Deciding where to eat on the Big Island of Hawaii can be a daunting task. There are many, many wonderful options. Our list is not designed to provide a definitive ranking, but is rather more driven by the geography of our particular trip.
Furthermore, to aid you in locating our choices, we have prepared for you a custom Google Map giving you the specific locations for our 10 choices.
Here’s the list as presented on our Where to Eat on the Big Island of Hawaii Google Map:
Brown’s Beach House Restaurant – this is an incredibly romantic restaurant right on the ocean, and serves up an incredible meal and dining experience.
The Canoe House Restaurant – another romantic setting right on the ocean with wonderful fine dining fare.
Tommy Bahamas Tropical Cafe – great fresh fish in a casual setting. You can grab yourself a new shirt on the way out.
Roy’s Restaurant – a perennial favorite of ours. Fish with a Hawaiian Fusion.
Cafe Pesto – an island favorite for creative fresh fish, and local fare. We ate in both of their locations in Kawaihae and Hilo.
Bamboo Restaurant – this is located in the little fishing town of Hawi. My Thai fish salad was out of this world.
Merriman’s Restaurant – outstanding fine dining restaurant in the town of Waimea. A three-time finalist in the prestigious James Beard Awards for Best Chef, Pacific Northwest and Hawaii.
Daniel Thiebaut Restaurant – we had dinner here as well as Sunday brunch. A great Sunday brunch at only $22/person!
Huli Sue’s BBQ and Grill – a great place for lunch. Wonderful BBQ, and a must if you like banana cream pie.
Hilo Bay Cafe – a wonderful fine dining find. We greatly enjoyed this meal. Very friendly folks.
Also, if you happen to be in Waimea on a Saturday, be certain to check out the farmer’s market. Here you will find the island’s famous bread chef, world renown goat cheese, fresh crepes to die for, and a whole host of other fresh island fruits, coffee, and goodies.
Well, there’s the list. I am certain you will enjoy. If you check out one of these places, please leave us a comment and share your experience!
During our trip to Hawaii, unfortunately, we had only one day available to us to visit Volcano National Park. Just so you know, I think only one day alotted to this National Park is verging on criminal behavior. But alas, such was our journey.
We arose for early breakfast at The Palms Cliff House, and made the roughly 60 mile trek to Volcano National Park. We arrived as one of the first wave of visitors for the day, and made our way to the visitor center to acquaint ourselves with the park and to view the park’s informational movie.
We also learned that a large portion of our planned Crater Rim Drive was closed due to a new vent opening in the Halema’uma’u Crater.
While a little disappointed we still greatly enjoyed the steaming bluffs, the Jaggar Museum, and walking through the Thurston Lava Tube was out of this world.
It was now lunch time, and our planned visit to Volcano House Hotel for lunch was also quashed as it was closed for remodeling. Therefore, we resorted to nuts, trail mix, and water that we found in the visitor center’s gift shop.
After our scrumptious lunch we moved along our exploration to the Chain of Craters Road. This road descends nearly 4,000 feet taking you past vast volcanic craters, miles of land made barren by massive lava flows, past an old road made impassible by lava, and ultimately to the sea where you can stand on steep cliffs of lava overlooking the crashing waves below.
As I mentioned, to visit this park in only a day seems criminal. We will be back, and next time we will be armed with ample time, and hiking gear to enjoy the incredible collection of trails available in this park. Further, if we can escape the rains of the eastern side of this island, we will also plan to watch the lava flow into the ocean.
Here is a slide show highlighting a few of our photographs from Hawaii’s Volcano National Park:
The Palms Cliff House Inn is perched high on a cliff overlooking the ocean, on the tropical east side of the Big Island of Hawaii, just north of Hilo.
When we were considering our lodging options, on the Big Island of Hawaii, we set out to experience a variety of alternatives.
We have learned from past experience that a well run Bed & Breakfast can create a whole different perspective, and perhaps help you better saturate yourself in the local atmosphere.
We found The Palms Cliff House Inn to be in a stunning location, absolute tranquility, and clearly owned by Innkeepers who have paid attention to all the little details.
From the moment you drive down the palm tree lined drive, and turn the corner to gaze upon what appears to be a mansion tucked away on this majestic cliff, your spirit will long to sit on your own private lanai and melt away into the beauty that surrounds you.
For our stay, we chose the Orchid Suite which was beautifully appointed, provided a large two-person Jacuzzi which overlooked Pohakumanu Bay, and was clearly designed with romance, tranquility, and privacy in mind.
Sitting on our private lanai we listened to song birds we have never heard, the crashing of the waves below, watched a mother whale with her calf play in the bay, and could simply feel all our cares begin to wash away.
Another very pleasant surprise was our breakfast served on a large lanai serving up another perspective of the Pohakumanu Bay below. But that wasn’t all, the food was incredible! For breakfast The Palms Cliff House Inn serves up things like Apple Banana Pancakes, Taro Bread French Toast, and Mango Dutch Bake. We also enjoyed freshly baked muffins, fresh fruit, and of course great Kona Coffee. By the second morning, I was prancing around the room waiting for 7:30 to arrive so we could experience another wonderful breakfast.
If you plan to spend some time on the east side of the Big Island of Hawaii, we can highly recommend John and Michele Gamble’s Palms Cliff House Inn.
Disclosure: this experience was provided by The Palms Cliff House Inn.
If I were asked to close my eyes, and imagine the perfect setting for a romantic dinner with my bride of 24 years, then the Brown’s Beach House Restaurant, set inside The Fairmont Orchid Resort, on the Big Island of Hawaii, would exactly fit the picture in my mind.
Before I get to the amazing food, let me set the mood for you.
We are seated at the outer edge of the outdoor patio. The ocean breezes are gently calming our skin from the heat of the day.
A Hawaiian man, clad in a grass skirt approaches, turns toward the ocean, and blows into a conch shell producing a most ethereal sound. He then sets about running from Tiki Torch to Tiki Torch; lighting them. This adds even more to the drama and romance of our setting.
As we all sit under the palm trees, enjoying our wonderful Oregon Pinot Noir, with the warm ocean breeze caressing our faces, we begin to admire the light show that God’s sunset is going to produce for us at this very moment in time.
In the background, adding to the intensity of the moment, is a Hawaiian lounge singer doing a wonderful rendition of Israel Kamakawiwo’ole’s Somewhere Over the Rainbow.
For the life of me, I don’t know how the setting could be any more perfect.
Accompanying us for this meal are Bob & Karen Schroeder, wonderful friends from Michigan who have been on the Big Island for over a month.
As we begin to explore the menu we found items such as:
Waimea Sweet Corn Bisque
Ahi Poke
Kaffir Lime Poached Ahi
Crab Crusted Mahi Mahi
Lemon Balm Grilled Walu
Coriander Scented Snapper
Grilled Ono
and even a special Prix Fixe menu called the Brown’s Ali’i Experience, named after a 20th century Hawaiian statesman/athlete.
Having found myself in such a dream-like setting, I was a little afraid that the food might disappoint, and put a damper on this perfect setting. Thankfully this was not the case. In fact, I was greatly pleased with our dining experience.
The food lived up to the setting, the presentation was beautiful, the staff attentive, and the meal only served to add to the enjoyment of the evening.
As I think of Hawaii, it is moments like this that remain permanently fixed in the very cells of my being. Great food, great setting, and all shared with great friends.
Thank you Brown’s Beach House Restaurant for making a very special experience and memory for us all.
Disclosure: this dining experience was provided by the Brown’s Beach House Restaurant.