Schematic map of Kawaihae Harbor and the Kohala Coast with numbered dining placesNorth Kohala area guideNorth KohalaHarbor area guideHarborResort coast area guideResort coastWaimea upcountry area guideWaimea upcountry2701919250HāwīKapaʻauPololūWaimeaHāpunaMahukona coastKawaihaeHarborPacific OceanKohala Mountainstoward Mauna KeaPins 1–4: Kawaihae Harbor strip (see detail)1–45. Puʻukoholā Heiau & Spencer Beach Park56. Manta at Mauna Kea Beach Hotel67. CanoeHouse at Mauna Lani78. Brown's Beach House at the Fairmont Orchid89. Merriman's Waimea9Harbor detail · schematicshopping centerAkoni Pule Hwy1. Seafood Bar & Grill12. Hale Iʻa Da Fish House (approximate)23. Kohala Burger & Taco34. Anuenue Ice Cream & Shave Ice4N
Original schematic of Kawaihae and the Kohala Coast. Pins are clickable; positions are approximate and not for navigation.

01 / 06 · The map

Eat your way out from Kawaihae Harbor.

Nine places, four areas, one working harbor at the center. Start at the pin nearest to you.

See all nine places
  1. 1Seafood Bar & Grill
  2. 2Hale Iʻa Da Fish House
  3. 3Kohala Burger & Taco
  4. 4Anuenue Ice Cream & Shave Ice
  5. 5Puʻukoholā Heiau & Spencer Beach Park
  6. 6Manta at Mauna Kea Beach Hotel
  7. 7CanoeHouse at Mauna Lani
  8. 8Brown's Beach House at the Fairmont Orchid
  9. 9Merriman's Waimea

02 / 06 · Areas

Four ways to spend a meal on this coast

Kawaihae Harbor

A working port with a fish counter, burger shop, shave ice window and an upstairs bar, all within a few hundred yards. Cheap, casual and close to the water.

1Seafood Bar & Grill2Hale Iʻa Da Fish House3Kohala Burger & Taco4Anuenue Ice Cream & Shave Ice5Puʻukoholā Heiau & Spencer Beach Park
Area guide: Kawaihae Harbor

The resort coast

South along the Queen Kaʻahumanu Highway: white-sand bays, open-air dining rooms and the sunset tables people book weeks ahead.

6Manta at Mauna Kea Beach Hotel7CanoeHouse at Mauna Lani8Brown's Beach House at the Fairmont Orchid
Area guide: The resort coast

Waimea upcountry

Twenty-odd minutes uphill: ranch pastures, cool air, Saturday markets and the restaurant where Hawaiʻi Regional Cuisine began.

9Merriman's Waimea
Area guide: Waimea upcountry

North Kohala

Up the coast road to Hāwī and Kapaʻau: plantation-town cafés, a banyan-tree market and the lookout over Pololū Valley.

Day-trip territory: see the area guide and the upcountry loop
Area guide: North Kohala

03 / 06 · Places by distance

How far each pin is from the harbor

Typical driving times from Kawaihae Harbor without traffic. Hours and menus change, so check each place before you go.

PinPlaceAreaStyleFrom the harbor
1Seafood Bar & GrillHarborBar & grillOn the strip
2Hale Iʻa Da Fish HouseHarborFish market, pokeOn the strip
3Kohala Burger & TacoHarborBurger & taco counterOn the strip
4Anuenue Ice Cream & Shave IceHarborShave ice, ice creamOn the strip
5Puʻukoholā Heiau & Spencer Beach ParkHarborPicnics, August festivalAbout 5 min
6Manta at Mauna Kea Beach HotelResort coastResort fine diningAbout 5–10 min
7CanoeHouse at Mauna LaniResort coastOceanfront dinnerAbout 15 min
8Brown's Beach House at the Fairmont OrchidResort coastBeachfront, live musicAbout 15 min
9Merriman's WaimeaWaimeaFarm-to-tableAbout 20–25 min

04 / 06 · Eat like a local

Know what you are ordering

All food culture guides

05 / 06 · Day plans

Routes that string the pins together

  1. 7:30 am

    A harbor morning in Kawaihae

    Boats, poke, a heiau overlook and lunch on the sand

  2. 2:00 pm → dusk

    Sunset dinner route: Hāpuna afternoon to a resort table

    Timing the light, the beach and the reservation

  3. All day

    The upcountry loop: Waimea, Kohala Mountain Road and Hāwī

    A full day in a figure of green, with a harbor sunset at the end

  4. Before you go

    Getting around the Kohala Coast to eat

    Roads, rough timings, parking and driving after dinner

  5. Before you go

    Dining etiquette on the Kohala Coast

    Dress codes, reservations, tipping, picnics and respect for place

06 / 06 · Table notes

Latest from the table

Three newest notes here. The rest are filed with the guides they belong to: Places, Areas, Food culture and Day plans, plus the full archive.