Chef Kaimana

(4 reviews)

I wholeheartedly recommend Chef Rachel Erkan for any culinary needs! If you value high-quality,…read morefarm-to-table food, she's your chef. Her expertise shines through, especially knowing many ingredients came straight from her homestead--an impressive touch. With less than a month's notice, she crafted an unforgettable dinner for my intimate wedding, blending local and Mediterranean flavors seamlessly. Communication was prompt, and she handled dietary accommodations for my group with ease. Chef Rachel was professional, leaving the kitchen spotless, and the food? Some of the best we've ever tasted. Standouts included the tender, flavorful lamb--hands down the finest my group had ever had--the unique honey-cured egg yolk, and the pickled quail egg. The lilikoi curd was a revelation, and her macadamia nut baklava outshone any I've tried. Even the kulolo, a dish I grew up with, was exceptional. Every dish and sauce left us in awe. My family still raves about the meal, and Chef Rachel's work turned my wedding into a dream, ending with us blissfully full. Next time my husband and I are on island, we will be sure to check out what cooking classes Chef Rachel has going on at her homestead. Book her--you won't regret it!

We ordered our Thanksgiving meal from Chef Rachel. Pickup went smoothly, everything packaged…read morewonderfully. Easy directions and prep. Dinner was delicious, creative (loved the purple sweet potatoes and mushroom gravy) and my wife raved about the stuffing. It was so good and yummy, I commend Chef Rachel for knocking this meal out of the park.

Chefs & Table

4.0

(5 reviews)

We really enjoy this incredible cooking supplies adventure. I say "adventure" because every time I…read morewalk in I find so many beautiful local and international cookbooks, condiments, spices and cheeses from all over the world. It's chock full of great cheeses and lovely gadgets that elevate an at home chefs culinary adventures. I did try a class and only want to suggest the instructor focus on cooking instead of stand up comedy routine. It's not needed; but thank you for the new recipes that I will add to my list. Suggest also to challenge guest with more interesting dishes; put that London based Cordon Blue education to use. We like the challenge!

Was so excited to find this food experience on open table. What a fantastic way to end 2025. Got…read morethere for a 5:30pm seating where we were greeted with prosecco before starting our meal. It was a communal table where 14 total people were sat together. It was great to meet new people and had so much fun and laughs. Worth the elevated experience as food and service was exceptional. Sal who went through our wine pairings was informative and funny. Happy to see there's an option like this on island and Chef Vitaly can cook!

Alohamondays

(78 reviews)

The best restaurant in Hilo! No can beat the fast and friendly service and the food is amazing!…read moreRotating menu every week!

First time trying Aloha Mondays. It was close to my workplace for the day and highly recommended. I…read moreopted for the Caprese Beet Salad and it was delicious! Loved the mozzarella, tomatoes and pesto toppings. They set a new menu every Monday and have at least one vegetarian option. I want to go back the next time I'm in Hilo.

AJ and Sons

One year ago today, AJ and Sons catering helped make beautiful memories for our wedding overlooking…read morethe waves at Hilo Bay. Being that we live on the mainland, we coordinated everything via email and phone, and everything worked wonderfully. The food was fabulous and Audrey made everything easy for us from set up, to serving and cleanup. Having used multiple caterers for many occasions, AJ and Sons was the BEST!

I recently contacted Dean Shigeoka of AJ and Sons Catering to cater a friend's destination wedding,…read moreand we received excellent service and excellent food! With only about three weeks notice, Dean was able to put together a great menu and cater a small wedding on the Hamakua Coast. He worked with me to decide a menu based on our budget and tastes. For $30 per person we got: - Appetizers (all three as a trio): stuffed Hamakua mushroom, Porchetta on bruschetta, Hamakua tomato jam with puma goat cheese on crostini - Salad: farmers market salad with lilikoi dressing - Main: local fish (market choice), sautéed, served with porcini risotto and farmer market veg - Vegan: vegan yellow curry and jasmine rice - Dessert: Fruit tart, incorporating local coconut, lilikoi, and pineapple. All of the food was AMAZING! My favorites were the vegan yellow curry, lilikoi dressing, and Hamakua tomato jam. I would order EVERYTHING again. Dean communicated well with me via an in-person meeting, email, and phone on narrowing down a menu, making food decisions, and finalizing plans. He and Audrey (mom and co-owner) arrived early to prep and setup a buffet line, cleared plates once people were finished, and cleaned up. I could not have asked for better food or better service. I highly recommend AJ and Sons Catering. They do any size party, though there is a $100 charge for parties smaller than 25, which makes total sense to make the event cost effective for them. Most caterers won't even consider doing small parties. I might even contact AJ and Sons Catering for future parties instead of going to a restaurant!

Cisco Grinds

We cannot say enough good things about our caterer! Everything was absolutely AMAZING! The food was…read moredelicious, there was plenty to go around, and our family and guests had nothing but great things to say. From the quality of the food to everything being prepared and ready for our son's graduation party, we were beyond happy with our choice. Feeding a big crowd is no small task, and they helped take such a huge weight off our shoulders so we could actually enjoy this special day with our family. We are so grateful and would absolutely recommend them to anyone looking for delicious food and great service. Thank you so much for helping make his graduation celebration so special and memorable! 10/10 -- we would definitely order from you again!

Food and service is great. Wait till you try one plate!! We ordered 3 of their popular dishes and…read moreit was huge.

Big Island Grindz

Wether it's the Soursop fish or the Oyster Mushrooms this restaurant will suprise you with…read moreintensely delicious food. Quick service is always a plus so I make it a point to eat here at least once a week! Follow the schedule on their Instagram and see where they're going to be today. Maku'u market on Sunday has a nice ambiance, there's nothing like great vegan food from cool people.

Delicious food! Made my vacation extra special! We met Jasiri at the Saturday market in Kaimu…read more While we weren't hungry at the time, we grabbed his card as we are always looking for good vegan food. He sent us his menu details and we ordered several items: Bigz Kebab, spring rolls, loaded nacho fries, and the "chicken" katsu. Good sized portions, good value for the money, great flavors...and we are enjoying the leftovers! We will definitely buy again! If you are looking for great vegan options in the area, I highly recommend Jasiri's food!

WSW Steakhouse

3.3

(364 reviews)

•$$$

Navigating through nostalgia. Dining at a place since childhood, a place that's woven into my life…read morestory. This location has been serving generations of local families like mine for decades. Formerly Queen's Court Restaurant at the Hilo Hawaiian Hotel, a local gem reinvented five years ago. To WSW Steakhouse. The hotel and restaurant are now officially part of the Trademark Collection by Wyndham, still owned and managed by Castle Resorts & Hotels Hawai'i. A fresh new dining concept replacing WSW will happen before Fall 2026. Complete with interior renovations, a refreshed menu, new wraparound bar and name. Here's an authentic snapshot, capturing my dining experiences at WSW before this transformation happens. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Tired of waiting for a breakfast table, want the convenience of making a reservation? Don't like your family placed on separate tables? Do you seek comfort and air conditioning in the morning? A venue that offers an upscale breakfast ambiance with ocean views? This is the place. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ À la carte breakfast at WSW is underrated and deserves promoting. The locals, I feel, need to know about this place. Served Mon-Fri with reservations available via the OpenTable app. Recently, I did a two-night stay at the Hilo Hawaiian Hotel. I decided to dine at WSW for all meals and it introduced me to their breakfast and dinner à la carte experiences. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Savory comfort, genuine hospitality, breathtaking morning views. Hungry? "I'm Starving", the portions and price point sure surprised me. 3 eggs, 2 breakfast meats, choice of starch and a short stack had me content beyond reason. These pancakes aren't premade for quick serving or, so large in size the quality of taste and texture diminishes. They're fluffy, sweet, pillowy with an airy interior, caramelized exterior. Enjoy an order of their hearty + comforting Housemade Corned Beef Hash, where each component melds perfectly together. The eggs are opulent in color and served with your choice of starch. This is my favorite. Their Belgium Waffle is light and delicate, deep subtly butteriness and balanced sweetness. Garnished with blueberries and whipped butter. Simple yet prepared with care. On Saturdays and Sundays, at the time this review was posted, a $25 breakfast buffet with an omelet station is offered. For a $35 upcharge after 8am enjoy steamed snow crab, carved Prime Rib and bottomless mimosas. A champagne brunch experience I've done many times. As WSW turns into a new dining concept, I hope breakfast remains unchanged. Food, service, ambiance, value, convenience. I currently rate it as one of the best breakfast spots in East Hawai'i. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Dinner. "Sizzling 16oz Ribeye", juicy and tender. Intense sizzle, the flavors were so on-point, the side sauce I ordered wasn't necessary. The quick sear rendered a perfect medium and the caramelized onions were so delicious, I ate them as a no-onion person. Served with garlic mashed potatoes, request a a baked potato upgrade. The Misoyaki Butterfish, moist with a caramelized glaze and rich umami flavor. I would recommend checking the texture of your rice though. Tinono appetizer, amazing flavor and texture profile. A must along with the creamy Lobster Mac 'n Cheese. This is the only restaurant on the East Side that offers a salad bar with dinner. For $10 with any entrée, four offerings plus two outstanding soup selections. The most hearty and delicious Clam Chowder I've had in a while, it deserves a spot on their new menu. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Weekend dinner, holiday and brunch buffets, this is what this location is known for since I was a kid. Even though the lavish offerings and prices have changed over time, the same charm of dining here still remains. I usually only come for two items, the rest is secondary. Snow Crab and Prime Rib. If both are prepared well, I'm satisfied. But there's times the prime rib is inconsistent in-flavor and texture. Yet, I always leave satisfied since everything else usually balances things out. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ I feel a sense of belonging, the guest service at WSW makes me feel valued. From entry at the host stand, to the front team, to the managers. I don't feel like I'm just another transaction, but appreciated as a local resident and return customer. Live action stations (omelet/carving), the kitchen team has moments where their level of service isn't consistent with those in the front. It should add to the overall dining experience, be a part of the "show". Regardless, it's a meaningful connection almost every time. My dining experience becomes personalized with genuine empathy and emotional awareness. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Let's celebrate their evolution, a brand refresh and dining concept change. I'm excited with anticipation and looking forward to supporting your new vision. Thank you for continually elevating the dining experience and welcoming myself + the community back for decades. As a new chapter unfolds, "Congratulations".

The Friday Hawaiian buffet is amazing! Nice view of Hilo Bay, but bring a fat wallet. The poke is…read moretop notch, a wonderful selection of salads, and the prime rib and crab legs are excellent. $10 discount if you're staying at the hotel.

Ola Distillery

(5 reviews)

What an incredibly special experience. Being guided through the first distillery tour by owners,…read moreNaeha and Brett, made it even more memorable. As an avid bourbon fan, I can confidently say Ola Brew's ʻōkolehao is one of the best spirits I've had. Their koili, aged ʻōkolehao, is exceptional--smooth, floral, and complex. I couldn't leave without a full sized bottle and a few small ones to share as makana. What stood out just as much was the story. Learning about the history of ʻōkolehao alongside Naeha's family legacy in the industry added real depth to the experience. The distillery itself is housed in a reclaimed sugar mill from the plantation era, the industry that once suppressed ʻōkolehao. Seeing it repurposed to revive Hawaiʻi's original spirit was so powerful. The interior is beautiful, a balance of history and modern technology, wooden surfaces and state of the art distilling equipment all share space looking out to Hilo bay. Their mission to support local kī farmers and reshape Hawaiʻi's export economy was my favorite part and made it clear that this is a meaningful movement to be part of. Highly recommend for anyone interested in spirits, history, or Hawaiʻi's economic revival. Looking forward to the opening of their speakeasy to spend more time with this incredible team!

Must do. Amazing history and facility. Beautiful property... glad to see it be given a new breath…read moreof life. Awesome owners and community...

Aunty Sally Kaleohano's Luau Hale

Yelp 365 Challenge 2015 #72/365…read more Aunty Sally's Luau House is a great place to have big parties. They have tons of tables and chairs, and a lot of space, as well as lots of free parking. They have everything that a party space needs: a kitchen, bathrooms, and bar areas. One thing about this place is that all the labor and setting up & clean up is the responsibility of the renter. However, if you're with family and friends living in Hawaii, those parts will be a breeze with everyone helping out. Their air conditioning is really good in this place, because even though it can be packed, it'll still be cold inside. I don't know how it is in the women's bathroom, but for the single stall in the men's bathroom, there's no lock, so I wouldn't recommend doing your business in there. As far as types of tables and chairs, they have plastic & wooden tables, along with metal chairs and wooden benches. In my opinion, the wooden benches are much more comfortable than the metal chairs are. I've been to many parties at Aunty Sally's, and the venue is always a good choice.

Sweet community hall. Great location for zumba. The bathrooms were clean, the space too.read more

Sangha Hall

4.5

(4 reviews)

Came here during the 50th Merrie Monarch Festival after one of our friends told us that Sangha Hall…read moreis the best Hawaiian arts & crafts fairs next to the one at the Merrie Monarch itself. Venue is clean, spacious, and in good condition. Food vendors (Vietnamese, laulau, Kau coffee, plate lunch, hot dogs/drinks) were all set up outside while the clothing, koa crafts, photo/artwork, and other vendors were inside. For this event, $2 admission got you a handstamp for entry/exit all day.

We always happened to drop by here during the Merrie Monarch Festival…read more(http://www.yelp.com/biz/merrie-monarch-festival-hilo-2). This is because one of the larger craft fairs is held here every year. It's a nice spacious new gymnasium. The parking usually isn't too bad as well around craft fair time.

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Ho'omana C.

0

2

0

3 months ago

While we were being hosted in a beautiful and historic area of south side of Hawai'i island for a business retreat, chef Kaimana had cooked every meal with aloha and passion from packing day trip bento, conjuring dessert in 10 minutes at a moment's notice, provides fresh fruit and vegetables when available. The level dedication he puts in his food had us delusional and constantly wondering "what's for dinner and when is it!" As we're so posed to be focusing on business. Hawaiian private chef with a drive to feed and feed well. If you're reading this and are looking for a private chef for events and parties on the island of Hawai'i you've come to the right guy. It'll be a mistake not to book him. Five stars isn't acceptable, potentially Michelin star martial. If you want memorable he'll make sure you'll never forget. Mahalo for making me... fat isn't it, self sustainable for a month. read more

Kaiulani S.

0

1

0

3 months ago

Chef Kaimana and his team created a heart-warming experience as our private chef for 5 days. You can tell that Chef Kaimana cooks from his heart, because you can taste the love!!! It was a blessing to be treated to delicious soul-nourishing meals and hosted like ʻohana during our time with Chef. Looking forward to booking again! read more

Chef Kaimana - personalchefs - Updated August 2026

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Naʻau

4.4

(7 reviews)

The evening was beautiful; a great meal overall. The atmosphere is a bit casual with the use of…read morefolding tables and chairs; but the meal made up for the casual setting. Host just left without an introduction to the support staff and has a lackluster approach to sharing details of each item on the menu. We understand the chefs mission and want to support this vision. Unfortunately; not sure if the menu warrants a second visit. Hawaii has lots of beautiful sustainable food resources that are unconventional. I will caution the use of wild deer meat for carpaccio. There is a concern to cook game meat before eating it. Venison can carry pathogens that cause brucellosis, campylobacteriosis, and listeriosis, and freezing, drying, pickling, and smoking are ineffective at killing these bacteria.

Na'au celebrating the "guts of the heart and mind". Chef Brian Hirata and his team, seeking to…read morebring global awareness and appreciation of Hawai'i cuisine, has created this experience for the lucky few able to dine with them. Reservations are required. At this time each evening's seating is limited to 24 persons. What you will experience: A drive to a remote area just on the outskirts of Hilo; Driving through sugarcane fields and farm roads to get to current location at Whitehaven Farm. Location opens up to a beautiful and scenic area on the bluffs overlooking the ocean. Prix fix menu changes monthly, or for special bookings. Each dish highlighting sourced ingredients from Hawaii. Each dish with a story behind it as so magically described by Robert, our host for the evening (and also found on their website). Highlights in food for me were the local breadfruit appetizer duo made into tostone and hummus and garnished with green big island plums dressed as olives, also the salad created out of ho'i'o, pickled hapu'u hearts, and kimpira takenoko... so very creative creating an ahh or an ohhh in every bite. Wait a second, that big island kanpachi prepared two different ways, kauai shrimp croquettes in the most delicious lemongrass red curry brown butter reduction, the big island lamb served 3 different ways...tantalizing the taste buds. All so very memorable. Not to be outdone, a dark chocolate tart with whipped lemon chevre dessert finished the evening. No liquor sold here, you are welcome to bring your own with a modest $20/bottle charge. If there were only one suggestion it would be to finish off dessert with a nice french pressed cup of Kona or Hualalai or Ka'u coffee or cup of Big Island mamaki tea. Then I would know I was in heaven on earth. Bravo Chef Brian, former Chef of the Four Seasons Hualala'iand Instructor at Hawaii Community College Culinary School, and recent James Beard nominee. Thank you for your innovative creations while educating us about the beauty of Hawai'i Cuisine. Do I recommend? I recommend staying at the Whitehaven property (they also have cabins and rooms to rent) so that you can dine here every single night of your Hilo stay!

Ginger And Turmeric Indian Kitchen

(7 reviews)

I think its worth noting that at the time of authoring this review the restaurant pops-up in…read morevarious parts of the island at different days of the week. They are based out of Hilo and very responsive via text/ Facebook if you need to figure out where they are located for the day. TLDR: Best Indian food I have had in a long time! I ordered the butter chicken, cumin rice, and a mini naan. The butter chicken is prepared perfectly. They use white meat. The whole meal was perfectly seasoned, juicy, rich, and incredibly delicious! The owners were incredibly nice. I will be going back and highly recommend.

Delicious delicious food! We enjoyed our Hilo stay even more because we found this gem. We ordered…read morePhulkas, dal tadka, aloo gobhi and channa masala. And they were all tasty. Karishma was so kind to make a dish not on the menu for my kids and they loved it. She is extremely warm and we even bonded outside of food!! The delivery time was always met and service was great. Highly recommend Ginger and Turmeric for authentic Indian food that is yummy, and non greasy.

Khelissa Catering

(1 review)

Thank you again for providing such a fantastic buffet…read more Your delicious food has an absolute explosion of flavors. I will definitely recommend you to anyone who is looking for a Phenomenal culinary experience.

Wainaku Executive Center

4.8

(6 reviews)

Great location for hosting events. I hosted events for clinical presentations and company parties…read more Highly recommend this venue.

Why doesn't everyone know about Wainaku Wednesdays?? There's free live music on the balcony with…read moreseating also in the grassy lawn area that has a spectacular view overlooking Hilo bay. We had the entire lawn to ourselves :-) The parking probably limits how many people could come out but they need to improve marketing! My Aunty doesn't even know about this or she would've came out. The food vendor didn't work out this night so they did snacks with the cash bar. It was better than nothing but we were starving so left early to find dinner.

Cisco Grinds

We cannot say enough good things about our caterer! Everything was absolutely AMAZING! The food was…read moredelicious, there was plenty to go around, and our family and guests had nothing but great things to say. From the quality of the food to everything being prepared and ready for our son's graduation party, we were beyond happy with our choice. Feeding a big crowd is no small task, and they helped take such a huge weight off our shoulders so we could actually enjoy this special day with our family. We are so grateful and would absolutely recommend them to anyone looking for delicious food and great service. Thank you so much for helping make his graduation celebration so special and memorable! 10/10 -- we would definitely order from you again!

Food and service is great. Wait till you try one plate!! We ordered 3 of their popular dishes and…read moreit was huge.

The Arc of Hilo

Just got married here a week ago and my husband and I had an absolutely amazing experience. The…read moreevent coordinator, Binil, was totally open and helpful with everything we wanted to do for our reception. Everything was set up the morning of our wedding so we could immediately start decorating, we were told that anything we wanted could be moved around or removed, and the lights and sound system were perfect the whole night. All of the Arc staff that we interacted with were so attentive and helpful and made sure to check in on us to see if there was anything they could help with throughout the night . Truly couldn't have asked for a better experience.

Conference room was awesome and tv worked well for the PowerPoint!! Genuinely kind hearted people…read morework there.

Hilo Woman's Club

4.3

If you're looking for a clean, spacious venue with a full kitchen and stage for entertainment to…read morehost a private party, corporate event, or community gathering - look no further than the Hilo Woman's Club. I rented this space for a non-profit organization's family event. I appreciated the flexibility of the facility so tables, chairs, podium & stage area could all be set up and arranged to fit our needs & decorations. The room is bright and airy, and the location is convenient & easy to get to from anywhere in Hilo. The parking lot is small, so for big parties there's overflow parking across the street at Carvhalo Park. I also like that the Hilo Woman's Club is a non-profit organization has 100+ years of community service - with various activities, donations to local charities, and a scholarship fund.

This facility is a perfect place for an event. Full kitchen, tons of space and flexibility with how…read moreyou want to set up and decorate. The cost is very reasonable and facility is very clean. Parking lot is small but that wasn't an issue for my small event. Will definitely be using it again!

Lin's Lei Stand

(18 reviews)

•$

We ordered Puakenikeni and Maile-style Ti Leaf lei for a Celebration of Life yesterday. The…read morePuakenikeni is still fresh today! The quality is exceptional. I will order from them again for sure.

Just discovered this stand. I always saw it when picking up visitors at the airport but never…read morestopped until recently. Lin's has a great selection of leis for men and women. Also there are a wide range leis with different prices to suite your budget.

Aunty Sally Kaleohano's Luau Hale

Yelp 365 Challenge 2015 #72/365…read more Aunty Sally's Luau House is a great place to have big parties. They have tons of tables and chairs, and a lot of space, as well as lots of free parking. They have everything that a party space needs: a kitchen, bathrooms, and bar areas. One thing about this place is that all the labor and setting up & clean up is the responsibility of the renter. However, if you're with family and friends living in Hawaii, those parts will be a breeze with everyone helping out. Their air conditioning is really good in this place, because even though it can be packed, it'll still be cold inside. I don't know how it is in the women's bathroom, but for the single stall in the men's bathroom, there's no lock, so I wouldn't recommend doing your business in there. As far as types of tables and chairs, they have plastic & wooden tables, along with metal chairs and wooden benches. In my opinion, the wooden benches are much more comfortable than the metal chairs are. I've been to many parties at Aunty Sally's, and the venue is always a good choice.

Sweet community hall. Great location for zumba. The bathrooms were clean, the space too.read more

Belmes Letchon