Where I Eat on the Big Island

Who this episode is for: Anyone visiting the Big Island who wants real, repeat-tested restaurant picks organized geographically for easy trip planning.

What you'll learn: Marcie's personal Big Island food spots organized by region — Kona, Volcano, Hilo, the North Shore/Hamakua Coast, and Waimea — plus what to order at each.

Places discussed:

  • Kona (Ali'i Drive)
  • Captain Cook
  • Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park
  • Hilo
  • Honoka'a
  • Waimea (upcountry)

Activities discussed:

  • Renting a car (essential for the Big Island given the distances)

Hotels discussed:

  • Volcano House — where Marcie stays when visiting Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park

Restaurants discussed:

Kona (Ali'i Drive area):

  • Gecko Girl's Shave Ice — nearly 30 years on Ali'i Drive, real fruit purees; get anything lilikoi
  • Huggo's on the Rocks — casual, open-air, right on the water; poke nachos, virgin lava flows, live music and hula most nights; no reservations, just put your name in
  • Lava Lava Beach Club — lawn games, fall-off-the-bone ribs; Marcie's "last day before flying out" spot

Poke and coastal detours:

  • Da Poke Shack — tricky parking but worth it; get the shack special (kalua pork also available for non-poke eaters)
  • Coffee Shack (Captain Cook, ~25 min south of Kona) — own coffee bushes, 26-mile coastline view, great sandwiches on house-made bread; closed Wednesdays, opens 7 AM, small parking lot fills fast — arrive early
  • Kaaloa's Super J's — traditional Hawaiian plate lunch (kalua pork, laulau), no-frills atmosphere, excellent food

Volcano:

  • The Rim (at Volcano House) — reservations required for dinner, don't just show up; overlooks Kilauea caldera, locally sourced food

Hilo:

  • Cafe 100 — birthplace of loco moco, serving since 1946, holds trademark on "Home of the Loco Moco"; open-air walk-up window, 30+ varieties, good for takeout
  • Ken's House of Pancakes — open since 1971, homey diner vibe; pancakes with guava/coconut/lilikoi syrups; get the saimin on a rainy day (their #1 local favorite)
  • Zippy's — local diner chain; fried noodles, burgers, musubi; bakery attached
  • Two Ladies Kitchen — Instagram-famous mochi, strawberry mochi is the go-to; usually a wait, worth it

North Shore / Hamakua Coast:

  • Texas Drive-In (Honoka'a) — square malasadas; beef curry stew on overcast days; also burgers and hot dogs

Waimea (upcountry):

  • Merriman's — excellent food, but the real draw is the mai tai with lilikoi honey foam

Marcie's recommendations:

  • A rental car is not optional on the Big Island — book through Discount Hawaii Car Rental, a broker that shops rates across companies
  • If you want an actual luau on the Big Island, see the Big Island luau ranking episode — Huggo's hula isn't a substitute for the real thing
  • Book The Rim at Volcano House well ahead; dinner reservations are genuinely required
  • Get to Coffee Shack early, especially heading south in the morning, since the small lot fills fast
  • Listen to Episode 51 for full Big Island trip planning before diving into food specifics

Related Hawaii Travel Made Easy episodes:

Additional resources:

About Your Host: Marcie Cheung is a Certified Hawaii Destination Expert who has visited Hawaii 40+ times and spent 20+ years as a professional hula dancer. Through Hawaii Travel with Kids, she helps families plan authentic, affordable Hawaii vacations that respect local culture while creating unforgettable memories.

Learn more at hawaiitravelwithkids.com

Connect: @hawaiitravelwithkids on Instagram | Book a Consultation

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