Big Island Recommendations?

[Luanne]

Thank you!

Is Island Market part of ABC Stores? Sounds like that is worth a try. What kind of meats do they have and do they have big "batches" to feed 9?

I think they may belong to the same parent company. But they are much higher end than ABC. They are also a bit more expensive, for food. You might want to stock up foodwise at the Waikoloa Village Market, which is in Waikoloa Village. But the meats are definitely better at Island Gourmet. They had things like teriyaki beef, teriyaki chicken, meats on skewers. And they sell it by the pound so I'd think you could get enough for nine people.

We love Merriman's on Maui. But, we are footing the costs for all of the food so trying not to go too crazy for 9 each night. Maybe for 1 night. I believe there is also a Sensei on Maui. But, we've never tried it. Most in our group are not big sushi lovers (sad to say for me).

Sensei is a "chain". We've also eaten at the one on Maui. My husband doesn't care for sushi at all, but he was quite happy with his dinner at Sensei. They do have a lot of other things besides sushi. They also have an early bird dinner. I'm not sure if it's every night or just a certain night of the week. But that might make it more doable for a large group.

We plan to do a few 1/2 day drives, so I'd appreciate any recommendations in Kona or elsewhere. Thank you again!

Starting at the “North” end and working south:

Havi:

Bamboo Restaurant – we’ve only been for lunch, be sure they are open (I think they’re closed on Mondays)

Kawaihae Harbor:

Café Pesto – they also have a location in Hilo


Kona:

Huggo’s (this is not the same as Huggo’s on the Rocks. We’ve been to the On the Rocks one and it’s good, very casual, but we really like Huggo’s

Kona Brewing Company & Pub – good pizza, nice local beer selection

Fish Hopper Seafood & Steaks

Kona Inn Restaurant – mostly for the atmosphere. We’ve only eaten lunch here.

South of Kona:

Keei Café

Coffee Shack – for breakfast

Volcano Village:

Kilauea Lodge – make a reservation if you’re going for dinner

Ohelo Café – Open for lunch and dinner, we’ve only been there for lunch.

Café Ono – part of a complex that has a one unit B&B and a gallery. Only open for lunch, vegetarian menu…..but very good.

Hilo:

Café Pesto – same as the one in Hawi

 

[daventrina]

On those 1/2 day drives ... if you are going near Kona ...
The best option to Fred 9 would be to schedule appropriate stops at Costco.

 

[perktd]

If you like Merriman's but want to hold the cost down, they are open for lunch as well as dinner. Pau is in the same parking lot as Merriman's in Waimea, but is much easier on the budget. It is a little pizza-Italian restaurant with really good food. Not fancy like Merriman's, but good food and value. You can check their website to see if the menu appeals to you.

 

[lynne]

For 1/2 day drives, I can recommend the town of Honokaa and the Waipio Valley lookout. Honokaa has a small, local restaurant Gramma's that has good comfort food, reasonable prices and breakfast all day. They are only open for breakfast and lunch (dinner on Friday and Saturday) - they can get very busy and do not take reservations but they will take you name and buzz you when a table comes available.

 

[sdtugger]

Thanks very much for all of the suggestions!

 

[PDXGolfer]

All, thanks again for the recommendations. Two follow-up requests:

1. Any recommendations for a water sports equipment rental shop close to the Hilton Waikoloa Village that rents standup paddle boards and the like at reasonable prices? When we stay at the Hilton Hawaiian Village in Oahu, we like renting from Quality Surfboards just across the street. Any comparable ones near the HWV? Or are rental prices right at the HWV decent enough (couldn't find their pricing online)?

2. Any thoughts on whether it is worth going up to the Mauna Kea Visitor Center, but not going further to the summit? Because of the range in ages in our group, we're not inclined to go up into the thin air at the summit. Is there enough to see/do at the visitor center to make it worth the trip? And, if there is, is a late afternoon/dusk trip (to see the sunset and stars) recommended (we're not early morning people).

3. Any shave ice recommendations in or close to the Waikoloa area?

 

[dsmrp]

All, thanks again for the recommendations. Two follow-up requests:

2. Any thoughts on whether it is worth going up to the Mauna Kea Visitor Center, but not going further to the summit? Because of the range in ages in our group, we're not inclined to go up into the thin air at the summit. Is there enough to see/do at the visitor center to make it worth the trip? And, if there is, is a late afternoon/dusk trip (to see the sunset and stars) recommended (we're not early morning people).

I recommend going to the Mauna Kea Visitor's Center. They have a really informative video presentation that starts exactly at 7 pm. (or used to, advise checking their website) The visitor center is not very big, so get there early.
Outside a ranger scientist gives a short talk on the sky pattern and astronomic formations of the month/day. There are several telescopes usually set up and focused on the prominent planets and formations etc . People can queue up to look through the scopes. It gets really cold up there at night even in mid-summer, so bring a warm jacket, wear long pants and layers!

 

[dsmrp]

The snorkeling at Two-Step, across bay from Pu'uhonua O Honaunau, City of Refuge, was great. My daughter who is not an avid swimmer snorkeled over an hour following the turtles.

 

[Luanne]

All, thanks again for the recommendations. Two follow-up requests:

1. Any recommendations for a water sports equipment rental shop close to the Hilton Waikoloa Village that rents standup paddle boards and the like at reasonable prices? When we stay at the Hilton Hawaiian Village in Oahu, we like renting from Quality Surfboards just across the street. Any comparable ones near the HWV? Or are rental prices right at the HWV decent enough (couldn't find their pricing online)?

I haven't rented from them, or even checked out what they have, but it looks like there is a spot on A-Bay that does rentals of paddle boards and such.
http://hawaiioceansports.com/locations/anaehoomalu-bay/

 

[klpca]

We always rent our snorkel/beach gear from the place in the Kings Shops that rents motorcycles, locsted near the gas station. The shop is small so getting the gear is super quick and the prices are good. I'm not sure if they carry other gear though.

 

[geist1223]

When we were at the Mauna Kea Visitor Center in January of this year they were setting up several telescopes in the Parking Lot for folks to use under instruction.

 

[jehb2]

We own at the Bay Club and every morning I jog through Hilton Waikola hotel and along the rocky shoreline to Queens Marketplace. Sometimes I run along the tree covered road between the timeshare and the Marketplace. I can never get enough.

If King Lands has grills then buy steak, hamburger, sausage, ribs, corn on the cob, shrimp, fish, and veggies from Costco and grill. I don't know a lot about grilling and never grill at home but I always grill ribs and shrimp at the Bay Club and my family loves it. Best to bring your own seasonings from home though.

 

[bagabonz]

If your staying at Kings Land you can use the pools at the Hilton Waikoloa Village for free and they have a nice lagoon with paddle board rentals. Water is calm and a beach for the Keiki. You can watch the Dolphins right next to the lagoon. If you go to Kaunaoa beach at the Mauna Kea hotel go before 8:30 am or the parking passes will be gone. We go there nearly every day were there. You can rent paddle boards there. Hapuna is top notch too. Check out the Konaweb. My buddy KonaBob and his wife Shirley run the site and it has everything thats going on the Big Island listed. You can see free music, hula, or something every night of the week using the calendar. The Big Island is my happy place.

 

[Luanne]

Check out the Konaweb. My buddy KonaBob and his wife Shirley run the site and it has everything thats going on the Big Island listed. You can see free music, hula, or something every night of the week using the calendar. The Big Island is my happy place.

+1 recommendation for Konaweb. I've used them as a resource for years.

 

[MuranoJo]

Kawaihae Harbor:

Café Pesto – they also have a location in Hilo

We really enjoyed this restaurant--went back several times when staying at King's Land.
Also, there's a grocery store in the Queen's shops (can't remember the name) that has a deli/small cafe at the back where you can get some really good 'take-home' foods or dinner selections.

 

[Luanne]

We really enjoyed this restaurant--went back several times when staying at King's Land.
Also, there's a grocery store in the Queen's shops (can't remember the name) that has a deli/small cafe at the back where you can get some really good 'take-home' foods or dinner selections.

The grocery store is the Island Gourmet. I've recommended it several times. We loved their prepared meats for the grill and I became very fond of their poke.

 

[MuranoJo]

The grocery store is the Island Gourmet. I've recommended it several times. We loved their prepared meats for the grill and I became very fond of their poke.

Yes, that's it, thanks. Worth a visit for sure.