my first time coming here was about 3 years ago, at first I…read moredidn't like the drink I ordered and tried again the next day but I was sadly disappointed again and haven't stopped by since but while out with some people a couple days ago we decided to give this place another shot and was blown away. a lot of things were different but good changes. the decor has always stood out and they've added cute barriers around some of the tables for a more secluded experience. I am a huge music person, so coming into a dreamy cafe with lofi music while waiting for our order was also another win. I overall enjoyed the vibe in here, it might not be for everybody but it definitely is for me! the cups were a huge hit. if I remember correctly they used to have shorter cups with pink wings, they were okay but these new cups had our whole group talking about them even after we've left. it genuinely had us debating on keeping them! the lids had cute bear ears and the cups were taller and slimmer which gave it such a new feel, we've never seen cups like this so we were very excited. such a small detail made a huge impact on our experience. the service was nice and fast! the nice man who took our order was quick and just overall a cool guy. he was alone which I don't really like but thankfully it wasn't too busy for him and there wasn't a queue. the wait time for 3 drinks was only about 5-6 minutes maybe even less without a queue. everyone especially ME absolutely LOVED our drinks. I saw a review saying the brown sugar boba drink was bland and personally I just think it was probably their first time ever trying it. bland is the milk tea cans you get at a gas station, this drink is TOO good to be sold there & it's hard to mess up a brown sugar drink, especially if it's your go-to order at any boba place. For the other drinks in the photo it was still an epic win! it was their first time coming here and they've said it might be the best drink place on the island and we've lived here for a couple years and explored many places so this says a lot. Overall, this place went from a 4/10 to a 10/10 and we love it and will for sure be back!

Found this place off of YouTube. I was highly excited to try their boba. When you walk in, the…read moredecoration inside is super cute. The fake cherry blossom tree and the angel wings are definitely social lures. We came here on a weekday evening. It was very busy! There was only one cashier and he was the one who puts the order together as well. We took pictures and I did a video as we waited. It was a very long wait. I think we were 3rd in line after a couple, and the 2nd was a couple with 3 children. After waiting for over 10 mins, we decided to sit down. We noticed there were 2 other groups already seated and waiting before our line started. Mid wait, another 2 groups came in. The cashier attended to them and continued to fill orders. He did great for the amount of people he had to serve. We ordered the brown sugar tea with boba. It was very bland! I mean like milk with some sprinkles of sugar lol the boba had no taste and they were small boba balls. I was disappointed. I gave the extra star for the decor.

We came across this chocolate shop by chance after wandering over from the Kona Inn Shopping…read moreVillage. Looks like they just moved in but had all their chocolate bars on display with samples. The young woman handing sales and samples was polite and enthusiastic. I tried the basic dark sample (as that's always the best way to tell if the chocolate is good as no extra flavors are masking problems). The dark chocolate was very smooth, mildly bitter, and balanced on the sweetness. The honey is pretty mild flavoring but if you're looking for less white table sugar in your dessert, it's a good alternative. The basic dark bar was $10 which seems the norm these days, so I got a bar for later. Support local business!

Cacao Cocoon is an amazing culinary gem tucked in the Kona Inn Shopping Village. The shop is an…read moreedgy minimalist style that emphasizes the chocolates being offered. Locally sourced ingredients makes this even more desirable. We have enjoyed the Clarity, Inspiration, Balance, Love, Transformation, and their new Coco Mana. All are amazing sugar free chocolates that gently dance over your palettes. Each delivering unique flavors of the island. That the names suggest wellbeing is as brilliant as the blends of flavor. Try them and see for yourselves. If flavors are not available, know that they are each worth waiting for. Yes, they are that good. This is a small business that creates with love each of their products. It is not mass produced. And this is a good thing. It is an art that you can savor. It is also a female owned, family runned business. Embracing the Ohana island vib in incorporating the Kona families who produce the ingredients for this chocolatier's masterpieces. What is not to love? While there are multiple ways to purchase these chocolates, do stop in at their shop if you find yourself in Kona. Highly recommend.

We stopped here 3 times in 2 days in the area. I especially loved the papaya smoothie. The…read morechocolate chip cookies were great too! It has a very laid back atmosphere and beautiful gardens to enjoy your smoothie in. Parking is limited and can be difficult. Only one employee but the line goes fast. It's expensive but size is decent. Would recommend!

Such a cute little fruit stand / smoothie & juice stand! The owner was super friendly 'and talked…read moreto us about her produce and how everything is natural no added sugar! Loved it recommend stopping!

I am a Chocolate person and Tropical Temptations of Hawaii makes the best Milk and Dark Chocolate…read morethat I have ever eaten. They wrap whole Mac Nuts and 100% Kona coffee Peaberry in their awesome chocolate, making incredible tastes that last and last. Don't be fooled by some other company in Canada (I think they stole this company's name). For the only "Real" Tropical Temptations look for their Green label in stores throughout Hawaii!

Tropical Temptations chocolate dipped coffee beans and macadamia nuts are tip top! Product quality…read moreis 2nd to none. I'm a huge fan Tropical Temptations! They are a very special treat that make a positive impression 100% of the time!

Where do I even begin?! This was seriously a highlight of the Big Island! Not only is the concept…read moresuper cute, but the food was AMAZING. We had a hard time even picking what to get, as there were so many delicious options and they were still warm when we got there early in the day. We shared a ham and cheese bread and a macadamia nut brownie. Both were SO GOOD and I love how adorable the baking stand is. I really appreciated that it was easy (honor system paying) and that it was set up as a quick pick up and go. Honestly, the cute bread stand was a highlight of my trip and I'll be sure to go back when we visit the Kona side of the island again.

This bread stand is a hidden gem! Everything was absolutely delicious and highly recommend to…read moreanyone driving by to stop or even turn around which was what we did! Their pricing is surprisingly low and well worth what we enjoyed. They restock Tuesday-Saturday at 11AM (or really close to) trust it is worth it to wait. The jalapeño bacon cheddar loaf had an excellent cheese crust, generous bacon, and soft pillowy inside. The stand operates on good faith and I hope everyone tips generously as I stated, the prices are lower than the product is worth. Stop by, enjoy the countryside scenery, and thank me later.

This is a must try if you're on the Big Island!! It's just a cooler on the side of the road…read more $4/loaf of the best banana bread you've ever had! You can either drop some cash into the little metal box on the table or use the Venmo code under the lid. We picked up 3 loaves, some apple bananas, and avocados on our first day. Then, we went back near the end of our trip to get a few more! They were sold out, but there's a number to call and the baker's husband brought out a few piping hot loaves of bread. Wow!!! It's even more amazing when it's hot. I do a lot of baking and I make a lot of banana muffins, and even I'm impressed with Jeanette's skill. The bread is perfectly caramelized on the outside, the sprinkle of crushed mac nuts and sugar on top, with the moist interior is just perfect. Our kids were fighting daily at breakfast for the "end pieces", lol! We'll definitely be back someday! Mahalo!

While visiting the Kona Coast in Hawai'i we decided to visit the Painted Church. On our way we…read morehappened upon a banana bread vendor on the side of the road and decided to stop and check it out and we are so glad we did. We met a gentleman who told us his wife bakes the banana bread daily and mixes?sprinkles macadamia flake in and on top of the bread. She had just baked some loaves and he was setting them out for sale. We both agreed it was the best banana bread we had ever tasted - and my wife bakes great banana bread herself. The vendor said some people who stop and taste their banana bread return a few days later and buy all his inventory to take back home. Hint: If you plan to visit this stand get there early because they sell out

Loved this shop! Located in the Ali'i Gardens Marketplace, this little shop sells yummy treats that…read moreare local from Hawaii! We stepped in and were greeted immediately and offered samples of several items, including the Hamakua Toffee, apple banana, furikake rice crispies and white chocolate with cacao nibs. Everything was delicious and we ended up purchasing several items. Great customer service and a nice spot to pick up some local, tasty gifts for friends and family (or yourself hehe).

Great mix of products! Hawaiian made and delicious!…read more It's only been open for a few weeks so this was a cool new find. I see I get to be the first to review! Every product in Yay! Candy has a story of local history behind it that the store owners/operators are happy to share. They are very local focused and said they have a very strict policy to only carry products from Hawaiian companies. The owners said they seek out vendors where everything is made on one of the islands and ingredients are source locally when possible. Fair trade when not. So no cheep imports here. We checked a few and couldn't find anything that didn't meet this criteria. The store is ran by a super sweet couple that reminds me of my grandparents and make you feel super welcome when you come in. They have a bit of a sense of humor about their store as well it seems. They have a secret dentist discount. So all you dentist with a sweet tooth, we found your spot. Samples! They have samples available for most products. So if you're unsure you can probably try it, but be warned if you sample it you will want to buy it. Chocoholics be warned! I saw over half a dozen local grown and made "bean to bar" as they say, chocolate crafters on their shelves and each with multiple options. Farm to table tarts. And a wall of small farm macadamia nuts options, including chocolate covered varieties, and the best friggin toffee I've ever tried. Lilikoi, Li hing, coconut options in everything. Even organic cotton Candy?? My new favorite candy store! The only negative is I don't live on the island, so I have to wait for my next visit to get my next fix.

If you're looking for authentic Hawaiian shave ice, this is the place to go. The shop has been…read moreserving shaved ice for nearly 19 years, and the owner is genuinely hardworking and kind. She has kept her prices fair for many years, even as other shops raise theirs, always focusing on giving customers high-quality products rather than just chasing profit. Owners like her are truly rare. This is the spot that locals love. Most families have been coming here for generations. A lot of locals don't usually leave reviews; most reviews you see are from tourists. Other shave ice shops mostly cater to tourists, and I wouldn't recommend them. I sincerely hope this shop continues to thrive for many years to come.

Took literally over 20mins to get a medium shaved ice. Because the people after us knew the…read moreemployees/owners at this establishment, they got priority with their LARGE order. This is why the last time I ever got anything from them was over 10 years ago.