Great service was very helpful with the menu. Food was good too the shrimp was really big and good sauce with it. Enjoyed the spaghetti bolognese. My girlfriend enjoyed her food too. Really cool Oceanside views. read more

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Amazing GF Garlic Shripm with GF bread. OMG. IYKYK. The service was fantastic and the staff was flexible and has great recommendations. Perfect sunset Mai tai. read more

Kai Eats + Drinks - Garlic shrimp and bread GF. - Tacos Near Me - Kailua-Kona, Hawaii

We decided on this restaurant for our island hop dinner. The dinner fell short as the food lacked. The location was great. The views were nice, and the service was friendly. The restaurant sits at the waters edge. You get really nice views of the waves and the coastline. We were greeted upon entering and our server was nice and attentive. It was the food that fell flat. Focaccia bread tasted stale. The chicken marsala was too sour and lacked flavor. The noodles were also very bland. We couldn't even eat half a plate between two of us because it just was not good. We also ordered the strawberry arugula salad, which was good. It definitely had more flavor than the main entrée. Salad and the chicken my plate are good portions, good for two people. read more

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We really enjoyed our experience at Kai's Eats + Drinks. When we arrived, the hostess greeted us warmly and seated us at a corner table below the bar with a beautiful view overlooking the bay. The menu isn't huge, but it offered several dishes that appealed to us. When our server came to take our order, we asked if we could order happy hour drinks since it was still happy hour. We were told that happy hour pricing is only available if you're seated at the bar. We had the option of staying at our table and paying regular price for drinks or moving to the bar to receive the happy hour pricing. We chose to move to the bar. While we gave up some of the privacy of the table, the view was just as beautiful. My wife and I shared the Caesar salad and the Spaghetti Bolognese with burrata, and both were excellent. The Caesar salad was fresh, crisp, and flavorful. The spaghetti was cooked perfectly, the sauce tasted fresh with quality tomatoes, and the burrata was a great addition. We also enjoyed happy hour mojitos, which were refreshing and very well made. In fact, we enjoyed the restaurant enough that we returned the following day. Since it wasn't happy hour and we weren't ordering drinks, we chose to sit at a table and had another great meal. Overall, Kai's Eats + Drinks offers great food, excellent cocktails, and beautiful bay views. The only surprise was that happy hour drink pricing is limited to bar seating, but once we knew that, it wasn't a big issue. We'd definitely recommend it and would happily dine here again. read more

Stopped in recently for happy hour pricing and was pleasantly surprised with the beer selection and the happy hour food choices. Lots of local chaps to choose from and we ended up splitting a cheese burger but was a little disappointed in the Overkill of cheese. You had a bunch of melted cheese on top of the burger, but in addition to that you had fried cheese on the bottom part of the burger. Pulling off the fried cheese was easy but unsticking. The melted cheese was a bit of a challenge. I guess a lot of people like that much cheese. Prior to a cheeseburger we did order the calamari rings which we thought were quite good. The bartender was very friendly and very helpful with our selections of beers even though we're very familiar with many or all of the local beers. Unfortunately, that evening, there was not much of a breeze, so it was a little stuffy even though it's an open-air environment. read more

Kai Eats + Drinks - Cheeseburger with lots, lots of cheese. Fries were good though. - Tacos Near Me - Kailua-Kona, Hawaii

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Surprisingly great tasting food, with amazing Ocean background, but limited by the very slow service. We came here on a slow night and we ordered a bunch of food, beers, and overall had a great time. We sat right outside so you can hear the beautiful ocean waves crashing. Food : we had burgers and shared different pizzas. Overall the food tasted better than expected and one of the better tastes on the island Beers: Great selection of draft beers including some Kona drafts you can't find in too many places around the island Service : This is where the 2 stars were taken off. Unfortunately, I know this is island time, but taking 1 hour to get our beers and not allowing us to order until we got our beers really negatively impacted the experience. I'm okay with taking our time with dinner, but at least we could have gotten our beers fast. Overall, we expected a 1 hour dinner, but got a 3 hour waiting period for everything instead. If you come on a night that had faster service, this place would definitely be a 5/5. read more

Kai Eats + Drinks - Burger order with fries - Tacos Near Me - Kailua-Kona, Hawaii

I had a wonderful time at Kai's. The host was welcoming and seated us to a nice spot at the restaurant, ocean view and watching the surfers and boogie boarders was a bonus. The Kale Salad was fresh and delicious. The Meatballs and Focaccia bread were good. We asked for an extra marinara sauce for the Lasagna since it has a lot of cheese. The Tiramisu is the best ever had. read more

Kai Eats + Drinks - Tacos Near Me - Kailua-Kona, Hawaii

Very beautiful seating and fast service, Drinks were fantastic and the food was very fresh! Best fried Mahi Mahi so far! The chicken parmigiana is a good option as well for a switch up! read more

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If you are looking to rush through a meal, go somewhere else. But if you actually want to experience Hawaii the right way, this is the spot. Yes, the service is slow but let's be clear: this isn't "bad service" slow, this is true island time slow. It forces you to slow down, breathe, and actually look around. And trust me, you'll want to look around. The ocean views here are absolutely spectacular (granted, you're in Hawaii so every view is great) To top it all off, they have 48 beers on tap. With a selection that massive and a backdrop that beautiful, there is zero reason to be in a hurry anyway. Grab a pint, soak in the view, and just enjoy the pace. read more

Kai may have the best happy hour in the Kona area. Be aware it is at the bar only. They had great cocktails at $8, and $5 house wine. They offer half price apps, pizza, and some other options. We made reservations for a table for the sunset, but came early for happy hour drinks at the bar. The sunset is a bit difficult from the angle of the restaurant, only a couple tables had a good view. You start with the, worth the calories, soft bread and oil. My friend and I shared the catch of the day, the fish was served with mango Cole slaw, veggies, and excellent cream sauce. The staff is fantastic, from the manager who could actually pronounce my name, to the hustling bar tender, and the excellent but relaxed table service. read more

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Absolutely incredible experience at Kai. From the moment we arrived, the ambience set the tone for a memorable evening -- the beautiful Hawaiian setting, relaxing atmosphere, and attention to detail made it feel like a truly special dining experience. The best item of the evening was the coconut shrimp. If you go here definitely give them a try. They split the shrimp, not too coconut heavy but a ton of meat and they serve it with creamy twist on the typical sweet chili sauce you usually find. The highlight of the night was our server, Keegan. He was exceptional -- knowledgeable, attentive, personable, and had the perfect balance of professionalism and genuine hospitality. He clearly knows the menu inside and out, offered thoughtful recommendations and no issues with modifications (no arugula, sauce on side etc.) & made us feel welcomed rather than just served. His timing was impeccable, and his passion for creating a great guest experience really stood out. I even made a mistake on an order and he corrected it no questions asked. Great food, stunning atmosphere, and service that elevated the entire evening. Keegan is a true asset to Kai, and we can't wait to return on our next visit to Kona! read more

Kai Eats + Drinks - Tacos Near Me - Kailua-Kona, Hawaii

2 hours validated parking in the lot. We came during shoulder season is May so it wasn't too busy. Lots of locals at the bar. Excellent happy hour prices especially for the pizzas! Cocktails tasted cheap and artificial. I would stick with alcoholic beverages on tap. Plenty of TVs if you like to watch sports. Overall great option for pizza and a beer. Dog friendly! read more

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The food was spot on in flavor, freshness, and just so satisfying! Our server Savannah was delightful and the coconut cake was a dream!! read more

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With validated parking for 2 hours and for a restaurant on the water, it's hard to beat. We came for happy hour and were surprised to find some great food options on the list as well. We decided to go for the salad and "fun Kai" pizza. The pizza was very good and had a nice soft crunch to it. The salad was also very good but it just needed more toppings since there were a lot of greens in comparison. The bartender provided amazing service and was very friendly. The bar had a local type vibe mixed in with some visitors but it was nice to talk to some locals. Great spot for food and drinks in that area. read more

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We ordered a couple of drinks and pancakes and absolutely loved the Bloody Mary -- probably one of the best Old Bay Bloody Marys I've ever had. It tasted like they were using pickle juice, Old Bay seasoning, and a few other ingredients that made it really stand out. Just really, really good. The buttermilk pancakes were also delicious, with a subtle hint of coconut and maple syrup. The price point was perfect, and both the service and atmosphere were on point. We will definitely be back. Often the distance is our ship celebrity edge. read more

Kai Eats + Drinks - Tacos Near Me - Kailua-Kona, Hawaii

Dined here on a Wednesday in a group of 10. They don't seat groups over 6 people! They were kind enough to accommodate us in a table of 6 and an adjacent table of 4 on the lanai. Service was very friendly!! Food was good, pricey though. I had the seared ahi (med rare). I definitely enjoyed it but you can get something similar elsewhere for about $10 less than what they charge here. The cake was alright, coconut flakes were not our thing but the cake inside was good. We had reservations at 6:30, but I'm sure this would be a wonderful place to watch the sunset over dinner! Might have to come back for the ambiance. read more

Kai Eats + Drinks - Haupia cake (from broke da mouth) - Tacos Near Me - Kailua-Kona, Hawaii

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Awesomeness From the moment we arrived, everyone was gracious and welcoming. Our waitress Beth was superb. The ambiance right on the water's edge was delightful and the food delicious. I've been looking for an Italian place in Kona where I could get eggplant Parmesan that was crispy instead of soggy. I mentioned this to Beth, so she asked the kitchen to make it crispy. It was perfect read more

Kai Eats + Drinks - Eggplant Parmesan ( requested crispy) and the Ahi Picatta - Tacos Near Me - Kailua-Kona, Hawaii

We came here two different nights for dinner and really enjoyed the caprese salad and the pear and Gorgonzola pizza. I would definitely recommend both! The views of the ocean are hard to beat here! Service was fast and friendly. It's not a cheap place...but the food was excellent! read more

We were here on a Sunday around 11.30am. Seems most places have brunch menu on Sundays which has limited items so while we were waiting for bigger menu to be available at 12, we ordered drinks first. They have a bar and their seating on the patio is facing the ocean so definitely would be a great sunset place to come back for. I ordered a pasta which was very nice. Bf had a sandwich which was very huge on the size. Portions on the sandwiches are very large for sure. read more

Kai Eats + Drinks - Pasta that was special of the day. - Tacos Near Me - Kailua-Kona, Hawaii

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Fabulous view. Wonderful waitress. The coconut shrimp +2 sides was just what I needed (although it was like +$6 or $8 for the sides and they're regularly a few dollars cheaper which isn't great). The smash burgers were not great but it did not take away from the meal. Great beer list. Really enjoyed my time here! read more

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This restaurant wasn't bad at all, I'm guessing it was the entree I chose that wasn't so good. I ordered the Bistecca Toscana, which looked amazing and I was in the mood for steak, so I gave it a go. Wasn't the worst steak I've ever had, but was far from the best. This restaurant's location is prime and offers seating right off of the ocean, an has some of the most beautiful views while at dinner. The staff were all very friendly, and the service was spot on! Maybe I came on a bad night, but I am totally open to dining here again. One thumb and one big toe up for Kai Eats and Drinks. Happy eating, my foodies! read more

Kai Eats + Drinks serves up ambiance, great service, and good food and drink as well as any restaurant in a beach front location that I've ever been to...and I've been to a lot! I only visited twice on a recent trip to Kona yet I had a positive and friendly interaction with every employee I encountered. The beer selection is great and the cocktails spot on. The menu isn't large but everything we ordered was good to excellent. While I showed up too late for happy hour, 2 locals told me it's the best in town. Eating at the bar is almost as good as at a table when you consider the great view and service. This place gets it when it comes to running a restaurant/bar that you want to return to. Check it out! read more

What a fun place to eat and drink in the heart of downtown Kona. We come here often for a drink, dinner, breakfast, desserts, and for happy hour! Great service, everyone is happy and friendly here. Our favorite is fungi pizza, Kai's lemon fries, and cheese cakes. Great beer selections on tap. Swing by and enjoy the aloha spirit here! read more

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Came here for breakfast with family. Wonderful and friendly staff. View was gorgeous- right by waterfront. Service was good also. Parking can be found in the parking garage next to the restaurant. Compact spaces. No need to pay in advance if you'll be dining at the restaurant. You'll need to go to the host and provide your license plate number. The restaurant will start the validation, and you get 2hrs of complimentary parking, which is nice. We ordered a few items to share as a table. Wanted to try their pizzas, but they weren't available until noon. The POG drink was very much just OJ juice. The breakfast burrito was fair, except we didn't get the pico de gallo on the side. We could've asked, but we didn't. The potatoes on the side were cubed and very salty. The pancakes were OK, nothing extraordinary. The carne fries were also salty... but less than the potatoes. The poké nachos were decent. The coconut shrimp was good. The coconut flavor wasn't overbearing. Overall, food was mediocre, but the staff and views were good. read more

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Service was great! Food just ok and spendy, but fun atmosphere. I think that 24.00 for a meatball sandwich with 3 meatballs is a bit much. read more

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We found this place in Yelp and the reviews were pretty accurate. Our service was superb. And the ocean view was amazing. We ordered steamed clams (well seasoned) and Caesar salad (a generous portion that was very sharable) to start. Followed that up with spaghetti Bolognese with burrata (tasty) and chicken parmigiana (good). Our second was oven roasted branzino (crispy skin with moist meat) but the sides were just okay. We ordered the coffee flavored cheesecake of the day and it was average. The true highlight of the evening was the ambiance and our server, John. Maybe next time I'll try the pizza. read more

Kai Eats + Drinks - Tacos Near Me - Kailua-Kona, Hawaii

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We've been traveling to Kona for years and love to try different restaurants all the time. We tried Kai for the first time for dinner last night. Here is why we only gave it 3 stars. Service: was excellent. The waiter was attentive and all the staff were friendly. Hawaii really does have the best customer service of anywhere we have gone in the world. Appetizers: We had the meatballs and the garlic shrimp. They were both delicious. If you want a fulfilling small dinner, these would serve as a perfect combo. They actually ended up being a highlight of the meal. Main Courses: The chef's choice swordfish was the best dish. Included peppers and green beans as well as an over easy egg on top the swordfish with rice. Chicken Parmesan: Worst I've ever had. I should have known better, I feel like Chick Parm is something that best served at a local hole in the wall and not "by the sea". So I blame myself. This had no flavor. It was tomato paste mixed with overcooked spaghetti noodles and then thrown on unseasoned chicken with melted cheese. I love food... but didn't like this. There is no kids menu but the hostess said the waiter would tell us the kids specials... ended up not being specials at all. $22 for cheese Pizza that would serve 2 adults but again even tasted bland. It was just the cheese pizza from the adult menu... Our other son had chicken tenders which were fried wayyy too hard. It's like someone forgot them in the fryer. The drinks were good. A beautiful setting with great staff. Go for the appetizers and drinks. read more

We are here twice during our stay and recommended it to others we chatted with as well. The fish tacos the first trip were excellent and libations equally as good! The seating is absolutely wonderful on the waterfront, especially during sunset and the servers and hostess's were all so polite and chatty! Free parking in the parking garage is a HUGE PLUS, considering across the street is $40/2 hours! Don't forget to take a picture of your license plate to give the hostess! read more

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This was one of our favorite eats on our trip. Our server was super friendly and helpful. We loved their mai tais. I tried their coconut shrimp peanut curry fettuccine ($24). I loved the fusion dish with the crispy shrimp and yummy bell peppers. My sister got the mahi mahi tacos and it was so delicious. read more

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Came here on a whim after cruising Alii drive on foot. When we arrived at the hostess stand, we were quickly seated with an ocean view tabletop. The scenery was spectacular even by local people standards. My daughter kept standing up to look at the ocean views. On the way to our table, we saw a room full of beer kegs and a pizza making area enclosed by clear glass. Being in the heart of tourist strip, I wasn't expecting much but was pleasantly surprised. The menu boasts forty eight beers on tap with an abundant selection of local Big island beers. The food menu is vast and we settled on pizzas. We got the meatsa and cheese pizzas for the kids and fish and chips with couple tap beers for the adults. The pizza came out hot and cheesy, but the homemade crust was the winner, it was soft and chewy and I couldn't stop eating it. The fish and chips were quite delicious, the fish pieces were thick and juicy and the fries were crisp and hot. The kids wanted dessert and they settled for frozen haupia ice cream served in a coconut shell. The kids wanted to take their shells home and waitress was gracious to let them. Highly recommend, will be stopping on my next Kona trip to try out other menu items. read more

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We had the mahi tacos and the hook, line, and sinker special of swordfish and poke. Both were fresh and tasty. Great views. Chill vibe. Pricey - but everything in Kona is. read more

Kai Eats + Drinks - Mahi mahi tacos and poke topped grilled swordfish. - Tacos Near Me - Kailua-Kona, Hawaii

I'm sorry to say that my wife and I had a truly disappointing experience here on our last night in Kona. We popped in for drinks and an appetizer. Once we ordered, the waitress (who shall remain nameless), couldn't seem to mask her disappointment in the fact that we weren't ordering dinner, only drinks and an appetizer. I get she may have been disappointed but it's a bit unprofessional to show it to the customers. Your tip may not be as big if we had ordered dinner but you're still going to get a tip. My wife ordered a mai tai which was served lukewarm with cubed ice. When I asked the waitress if mai tais should be served with crushed ice she just replied "nope" and walked away. She didn't even bother to ask the bartender who would've confirmed that mai tais, indeed, aren't meant to be served lukewarm and should be served with crushed ice (well in this case maybe he wouldn't since he didn't do it in the first place). I get it, these are first world problems, but when you're paying $16 for a cocktail you can have the decency to make it correctly. That really put a damper on our visit to this restaurant and our last night in Kona. Unfortunately, when I talk about my experience on the big island this place will be on my list of places to avoid. read more

Holy yum! We all devoured our lunch. Literally not one complaint about this place. And we are a picky group! We've got vegans, we've got vegetarians, we've got picky fish eaters, gluten free, gluten lovers, carnivores who hate vegetables, and little kids. We're a mess. But everyone found something on the menu easily and really enjoyed it. The Mai Tai really is special and the server was a delight. Our food came out super fast and anything we requested additionally was brought out quickly. And this is all before mentioning that we ate seaside with the sound of the ocean in the background. Don't miss the parking structure next door. We did and we had to park down the road for $25 for 2 hours! The restaurant will validate parking if you park in the right structure so don't do what we did! read more

Kai Eats + Drinks - Tacos Near Me - Kailua-Kona, Hawaii

One of our favorite restaurants for brunch/breakfast and occasionally dinner. When they changed dinner to a more "fine dining" Italian focussed menu we held off as we heard from people and reviews that it wasn't meeting expectations. After two recent dinner experiences I can say that they are past the rough spots. We went a few weeks ago and our party of three all were pleased with the food. I had the osso bucco and it was delicious. They still have that excellent beer selection and my companions martinis were solid. Last night we returned, and once again the food was delightful. My wife had the eggplant parmigiana and she's still raving about it. I had the seared ahi, even though I cook a lot of ahi at home, and the picatta really made it shine, along with the potatos and greens. Our companion had the hook line & sinker, which was recommended by our very sweet server Jessica, and he thought it excellent. Too often ono can be overcooked, but this was just right. When you consider the location, which is truly oceanfront, and not on the traffic side of Alii drive, and the validated free parking in the underground lot next door (take a pic of your car's license and give it when checking in), the scales are tipped even further towards five stars. To hear the sound of waves without distraction, and to watch the Kona sunset and perhaps if you're real lucky see a green flash, well, it's hard to find a better spot. Also as a four decade plus resident of this town I appreciate everything that the owners have done for the community over the years. When Eric took over at Huggos and his team built Lava Lava at Waikoloa, and then bought what was Bubba Gumps and made it Kai's, well I feel they've done a great job and have made each place they operate special. You may see Eric and friends dining there on occasion; they're personally concerned in the quality and success of their ventures. We'll still take visitors over to Huggo's on the Rocks for live music and a fun evening. Each of the restaurants is memorable in their own right, but for us Kai's is our favorite. Mahalo. read more

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We stayed in town at Kailua Kona on our first trip to the big island. We walked by Kai Eats and Drinks 10 times before we decided to have our last dinner on the island there. It was a good choice. We like to eat dinner early plus we thought we might catch the sunset. We did. (See Photo) We got a seat over looking the water. The weather was perfect so we started off with a couple of drinks and an appetizer to get things going. My wife had the Hawaiian Margarita and I as always had an old fashion. BTW the bartender was extremely generous with the bourbon. Thanks. Our Appetizer was the Calamari which I assume was really good since we devoured it like a Hyena going at a wildebeest carcass. Bring on dinner! I'm not sure why I ordered the Margarita Pizza, perhaps the bourbon got to me but I'm glad I did. The Pizza was perfect. The dough was crunchy but not hard cheese and fresh basil. Awesome! My wife had a Caesar Salad. Boring!! But that's why she looks so much better than I do. Dessert was the Tiramisu with some Kona Coffee. We lingered to watch the sunset and recollected the wonderful time we had on our first trip to the Big Island. We will be back. We will also be back to Kai Eats and Drinks. Definitely Recommended. read more

Kai Eats + Drinks - Dinner view at Kai Eats - Tacos Near Me - Kailua-Kona, Hawaii

This is the 2nd time I've come in for dinner and I'm blown away. Food and service is amazing. We had Makela , ask for her. She's great. Right on the water I forgot to mention our drinks were made to perfection Thanks Kai eats Omg!!! The ahi, get it medium rare Ask for more sauce if you get the lemon rosemary chicken Caesar salad, yum. Little crunch with every bite read more

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I had the best ahi tuna steak everrrr ! The capers, potatoes, and vegetables were so yummy. The waitresses are super sweet, and we enjoyed chatting with ours! I got a mai tai, which was flavorful and a nice heavy pour ;) read more

Kai Eats + Drinks - Tacos Near Me - Kailua-Kona, Hawaii

Loved the Carna asada tacos! The fried green beans were also ono! Service was excellent! Restaurant is located on the ocean side, so beautiful views!!! read more

My second review of Kai. Last visit was not the best so I decided to try weekend bunch. Much better- had the Kai omelet and asked for mushrooms instead of spinach and was graciously allowed to. This was a perfect omelet- light and airy and with a good amount of cheese. Potatoes and English muffin on the side made it a satisfying meal. My friend had the burger again and enjoyed it. Free parking and dog friendly . read more

Absolutely wonderful view. Impeccable service -- the food came out quickly, and never did I need anything more than the slightest eye contact for the waitress to address my needs. As for the food, it was just all right. It was definitely very filling, but everything was just mediocre. The fish tacos, while fresh, were bang average with some flavorless accoutrements, and the beans, while hearty, were definitely a questionable side for them. I had high hopes for the pizza and ordered what seemed closest to a Hawaiian pie (Kalua pork and pineapple), but that was also decidedly average. The crust was comically large, the presentation rather unappetizing with pools of grease, and the bottom was so floppy that I couldn't believe they dared tout a wood-fired brick oven. read more

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