If you're looking for a quirky, off-the-beaten-path adventure, Islander Sake Brewery is a must! My…read morehusband and I stumbled across this gem on Google maps while having lunch in Waimea, and out of sheer curiosity (and a little skepticism), we decided to drive up to the Hapuna Golf Course to check it out. Yes, you read that right--sake at a golf course clubhouse. We were greeted by a nearly empty banquet room filled with tables of steaming rice and no staff in sight. I popped into the pro shop and finally tracked someone down. What followed was an unexpectedly awesome sake tasting experience. Our host, one of the 3 employees actually brewing sake on-site, set us up outside overlooking the golf course and proceeded to pour generous servings of five sakes, each better than the last. He gave us the lowdown on the brewing process, the history of sake brewing in Japan, their female co-founder's story, and even the ingredients they use--cue the passion fruit (lilikoi) growing on the vines right next to us! We tried their lilikoi-infused sake, and WOW--refreshing, delicious, and a must-try if you're stopping by. We ended up grabbing a bottle of that and a Junmai Daiginjo to bring home, both carefully wrapped for the trip. All in all, this funky little sake brewery made our day. If you're in the area, have a little free time, and enjoy a good sake (or just a great story), do yourself a favor and swing by. They offer tastings of 3 or 5 sakes, and a tour of their operation if you're interested for $25.

Did you know you can do an afternoon tasting here? We enjoyed a couple of hours being introduced…read moreto four different sakes.....all cold and delicious. It was so much fun and we learned about how the sake is made and how a different glass shape can influence the taste of the sake. Highly recommend for a fun adventure. We plan to go for the dinner soon. Menu looks great and we have heard great things about it! Reservations are required for both experiences. They are located in the golf building at Hapanu. Nice location!

Kamuela Liquor Store is one the of reasons I look forward to when visiting the Waimea Cherry…read moreBlossom Festival, not because I am an alcoholic but I just LOVE alcohol!! Kamuela Liquor Store has been in business for over 80 years, the signage on the glass window has 78 years but I confirmed with the kind lady staff that helped me twice this past Saturday, is family owned liquor store located in Kamuela on Hawaii Belt Road, parking is next to the store which is a great thing and offers an impressive selection of wines, spirts, sake, and craft beers, they have a unique offering of cheeses, meats, olives, snacks, some groceries and dips. Staff was very helpful, friendly, and knowledgeable with my questions on wines and recommendations. They also have weekly wine/sake tasting on weekends. I usually stop here to grab my alcohol for the hotel stay and I saw some great deals, close out deals. I purchased 4 bottles and went back to grab a few more bottles, before we drove back to Hilo, during my most recent visit. Luckily the 6 bottles made it back to Oahu safely. It was such a great deal, a close out deal at $6.99, the only regret is not purchasing the last 6 bottles that were left. It was an Oregon wine which I always wanted to try when I was @ Portland but didn't have the chance to. ( Happy Dance) Check out Kamuela Liquor Store, such a GEM, hole in the wall, at Kamuela and worth the one hour drive too!

Amazing selection for such a little store. I love that this place exists and it's always fun to…read morebrowse what they have on their shelves. The wine tasting events are tons of fun and quite educational.

We got married here in February 2026 and it was better than we could have ever imagined. We used…read morethe toolbox catering for our bar and setup and they did an amazing job. Jen was so great to work with too! We rented the whole farm, and we were glad we did. Thank you Kona Salt Farm for going above and beyond for our big day!

My Beautiful Bride visited the Kona Salt Farm. I read many positive reviews, but my expectations…read morewere low. I mean, really, why would anyone want to your and do tastings at a fair farm? We surprised ourselves at how much we enjoyed the Kona Salt Farm Tour. Our tour guide Mari charmed us with her easy manner and genuine enthusiasm. We learned about the history, chemistry, and geology of farming sea salt. After enduring the hot outdoor part of the tour (our tour was 2:30-3:30 pm), it was a relief to come inside and taste how 16 different salts brought out flavors in cucumber, cherry tomato, and pineapple chunks.

Ever been to a Kona coffee plantation in a cloud forest? Well, here's your chance. This is a…read moresurreal experience as you're literally in the clouds up here at around 3,000-plus feet above the Pacific. It's misty, full of foliage, and just ethereal it seems. Makes you wonder aloud: they really do make coffee up here? Yes, and it's damn good! There is no official designated parking area for this tucked away coffee plantation that sits right off the windy mountain road. So we just parked on the side of the road where everyone else did. Everything is so organized here, and when you walk in, the staff greets you with a smile. It really feels like you're about to enter an amusement park. There's a nice little merch shop right at the entrance. Out in front, they offer free coffee tastings of their light, medium, and dark roasts. Took a swig of their light stuff and wow...super smooth, with very low acidity. Right off the bat you can tell this is high-quality coffee. They offer a free 15-minute tour of their small coffee processing area. Yes, you should do it. Ann was our tour guide for the afternoon and she gave us a brief, but thorough presentation of the history of the coffee plant on the island - where it came from, how it got here up in the clouds, and how they process it, step by step. I learned through her presentation that they handpick their beans here, most of which are as few as 100 yards away from the road. This really isn't a big plantation, so they yield and process small batches. And all those batches end up right in the merch shop. The prices are expensive, but worth it. There is also a self-guided tour that costs $10 per group. You fill out a waiver first, and then head down the path out back that leads you in this really cool, but short, trail that winds down to this large patio overlooking the coffee trees. Also on the trail over to the side, you can see these large lava tubes. A real treat. So yeah, I'd recommend coming to this spot FIRST if you plan on visiting a coffee plantation here on the Big Island. Have fun!

We enjoyed the tour at Mountain Thunder Coffee Plantation. It was a nice, short, and informative…read moreexperience where we learned about the coffee-growing and roasting process. The coffee samples were a great bonus, and we ended up purchasing two bags of coffee beans to take home. The staff was friendly, and the tour was easy to follow without feeling too long. A worthwhile stop for coffee lovers visiting the Big Island.

I had their hula girl as a blended drink and I'd definitely drop by for it again! It's a yummy mix…read moreof coconut and caramel with a good coffee flavor. We also tried the ube matcha but wasn't as big of a fan of the flavor on that one It's a cute little coffee truck ran by a husband and wife. They're super kind and love to chat it up!! Sometimes turning off for the little food trucks here can be difficult so make sure you slow down and give yourself ample time to turn off the highway! Theres also no outdoor seating and not much ambiance so you'll either be eating in your car or bringing it to go

Very friendly service team. They make an excellent one matcha and the cold brew was very good. Good…read morequick stop before a beach day on hapuna.

Drinks: 4/5 Atmosphere: 4/5…read moreCleanliness: 5/5 Customer service: 5/5 Speed: 4/5 Price: $ Takeout: yes Outdoor seating: yes ADA access: yes Restrooms: no Dogs: yes Kid Friendly: no Vegetarian options: yes Vegan options: yes Ambiance: casual- coffee truck Pros: good coffee, multiple flavors, vegan choices, super friendly employees Cons: tourist prices, not a lot of parking, not a lot of tables, lines can get long

Seabird Cafe is a solid stop for coffee before you head out for the day. The barista was friendly,…read moreand my iced matcha latte (oat milk + vanilla bean syrup) was nicely balanced, not overly earthy. We came in around 9am on a Monday and they were already out of breakfast sandwiches, which was a bummer, but the chocolate chunk macadamia cookie more than made up for it. Worth a try for a quick bite and caffeine before your adventures.

The sandwiches were simply amazing! Highly recommend!!!! The BLT and the tri tips! The store is…read moredelightful and needless to say the service and staff are wonderful!

We were told the sandwiches would take about 20mins but we ended up waiting closer to 50mins. I…read morehighly recommend calling ahead to place your order, or you may be waiting a while. That said, the sandwiches were excellent. The BLT was the best I've had - the bacon was crispy and overall just delicious. The tri-tip sandwich was also great. There are a few seats outside the store, and parking was easy.

An amazing duo discovered at Parker School during Waimea Farmers Market serving authentic Raclette…read morecheese imported from France. We both tried each other's entrees. My husband had the Hawaiian which included raclette cheese, potatoes, Portuguese sausage, and eggs. He raved about his meal! I couldn't resist Raclette Cheesesteak on a hoagie. This is the best cheesesteak I've consumed. Tender rib eye slices with veggies cooked to perfection. Dill pickles and mustard are complimentary. Find a comfy spot. Loved and enjoyed the multiple cheese pulls! Consume top quality food, notice the difference and reap the benefits. Huge gratitude to E & C! Outstanding customer service! Follow them via IG for more deets. Highly recommend. Raclette is definitely a game changer.

This is my first time ever having ordered from this food truck. The staff were very friendly. I got…read morethe toastie sandwich. It was enough for two people, the mustard on the side was perfect. Definitely would recommend it. if you ever get a chance to go to the Waimea farmers market definitely go because there's so many vendors with different items from honey to spices to homemade crafts & jewelry. PS - I'm the one that gave you the $2 dollar bill