Guidebook for Kailua-Kona
Drinks & Nightlife
Because you already love their beer, but you need to try their great food too. Pickup a growler or two while you're there!
Great food and arguably the best beer coming from the Hawaiian Islands. There can be a little wait during the dinner rush, so be prepared to have a few while you rest!
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Kona Brewing Company
74-5612 Pawai PlBecause you already love their beer, but you need to try their great food too. Pickup a growler or two while you're there!
Great food and arguably the best beer coming from the Hawaiian Islands. There can be a little wait during the dinner rush, so be prepared to have a few while you rest!
Inside the bowling alley, you will find one of the biggest live music venues in Kona. See some great Hawaiian-style reggae acts, local bands, or sing some karaoke when nobody is playing!
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KBXtreme Premier Entertainment Center
75-5591 Palani RdInside the bowling alley, you will find one of the biggest live music venues in Kona. See some great Hawaiian-style reggae acts, local bands, or sing some karaoke when nobody is playing!
Food Scene
Because you are craving a delicious burrito and fresh, creamy guacamole
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El Maguey
74-5563 Kaiwi StBecause you are craving a delicious burrito and fresh, creamy guacamole
Because you NEED Malasadas (Hawaiian/Portuguese donuts) and a cup of coffee.
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Punalu'u Bake Shop
95-5642 HI-11Because you NEED Malasadas (Hawaiian/Portuguese donuts) and a cup of coffee.
Hana Hou Restaurant
95-1148 Naalehu Spur RdThe best breakfast on your way to see Kilauea (volcano).
Amazing local dinner in a funky old hotel. Local sides are served family style, and you just order the meat you want ... which is fried pork chops in gravy and onions ... trust me.
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Manago Hotel Restaurant
82-6155 Hawaiʻi Belt RdAmazing local dinner in a funky old hotel. Local sides are served family style, and you just order the meat you want ... which is fried pork chops in gravy and onions ... trust me.
You just need to eat here if you like Thai. I don't think you'll find anything as fresh outside of Thailand. Favorites: tom yum soup, garlic pepper anything.
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Sombat's Fresh Thai Cuisine
88 Kanoelehua AvenueYou just need to eat here if you like Thai. I don't think you'll find anything as fresh outside of Thailand. Favorites: tom yum soup, garlic pepper anything.
When you need a huge, satisfying breakfast, with giant pancakes and a pile of meat, look no further. Probably the best breakfast you'll find on the island. Favorites: bacon, bacon and pancakes.
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Hawaiian Style Cafe - Waimea
65-1290 Kawaihae RdWhen you need a huge, satisfying breakfast, with giant pancakes and a pile of meat, look no further. Probably the best breakfast you'll find on the island. Favorites: bacon, bacon and pancakes.
Awesome local Hawai'ian food spot! Favorites are everything, but especially the shrimp and char siu omelette, "Big Saimin" and hamburg steak
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Big Island Grill
75-5702 Kuakini HwyAwesome local Hawai'ian food spot! Favorites are everything, but especially the shrimp and char siu omelette, "Big Saimin" and hamburg steak
Impressive fusion-inspired Asian food. Favorites are the lilikoi chicken and the chicharrón appetizer. Also do shabu-shabu.
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TK Noodle House Kona
75 Hanama PlImpressive fusion-inspired Asian food. Favorites are the lilikoi chicken and the chicharrón appetizer. Also do shabu-shabu.
Great upscale dining. Excellent drinks and dishes, and very close to the house! Favorites are scallops and baby-back ribs.
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Jackie Rey's Ohana Grill Kona
75-5995 Kuakini HwyGreat upscale dining. Excellent drinks and dishes, and very close to the house! Favorites are scallops and baby-back ribs.
#1 on Yelp's top restaurants in the US 2013, and #15 in 2016! Extremely fresh line-caught poke (raw yellowtail), pork and chicken at a reasonable price. Second location opened in 2014. https://www.yelpblog.com/2016/02/yelps-top-100-places-to-eat-in-the-us-for-2016-fast-track-to-a-food-coma
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Da Poke Shack
76-6246 Ali‘i Drive#1 on Yelp's top restaurants in the US 2013, and #15 in 2016! Extremely fresh line-caught poke (raw yellowtail), pork and chicken at a reasonable price. Second location opened in 2014. https://www.yelpblog.com/2016/02/yelps-top-100-places-to-eat-in-the-us-for-2016-fast-track-to-a-food-coma
#1 on Yelp's top restaurants in the US 2013, and #15 in 2016! Extremely fresh line-caught poke (raw yellowtail), pork and chicken at a reasonable price. Second location opened in 2014. https://www.yelpblog.com/2016/02/yelps-top-100-places-to-eat-in-the-us-for-2016-fast-track-to-a-food-coma
132 abantu bendawo batusa
Da Poke Shack
76-6246 Ali‘i Drive#1 on Yelp's top restaurants in the US 2013, and #15 in 2016! Extremely fresh line-caught poke (raw yellowtail), pork and chicken at a reasonable price. Second location opened in 2014. https://www.yelpblog.com/2016/02/yelps-top-100-places-to-eat-in-the-us-for-2016-fast-track-to-a-food-coma
Fun restaurant and bar with a great view, right on the main strip. Parking can be tight, but look for a spot in the large lot off Likana Ln and stretch your legs a little.
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Splashers Grill
75-5663 Palani RdFun restaurant and bar with a great view, right on the main strip. Parking can be tight, but look for a spot in the large lot off Likana Ln and stretch your legs a little.
Who would have thought you could find great food at a bowling alley. Good local grindz and a big arcade for the kids to play at.
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Chubby's Diner
75-5591 Palani RdWho would have thought you could find great food at a bowling alley. Good local grindz and a big arcade for the kids to play at.
#89 on Yelp's top US restaurants of 2016. Great fresh poke (raw marinated fish) and sides. https://www.yelpblog.com/2016/02/yelps-top-100-places-to-eat-in-the-us-for-2016-fast-track-to-a-food-coma
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Umekes Fish Market Bar & Grill
74-5599 Pawai Pl#89 on Yelp's top US restaurants of 2016. Great fresh poke (raw marinated fish) and sides. https://www.yelpblog.com/2016/02/yelps-top-100-places-to-eat-in-the-us-for-2016-fast-track-to-a-food-coma
Like eating traditional Hawaiian food out of someone's kitchen. Try chicken and/or pork lau lau, lomi lomi salmon and a host of other treats.
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Kaaloa's Super J's
83-5409 Mamalahoa HwyLike eating traditional Hawaiian food out of someone's kitchen. Try chicken and/or pork lau lau, lomi lomi salmon and a host of other treats.
Great place to stop for plate lunches, sandwiches, burgers and lots of other good food. It's near the airport and a great place to stop on your way out or your way into Kona. Chances are you'll find yourself stopping here more than once if you try it.
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Pine Tree Cafe
73-4040 Hulikoa DrGreat place to stop for plate lunches, sandwiches, burgers and lots of other good food. It's near the airport and a great place to stop on your way out or your way into Kona. Chances are you'll find yourself stopping here more than once if you try it.
Great food, drinks and awesome service. Their Furikake chicken is a personal favorite! Also well known for their oxtail soup and adobo.
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Broke Da Mouth Grindz & Catering
74-5565 Luhia StGreat food, drinks and awesome service. Their Furikake chicken is a personal favorite! Also well known for their oxtail soup and adobo.
Really good New York style pizza in Kona, you say? Well worth the price for a slice or a whole pie.
6 abantu bendawo batusa
Kona crust New York Style Pizza
74-5586 Palani RoadReally good New York style pizza in Kona, you say? Well worth the price for a slice or a whole pie.
Historical local style Japanese breakfast, lunch and dinner place with a bar. They are well known for their tempura, and I also enjoy their Teishoko combos with fresh sashimi, sukiyaki and other goodies. Relax with your meal at this rustic restaurant and enjoy a hot cup of green tea.
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Teshima's Restaurant
79-7251 Hawaiʻi Belt RdHistorical local style Japanese breakfast, lunch and dinner place with a bar. They are well known for their tempura, and I also enjoy their Teishoko combos with fresh sashimi, sukiyaki and other goodies. Relax with your meal at this rustic restaurant and enjoy a hot cup of green tea.
Sightseeing
Black sand beach with spots to take pictures of turtles. Great stop on your way to the volcano.
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Punalu‘u Beach
Black sand beach with spots to take pictures of turtles. Great stop on your way to the volcano.
Best lookout on the island. Don't attempt a descent without 4x4 with low gear! Beach below can be dangerous too!
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Waipio Valley Lookout
Best lookout on the island. Don't attempt a descent without 4x4 with low gear! Beach below can be dangerous too!
[CLOSED AS OF 2016-01-31] Great local botanical garden, focusing on ethnobotany.
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Amy B.H. Greenwell Ethnobotanical Garden
82-6160 Hawaiʻi Belt Rd[CLOSED AS OF 2016-01-31] Great local botanical garden, focusing on ethnobotany.
Best botanical garden on the island. Is actually the old Hilo dumps, but you never would know unless you read the sign.
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Isitshalo saseHawaii Tropical Botanical Garden
27-717 Mamalahoa HwyBest botanical garden on the island. Is actually the old Hilo dumps, but you never would know unless you read the sign.
Beautiful falls, and a paved hike around the jungle.
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I-Akaka Falls State Park
875 Akaka Falls RdBeautiful falls, and a paved hike around the jungle.
If you come to the island, you need visit here. Plan your trek around the weather forecast or you'll be taking pictures of fog. See my guide for things to do in the park.
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Hawaii Volcanoes National Park
If you come to the island, you need visit here. Plan your trek around the weather forecast or you'll be taking pictures of fog. See my guide for things to do in the park.
Excellent shop for certification or recreational diving. Great instructors, guides and captains.
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Jack's Diving Locker
75-5813 Ali‘i DrExcellent shop for certification or recreational diving. Great instructors, guides and captains.
I highly recommend this dive shop for their nighttime Manta Ray snorkel and dive trips. Definitely need to experience this once in a lifetime!
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Big Island Divers
74-5467 Kaiwi StI highly recommend this dive shop for their nighttime Manta Ray snorkel and dive trips. Definitely need to experience this once in a lifetime!
One-stop-shop for all your water rental and tour needs. You can get snorkel and water-wear rentals, as well as book snorkel and kayak tours.
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Snorkel Bob's Kona
75-5831 Kahakai RdOne-stop-shop for all your water rental and tour needs. You can get snorkel and water-wear rentals, as well as book snorkel and kayak tours.
Kona Mike's Surf Adventures
96740 Kuakini HwyLearn to surf on your trip to the Big Island
Essentials
Sack N Save Kona
75-5595 Palani RdHawaii grocery chain
KTA Super Stores
74-5594 Palani RdHawaii grocery chain
Longs Drugs
78 6831 Ali‘i DrBecause you forgot reef-safe sunblock.
Safeway
75-971 Henry StGroceries.
Arts & Culture
Awesome tour of a real Kona coffee farm. Get a chance to see how it's been done for generations and hear stories directly from the people who lived it.
17 abantu bendawo batusa
Kona Coffee Living History Farm
82-6199 Hawaiʻi Belt RdAwesome tour of a real Kona coffee farm. Get a chance to see how it's been done for generations and hear stories directly from the people who lived it.
Great place to buy local fruits and veggies or shop among the local artisans and creators. Open 7a-4p Wednesday through Sunday.
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Isakhiwo saseKona Farmers
75-5767 Ali‘i DrGreat place to buy local fruits and veggies or shop among the local artisans and creators. Open 7a-4p Wednesday through Sunday.
Shopping
Walmart
75-1015 Henry StIf you must Walmart.
Target
74-5455 Makala BlvdBecause, Target.
Mountain Thunder Coffee Plantation
Everything Else
If you have a membership, this is the spot to get all your big supplies and the cheapest gas in Kona. Best price for 100% Kona coffee.
153 abantu bendawo batusa
Costco Wholesale
73-5600 Maiau StIf you have a membership, this is the spot to get all your big supplies and the cheapest gas in Kona. Best price for 100% Kona coffee.
Kona International Airport
73-200 Kupipi StOnly 11 miles away!
Hawaii Life Real Estate Brokers
75-5909 Walua RoadAre you ready to move here yet? Heidi White is an AMAZING Realtor!