Honomu · Hāmākua Coast · Big Island
Honomu Inn, Hawaii
A restored plantation-era guesthouse in the village at the foot of Akaka Falls Road — the closest place to sleep to Hawaii’s most famous waterfall.
- 4.8/512 guest reviews
- 2.7 mito ʻAkaka Falls
- 1 mito Kolekole Beach
- 10.8 mito Hilo Airport
- FreeWiFi & parking
Why we picked it
The only village on the Hāmākua Coast that puts you minutes from the falls
Almost everyone sees ʻAkaka Falls the same way — a rushed stop between Hilo and Waipiʻo Valley, twenty minutes on the loop trail, back in the car. Staying in Honomu changes that. The park opens at 8:30am and the tour buses arrive mid-morning; from a room here you can be through the gate at opening, on an empty trail, with the light still on the water.
Honomu Inn is a restored plantation-era house on Old Mamalahoa Highway, in the middle of a one-street sugar town that has kept its wooden storefront row, its galleries and its old bakery. Rooms are air-conditioned with private bathrooms and a balcony or terrace, and a shared kitchenette is stocked with continental breakfast items — including, as more than one guest points out, proper pour-over coffee ground fresh rather than pod machines.
It is small, it is quiet, and it is not a resort. There is no pool, no restaurant and no 24-hour front desk. What it offers instead is the rarest thing on this coast: proximity, at a fraction of what the Kohala resorts two hours away charge.
The rooms
Inside Honomu Inn
Rooms have air conditioning, private bathrooms and a balcony or terrace. See all photos and room types on the booking page.
The setting
Honomu and the Hāmākua Coast
Facilities
What’s included in the room
Room
- Air conditioning & heating
- Private bathroom
- Balcony or terrace
- Sitting area
- Hardwood or parquet floors
- Flat-screen TV with satellite & streaming
- Wardrobe, clothes rack, socket by the bed
- Linens and towels provided
Bathroom
- Bathtub and shower
- Free toiletries
- Hairdryer
- Toilet paper and towels
Shared spaces
- Shared kitchen with breakfast items
- Fresh-ground pour-over coffee
- Outdoor furniture and terrace
Services & practical
- Free WiFi in all areas
- Free on-site parking (no reservation needed)
- Private check-in / check-out
- Express check-in / out (extra charge)
- Key card access
- Smoke alarms, CO detector, fire extinguishers
- Non-smoking throughout
- English spoken
Rooms in Honomu are limited — the village has only a handful of them.
Location
28-1692 Old Mamalahoa Hwy, Honomu
Honomu sits on the Hawaiʻi Belt Road about 11 miles north of Hilo, at the junction with Akaka Falls Road (Highway 220), which climbs directly to the park entrance. The village has a bakery, art galleries and a goat dairy — but no supermarket and no gas station, so stock up in Hilo on the way in.
- Kolekole Beach Park ~1 mi
- ʻAkaka Falls State Park 2.7 mi
- Hawaii Tropical Botanical Garden 4.3 mi
- Onomea Bay & scenic route 4.5 mi
- Hilo International Airport (ITO) 10.8 mi
- Downtown Hilo ~11 mi
Honomu Inn, Honomu, HI 96728 — Hāmākua Coast, Big Island.
The area
What’s within 20 minutes
ʻAkaka Falls State Park
A 442-foot free-falling waterfall on a paved 0.4-mile loop that takes about half an hour. Open daily 8:30am–5:00pm. Non-residents pay $5 per person plus $10 per vehicle — card only, no cash.
Kolekole Beach Park
A stream-mouth park under an old railroad trestle, with a waterfall, picnic pavilions and one of the few easy places to get to the water on this cliff-bound coast.
Hawaii Tropical Botanical Garden
Forty acres of rainforest valley dropping to Onomea Bay, on the four-mile scenic route that leaves the highway north of Hilo. Named by past guests as a highlight of their trip.
Honomu town
A single street of restored plantation storefronts: an old bakery, art galleries, locally roasted coffee and a goat dairy, all within a couple of blocks of the inn.
Umauma Falls
A triple waterfall north along the coast, with ziplining on the same property. Worth the drive — but it is a drive, not a walk from the village.
Hilo
Restaurants, supermarkets, the farmers market, Rainbow Falls and the island’s east-side airport. Also the natural launch point for a day trip to Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park.
Guest reviews
What guests actually say
“Honomu is a lovely and peaceful place along a beautiful stretch of the coast north of Hilo.” Everything was great. The Inn was very comfortable, and the owners generous and welcoming. We loved the little town and the proximity to the Hawaii Tropical Botanical Garden, which was one of the highlights of our trip to the big island.
“We enjoyed this little sleepy town and the whole area around it, especially the ‘jungle’ walks.” There is a common kitchenette well supplied with continental breakfast items. Best thing was available coffee, made with fresh ground beans and pour-over pots not Keurig disposables.
“Great room, location and facilities. Wonderful sounds of the birds at night.” This is a beautiful old building and the spacious room and deck were ideal for a few days. The breakfast items, including excellent coffee, provided in the kitchen were great and we had everything we needed to enjoy our stay and explore the North and East side of the island.
Verified guest reviews. Read all reviews and current scores →
Honest assessment
Is Honomu Inn right for your trip?
Book it if…
- Waterfalls, rainforest and the Hāmākua Coast are the point of your trip
- You want to be at ʻAkaka Falls before the tour buses
- You like historic buildings and small owner-run places
- You are flying into Hilo (ITO) rather than Kona
- You are happy with self-serve breakfast and good coffee
Look elsewhere if…
- You want a pool, a spa or a restaurant on site
- You need 24-hour reception or a late-night arrival
- You are basing yourself on the sunny Kona side
- You want beach-resort weather — this is the rainy windward coast
- You need step-free access throughout a historic building
Still weighing the Big Island against Oahu, Maui or Kauai? Our guide to the best island to visit in Hawaii for the first time compares all six on cost, scenery and how much driving each one asks of you.
Before you arrive
House rules
Check-in
From 3:00 PM until 10:30 PM. Guests are required to show a photo ID and credit card at check-in.
Check-out
Until 11:00 AM.
Damage deposit
A refundable deposit of USD 150 is collected by credit card on arrival and reimbursed within 14 days of check-out, subject to an inspection of the property.
Cancellation
Policies vary by room type. Check the conditions attached to each option before you confirm your selection.
Smoking
Non-smoking property. Smoking is not permitted in the rooms or indoor areas.
Getting there
Hilo International Airport (ITO) is about 10.8 miles away, roughly 20 minutes by car. A rental car is essential.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
How far is Honomu Inn from Akaka Falls?
Is breakfast included at Honomu Inn?
Does Honomu Inn have air conditioning and WiFi?
Is there parking at Honomu Inn?
What are the check-in and check-out times?
Is there a damage deposit?
How much does it cost to visit Akaka Falls State Park?
Should I stay in Honomu or in Hilo?
Is Honomu Inn suitable for families?
Check availability at Honomu Inn
Honomu has only a handful of rooms in the entire village, and they fill months ahead in high season. See live rates and free-cancellation options for your dates.
Check Availability & Prices →Best available rates · Free cancellation on selected rooms
Honomu Inn is located at 28-1692 Old Mamalahoa Hwy, Honomu, HI 96728. findyourhtl.com is not the property — we are an independent travel site and all bookings are handled by Booking.com.
This page contains affiliate links. If you book through them we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Rates, availability and policies are set by the property and shown live at checkout. Last reviewed: August 2026.
— The findyourhtl.com team