Travel video guide
Where to Eat in Kailua-Kona, HI: Ahi Tuna
This guide turns Ultimate Hawaiian Food Tour on the Big Island!! from Davidsbeenhere into a practical food map with 15 saved spots around Kailua-Kona, Honokaa, and Captain Cook. The mapped places include a cafe stop, a restaurant stop, and a market. Use it to understand the places, dishes, and trip context before saving the map in Varedelo.
What the creator captured
Davidsbeenhere was particularly impressed by the diverse culinary landscape of the Big Island, ranging from the fluffy malasadas in Honokaa to the unique vanilla cream macadamia nut pancakes in Kona. He highlighted the roastmaster tour at UCC Hawaii as the ultimate experience for coffee lovers, where he successfully created his own custom roast. His journey emphasized a perfect balance between high-octane thrill-seeking on ziplines and authentic cultural immersion through local food markets.
What this map is good for
- Planning a cafe stop or short itinerary in Kailua-Kona.
- Comparing food stops from a creator or saved local map before you commit time in the city.
- Saving 15 mapped spots into Varedelo so the list stays usable on the ground.
- Using the original video as context, then turning it into a clean place-by-place map.
Featured spots on this map
- Tex Drive-In
Hawaiian Restaurant in 45-690 Pakalana St #19, Honokaa, HI 96727, USA, Honokaa, HI, United States
Price level: Medium
Hours: Hours available - The Feeding Leaf Kitchen & Okazuya
Restaurant in 74-5563 Kaiwi St 75 Ste #121, Kailua-Kona, HI 96740, Kailua-Kona, HI 96740 - Kona Brewing Co.
Restaurant in 74-5612 Pawai Pl, Kailua-Kona, HI 96740, USA, Kailua-Kona, HI, United States
Price level: High
Hours: Hours available - Honoka'a Chocolate Farm
Farm in 45-3584 Old Mamalahoa Hwy, Honokaa, HI 96727, USA, Honokaa, HI, United States
Price level: Medium
Hours: Hours available - 808 Grindz Cafe Kona
Cafe in 75-5660 Kopiko St, Kailua-Kona, HI 96740, USA, Kailua-Kona, HI, United States
Price level: Medium
Hours: Hours available - Cafe 100 Inc
Hawaiian Restaurant in 969 Kilauea Ave, Hilo, HI 96720, USA, Hilo, HI, United States
Price level: Medium
Hours: Hours available - Natural Energy Laboratory
Park in 73-987 Makako Bay Dr, Kailua-Kona, HI 96740, USA, Kailua-Kona, HI, United States - Shaka Tacoz
Taco Restaurant in 82-6167 Mamalahoa Hwy, Captain Cook, HI 96704, USA, Captain Cook, Hawaii, United States
Price level: Inexpensive
Hours: Hours available - Kona Farmers Market
Market in 75-5767 Ali‘i Dr, Kailua-Kona, HI 96740, Ali‘i Dr, Kailua-Kona, HI 96740 - Kohala Zipline
Tour Agency in 55-515 Hawi Rd, Hawi, HI 96719, Hawi Rd, Hawi, HI 96719 - Suisan Fish Market
Market in 93 Lihiwai St, Hilo, HI 96720, Lihiwai St, Hilo, HI 96720
Hours: Hours available - Hawaii Volcanoes National Park
National Park in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, HI 96785, USA, Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, HI, United States - 3 more spots
Open the map in Varedelo to see the full saved list.
Food notes from the video
- Original beef patty loco moco
- Ahi tuna
- Spicy ahi and shoyu ahi pokey
- Peanut butter filled malasadas
- Handcrafted Hawaiian sea salt chocolate
- Kauai prawns
- Macadamia nut pancakes with vanilla cream
- Traditional OG pokey
Experiences captured
- Ziplined through forest at Kahala Canopy Adventures
- Crossed five sky bridges and tried rappelling
- Toured the Honokaa Chocolate Company farm
- Roasted custom private label coffee at UCC Hawaii
- Explored Hilo Bay and historical sites
- Visited Suisan Fish Market for fresh seafood
- Shopped for Polynesian crafts at Kona Farmers Market
- Drove the Hamakua Coast from Hilo to Honokaa
Planning notes for Hawaii County
Hawaii County, often referred to as the Big Island, encompasses the largest geographic area in the Hawaiian archipelago and is the site of some of the earliest Polynesian settlements, estimated to date back to approximately 400 CE at Ka Lae (South Point). The historical heritage of the county is centered on the unification of the islands under King Kamehameha I, who was born in North Kohala. Notable architectural sites include Puʻukoholā Heiau, a dry-stone temple constructed in 1791 without mortar.
Must-try foods nearby
- Loco Moco
The ultimate comfort food originating in Hilo. It features a bed of white rice topped with a juicy hamburger patty, a fried sunny-side-up egg, and smothered in rich brown gravy. - Fresh Ahi Poke
Unlike the mainland 'poke bowls' with many toppings, Big Island poke focuses on high-quality raw Ahi tuna cubed and seasoned simply with shoyu, sesame oil, and sea salt. - Strawberry Mochi
A cult favorite from the legendary Two Ladies Kitchen in Hilo. These hand-crafted. - Malasadas
Portuguese-style hole-less donuts that are fried until golden and rolled in sugar. While iconic throughout Hawaii, the Punalu’u Bake Shop (the southernmost bakery in the U.S. - Huli Huli Chicken
Rotisserie-style chicken grilled over local Kiawe wood and basted with a sweet and savory ginger-soy glaze.
When to go: The best time to visit Hawaii County (the Big Island) is during the shoulder seasons of April to June and September to November, when you’ll find the best balance of pleasant weather and lower travel costs. While the Kona side stays sunny year-round.
Local tips
- Never turn your back on the ocean, as sudden rogue waves can appear without warning and sweep you off rocks or into the sea.
- Always remove your shoes before entering a private residence or vacation rental as a sign of respect and cleanliness.
- Drive with the 'Aloha Spirit' by being patient, avoiding the use of car horns, and allowing other drivers to merge into traffic.
- Use only reef-safe sunscreen to protect the fragile coral reef ecosystems, as conventional chemical sunscreens are legally prohibited in Hawaii.
What travelers are noticing
- Food Truck Fridays at Old Kona Airport Park, featuring a rotating lineup of over 20 vendors including Sugar's Hawaiʻi and Big Island Provisions.
- Viral 'Loaded Fries' topped with kalua pig and local gravy, identified as the county's most-ordered comfort food trend in 2026.
- Traditional Street Eats at the 33rd Annual Waimea Cherry Blossom Heritage Festival, spotlighting Japanese and multi-cultural food vendors.
Extra place context
- Shaka Tacoz
Operating out of a permanent stall in Captain Cook and a mobile truck, this spot has gained a cult following for its fresh fish tacos and unique venison burritos.
food
Official tourism resource
The official site for Historic Kailua Village, managed by the Kailua Village Business Improvement District to promote the heritage and commerce of Kailua-Kona.
Planning questions
Where did Davidsbeenhere eat in Kailua-Kona, HI?
This guide maps all 15 spots featured in the video, with names, addresses, and neighborhoods, so you can plan where to eat in Kailua-Kona, HI.
What are the must-try foods in Kailua-Kona, HI?
Creator picks from the video include Original beef patty loco moco, Ahi tuna, Spicy ahi and shoyu ahi pokey, Peanut butter filled malasadas. Open the map in Varedelo to see which spot each one is at.
Can I save these spots to use on my trip?
Yes. Open the map in Varedelo to save every spot, get directions, and revisit the guide from your phone while you travel.
Use it on your trip
Save this food map before you go
Keep the mapped spots, creator context, food notes, and planning details together. Varedelo turns the page into a phone-friendly map you can revisit when you are choosing where to go.