The Royal Kona Resort in Kailua-Kona is an icon on the Big Island of Hawaii. It’s been open since 1968 and has staying power, even if it’s in need of a renovation (happening now, 2024). Our review of the Royal Kona Resort includes restaurant, luau and amenities information so you can plan a great trip to the Big Island with confidence.
While the Royal Kona Resort isn’t my absolute favorite hotel in Kailua-Kona, it’s in my top three and I would certainly stay here again. As you read on you will see just what makes this resort a great option for families or couples, even with its age being factored in. If you have any questions about staying at the Royal Kona Resort or visiting the Big Island of Hawaii in general, please leave a comment or send us a note. We’re always happy to help plan awesome trips!
What Are the Accommodation Options at the Royal Kona Resort?
There aren’t tons of room types at the Royal Kona Resort, but that’s okay. You’ll find that all rooms are spacious enough for four people to function well and all rooms have a large lanai / deck / balcony, so even if you’re visiting Hawaii with kids you can easily be able to relax in your room at the end of a long day of scenic highways on the Big Island. We stayed here before heading out on our Hawaii UnCruise sailing and it was perfect for us.
The room options at the Royal Kona Resort include two doubles, a king, or a corner room. The difference between all these is mostly the type of bed and then the view. When you book a corner, you’re getting more outside space. You’ll either be able to book ocean view or standard, and then while the hotel is undergoing a renovation (2024) you may also be able to get a better deal on a room that’s not yet been renovated.
Book the Royal Kona Resort here!
Top Pick: Ocean View
I tend to not care what view we get when we’re at a hotel, unless it’s looking into a gross alleyway, but here at the Royal Kona it’s worth booking a room with a view. It’s not bad to look or into the flowering trees or towards the other hotel towers, but if you can have a view of the ocean and a wonderful lanai to watch the whales from, why wouldn’t you? The cost difference in the two room types is about $40 per night.
During our stay at the Royal Kona Resort we actually spent much more time here on property than we normally do when we’re traveling. Since there are plenty of reasons to just hang out at the hotel, we did and spent significant time at our room (tired kids and homework) between activities on property. Views make downtime better, for sure, and the Kona Coast is a beautiful place to relax.
Check in / Check Out at the Royal Kona Resort
When you first arrive at the Royal cove Resort, there is a large tiki in the driveway to welcome you. From there, a quick walk across the little footbridge and you are at the outdoor lobby ready for check-in. There are a few different Hotel towers so be sure to clarify where your room is. Upon check-in, make sure you get a daily calendar because there are different events happening all throughout the week, both at the restaurant stage and around the property.
Royal Kona Resort Amenities
We really do try to spend as little time at hotels and resorts when we are traveling because the purpose of us visiting a new place is to go explore and experience everything. Because we do get to spend so much time on the big island, and in Kailua-Kona specifically, we didn’t mind just relaxing at the resort here and taking advantage of the amenities.
Some of the unique amenities offered at the Royal Kona Resort include early morning yoga by the water, almost nightly performances at the outdoor restaurant by local musicians, ukulele lessons, and access to tennis courts. The tennis courts do have an additional fee, but it’s nominal if you’re into tennis (I think it’s $10 or so, 2024).
Pools at the Royal Kona
There is an oceanfront pool that’s pretty large here at the Royal Kona Resort. It also has a shallow little kid pool attached to it and plenty of sun chairs and shade all around. You can also reserve a cabana if you want. But that’s not the best part about staying at the resort…
What really sets the Royal Kona Resort apart from anywhere else we’ve stayed on. Any of the Hawaiian Islands is the swimming cove. Just below, the hotel is a private cove with a few lounge chairs and sandy area, and then direct access to a saltwater lagoon that gets continually refreshed with incoming waves. The snorkeling here is actually some of the best we’ve done anywhere in Hawaii.
True, it’s not full of gigantic parrot fish or monk seals, but the variety of boxfish, urchins, angel and butterfly fish, and even snowflake moray eels was amazing. Even though this amazing cove is directly connected to the hotel, we spent several days swimming here and it never got busy. I think people didn’t realize how amazing the swinging and snorkeling experience here is.
Book the Royal Kona Resort here!
Fitness Center on Property
Yes, there is a fitness center at the Royal Kona Resort. It’s not a huge fitness center but it does have both free weights and hydraulic weight machines. There is also a collection of cardio equipment so if you don’t want to go running on Ali’i Drive, you can easily do the treadmill or ellipticals here in the Royal Kona fitness center.
If you do want to go running, below you’ll find a great running map with a couple different route options. Since we have stayed in Kailua-Kona several times, I’ve perfected my running route and it feels like running at home now. It’s a great route to run along the water to the King Kamehameha Beach Resort and then up to the highway and then down the hill towards the Club Wyndham Kona Hawaiian Resort and back to the Royal Kona.
Dining at the Royal Kona Resort
To be a resort you need to offer some dining, and the Royal Kona Resort does indeed have it. Both a great restaurant/bar and a luau, you can remain on property and have your needs met just fine. We do like to leave the resort for dining though, because there are some great restaurants in downtown Kailua-Kona that we like to go back to. Also, if you’re trying to stay on a budget, there are some great options that are walking distance from the Royal Kona.
Easy Dining at Don’s Mai Tai Bar
Everything at the Royal Kona Resort is oceanfront. The rooms, the pool, the lobby, the koi pond, the dining. Don’s Mai Tai bar is actually surprisingly good for both breakfast and lunch. The breakfasts are huge so just be prepared to share giant loco moco or you can just grab coffee and pastry. For lunch they’ve got great burgers and salads.
The real highlight though at Don’s Mai Tai Bar is the mai tai menu. I didn’t count but there were at least 7 different types of mai tais. Whether you want to stick with the traditional or gopher one that has tequila, there is a Mai Tai for any taste. And it’s all oceanfront which is just amazing because you can enjoy your meal and watch whales.
Voyagers of the Pacific Luau
Even though we do get to visit Hawaii quite often, it’s rare that we attend a luau. Since we were staying at the Royal Kona Resort, we decided to do the voyagers of the Pacific luau on property. It is one of the better priced luau options on the big island, and the food and drinks are actually quite good. What makes each luau different, is that each one celebrates a different element of Hawaiian culture or history. A luau is a great addition to a Big Island itinerary!
The Voyagers of the Pacific luau was very different from any other that we’ve been to. This particular luau actually gets into different stories and traditions from several Polynesian cultures. The performers are Hawaiian, Maori, and come from other Polynesian Islands. Everybody has a different specialty, whether that is the hula or the haka and they perform both individually and separately. There is also fire dancing, which the kids always think is amazing, and it really cool. Another luau option we can recommend is the Island Breeze Luau at the Kamehameha. Book it here.
Going to the Voyagers of the Pacific luau is a premium cost, but in my well-traveled well-Hawaiied experience, this one is worth the admission. All food and drinks are included, but it is courteous to tip your table server.
Book the Voyagers of the Pacific Luau here!
Stores on Site at the Royal Kona
There is a shop on site at the Royal Kona Resort. It is just next to the Mai Tai bar in the open air lobby space. While there are some sundries, they mostly focus on Hawaiian fashion like aloha shirts and flowy dresses. And of course you can get macadamia products.
If you walk towards Kailua-Kona, you will come to all sorts of other shops including the outdoor mall and several ABC stores. It’s also about a 20-minute walk to the grocery store or Longs Drugs, so if you need anything else if you don’t have a car you’ll be fine.
Where is the Royal Kona Resort?
The Royal Kona Resort is located just on the edge of downtown Kailua-Kona. The Kona Coast is the west coast of the Big Island of Hawaii. Kailua Kona is directly in the middle, and from here you can either take the South Shore Road, North Shore Road, or the saddle road to get to Hilo. Hilo on the east side of the island is the rainiest city in the United States, but it’s beautiful and worth a visit.
It’s a 10-15 minute walk from the resort to the heart of the downtown area. Just within a five minute walk of the hotel you come to shops and restaurants, then the sea wall, then the Hulihe‘e Palace, then the pier and everything else. Give a listen to our Hawaii podcast episodes to hear us dig into the different parts of the islands, with several Big Island episodes.
Transportation To and From the Kona Airport – KOA
It’s so easy to get to the Royal Kona Resort from the Kona Airport (KOA). It’s a $15-$20 Uber ride, and even when it’s busy on the highway, it only takes about 15 minutes. You can easily make stops at Target or other shops on the way, or pull into the Honokōhau Small Boat Harbor to visit the beach at Kaloko Honokōhau National Historic Site and see the sea turtles.
Can I Walk from the Royal Kona to the Kailua Pier?
Even though the Royal Kona Resort is not directly downtown, it’s only a ten minute walk to everything, including the Kailua Pier. When we did our Hawaii island hopping cruise we walked from the Royal Kona Resort to the sea wall to watch for our incoming UnCruise ship, the Safari Explorer. Later we were able to quickly get to our departure port with no traffic or stress.
During the days, we also walked from the Royal Kona to downtown for several meals, shopping and the Hulihe‘e Palace. I love the location and the ease of visiting everything downtown from the resort.
Ten Fun Things to do near the Royal Kona
Even though it could be really easy to stay just at the Royal Kona Resort or just walk into town, you’ll want to go explore more of the Big Island. It’s really easy to do a mini-road trip or day trips from Kailua-Kona all around the island. Below you’ll find our top picks for easy add-ons to your visit to the Kona Coast.
- Snorkel with Manta Rays – this is my FAVORITE Big Island activity and I’ve done it five times
- Tour coffee farms on the Kona Coast
- Visitng Pu’uhonua O Honaunau National Historic Site – amazing Hawaiian culture site
- Drive up the coast to Hapuna Beach Recreation Area – awesome snorkeling
- Visit Pu’ukohola Heiau National Historic Site – history and snorkeling
- Drive the Mamalahoa Highway to the South for the Black and Green Sand Beaches
- Visit Hawaii Volcanoes National Park – incredible at night for lava glow during an eruption
- Drive the Saddle Road to Mauna Kea for science and SNOW
- Do a boat adventure/snorkel tour to Kealakekua Bay – super pretty!
- Just relax at the Royal Kona Resort and swim in the quiet cove – YOU WILL LOVE IT
I hope this helps you make a decision about where to stay when you visit Kailua-Kona. We were pleasantly surprised with our stay at the Royal Kona Resort and despite there being renovation work happening while we were there, it didn’t inhibit our enjoyment.
If you have any questions about the Royal Kona or planning your time on the Big Island, please leave a comment or send us a note. We’re here to provide all the info and opinions you might want!
