OUTRIGGER Kona Resort & Spa

I’ve traveled the world, stayed in 5-star resorts, boutique hotels, and budget inns — and never have I encountered the level of deception, poor management, and disregard for guest safety that I experienced at Outrigger Kona Resort & Spa. The trouble started at check-in with a musty, hot room (thermostat at 79°) and a strong odor. Only after complaining in person did they “magically” find an upgraded room — an upgrade I should have received automatically as an Expedia Platinum member. Strike one. The final straw came when the entire property lost power on our last night. The manager lied straight to my face, claiming it was a “county-wide” outage. The second we drove off the property, we saw street lights, traffic lights, and businesses running normally — clearly the problem was only at Outrigger. While the resort was pitch black and unsafe for guests, the front desk had their own lights and fans set up, leaving paying customers sweating in darkness. Pools, bars, and restaurants were unusable. Teens were banging on doors during the outage. We had to pack in pitch dark and scramble to another hotel (at my own expense of $500 for one night) just to have basic services and safety. Staff admitted this had happened before — yet the resort acted like it was no big deal. The only “compensation” I received was a refund for the night I didn’t stay — nothing for the ruined evening, the disruption, the danger, or the expense of finding last-minute lodging. Outrigger should be ashamed. This was a blatant failure in honesty, hospitality, and guest care. I would strongly advise anyone considering this resort to book elsewhere unless you’re fine with being lied to and left in the dark — literally.

Such a relaxing stay! Beautiful resort away from the hustle and bustle of most tourist destinations. Club V47 was awesome and along with valet parking made the upgraded club room well worth the price. Our housekeeper Lettie knew our names and even acknowledged us away from our room on the first day! Very impressive and made us feel welcome. Zach and Tessa in Club V47 seemed genuinely happy to see us every time we entered for breakfast or cocktails. Pika bartender Michael was super friendly and acted like he really enjoyed his job! Overall, it was a great stay and this resort is highly recommended. One suggestion…. There are no snack or meal options in the late evening or night. A stop at Target or Walmart for snacks and drinks would be a smart idea.

We had a blast on our first trip to the Outrigger Kona and to the big island. The Outrigger is centrally located offering short trips to great eats and sights. We enjoyed the V47 upgrade which offered a daily breakfast buffet and an earlier evening dinner, which also offered wine and ready-made margaritas and mai tais. The evening buffet could serve as pre-dinner hors d'oeuvres with fresh fruit and charcuterie offerings or as dinner proper with main entree-offerings like chicken, rice, salads and such. There is also a luau offered on property twice a week, which we also thoroughly enjoyed. It was well done, educational, and very entertaining. The food offerings were traditional and kid-friendly. The views from the hotel were nothing short of stunning. The rooms were clean and fresh, and the hotel staff were fantastic. We had ocean view rooms which overlooked a manta ray bay. The sunsets were gorgeous. I attached a few pictures below from our rooms. My kids (a nine year old and two teens) loved their pool and water slide. We will definitely stay at the Outrigger Kona again when we visit the big island!

Great location, close to the airport and easy to get to any sights you might want to see. Room was nice and had a great view of the ocean. Pool has an adult side if you want quiet for reading and a kid side if you want to fly down a water slide. All the staff was very friendly the whole stay. Definitely will stay here again when I get back to Kona.

We had a wonderful stay at the Outrigger Kona for our first trip to Hawaii. The staff was friendly and professional everywhere we went. The grounds are extremely beautiful, serene, and spacious enough that it never felt crowded. Beautiful gardens and walking paths to explore, the sound of waves crashing can be heard all around the resort, and both pool areas were relaxing with plentiful seating. The room was very clean and comfortable with a great balcony and view. Can't wait to come back!