Hawaii (Big Island) Restaurant Tips by leafmcgowan

Punalu'u Bake Shop: Punalu'u Bake Shop

The most notorious "Southern-most Bakery in the United States" at Latitude 19º North of the Equator, is the Punalu'u Bake Shop off Route 11. An excellent stop off after seeing the sea turtles and black sand beaches in the area. The bakery specializes in Hawaiian Sweet Break which was introduced via Portugese sugar plantation workers in the 19th century. The Bake shop has adopted this import as their speciality, enhanced by their own traditional family recipe which takes 5 hours to produce. This Bakery was established in 1991 on the site of a former sugar plantation owner's home. Upon my 8/8/09 visit, I had the pleasure of savoring the sweatbread as well as their donuts and orange slushie. Yum! Rating: 4 stars out of 5.

Address: Route 11 * Na`alehu (Big Island), Hawai`i 96772

Comparison: more expensive than average

Phone: 1-866-366-3501

Price: US$11-20

Rating: 4

Theme: Bakery

Website: http://www.bakeshophawaii.com/

Kalapana Village Cafe (Kalapana, Big Island, Hawai: Kalapana Village Cafe (Kalapana, Big Island, Hawai

An interesting little cafe near the entrance to walk out to Kalapana beach. Me and my friend Kawika dropped in for lunch and a drink. I tried the combination platter which had beef terriyaki, fish n' chips, crab cakes, rice, and potato salad. Not bad for the price, but I've had better. Service was a bit slow, but decent. Staff seemed pre-occupied but were friendly. It hit the spot so no complaints and it's not like you have any other options in this town that barely still exists no more than a tourist stop since Kalapana was destroyed by the lava flows in 1990. Rating: 2 stars out of 5.

Address: Red Road/12-5037 Pahoa Kalapana Rd

Comparison: about average

Directions: 12-5037 Pahoa Kalapana Rd * Pahoa/Kalapana, HI 96778 * (808) 965-0121 *

Phone: (808) 965-0121

Price: US$11-20

Rating: 3

Theme: Autogrill/Rest Stop