Royal Kona Resort
Hotel Information: Brimming with the cheerful, hospitable aloha spirit that characterized Hawaii's appeal when the resort was built in 1967, the Royal Kona Resort preserves an easygoing, friendly charm.
A breezy lobby area has whirring ceiling fans and boisterous macaws. Budget-minded travelers return annually for fun and relaxation.
The Lotus Center Spa, a full-service massage-and-health center, also offers chiropractic care and acupuncture.
Amenity highlights: On the oceanfront is a swimming pool, a small children's pool, and a good-sized sundeck. On its southern edge, the resort created a pocket-sized sand beach behind a lava-rock retaining wall that faces a natural, calm-water cove for swimming and snorkeling.
Because Royal Kona Resort guests love luaus, three are held weekly in a coconut grove on the oceanfront. Dining is also available at Don the Beachcomber Restaurant and Mai Tai Bar.
Insider tip: This area is where King Kamehameha established his summer residence in 1812 after unifying the Hawaiian Islands and returning to Kona, his homeland.
Next to the Kona Pier in the center of Kailua-Kona is the waterfront location of his thatched-roof home and a temple he had built. Replicas of home and temple have been constructed, with signs explaining their significance, and the area has been preserved as a National Historic Site.
Royal Kona Resort offers air-conditioned guestrooms in three six- and seven-story wings. All rooms are nonsmoking and have balconies or patios with garden, mountain, or ocean views.
Amenities include compact refrigerators, in-room safes (surcharge), wireless Internet access (surcharge), and TVs with pay movies.
