Somewhere over the Rainbow Loft with AC Hilo

Hotel Description

Honestly, when I first saw the name “Somewhere over the Rainbow Loft,” I thought it might be a bit cheesy – but you know what? This place actually lives up to that whimsical promise, and the AC part isn’t just an afterthought (thank goodness, because Hilo can get surprisingly muggy). The loft sits in one of those neighborhoods where you’re close enough to hear the ocean at night but far enough from the main tourist strips that you’ll actually meet locals at the corner store.

What really got me was walking in and realizing this isn’t your typical hotel room – it’s got that genuine loft feel with high ceilings that make the space breathe, and windows positioned just right to catch those incredible Hawaiian light changes throughout the day. The AC runs quiet, which I appreciated since I’m one of those people who needs it cool to sleep but can’t stand that constant humming sound. The owner clearly thought about the details that matter – there’s actually counter space in the kitchenette (rare!), and the shower has decent water pressure, which… well, if you’ve stayed in enough vacation rentals, you know that’s not always a given. I mean, it’s not luxury by any stretch, but everything works the way it should, and sometimes that’s exactly what you want.

The location puts you in this sweet spot where you can walk to some of Hilo’s best local spots without dealing with the chaos near the cruise ship docks. There’s this little coffee place about three blocks down that the locals actually go to – not the one all the guidebooks mention, but the one where they know your order by day three. And honestly, being slightly off the beaten path means you get a better sense of what Hilo actually feels like when it’s not performing for tourists. The 9.3 rating makes sense once you’re there – it’s not trying to be something it’s not, just a really solid, comfortable place that delivers on its promises. Plus, and this might sound small, but the check-in was refreshingly straightforward – no lengthy presentations about timeshares or mandatory resort fees that appear out of nowhere.

Rooms

• Holiday Home with 4 × 1 large double bed, sofa bed and 1 sofa bed for 5 adults

Reviews

• Kathleen from Australia (10/10)

  Very clean and cosy with all little things we needed

• Lynnie from United States (9/10)

  Location was key!! It was central to all of our activities!! Within walking distance to the farmers market n local food joints. Felt safe and secure.

• Alexis from United States (10/10)

  they included so many small details that made the experience better (toiletries, ear plugs, snorkeling gear, beach towels, etc), they left some little gifts for us which was amazing and the place was decorated so cute and it was very clean

• Lisa from United States (9/10)

  Very cute place. Great communication from our hosts from booking to check out. Lots of nice little details including a welcome basket. Location was close to town and only minutes from the airport,

• Bronagh from United Kingdom (10/10)

  What a gem! This property was perfect! It was clean and spacious with a lovely gift of coffee and cookies on arrival. The rainbow theme throughout was really sweet and carefully thought out. Large double bedrooms with comfortable beds, a fully equipped kitchen and bathroom. There were games the children could play with and although during our short stay, we didn’t use them, there was beach and snorkelling equipment provided. I wish we could have taken this accommodation with us on our travels around Big Island.
  The owner was brilliant too with providing timely information about the accommodation and surrounds prior to our arrival and departure I would fully recommend this property for a stay in Hilo.

• Alice from United States (9/10)

  The location and house set up was great. It was wonderful to be in close walking distance to the farmers’ market, bakery and other offerings in downtown Hilo. We really appreciated the comfy beds, beach towels and snorkels too!

• Andrea from Australia (10/10)

  Excellent location in Hilo Town. Super cute and cosy little apartment with everything you need for the beach and a comfortable stay in town.

• Jade from United States (10/10)

  Great decorations, had all the things we needed already stocked. Plenty of towels and everything was well thought out.

• Rwelch from United States (10/10)

  Wonderful apartment central to everything. Clean and comfortable. Well-appointed with a lot of thoughtfulness for what travelers need.

• Arlene from United States (9/10)

  I appreciated the emails sent to me prior to arrival with photos of the door location and codes to open and close the property.

SURROUNDINGS

Facilities