Manago Hotel

Many people in Hawaiʻi love the Manago Hotel, and with good reason. It is comfortable, clean, and way cheaper than all the ridiculously overpriced hotels in Kailua-Kona. Here are some other positives: very good food with huge portions, a really nice staff who are genuinely friendly, beautiful grounds and a great view, very comfortable beds, and excellent shower pressure. Also, they now have wifi, which works well. If you haveʻt been before, although I would recommend it, you should know what is missing. There are no TVS in the rooms, no phones, no "do not disturb" signs (so housekeeping may come by when you donʻt want them to), no ice machines, no coffee/tea setups, no fridge, no amenities such as shampoo, tissues, and absolutely nothing on the walls so it looks very spartan. There is no air conditioning although the ceiling fan helps. Also, there is a soap dispenser in the shower, and I think that works for shampoo. They have phone booths located throughout the hotel for guests who may not have a cell phone (or whose service doesn't work in the Captain Cook area). The towels are small and there are not a lot of them - same is true for the one small pillow on the bed. But if you go to the lobby, they will happily give you whatever you need. The walls are pretty thin, so that's another consideration. If you are a larger person, everything will seem too small to you: the toilet, the single bed, etc. There are no elevators, and there are many levels. Part of its charm is the unusual design, but I wouldn't recommend it for anyone with mobility issues. Our room was clean, but the closet was unusable due to.a strong mildew smell. Also, if you arrive late (after 7:30 pm), you must have a working cell phone in order to call up the night watchman who will give you your key as the lobby closes early. Another issue is something which is prevalent no matter where you stay on Hawaiʻi Island in a place with the windows open: coqui frogs. They are quite noisy and they will either drive you crazy or lull you to sleep. Lastly, the location - the Manago Hotel is not very far from Kailua-Kona town where all the action is. But if you stay in the area, there is not much going on and very little to see. So itʻs either peaceful or boring, depending on your temperament.

The Manago Hotel's website accurately summarizes the property in just a few words: "clean, simple and affordable hotel accommodations." As other reviews note, there are no TVs, limited amenities, no A/C, no elevators (three story building behind the lobby and restaurant), well-worn (but functional) room furniture, and cell phone service can be spotty (there is stable but slow WiFi). We only stayed one night, the first night of a two week trip...the airfare difference between arriving Friday or Saturday was substantial enough that we came out Friday (even with the added expense for the hotel, the rental car, etc it made sense to tack on a day...plus, it's the Big Island after all). We stayed in a room with a double bed, on the first floor, so did not need to navigate the stairs. At first we thought it was pouring rain (it was rainy / misty the evening we arrived), but it turns out there is a water feature (waterfall type thing) in between the front building (lobby, restaurant) and the rooms. The coqui frogs are also prevalent in the area, so don't expect a pin-drop quiet night (we are used to noise at night so didn't really bother us). Every person we spoke with (front desk, restaurant staff, etc) were very friendly and helpful. You can tell they care about their guests and don't take them for granted.

Quaint, rustic, old. Bare bones, no tv or AC, but clean. Inexpensive get-away if you really want to get away. Since the island is big, it’s a convenient place for a one-night stop-over. It’s a 3-story walk-up so either get a room on the 1st level or be prepared to carry your bag(s) upstairs. The hotel restaurant is popular with both tourists and local folks. Inexpensive, tasty, down-home diner-type options. Feel the country vibe with roosters crowing and frogs croaking. Family-run, now with the 4th generation continuing the legacy.

Old style no frills restaurant has THE BEST pork chop! Order with sautéed onions and gravy. Waitress suggested ordering a half order (not on menu) of the fish rather than the sandwich so as to get sides and no bread.

I can always count on the Manago to be clean and simple. Great place to stay. I go to Hawaii to enjoy the outdoors. The Manago provides simple amenities, but it's all you need. Clean place to sleep and shower and then off to another great day outside. Plus, I love the restaurant too.

The Manago is an old hotel with very basic accommodations - no TV, A/C, or frig. What it has is a gorgeous view with a beautiful breeze, a ceiling fan that keeps the room temp perfect, and a great crew at the desk. There’s a restaurant here too, and other food options are a short walk away. If you are on a budget and want to get away from the tourist-clogged areas to the north to explore the South Kona & Ka’u regions, this is the place to be!