Kiki's Guide to Big Island
Nearby Essentials
Our nearest grocery store, right up the hill in the Keauhou Shopping Center! Has everything you need. Plus fresh poke and donuts daily!
KTA Super Stores - Keauhou
Our nearest grocery store, right up the hill in the Keauhou Shopping Center! Has everything you need. Plus fresh poke and donuts daily!
Longs Drugs
78 6831 Ali‘i DrPharmacy with all the essentials, plus snacks and liquor
Sometimes you just need some takeout Mexican food! Burritos are our go-to.
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Los Habaneros
Sometimes you just need some takeout Mexican food! Burritos are our go-to.
The classic Hawaiian “fast food” joint. Plate lunch, musubi, saimin, and a million other things.
L&L Hawai‘ian Barbecue
The classic Hawaiian “fast food” joint. Plate lunch, musubi, saimin, and a million other things.
Take a left out of the driveway and at right at the end of the street. You can see it from there! Perfect for paddle boarding, floating, snorkeling, kayaking, and seeing dolphins and manta rays! Careful with your feet on the underwater rocks, they often have sea urchins on them!
Keauhou Bay Beach Park
Take a left out of the driveway and at right at the end of the street. You can see it from there! Perfect for paddle boarding, floating, snorkeling, kayaking, and seeing dolphins and manta rays! Careful with your feet on the underwater rocks, they often have sea urchins on them!
In Kona town, but best wine shop around for sure if you’re looking for some better bottles! Best specialty liquor selection in town too.
Westside Wines
75-5660 Kopiko StIn Kona town, but best wine shop around for sure if you’re looking for some better bottles! Best specialty liquor selection in town too.
Good sushi right nearby in the Keauhou center. Great happy hour 4-6, and have a little lunch spot next door called Kenichi’s Bento Box with great takeout boxes of lots of delicious bites!
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Kenichi Pacific
6831 Ali‘i DrGood sushi right nearby in the Keauhou center. Great happy hour 4-6, and have a little lunch spot next door called Kenichi’s Bento Box with great takeout boxes of lots of delicious bites!
Our closest local farmers market! Every Saturday 8am-12pm. Great place to find local fruits, veggies, pastries, and more! Right up the street in the Keauhou Shopping Center.
Keauhou Farmer's Market
Our closest local farmers market! Every Saturday 8am-12pm. Great place to find local fruits, veggies, pastries, and more! Right up the street in the Keauhou Shopping Center.
Fun things to do!
Yoga Big Island
Great snorkel tours that leave from Keauhou Bay, right around the corner
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Fair Wind Cruises
78-7130 Kaleiopapa StGreat snorkel tours that leave from Keauhou Bay, right around the corner
Manta Ray Night Dive
78-127 Ehukai StRight in Keauhou Bay, a 5 minute walk!
Food scene in Kona
Our favorite hip little Hawaiian coffee shop. They also have cocktails and good fancy musubi. Live music on Wednesday nights!
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HiCO - Hawaiian Coffee
74-5599 Pawai PlOur favorite hip little Hawaiian coffee shop. They also have cocktails and good fancy musubi. Live music on Wednesday nights!
The classic Kona coffee shop! Great coffee, and a recently added excellent natural wine selection for bottles to-go!
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Kona Coffee & Tea
74-5588 Palani RdThe classic Kona coffee shop! Great coffee, and a recently added excellent natural wine selection for bottles to-go!
Good coffee, lots of vegan snacks. Cute hippie cafe on the upper road in coffee farm country.
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Kaya's Kawanui Inc
79-7300 Hawaiʻi Belt RdGood coffee, lots of vegan snacks. Cute hippie cafe on the upper road in coffee farm country.
Brand new! For when you want a truly kitschy tiki tropical experience in all the best ways (and with legit good cocktails), this is the spot!
Cheeky Tiki - Kona
Brand new! For when you want a truly kitschy tiki tropical experience in all the best ways (and with legit good cocktails), this is the spot!
Good food with a view can be hard to find! But this place does both beautifully. We love to get lunch and then swim at the beach next door, or make reservations for sunset and watch the waves come in from the deck.
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Magics Beach Grill
77-6452 Ali‘i DrGood food with a view can be hard to find! But this place does both beautifully. We love to get lunch and then swim at the beach next door, or make reservations for sunset and watch the waves come in from the deck.
A beloved brunch spot with an extraordinary view. Don’t let the wait scare you off! And don’t miss the pies. Open until sunset!
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The Coffee Shack
83-5799 Mamalahoa HwyA beloved brunch spot with an extraordinary view. Don’t let the wait scare you off! And don’t miss the pies. Open until sunset!
A truly local neighborhood bar that welcomes everyone. Taco Tuesday serves up surprisingly some of the best (non-authentic Mexican) tacos in Kona. Fantastic burgers with local grass fed beef! Live music Friday nights!
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Korner Pocket Sports Bar & Grill
81-970 Halekii StreetA truly local neighborhood bar that welcomes everyone. Taco Tuesday serves up surprisingly some of the best (non-authentic Mexican) tacos in Kona. Fantastic burgers with local grass fed beef! Live music Friday nights!
Our favorite takeout pizza. Two locations- Captain Cook (10 min away) and downtown Kona in Coconut Grove (12-15 mins)
Black Rock Pizza
Our favorite takeout pizza. Two locations- Captain Cook (10 min away) and downtown Kona in Coconut Grove (12-15 mins)
Great tacos with an amazing view! Two locations- Captain Cook, and a truck at the Kona Marketplace on Ali’i Drive.
Shaka Tacoz
Great tacos with an amazing view! Two locations- Captain Cook, and a truck at the Kona Marketplace on Ali’i Drive.
Surprisingly great fried chicken in a variety of hotness levels. We love this place! Great for takeout or to stay in and enjoy the live music at night. Lunch or dinner.
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Willie's Hot Chicken
74-5599 Pawai PlSurprisingly great fried chicken in a variety of hotness levels. We love this place! Great for takeout or to stay in and enjoy the live music at night. Lunch or dinner.
Skip Kona Brewing and come here instead! Small local brewery that is growing fast. Great beers and hard seltzers, and very good food!
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Ola Brew
74-5598 Luhia StSkip Kona Brewing and come here instead! Small local brewery that is growing fast. Great beers and hard seltzers, and very good food!
Local burger joint with great, fresh burgers and fries! Made with local big island grass fed beef.
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Ultimate Burger
74-5450 Makala BlvdLocal burger joint with great, fresh burgers and fries! Made with local big island grass fed beef.
The actual best poke in Kona! Near the airport, so if you get in early enough grab some on your way to check in! Or perfect to pick up on your way to the beach up north.
Pau Hana Poke
The actual best poke in Kona! Near the airport, so if you get in early enough grab some on your way to check in! Or perfect to pick up on your way to the beach up north.
Good poke but the secret is out! Expect and embrace the long line ;) Right near famous surf spot Banyans.
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Da Poke Shack
76-6246 Ali‘i DriveGood poke but the secret is out! Expect and embrace the long line ;) Right near famous surf spot Banyans.
On the Rocks
75-5824 Kahakai RdNext to Huggo’s, fun casual spot on the water in town.
Reliable favorite for brunch, lunch, and dinner. Incredible outdoor seating right on the ocean makes you feel like you’re on permanent vacation.
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Papa Kona Restaurant & Bar
75-5770 Ali‘i DrReliable favorite for brunch, lunch, and dinner. Incredible outdoor seating right on the ocean makes you feel like you’re on permanent vacation.
Check Open Table for reservations 24 hrs in advance. Expensive, but some of the best fine dining on the island. Perfect for special occasions! At the Mauna Lani Auberge resort (50 mins north)
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CanoeHouse
68-1400 Mauna Lani DrCheck Open Table for reservations 24 hrs in advance. Expensive, but some of the best fine dining on the island. Perfect for special occasions! At the Mauna Lani Auberge resort (50 mins north)
Krua Thai Cuisine
75-5705 Kuakini HwyVery good take out or dine-in Thai food!
Great brunch spot with a gorgeous view, right downtown on Kona Bay.
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Kalikala Cuisine
Great brunch spot with a gorgeous view, right downtown on Kona Bay.
Sushi Sam
Some of the best sushi in town! Not cheap sushi, really well done and worth it.
Actually called Sushi Cocoro. Fantastic sushi made with locally caught ahi tuna in a tiny shop in downtown kona. And they deliver on DoorDash!
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Tunaichi Sushi & Noodle
75-5699 Ali‘i DrActually called Sushi Cocoro. Fantastic sushi made with locally caught ahi tuna in a tiny shop in downtown kona. And they deliver on DoorDash!
Do a rum tasting with locally made Kuleana rums! They also have excellent food here so you don’t get get too tipsy ;)
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Kuleana Rum Shack
69-201 Waikōloa Beach DrDo a rum tasting with locally made Kuleana rums! They also have excellent food here so you don’t get get too tipsy ;)
Original Thai Cuisine LLC
75-5629 Kuakini HwyBest Thai take out!
Beaches
Great for family friendly snorkeling! Learn to surf at the surf school across the street!
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Kahaluu-vík
Ali‘i DriveGreat for family friendly snorkeling! Learn to surf at the surf school across the street!
I hesitate to even tell people about this place, but the secret is out! It’s not easy to get to… you’ll need a 4WD Jeep/SUV/truck and a healthy sense of adventure. Or, you can hike in, or pay one of the locals waiting with trucks to take you in. It’s a truly magical place but not for the faint of heart! The sand is made of crushed Olivine, and is one of only 4 green sand beaches in the world. Please do NOT take sand with you from the beach!
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Papakōlea grænum sandströnd
I hesitate to even tell people about this place, but the secret is out! It’s not easy to get to… you’ll need a 4WD Jeep/SUV/truck and a healthy sense of adventure. Or, you can hike in, or pay one of the locals waiting with trucks to take you in. It’s a truly magical place but not for the faint of heart! The sand is made of crushed Olivine, and is one of only 4 green sand beaches in the world. Please do NOT take sand with you from the beach!
This is the perfect place to take out our paddle boards! 3 minute walk from your door. Swimming is great too, but water shoes or fins are recommended… be careful not to step on the sea urchins! This is also where the mantra ray night dives happen… definitely a recommended activity! There are excellent snorkeling day trip boats that go out from Keauhou Bay as well!
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Keauhou Bay
This is the perfect place to take out our paddle boards! 3 minute walk from your door. Swimming is great too, but water shoes or fins are recommended… be careful not to step on the sea urchins! This is also where the mantra ray night dives happen… definitely a recommended activity! There are excellent snorkeling day trip boats that go out from Keauhou Bay as well!
This is my favorite beach for a day of lounging. Locals call it “beach 69”. Less crowded or known than others, and it has lots of banyan trees for shade. There is a cute little general store in Puako for supplies, and the best malasadas at the truck right at the turn off from the highway!
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Waialea Beach
Old Puako RoadThis is my favorite beach for a day of lounging. Locals call it “beach 69”. Less crowded or known than others, and it has lots of banyan trees for shade. There is a cute little general store in Puako for supplies, and the best malasadas at the truck right at the turn off from the highway!
Beautiful beach, much loved by locals and tourists alike.
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Manini'owali Beach (Kua Bay)
Beautiful beach, much loved by locals and tourists alike.
Need a 4WD (and rental car insurance) but worth it! Hike further in from the parking lot for a truly spectacular, remote beach
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Makalawena Beach
Hawaii 19Need a 4WD (and rental car insurance) but worth it! Hike further in from the parking lot for a truly spectacular, remote beach
Very popular beach with locals! The turn in is at the sign for Kohanaiki residential community, between Costco and the airport. Follow signs for shoreline/beach access!
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Pine Trees Surfing Beach
Very popular beach with locals! The turn in is at the sign for Kohanaiki residential community, between Costco and the airport. Follow signs for shoreline/beach access!
Just 1.5 miles away! Small but lovely beach with beautiful water and easy parking across the street. Go early to avoid the crowds! Sometimes it’s all white sand, and sometimes there’s NO sand! It’s magic :)
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Magic Sands Beach Park
Ali'i DriveJust 1.5 miles away! Small but lovely beach with beautiful water and easy parking across the street. Go early to avoid the crowds! Sometimes it’s all white sand, and sometimes there’s NO sand! It’s magic :)
Sightseeing
Good intermediate hike with stunning views! The very top of the island. Pololu is the birthplace of King Kamehameha, who united these islands under his kingdom of Hawai’i.
Pololu Trail
Pololū TrailGood intermediate hike with stunning views! The very top of the island. Pololu is the birthplace of King Kamehameha, who united these islands under his kingdom of Hawai’i.
The steep road down into the valley is closed to visitors right now (for restoration), but the lookout is worth the drive! Stop by and get some fresh cut coconuts from the boys at the roadside stand on your way out. You’ll see them! And check out my recs in nearby town Honoka’a.
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Waipio Valley Lookout
The steep road down into the valley is closed to visitors right now (for restoration), but the lookout is worth the drive! Stop by and get some fresh cut coconuts from the boys at the roadside stand on your way out. You’ll see them! And check out my recs in nearby town Honoka’a.
Mauna Loa Volcano
Recently erupted (Nov/Dec 2022) but no longer flowing!
The tallest (sea) mountain in the world! You can drive any kind of car up to the visitor center, but need good 4WD to get all the way to the top. It gets cold at elevation so bundle up! Much of the year there’s snow at the top, so you can go from snow to beach in the same day!
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Mauna Kea
The tallest (sea) mountain in the world! You can drive any kind of car up to the visitor center, but need good 4WD to get all the way to the top. It gets cold at elevation so bundle up! Much of the year there’s snow at the top, so you can go from snow to beach in the same day!
This is the place to see red hot lava at an active volcano! It can be rainy in Volcano, so just be aware. It depends on the day what kind of lava activity you’ll see! It’s about a 2.5 hr drive so plan to go early!
Kilauea Overlook
This is the place to see red hot lava at an active volcano! It can be rainy in Volcano, so just be aware. It depends on the day what kind of lava activity you’ll see! It’s about a 2.5 hr drive so plan to go early!
Big Island favorites (outside Kona!)
My favorites for a visit to the rest of the island! The North (Hawi, Waimea, Honokaa), East (Hilo and the Hamakua Coast) and South (South Point/Green Sand Beach, Volcano, Pahoa). It’s a gorgeous full circle drive to take the north way from Kona to Waimea, through Honoka’a, and around the coast the Hilo, then take the Saddle Road over Mauna Kea/Mauna Loa straight back to Kona!
Honokaa Country Market
45-3745 Honokaa-Waipio RdTex Drive-In
45-690 Pakalana StMalasadas (filled donuts) and classic Hawaiian diner food
Lean-To Farm Hawai’i
Waimea Midweek Farmers Market
67-139 Pukalani RdWednesdays 9-2
Waimea Town Market at Parker School
65-1224 Lindsey RdA fantastic market for art, food, gifts
Kamuela Farmers Market
67-139 Pukalani RdSaturday mornings
Perfectly curated lifestyle boutique for made-in-Hawaii gifts, and excellent cafe attached
Surf Camp Waimea
Perfectly curated lifestyle boutique for made-in-Hawaii gifts, and excellent cafe attached
Arvo Cafe Waimea
65-1227 Opelo RdInside Surf Camp shop, great coffee and vibes
Make a reservation for lunch or dinner! Upscale, local ingredients, a classic choice.
Merriman's Big Island
Make a reservation for lunch or dinner! Upscale, local ingredients, a classic choice.
Kalōpā State Park
Beautiful walk through a tropical forest!
Tallest waterfall! A beautiful easy nature walk to get there.
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Akaka Falls State Park
875 Akaka Falls RdTallest waterfall! A beautiful easy nature walk to get there.
Hawaii Troðblómabótarhús
27-717 Mamalahoa HwyA must for the plant and flower lovers!
Botanical Garden at University of Hawaii - Hilo
A must stop on the way to or from Green Sand Beach, South Point, or Volcano. Great coffee and baked goods, and the sweetest family running it.
Miranda's Farms Coffee Shop
A must stop on the way to or from Green Sand Beach, South Point, or Volcano. Great coffee and baked goods, and the sweetest family running it.
Unassuming local little pit stop outside Volcano for their famous chili, burgers, and snacks!
Hirano Store
18-2455 Volcano HwyUnassuming local little pit stop outside Volcano for their famous chili, burgers, and snacks!
Hula Moon Boutique
65-1279 Kawaihae RdLove this boutique in Waimea for ladies clothes and jewelry!
Pau
65-1227 Opelo RdYummy sourdough pizza and bread!
Holualoa/Kainaliu/Coffee country
The old Mamalahoa Highway (the “upper road”)used to be the main and only highway through Kona. It winds through coffee farms and tiny towns 1000ft up the mountain from the beach. If you want a taste of old Hawaii and small town, local life here, definitely take a slow drive on Mamalahoa and check out Holualoa and Kainaliu! There are so many cute shops, art galleries, thrift stores, and cafes you’d never find otherwise.
Uncle Kimo’s Coffee Shop
Great little coffee shop to sit and enjoy small town life.
Fabulous ladies boutique for Hawaii-made swimwear, dresses, jewelry and more. In Holualoa across from the cafe. Now called The Shop by Jada.
Ginger & Koi Boutique
Fabulous ladies boutique for Hawaii-made swimwear, dresses, jewelry and more. In Holualoa across from the cafe. Now called The Shop by Jada.
Great for a lunch stop, and to grab some of their homemade hot sauce! In Kainaliu town.
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Rebel Kitchen
79-7399 Hawaiʻi Belt RdGreat for a lunch stop, and to grab some of their homemade hot sauce! In Kainaliu town.
Perfectly curated shop with great gifts and souvenirs to take home. Especially for the plant-lovers!
Kona Treehouse
Perfectly curated shop with great gifts and souvenirs to take home. Especially for the plant-lovers!
Owned and run by the same family for over 100 years! Great place to get a classic Lauhala papale (hat)!
Kimura Lauhala Shop
77-996 Hualalai RdOwned and run by the same family for over 100 years! Great place to get a classic Lauhala papale (hat)!
Go for a coffee farm tour or just get a cup of delicious Kona coffee!!
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Heavenly Hawaiian Kona Coffee Farm
78-1136 Bishop RdGo for a coffee farm tour or just get a cup of delicious Kona coffee!!
The only restaurant in Holualoa, and a beautiful one at that! Newly re-opened after COVID and with new owners. Very good food, nice people, beautiful setting.
Holualoa Garden & Kitchen
The only restaurant in Holualoa, and a beautiful one at that! Newly re-opened after COVID and with new owners. Very good food, nice people, beautiful setting.
HICO’s second location, located on the upper road almost to Captain Cook! Great coffee and wonderful people. Has a drive through!
HiCO - Hawaiian Coffee
HICO’s second location, located on the upper road almost to Captain Cook! Great coffee and wonderful people. Has a drive through!
New shop from the owner of Kona Treehouse, in Holualoa. Flowers, gifts, locally made pantry items, and she carries some of my pottery!
Petals & Provisions
New shop from the owner of Kona Treehouse, in Holualoa. Flowers, gifts, locally made pantry items, and she carries some of my pottery!
This is the best place to grocery shop for all local Big Island foods! It’s a tiny shop but packed with fresh fruit, veg, beef, fish, freshly squeezed fruit juice and more! Owned by Alfred and Amanda, who are banana farmers and the nicest folks.
Kainaliu Fresh Grocery
This is the best place to grocery shop for all local Big Island foods! It’s a tiny shop but packed with fresh fruit, veg, beef, fish, freshly squeezed fruit juice and more! Owned by Alfred and Amanda, who are banana farmers and the nicest folks.