Guidebook for Captain Cook
Food Scene
Keei Cafe
79-7511 Hawaiʻi Belt Rdhigh quality ingredients and friendly people ...
Like I say below, an awesome super-fresh poke bowl is probably our favorite thing to eat here on the Big Island. This is my daughter's favorite spot (although we usually are hitting the one in Kailua Kona on Alli'i drive while on our way to Puako up north). Da Poke Shack or Umekes -- both are 'ono grinds (tasty food!)
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Da Poke Shack
76-6246 Ali‘i DriveLike I say below, an awesome super-fresh poke bowl is probably our favorite thing to eat here on the Big Island. This is my daughter's favorite spot (although we usually are hitting the one in Kailua Kona on Alli'i drive while on our way to Puako up north). Da Poke Shack or Umekes -- both are 'ono grinds (tasty food!)
If you're going to Volcanoes National Park, making a lunch or dinner reservation here is a must. The food is excellent and you eat overlooking the smoking (and sometimes lava-filled) Kilauea Crater ...
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Eldhúsið
1 Crater Rim DriveIf you're going to Volcanoes National Park, making a lunch or dinner reservation here is a must. The food is excellent and you eat overlooking the smoking (and sometimes lava-filled) Kilauea Crater ...
This is the place to stop for a malasada (portuguese donut) on your way to either Black Sand beach or the Volcano! There's sometimes live music out in the courtyard.
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Punalu'u Bake Shop
95-5642 HI-11This is the place to stop for a malasada (portuguese donut) on your way to either Black Sand beach or the Volcano! There's sometimes live music out in the courtyard.
This is such a pretty spot to stop on the Hamakua Coast. The food is fine, as are the smoothies (made from the fruit grown behind the shack on a lush 20 acre fruit farm), but it's the location that's the star here.
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What's Shakin
27-999 Mamalahoa HwyThis is such a pretty spot to stop on the Hamakua Coast. The food is fine, as are the smoothies (made from the fruit grown behind the shack on a lush 20 acre fruit farm), but it's the location that's the star here.
CLOSED. :-( ---
This might be my absolute favorite place to eat on the entire island. Why? Because the chef / proprietor (Matt VanderNoot) knows how to take incredibly fresh, local ingredients and turn them into absolute perfection. It's not fancy, it's just seriously darn good food. Everything from his homemade pickles to his purple potato salad to his mai-tais are pure bliss. He is also very smart and funny. ;-) I'm begging this dude to please-oh-please open something up in our neck of the woods in South Kona. Help me persuade him so we don't have to drive so far for this kind of fabulous yumminess.
Local Dish
55-3419 Akoni Pule HwyCLOSED. :-( ---
This might be my absolute favorite place to eat on the entire island. Why? Because the chef / proprietor (Matt VanderNoot) knows how to take incredibly fresh, local ingredients and turn them into absolute perfection. It's not fancy, it's just seriously darn good food. Everything from his homemade pickles to his purple potato salad to his mai-tais are pure bliss. He is also very smart and funny. ;-) I'm begging this dude to please-oh-please open something up in our neck of the woods in South Kona. Help me persuade him so we don't have to drive so far for this kind of fabulous yumminess.
Ono grindz served by friendly people in a very modest local setting. Their pork laulau is famous across the island for a very good reason!
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Kaaloa's Super J's
83-5409 Mamalahoa HwyOno grindz served by friendly people in a very modest local setting. Their pork laulau is famous across the island for a very good reason!
Beach tree Bar at the Four Seasons Hualailai is a great spot if you want to do a fancier dinner down by the water. It's just north of the airport - maybe 10 minutes or so. I prefer it to the more touristy fare in Kona town.
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Beach Tree Bar
72-100 Kaupulehu DrBeach tree Bar at the Four Seasons Hualailai is a great spot if you want to do a fancier dinner down by the water. It's just north of the airport - maybe 10 minutes or so. I prefer it to the more touristy fare in Kona town.
If you are stopping by the gallery scene in Holualoa and you are a fan of authentic Mexican street tacos, this is your place to grab a quick snack! Super modest -- more like a food truck than a restaurant -- but dang, Noemi and Bero make terrifically good, simple authentic Mexican tacos (I am fond of the lengua and the birria), with super-fresh and home-made salsa (I like the green tomatillo, which is made with fresh tomatillos and chiles). Feels like a little bit of Mexico City on the Big Island. ;-)
MI TAQUERIA POTOSINA
77-6108 Mamalahoa HighwayIf you are stopping by the gallery scene in Holualoa and you are a fan of authentic Mexican street tacos, this is your place to grab a quick snack! Super modest -- more like a food truck than a restaurant -- but dang, Noemi and Bero make terrifically good, simple authentic Mexican tacos (I am fond of the lengua and the birria), with super-fresh and home-made salsa (I like the green tomatillo, which is made with fresh tomatillos and chiles). Feels like a little bit of Mexico City on the Big Island. ;-)
Parks & Nature
This national park is such a treasure. You get a terrific feel for what life was like here in old Hawai'i. Think about it: the great wall built here to enclose the pu'uhonua ('Place of Refuge') was built at around the same time Michelangelo was painting the Sistine Chapel ceiling -- more than 500 years ago! There is also a terrific snorkel spot just outside the park called "Two Step.'
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Pu'uhonua O Hōnaunau þjóðminjasafn
State Highway 160This national park is such a treasure. You get a terrific feel for what life was like here in old Hawai'i. Think about it: the great wall built here to enclose the pu'uhonua ('Place of Refuge') was built at around the same time Michelangelo was painting the Sistine Chapel ceiling -- more than 500 years ago! There is also a terrific snorkel spot just outside the park called "Two Step.'
This is a lovely spot just a few minutes walk north of the Pagoda House. You can access the trailhead to hike out to the Captain Cook monument from here (but why would you do that? It's a lot easier and cooler to kayak there!) ;-)
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Kealakekua Bay State Historical Park
This is a lovely spot just a few minutes walk north of the Pagoda House. You can access the trailhead to hike out to the Captain Cook monument from here (but why would you do that? It's a lot easier and cooler to kayak there!) ;-)
The coral reef here is gorgeous and is widely considered the best snorkeling in all of the Hawaiian islands. Kayak over early in the morning to miss the tourist boats.
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Minnisvarði yfir kapteina James Cook
The coral reef here is gorgeous and is widely considered the best snorkeling in all of the Hawaiian islands. Kayak over early in the morning to miss the tourist boats.
This is a sweet little beach park just a few minutes walk south and west of Pagoda House. There's easy water access on calm days and you can snorkel here too if you don't feel like kayaking out to the Captain Cook monument. It is watched over by life-long neighborhood resident Sandy Esperanza. There's a lovely community garden, picnic tables and great views of the bay and cliffs.
Kapahukapu Manini Beach
This is a sweet little beach park just a few minutes walk south and west of Pagoda House. There's easy water access on calm days and you can snorkel here too if you don't feel like kayaking out to the Captain Cook monument. It is watched over by life-long neighborhood resident Sandy Esperanza. There's a lovely community garden, picnic tables and great views of the bay and cliffs.
Shhhh. This is the most perfect local beach. You need a vehicle with great clearance to get here because the road is appallingly bad. There are a lot of local homes down here so please be respectful of the families that live here. You drive to the end of the bumpy, pot-holed road, park where designated, then walk down the lane and around the breakwall to the beach. Early morning there sometimes are monk seals and turtles here. At higher tide, it's a nice place to go in the water and cool off (look for the sandy channels if you don't have reef shoes) or to just sit under the palms and read a book. There is also a nice left surf break here on some days. I like taking a bottle of wine down here for sunset / pau hana.
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Ke‘ei Beach
Shhhh. This is the most perfect local beach. You need a vehicle with great clearance to get here because the road is appallingly bad. There are a lot of local homes down here so please be respectful of the families that live here. You drive to the end of the bumpy, pot-holed road, park where designated, then walk down the lane and around the breakwall to the beach. Early morning there sometimes are monk seals and turtles here. At higher tide, it's a nice place to go in the water and cool off (look for the sandy channels if you don't have reef shoes) or to just sit under the palms and read a book. There is also a nice left surf break here on some days. I like taking a bottle of wine down here for sunset / pau hana.
This is where you go if you're in the mood for a classic white-sand touristy beach with easy water access and boogie boarding. It's about an hour's drive north. For the perfect lunch, take one of our coolers, put in some ice, then stop at Umeke's on the way and get either poke bowls or a kalua pork bowl along with you. I'd leave earlier in the day because the parking lot fills up pretty quickly.
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Hapuna Beach State Park
Old Puako RoadThis is where you go if you're in the mood for a classic white-sand touristy beach with easy water access and boogie boarding. It's about an hour's drive north. For the perfect lunch, take one of our coolers, put in some ice, then stop at Umeke's on the way and get either poke bowls or a kalua pork bowl along with you. I'd leave earlier in the day because the parking lot fills up pretty quickly.
This is a favorite beach for families. It has facilities, trees to lounge under, rocks to jump off of and great snorkeling. Less fussy than more popular Hapuna Beach.
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Waialea Beach
Old Puako RoadThis is a favorite beach for families. It has facilities, trees to lounge under, rocks to jump off of and great snorkeling. Less fussy than more popular Hapuna Beach.
This is just across the street and three lots north of Pagoda House. On calm days, it's fun to just jump off for a swim. Getting out can be a little tricky, though, depending upon how high the tide is, your fitness levels, etc., so take care and use your good judgment. It's where most of the kayak companies put in. It's also a great spot to watch the sun set (there's a little beach to the right of the Pier).
Nāpō’opo’o Pier
82-6038 Puuhonua RdThis is just across the street and three lots north of Pagoda House. On calm days, it's fun to just jump off for a swim. Getting out can be a little tricky, though, depending upon how high the tide is, your fitness levels, etc., so take care and use your good judgment. It's where most of the kayak companies put in. It's also a great spot to watch the sun set (there's a little beach to the right of the Pier).
Local beach park about 20 or so minutes south of our house -- when the swell is right, the boogie boarding can be really fun (just be careful in the currents!)
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Ho'okena Beach Park
86-4322 Mamalahoa HwyLocal beach park about 20 or so minutes south of our house -- when the swell is right, the boogie boarding can be really fun (just be careful in the currents!)
Shopping
This is our local apiary and they do wonderful honey tastings most days of the week and, also, farm tours. Their shop sells not only honey but beautiful beeswax balms, candles and more.
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Big Island Bees
82-1140 Meli RdThis is our local apiary and they do wonderful honey tastings most days of the week and, also, farm tours. Their shop sells not only honey but beautiful beeswax balms, candles and more.
only open Monday through Thursday, they make a good cup of coffee here!
Kona Pacific Farmers Cooperative
82-5810 Napoopoo Rdonly open Monday through Thursday, they make a good cup of coffee here!
I love the little shops up in Hawi -- especially the Hawi Apothecary. The owners are incredibly knowledgeable about herbal cures and super friendly. And they sell an organic lilikoi scented whipped avocado body butter that is the most fabulous smelling stuff on earth. It's a bit of a drive, but it is a very pretty one and makes for a great day trip (stop at Hapuna or Beach 69 on the way up or back).
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Hawi
I love the little shops up in Hawi -- especially the Hawi Apothecary. The owners are incredibly knowledgeable about herbal cures and super friendly. And they sell an organic lilikoi scented whipped avocado body butter that is the most fabulous smelling stuff on earth. It's a bit of a drive, but it is a very pretty one and makes for a great day trip (stop at Hapuna or Beach 69 on the way up or back).
Karen, the owner, lives just up the hill from us and creates beautifully decorated gourds in the traditional Hawai'ian style (you'll see one on the wall of our house in the dining area). This is one of the better / less kitschy galleries in Holualoa and also one with some of the more reasonable prices. If you're in town on a "First Friday" go up for the gallery walk ....
Ipu Arts
76-5893 Mamalahoa HwyKaren, the owner, lives just up the hill from us and creates beautifully decorated gourds in the traditional Hawai'ian style (you'll see one on the wall of our house in the dining area). This is one of the better / less kitschy galleries in Holualoa and also one with some of the more reasonable prices. If you're in town on a "First Friday" go up for the gallery walk ....
Essentials
ChoiceMART
82-6066 Mamalahoa HwySafeway
75-971 Henry StIsland Naturals Market & Deli Kailua-Kona
74-5444 Makala BlvdCostco Wholesale
73-5600 Maiau StGreat produce and decent prices on wine and essentials. They also opened a branch up in Kealakekua which is about the same distance from the house as the ChoiceMart.
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KTA Super Stores
74-5594 Palani RdGreat produce and decent prices on wine and essentials. They also opened a branch up in Kealakekua which is about the same distance from the house as the ChoiceMart.