You’ll need it.
I already mentioned dinner with chef Ōlelo pa‘a Faith Ogawa in a previous post. (Here she is, showing off her Hawaiian Ocean Martini.) Also, our memorable lunch at the Four Seasons, which is the place to be seen on Hawaii.
Turns out the Big Island has a vibrant culinary scene. And it’s something even the kids can appreciate.
Yesterday, we stopped by Village Burger in Waimea, up in ranch country, to sample true gourmet burgers made from from meat supplied by local ranchers. This isn’t the fast-food variety, either. Each burger was made to order, not manufactured.
I highly recommend the Kahua Ranch burger, which is Kobe-style beef.
Speaking of ranches, we toured the historic Anna’s Ranch nearby. The kids learned how to rope a cow and crack a whip.
We also swung by Tex Drive In in Honokaa, on the northern part of the island, for its world-famous Malasadas. They’re jelly-filled donuts. Go for the guava-filled ones.
If you’re flying into Hilo, do yourself a favor and stop by Ken’s House of Pancakes after you pick up your rental car, for a cup of steaming Kona coffee and a Portugese sausage omelette or a stack of macadamia-nut pancakes. It is the only way to wake up after a grueling nine-hour flight.
Bottom line: You won’t go hungry when you visit the Big Island.
