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On route to Volcanoes National Park the three of us made a respite here. It's got a great bakery, sandwich station, and gift shop. And restrooms. There are two outdoor patios where you can eat your lunch and/or malasadas. Known for Hawaiian sweetbread that you can find in many supermarkets. We ordered sandwiches made with Hawaiian sweetbread, and ate them in the outdoor garden area. There's a gravel parking lot onsite.
We heard so much about this big shop that we definitely had to check it out. It was easy to find parking. This bake shop is the southern most bakery in the US. As soon as we entered the bake shop, we were astonished to find a long line. However, the line moved pretty quickly. I got the veggie avocado cheese sandwich. My husband got the fried fish plate. We also got a few Malassadas. This was like a fried doughnut. We got the mango, guava and pineapple flavors. My favorite was the pineapple one. The bread itself was super soft, and the pineapple jelly was super tasty. The mango pastry was also good, however, it was a bit dry for my liking. My veggie sandwich was packed with a variety of vegetables. The bread itself was very soft. I did have to add a bit of hot sauce, salt, and pepper because the sandwich itself did not have any flavor. My husband's dish also lacked flavor so he had to add a lot of hot sauce, salt and pepper. All in all, we had a great experience. The buns are a must try. They have plenty of outdoor spacing for seating. They also have a ton of interesting items to purchase. Given the historical relevance, this spot is a must visit.
My wife and I stopped by Punalu'u Bake Shop on a Thursday afternoon around 2:30 p.m. and almost everything from their menu was sold out. The only items in their pastry case was two types of turnovers, bread pudding, normal malasadas with no fillings, and "Bismark" malasadas, malasadas filled with white cream and topped with chocolate. None of the fruit filled malasadas available. Like most of the guests in line, we were frustrated at the availability, or lack thereof. At the register, we overheard the woman behind the counter confirm that most of the store's inventory had been cleared out by locals who had placed large phone-in orders beforehand. In my opinion, this shortage could have been avoided: if large orders are placed well in advance, it seems like they could have planned better for their in-store guests by making more inventory? In any case, the sugar covered malasada ($2.29) I had was fine, but not mind-blowing. Definitely not something I would go out of my way to try out, nor something I would wait in a line line for. The malasada had obviously been sitting around all day in the case and didn't taste especially fresh. If anything, the malasada was a little on the dense side. Out of curiosity, I also got a block of their bread pudding ($3.29), and my goodness, that thing is a brick. The bread pudding here is dense! The bread pudding is loaded with raisins. If you're a raisin fan, you'll absolutely love the bread pudding. For everyone else, the raisins make the bread pudding a bit too sweet. Overall, my visit to Punalu'u Bake Shop was pretty disappointing. I would unlikely stop by again if I'm visiting this part of the island.
We headed from Kona to Volcanoes National Park and made sure to stop here because everyone we spoke to said this was the best bakery on the island. We were so glad we listened. it is small but packs a lot in, from traditional treats to sandwiches and coffee. The locals are proud to have Punalu'u in their town. Grab a treat or two, take a ready made sandwich or salad for the road, and have a coffee and a loaf of delicious bread for home. Sit outside and listen to the live guitarist who fills the air with beautiful and relaxing guitar music. Lots to look at and buy here, including some souvenirs so make the stop. you won't be disappointed.
Great little pit stop between Hilo via Volcano to Kona. Claimed as southernmost US bakery. Ok! lol. Service was quick and freindly. Hawaiian sweet rolls were fresh and delish. Deli offerings - so so for the price. Restrooms were spectacular.
Punaluu bake shop is the in-between stop if traveling south of the Big island from Hilo to Kona or vice versa. With available bathrooms, sitting areas and take out food counters with baked goods, it's popular with locals and tourists. It's super busy all the time but there is always parking and the counter line moves quickly. We always stop by when we travel south for bathroom breaks and can't resist picking up food to grind. They also sell their yummy sweet breads in grocery stores throughout the state which I highly recommend.
We stopped by at this bakery later in the day to grab a couple of masaladas and a coffee. They were unfortunately out of guava filled masaladas but we tried the guava and mango sugar masaladas and while they were both lights and fluffy with a nice soft interior, I wished there was more fruit flavor. Cute stop and love they have a sign that says southernmost bakery on the Big Island!
Ordered a couple of malasadas to try after visiting Punalu'u Black Sand Beach. There was a short line but it moved quickly. Location was wonderful with plenty of outdoor sitting. We found the donut dough to be dense and not fluffy. The Lilikoi topping tasted tropical great. The one with the chocolate cream probably was the best tasting one: less dough and not dry. Taro was just purple dough inside and miserable.
So glad my husband's friend recommended this place. We made this our breakfast stop and grabbed some malasadas. Our favorite was the guava! It was light and fluffy. We even came back to get more later in the afternoon, and they were sold out. They have a variety of flavors and other sweet pastries. They are fast and provide excellent service. This place was crowded and the line was long but moves fairly quickly if you don't have someone in front of you ordering 3 dozen. They even have a shop inside that sells souvenirs and other essentials. They have plenty of seating outside or you can just pop your trunk and enjoy your fresh malasadas in the parking lot (that's what we did). Major plus, bathrooms are clean! It was a nice place to take a break and I'm sure it was even better for my husband to take a break from driving. The best part of our visit was when my husband was trying to take a picture to post on his Instagram story and dropped 2 malasadas. I will never forget that!
Very quaint and homey, this spot is definitely worth a stop. The bread is fresh, and you can truly taste that it's homemade. The food is delicious and more than reasonably priced, making it an excellent value. Be sure to try the donuts and the BLT--they were standout items and well worth it. Also the lady that checked us out was very informative and knowledgeable.
Welcome to the southern most bakery in the US! What a pleasure it was to visit such a one-of-a-kind place otherwise I can't experience such a place without traveling to HI from CO. As of this writing in early January of 2026, there were close to 2,400 photos posted my previous visitors. Do they really need more reviews or photos to overcrowd the page where they are already flooded with great comments?? Well, I might as well. This was on the "must visit" list my daughter had created prior to coming to the Big Island so on our way from Hilo to get back to the Airbnb we had in Kailua side we made a stop. One thing we didn't do it right was we didn't go here early enough as great and unique baked goods sell out and they only have basic stuff left by late in the afternoon (as they close at 5pm). We took this as a lesson for sure! The store has quite the number of visitors like us late in the day though. It sure is a famous spot. How can one skip such a place where what they carry are goods freshly baked in HI?? The store is a good size, cute indeed. They carry all kinds of souvenir items from short bread to jarred butter to aprons to shopping bags, I mean I can keep going naming everything they sell here. The vanilla filling cream puff (type) pastry (we shared one between us) was not overly sweet. Just the right amount of sweetness that picked us up for the rest of the day. My daughter got herself a black tea lemonade which was also lightly sweet. This store's using the "moderate" amount of sweetness is what we truly appreciated very much. So put this shop on your "must visit" list. It's a fun place where you can easily spend an hour to shop/browse.
Punalu'u Bakery is well-known across the state and continental US for their colorful breads and Hawaiian sweet rolls. I've never been despite living on the Big Island for 8+ years and thought it was a perfect opportunity to stop by with my partner as well. They are known for their loaves but their bakery here offers malasadas that you cannot buy anywhere else. Their lilikoi malasadas were my favorite, with signature tart and sweet icing over the donut. Aside from their food, there's also a functioning bakery in the back, with labeled selections so you can observe workers putting together their bread for packaging and distribution. Highly recommend stopping by Punalu'u and trying their malasadas since its a unique novelty item you can only get here.
The malsadas were really good, the lilikoi passion fruit was our favorite. But everything else was just ok, we got a few sandwiches. Service was fast, but felt a little like a cafeteria. Still definitely worth a stop on way to NP or beach
2 months ago
This was one of the stops on the way to the volcano. It was recommended by a coworker of mine, so I was glad the stop was part of our tour. They're known for their sweetbread and malasadas, but they also have hot food and ice cream. We shared one of their pork platters. It was pretty good. Pork was super tender! There were 2 portions of pork, which seemed a lot, but I was left wanting more. We also got one guava malasada. This one is just their flavored sweet bread, coated with sugar, no filling. It was so light, fluffy, and delicious! Not heavy or oily. Dare I say these are better than Leonards in Waikiki? I regretted just getting one, because getting in that line again to order more would take too long. Oh that's another thing... Your mindset needs to be on island time because you will wait more than 10 minutes for your food. The place is small, but the property is huge. All dining is outdoor in their patio and two gazebo-like structures. There are two lines to place your order, which helps with the crowd: one by the main door, and the other by the patio. If you like up by the main door, you'll find all their sweet bread loaves, rolls, and snacks. If you line up by the patio, you'll find their pastry case. Either way, you're doomed to pick up more than you came there for. This place is a must! Make the drive. It's so worth it! read more
2 months ago
Business owner information
Zachary K.
Aloha Kathryn,…
I can't speak to the food, but the baked goods are divine! The malasadas in particular. The store is cute too and there's lots of room to roam around on the property. Definitely worth a fun little stop if you're passing through. Always a long line and it seems like service could be better, but you know what they say...island time baby! read more
4 months ago
On route to Volcanoes National Park the three of us made a respite here. It's got a great bakery, sandwich station, and gift shop. And restrooms. There are two outdoor patios where you can eat your lunch and/or malasadas. Known for Hawaiian sweetbread that you can find in many supermarkets. We ordered sandwiches made with Hawaiian sweetbread, and ate them in the outdoor garden area. There's a gravel parking lot onsite. read more
We heard so much about this big shop that we definitely had to check it out. It was easy to find parking. This bake shop is the southern most bakery in the US. As soon as we entered the bake shop, we were astonished to find a long line. However, the line moved pretty quickly. I got the veggie avocado cheese sandwich. My husband got the fried fish plate. We also got a few Malassadas. This was like a fried doughnut. We got the mango, guava and pineapple flavors. My favorite was the pineapple one. The bread itself was super soft, and the pineapple jelly was super tasty. The mango pastry was also good, however, it was a bit dry for my liking. My veggie sandwich was packed with a variety of vegetables. The bread itself was very soft. I did have to add a bit of hot sauce, salt, and pepper because the sandwich itself did not have any flavor. My husband's dish also lacked flavor so he had to add a lot of hot sauce, salt and pepper. All in all, we had a great experience. The buns are a must try. They have plenty of outdoor spacing for seating. They also have a ton of interesting items to purchase. Given the historical relevance, this spot is a must visit. read more
My wife and I stopped by Punalu'u Bake Shop on a Thursday afternoon around 2:30 p.m. and almost everything from their menu was sold out. The only items in their pastry case was two types of turnovers, bread pudding, normal malasadas with no fillings, and "Bismark" malasadas, malasadas filled with white cream and topped with chocolate. None of the fruit filled malasadas available. Like most of the guests in line, we were frustrated at the availability, or lack thereof. At the register, we overheard the woman behind the counter confirm that most of the store's inventory had been cleared out by locals who had placed large phone-in orders beforehand. In my opinion, this shortage could have been avoided: if large orders are placed well in advance, it seems like they could have planned better for their in-store guests by making more inventory? In any case, the sugar covered malasada ($2.29) I had was fine, but not mind-blowing. Definitely not something I would go out of my way to try out, nor something I would wait in a line line for. The malasada had obviously been sitting around all day in the case and didn't taste especially fresh. If anything, the malasada was a little on the dense side. Out of curiosity, I also got a block of their bread pudding ($3.29), and my goodness, that thing is a brick. The bread pudding here is dense! The bread pudding is loaded with raisins. If you're a raisin fan, you'll absolutely love the bread pudding. For everyone else, the raisins make the bread pudding a bit too sweet. Overall, my visit to Punalu'u Bake Shop was pretty disappointing. I would unlikely stop by again if I'm visiting this part of the island. read more
5 months ago
We headed from Kona to Volcanoes National Park and made sure to stop here because everyone we spoke to said this was the best bakery on the island. We were so glad we listened. it is small but packs a lot in, from traditional treats to sandwiches and coffee. The locals are proud to have Punalu'u in their town. Grab a treat or two, take a ready made sandwich or salad for the road, and have a coffee and a loaf of delicious bread for home. Sit outside and listen to the live guitarist who fills the air with beautiful and relaxing guitar music. Lots to look at and buy here, including some souvenirs so make the stop. you won't be disappointed. read more
Great little pit stop between Hilo via Volcano to Kona. Claimed as southernmost US bakery. Ok! lol. Service was quick and freindly. Hawaiian sweet rolls were fresh and delish. Deli offerings - so so for the price. Restrooms were spectacular. read more
Punaluu bake shop is the in-between stop if traveling south of the Big island from Hilo to Kona or vice versa. With available bathrooms, sitting areas and take out food counters with baked goods, it's popular with locals and tourists. It's super busy all the time but there is always parking and the counter line moves quickly. We always stop by when we travel south for bathroom breaks and can't resist picking up food to grind. They also sell their yummy sweet breads in grocery stores throughout the state which I highly recommend. read more
We stopped by at this bakery later in the day to grab a couple of masaladas and a coffee. They were unfortunately out of guava filled masaladas but we tried the guava and mango sugar masaladas and while they were both lights and fluffy with a nice soft interior, I wished there was more fruit flavor. Cute stop and love they have a sign that says southernmost bakery on the Big Island! read more
Ordered a couple of malasadas to try after visiting Punalu'u Black Sand Beach. There was a short line but it moved quickly. Location was wonderful with plenty of outdoor sitting. We found the donut dough to be dense and not fluffy. The Lilikoi topping tasted tropical great. The one with the chocolate cream probably was the best tasting one: less dough and not dry. Taro was just purple dough inside and miserable. read more
So glad my husband's friend recommended this place. We made this our breakfast stop and grabbed some malasadas. Our favorite was the guava! It was light and fluffy. We even came back to get more later in the afternoon, and they were sold out. They have a variety of flavors and other sweet pastries. They are fast and provide excellent service. This place was crowded and the line was long but moves fairly quickly if you don't have someone in front of you ordering 3 dozen. They even have a shop inside that sells souvenirs and other essentials. They have plenty of seating outside or you can just pop your trunk and enjoy your fresh malasadas in the parking lot (that's what we did). Major plus, bathrooms are clean! It was a nice place to take a break and I'm sure it was even better for my husband to take a break from driving. The best part of our visit was when my husband was trying to take a picture to post on his Instagram story and dropped 2 malasadas. I will never forget that! read more
Very quaint and homey, this spot is definitely worth a stop. The bread is fresh, and you can truly taste that it's homemade. The food is delicious and more than reasonably priced, making it an excellent value. Be sure to try the donuts and the BLT--they were standout items and well worth it. Also the lady that checked us out was very informative and knowledgeable. read more
Welcome to the southern most bakery in the US! What a pleasure it was to visit such a one-of-a-kind place otherwise I can't experience such a place without traveling to HI from CO. As of this writing in early January of 2026, there were close to 2,400 photos posted my previous visitors. Do they really need more reviews or photos to overcrowd the page where they are already flooded with great comments?? Well, I might as well. This was on the "must visit" list my daughter had created prior to coming to the Big Island so on our way from Hilo to get back to the Airbnb we had in Kailua side we made a stop. One thing we didn't do it right was we didn't go here early enough as great and unique baked goods sell out and they only have basic stuff left by late in the afternoon (as they close at 5pm). We took this as a lesson for sure! The store has quite the number of visitors like us late in the day though. It sure is a famous spot. How can one skip such a place where what they carry are goods freshly baked in HI?? The store is a good size, cute indeed. They carry all kinds of souvenir items from short bread to jarred butter to aprons to shopping bags, I mean I can keep going naming everything they sell here. The vanilla filling cream puff (type) pastry (we shared one between us) was not overly sweet. Just the right amount of sweetness that picked us up for the rest of the day. My daughter got herself a black tea lemonade which was also lightly sweet. This store's using the "moderate" amount of sweetness is what we truly appreciated very much. So put this shop on your "must visit" list. It's a fun place where you can easily spend an hour to shop/browse. read more
Punalu'u Bakery is well-known across the state and continental US for their colorful breads and Hawaiian sweet rolls. I've never been despite living on the Big Island for 8+ years and thought it was a perfect opportunity to stop by with my partner as well. They are known for their loaves but their bakery here offers malasadas that you cannot buy anywhere else. Their lilikoi malasadas were my favorite, with signature tart and sweet icing over the donut. Aside from their food, there's also a functioning bakery in the back, with labeled selections so you can observe workers putting together their bread for packaging and distribution. Highly recommend stopping by Punalu'u and trying their malasadas since its a unique novelty item you can only get here. read more
The malsadas were really good, the lilikoi passion fruit was our favorite. But everything else was just ok, we got a few sandwiches. Service was fast, but felt a little like a cafeteria. Still definitely worth a stop on way to NP or beach read more
Obligatory stop on our way from Volcano National park to Waikoloa. Great place to stop for a snack, drinks and bathroom break before your next island adventure. Plenty of seating. Bathrooms are big and clean. Free accessible parking. I'm not a big donut fan and masaladas are basically little donuts filled with custard, cream or fruit. My favorite is the Bismark, it reminds me of a Boston cream pie! Would I make it a point to go here just for the masaladas? No, but it's worth a stop if you're driving by. read more
Fun little shop! Lots of different options like coffee and ice cream, but they're known for their Malassadas so we got half a dozen of those to try. The powdered guava flavored one didn't taste super guava like, but was overall good. The cream filled which is basically custard was pretty good, but the lilikoi glazed was the best! A nice tart frosting that tastes super fresh. read more
9 months ago
Punaluʻu Bake Shop was a stop our tour driver insisted on, and I'm so glad he did. He mentioned it's one of the best bakeries on the island--and he was absolutely right. The line was long, but it moved quickly, and honestly, when you see a long line filled with happy people, you know you're in the right place. I wanted to be open-minded and try a few things, so we ordered a Saint Clair, the best-selling passion fruit (lilikoi) malasada, and both the chocolate and strawberry malasadas. I already love lilikoi, but having it in donut form was top-tier. It was flavorful, light, airy--and I was genuinely sad when it was gone. They also have a really nice gift shop with incredibly good sweet bread. Dare I say, it's even better than Hawaiian sweet bread (and that's saying a lot). There are so many cool knickknacks and handmade items that make perfect gifts if you're looking to bring something truly Hawaiian back home. I'm really happy we stopped here--it was a great experience from start to finish, and I already can't wait to come back for more of those delicious pastries. Five stars all around. Also, the flowers around the building were beautiful. I took some pictures. Enjoy! read more
Here's the thing. No trip to Hawaii is not complete unless you have some sand in your toes, and a malasada in your hand. This specific location is along a busy route to the Volcanos national park, so it's frequented likely mostly by clueless tourists. Upon parking, the line seemed intimidating, but our tour guide told us this was actually really short, compared to peak times, and the line moves quickly. He was right in terms of the lines moving fast, so that was good. There was live music playing in the courtyard after you waited in line, ordered your items, then paid. I didn't get any drinks, which would have been a second line to wait in, but I did get a variety of pastries, including: Ube classic malasada Bismark Mango classic All of them were pretty darn good. The ube was very creamy, with a very doughy-chewy bread, but still light, and enjoayable. The bismark was cooked nicely and actually had a very light crispness to the outsides. The filling was ample enough and a nice custard to distributed across every bite. The chocolate glaze on the bismark lasted till the last bite, and it was really good. I think because I'm reducing my sugar intake, the mango may have been my favorite, because it wasn't super sweet but still had a lot of pronounced mango flavor. Worth a stop. Take your new treats down to the black sand beach and enjoy the view while leaving the turtles alone with plenty of space. read more
This bake shop was recommended so of course we had to check them out. They are known for the malasadas but also have other food choices as well. The bake shop was well kept up and clean. The cashier was very friendly and answered any questions. We got the chocolate filled and cream filled. Both tasted amazing. There is lots of seating in both patios and there was a parking lot near the back. Definitely stop by read more
10 months ago
Stop Tara on our way to the green Sand Beach. Tried a variety of other malasadas. Personally, I like Leonard's bakery better. This one had more dense texture. Fruit filled ones at a decent amount of filling in it and it was not overly sweet. Line was long but it went fast. read more
Sorry this bakery is not around the corner. It is truly the farthest bakery in the US. Is it worth the trip. Absolutely. While driving to the Black Sand Beach on the Big Island of Hawaii my wife as usual had to go to the bathroom so we pulled over here at Punalu'u Bakery. There was a line. Having traveled the world my wife and I know. If there is a line get in it and figure it out later. Luckily this line led to a really good bake shop. After a short wait we ordered some coffees and some pastry. A delicious chocolate cream puff and a passion fruit thingy. Hit the spot let me tell you. Sometimes you are surprised by fate sometimes your wife's small bladder leads you to a great find. Punalu'u don't go anywhere. Make us work for it if we want your baked goodie's. Definitely Recommended. read more
I have come here several times over the course of my life, but never really ate food here. We ordered two different plates, roast beef plate and a hamburger steak plate. My father is very picky when it comes to praising food and this roast beef had him raving about it. It was falling apart when he was picking up the roast beef. The hamburger steak plate was also amazing. The hamburger was soft and full of flavor. We choose to sit in one of the gazebos as it was a rather humid day and the gazebo provided some nice, cool air flow. read more
Judging from the crowd here it seems this is a popular spot after swinging by the southernmost point in the US. Or perhaps just because it's the southernmost bakery in the US. That said, we were driving from Kona over to Volcano NP and I had seen signs about malasadas in various places around the island and finally had to give in. The lines were pretty long on both the bakery and sandwich side but moved along pretty quickly. The place also sold a fair number of other Hawaii souvenir type items, so plenty to browse if you wanted to. I don't think there were any indoor tables, there was a bit of outdoor seating. I was too distracted by the pastries to notice for certain! Parking was a little tricky due to the crowds. I got the chocolate malasada and it did not disappoint. A bit like a chocolate filled doughnut, but the filling was far less sweet than what you'd get in other desserts. The malasada itself was also not super sweet but really just right for a nice dessert pastry. read more
This bake shop is in an ideal location on the road between Kona and Volcanoes N.P. it bills itself as a bake shop and welcome center for visitors. There are some nice aspects and some that are less nice. My husband had read about their freshly made donuts, so that was his goal. He chose a round chocolate eclair and I chose a blueberry/cream cheese turnover. The woman at that counter was quite pleasant. In order to get a drink to go with it, they give you a pager and you wait. I ordered a hot tea (they handed me a Liptons bag and a cup, and the hot water was self service). We had finished our pastries long before my husband's hot chocolate was ready (more than ten minutes later). They give you a pager. We had carried the pastries out to a table in the gazebo and I eventually went back in to check on his drink. A surly woman at the drink machine said condescendingly that I should go outside and that my pager would buzz. She told me I could not wait near the counter inside. So I stepped back out again. My husband was ready to leave when his hot chocolate was ready. Also, the bathrooms are under construction, so after getting sticky fingers while eating, we needed to use the portajohns outside. This is a high volume touristy spot. Maybe it was just a bad day. But more pleasant service would have gone a long way. read more
Came here as a stop before the black sand beach. It's about 20 min away from the beach. There was plenty of seating and tables as well as bathrooms as a good rest stop. Inside is a shop and there were take away food like sandwiches, salads. There was also a line for the pastries and baked goods. Wasn't too long of a wait but there was a line. I got the guava, Haupia, mango fruit filled and lilikoi malasads. Guava was kind of guava flavored throughout the malasada. Haupia had a chunk of Haupia jelly inside like a sandwich. Mango fruit filled was filled with a mango jelly. Lilikoi was a lilikoi glaze on top. They were just okay. Kind of dense, felt like I was just eating a donut. Didn't feel like a true malasada which is more light. Overall probably lilikoi was the best flavor. read more
This place is delicious and I definitely think is worth a trip too on the Big Island. Inspired a love of Malasadas. I enjoyed the traditional ones. Lots of malasada options and other pastries but they do sell out. The fresh food is good too. I enjoyed the cheeseburgers. Similar to a fast food type with better bread. It can be a little crowded but the service is quick. They have some free bread samples too of their speciality bread. We also got ice cream that was really good. Coconut ice cream could have had more flavor but the vanilla was great. Lots of options to take things to go like bread and cookies. Picked up a loaf of bread too. Ate the whole thing on our trip. Casual place with rest stop atmosphere. The coffee was nothing special. read more
2 months ago
We were able to stop on our way to the volcano and enjoy a local treat at the southernmost bakery in the USA. Live music outside and plenty of seating to enjoy your sweet treat. It was cash only when we went so be sure to pack cash. read more
3 months ago
Very well stocked with lots of unique Hawaiian specialties. Plus trinkets to buy and brag that you were almost at the southern most point in Hawaii. But lots of room to sit and relax, grab something to eat or drink. The employees were all very nice and helpful. read more
I was very excited to visit this place on the day we were heading to see a real volcano. When we arrived, the atmosphere was lively, with lots of people and long lines, which made me assume this spot had to be good, especially for those Hawaiian-style donut balls with different flavors. We ordered the donuts, two warm sandwiches (since we were planning to hike and needed real food), and two fruit smoothies: piña colada and melon. Let me start with the positives. The donuts were delicious, and I truly enjoyed them. That said, I was expecting them to have some kind of filling inside. Instead, the flavor was mostly in the dough and glaze on top. While they were still tasty, it was a bit disappointing for me personally, since I rarely eat sweets and really prefer filled donuts. Now for the frustrations. The "fruit smoothies" were not smoothies at all. They tasted like milkshakes. It felt like ice cream was added, which was disappointing and honestly misleading. If a drink contains ice cream, it should be called a milkshake, not a fruit smoothie. Being in Hawaii, we were really looking forward to fresh fruit-based smoothies, especially with all the amazing fruit available here! The biggest disappointment, however, was the hot sandwiches. The menu didn't mention what kind of bread was used, and they turned out to be on brioche buns, which my husband doesn't like for sandwiches. Still, we gave them a chance. Unfortunately, both sandwiches were soggy, with no crunch or texture at all. I ordered the turkey sandwich, and it was mostly bread with a piece of meat. My husband's roast beef sandwich was the same: one large piece of meat and almost nothing else. For us, a good sandwich needs balance, texture, and ingredients that work together. These didn't deliver. I didn't even finish mine and ended up throwing it away. On top of that, the service didn't help. When we were ordering, one employee (and I noticed other customers were also frustrated with her) seemed unable to answer simple questions clearly. When we asked whether the sandwiches contained pork, she went off on unrelated explanations instead of giving a clear yes or no. Her responses were confusing and scattered, which made the experience even more stressful. My husband summed it up well: just because a place is very popular and has long lines doesn't necessarily mean the food is good, it often just means it's very touristy. I honestly don't understand the high ratings for this spot. The donuts were fine, but the overall experience, especially considering the long wait, wasn't worth it for us. If we ever come back, we wouldn't return, even just for the donuts. These kinds of donut balls are popular in Hawaii, and I'm sure you can find similar (or better) ones elsewhere without the disappointment! read more
1 year ago
Can smelled the sweetbread as soon we turn into The parking area. Most southpoint bakery in America. Busy with customers and outdoor grass area and table For plenty of guests and food is just amazing bread and bakery & pastry. Also grabbed a tuna sandwich togo yum read more
3 months ago
Do not be discouraged if you stop at Punalu'u Bake Shop and you see a line -- it goes by quickly! The service is swift and friendly. The bakery is on the smaller side but not uncomfortable. One side of said bakery is dedicated to souvenirs, kitchen tools, and some food items to bring back home (chocolates, jams, etc.). The opposite side has breads on sale, beverages, and the like. The center is the food display where you can choose from the vast array of baked goods or made to order items. My personal favorite? The Bismark Malasada. Chocolate on the outside and custard on the inside makes for a well balanced sweet treat! Outside you'll find a koi pond and a couple of gazebos with tables and chairs. Add this bakery to your itinerary, you won't regret it! read more
Got to have malasadas when visiting Hawaii! This place is good but I do prefer Leonard's malasadas located on the other islands. Don't expect too many custard options like Leonard's. Punalu'u malasadas have a different, fresher style, that's is mostly focused on the sugar coated dough. The taro and guava ones are good options. I wasn't a big fan of the other two I got (the coconut and I forgot the other flavor). Staff is very friendly and Hawaii is just beautiful in general, so a good place to try. read more
Southernmost bakery in the USA, delicious baked goods (think tropical flavors!), delicious sandwiches (hot & cold) as well as traditional Hawaiian plate lunches. Souvenirs galore! Beautiful lush garden setting to sit and enjoy the food. read more
Went here as part of an island circle tour. If you're pressed for time, strategize when you go here as the line for the food can get really long depending on the time of the day and if there are other tour groups visiting. If you're in a group, you can have some people fall in line for pastries while some visit other parts like visitor center, garden. They have different flavors of malasadas which are Portuguese fried pastry or essentially doughnuts. Got both variants (filled and no filling): guava filled, vanilla cream filled, lilikoi (passion fruit) malasada, and mango malasada. Filled doughnuts (and hence, filled malasadas) were my favorite. They were very good. I like their malasadas more than Leonard's. They also have turnovers, eclairs, pies, and more. read more
Had lunch here while on a tour heading to Kilauea volcano national park... Popular spot for a good reason... food was fresh hot and delicious. Teriyaki chicken was tasty but the baked goods take the cake... omg malasadas and the apple turn over. So fresh so tasty! read more
10 months ago
Amazing sweet bread and sweets. Busy place outside of the volcano national park. Recommend by a good friend and worth the drive. I bought for local and brought some home. Definitely worth coming here and you can find the bread and cookies all around the island. read more
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More info about Punalu'u Bake Shop
95-5642 Mamalahoa Hwy
Naalehu, HI 96772
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(808) 929-7343
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http://www.bakeshophawaii.com/
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Ask the Community - Punalu'u Bake Shop
What time do the Malasadas run out? And can we put an order in and pick up instead?
We arrived early afternoon and they were out of Malasadas and most other pastries. Not sure about ordering ahead of time though.
Is there a different line for the gift shop and the bakery/lunch line?
Didn't look like it to me. However, there was a separate line by the soft drink machine.
Is lunch served all day? Like if I go in the morning time would I be able to get a deli sandwich or a lunch plate made?
Yes, they are constantly making lunch all day long - cold sandwiches, salads, and hot plates. I have all 3 when I went at 2pm.
Why does Yelp recommend reviews?
29 reviews that are not currently recommended
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Punalu'u Bake Shop - bakeries - Updated September 2026
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