Posts Tagged ‘Hilo’

Tired of Ken’s House of Pancakes in Hilo, four of us went to the Coconut Grill for breakfast a couple of times this month.  Between us we ordered the Eggs Benedict, waffles, pancakes, fruit cup, fried eggs, two omelets, and assorted side orders.  The general consensus was ~ the service and refills on coffee are a bit slow although we didn’t feel rushed to get out of there, the food was good but not great and the portions a bit small for the prices.

Of course this was only breakfast.  They serve lunch and dinner too.  The menu for lunch and dinner includes Prime Rib sandwich, vegetarian and other healthy choices.  In addition it has a pleasant family friendly atmosphere and the wait staff was nice. Plus it is conveniently located right next to Hilo bay and all the hotels on Banyan Drive.

Other reviewers praised the salad bar and dinner menu.  I would definitely go back to try lunch or dinner.

For more information and directions checkout our directory listing
Coconut Grill ~ 136 Banyan Way, Hilo Hawaii ~ Phone: (808) 961-3330

Hilo Bay Café is a little hidden treasure.  Located in the Wal-Mart shopping plaza, it is almost invisible somewhere between the Verizon and T-Mobile Wireless Stores. This restaurant is modern and chic in a really nice way. It feels as if you have stepped off the island for a moment into a trendy west coast restaurant/bar.

Except for the front view the parking lot, there are no other windows, yet the atmosphere is still fresh, pleasant and inviting.  Jazz was playing quietly in the background.  Our table was a few steps up in a little area separated from the room by half walls.  Looking down a bit at the rest of the room there appeared to be mostly couples, some clearly romantic, in various degrees of attire from casual to somewhat formal.

I have a friend who drives to Hilo from Hawi (2 hours) just for Hilo Bay’s spinach salad. Recipes are modern fused and upgraded favorites made with fresh organic ingredients.  I had a personal vegetarian potpie that had an amazingly delicate and delicious crust just right for dipping. My friend and I shared a yummy salad with homemade baguette bread.

The menu included homemade ravioli, stuffed with artichoke hearts, garlic and cheese. There were burgers with Gorgonzola cheese, grilled pork loin and seared, crusted Ahi tuna.  Lots of vegetarian choices and everything looked almost too beautiful to eat.  Of course we did eat it and it was as delicious as it looked.

I have since discovered that this one of those best kept secrets.  Everyone I have asked who has eaten there loves it and goes back regularly. Prices are extremely reasonable and much less than restaurants of this caliber command elsewhere.

They are open for lunch and dinner with easy parking right out front.

Hours: Daily 11am-9pm; Lunch 11am-2pm, Light Lunch 2pm-5pm, Dinner 5pm-9pm.

Hilo Bay Café ~ 315 Makaala Street ~ Hilo, HI 96720 ~ Phone: (808) 935-4939

This is by far my favorite Thai restaurant on the Big Island. Located in downtown Hilo close to the bay front and an easy walk from Kamehameha Avenue. Parking is usually not a problem.

Those of you visiting the Big Island will find many Hilo restaurants surprisingly inexpensive compared to those on the Kona/Kohala side. New Chaing Mai is one of those surprises. The recipes are traditional Thai, not heavy and greasy, made with fresh local ingredients. Brown rice is always available in addition to the jasmine and white rice.  The menu is varied enough for any Thai food critic and there is a small assortment of wine and beer selections.

After eating here at least a half dozen times, I can honestly say I have never had a dish that I didn’t enjoy.  Nine of us, each ordering something different, were all completely satisfied recently and with the generous portions we all took a bit home for the next day.

The atmosphere is light and pleasant. There is a hostel of some sort next door and a few questionable characters may be lingering outside making it appear that there is a wait for a table.  Pay no attention; these folks have always been polite and friendly as we make our way by them into the restaurant.  Seat yourself and a pleasant, low-key waitress will be over soon to help you order.  If you have never eaten Thai food, this is a good place to start.

You can safely order “hot” if you like things spicy, you will not get the volcanic hot that many Thai restaurants serve when you ask for it spicy. And finally be sure to order the fresh summer rolls and you will be very happy.

110 Kalakaua

Hilo, HI 96720

# (808) 969-3777

In 1871 King Kamehameha proclaimed June 11th to be King Kamehameha day in honor of his Great Grandfather Kamehameha the Great who united the Hawai’i’an Island in 1810 and since 1872 several days in June are set aside to celebrate with floral parades, concerts, arts and crafts, and feasting on all of the Hawai’i’an Islands. It can be rather dizzying digesting the diversity of events involved since each Island has its traditions while each Island is aware that people can’t be in two places at once and so one has plenty of excuses to visit all the islands in search of that perfect way to honor King Kamehameha the First.

First up, appropriately enough on the Big Island of Hawai’i Thursday June 11th offers a variety of treats; “Come to the northern tip of the Big Island to honor the legendary Hawaiian king in his North Kohala birthplace. A day long cultural festival with floral parade, ceremony draping the King’s statue in lei, hula, food booths and musical performances mark this special day. 8 a.m – 4 p.m. in Kapaau and Hawi. Call (808) 884-5840 or 895-3168.”

Then on June 11th 2009 it is off to Hilo for The Kamehameha Festival which “features a ho‘olaule‘a with top Hawaii recording artists, hula halau, and various cultural presentations. 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. at Moku Ola (Coconut Island) in Hilo. Free. A drug, alcohol and smoke-free event. For information contact Pua at (808) 989-4844 or visit www.kamehamehafestival.org.

Friday June 12th land on O’ahu and find your way to the Honolulu Hale for a concert by The Royal Hawai’i’an Band followed by the draping of The King Kamehameha 1st statue “with 13-foot floral tributes, which are created on site throughout the day by volunteers. Music and Hula performances add to the colorful display; a photographer’s delight.”

Saturday June 13th poses a few logistical complications forcing you to choose between flying to Kailua-Kona on The Big Island or to Lahaina, Maui for their wonderful parade & party or opting for O’ahu and its colorful festivals.  A colorful floral parade through Lahaina Town at 10 am features Pa`u riders on horses decorated with exotic island flowers representing each major island. The community parade includes marching bands, floats and more, all honoring King Kamehameha the Great’s families. An awards ceremony and arts festival take place at Banyan Tree Park with island food and crafts, pa`u dressing and riding demonstrations, plus Hawaiian entertainment. Free admission; 9am to 5pm.”

Honolulu’s World famous celebration begins downtown at ‘the statue’ with a parade at “9:30 A.M. – 93rd Annual King Kamehameha Celebration Floral Parade.  Colorful floral floats, glamorous Pa`u riders, outstanding marching bands traverse the streets of Honolulu beginning at King and Richards Streets, Punchbowl Street, onto Ala Moana Boulevard, merging into Kalakaua Avenue, ending at the Queen Kapiolani Park. Parade awards presentation to follow.”

Those that choose to skip the parade (“aw, why”) can start celebrating at 9AM at Queen Kapiolani Park with “Na Hana No`eau o Ka Pākīpika – Artistic Endeavors of the Pacific, where you’ll find entertainment, food booths, arts, crafts demonstrations and displays of Polynesia.”

Naturally there is a third option; stay on The Big Island and enjoy a parade through the heart of Kona followed by one heck of a Ho’alaule’a in Kona check out this site for further info: http://paieakamehameha.org/

Finally why pau partying on Saturday June 13th when there is perfectly plausible reason to fly off to The Big Island on Sunday June 14th: “Hulihee Palace Concert. This historic Kona landmark presents a free concert featuring the Hulihee Palace Band and the Merrie Monarchs chorale, remembering King Kamehameha I who established the Hawaiian Kingdom. Post-concert, stroll Kailua village enjoying cafes, restaurants, local musicians and artists. Starts 4 p.m. on the lawn overlooking Kailua Bay. (808) 329-1877 or www.huliheepalace.org.”

So, Honor King Kamehameha The First all throughout June 2009 and remember, FLOWERS are a RENEWABLE RESOURCE so Lei Someone Each and Every Day!

Image courtesy of http://www.pbase.com/aukipa/kingkamehameha

Have you ever been nose to nose with a Binturong? When was the last time a butterfly landed on your head? Didn’t you always want to pet a pig or kiss a goat? These are just a few of the experiences you can have at the Panaewa Rainforest Zoo, just a few miles south of Hilo on the Big Island.

My main reason to visit the small zoo was to finally meet the white Bengal tiger. His name is Namaste and he is beautiful! The slightly cross-eyed kitty spends his days in a large terrain that even has a swimming hole. He is the most famous resident of this enchanting zoo and botanical garden that cover 12 acres and is home to 80 animal species and hundreds of exotic trees and flowers.

Just as rare as a white tiger is the free admission! You can of course leave a donation or support the animals with a purchase in the small gift shop.

You won’t find any elephants, giraffes or zebras at the Panaewa Zoo, but there are many fascinating small and also not-so-small creatures to say Aloha to. Some of the names I had never heard of like a Coatimundi, a South American relative of the raccoon, and the aforementioned Binturong, a sleepy bundle of fur that seems to be a mix between a cat and a small bear. You can also visit the Lemurs, try to find the very private Sloth in his little jungle house, chat with the monkeys, share a smile with the tropical squirrels and check if you can have more attitude than the local Llama. I enjoyed watching the giant anteaters and having a little tete-a-tete with a white parrot who seems to like biting people’s shoes. Don’t stick your fingers or toes into any cage, especially not in his.

Some of the wildest and hungriest creatures at the zoo don’t have cages and they want your blood. It is a rainforest after all and the mosquitos are everywhere. Don’t forget your repellent if your are sensitive to their bite.

The Panaewa Zoo is open every day from 9am to 4pm; Namaste is fed at 3:30pm. The petting zoo opens only on Saturdays between 1:30 and 2:30 pm. Check out the interactive map of all the terrains at www.hilozoo.com.

In August, my boyfriend and I traveled to the Big Island of Hawai’i to Volcano to visit Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. Five volcanoes make up the island of Hawai’i: Kohala, Mauna Kea, Hualalai, Mauna Loa, and Kilauea. Hawaii Volcanoes National Park showcases the active volcano Kilauea with Mauna Loa in the far distance. We flew into Hilo, rented a car, and drove about 45 minutes south to Volcano, Hawaii. Just a little over 2,000 people inhibit this sleepy town.

The town consists of only bed and breakfasts to accommodate the many travelers coming in to visit the National Park, so booking ahead of time is recommended.  There are only a handful of restaurants and country stores located in town.  We stayed at a local bed and breakfast and I was pleasantly surprised with how relaxing and quiet it was among all the serene Hawaiian vegetation.  The weather here is rainier and cooler, so be prepared with long pants and a jacket in the evening.

Everyday we were there we went to the main attraction, Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, which was about a 3 minute car ride down from our B&B.  This was my first time to Volcano and I was pleasantly surprised by the breathtaking views of the most “fascinating biological landscape in the world.” During our 3 day visit we explored the park driving, touring, and hiking.

We did two amazing days hikes Kilauea Iki that crosses the steaming crater floor and the Pu’u Huluhulu off of the Chain of Craters Road Trail. The earth seemed alive with steam pouring out of cracks inthe earth. You can feel the heat coming from the ground that can even wear down the soles of your rubber sneakers.  The hikes can be hot in the day sun, so bring a small pack with bottled water, a lite snack, and sunscreen, so you can enjoy your day.    

In this 330,000 acre national park there is plenty to do and explore.  People travel from all over the world to experience this park.  We are very lucky to have access to such an amazing phenomenon that is a quick plane ride away.

Start putting x’s on the days in your calendar ’cause UFC 84 Ill Will is just one month away on May 24, 2008. This card is so stacked it makes some of the recent offerings by the UFC look manini, seriously, there are so many big names and awesome fights that the UFC will have a tough act to follow from here on out.

In the main event, we have Hilo, Hawaii’s own “The Prodigy”, BJ Penn. Penn is the current UFC Lightweight Champion and is battling Sean Sherk, the former Champ who tested positive for steroid usage and was thus stripped of the title. Sherk has alleged that he was wrongfully accused and is looking to redeem himself. He has his work cut out for him against Penn, only the second man to be a champion in two different weight classes. This fight definitely has some “Ill Will” as Penn has fueled the fire with statements made in the past like “Sean Sherk, you’re dead” and “fighting for the steroid championship”. Personally, I can’t wait to watch BJ destroy Sherk, but then again I’m from Hilo.

This card also features former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Tito Ortiz taking on the undefeated Lyoto Machida. An extra element of excitement to this fight is that this may be Ortiz’s last fight in the UFC. Ortiz and UFC President Dana White have had bad blood for some time and with only a few years left in his career, the 33 year-old Ortiz is surely looking to test the market and make some top dollar for his talent and big name value.

In the battle of grueling nicknames, we have “The Dean of Mean” Keith Jardine versus “The Axe Murderer” Vanderlei Silva. Jardine, an up and coming bruiser, is fresh off a split decision win over Chuck Liddell while Silva, formerly indestructible in the now defunct PRIDE Fighting, lost a unanimous decision to Liddell, in what was viewed by many as the fight of the year. Both of these fighters are looking for a victory in order to climb to the top of a highly competitive division.

This card also features Wilson Gouveia, Thiago Silva, Ivan Salaverry, and Rameau Sokoudjou, four very exciting fighters.

I’ll be at either The Shack in Hawaii Kai, Eastside Grill, or Red Lion University to watch the fight and take in some good food. Hmmm, I might even hit up all three venues, one for the live show and the others for the replay

All I got to say is “What a way to roll in the summer months.” Oh and:

“Chee Huuuuuuu!!!”

Shoots.

JMAW