The kids loved choosing from all the board games and we had all the channels/apps we needed to wind down with a movie. The owner was super responsive and friendly and of all the VRBOs we’ve rented over the years this may be our favorite (location absolutely was)!
Greg H.
June 2023

We only had a few days in Kona and this spot was ideal. Seeing the ocean from the balcony was icing on the cake. While a couple of miles from the center of town, we enjoyed walking to nearby spots and it was kind of nice to have a spot away from the hustle and bustle. Everything was comfortable and clean. Mahalo!
Mark S.
June 2023


Or feel free to contact us if you need help finding a place to stay. We are Hawaii's vacation rental experts.

More Big Island Vacation Rentals


Condo Guide

hawaii condo resort
Browse an alphabetical list of Big Island's condo resorts, with a map of their locations.
Big Island Condos

Rental Search

hawaii condo
Use the rental search page to find the best rentals for your preferences.
Rental Search

Highly Rated

hawaii vacation rental
Browse the island's highest rated rentals. They're popular so book early.
Big Island Vacation Rentals