My family and i stayed at this property April 2007. For the price you can not beat this place. The rooms we rented were clean and very nice. The staff was the best ever. Security was good with someone checking the parking lot all night. I did not hear any noise from the bar down stairs. The rooms have kitchen facilities. Don't hesitate to stay here.

We just got back (1/14/07) from a trip to Hilo and would not recommend staying here. Being a Hawaii resident, I could tell from the parking lot that it appears that the majority of the parking stalls were occupied by residents and not visitors (very few rental cars). Although I did not ask or was told, I suspect that this property resembles a condotel (vacation rentals and residential units).
Being an experienced traveler I read the TripAdvisor reviews and the reviews identified some concerns. So, I decided to call the property directly and after speaking to a reservations employee, she assurred me that the units had all been renovated within the last year (not so); the property was a safe place and security patrolled the area at night (to me, this is a scary place at night); parking was generally not a problem - there was a bar/nightclub downstairs and that it may affect parking in the evening (loud music and people arguing in the parking lot could be clearly heard and there was no onsite parking available).
Although Banyan Drive is a prime location, there are no newly renovated accomodations (Hilo Hawaiian is okay, but I suspect the last renovation was sometime in the 80's). Today, I read in the Hilo newspaper that in the Spring of this year, the former Naniloa Hotel (now the Naniloa Volcanoes Resort) will open and have a limited number of rooms available initially and then more will become available as the renovation is completed...I can't wait. I know they will be pricey, but perhaps worth it.
I wanted to share this info so that travelers would not be disappointed with their Hilo lodging. As another reviewer indicated, contact the Hilo Police about the incidents at this property. Lastly, don't believe what the employees tell you.

Good place to stay.Nice view from hour room. Clean.I would go back NOV 30 -DEC2

Yes, this is a budget hotel. Yes, the elevators are slow. Yes, the hallways are a little intimidating.

My honey and I needed a place to stay for one night. I'm a local, but I didn't know much about Hilo Hotels. So I went on Trip Advisor and selected the hotel with the most decent rating, the negative comments being older than all the postive new ones, at a price we were willing to afford.

Upon entering the hotel, I was shocked. It was pretty small and drab. After we got our room key we waited a good minute for the ancient elevator (there aren't more than 8 floors, where was it?). The walk down the long corridoor was kinda scarry.

Key in the door, I grimaced before I even looked....but SURPRISE!!! What a quaint little room! The decoration was a little tacky, but not in the huge-hibuscus flowers, just like a little too-decorated. But it was very nice! I felt like I wasn't at a hotel. The room didn't have the feeling that tons of people had come and gone. It just felt like I was crashing in a friend's guest room. Cozy and Quaint! Quite ideal for a snugglily evening.

We got an ocean-view room, facing the sea, over-looking the pool. The sunrise was beautiful from our room on the 4th floor.

I reccommed this hotel. It is cheap and very decent. All though the lobby and hallways are a bit intimidating, your personal room should be very nice.