Lilikoi Inn

Yes, the food tastes good. I’ve heard that Shai was a professionally trained chef. But I wouldn’t say that it’s eco-​friendly or even compliant with US food safety guidelines. Many ingredients come from Costco, including eggs, chicken, tomatoes, blueberries, strawberries, and yes, even the coffee. (I was told there wasn’t enough coffee from their own trees, so they mixed it with coffee from Costco.) The industrial kitchen is pretty messy. Food scraps hang out for hours to days, and leftovers can sit out for longer than two hours (the safe upper limit in the US:
) with flies and fruit flies buzzing all around. Like me, you might suffer from whatever havoc the bacteria will wreak.
Trina and Shai did treat their B&B guests with the hospitality you’d expect in Hawaii. As a work exchange volunteer, I saw some of that hospitality in the form of passion fruit and avocados, as well as one-​off rides to places they were going anyway or somewhere on the way. But I never felt completely at ease. Their work exchange listing understated the amount of work they expected, and it overstated how convenient it would be to get into town or to the beach (unless you rented a car). They were more frequently critical than grateful. I volunteer frequently, so I’m not a stranger to hard work. I just think it’s better for everyone if honest expectations are set upfront.
The lanai was nice, and the trundle bed was actually pretty comfy. (They let up to two work exchange volunteers stay in the smallest of the five guest rooms.) I do wish they made some effort to curb the mosquito population. Since the B&B is further from the ocean, those little vampires are more plentiful.
The verdict: I wouldn’t want to stay here as a guest given what I know about the business. I ended up staying at a place in town via Airbnb.

Our stay at the Lilikoi was charming in every respect. The owner is a friend of our cousin that lives down the road, so there was a personal connection to the place even before we arrived. This feeling continued in every aspect of our stay, especially the friendly personal advice we received about places to visit.
We sat around and played music (sometimes with the owner), perused the common library, and even ate dinner one night with other guests in a spontaneous display of hospitality. The lush jungle setting is beautiful and peaceful, the breakfast divine (and so filling you almost won’t need to eat lunch) and the view gorgeous. Given the vibe and price of many of the resorts on this part of the island, the rate at the Lilikoi is a real bargain, though you will of course need a car (and probably a navigator with an iPhone in the passenger seat) to reach the place. All in all, we could not have asked for more.

It’s always been a joy working with Trina and Shai from the Lilikoi
They are so hospitable
their food is outstandingly amazing a
Absolutely beautiful the whole property
they’re loving people that make you feel
TRUE ALOHA
Love Mark & Athena
Outdoor pizza oven is bomb

We have stayed at numerous B & Bs and this was the best by far! The combination of the lush and tropical setting, the lovely room and the most hospitable hosts we have ever had made this the best experience we have ever had at a B & B. The hosts, Shai and Trina, really love what they do and it shows. The food was wonderful. Shai made sure we knew where we were going, and gave great tips on beaches to see the sea turtles, and what restaurants to eat in. The B&B is in a convenient location, but feels miles away from anyone else. We enjoyed just walking up and down the road by the house looking at the vegetation and animal life. We will definitely stay there again when we return to the Big Island. Our only regret was that we stayed there 2 nights and not longer. We never got to try out the hot tub.

THE GOOD
The view from this place is SPECTACULAR. Such a beautiful location.
The breakfasts made by Shai every morning are wonderful and delicious. We stayed in 4 different bed and breakfasts and this place was the best.
Room was clean and bed was comfortable
Trina and Shai are very knowledgable. Shai directed us to the best place to peacefully snorkel and an unmarked lava tube.
Fruit, coffee, and eggs all come from the land around the inn. Loved it!
GOOD OR BAD? DEPENDS ON YOU
The owners are very friendly and casual. We didn’t mind this, except for when we came back expecting to be able to sit on the porch and there was a Hebrew lesson going on.
They were also the only b&b that didn’t send us a confirmation, so we called ahead and they were like, «Yeah, yeah, you’re here, see you soon!» *click*
One reviewer said it was sort of like staying with family. True enough! That might turn some off, but the other good stuff totally outweighed this for us!
BAD, BUT NOT THEIR FAULT
The road up to the Inn is super narrow and steep, and there’s a distinct possibility of scraping the bottom of your car turning onto the road unless you go exactly the right way.
I would definitely recommend this place!

Thee perfect place to stay while in Kona. The inn is always perfect. Great owners! And the best part is the view from upstairs in the eating area. Must see and must stay! Book today for your next Kona trip!

OH. MY. GOODNESS! Eco friendly paradise!!! And just the loveliest, most helpful hosts!!! First off, my fiancé Kev and I encountered a series of unfortunate events (I will spare you the details) up until the moment we called Shai from Alamo. «Shai saved the day» is an understatement! And that was just the start! When we awoke our first morning at Lili koi inn, we were welcomed with delicious ripe melon, berries, and citrus fruits and fresh brewed Kona coffee and tea on the lanai with an incredible view! Exactly how we like to start our mornings!!! Upon finishing our fruit, Shai promptly scooped up our leftovers and called to the chickens (his «other family») who came scurrying forth, mammas and babies, to dine!!! For some reason, this act just warmed my heart and Kev and I felt instantly connected to nature! The rest of breakfast was delish and we left the table with full bellies! Afterward Shai gave us a tour of the Inn. A lilli koi (passion fruit) happened to drop from the tree right in our path and Shai taught us how to eat the treat! DIVINE!!! :)
Gosh, I could really go on and on about how magical this place is… but then you probably wouldn’t read the entire review, so here is a brief summary:
Gorgeous grounds with potent healing energy!
Artistic accents, done with care and love!
Outdoor shower in paradise! (There was also a nice shower in the room)
Outdoor hot tub!
Fruit bearing trees!
Shai and Trina — warm and incredibly helpful hosts who really go out of their way to make your stay unimaginably perfect!
…Yep! This place is great! We look forward to visiting again!
Thank you so much!!!

Talk about paradise! Trina and Shai were some of the nicest people. EVER! The friend I was with is friends with them so maybe we got extra special treatment or maybe they’re just always that awesome.
Shai picked a lilikoi for me and told me to eat it right there in the driveway. Later he made us amazing smoothies. And some sort of avocado snack. Similar-​ish to guacamole, but not totally. What a delicious start to our stay.
The room was incredibly sweet and peaceful.
Shai showed us the hot tub and we sat in it for quite some time, under the banner of lovely trees.
Breakfast, of course, was delicious. Most of the fun was talking to the people who were also staying there and hearing their stories. After breakfast, Shai showed us the map of the island and made suggestions for the day.
Truly, truly amazing place. All parts. In every way.

Shai, Trina and their bed and breakfast are a true gift.
Since this was my first time ever staying at a bed and breakfast, I didn’t really know what to expect. We stayed in a room off of the living room, the name is escaping me. It was clean, comfy, and had a private bathroom. I now know the true meaning of a bed and breakfast, you literally stay in a room in someone’s house! All of the initial hesitation faded the next morning when we were greeted by Trina on the lanai with a beautiful view, fresh home grown kona coffee, and the sounds of Jack Johnson playing from the speakers.
I was settling right in when Shai came out and served us breakfast that he cooked himself. He is a gourmet chef in my opinion. Breakfast was served with fresh papaya, avocado, and he made my frittata special since I wasn’t eating meat at the time. My fiancé’ and I were enjoying ourselves, talking to the other couple at the table and planning our day. Shai chimed in and asked what we planned to do during our stay. We had some ideas, but we welcomed guidance from a local. We came to the right place, Shai was amazing. He showed us the map he has posted in the lanai and pointed us to all of the «must see» places. The most enchanting place he spoke of was «the fountain of youth». He told me that I had to be adventurous to get to this magical spot. I agreed and he gave us a hand written map by him, water shoes, fresh bananas he picked right off the tree and sent us on our way. We went about half way to the fountain of youth and I chickened out as it was a trek through the jungle at the bottom of Waipio Valley where we would have had to walk in water that was up to our necks. My fiancé’ was not happy, but we turned around and explored the rest of the valley which was as «old hawaii» as it gets. It was a day I will never forget, all thanks to Shai’s insider knowledge.
Upon return to the Inn, Shai greeted us with a twinkle in his eyes, excited to hear about our adventure to «the fountain of youth». I had to admit that I chickened out, and he promised to personally take us the next time we visit. It is definitely on my bucket list, and I will hold him to it.
Shai makes fresh smoothies from fruit that is grown on the property, there are fresh macadamia nuts that you crack from the shell yourself, and they even had a resident kitten who stole our hearts.
We will be back to visit Shai and Trina, and take Shai up on his offer to be our personal tour guide to the enchanting «fountain of youth».

An incredible stay to celebrate a major milestone birthday. The room was delightful — attractive, comfortable. And the breakfast on the lanai… WOW…the view is spectacular and the breakfasts that Shai seems to effortlessly set out are scrumptious… avocados, fruit, frittatas and excellent homegrown coffee. Next time we stay, we’ll check out the hot tub (just didn’t have time during this stay) and the soon-​to-​be completed outdoor shower. Shai and Trina are delightful welcoming hosts with lots of good information about the Big Island. As a chef, Shai’s restaurant recommendations are right on…

This was an amazing place to stay! I can’t recommend it enough. Trina and Shai were incredibly welcoming, with tons of advice and friendly conversation. The other guests were great to talk to as well! This is definitely a place to go if you like interacting with other travelers — we all gathered at breakfast over fantastic food, talked about the previous day’s adventures, and planned our next steps. Shai was great with directions and has a large map posted in the lanai to show us exactly where to go.
We were in the Green Papaya room. We enjoyed the downstairs room (not off the main Lanai) for the privacy it afforded when we wanted it. It was very comfortable and clean.
The location was also perfect. It is close to the downtown area, and also easily accessibly to both the north and south spots that we wanted to explore.

I cannot say enough good things about the Lilikoi Inn.
The driveway can be a little bit tricky, especially at night. It’s very easy to miss from the road. Use your GPS!
Shai and Trina were out of town the weekend we stayed but Peter and Latifa were excellent hosts and knowledgeable about the island.
Our room was simple but beautiful. Right outside our door was a gorgeous view of the town below and the water.
And being a B&B they make awesome breakfasts — banana mac nut pancakes, omlettes and quiches were on the menu. Of course fresh papayas, granola, yogurt, other assorted fruits & juices and also coffee from their land.
They also…
use eggs from their own chickens
have a dog and 3 cats — who are all very friendly
have tons of guidebooks, brochures and maps you can use
have a hot tub and outdoor shower
Go. You’ll have a great time!

A wonderful B&B set up in the hills of Kona coffee country. Shai and Trina are great hosts, and Shai’s a wonderful cook who makes a delicious breakfast as well as wonderful afternoon snacks like smoothies made from homegrown fruits and homemade guacamole served from the biggest avocados I’ve seen. He also has great recommendations for food in town. Shai grows his own coffee which he serves up and also sells. Just ask him about the coffee making process.
Our stay was very relaxing and we enjoyed unwinding at the hottub after a long morning of water activities. There’s a great view of the Kona coast from the lanai. The rooms are very well appointed with a private bath. You’ll feel totally at home. We’ll definitely come back!

I can’t imagine a nicer place to stay. Everything was spotless and beautiful, and the view from the top deck is breathtaking. But that wasn’t what was most interesting to me. As a devoted but amateur cook, I was fascinated by the wild range of fruits, vegetables and caffeination growing all around, as well as the various stories and life-​experiences of our hosts. It’s definitely a place to return to.

It was a large group but, while the first and second courses were good the entrée was cold and, therefore, not good… the dessert was not finis able… if that’s a word… not a place to which I would return for a dinner

My husband and I are from Seattle… which is to say we live in a gray and dreary world and we are not gregarious. We fall into the «nice once you get to know them» category. So, when we arrived, we were a bit taken back with the overly friendly Shai who started by giving us hugs and taking our bags… in that order Then there was just leaving your doors open… what? no key? Lastly, no shoes in the house. That took some getting used to since, I never go around barefoot… ever…ok, to take a bath/​shower!
Seriously, that is the bad… not so bad, huh? Oh, wait, there is another bad… they feed you so much (fresh fruit, homemade guacamole, and a hot breakfast too) and it is so good that you might not fit into your swimsuit at the end of your stay. They grow their own coffee and its wonderful… I brought back 5 pounds and wish I would have brought back more.
Also, Shai is ever the tour director… he will give you all kinds of suggestions on where to go… so bring your book, sure, but then just let Shai give you the low down on where to go.

Wonderful! Wonderful! I completely agree with everything that the first reviewer said about Shai and Trina’s hospitality. They literally made our trip. It was our first time in Hawaii and Shai made a point of making sure that we had unique and memorable experiences for each day, charting out with clear directions exactly how to get to that locals only beach where you can swim with the sea turtles or hike to a breathtaking valley where the mountains meet the ocean. (Shai also insisted that we borrow all the snorkel and beach equipment, which saved us a bunch.) And breakfast was some of the best meals we had while on the Island – not to mention their extraordinary organic coffee that they grow on their farm.
An added plus was that we were there with our twenty month old toddler and Trina and Shai were great with her-​joking around with her and showing her all the animals at the inn. A highlight for her was feeding the chickens and Shai would make just the right coos so the mama hen with her newly hatched chicks came around for our daughter to see. And were lucky to stay in the Plumeria room, where we were able to be in the next room or up on the lanai and still keep tabs on her, which gave us a chance to enjoy some rare private time without having to call a babysitter.

We stayed at the Lilikoi Inn B&B for our first two nights on the big island as part of our island hop vacation. Wish we had more time as Shai and Trina were amazing hosts.
We stayed in the Torched Ginger room, the smallest of the three rooms, as it was the only one available. It was clean, comfortable, and well appointed. The bathroom is attached to the room.
Breakfast is served at 8am on the main lanai which has an amazing view of the Kona coast as well as the lush vegetation that covers the entire estate. Right outside the lanai is coffee crop from which Shai makes the kona coffee that is served at breakfast. The gourmet breakfast is quite a treat (believe me, that is actually an understatement). Shai used to run a restaurant when they lived in Berkeley. There are also some interesting activities around the house. Shai gave a talk about how he makes coffee. We also get to participate hands-​on in coffee bean drying.
Beach towels and gear (chairs, boogie boards, etc) are provided. Shai gave excellent advice on sights to see, drives to take, and places to eat.
As the first reviewer pointed out, the place is hard to find. Do not trust google maps, the last few turns will take you to the wrong place. Instead, follow the instructions on the website exactly. Though the silver oak tree mentioned in the instructions is pretty hard to see at night. When you are going into the driveway, you should either come in from the right side (by making a right hand turn into the driveway), or if you are making a left hand turn on the highway, cut onto the driveway from the right side first. That first part of the driveway is very steep, you will almost certainly scratch the bottom of your bumper. Be careful coming out of the driveway as well, turn to the left first onto the highway, then turn right on the highway.
Unilocal currently has very few b&b reviews for hawaii. tripadvisor on the other hand has much better review coverage and density. hopefully this review will help get more Unilocal users to stay at the Lilikoi and write reviews. For the Unilocal travelers out there, when you are researching Hawaii b&b options, i recommend that in addition to looking at Unilocal reviews, also check out tripadvisor. go to tripadvisor, in the search box type in the island you are looking at, e.g. «island of hawaii». the first entry in the search result should be the main tripadvisor page for that island. click through to it. on it you should see fairly close to the top, a short list of the top b&b’s on the island. click on the link «All XXX b&b’s» to see all the b&b’s — this list is extremely useful because it is sorted by rating. I found the lilikoi that way — lilikoi inn is currently the 4^th top ranked b&b on the big island.

Exceptional bed and breakfast on the Big Island. First, this can be a tricky place to find if you’ve never been here before. Of course, we didn’t arrive until 10pm, so my gps got us reasonably close. I knew we were in for something different when Shai said, you ought to pull up into the driveway a bit more so an avocado doesn’t fall through your car window. Okey dokey, I appreciate the warning. For arriving so late, we had a warm welcoming, a beautifully appointed large room on the bottom floor, and a great night’s sleep.
Breakfast was around 8ish and deliclious. Kona coffee is unlike any other I’ve tasted and an interesting departure. The quiche Shai made was filling and sustained me for a trip of snorkeling to Keakalulea Bay! I’d only wished we’d tried out the hot tub just steps away from our room! The hospitality was truly amazing here.