When I'm in Hilo, I always love visiting Big Island candies. It's always fun seeing the factory…read moreprocess and seeing the cookies dipped, but what I enjoy most is the complimentary samples. This place is a piece of heaven. Those cookies, brownies and rocky road are things I dream of. I do prefer dark chocolate over milk, but milk chocolate stuff is really yummy too. Who am I kidding if only milk chocolate dipped cookies in front of me I'd totally take them. The packaging is also beautiful, but if you just want cookies for you or to make goodie bags save a little money and get the bagged cookies vs boxed ones. And if you have any product questions, make sure to ask the friendly staff.

Bigger of an operation now compared to back when I was growing up in Hilo. But they have always…read morekept the fact that you can walk in and see the workers hand dipping cookies and whatnot. They've not changed much besides having newer items here and there. They've classic chocolate dipped shortbread cookies are always a winner. Best part about visiting is that you get samples of their products if you just ask kindly! The staff are always so friendly and helpful. I wish they would bring back the Peanut Butter Crunch Bars!

I first discovered their Kona Coffee Brittle at Costco and absolutely loved it, so when I visited…read morethe Big Island, I had to check them out. The Visitor Center is more of a quick stop, but there was plenty to check out, and you get amazing views from the parking lot. The staff was incredibly friendly and helpful, and there were samples of all their macadamia nut flavors, popcorn, and coffee. I got a bunch of souvenirs, including their Spam-flavored macadamia nuts, which are definitely unique and very tasty. There's also a small display of the machinery and history, as well as a spot where you can try cracking your own macadamia nut. Their mac nut ice cream was another great treat, especially enjoyed outside with the views. Great place to stock up on souvenirs and local snacks. Definitely worth a stop if you're on the Big Island!

Second time on the island, and it's our first time in this establishment. First of, all the staff…read morewere warm and greeted us as we entered. Special mention to Jing who was very friendly! We tried a variety of samples, with the Kona coffee glazed macs as the standout. We also liked the onion flavored ones. We bought so much stuff to take home to the mainland, including the spam flavored ones. The ice cream was delicious! We had the ube and chocolate mac nut flavors. Everything was excellent!

8/6-8/7/26 - Samples and items neatly showcased in this quaint store. Decided to purchase a couple…read moreof cute omiyage boxes containing 12ea Hawaiian Dark Flower Gems and confirmed markdown price. Was advised by the lady behind the counter system was down and my receipt would be texted to me. The next day, I received a receipt but noticed the discount had not been applied. Spoke with a gentleman who quickly and efficiently handled and texted me a receipt showing the refund. This was confirmed when I received my credit card statement. For excellent customer service, 5 stars! The dark chocolate was good, too, on top of vanilla ice cream (almost too pretty to eat)!

(This one is about the farm tour)…read more There are three ways to experience the offerings from Honoka'a. You can buy direct from their website, stop by their retail store or go all in and do the farm tour. While I very much am not a chocolate person, and no, this tour wasn't going to change that, I am a tour person who is far more interested in how things are made/done than the actual finished product. If you're going to do the tour, head to the below link and chose a date/time/number of people. honokaachocolate.com/pages/farm-tours It's worth mentioning that yes, the price is $95 per person which to me is on the high side. We did several other food-based tours during our time on the Big Island and that number is a... big number. The front half of the tour is at the owner's house where the orchard and tasting area are located. It's not hard to find and the provided directions are perfect. You get to see the trees up close and there is a lot of great information shared by Mike about every step of the process including answering whatever questions there are about anything you see along with several tasting samples. After this wraps up, you make a short drive to the retail store in downtown for a brief look at the production equipment and a few more samples before you're cut loose to buy stuff from the store. As I mentioned at the beginning, I'm not a chocolate person and nothing I sampled is going to change that. I did appreciate one of the samples more than I thought I would (Barrel Aged Bourbon Bar) but the rest were just meh, and the Cacao Tea was...not something I ever want to have again. But that's just me. I bought several bars for gifts and to the best of my knowledge all were inhaled and appreciated. Overall, I appreciate the information provided on this tour and getting down into the nitty-gritty of the germination-fermentation-weather-growing process/cycles-harvesting/drying-etc. Very Alton Brown with going all of the way down to a very molecular level of detail. If you're into chocolate as most people are and if you like to understand where the things you eat come from, this is a good one.

Ono! Dare I say the best shortbread I've ever had? Even better than Honolulu cookie company and…read moreKelley's. The texture is just out of this world - it's butter yet has a little bit more an 'airy' crumby texture. A friend so kindly visited and shipped these to me as a gift. There hasn't been a single miss, but I haven't eaten all the cookies yet. The ube shortbread is in the top for me for sure though. The only downside is that even though there's a 'legend' in the box, but I can't really tell which cookie is which ha.

Thanks to Dana I was able to place an order for their fabulous cookies. Chocolate chip is my…read morefavorite so I ordered only that flavor. To me you just can't beat their crispy rich goodness. I'm pretty sure I could eat half a bag at one sitting with cold milk. Like how the interior of the store is uncluttered to help you focus on what you want and need to take home to share with friends and family. They even have cookies for dogs.

Just wow! What an amazing experience! This review is about…read moretwo different trips to Hawaiian Vanilla Company. Our first trip was in May 2026. We went for lunch and tour. Absolutely incredible mean. Loved every bite. The shrimp crostini, salad, chicken sandwich and southwest potatoes were all delicious. However, that Jimmy Boy drink is in my dreams! So yummy! After the meal we toured the vanilla farm and learned about growing the orchids along with hand pollination. Then headed back to the guest house for ice cream and coffee. Every one was so nice and welcoming on this tasty and educational visit. Fast forward to September 2026, we wanted to go to tea but a hurricane was predicted. Since getting up the mountain could be difficult in storms, HVC closed. The storm did not hit as hard so we called to go to the gift shop. Not only did they open the gidt shop but we had a private tea! We arrived to a beautifully set table with a fireplace lit and local music playing. We started with a Jimmy Boy! My favorite!! We each had a pot of tea. Both were delicious, I bought both blends to bring home. We were served soup and salad, two chicken sliders, savory puff pastries and three small desserts. All were focused on vanilla. Again, the staff went aboce and beyond to make this event incredible. It was such a special experience. I can not wait to return in February 2027. Hawaiian Vanilla Company will be a stop on every trip to Big Island. Adore the people and my belly appreciates the deliciousness.

Great location, staff, products. They had food, drinks and were starting a tour when we stumbled…read moreupon them after missing a sign looking for a hike. So glad to take vanilla home! Clean restrooms, easy parking.

Finally got to try Two Ladies Kitchen and they didn't disappoint... there's definitely a reason…read morepeople line up to buy! I knew there might be a line so I planned ahead and placed a phone order. There's a separate line of phone orders too which was really nice. But if you wait in line they do come out with samples - just saying. Also they have pre-packaged mochi packs - which make great gifts. I bought a bunch of mochi to take home to mainland (I froze it after buying) and took it to my parents house where we cut 10 pieces into 3 pieces to do a mochi tasting. Honestly all of them were great, but top 3 were: - shiso - I didn't know what to expect, but the flavors works so well together. Such a unique combo, with subtle shiso flavor! Highly recommend. - kamato - I didn't know if I'd like it so only got one piece.. after trying I wish I had more. - peach - this is my perfect mochi. The white filling just works and it's not too sweet. I know the strawberry is their #1 seller so I tried it and it's really good, it was maybe my 5th favorite of the mochis tried. All in all a great mochi shop that's I'll definitely visit again!

Never have I ever tried mochi with a fresh fruit filled center so if you haven't either, then Two…read moreLadies Kitchen is a must stop if you're visiting Hilo. The mochi is made fresh daily, and it's highly encouraged to place an advance phone order prior to pickup so the shop can manage the high demand. The space at the front counter is very limited, so expect a wait outside to order and/or pickup. Their fruits menu changes seasonally, so we just had to try 1 of each item: - Strawberry - Mandarin Orange - D'anjou Pear - Bing Cherry - Green Grape - Cotton Candy Grape - Nectarine - Strawberry Short Cake We also had to order their Peach and Lilikoi flavors. Everything was so pillowy soft and mochi-licious!

If you need to satisfy your sweet tooth, then Sugar Coast Candy on the bay front of old Hilo town…read moreis the place to be. A small 2 row shop, but packed with nostalgic candies from the past and gourmet chocolates. You pay by the pound and if you are brave enough, there are some interesting sodas in the cooler. But beware of the bacon flavored soda. I reluctantly finished it as my punishment for trying something new and the family was a little mad when I asked if they wanted a sip. ‍‍‍

Really cute candy shop with a massive selection. Overpriced but you pay for the experience. They…read morealso a fridge with a wide selection of fun drinks. Unfortunately, didn't get a picture but worth a stop by!

GPS took me to the wrong address.. but I prevailed and found it! Delicious after a day at Hapuna…read morebeach! Coconut ice cream is delicious! The $6 shaved ice 3 flavors is a very generous size. My was so delicious w pina colada , blue vanilla and lilikoi. Sooo yummy.

The ice cream here is totally unbelievable. The toasted coconut is to die for, and the lilikoi…read morecheesecake is also pretty incredible. The shave ice itself was not bad. The flavors taste very "synthetic" or more traditional syrups rather than the natural flavors that have been circulating. The service was SO great. The guy in the window honestly made our day, so a trip here for the service alone is probably worth it. There is no seating, which is kinda a bummer. All in all, if you like ice cream in your shave ice, try this place. If you like traditional flavors, try this place. If you want to sit down to some "natural" juice flavors, maybe try a different one.

Loved this shop! Located in the Ali'i Gardens Marketplace, this little shop sells yummy treats that…read moreare local from Hawaii! We stepped in and were greeted immediately and offered samples of several items, including the Hamakua Toffee, apple banana, furikake rice crispies and white chocolate with cacao nibs. Everything was delicious and we ended up purchasing several items. Great customer service and a nice spot to pick up some local, tasty gifts for friends and family (or yourself hehe).

Great mix of products! Hawaiian made and delicious!…read more It's only been open for a few weeks so this was a cool new find. I see I get to be the first to review! Every product in Yay! Candy has a story of local history behind it that the store owners/operators are happy to share. They are very local focused and said they have a very strict policy to only carry products from Hawaiian companies. The owners said they seek out vendors where everything is made on one of the islands and ingredients are source locally when possible. Fair trade when not. So no cheep imports here. We checked a few and couldn't find anything that didn't meet this criteria. The store is ran by a super sweet couple that reminds me of my grandparents and make you feel super welcome when you come in. They have a bit of a sense of humor about their store as well it seems. They have a secret dentist discount. So all you dentist with a sweet tooth, we found your spot. Samples! They have samples available for most products. So if you're unsure you can probably try it, but be warned if you sample it you will want to buy it. Chocoholics be warned! I saw over half a dozen local grown and made "bean to bar" as they say, chocolate crafters on their shelves and each with multiple options. Farm to table tarts. And a wall of small farm macadamia nuts options, including chocolate covered varieties, and the best friggin toffee I've ever tried. Lilikoi, Li hing, coconut options in everything. Even organic cotton Candy?? My new favorite candy store! The only negative is I don't live on the island, so I have to wait for my next visit to get my next fix.

Shout-out to Optical Department employee, Kasey! A very kind soul who tightened my glasses so I…read morecould keep them on my face while playing Sudoku. It's nice to have my glasses fit better. I love this Costco's variety of Hawaiian type snacks. I just need more luggage space to pack another Big bag of individually wrapped Cloud 9 Mango Sticky Rice Crispies! Try them!

Gas - standard experience, price is not that much cheaper than other stations BUT you'll get the…read morepoints at least. Store - standard experience, samples on a Friday were fun, bathrooms were obviously USED OFTEN but not gross. Food court - a complete shhtshow. It's a bit confusing for those not paying attention. It's outside near the entrance and the lines start to snake or pours into the parking lot. Place order on the kiosks and then jump into line - they fulfill upon arrival, NOT based on order timed numbering systems like other Costco's. Management should consider a new process to expedite the flow.