Hawai'i island guidebook
Food & Drinks
Pricey, yet very good food and a stunning location. Best time to go is at 5:30pm to catch the sunset.
Auberge bought the Mauna Lani resort and the property is beautiful. It's really fun to snorkel at their "beach club" beach, which is right in front of Napua, another one of their restaurants open for dinner or lunch. They sometimes limit Canoe House reservations to hotel guests but I would check and if they won't let you book in advance, they almost always have late cancellations and you can check the morning of and get in (check OpenTable app). Ha Lani, another restaurant on property is also nice for dinner.
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CanoeHouse
68-1400 Mauna Lani DrPricey, yet very good food and a stunning location. Best time to go is at 5:30pm to catch the sunset.
Auberge bought the Mauna Lani resort and the property is beautiful. It's really fun to snorkel at their "beach club" beach, which is right in front of Napua, another one of their restaurants open for dinner or lunch. They sometimes limit Canoe House reservations to hotel guests but I would check and if they won't let you book in advance, they almost always have late cancellations and you can check the morning of and get in (check OpenTable app). Ha Lani, another restaurant on property is also nice for dinner.
A 25-minute drive up the mountain to Waimea. Delicious food for dinner or lunch. Book far in advance of your trip.
102 personas locales recomiendan
Merriman's Big Island
65-1227 Opelo RdA 25-minute drive up the mountain to Waimea. Delicious food for dinner or lunch. Book far in advance of your trip.
Affordable Hawaiian island cuisine with great pupus! Plus, the best craft cocktails on the island. The Rum Shack is located at Queens MarketPlace and has an open-air dining room with a great bar in the center. Open Tues-Sun from 3pm-9pm, Happy hour drinks and pupus from 3-5pm. Please make a reservation (for dinner only) as it's usually pretty busy!
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Kuleana Rum Shack
69-201 Waikōloa Beach DrAffordable Hawaiian island cuisine with great pupus! Plus, the best craft cocktails on the island. The Rum Shack is located at Queens MarketPlace and has an open-air dining room with a great bar in the center. Open Tues-Sun from 3pm-9pm, Happy hour drinks and pupus from 3-5pm. Please make a reservation (for dinner only) as it's usually pretty busy!
Neighborhoods
Our oceanfront neighborhood is lined by a coral reef and is a great spot for snorkeling and diving. There's a popular snorkeling spot at Paniau which is less than a 5-min walk from us. Walk South towards the end of Puako Beach Drive and turn right into a dirt parking area w/ lots of trees (it is right after the last house). Keep walking South about 20 yards until you see a colored placard/sign on the left with information about the coral reefs. This sign is directly across from the best entrance for snorkeling. It's a small zig-zag path into the rocks and then a tide pool where you put your mask on and then push through the opening. There are tons of fish, and sea turtles and sometimes you'll see manta rays. The reef runs the length of Puako so if you swim straight out and then swim to the right you'll see the drop-off and trenches formed by the lava. You'll likely see other snorkelers or divers at the entry spot (or their clothes) bc it's a popular spot. Best to go in the morning between 8-10am and check the swell on an app called Magic Seaweed (Hapuna Pt is closest reference). If there are "NO stars", then conditions should be good. If you see surfers, wait for another day.
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Puako
Our oceanfront neighborhood is lined by a coral reef and is a great spot for snorkeling and diving. There's a popular snorkeling spot at Paniau which is less than a 5-min walk from us. Walk South towards the end of Puako Beach Drive and turn right into a dirt parking area w/ lots of trees (it is right after the last house). Keep walking South about 20 yards until you see a colored placard/sign on the left with information about the coral reefs. This sign is directly across from the best entrance for snorkeling. It's a small zig-zag path into the rocks and then a tide pool where you put your mask on and then push through the opening. There are tons of fish, and sea turtles and sometimes you'll see manta rays. The reef runs the length of Puako so if you swim straight out and then swim to the right you'll see the drop-off and trenches formed by the lava. You'll likely see other snorkelers or divers at the entry spot (or their clothes) bc it's a popular spot. Best to go in the morning between 8-10am and check the swell on an app called Magic Seaweed (Hapuna Pt is closest reference). If there are "NO stars", then conditions should be good. If you see surfers, wait for another day.
Beach hikes
Hike/walk to Makalawena beach (just north of the airport)
After parking, the hike is about 1.35 miles to the beach.
After a bumpy drive into Kekaha Kai State Park, park the car and start hiking North along the coast. After passing a bunch of palm trees on the sand, you'll see a lava rock path that's about 1/4 mile. Keep going and then drop into Makalawena beach which is beautiful. Bring snorkel gear bc you can snorkel right off the beach. Wear tevas or water shoes bc there are rocks just off the sand in the water and I've scraped my foot which was not fun. You have to bring an umbrella, beach chairs, etc but it's one of our favorites bc we usually have the whole beach to ourselves!
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Makalawena Beach
Hawaii 19Hike/walk to Makalawena beach (just north of the airport)
After parking, the hike is about 1.35 miles to the beach.
After a bumpy drive into Kekaha Kai State Park, park the car and start hiking North along the coast. After passing a bunch of palm trees on the sand, you'll see a lava rock path that's about 1/4 mile. Keep going and then drop into Makalawena beach which is beautiful. Bring snorkel gear bc you can snorkel right off the beach. Wear tevas or water shoes bc there are rocks just off the sand in the water and I've scraped my foot which was not fun. You have to bring an umbrella, beach chairs, etc but it's one of our favorites bc we usually have the whole beach to ourselves!
Hike down to Polulu Valley (in Hawi)
It's all downhill to the black sand beach which means it's all uphill on the way up. It's scenic but DO NOT do it after a heavy rain bc you'll be slipping down the trail. You can continue up the trail on the east side of the beach if you want a longer trek. The trail can be muddy & will eventually get to a lookout spot with a bench overlooking the next valley. There's a cute little shop in the nearby town (Hawi) called "As Hawi Turns".
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Pololu Valley
Hike down to Polulu Valley (in Hawi)
It's all downhill to the black sand beach which means it's all uphill on the way up. It's scenic but DO NOT do it after a heavy rain bc you'll be slipping down the trail. You can continue up the trail on the east side of the beach if you want a longer trek. The trail can be muddy & will eventually get to a lookout spot with a bench overlooking the next valley. There's a cute little shop in the nearby town (Hawi) called "As Hawi Turns".
Sightseeing
A short walking trail loop with scenic waterfalls. If you're on the Hilo side, it's worth a stop
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Parque Estatal de las Cataratas de Akaka
875 Akaka Falls RdA short walking trail loop with scenic waterfalls. If you're on the Hilo side, it's worth a stop
This National park was a place of refuge. The history is really interesting and it’s worth a visit!
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Parque Histórico Nacional Pu'uhonua O Hōnaunau
State Highway 160This National park was a place of refuge. The history is really interesting and it’s worth a visit!
Ziplining
Ziplining at Umauma Falls.
Super fun but go on a clear day. They will cancel if it's raining since it's on the wet side.
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Umauma Falls Zipline & Rappel Experience
31-313 Old Mamalahoa HwyZiplining at Umauma Falls.
Super fun but go on a clear day. They will cancel if it's raining since it's on the wet side.
Best Poke Takeout
BEST fresh Takeout Poke!
A small deli-type market located in Kawaihae for pickup only. BEST fresh fish and Poke. Our favorite is a combo of the sunrise poke, crab mayo salad and seaweed salad over rice.
Kawaihae Marketplace
614665 Akoni Pule HighwayBEST fresh Takeout Poke!
A small deli-type market located in Kawaihae for pickup only. BEST fresh fish and Poke. Our favorite is a combo of the sunrise poke, crab mayo salad and seaweed salad over rice.
Favorite Breakfast spot
Breakfast at Lava Java in Kona on Ali'i Drive at Coconut Grove next to the ocean. About a 40-min drive South. They have amazing bloody mary's with black volcanic salt on the rim and a thick piece of bacon and their papaya with granola and vanilla yogurt is DELICIOUS. Tasty eggs benedict! All other breakfast meals are great too! Be sure to make a reso if you go. I would only eat here for breakfast. Lunch and dinner are not as good.
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Island Lava Java
75-5801 Ali‘i DrBreakfast at Lava Java in Kona on Ali'i Drive at Coconut Grove next to the ocean. About a 40-min drive South. They have amazing bloody mary's with black volcanic salt on the rim and a thick piece of bacon and their papaya with granola and vanilla yogurt is DELICIOUS. Tasty eggs benedict! All other breakfast meals are great too! Be sure to make a reso if you go. I would only eat here for breakfast. Lunch and dinner are not as good.