Aloha Crater Lodge

Hotel Description

You know what caught me off guard about Aloha Crater Lodge? It’s one of those places that doesn’t try too hard to impress you – and somehow that makes it more charming. I mean, it’s a solid 3-star spot, but there’s something refreshingly unpretentious about the whole operation that had me actually relaxing instead of worrying about whether I was fancy enough for the lobby.

The thing is, this isn’t your typical Hawaiian resort experience, and honestly, that’s exactly why it works. The staff here actually seem to know the island beyond the usual tourist script – I had the front desk guy tell me about this little coffee farm about ten minutes up the road that barely anyone knows about, and it ended up being one of my favorite discoveries. The rooms are clean and comfortable without being Instagram-perfect, which I sort of appreciated after staying at some overly polished places where you’re afraid to touch anything. Yeah, the décor is a bit dated (think early 2000s tropical vibes), but everything works properly, the beds are surprisingly comfortable, and the lanais have these views that make you forget you’re not paying resort prices.

What really sold me on the place was how it feels like it belongs where it is, if that makes sense. You’ll hear the actual sounds of Hawaii here – birds in the morning, trade winds through the palms, maybe some local music drifting over from the neighboring properties in the evening. The pool area gets busy around mid-afternoon with families, but early morning and after dinner it’s perfect for just floating around and decompressing. Parking is easy (which honestly matters more than people admit), and they don’t nickel and dime you for Wi-Fi or coffee in the lobby. The location puts you close enough to the main attractions without being right in the middle of all the tour bus chaos – you can actually get to the good hiking trails before the crowds show up, and there are some local plate lunch spots within walking distance that the hotel folks will point you toward if you ask. It’s the kind of place where you end up chatting with other guests by the pool because everyone’s in that relaxed, unpretentious headspace. Not life-changing, but genuinely pleasant in a way that made me sleep better and feel more connected to why I wanted to visit Hawaii in the first place.

Rooms

• King Room with 1 double bed and 1 large double bed for 4 adults, 2 children
• Queen Room with 1 single bed and 1 double bed for 3 adults, 1 child
• King Suite with Spa Bath with 1 large double bed for 2 adults
• Family Room with Balcony with 2 double beds and 1 extra-large double bed for 6 adults, 3 children
• King Room with 1 double bed and 1 large double bed for 4 adults, 2 children
• King Suite with 2 × 1 extra-large double bed for 2 adults

Reviews

• Stephanie from Canada (9/10)

  Great room with lots of seating, clean bathroom, unique space. Nice to have a fridge and utensils as well as snacks and coffee/tea. Fantastic location close to the park.

• Michele from United States (8/10)

  Great location! Cozy little spot.

• Pc73 from Poland (7/10)

  Localisation in wild forest;)

• Pascal from France (9/10)

  Goods at disposal for breakfast
  Quiet environment
  Next to Volcano park

• Alana from United Kingdom (9/10)

  Nice cosy blankets to warm up after getting soaked at VNP

• Marcel from Netherlands (9/10)

  Location – set up – friendly host

• Lauren from Australia (9/10)

  Very relaxed and picturesque setting in the forest. So quiet, except for the birds and frogs. Room 5 is very comfortable. Warm indoors, plenty of blankets and tea, coffee & hot chocolate provided. Late checkout included on weekends was very appreciated. Location is great if you have a car and want to get an early start at the National Park.

• Helen from United States (8/10)

  Rooms were quiet. The beds were comfortable and the best night sleep the whole trip.

• Jane from United States (8/10)

  Very quiet area.

• Marita from United States (8/10)

  Beautiful rainforest grounds. Close to VNP. Pleasant hosts and fresh fruit for breakfast on the go! It’s beautifully local.

SURROUNDINGS

Facilities