2024 Readers’ Choice: Hawai‘i Island

Hawai‘i Island Food and Drink 

Best Restaurant  

1. Don the Beachcomber at the Royal Kona Resort
2. Merriman’s Big Island
3. Roy’s Waikoloa Bar & Grill
4. Island Lava Java
5. Chubby’s Diner

Best Hotel or Resort Restaurant 

1. Don the Beachcomber at the Royal Kona Resort
2. CanoeHouse at The Mauna Lani Resort, Auberge Resorts Collection
3. Brown’s Beach House at The Fairmont Orchid
4. ‘Ulu Ocean Grill at the Four Seasons Resort Hualālai
5. Beach Tree at the Four Seasons Resort Hualālai

Best Bar or Lounge 

1. Don the Beachcomber at the Royal Kona Resort
2. Kona Brewing Co.
3. Lava Lava Beach Club
4. Huggo’s
5. KBXtreme Family Entertainment Center

Best Cheap Eats 

1. L&L Hawaiian Barbecue
2. Da Poke Shack
3. Umeke’s Fish Market Bar & Grill
4. Chubby’s Diner
5. 808 Grindz Café

Best Bakery 

1. Punalu‘u Bake Shop
2. Two Ladies Kitchen
3. Island Lava Java
4. Tex Drive-In
5. Short N Sweet Bakery & Café

Best Breakfast 

1. Island Lava Java
2. Ken’s House of Pancakes
3. Hawaiian Style Café
4. The Coffee Shack
5. Chubby’s Diner

Best Burger 

1. Village Burger Waimea
2. Hilo Burger Joint
3. Ultimate Burger
4. Cronies Bar & Grill
5. Chubby’s Diner

Best Farm-To-Table Restaurant 

1. Merriman’s Big Island
2. Hilo Bay Café
3. Foster’s Kitchen
4. Moon and Turtle
5. FORC

Best Loco Moco 

1. Big Island Grill
2. Hawaiian Style Café
3. Ken’s House of Pancakes
4. Chubby’s Diner
5. Café 100

Best Noodle, Saimin Or Ramen 

1. TK Noodle House Kona
2. Ken’s House of Pancakes
3. Nori’s Saimin and Snacks
4. Tetsumen
5. Noodle Club

Best Pizza 

1. Kona Brewing Co.
2. Big Island Pizza Napoletana
3. Café Pesto
4. Bianelli’s Gourmet Pizza & Pasta
5. James Angelo’s Underground Pizza

Best Poke 

1. Da Poke Shack
2. Umeke’s Fish Market Bar and Grill
3. Kona Grill House
4. Suisan Fish Market
5. Poke Market

Best Seafood Restaurant 

1. ‘Umeke’s Fish Market Bar and Grill
2. Jackie Rey’s ‘Ohana Grill
3. The Fish Hopper
4. The Seaside Restaurant
5. ‘Ulu Ocean Grill at the Four Seasons Hualālai

Best Shave Ice Stand Or Store 

1. Original Big Island Shave Ice Co.
2. Ululani’s Hawaiian Shave Ice
3. One Aloha Shave Ice Co.
4. Scandinavian Shave Ice
5. Gecko Girlz Shave Ice

Best Steak House 

1. Roy’s Waikoloa Bar & Grill
2. Ruth’s Chris
3. Merriman’s Fish House
4. Outback Steakhouse
5. Kamuela Provision Co.

 

Hawai‘i Island Hotels and Resorts 

Best Luxury Hotel 

1. Royal Kona Resort
2. Four Seasons Resort Hualālai
3. Hilton Waikoloa Village
4. The Fairmont Orchid
5. Mauna Kea Beach Hotel, Autograph Collection
6. The Mauna Lani Resort, Auberge Resorts Collection
7. The Westin Hāpuna Beach Resort
8. Outrigger Kona Resort
9. Waikoloa Beach Marriott Resort & Spa

Best Value Resort or Hotel 

1. Royal Kona Resort
2. Hilton Waikoloa Village
3. Courtyard by Marriott King Kamehameha’s Kona Beach Hotel
4. Castle Hilo Hawaiian Hotel
5. SCP Hilo Hotel
6. Aston Kona by the Sea
7. Outrigger Kona Resort & Spa
8. The Fairmont Orchid
9. Dolphin Bay Hotel
10. Waikoloa Beach Marriott Resort & Spa

Best Hotel or Resort for Families 

1. Royal Kona Resort
2. Hilton Waikoloa Village
3. Outrigger Kona Resort and Spa
4. The Mauna Lani Resort, Auberge Resorts Collection
5. The Fairmont Orchid
6. Royal Sea Cliff Kona by Outrigger
7. Courtyard by Marriott King Kamehameha’s Kona Beach Hotel
8. Waikoloa Beach Marriott Resort & Spa
9. Mauna Kea Beach Hotel, Autograph Collection
10. Aston Kona by the Sea

Best Hotel or Resort for Romance 

1. Royal Kona Resort
2. Four Seasons Resort Hualālai
3. The Fairmont Orchid
4. Hilton Waikoloa Village
5. Mauna Kea Beach Hotel, Autograph Collection
6. Outrigger Kona Resort & Spa
7. Courtyard by Marriott King Kamehameha’s Kona Beach Hotel
8. The Mauna Lani Resort, Auberge Resorts Collection
9. Waikoloa Beach Marriott Resort & Spa
10. Kona Village, A Rosewood Resort

Best Hotel or Resort Spa 

1. Kohala Spa by Hilton Waikoloa Village
2. The Spa at The Fairmont Orchid
3. Hualālai Spa at Four Seasons Resort Hualālai
4. Mauna Kea Spa by Mandara at Mauna Kea Beach Hotel, Autograph Collection
5. Auberge Spa at Mauna Lani Resort, Auberge Resorts Collection

Best Hotel or Resort Pool 

1. Royal Kona Resort
2. Hilton Waikoloa Village
3. Outrigger Kona Resort and Spa
4. The Westin Hāpuna Beach Resort
5. Four Seasons Resort Hualālai

Best Vacation Timeshare Property 

1. Waikoloa Beach Villas
2. Club Wyndham Kona Hawaiian Resort
3. King’s Land, a Hilton Grand Vacations Club
4. The Bay Club, a Hilton Grand Vacations Club
5. WorldMark Kona

Best Bed & Breakfast or Inn 

1. Hilo Bay Oceanfront Bed and Breakfast
2. Hōlualoa Inn
3. Castle Waimea Country Lodge
4. Dragonfly Ranch
5. My Island Bed & Breakfast

 

Hawai‘i Island Outdoor Adventures 

Best Beach 

1. Hāpuna Beach
2. Punalu‘u Black Sand Beach
3. Mauna Kea Beach
4. Kahalu‘u Beach
5. Makalawena Beach

Best Botanical Gardens 

1. World Botanical Gardens and Waterfalls
2. Hawai‘i Tropical Bioreserve and Garden
3. The Pana‘ewa Rainforest Zoo and Gardens
4. University of Hawai‘i at Hilo Botanical Gardens
5. The Umauma Experience

Best Campground 

1. Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park
2. Spencer Beach Park
3. Hāpuna Campground
4. Laupāhoehoe Beach Park
5. Nāmakanipaio Campground

Best Hiking Trail 

1. Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park Kīlauea Iki Trail
2. ‘Akaka Falls Loop Trail
3. Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park Devastation Trail
4. Pololū Valley
5. Papokōlea Green Sand Beach

 

Hawai‘i Island Services 

Best Surf Instruction Co. 

1. Kona Boys
2. Kona Mike’s Surf Adventures
3. Jacks Dive Locker
4. Kahalu‘u Bay Surf & Sea
5. Hypernalu

Best Snorkeling/Scuba Rental or Instruction Company 

1. Snorkel Bob’s
2. Big Island Divers
3. Body Glove Cruises
4. Boss Frog’s
5. Jack’s Diving Locker

Best Beach Gear or Water Gear Rental 

1. Snorkel Bob’s
2. Kona Boys
3. Boss Frog’s
4. Orchid Land Surf Shop
5. Miller’s Surf Shop

Best Surf Shop 

1. Kona Boys
2. Kahalu‘u Bay Surf and Sea
3. Oshima Surf & Skate
4. Orchid Land Surf Shop
5. HIC

Best Resort For a Wedding 

1. The Fairmont Orchid
2. Hilton Waikoloa Village
3. Mauna Kea Beach Hotel, Autograph Collection
4. Waikoloa Beach Marriott Resort & Spa
5. The Mauna Lani, Auberge Resorts Collection

Best Wedding Venue (not a beach or resort) 

1. Lili’uokalani Gardens Hilo
2. Hulihe‘e Palace
3. Volcano House
4. Nani Mau Restaurant and Gardens
5. Papa Kona Restaurant & Bar

 

Hawai‘i Island Shopping 

Best Art Gallery 

1. Volcano Art Center Gallery
2. Kailua Village Artists Gallery
3. Genesis Galleries
4. Extreme Exposure Fine Art Gallery
5. One Gallery

Best Shopping Center or Mall 

1. Queens’ Marketplace
2. Keauhou Shopping Center
3. Prince Kūhiō Plaza
4. Parker Ranch Center
5. Kea‘au Shopping Center

Best Clothing/Fashion Boutique or Store 

1. Hilo Hattie
2. Tommy Bahama
3. Sig Zane Designs
4. Jams World
5. Pueo Boutique

Best Store for Souvenirs 

1. ABC Stores
2. Waimea General Store
3. Kimura Lauhala Shop
4. Basically Books
5. Aloha Pawz

 

Hawai‘i Island Activities 

Best Dinner Cruise or Sunset Sail 

1. Mauna Lani Sea Adventures
2. Fair Wind Cruises
3. Body Glove Cruises
4. Paradise Sailing Hawai‘i
5. Tom Barefoot Tours

Best Farm Tour 

1. Greenwell Farms
2. Heavenly Hawaiian Farms
3. Hawaiian Vanilla Co.
4. Ocean Rider Seahorse Farm
5. Lavaloha Chocolate Farm

Best Guided Tour 

1. Mauna Kea Summit Adventures
2. Hawai‘i Forest & Trail
3. Greenwell Farms
4. Kona Cloud Forest Guided Walking Tours
5. Epic Lava Tours

Best Helicopter Tour 

1. Blue Hawaiian Helicopters
2. Paradise Helicopters
3. Mauna Loa Helicopter
4. Safari Helicopters
5. Jack Harter Helicopter

Best Golf Course 

1. Kona Country Club
2. Mauna Kea Golf Course
3. Hualālai Golf Course at the Four Seasons Hualālai
4. Hāpuna Prince Golf Course
5. Mauna Lani South

Best Lū‘au 

1. Royal Kona Lū‘au, Voyagers of the Pacific
2. Island Breeze Lū‘au, Courtyard King Kamehameha’s Kona Beach Hotel
3. Legends of Hawai‘i Lū‘au, Hilton Waikoloa Village
4. The Mauna Kea Lū‘au, Mauna Kea Beach Hotel, Autograph Collection
5. Sunset Lū‘au, Waikoloa Beach Marriott Resort & Spa

Best Museum 

1. Kona Coffee Living History Farm
2. Pacific Tsunami Museum
3. Hulihe‘e Palace
4. Lyman Museum
5. Mokupāpapa Discovery Center

Best Fishing Charter 

1. Bite Me Sportfishing
2. Marlin Magic
3. A‘u Struck Sportfishing
4. Camelot Sport Fishing
5. Fire Hatt Sportfishing Charter

Best Zipline 

1. Kohala Zipline
2. Botanical World Adventures
3. Umauma Falls Zipline & Rappel Experience
4. Hawaiʻi Zipline Tours (Previously known as Skyline Hawaiʻi Eco-Adventures).
5. Kapohokine