Checking Into SCP Hilo Hotel
Words by Ashley Bowling Photos by Will Bowling
Why Book?
Set in the center of Hilo’s crescent-shaped bay, SCP Hilo Hotel is a modern boutique hotel reminiscent of the bygone vibes visitors often describe of the rugged Big Isle. Life moves a bit slower here and for good reason. Everyone is greeted with a smile and friendly conversation. A stay here feels like a peek inside the lives of locals and easily feels like home.
The Scene
This hotel rests in the heart of Hilo, one of the island’s richest histories dating back to its 1800s industrial inception as a farming and sugar mill town. Now, downtown Hilo offers museums, art galleries, creative restaurants, and shops in its walkable city center. Travelers are accommodated by the tiny, but elegant, open-air Hilo Airport, which welcomes visitors just minutes from the hotel and Hilo’s city center. On the flip side, this region is blessed with a dramatic coastline that is beaming with waterfalls, black rock beaches, fertile rainforests, and vibrant botanical gardens.
The Accommodations
SCP Hilo Hotel plays to classic beach bohemian motifs and mid-century modern design elements. The lines are clean, and natural wood takes center stage while hammock chairs lay the backdrop for the relaxed vibes. Unpretentious, low-pitched roofs make way for an easy sunset view that’s captivating in its reflection on the natural spring-fed pond that sits just out front, housing giant koi. In the open-air lobby, guests are greeted with a welcome kombucha, infused with island flavors, made by a local company. Staying true to their Hawaiian hospitality and natural landscape, the guest rooms are cozy, peaceful, and simple, providing a restful place to unwind after exploring the island.
The Neighborhood
Mainlanders who have a tendency to wake up before the sun have an opportunity to stroll the nearby park and Japanese gardens and catch a glimpse of the cruise ships that enter the bay at sunrise. Conversations with friendly locals are welcomed, while not required as Lili’uokalani Gardens are sprawling and quiet. Guests are also encouraged to borrow the hotel’s beach cruisers for a short ride to the park or a 3-mile cruise to enchanting Rainbow Falls. The tranquil bay out front makes it easy enough to also take a chance on their complimentary paddle boards in order to spot sea-life swimming in the bay or take a journey alongside sea turtles that frequent the area.
Can’t Get Enough?
SCP Hilo Hotel is part of a small hotel group that also offers one-of-a-kind stays in boutique hotels across the country. Make it an epic year by visiting more than one of their experiential locations. Stay in a lodge on the Oregon Coast or a bungalow in Costa Rica, stay seaside at Laguna Beach or near Smith Rock State Park in central Oregon, stay near Van Damme State Park on the Mendocino Coast or near Pikes Peak in Colorado Springs.
Contact:
scphotel.com/hilo
126 Banyan Way
Hilo, HI 96720
info.hilo@scphotel.com
(808) 935-0821
