My husband and I recently stayed at the Shipman House to celebrate his birthday. It was an absolutely wonderful experience and exceeded my expectations! The house itself is gorgeous with its authentic decor and lovely views of Hilo Bay. The rooms are absolutely massive, well maintained, and beautifully decorated. Our hosts were gracious and very helpful with providing information on... More

A welcome change from the large could-be-anywhere hotels, our stay at Shipman House was a window into historic Hilo and a chance to experience the graciousness of our hosts and this house. Located off a quiet street not too far from old Hilo town, this house has nice views back to Hilo Bay, has beautiful lanais and living and dining... More

This property is a perfectly restored mansion with a water view from upstairs and a tropical garden view from the other rooms. It is a grand structure including walk through windows, curved glass in the turret, a grand piano, glorious staircase and copper roof. The decor is authentic to the era of the house from the opulent furnishings and fixtures... More

The highlight of our stay in Hilo. The ceilings are high, the big wide porch is welcoming, this is an estate run by a couple with an intriguing island history. Sparkling clean, a place you'll want to stay at least 2 days for the breakfast alone. Big enough so you can have some alone space. Big five stars.

We had an amazing time at the Shipman House! Beth and Gary were so kind to us and we just loved her baked goods! I still dream of her granola she makes and wish we had it here in the mainland! Right when you drive up to the Shipman House, it's like you're transported back in time. When you walk... More

This place goes to show that the unplanned can be the most memorable about a place. We were unexpectedly overnight in Hilo (after a helicopter flight) - too late to drive back to Kona. We found Shipman House on a brochure, and although hadn't meant to spend this much for the night ended up being so glad we did. I... More

We stayed just one night (pity we had a pretty full schedule), and we simply enjoyed the luxuries to the point of going back in time reveling in what this could have been like in the old days. Barbara Ann and Gary, were brilliant hosts. Top class accommodation and just perfect. We all recommend The Shipman House. Congratulations to our... More

There may not be a better place to stay in Hilo. It is mostly certainly my personal bias but the hotel chains cannot outdo the Shipman House's Victorian charm and heirlooms. Special is a vacant word; the Shipman fills that void word with the smell of warm wood and porch paint, the sound of Coqui frogs and the taste and... More

History and charm seeps from the walls of this majestic property. The large and tastefully appointed rooms evoke a restrained elegance that is quaint and inviting. Your hosts are humbly proud of their creation and rightly so. It is always a challenge to renovate and reestablish heritage of a bygone era but the icing on the cake is Barbara's family... More