Kona Airport is a small airport in Hawaii built on a lava runway from the 1801 Hualālai flow. With three terminals and 10 gates, the two runways accommodate an average of 1.3 million passengers per year. Although the airport is a nice place with a few eateries, you will have to go elsewhere for a real meal.
You don’t want to stay inside an airport when you could be out enjoying the amazing Hawaiian weather. You are on a tropical island, so get out and soak up the sun. You have to try some Hawaiian cuisine like kalua pork, poi, and laulau. Drop off your bags at a luggage storage site near Kona Airport and go eat.
Breakfast Spots
808 Grindz Café
At 808 Grindz, you can get breakfast all day. Some of the local faves include Kawabanga Breakfast of eggs, spam, Vienna, bacon, Portuguese sausage, rice, and toast or the Da Kanak Attack, which is a three-egg omelet with ham, bacon, Vienna, spam, and ham. But don’t miss their pancakes with Dream-nilla sauce.
Kalikala Cuisine
For breakfast with a view, Kalikala Cuisine has it all and then some. The Lilikoi French toast is famous on the island and they are also well-known for their fabulous homemade hollandaise sauce on the eggs benedict. Or get the fresh fruit plate that is truly fresh and comes straight from the local produce providers.
Honu’s on the Beach
If you want a more formal breakfast, go to Honu’s on the Beach at the Marriott Hotel. You can dine outside on the beach or inside but either way, you are going to love the amazing food. Choose from the huge buffet or get one of their specialty dishes like the Kailua Bay Breakfast with fruit, pastries, granola, and yogurt.
Papa Kona Restaurant
This casual and cozy eatery is a nice way to start the day with friendly people and great eats. Grab a garden omelet or the Florentine benedict with spinach, muffin, tomato, and hollandaise. The seared ahi benedict is also perfection with freshly seared ahi and hollandaise over poached eggs and rice.
Fast Food
Loko Wraps
For Hawaiian-style Mexican cuisine, Loko Wraps boasts fusion foods that locals rave about. They only use local and organic ingredients, so you know you are getting the freshest on the island. Some favorites include the jackfruit BBQ wrap, Keiki quesadilla, ceviche fish nachos, and sandwiches made with pork, chicken, or veggies.
L & L Hawaiian BBQ
The locals call this Hawaiian comfort food, and it definitely meets those requirements. Try the chicken katsu with piquant katsu sauce, the BBQ mix of beef, ribs, and chicken, or the loco moco, which is a common main dish at any eatery. The Spam musubi or saimin are also fantastic ways to eat an old favorite.
Da Poke Shack
Fresh, never frozen poke is done many ways at Da Poke Shack. The Shack Special is sweet miso and honey with roasted seaweed, the Wet Hawaiian is made with roasted kukui nuts, and the Dynamite has avocado aioli. Or try the spicy scallops, kimchi tako, garlic shrimp, sesame garlic edamame, or the teriyaki calamari.
Killer Tacos
If you have never had a Killer Taco, you need to try one at Killer Tacos while you are in Hawaii. Their tacos are special because of a secret ingredient that you will never taste anywhere else. You should also try the Barnyard Burrito with beef, pork, and chicken as well as beans, rice, cheese, cabbage, and guacamole.
Dining in Style
La Bourgogne
You do not have to be French to eat at La Bourgogne, but you may feel like you are after you taste one of their mouthwatering specialties like their veal sweetbreads with Madeira cream sauce or the Osso Bucco veal shank braised in white and red wine. The lavender rabbit roasted in Chardonnay is also fabulous.
Canoe House
At Mauna Lani Resort, try some of the best seafood on the island at Canoe House. The Alaskan king crab leg with black truffle crust is divine and the steamed clam nabe is outstanding. The oysters in sweet onion tosazu and tuna sashimi are also fantastic. They even have steak and lamb chops if you do not want seafood.
Ulu Ocean Grille
Located at the Four Seasons, the Ulu Ocean Grill will treat you like royalty, and the seating right on the beach is enough to make you want to stay forever. Enjoy the view while you try their amazing dishes like the Wagyu tomahawk with charred onion, Chateaubriand with Big Island bone marrow, and mahi-mahi with macadamia nuts.
Huggo’s
The signature entrees at Huggo’s are what keeps the locals eating there on special occasions because you really cannot get them anywhere else. Their teriyaki steak has a special marinade they crafted in 1969 and it is still unmatched. The Kailua Bay cioppino and the Kalbi style short rib and ginger shrimp are amazing too.
Desserts and Snacks
Peaberry & Galette
Get your cakes and crepes at Peaberry & Galette while you check out some of the local artwork. They have seven kinds of dessert crepes like chocolate banana and crepe Suzette or try their strawberry shortcake, cheesecake, or scones. They also have sandwiches and savory crepes with calamari, shrimp, and ratatouille.
Mrs. Barry’s Kona Cookies
Mrs. Barry has been making her special cookies since 1978 when she won first place in the cookie contest at the Macadamia Nut Festival. She opened her own store in 1980 and now she is famous. Try some of the faves like Kona coffee crunch, coconut shortbread, or the award-winning macadamia nut.
Gypsea Gelato
Where can you get haupia (coconut pudding) mini pies? Only at Gypsea Gelato! They also have rocky road, Bailey’s Irish cream, and lilikoi (like passionfruit). And you should also try the gelato flavors goat cheese mixed berry, Mauka trail, maple peppered pecan, chocolate orange, and Stracciatella.
Gecko Girlz
Don’t miss the shaved ice at Gecko Girlz! They have the most imaginative and delicious flavors. Cherry blossom has macadamia nut ice cream with Kauai cherry & strawberry syrup, and a sweet cream snow cap. Or try Kona Sunset with vanilla ice cream, Waialua lilikoi & lychee syrups, Lilikoi puree, and a coconut cream snowcap.
While you are in Kona, be sure to visit the volcano that is still active and puts on a show every day. Swim with the dolphins or manta rays, go snorkeling with the tropical fish, and see the petroglyphs from right after Columbus landed in America. But don’t forget to pick up your bags on the way back to the airport
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