Although we only had a few days to spend in Hawai'i, and a lot of activities to experience, we were…read moreexcited about trying out the variety of food available in Hilo. Thankfully, Pono and the Hilo Food Tours delivered. It was a treat to hear about the food we sampled through the lens of Hawaiian history. I would recommend Hilo Food Tours to anyone interested in sampling some great flavors. We hope to come back some time for the cocktail tour too!

From the owner: Hilo Food Tours is an experience, a walking culinary and historical journey which we make together…read morethrough Hilo town. These tasty dishes have become a part of the food landscape of Hawaii and are enjoyed by everyone. Our customers will experience the history and culture of Hawaii through their taste buds, leaving them with an appreciation for a place known for its beauty and mystery. This is what makes Hawaii unique and this is what we want you, our customers, to experience. Our 2 hour walking tour takes place in our quaint town of Hilo. We will tour five different eateries throughout Hilo town and sample the wonderful flavors each offers in their dishes. As we walk her streets you will learn the history and background of the area and be taken away to another time and place. A place rich in diversity that makes Hilo unique. You will experience each individual culture through your taste buds, savoring the richness and unique spices used in every dish.

Bigger of an operation now compared to back when I was growing up in Hilo. But they have always…read morekept the fact that you can walk in and see the workers hand dipping cookies and whatnot. They've not changed much besides having newer items here and there. They've classic chocolate dipped shortbread cookies are always a winner. Best part about visiting is that you get samples of their products if you just ask kindly! The staff are always so friendly and helpful. I wish they would bring back the Peanut Butter Crunch Bars!

Make sure to check this place out if you're in the area! We stopped by around 8:30 AM and honestly…read moreweren't even sure it was open at first--the building looks pretty dark from the outside because of the tint. But as soon as we walked in, we were warmly greeted by the wonderful staff, and the whole vibe completely changed. Inside, the space is bright, inviting, and thoughtfully set up. We were offered samples of their Kona coffee along with a couple of treats of the day, which was such a nice touch. As you walk around, you can actually watch them making their delicious goodies, which makes the experience even more fun and tempting. The shop was beautifully decorated for the upcoming Easter holiday, and they also had some really lovely gift boxes--perfect if you're looking to bring something home for family or friends. There's also a small area where you can grab drinks (and possibly ice cream too). I ordered a green tea latte, and it was absolutely wonderful. Overall, such a cozy, welcoming spot with great treats and friendly service. Definitely worth stopping by--whether you're craving something sweet or looking to pick up a thoughtful gift!

My husband and I thought this would be a nice relaxing stroll through a garden munching on new…read morefoods-but it was so much more! Our guide Daisy is very knowledgeable and taught us about plants we have never seen before and pointed out different varieties of things that we have at home. Big Island Farms does an excellent job at conservation of their land. We will definitely be back.

We stopped in to big Island Farms on our way to the Waipio look out, Seeing a lot of other vendors…read moreon the road we went for this big island farm stop simply because we needed Wi-Fi. Enjoying the vibe of the farm we decided to stay and have a coffee the lady was very helpful she directed us to our Airbnb and we were so grateful. I must say this was after she made us an excellent Kona coffee, We enjoyed it so much we went back the next day. If my husband wasn't hurt I would've booked a farm tour, I plan on returning soon. Loved the "cool T-shirt" & shoulda bought nuts too, cause they were the best I tried on the entire Big Island.

My husband and I spent 6 days on the Big Island for our honeymoon and we knew we wanted to embrace…read morethe culture and explore the Kona coffee country. As coffee lovers, Heavenly Hawaiian constantly came up in my research and I'm glad we toured for ourselves. The grounds itself are absolutely gorgeous and that view from the hill onto the ocean is unreal! I can't for the life of me remember our tour guides name but she was such a joy and extremely knowledgeable. Learning about the different coffee variants that are grown such as Kona typica, Progeny 502, and the "boujee girl" Geisha was awesome to learn about and see for ourselves. Did I mention endless coffee sampling? Such a relaxing atmosphere to sip all the coffee you want and enjoy that view. And the cutest cats on the property were such a delight mingling with the guests. All staff members were so helpful and they even treated us with a goodie bag of freshly picked fruits from the farm and a bag of peaberry bites (my new favorite) all as a thank you for paying a visit on our honeymoon! Was not expecting that all but such a sweet gesture! I would highly recommend Heavenly Hawaiian farms to anyone if you're on the Big Island or in the Kona area. Absolutely worth the trip up the hill and to feel the aloha from the staff and grounds.

We enjoyed the tour and Cooper was an outstanding guide, especially for a last minute fill-in. He…read moreknew the land and all the growing, harvesting, processing and roasting processes inside and out (promote him?). You could tell they run a tight farm by hiring the right people and keeping the property and all the equipment well-maintained. I must admit, I'm not the biggest fan of Kona coffee from what I tried at Heavenly and at other local spots, but for what it is, Heavenly makes a good product. I wish they would have let me take a to-go cup of coffee after the tour, especially after paying for two tickets + $70 of bagged coffee, but they unfortunately limited me to the little sample cups with no lids. That's the only thing keeping this from being a 5-star review.

The OK Farm tour is a great way to learn about post sugarcane agriculture in Hawaii. Cassie was…read moreour tour guide and was very informative of the OK Farm history teaching us about all the crops growing on the farm. The in season fruit and macnuts were a nice treat as we overlooked the best view of Rainbow Falls!

One of the most interesting, informative tours I've ever been on. If you're a foodie or like to…read morecook this is a great place to visit! Ala and Cassie were great tour guides, driving us on a tour bus and stopping a few times to show us different fruit crops, but my favorite was spice road. Tasting, smelling and learning about the harvesting process. Don't misunderstand this was not at all a boring tour, it was just enough information and then we would move on while sipping seltzers,beer, and trying unusual fruits of the island not to mention snacking on macadamia nuts by some beautiful waterfalls. They also have a store where they sell some of their products and produce.

This zipline must have the most beautiful views near Hilo and Reed and Kanani were exceptional…read moreguides allowing us to try fruit direct from the tree and capturing our photos for happy memories! Also included were a pretty botanical garden and maze to challenge you. :) It was an awesome experience and the whole crew is super knowledgeable and friendly!

Super fun, thoughtful crew; Nick, Avery and Myra!! Beautiful park and a great value. We learned…read moreabout some flora and fauna as well!

Great place to try some free macadamia nuts!…read more I didn't realize how many flavors of macadamia nuts were available. The staff was super friendly and generous on giving away samples. Nice tour of the factory, gift shop and small eating area. The back has a nice wildlife sanctuary.

Everybody knows the infamous blue box of Mauna Loa Macadamia Nut…read more While this blue box might not be as expensive as Tiffany's, your recipient will be just as thrilled receiving this box. Mauna Loa is a premier Hawaiian brand famous for pairing dry-roasted macadamia nuts with rich chocolates. Founded in 1949 and based on the Big Island of Hawaii beneath its namesake volcano, the company is now owned by Hawaiian Host, Inc. Come here, buy some chocolates, do a tour, have some samples, and have fun.

Lovely property, friendly couple who were gracious hosts. We did the tour & dinner…read more They offered a delicious option for vegetarians- mushroom based meatballs. Wine is only offered by the bottle - they have a $15 corkage fee so if you want a special bottle- it may pay to bring your own. Overall this was a nice experience at a family farm. *The ride to/from is a bit rugged and rough- unpaved. Must drive very slow.

Originally we were considering Starseed as a potential wedding venue with accommodations for our…read moreguests. While we ultimately had too many people to make that work, we knew from our first visit that we wanted this special property, and the wonderful people who steward it, to be part of our nuptial celebration. We ended up hosting our rehearsal dinner here in September 2022 and, my friends, it was absolutely magical. The property itself is stunning, with a gorgeous tree canopy and colorful blooms everywhere. There are plenty of great places for a golden hour photoshoot, which we took full advantage of! They waited patiently for us to finish our photos then ushered us to our tables, which were beautiful decorated with 'olena flowers from their garden. There were so many beautiful, special touches that went above and beyond our expectations. For example, when we arrived Chef Erika adorned my husband and I with ti leaf leis they had made for us. As we sat down for dinner Chef Erika gave a Hawaiian blessing and thanked the land for providing such a bounty for us to enjoy. The food, oh my goodness the food... it was SO GOOD!! I love that they source as much as possible from their own property and from other local farmers and ranchers. Everything was so fresh and prepared beautifully. Plus, they were able to accommodate my nephew's very severe nut and dairy allergy without any issues, which we all really appreciated. They let us bring our own wine for a very reasonable corkage fee and the bottle service was gracious and timely, with never an empty glass. They also nailed the timing of the dinner, we never felt rushed nor was there too much time between courses. It was just perfect! Everyone in our party was totally blown away. They were expecting the typical rehearsal dinner at a restaurant or something and this overdelivered in the best possible way. It felt so intimate and private, just what we wanted. We all still talk about what an amazing night it was. Jesse, Madeline, and Chef Erika were such wonderful hosts, and they were great to communicate with before the event via email too. The team here truly embodies the aloha spirit. We are so very grateful for the experience they curated for us on our special night. I highly recommend Starseed Ranch for any special occasion gathering you might be hosting!! Their property, their team, their food, their aloha, is second to none.

I don't know if I would call this a hike, so much as a paved loop walk. Try to come early as the…read moreparking lot can get really filled, spilling into "paid" parking on the side of the roadway. You probably won't spend longer than an hour hear, unless you really get obsessive about capturing those perfect photo shots to post on Instagram. The pictures people have posted pretty much speak for themselves. But nothing beats seeing this live waterfalls, flowing in-person. With the wind in your hair, the scent of all the lush plants and such. This is on the Hilo side of the Big Island that is Hawai'i, so check the weather plan around the tropical rains that may or may not happen around the weeks you visit. You may pass some roadside stalls along the way here, where they're selling freshly cut pineapple of incomparable sweetness and flavor. Overall, definitely a space to get your dose of shinrin-yoku/forest bathing to cleanse your etheric body and be present in the moment.

This is more than just a waterfall, it's an experience where you immerse yourself in a rainforest…read moreand appreciate the beauty, sounds, smells, and little creatures around you. Although the entire hike is about half an hour, I would recommend you take your time and see everything around you. The hike itself is not strenuous. Some of the reviews indicate the steps were arduous, but our little 3-year-old had no problem. The paths are paved with railings. It didn't take long before we reached where Akaka falls was visible. It is beautiful against the mossy green backdrop. Then we climb the stairs to see the other waterfall, but when we got there, it was pretty anti-climatic. It's a small little fall, but still worth seeing. Overall, this is a beautiful spot to discover new plants, see a couple of waterfalls, and take a ton of pictures.