SCP Hilo Hotel on the Big Island of Hawaii – an Eco Friendly Stay

I love that we’ve stayed at the SCP Hilo hotel four times now. It’s our top pick for where to stay in Hilo because of both its location and its overall way of operating. The SCP brand of hotels if fairly unknown still, but they are really wonderful. Here in Hilo they have fully put their motto into play: Soul, Community, Planet. But more on that below.

We’ve got all the info about staying at the SCP Hilo, including room types and on property amenities, things to do in the neighborhood and a great collection of active options when you’re staying here. If you have any questions about the hotel, Hilo or just traveling to the Big Island of Hawaii in general, please leave a comment or send us a note. We’re always happy to share more.

Why Stay at the SCP Hilo Hotel?

We keep coming back to the SCP Hilo Hotel for several reasons, but the location and public spaces are the two main reasons. Located on Reid’s Bay very near the Liliuokalani Botanical Gardens and Park, you’re really close to wonderful outdoor activities that you’ll no doubt want to enjoy during your stay. Hilo is the gateway to all kinds of activities, but just directly around the SCP Hilo you’ll find countless fun things to do and beach parks.

The other thing I mentioned that sets the SCP Hilo apart is the public space at the hotel. The “C” in SCP stands for community, and whether you’re thinking about that like the hotel being a part of the surrounding community or you are looking for a place that feels like YOU are a part of a community, you really get that here. From the lobby to the board game/reading lounge, the community area around the swimming pool or the quiet working room, there are lots of places to make yourself at home and engage with other guests and staff if you like. I love how welcome I feel each time I check in here.

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Room Types at the SCP Hilo

The room types at the SCP Hilo don’t vary greatly, with either a king bed or two double beds. What makes the rooms different are the views and location, and then whether or not they are a “peaceful” room. We always have a premium room that looks out at the koi pond and Ried’s Bay, but anywhere in the hotel would be fine with us.

The poolside rooms are nice because they have such easy access to the pool courtyard and there are no stairs. I love waking up in the morning and sitting on my balcony to watch the sunrise though, so I’m sure we’ll keep on selecting that sort of room.

Note: if you select a Peaceful room for your stay at the SCP Hilo, it’s just as nice as any other room, but it is equipped with some additional tools for meditating and being distraction free. There is no television in a Peaceful room.

SCP Hilo Hotel Amenities

For not being a large hotel, the SCP Hilo offers some great amenities. Of course there are the things like coffee and a filtered water station in the lobby, and a small fitness center, but there’s much more. There is onsite laundry, several quiet space rooms for work or relaxing, dependable internet (which I’ve found to be rare on the Big Island) and an awesome swimming pool. There are gardens all around the property and lots of wonderful places to sit and just enjoy being there.

The SCP Hilo also offers guests some great gear for enjoying the outdoors. After stopping by the front desk to complete waivers, guests have access to bikes and stand up paddleboards, both of which we’ve used more than once. Hilo is a great biking city and riding over to downtown and the farmers market is easy. If you’re checking out one of the paddle boards, just walk across the street to Reid’s Bay Beach and enjoy a paddle on the calm water, checking out the freshwater spring pond, the shoreline, and even paddle over to Coconut Island Park.

NOTE: beware of sea turtles when you’re paddling. The fresh water springs in Reid’s Bay attracts them and sometimes there will be several just dinking around when you’re paddling.

Dining Near the SCP Hilo Hotel

While the SCP Hilo doesn’t have its own restaurant, the Coconut Grille is directly next door and they have great food. They do a wonderful breakfast and have really great cocktails. The Ponds is across the small inlet from the SCP Hilo and they do a delicious dinner service on the water. It’s very popular though, so there’s usually a wait. Check out our Guide to Hilo for all of our restaurant recommendations, because we have many.

Parking at the the SCP Hilo

Self parking is included at the SCP Hilo Hotel. When you arrive, just pull up in front and get checked in, then you’ll be given a parking pass to display in your car. Parking is behind the hotel, and while not fully secured, we’ve always parked here and had no troubles. There is a door to the courtyard from the parking area that is accessible until late at night, making it easy to unload your vehicle.