A quick reminder: The entire island is short staffed. Please act with kindness, patience, and aloha. 🌺 🙏 ❤️
Coffee Shops & Breakfast Spots
The word “Kona” has pretty much become synonymous at this point with the best coffee in the world. You can always pick up a bag of Kona coffee at the ABC Store, Costco, or Safeway and make your own in the Pau Hana Condo … but if you’re a coffee connoisseur, we highly recommend the Kona coffee shop scene.
HiCo Coffee Shop in Kailua Kona, Hawaii
Just a few of the many terrific options are listed below. Note that I’m often working (East Coast hours!) while I’m here, so for those of you in the same boat OR just early risers/jet lagged, I’ve noted the opening times of each place.
- HiCo Hawaiian Coffee (menu) is our favorite; the ube sweet cream cold brew is my go-to! It’s a hip spot within the Brewery Block (which is about a 15 minute walk from the Pau Hana Condo if you take the staircase up from Kuakini). Service can be a bit slow and the lines can be long. Opens 6:30am daily.
- Kona Coffee & Tea (menu) has amazing coffee and tea, and also a wide array of souvenirs. It’s probably easiest to drive; it only takes around 6 minutes. Nice tables to sit outside, but the strip mall and parking lots does detract from the vibe. It’s our go-to for grab and go, less so to sit and enjoy. Discounted gift cards available at Costco. Opens 6am daily.
- If you’re heading downtown, give Bikini Bottoms Coffee or Kona Haven Coffee a try. Bikini Bottoms is about a 7-minute walk (taking a right on Ali’i) and Kona Haven is a 10-minute walk (a right on Ali’i). Both have lovely views of the water. Opens 6:30am daily, although sometimes I’ve noticed Bikini Bottoms gets a later start.
Bikini Bottoms Coffee
- Kau Coffee Mill shares a storefront with the Hamakua Macadamia Nut Company at the end of Ali’i. I love grabbing a coffee and sitting at the counter to enjoy the view of Kailua Bay. Opens 7am daily. It’s also a quick walk to Kona Wave Cafe, one of my favorite places to grab an acai bowl (gluten free granola available!).
Watching the world go by in front of Kau Coffee Mill
- My other favorite spot for acai bowls is Basik Acai, on the other end of Ali’i. Opens 8am daily, closed on Sundays.
- If you’re looking for a more substantial breakfast … 808 Grindz offers a fantastic local breakfast, and Kalikala Cuisine gets rave reviews for brunch (I have yet to try!).
Restaurants Within Walking Distance
If you’re heading downtown, there are so many great spots to eat on Ali’i, and many offer seating to watch the sunset.
Ali’i Drive
- Kai Eats + Drinks (menu) is right on the water, and the closest spot to the Pau Hana Condo (just a 3-minute walk). It serves a staggering number of beers on tap, along with pizza, tacos, and burgers. Good with dietary restrictions (vegan and gluten-free options).
- On the Rocks (menu) is a fun, outdoor spot that nearly always has live music. Grab mai tais and bar food while you watch the sun set over the Pacific.
- Don’s Mai Tai (menu) is in the Royal Kona. A tourist vibe for obvious reasons, but it’s a nice atmosphere and a great place to watch the sunset. Often live music. It’s not our favorite spot, but fills a need.
- Island Lava Java (menu) is my favorite place to drink an icy Longboard at the bar while I watch the sunset. If you’re a pizza and kalua pork fan, don’t miss the Big Island Pizza. On Thursday, happy hour lasts all day!
- The Kona Inn (menu) is your best bet for a taste of old Hawaii. It’s also a very quick walk from the condo.
- Journey Cafe (menu) is a cute cafe option for lunch (it closes at 4pm) if you’re looking for vegan options. It offers delicious plant-based food and yummy drinks (no alcohol).
If you’re looking to go a little more upscale and celebrate a special occasion, we recommend …
- The Fish Hopper (menu) is a nice but still laid back choice with a good happy hour and absolutely fantastic fish entrees.
- Huggos (menu), right next door to On the Rocks, offers a more upscale atmosphere. The cocktails are fancy and the live music is divine.
- Jackie Rey’s (menu) is one of the nicest options in Kona, featuring local cuisine and top notch drinks and entrees. It’s a 22-minute walk or 2-minute Uber.
If you’re ready to take a night away from the ocean (or, quite frankly, the sun has set), we love the area around Kona Brewing (often referred to as “Brewery Block”). If you take the shortcut off Kuakini by climbing the staircase up from the street to Kona Brewing, you’re looking at around a 15 minute walk. On the weekends, be prepared for a crowd and some quality live music (check out the schedule).
Take the stairs from Kuakini Highway up to Kona Brewing
- Umeke’s Fish Market Bar & Grill (menu) is my spot for the best fish tacos on the island. So much fresh fish, poke, etc. Discounted gift cards available at Costco.
- Kona Brewing (menu) is a must-see for beer lovers, and a great place to refill your growlers. (We have two available for use in the Pau Hana Condo!) If you love coconut, give the Koko Brown a try.
- Willie’s Hot Chicken (menu) is delicious and affordable. Discounted gift cards available at Costco.
- Izakaya Shioni is popular … and I’ve never been! If you end up going, let me know how it is. 😉
Best Takeout
If you leave Kailua Village and take a left, in a few short minutes you’ll arrive at Hualalai Road … and a little strip mall that is home to several convenient options for takeout or dine-in (though it admittedly lacks the ambiance of the above choices):
A mecca of great restaurants on Kuakini and Hualalai
- Ohana Q (menu), which is connected to Da Taste, is right around the corner from the condo.
- Pa’akai Poke is the perfect spot for a quick poke lunch. (Buying poke at delis or supermarkets is the move on the Big Island; it’s all incredible)
- Shimaichi Sushi (menu) is so. darn. good.
If you’re craving a sandwich, Poi Dog (menu) offers terrific options, for eat-in or pickup. With each sandwich, you get a bag of fresh popped popcorn. Discounted gift cards available at Costco.
For pizza takeout, we also rely on:
- Kona Crust Pizza (menu) was our contractor’s recommendation for the best pizza on island. (Unclear if the fact he is a native New Yorker biased his decision, as Kona Crust is NY style pizza.) It’s about a 4-minute drive from the condo.
- Black Rock Pizza (menu) is the other go-to for pizza, and very popular. As New Yorkers, I can’t say we get pizza very often when we’re on island, but approve of both of these. 😉 Discounted gift cards available at Costco.
Nightlife
Of all the Hawaiian Islands, the Big Island of Hawaii isn’t exactly known for its nightlife. That said, there are a few bars and watering holes frequented by tourists and locals alike.
- Not sure this qualifies as nightlife, but in Brewery Block (see above), the Puna Chocolate Company’s Big Chocolate Island Cafe & Lounge offers $10 (wildly delicious) chocolate cocktails every Friday.
- Oceans Sports Bar and Grill offers decent pool tables and outdoor seating. Popular with locals, not my first choice for food but a good place to hang out, watch the game, and (on select nights) sing a karaoke tune or seven.
- Laverne’s Sports Bar advertises “the best burgers and coldest beer” in Kona. Traditional sports bar, often live music (earlier in the night often caters to Boomers with classics from the 60s) and dancing, and a pool table. Attracts tourists, snowbirds, and locals. Food’s not great IMHO but has a nice vibe.
- Sam’s Hideaway offers cheap drinks and karaoke every night after 8pm. A gem of a dive, iconic for Kona.
Grocery Stores
Costco is the hot spot on island; you’ll find all your favorite discounted goodies available (in bulk, of course) at mainland prices. (Check out our Kona Costco specific tips!) A nice shiny new Safeway just opened, but the prices are a little better at the KTA. Both offer some of the freshest sushi and poke you can find. Island Naturals is a good option if you’re looking for a health food store, and the ABC Stores have necessities if you need an option within walking distance.
The Kona Costco, about an 18-minute drive from the condos
Breweries
There are two well-known breweries in Kailua-Kona: Kona Brewing (mentioned above, an easy walk if you take the staircase up from Kuakini) and Ola Brew, which is about a 25-minute walk.
More Restaurants
The above list includes our favorites that are within a stone’s throw of the Pau Hana and Pono Condos, but is by no means a comprehensive list of all the great places on the Big Island. Over the next few months, we’ll be expanding the site to include more options (like the incredible Fish & The Hog in Waimea) … stay tuned!
