Best Independent Living in Hilo, HI
Explore the lush natural spaces of Hilo, Hawaii, with its picturesque scenery, vibrant rainforests, and diverse landscapes, such as the Hawaii Tropical Botanical Garden, Akaka Falls, and Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park. A thriving art scene, a unique culture, and unending recreational opportunities are among the city’s defining features that attract new residents and visitors. The city is also home to many independent living communities that offer beautiful accommodations and maintenance-free living for retirees’ comfort. The city’s suburban charm and age-friendly environment make it a good option for a blissful retirement.
Comparison Chart
For self-sufficient seniors seeking community and minimal assistance.
For self-sufficient seniors seeking community and minimal assistance.
For self-sufficient seniors seeking community and minimal assistance.
Mohouli Heights Senior Neighborhood
Peacefully set near Mohouli Park and University Heights Park in Hilo, HI, Mohouli Heights Senior Neighborhood is a distinct community that offers independent living and assisted living. Committed to improving residents’ well-being, the community features purposely designed and sophisticated accommodations to optimize their comfort and safety. Residents maintain their independence without the busy work, with the community handling the maintenance and household chores.
Residents will not run out of things to do, with a jam-packed calendar of fun recreational activities and engaging programs dedicated to their enjoyment and wellness. The community also provides transportation services for residents’ convenience. With extensive amenities and top-notch services, residents enjoy a blissful retirement.
What does this home offer?
Minimum Age: 62 Years Old
Housing Options: 1 Bed Apartment
Building Type: 2-story
Type of Care Available
Haili Elderly Apartments
Surrounded by delightful local amenities in Haili Street, Hilo, HI, Haili Elderly Apartments is a purposely designed 62+ community that offers independent living. The community features specially designed and spacious one-bedroom floor plans, ensuring residents can find the accommodation that best matches their preferences. Residents maintain their independence within the community’s vibrant and inviting environment.
The community’s ideal location near delightful restaurants, public transportation, and recreation sites, residents have easy access to their needs and wants. Residents can also enjoy the best of their golden years while staying on a budget, thanks to the community’s affordability and income-based rent. With its pet-friendly and welcoming setting, residents are guaranteed the finest retirement experience.
What does this home offer?
Minimum Age: 62 Years Old
Pets Allowed: Yes, Pets Allowed
Housing Options: 1 Bed Apartment
Building Type: Single-story
Parking Available
Type of Care Available
Hale Nā Koa ‘O Hanakahi
Hale Na Koa ‘O Hanakahi is an idyllic haven nestled near Lokahi Park and Botanical Garden at the University of Hawaii – Hilo on West Kawili Street, Hilo, HI, that offers independent living. Residents, especially those 62+, experience the best of their golden years with the community’s beautifully furnished and cozy one-bedroom floor plans, designed for better comfort and safety. The community promotes a warm and friendly environment, ensuring residents feel at ease during their stay.
Residents can spend their days as they please with the community’s ideal location near recreation sites and delightful amenities, making it easier to access their needs and wants. The community accommodates those with incomes ranging from 30% to 80% of the median income, maintaining their independence without financial constraints. Amenities include a lounge, a coffee bar, a multi-purpose room, and an exercise room, creating the perfect setting for a blissful retirement.
What does this home offer?
Minimum Age: 62 Years Old
Housing Options: 1 Bed Apartments
Building Type: 2-story
Parking Available
Type of Care Available
Assisted Living Magazine Ranking Methodology
View Full Ranking MethodologyHow We Score & Rank Senior Living Communities
At Assisted Living Magazine, our rankings are designed to help families compare senior living communities with clarity and confidence.
Each community is evaluated and ranked based on reputation, transparency, digital trust, and on-site quality signals.
Below is the full explanation of every factor and the exact weight it contributes to the final score.
Update cadence: Reviewed quarterly, with prompt updates when new reviews, reports, or complaints are filed.
What We Prioritize Most
The largest portion of every community’s score comes from resident feedback and online reputation (40%), which reflects real experiences shared by families and caregivers.
An additional 45% of the score comes from a combination of transparency and operational quality signals, including:
- Photos, videos, and virtual tours (visual transparency)
- Website quality and digital trust indicators
- Occupancy levels and number of units (community scale & stability)
These factors help us evaluate how well a community presents itself and how consistently it meets resident needs.
Balancing Additional Factors
The final 15% of the score comes from supportive context data, including:
- Walkability and local accessibility
- Estimated property value
- Pricing information
These elements provide helpful context but carry less weight because our rankings prioritize real-world satisfaction and care consistency first.
The result is a fair, clear, and data-driven ranking system for families researching senior living options.
What Families Search for Most in Hilo
A quick look at the senior living and care categories people explore the most. Find the options that matter to you in one place.
Your Senior Care Partner, Every Step of the Way
We help families find affordable senior communities and unlock same day discounts, Medicaid, and Medicare options tailored to your needs.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Several government programs offer financial assistance for senior housing in various countries, focusing on the United States for a broad overview:
- Medicaid: Medicaid is a state and federally funded program that can cover the costs of nursing home care for those who meet eligibility criteria, including income and asset limits. Some states also offer Medicaid waivers that help pay for home and community-based services to prevent or delay nursing home placement.
- Medicare: Medicare, primarily a health insurance program for people aged 65 and over, does not cover long-term housing costs. However, it can cover short-term stays in a skilled nursing facility under specific conditions following a hospital stay.
- Section 202 Supportive Housing for the Elderly Program: This program provides housing for low-income seniors. It offers rental assistance and access to supportive services, such as cleaning, cooking, and transportation.
- Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) Properties: While not a direct subsidy, LIHTC encourages developers to create affordable housing. Seniors with low incomes can find reduced-rent apartments through this program.
- State and Local Programs: Many states, counties, and cities offer their own programs to assist seniors with housing costs. These can include property tax relief programs, rental assistance programs, and programs that offer affordable senior housing options.
- Veterans Affairs (VA): The VA offers several programs for veterans, including the Aid and Attendance benefit, which provides monthly payments to veterans who require the aid of another person, or are housebound, to help cover the cost of care in homes, nursing homes, and assisted living facilities.
- Social Security: While Social Security primarily provides retirement income, for many seniors, these benefits are a crucial part of their budget, including housing costs.
Before recommending homes, we conduct a thorough evaluation on crucial factors that define a senior home such as the quality of care they provide, the reputation of the organization, and a comprehensive review of community testimonials as well. Every detail is assessed to assure that seniors are offered not just senior care options, but trustworthy homes where they can experience the care that they deserve.
Yes. Assisting families who need Medicaid is important to us as it plays a crucial role in offering financial support to seniors confronting economic challenges. We would like to keep essential healthcare services accessible to all community members, irrespective of one’s financial circumstances.
We extend our services at no cost, ensuring that families and seniors can benefit from tailored assistance in their search for care and home options. Our ability to offer personalized guidance without charge to families and seniors is made possible through the support and funding from the communities with which we team up.
- Finding and ranking the best assisted living facilities
- Finding and ranking the best nursing homes
- Finding and ranking the best memory care facilities
- Our concierge service helps seniors move into the perfect home for them
- Helping seniors use medicare, medicaid, and other government programs to pay for their homes
- Helping seniors avoid senior homes that have bad service or fraud
- Helping seniors avoid senior homes that have bad service or fraud
- Autobiography & Family History Writing + Research
- Senior-focused concierge medicine
- Senior-focused nutritionist
- Senior-focused personal training
- Memory care specialists
- Custom wheelchairs at all price points.
- Custom hearing aids
- Cosmetic skincare + dermatology
- Companionship: We offer in-person and virtual companionship services. Someone engaging to hang out with or talk to on video chat.
- Senior housing concierge. Our service finds the best senior living options based on your needs, income, and personality.
Check out our resident interviews
Check out our cost guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
Several government programs offer financial assistance for senior housing in various countries, focusing on the United States for a broad overview:
- Medicaid: Medicaid is a state and federally funded program that can cover the costs of nursing home care for those who meet eligibility criteria, including income and asset limits. Some states also offer Medicaid waivers that help pay for home and community-based services to prevent or delay nursing home placement.
- Medicare: Medicare, primarily a health insurance program for people aged 65 and over, does not cover long-term housing costs. However, it can cover short-term stays in a skilled nursing facility under specific conditions following a hospital stay.
- Section 202 Supportive Housing for the Elderly Program: This program provides housing for low-income seniors. It offers rental assistance and access to supportive services, such as cleaning, cooking, and transportation.
- Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) Properties: While not a direct subsidy, LIHTC encourages developers to create affordable housing. Seniors with low incomes can find reduced-rent apartments through this program.
- State and Local Programs: Many states, counties, and cities offer their own programs to assist seniors with housing costs. These can include property tax relief programs, rental assistance programs, and programs that offer affordable senior housing options.
- Veterans Affairs (VA): The VA offers several programs for veterans, including the Aid and Attendance benefit, which provides monthly payments to veterans who require the aid of another person, or are housebound, to help cover the cost of care in homes, nursing homes, and assisted living facilities.
- Social Security: While Social Security primarily provides retirement income, for many seniors, these benefits are a crucial part of their budget, including housing costs.
Before recommending homes, we conduct a thorough evaluation on crucial factors that define a senior home such as the quality of care they provide, the reputation of the organization, and a comprehensive review of community testimonials as well. Every detail is assessed to assure that seniors are offered not just senior care options, but trustworthy homes where they can experience the care that they deserve.
Yes. Assisting families who need Medicaid is important to us as it plays a crucial role in offering financial support to seniors confronting economic challenges. We would like to keep essential healthcare services accessible to all community members, irrespective of one’s financial circumstances.
Check out our cost guide.
We extend our services at no cost, ensuring that families and seniors can benefit from tailored assistance in their search for care and home options. Our ability to offer personalized guidance without charge to families and seniors is made possible through the support and funding from the communities with which we team up.
- Finding and ranking the best assisted living facilities
- Finding and ranking the best nursing homes
- Finding and ranking the best memory care facilities
- Our concierge service helps seniors move into the perfect home for them
- Helping seniors use medicare, medicaid, and other government programs to pay for their homes
- Helping seniors avoid senior homes that have bad service or fraud
- Helping seniors avoid senior homes that have bad service or fraud
- Autobiography & Family History Writing + Research
- Senior-focused concierge medicine
- Senior-focused nutritionist
- Senior-focused personal training
- Memory care specialists
- Custom wheelchairs at all price points.
- Custom hearing aids
- Cosmetic skincare + dermatology
- Companionship: We offer in-person and virtual companionship services. Someone engaging to hang out with or talk to on video chat.
- Senior housing concierge. Our service finds the best senior living options based on your needs, income, and personality.
Check out our resident interviews
