Private breakfast on the lanai at the Mauna Lani Bay Hotel

After our recent visit to the Big Island of Hawaii, we’ve updated our recommendations of where to dine in Hawaii.

Though the Big Island restaurant post was originally published in 2008, we do update it regularly. We aim to try as many new places as we can, which has not been so kind to our waistlines.

As I say in the updated post, we don’t take our recommendations lightly. We prepare our list as if we’re giving it to our closest friends and family.

We think that dining can be an important part of a memorable vacation. So we hope that you’ll find our recommendations useful for making the most of your Hawaii vacation.

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Kohala Coast Sunset

We’re back from a wonderful week on Hawaii’s Big Island. I sincerely love all the Hawaiian Islands, but my love for Hawaii Island grows deeper and deeper with each visit.

After each visit to Hawaii, I like to provide a quick snapshot of all we did in case it helps you for your vacation planning. Of course, I’ll provide all the details in future posts.

Where We Stayed

Due to American Airlines delay in DFW and then missed connection in LAX, our Big Island visit didn’t start on the Big Island. We spent the first night in Honolulu at the Ohana Honolulu Airport courtesy of American Airlines. It’s certainly not fancy, but it was clean and very convenient to the airport with free shuttle service. We were there less than 10 hours as we snagged the first flight out of HNL to Kona.

Our Big Island visit began with a two night stay at Courtyard King Kamehameha Kona Beach Hotel in Kailua-Kona. This hotel offered a convenient base for exploring Kona. The newly renovated rooms and historic grounds really impressed us. With rates around $140 per night, this hotel is a Hawaii Island vacation bargain!

Next, we moved to the Kohala Coast for two nights at the palatial Hilton Waikoloa Village, which has so much to offer guests with the ocean front location and numerous pools. We had some mixed experiences here.  I think our stay might have been too short, though.

We ended our Big Island adventure with a bit of Kohala Coast luxury at the Mauna Lani Bay Hotel which was where we stayed on our first trip to the Big Island in 2004. Staying here brought back such good memories as we made new ones. We highly recommend the Mauna Lani Bay Hotel.

Where We Explored & Played

We stayed busy our first day with snorkeling, kayaking and stand-up paddle boarding in Kona with Kona Beach Boys.

The Kona Coffee Festival was on while we were there. We discovered that this festival is far more than a tasty coffee festival – it’s a fantastic cultural festival.

We took a historical sunset dinner cruise with Body Glove Hawaii which was both tasty, scenic and informative.

Though we’ve been to Pu’uhonau o Honaunau National Historical Park other times, we took advantage of one the the fee free National Park weekends. We were so glad we returned, as more of the grounds have been opened since our last visit. Plus, we were there on a gorgeous, sunny morning with no crowds.

We visited another national park, Pu’ukohola Heiau National Historic Site. Here, we learned that many people consider this heiau as the beginning of the united Hawaiian kingdom under King Kamehameha the Great.

We toured Hawaiian Vanilla Company and had a delicious, vanilla-infused lunch. Did you know that vanilla is an orchid that blooms for one day only? I  learned that and many other interesting vanilla facts at the Hawaiian Vanilla Company.

We’ve viewed and hiked around Waipio Valley on other visits, but this time we got to go into the valley for horseback riding with Naalapa Stables.

Pu’uhonau o Honaunau (Place of Refuge)

Where We Dined

We recommend these Big Island restaurants.

In Kona:

- Honu’s On the Beach Restaurant offers a nice and well priced breakfast buffet.

- Splasher’s Grill has casual, open air dining.

In Kohala:

- Bamboo Restaurant in Hawi serves delicious, fresh food in an eclectic bamboo inspired dining room.

- Hilton Waikoloa Village has a very nice luau.

- We loved the Breakfast Buffet at Water’s Edge in the Hilton Waikoloa Village. This buffet is really top notch and the lagoon view is beautiful.

- Eddie Aikau Restaurant & Surf Museum in the Kings Shops of Waikoloa Beach Resort serves excellent food with a farm to table concept. Their facebook page currently offers more information than their website.

- The CanoeHouse Restaurant at Mauna Lani offers fresh Hawaii Island sourced ingredients along with incredible ocean views. If you’re looking for a romantic dinner on the Big Island, you should definitely consider the CanoeHouse.

- Our last Big Island meal was at Napua Restaurant in Mauna Lani Resort for lunch. This restaurant serves great food to go along with the ocean view.

The fearless fire knife dancer at the Hilton Waikoloa Village luau.

Worth Mentioning

- Because Avis was sold out for the day we needed to pick up, we carefully shopped around for another rental company. I’m happy to report that we had pleasant experience with Hertz. Our car was clean and we weren’t carrying around unwanted hitchhikers.

- Our visit was sponsored in part by the Big Island Visitors Bureau.

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*  Starting January 11th, Hawaiian Airlines will begin offering non-stop flights between Maui and two Bay Area airports – Oakland and San Jose. To celebrate, Hawaiian is offering an introductory rate starting at $299 roundtrip. You need to book by today, September 14, 2011 for travel dates between January 11 to March 14, 2012.

* As promised in the recent Maui trip report, I’ve updated our list of the best Maui restaurants.

*  Sheraton Keauhou Bay Resort on Hawaii’s Big Island had debuted a new luau dinner and show, Haleo – The Voice of Life, shares History of Keauhou. Haleo is shared each Monday evening at Sheraton Keauhou Bay Resort & Spa. Adults $79.95, children (6-12) are $49.95 and 5 and under are complimentary. Price includes gratuity, tax is additional. Alii upgrade, $15 adults, $10 children, includes souvenir lei, express ticket purchase and check-in and reserved front section seating. For more information, see this link.

* With the new Sheraton luau, I’ve updated our list of Hawaii’s Big Island luaus – prices, reviews and schedules.

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If you like sweets, you’ll find some onolicious ones in Hawaii! From easy to find to off the beaten path, here’s my list of Hawaii’s tastiest sweet treats:

1. Coco Puffs from Liliha Bakery in Honolulu, Oahu
When I took my first bite of a Coco Puff, instinctively I said, “Mmmmmm…..mmmmm!” This puffed pastry treat is  filled with a buttery, creamy chocolate pudding and topped off with a coconut and vanilla topping. How good are Liliha’s Coco Puffs? Well, here’s what one reader wrote in the comments of my Liliha Coco Puff post.

All I can say is WOW – stumbled across this post before going to spend a week in Oahu and it was more than worth the $50 round trip cab ride from Waikiki just to taste one of those amazing coco puffs!! Of course, I couldn’t just stop at one and after buying a box to go I was left licking the wrappers after the last one was eaten. Thank you so much for this recommendation!!

2. Maui Gold Pineapple Upside Down Cake from Pineapple Grill on Maui
Pineapple from Hawaii is delicious, but Pineapple Grill in Kapalua takes this fruit to a whole new level in their signature dessert. As if the cake wasn’t delicious enough, they top it with Roselani macadamia nut ice cream, toasted coconut and a caramel sauce.

3. Shave Ice
If you need to cool down after a day at the beach or a hike, a Hawaiian shave ice will refresh you. Shave ice is similar to a snow cone but with ice that’s very finely shaved making it soft and smooth. You then have a choice of flavorings that add the sweetness. You can find shave ice all over Hawaii. A few of our favorite shave ice joints are:

- Matsumoto in Haleiwa on Oahu’s North Shore – This shave ice place is the most famous.

- Waiola Bakery & Shave Ice on Kapahulu Avenue by Waikiki on Oahu.

- Aloha Island Shave Ice on the Hana Highway in Paia on Maui

4. Malasadas
Portuguese immigrants introduced this doughnut-like pastry to Hawaii. Malasadas are filled with a variety of creamy fruit-flavored centers, as well as chocolate and vanilla fillings.  The best way to have a malasada is to  purchase it while it’s still warm and eat it right away. You can find malasadas in most Hawaii bakeries. Freshly made malasadas are also popular at  Hawaii’s farmers markets. Three of the more famous places to try a malasada are:

- Leonard’s Bakery on Kapahulu Avenue by Waikiki on Oahu

- T. Komoda Store & Bakery on Baldwin Avenue in Makawao on Maui

- Tex Drive-In off Highway 19 near Honokaa on Hawaii’s Big Island

5. Happy Cakes on Oahu
As I said in my Happy Cakes post, this cake lives up to its name. This golden moist cake bursts with the iconic flavors of Hawaii – pineapple, macadamia nuts and coconut. Need I say more? There’s a chocolate version, too.  You can pick up a Happy Cake at a variety of locations that I describe in my Happy Cakes post or you can order them online.

6. Hula Pie
If you go into any of the TS Hawaii Restaurants (for example, any of the Duke’s restaurants) save room a slice of Hula Pie. This generously-sized (e.g. sharable) pie is made of macadamia nut ice cream, topped with chocolate sauce, whipped cream and more macadamia nuts.

7. Chocolate Haupia Cream Pie from Ted’s Bakery on Oahu’s North Shore
I must thank a Go Visit Hawaii reader, Janet Rivera, for telling me about Ted’s Chocolate Haupia Cream Pie. I had been to Ted’s Bakery a number of times for breakfast or lunch, but somehow missed that chocolaty, coconuty, creamy goodness up until last year. If you’re stopping into Ted’s with a large group, purchase an entire pie to share, otherwise I recommend purchasing the a slice that’s individually packaged.

8. Mochi
How does one describe mochi? It’s a soft Japanese rice cake usually filled with ice cream. I realize that description doesn’t exactly sound delicious, but you’ve got to trust me on this one. You can find mochi in grocery stores and bakeries around Hawaii.

9. Chocolate Covered Macadamia Nuts
No list of Hawaii’s best sweet treats be complete without chocolate covered macadamia nuts. Though they’re not too difficult to find on the US Mainland, you certainly can’t find the variety that Hawaii offers. See my post on where to find macadamia nut farms in Hawaii. Most farms have a shop where you can sample all sorts of macadamia goodness. My favorite kind is the milk chocolate toffee covered macadamia nut. They’re delish!

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Did your favorite sweet treat make the list? What’s your favorite sweet snack or dessert in Hawaii? Where did you try it?

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Best Oahu Restaurant
Gold – Alan Wong’s Honolulu
Silver – Le Bistro
Bronze – Azure
Top 5 – Ruth’s Chris Steak House
Top 5 – 3660 On The Rise

Best Maui Restaurant
Gold – Pineapple Grill
Silver – Lahaina Grill
Bronze – Mama’s Fish House
Top 5 – Casanova’s Italian Restaurant
Top 5 – Mala Ocean Tavern

Best Kauai Restaurant
Gold – The Beach House Restaurant
Silver – Mediterranean Gourmet
Bronze – Kaua‘i Grill
Top 5 – Red Salt
Top 5 – Bar Acuda

Best Big Island Restaurant
Gold – Merriman’s Waimea
Silver – Kaleo’s Bar & Grill
Bronze – Huggo’s
Top 5 – Brown’s Beach House
Top 5 – Café Pesto Kawaihae

If I counted correctly, there are 29 Hale Aina award categories in total. You can check them all out through this link.

I’ve written dozens of articles on some of Hawaii’s best restaurants. Here’s a quick cheat sheet on how to find those articles by island:

Oahu – All Oahu restaurant related articles and a summary of how to find the best Oahu restaurants

Maui – All Maui restaurant related articles and a summary of how to find the best Maui restaurants

Kauai – All Kauai restaurant related articles and a summary of how to find the best Kauai restaurants

Big Island – All Big Island restaurant related articles and a summary of how to find the best Big Island Restaurants

What’s your favorite Hawaii restaurant?

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Since we’ve been to a number of luaus all over Hawaii, we have a good comparison base to evaluate the quality of the experience. The Friday night luau at Kona Village definitely offers a top notch dinner and show.

The Kona Village luau set by the private lagoons of this tranquil resort village. Kona Village has dedicated luau grounds with a covered buffet area, two stages and an excellent lighting system that brought the show to life.

At this luau, there’s almost constant entertainment including a coconut opening demonstration, a fantastic imu ceremony, excellent live music, and then the Polynesian dancing on two different stages.

To be honest, I don’t normally have high expectations of the food at luaus. I think I feel that way because I’m not a fan of buffets and most of the luau foods we’ve had in the past were nothing to write home about. However, we thought that the Kona Village luau food was excellent and the selection far exceed what we’ve experienced at other luaus in Hawaii.

The Polynesian dancing show was presented on two stages – a large stage situated across a small lagoon and a smaller stage that was close to the audience. I think that having the show on two different stages helped to keep our interest in the performances. Like other luaus, this show takes you on a journey through the major Polynesian islands, so you get to see a variety of Polynesian dances and costumes.

Fireknife Dancer

Other aspects of the Kona Village luau we enjoyed:

Imu Ceremony

- This luau presented one of the best imu ceremonies we’ve seen. There was plenty of space around for guests to observe the unearthing of the foods. The mistress of ceremonies used a microphone to explain what was cooked, how it was cooked, how it was removed, etc. Unlike some other luaus, it was easy to hear and see the process.

- At some luaus, you don’t really eat what you observed at the imu ceremony. I’m pretty certain that what we had was actually cooked that day in the imu. The kalua pork was hot and fresh.

- We thought the kulua pork was some of the best we’ve had in Hawaii. For those watching what they eat, you might like the turkey that they cook in the imu. I’ve not seen imu-cooked turkey offered at any other luau.

- The grand finale of the show featured an excellent fireknife dancer.

Some other considerations:

- Kona Village offers luaus on Wednesdays and Fridays.

- If you stay at Kona Village Resort, your admissions to their luaus are complimentary.

- Some luaus are set ocean side or with ocean views. The Kona Village Luau does not have ocean views.

- This luau is somewhat pricey compared to other Big Island luaus. This luau cost $98 per person plus tax. Admission includes gratuity, an orchid lei crown for the ladies and one drink per person. For children, admission pricing is $67 ages 6-12 and $40 for ages 3-5.

Andy snapped a bunch of photos from this luau. You can look at all four pages of them here.

Have you been to the Kona Village Luau? How was your experience?

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I’ll have more detailed posts to share, but in the meantime I’ll briefly list my newly garnered advice on where to stay, what to do and where to eat on the Big Island.

Where To Stay On The Big Island

We really picked a couple of excellent winners this time around. We stayed on the town of Volcano for two nights and in Waikoloa Beach Resort for 10 nights.

* In Volcano (Hilo side), we loved the Volcano Teapot Cottage. It’s an adorable two-bedroom cottage that was built in the early 1900’s. The hosts were delightful and kept us well stocked in fresh island fruits and yummy baked goods. We wished we could have stayed longer.

* In Waikoloa (Kona side), we stayed in a fantastic villa resort at Hali’i Kai. I think it may be the best villa (condo) community in all of Hawaii. The community has an ocean front pool that is gorgeously designed and landscaped. On top of that, there’s a great poolside restaurant and bar. The food was some of the best we had on the island. We enjoyed watching whales from pool and exercise hale and our private lanai. We found the villa we rented (8A) on VRBO.com. The owners were easy to work with and allowed us to pay via Pay Pal for our protection. We’ll definitely be back to Hali’i Kai!

What To Do On The Big Island

* We were finally able to get to the Hawaii Tropical Botanical Garden off the Four Mile Scenic Drive. I had heard good things about the garden and I thought I’d enjoy it, but it exceeded my expectations! As we paid our $15 admission, we were advised to allow an hour to tour the garden. I think we spent well over two hours there.

* We loved the Friday night Kona Village Luau – Savai’i, Origins of the Polynesia Luau. The luau buffet was the best we’ve had with a ginormous selection. Their kalua pork was prepared straight from the imu and it was so delicious. Oh, and the show was very good, too.

* We thought the snorkeling at Kealakekua Bay was some of the best we’ve done, yet. As I mentioned in my post, Planning to Explore Kealakekua Bay, I chose to snorkel with Fair Wind II. They provided a great tour that suits all levels and interests.

* We gave the Ocean Sports Sunset Sail another try and they continue to do a great job. The secret to taking this particular sail is that this time of year, it also becomes a free whale watching tour. We saw a whale breach approximately 75 yards off the boat. I have a few 20% off coupons I can pass along in case you’re headed there anytime soon.

* For more suggestions of what to do on the Big Island, see Best (Hawaii) Big Island Free and Budget Friendly Activities

Where To Eat On The Big Island

We had good experiences at the following restaurants:

• Kiawe Kitchen on Old Volcano Road in Volcano
• Cafe Ono on Old Volcano Road in Volcano
• Cafe Pesto in Kawaihae
• Tex Drive-In for malasadas in Honokaa
• Yong’s Kal-Bi Korean Restaurant in the Waimea Shopping Center (KTA) in Waimea (Recommended by Jerry & Bobbie at TheRightBlue)
• Kona Brewing Company in Kailua-Kona
• We continue to recommend Roy’s and Sansei in Waikoloa Beach Resort

For more suggestions on where to eat on the Big Island, see Best Big Island Restaurants

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Just over two years ago, I compiled the complete list of  Big Island Luaus along with their prices, schedule, and links to reviews. Since then a few more luaus have popped onto the scene, plus there have been some pricing changes. I’ve updated the list to include these changes and additions. Click the following link to access the updated Big Island Luau Options List.

Have you been to a Big Island luau? Which one did you choose? How did you like it?

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One of our favorite restaurants in Hawaii is Sansei Seafood Restaurant & Sushi Bar. We first fell in love with Sansei on the Big Island and since then we’ve looked for any opportunity to return.

I must admit, I’m still working on being a bit more brave with trying sushi. Honestly, there’s nothing I’ve tried that I haven’t liked, so I have no reason to be so unadventurous. Andy, on the other hand, would likely try just about anything. I think he and Anthony Bourdain would become big pals if the ever had the opportunity to meet. Sansei’s Restaurants are the perfect place for Andy and I to go, because I can always fall back on tame sushi-ish dishes like the Mango Crab [cooked] Salad Handroll in a Thai vinaigrette or the melt in your mouth Matsuhisa Style Miso Butterfish (photo).

Crispy Fried Calamari

Though Andy and I differ a tad on our spirits of culinary adventures, one appetizer that we both enjoy tremendously and never miss ordering is the Crispy Fried Calamari with spicy Japanese cocktail sauce. As a good ol’ Southern saying goes, it’s so good it would make your tongue slap your brains out. I’ve asked what’s in the spicy Japanese cocktail sauce and was told it’s a secret. The best way I can try to describe it is an Asian version of the best buffalo hot wing sauce. I bet a chef would cringe at my description, but it’s the best I can do.

I’m grateful that you’ve grown to trust my advice here at Go Visit Hawaii, but you don’t have to just take my word on this restaurant recommendation. Sansei Restaurants have won many awards. My Oahu foodie-friend, Melissa Chang, writes for the Honolulu Advertiser. She recently went on a sushi tour of Oahu and here’s what she had to say about Sansei:

Some of the best and most creative sushi was at Sansei. I know locals don’t think of Sansei so much anymore because it’s in Waikiki, but if you get a chance, you should go. Their sushi rolls were very fresh and presented with artful flair.

You’ll find a Sansei Seafood Restaurant and Sushi Bar on the islands of Maui (in Kihei and Kapalua), Oahu (in Waikiki), and the Big Island (in Waikoloa).

Sansei Restaurants seem to have fair menu prices. Appetizers start at $3, but I’d say most are in the $9 range. Entrees start at $16.

Here are few tips for you if you decide to dine at one of the Sansei locations:

• Most of the locations offer special deals if you’re seated at a certain time – either early or late. Call ahead and ask what their special discounts are. You can find the phone numbers from their Web site.
• Andy and I recommend the chef’s tasting menu, if it’s offered. Usually, they are good deals plus it’s a great introduction to Sansei’s menu.
• Sansei is popular with both locals (especially on the Big Island and Maui)  and visitors, so it’s best if you make a reservation. If you happen to pop into a Sansei and there’s a long wait, check for seating at the bar where you can access the full menu.

Have you been to a Sansei Restaurant and Sushi Bar in Hawaii? What was your favorite dish?

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* Waikoloa Beach Marriott on Hawaii’s Big Island is offering a super deal of 50% off ocean view rooms. This $169 nightly rate is good for stays between now and December 24th, but you must book by August 21st.  This resort has been recently renovated and in my opinion, Waikoloa is a great place to stay on the Big Island.

* There’s another Marriott deal worth mentioning. It’s the Statehood Package celebration Hawaii’s 50 years of statehood. The package includes 4th night free, resort credit, and more. See this link for the promotion code and details on the participating Oahu, Maui, Kauai and Big Island resorts.

* Honolulu Magazine has assembled their restaurant choices for the ideal breakfast, lunch and dinner itineraries for Oahu, Kauai, Maui, and the Big Island.

* Have you checked airfare to Hawaii recently? There’s been a new slew of deals that are good for travel between August and mid-December. Here are some examples I found by searching FareCompare:

• Detroit to Honolulu $534 round-trip
• Atlanta to Honolulu $435 round-trip
• Cincinnati to Honolulu $533 round-trip
• Minneapolis-St Paul to Honolulu $436 round-trip
• Houston to Honolulu $438 round-trip

* Hawaiian Airlines is celebrating it’s 80th anniversary with a fun game to guess the different era of Hawaiian Airlines uniforms. When you play the game, you can become eligible to be one of eight winners of a roundtrip coach tickets for two. Here’s a link to the game.

* Do you tweet on twitter? If so, you may be interested in this National Geographic Traveler article with advice on traveling with twitter. (Notice that the article quotes yours truly.)  By the way, I’m on twitter, please let me know if you tweet, too.

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Pssst! Hey you! Shh! Here’s a secret for ya: Hawaii beaches are practically deserted near sunset. Can you believe it? We took this photo from Waikiki Beach near sunset. Notice that this extremely popular beach isn’t very crowded at all and it became even more quiet as the sunset was nearing.

We were amazed at how quiet Waikiki Beach would be around sunset, especially since this was the most vibrant time of the day. The ocean seemed bluer. Diamond Head seemed more prominent and the sand was more golden.

Where were all the people? Why were they missing out on this magic? At about 4pm, most people started packing up their beach bags to go in for the day. They were headed to their hotel room to shower and try to find a place for dinner, preferably with a great sunset view, where they’d be competing with hoards of other people all wanting the same view. Ah, if they only knew that they were missing the “best seat in the house”, they’d not be in such a rush to leave the beach.

Long time readers may recall that one of my top recommendations for having a memorable Hawaii vacation on a budget is to plan a sunset picnic. Planning your own picnic can not only save you money as compared to restaurant prices, but it will undoubtedly provide you with one of your fondest vacation memories.

Looking back on our recent week-long stay on Oahu, we had some nice gourmet dinners, but none of them compared to our hot dog roast on the beach at sunset. We must thank our friend Dave for providing us with the complete kit for a wienie roast on the beach. Thank you, Dave, for your thoughtfulness and the best dinner we had on Oahu!

You can easily plan your own barbeque as most beach parks have grills available for public use. Alternatively, you can pick up a disposable grill kit from a discount store and grill right in the sand like we did. You can pick up picnic supplies at Foodland, Safeway, and even the ABC stores carry a limited selection of picnic items.

If you do plan a beach picnic, there are two things you cannot do.

• You can’t make an open fire on the beach. Your grill must be enclosed.
• You can’t have alcoholic beverages on Hawaii’s beaches.

So, I challenge you to have your own sunset picnic in Hawaii. You’ll be glad you did.

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On a recent visit to the Big Island, we were repeat customers to the Island Fish & Chips Shop. What we look for in a restaurant is good food, fair prices, and a pleasant environment. I’m happy to say that this little fish and chips shop passed all three requirements. The food is tasty. The prices are quite a bit better than what you would find in the hotel restaurants. The outdoor tables under a pavilion by the lake was quite a nice setting.

This restaurant serves grilled, batter fried, and tempura style seafood along with pineapple coleslaw and either rice or fries. My husband loved the coconut shrimp. I liked the grilled and fried versions of the Mahi Mahi. I wish I had given the tempura dishes a try, too. Most menu items cost around $10 to $13.

Island Fish and Chips is is open from 9:30am to 9:30pm. It’s located in the Kings’ Shops at the Waikoloa Beach Resort on the Kohala Coast. It is kind of hidden away from the main through-way of the shops, so keep your eyes one for one of the small signs directing you to the lakeside.

Here’s a great budget friendly idea for you. Grab dinner from Island Fish & Chips for under $15 each including a drink and then taking in one of the free shows offered at the Kings’ shops. That’s dinner and a show for under $15 per person. You can’t beat that! (You can see a photo and video that we shot of the free hula show one evening at the Kings’ Shops.)

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Trio of desserts from The CanoeHouse -- Coconut Creme Brule, Fresh Berry Shortcake and Waialua Chocolate Dome

Today, we complete the series on how to find the best Hawaii restaurants with a visit to the Big Island. Since this is our final restaurant visit, I thought I’d post a dessert photo.

We have to say that finding great restaurants on the Big Island seems to take a bit more effort. That being said, we’ve definitely found some winners. We think that the addition of the Queens MarketPlace in Waikoloa and the Shops at Mauna Lani have added some nice new alternatives for those staying around the Kohala Coast.

We’ll start with our personal picks and then move on to the wisdom of the crowds with TripAdvisor, and finish up with recommends from guidebooks.

Go Visit Hawaii Picks

The following restaurants are ones that we particularly like after multiple trips to the Big Island. We don’t take these recommendations lightly. We create this list as if we’re giving it to our family and friends. For us dining is a big part of our Hawaii vacations and we want to make every dining experience count!

Best Beach Views & Most Romantic: The CanoeHouse at the Mauna Lani serves fresh, locally grown Hawaii regional cuisine with beach and sunset views.  Brown’s Beach House at the Fairmont Orchid is located right by the beach, with lovely sunset views. A couple of honorable mentions are Kamuela Provision Company at the Hilton Waikoloa Village and  the Coast Grille at the Prince Hapuna Resort. They both have outdoor seating with super sunset views.

Great Hawaiian Fusion Cuisine without the Beach Views: Roy’s Restaurant at Waikoloa Beach Resort. Their 3-course prix fixe menu is a very good value. We’ve never had a bad meal at Roy’s. I recommend you make reservations and if possible request a seat by the window next to the lake. In the same shopping center, you’ll also find the Eddie Aukau Restaurant and Surfing Museum — a tasty farm-to-table new comer to the Big Island.

Best Sushi/Seafood: Sansei at the Queens Marketplace at Waikoloa Beach Resort.

Best Malasadas: Tex Drive-In off Highway 19 in Honoka’a (near the mile 43 marker) Check it out if you are going to Waipio Valley

Some of Hawaii’s More Unique Restaurants: Kilauea Lodge in Volcano has an atmosphere that reminds us of an Appalachian mountain lodge with the historic fireplace. In Hawi, we really like the eclectic bamboo-inspired decor and very, very tasty food at Bamboo Restaurant. Near the Hamakua Coast, a great place for lunch and a farm tour is at the Hawaiian Vanilla Company. If you want to have a delicious and unique vanilla-infused lunch, reserve in advance.

Best Cheap Eats: Cafe 100 in Hilo. You can easily eat here for $5 or less at Cafe 100. Another good winner for cheap eats is Yong’s Kal-Bi Korean Restaurant in Waimea. The food is delicious and for around $10, you’ll get a large plate full of food.

Best Pub Hawaii-Style: Kona Pub and Brewery in Kailua-Kona. We particularly like their kalua pulled pork nachos. They’ve recently added a lilikoi (passion fruit) brew that’s really good.

Best Non-Touristy Reasonably Priced Slightly Upscale Restaurant: (Long title, eh?)  Cafe Pesto is a local favorite and  has locations in Hilo and on the Kona side at Kawaihae Harbor. You won’t feel like you’re paying overpriced resort prices here and the food is very good and fresh.

Top of My List for Next Time: Merriman’s in Waimea. As a Hawaii affectionado, I’m a bit embarrassed that we’ve never dined at the original Merriman’s restaurant. We’ve been to others, but not the one in Waimea. Another restaurant we’d love to check out is Huggo’s on the Rocks in Kona. We tried to get there last time, but couldn’t get a reservation.

TripAdvisor & Yelp

When I first published this post, Yelp wasn’t on our radar. Now we use Yelp quite often both on the web and on our mobile phones. It’s a great place to check restaurant reviews.

Thousands of TripAdvisor members rate Hawaii restaurants. I’ll organize the TripAdvisor restaurant listings by geography. Some of the geography they use is a bit odd, but we’ll make it work for us. We’ll start on the Kohala Coast/Waimea area and work our way around the island counter clockwise. So as not to create information overload, I’ll try to only list the areas that you’ll likely be nearby.

Kohala Coast (Including Hawi, Waimea/Kamuela, Waikoloa)

• Hawi and Kapa’au Restaurants (These small towns on the northern part of Hawaii have just a few restaurants.)
• Kawaihae Restaurants (There are only two restaurants listed here, but they very well liked and recommended by locals.)
• Kamuela Restaurants (This is where TripAdvisor uses some strange geography. They lump in restaurants in Waimea (Kamuela) with restaurants at the Mauna Lani resort area and Mauna Kea/Hapuna Beach areas.)
• Waikoloa Beach Resort Restaurants

Kona Coast

• Kailua-Kona Restaurants (TripAdvisor lists over 100 restaurants here.)
• Keauhou Restaurants
• Captain Cook Restaurants

Hilo Side

• Volcano Restaurants
• Hilo Restaurants (There are over 100 in total)
• Pepeekeo Restaurants (There is only one restaurant listed here, but it’s the popular What’s Shakin’ place that’s known for their smoothies.)
• Honokaa Restaurants

Guidebooks

• Fodor’s has an interactive list.
• Hawaii The Big Island Revealed is usually very reliable guidebook for restaurant recommendations.

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Though this article was originally published in 2008, we aim to keep it refreshed with each visit. Restaurants and chefs come and go, so we like to keep the list as up to date as possible.

I know there are some nice very readers who live on the Big Island, so I’d love for them to share their recommendations in the comments.

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As the name would suggest the Hamakua Fudge Shop sells homemade fudge. Though their fudge is made with real butter and cream, we’d like to think we made the a healthy choice by selecting the dark chocolate macadamia nut fudge. (That’s our story and we’re sticking to it.) The owner told me that their most popular flavors are Kona mocha, lilikoi (a yellow passion fruit), and anything with macadamia nuts. She offered us samples to help us make our “healthy” selection.

One thing you must not miss at this shop is their homemade fruitsicles. Oh my goodness! They are simply divine. These fruitsicles are like frozen popsicles, but with lots of real fruit flavor. We had a coconut cream fruitsicle and it was absolutely fantastic. If you like the flavor of coconut, you must try it. They make other popular fruit flavors like lilikoi, mango, strawberry, etc. I can’t recall the cost of the fruitsicles, but I believe they cost us around $2.00 each.

The Hamakua Fudge Shop is located at 45-3611 Mamane Street (the main street) in Honokaa. They are open Monday through Saturday from 10am to 4pm. You can also find the fruitsicles made by Lisa at the Waimea Farmers Market on Saturdays.

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Sansei Restaurant is the Big Islands hottest new restaurant. Though the restaurant only debuted in February, it already draws in crowds of both locals and visitors.

In addition to traditional grilled and sauteed entrees, Sansei also serves a wide variety fresh sushi. During our recent two week stay on the Big Island, we dined at Sansei twice and we thought both experiences were tremendous. The first time we chose the tasting menu for two which was a selection of signature appetizers and sushi to share. There were nine different delicious plates for us to try. This was a great introduction to Sansei and a good value at $80 for two.

During our next experience at Sansei, we shared our favorite appetizer, that we had sampled previously, the Japanese Calamari Salad, My husband had the Nissei sushi combination and I had the grilled Ahi with Sansei’s Asian shrimp cake, a signature dish. Once again, Sansei didn’t disappoint.

On the Big Island, Sansei is located in the Queens Marketplace at Waikoloa Beach Resort. The restaurant doesn’t really have a view, so to speak, but who cares, because the lively atmosphere and great food more than please. The restaurant opens at 5:30pm and sometimes offers attractive early bird specials between 5:30pm and 6:00pm. If you want to go, I recommend you make a reservation. If you are looking for a bit of nightlife in the quite and relaxed Kohala Coast resort area, then check out their late night dining and karaoke on Fridays and Saturdays from 10pm to 1am.

Though this is the first Big Island edition of Sansei Restaurant, there are other popular locations on Oahu and Maui. You can learn more about their menus and locations at their website.

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Cafe 100 in Hilo is a great place to get good cheap eats. They have many, many menu choices, but we had to have one of their Loco Mocos. What’s a Loco Moco? It’s a local dish you’ll find throughout Hawaii. It usually includes generous scoops of rice, eggs, hamburger patty, and brown gravy. We had the Cafe 100 Super Loco with all the above mentioned items plus, potato and macaroni salad, spam, and Portuguese sausages. Our plates were mounded high and we couldn’t finish all our food.

Finding a place like Cafe 100 was a real treat for us. For the most part, it seemed that the clientele was local. We enjoyed soaking in the local scene and culture. The price of the food was another plus. Our Super Locos cost less than $5 each – $4.65 if I remember correctly.

The restaurant’s set up reminded me of the old drive-in style restaurants. The menu is posted on a large white board with individual letters. You order your food at a window and they issue you a number. When your order is ready, they will call your number. There were plenty of covered picnic tables available. The staff was friendly and the eating area was kept clean.

I hear the restaurant has been in business for over 50 years and may have been the restaurant that invented the Loco Moco. So, a restaurant in business that long can’t be half bad, right? You’ll find Cafe 100 in Hilo at 969 Kilauea Avenue near the intersection of Mohouli Avenue. They’re open for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

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After a stroll around the shops at Mauna Lani, we decided to pop into the Tommy Bahama’s Cafe for some drinks and appetizers.  Though we were familiar with the Tommy Bahama brand, we had never heard of their restaurants.  Apparently there are several others.   

The Scene
The cafe is located on the second level above a Tommy Bahama retail shop.  The immediate view is of the parking lot, however, the distant views of the Mauna Lani resort grounds are pleasant.  There are tables on the lanai and tables indoors, though the restaurant was open air throughout.   

As you would expect, the restaurant is very tastefully decorated in an island motif. I did find it odd that the decor was Caribbean themed.  When in Hawaii, I prefer a Hawaiian theme. 

Live music was playing, which was pleasant, however it was also more of a Jimmy Buffet type music.  Now, don’t get me wrong, I like Jimmy Buffet music, but when I’m in Hawaii, I want to soak up all things Hawaiian.  So, I would have preferred music with a local vibe. 

The Service
We arrived at about 7:30pm and were surprised to be seated immediately.  Our server started out being attentive, then he was assigned two nearby tables of six people each.  Then we were kicked to the curb.  We had to wait long periods of time just to order our appetizers, wait for drinks, etc.  As an example of the wait, we probably had to wait 15 minutes or longer just to order our appetizers.  At this point, frustrations mounted and our plans of sharing a slice of Pina Colada cake went out the window.  We are very easy going people, but when we get bad service, we can’t wait to leave.

The Food
We ordered three appetizers to share and they were tremendous.  We ordered Big Island Goat Cheese, coconut shrimp, and Antiqua quesadilla.  (You can see the full dinner menu here.)  All their appetizers are large portions and extremely sharable.

Final Thoughts
Now, I ask myself, "Would I go back?"  Even though the quality of food was quite nice, the prices were high. Appetizers ranged in price from $13.50 to $19.50.  Dinner entree prices start at $31.50 (pasta dish) to $42.50 for the evening special.  For those kind of prices, I’d rather go to the Hualani Grill at the Four Seasons.  I’d rather dine a a place with more of a Hawaiian influence.

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Please note that all pricing and timing was accurate at the time of posting. Luau can and do change pricing, timing and websites without warnings. When I’m alerted to a change, I do update this listing.

Kohala Coast Luaus

Royal Luau at the Waikoloa Beach Marriott
Opens: Check-in between 4:30 and 5:00
Nights: Saturdays and Wednesdays
Location/Setting: Adjacent to the Anaehoomalu fishponds with a sunset view. (See this photo of the grounds.)
Prices: $88 for adults and $40 for children aged 6 – 12. Children under 5 are free.
Price Includes: Buffet, open-bar drinks, Polynesian show and taxes
Lei Greeting: With upgraded seating only. 
Imu Ceremony: Yes at 6:00
For Reservations: 1-808-886-6789
Reviews: TripAdvisor, Yahoo
Additional Information: Official Luau Flier. Upgraded seating is offered at $25 per person and includes a lei greeting, first row seating and Hawaiian pupu (appetizer).

Mauna Kea Beach Hotel Luau
Opens: 5:30pm
Nights: Tuesdays (usually, though in slower months it may not be offered every Tuesday) and Fridays
Location/Setting: Ocean front at the grounds of the Mauna Kea Beach Hotel
Prices: $102.48 (including taxes & gratuity) for adults. Price does not include drinks. Cost for children is $51.24
Price Includes: Buffet, show, gratuity and taxes
Lei Greeting: Orchid lei
Imu Ceremony: Yes
For Reservations: 808-882-5810.
Reviews: TripAdvisor
Additional Information: Official Web site

Gathering of the Kings at Fairmont Orchid
Opens: 4:30 Check-In
Nights: Saturdays
Location/Setting: Outdoor, sheltered lawn on grounds of Fairmont Orchid. See this link for more information.
Prices: $99 for adults, children ages 6 -12 $65 (Upgrade available for $25 per person)
Price Includes: Polynesian show, Buffet stations for each of the major Polynesian islands, drinks, gratuities
Lei Greeting: Shell lei
Imu Ceremony:
For Reservations: (808) 326-4969
Reviews: TripAdvisor
Additional Information: Official Web site Also see: Island Breeze Web site

Legends of the Pacific at the Hilton Waikoloa Village
Opens: Doors open at 5:30
Nights: Sundays, Tuesdays and Fridays
Location/Setting: At Hilton Waikoloa Resort grounds. (No water views from the seating area.  See photo 1 and 2 for views of the seating set up.)
Prices: $109 for adults, $99 for seniors 65 and older, $99 for teens 13- 18, $54 for children 5 – 12 and free for children under 5. Upgrade seating to front row with family-style food served and unlimited Mai Tais at your table for additional $26 per person. You can skip the food altogether and just see the show for $60 per adult and $50 per teen which begins at 7:15 p.m.
Price Includes: Buffet, two cocktails, Polynesian show.
Lei Greeting: None
Imu Ceremony: Yes at 6:00
For Reservations: 1-808-886-1234
Reviews: TripAdvisor
Additional Information: Official Website

Kona Luaus

Kona Village Luau at Kona Village Resort - Sadly this entire resort had to close due to damage from the March 2011 tsunami damage.
Opens: 5:15
Nights: Wednesdays (Hula Mana), Fridays (Savaii Polynesian Show, the longest running show)
Location/Setting: At Kona Village Resort grounds 10 miles north of Kona.
Prices: $98 for Adults and teens 13 years and older, $67 for children ages 6 – 12 and $40 for children ages 3 – 5.
Price Includes: Buffet, one drink and hula (Wednesday) or Polynesian show (Friday).
Lei Greeting: None
Imu Ceremony: Yes on Fridays
For Reservations: 1-808-325-5555
Reviews: TripAdvisor, Epinions, Travel.Taquitos
Additional Information: Official Website Of all the Big Island luaus that I’ve experienced, the Friday night show and buffet here is superior. I highly recommend the Friday night Polynesian show. See my full review of Kona Village Luau.

Island Breeze Hawaiian Luau at King Kamehameha’s Kona Beach Hotel
Opens: 5:00
Nights: Sundays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays
Location/Setting: King Kamehameha’s Kona Beach Hotel grounds in Kona. (These grounds are very historic.)
Prices: $75.65 for adults, $37.80 for children ages 5 – 12, children under 5 are admitted free
Prices Includes: Buffet, open bar, Polynesian show, taxes
Lei Greeting: Shell Lei
Imu Ceremony: Yes, plus also they have a royal Hawaiian court presentation.
For Reservations: 1-808-326-4969
Reviews: TripAdvisor 1, TripAdvisor 2
Additional Information: Hotel Website, Island Breeze Production Website (Note that at the time of this update, if you book through the hotel, you’ll get a 20% discount.)

Royal Kona Resort Luau
Opens: 5:00
Nights: Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays
Location/Setting: Royal Kona Resort grounds in Kona (ocean front with sunset views)
Prices: $62.40 for adults, $26.96 for children 5 – 12, children under 5 admitted free for each paid adult
Prices Includes: Buffet, open bar, Polynesian show, gratuities. Taxes are extra.
Lei Greeting: Shell Lei
Imu Ceremony: Yes
For Reservations: 1-808-329-3111 or book online
Reviews: TripAdvisor, IgoUgo
Additional Information: Official Website

Haleo Luau Dinner and Show at Sheraton Keauhou Bay
Opens: TBD
Nights: Mondays
Location/Setting: Ocean front
Prices: $79.95 for dults, $49.95 for children, 5 & under are free (Alii upgrade, $15 adults, $10 children, includes souvenir lei, express ticket purchase and check-in and reserved front section seating.)
Prices Includes: Buffet, show, drinks, gratuities. Taxes are extra.
Lei Greeting: Souvenir lei for Ali’i upgrade
Imu Ceremony:
For Reservations: 808-326-4969
Reviews: TBD
Additional Information:  Official Website

All prices and times were accurate at the time this article was written. As resorts often change dates and prices, please verify current times, days, and prices.

We will be continuing this series over the coming weeks. Subscribe to our free updates via e-mail or RSS, to make sure you don’t miss a beat.

Have you been to any of these Big Island Luaus? What did you think?

Hukilau Cafe in Laie

Whenever I go into a restaurant and I can tell that local folks are there, I know I’ve found a great place. Travelocity has just released their list of “Local Secrets, Big Finds: Hawaii“. Though it is not a big list, it is worth taking note of as you make your list of restaurants to try in Hawaii.

On Travelocity’s list of local eateries are:

• Oahu’s Cafe Haleiwa
• Oahu’s Wailoa Shave Ice
• Big Islands’ Waimea Music Exchange
• Big Island’s Makuu Farmers Market (open Thursday, Saturday, Sunday)
• Kauai’s Puka Dog Hawaiian-Style Hot Dogs

I’d like to add a few of my own local gems:

• Oahu has dozens of local favorites that I’ve summarized in this article: Where to find local favorite restaurants in Oahu.
• Maui’s Kula Lodge Restaurant – this place is especially great for breakfast after watching sunrise on top of Haleakala. The views here are breathtaking.
• Maui’s Da Kitchen - There are two locations – one in Kihei and one in Kahului.
• Maui’s Aloha Mixed Plate – Lahaina
• Maui’s Kihei Caffe – Kihei
• From my Maui friend, Liza, here’s a list of places locals eat in Kihei Maui
• Kauai’s Best Cheap Eats - list of various restaurants that locals frequent in Kauai as written by a local couple.
• Kauai’s  Kalapaki Beach Hut - Lihue
• Kauai’s Joe’s on the Green – Poipu
• Big Island’s Cafe 100- very cheap local eats with generous portions. You won’t go hungry here.
• Big Island’s Hawaiian Style Cafe in Waimea
• Big Island’s Cafe Pesto in Kawaihae (Kohala Coast) and Hilo

What local favorite Hawaii restaurants have you found and liked?