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    Donna's Cookies

    4.7 (87 reviews)
    InexpensiveBakeries
    Closed 6:30 am - 2:00 pm

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    Ashley S.

    We ended up stopping here since we drove by on our way across the island. We kept seeing the cookies at different places. They have a walk up window with their flavor menu and sizes you can buy. We got the macadamia nut and butter coconut. They just melt in your mouth! There are also post offices all over the place so we shipped the 2 jars home along with a bunch of other Hawaiian goodies.

    Donna's cookies best on the Big island!
    Bonnie G.

    The bomb cookies are the butter coconut and the short bread . kind of dry so have some water milk or coffee but delicious if you like short bread cookies . These cookies do make a mess the crumble in/out of the package so they won't make it on the plane . You can smell them cooking 1/4 mile away.

    the outside of the building
    Judy C.

    How Donna's Cookies got started became a legal cooperation on April 10, 1988 and has been going strong ever since. Prior to that, the founder, Donna Fry (Kamimura) would make cookies, sushi and other local favorites and sell them at Farmer's Markets in Waimea where she grew up. There was so much of a demand for the cookies that she opened a certified kitchen in Honokaa to bake the cookies. After a couple of years she moved to her current location in Kainehe Village near Paauilo. I love Donna's Cookies, what a treat when we receive them as gift at the office or when I get to purchase them at Long's, Don Quiote, or Time's here on Oahu! Donna's cookies was on my co-worker's list to visit before heading to Hilo. We made a stop, along the way from Kamuela on a Saturday but sad the hours of operations are M-F, 6:30 am - 2 pm. Atleast I got to see the shop and take photos, that makes and sales the famous, yummy cookies! Hope to be able to visit during the week days to grab me tons of my favorite buttery cookies straight from the source! A Must visit when you're here, but warning the cookies are very addicting!!

    Candied Sprinkle Cookie package $5.00
    Antwan W.

    Real deal operation here. Absolutely delicious. We literally smelled the deliciousness in the air, made a u-turn and followed our senses. This establishment won't disappoint. Nothing fancy.......just some people baking cookies, telling you "you'll be back," and grateful tastebuds. These are not the best cookies that I've ever had, however, their the best cookies I've ever had in Hawaii. I ordered candied sprinkles, oatmeal and macadamia (my favorite). The pricing was reasonable considering that everything else that I've purchased here has been pricey. (8-10) cookies for $5 each pack. My three packs ran me $15 even for (24-30) cookies in all. This is what happens when you Hawaii hop lol.

    the front of the store
    Kiana S.

    Delicious buttery goodness cookies ! A must stop for Hawaii gifts to take home or a gift to share. Stopped by the famous Donna's cookies to pickup a fresh bucket of Almond cookies for a special gift. The location is Super easy to go to , literally on the right side off the highway ( driving into Hilo direction ) in the small town of Paauilo. The service was friendly and freshly boxed up so quickly. I highly recommend to pick up your favorite cookies here from Peanut butter cookies, shortbread, chocolate chip, coconut and more.

    Donna's Cookies at Made in Hawaii 2019
    Rachel T.

    One of my great finds from Made in Hawaii Festival 2019 is @donnascookieshawaii (Their Instagram Account handle)'s Chinese Almond Cookies and Cornflakes cookies. Btw, Donna's Cookies are all the way from Hilo, Big Island and I'm glad that I've got the chance to try it. I think they also sell these at Foodland?? (not sure tho) The Almond cookie is kinda sweet, just have the right crunch to it, the rich almond flavor is there (just the way i like it) and sort of melts in your mouth. The Cornflake cookies are very crunchy and not sweet. Between the two, I prefer the Almond cookies more. Best to pair it with warm milk. Overall, It's a nice, old fashioned cookies that people like me (in these modern days) would still love! Yummy! I'm excited to try their other cookies soon!

    Just a few spaces to park out front or further up on Side of highway.

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    8 months ago

    Great cookies! I drive 40 miles yo purchase these for myself and friends on the mainland.

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    1 year ago

    I love the cookies! Now I can walk across the street to Times and pick up a half gallon when the market is open.

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    2 years ago

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    7 years ago

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    2 years ago

    Call them before hand if you want a quantity of jars, they'll have it ready for you. Love them cookies

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    7 years ago

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    3 years ago

    Love the cookies, I don't think I have a favorite, I love them all!! And I love that's made right here in Pa'auilo

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    3 years ago

    Surprising little stand in the middle of nowhere easy to find people are friendly and the cookies are delicious definitely worth a stop

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    3 years ago

    Best cookies I have had. Can't just stop at eating one cookie, I finished the whole packet. A must try if your in town.

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    5 years ago

    Soooo yummy! I bought these one year for Christmas presents..... make great pie crusts too!

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    4 years ago

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    3 years ago

    Great Cookies! Very accommodating sold me cookie I wanted just before closing and wasn't disappointed with the product I bought.

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    Page 1 of 3

    Ask the Community - Donna's Cookies

    Review Highlights - Donna's Cookies

    Btw, Donna's Cookies are all the way from Hilo, Big Island and I'm glad that I've got the chance to try it.

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    Punalu'u Bake Shop  - donuts

    Punalu'u Bake Shop

    4.2(1.4k reviews)
    68.7 mi
    $$

    Had to make a stop at Punaluʻu Bake Shop because you can't drive past that place and not give in…read more.. and yeah, zero regrets. Walked in and it's like instant comfort--sweet bread smell hitting you before you even figure out what you want. Grabbed a few items and every single one delivered. Soft, fresh, just the right amount of sweetness without feeling heavy. One of those spots where you take a bite, pause, and go "ok yeah... this is why people talk about this place." What I liked most is it didn't feel like a tourist trap--it felt real. Good energy, quick service, and plenty to choose from whether you want something sweet or just a quick snack for the road. Definitely one of those must-stop spots when you're cruising the island... just don't plan on leaving with only one thing.

    My wife and I stopped by Punalu'u Bake Shop on a Thursday afternoon around 2:30 p.m. and almost…read moreeverything from their menu was sold out. The only items in their pastry case was two types of turnovers, bread pudding, normal malasadas with no fillings, and "Bismark" malasadas, malasadas filled with white cream and topped with chocolate. None of the fruit filled malasadas available. Like most of the guests in line, we were frustrated at the availability, or lack thereof. At the register, we overheard the woman behind the counter confirm that most of the store's inventory had been cleared out by locals who had placed large phone-in orders beforehand. In my opinion, this shortage could have been avoided: if large orders are placed well in advance, it seems like they could have planned better for their in-store guests by making more inventory? In any case, the sugar covered malasada ($2.29) I had was fine, but not mind-blowing. Definitely not something I would go out of my way to try out, nor something I would wait in a line line for. The malasada had obviously been sitting around all day in the case and didn't taste especially fresh. If anything, the malasada was a little on the dense side. Out of curiosity, I also got a block of their bread pudding ($3.29), and my goodness, that thing is a brick. The bread pudding here is dense! The bread pudding is loaded with raisins. If you're a raisin fan, you'll absolutely love the bread pudding. For everyone else, the raisins make the bread pudding a bit too sweet. Overall, my visit to Punalu'u Bake Shop was pretty disappointing. I would unlikely stop by again if I'm visiting this part of the island.

    Photos
    Punalu'u Bake Shop  - Inside

    Inside

    Punalu'u Bake Shop  - Strawberry filled

    Strawberry filled

    Punalu'u Bake Shop  - Storefront for Punalu'u Bake Shop

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    Storefront for Punalu'u Bake Shop

    Paradise Bakery Hawaii - This is inside a little Food Court

    Paradise Bakery Hawaii

    4.7(256 reviews)
    50.0 mi
    $$

    Wow! We went on a Saturday morning ie 8 am and some of the flavored donuts were already sold out…read more The service was awesome. It is behind the 76 gas station food court area. There is parking and there are plenty of tables to sit & enjoy. There are signs indicating where the food court area is located. It is nice and ample to eat your Malasada or donut. Prices are from $5 to $6 each. We had the Ube 10/10 and Creme Brulee 10/10. I will definitely return.

    I stopped by here earlier today with my father for a morning treat. We found Paradise Bakery Hawaii…read moreon Yelp while I was looking for a bakery near Kailua-Kona. This spot is located in a food court area and was actually the only place open when we arrived. Since it is a stall, there is not too much to say other than there were two people working and a large display case filled with donuts, with malasadas in the back. After looking things over I asked if they had a lilikoi circle donut. They did not, but they recommended a strawberry glazed donut with lilikoi filling and I went with that. It came out nicely decorated with a pink glaze and a small dab of cream on top with a butterfly. When I bit into it I was happy with the flavor. The donut itself was light and fluffy and the strawberry glaze was solid. The real standout though was the lilikoi filling, which had that great balance of sharpness and sweetness and paired really well with the donut. My dad ordered a coconut malasada and said it was really good as well. The bottom line for me is that I would head back here again in the future. They had a big selection of donuts, I enjoyed mine, and I would like to try their malasadas next time.

    Photos
    Paradise Bakery Hawaii - On the right

    On the right

    Paradise Bakery Hawaii - What was available at 8:20am on a Tuesday

    What was available at 8:20am on a Tuesday

    Paradise Bakery Hawaii - Purple sweet potato pie - get this! My new favorite pie.

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    Purple sweet potato pie - get this! My new favorite pie.

    Tex Drive In - Loco moco

    Tex Drive In

    3.8(1.3k reviews)
    8.1 mi
    $$

    We came to Honokaa on a whim for some site seeing…read more Decided on a little treat for our drive back home. So we got a dozen original malasadas. They were made fresh, some of the best malasadas I've ever eaten. Their dough was light and fluffy. It wasn't greasy at all. And when we ate it a few hours later, it warmed up well! We will be coming back for these! (For those that are from Oahu, these are much different than Leonards. I'd say from my humble opinion, better)

    The very first malassada I ever had was many years ago at Tex Drive In. I just remembered how…read moredelicious these were, and if I ever came back to the Big Island, I'd have to come back to Tex. So it's been about 20 years, and the place is no longer the "hot spot" (maybe because we came on a weekday). There were a few locals having breakfast outside, but we were able to walk right up and order several different malassadas. We tried strawberry and guava filling, and they were quite good. It does make the malassada a bit overly sweet, though. I still prefer their plain malassadas. They are like sugar donuts without the hole. Now that I've had other malassadas to compare to, I find Tex's to be on a breadier side. I've had others in Oahu that were lighter and fluffier, which I now prefer. But no where have I found any malassadas as big as Tex's. So maybe Tex's has lost it's charm a bit, but they still serve up some pretty yummy malassadas.

    Photos
    Tex Drive In - Inside seating

    Inside seating

    Tex Drive In - Taco Salad

    Taco Salad

    Tex Drive In - Outside

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    Outside

    Papa'a Palaoa Bakery - Savory scone

    Papa'a Palaoa Bakery

    4.5(120 reviews)
    27.3 mi
    $

    When traveling to the neighbor islands, I always look forward to trying good eats at local…read morebusinesses. Found this cute little bake shop with great reviews on Yelp and had to check it out. Cardamom coffee cake was moist and full of sweet spicy goodness with chocolate chips sprinkled in. The cinnamon raisin walnut swirl was large, dense and heavy. I opted for the one without sugar icing on top. The sweet cinnamon goo rolled in the middle was so good and made me feel less guilty than when eating a Cinnabon. The guy at the counter told me he wanted to work at the bakery after eating the ginger molasses cookies, so of course I had to try them! They were big, soft but with density and tasted like fall. Not life changing for us, but good for those who appreciate that size. Because they close on Sundays and I was only there for the weekend, I went a little nuts. Also had to try the Lilikoi pie. It was different from those I've had on Kauai. This one had more of the consistency of a keylime pie which they also offer. It was tart abd good. Portions and sizes here are generous. Their style is more rustic and homey. So glad Hilo has another good bakery for me to visit ! Next time I'll go earlier when they're not sold out of their best sellers! (Oops! Forgot to let my camera eat first so photos show half eaten bags.)

    My partner and I finally had the opportunity to try out this bakery, and we were very impressed…read morewith their mini cinnamon rolls. Their mini cinnamon rolls are not overly doughy, have the right amount of cinnamon, are not overly sweet, and are enjoyably soft. We will definitely be ordering these again. I also got their cardamom coffee cake, which was excellent as well. It was very moist and, like the mini cinnamon rolls, had the perfect amount of sweetness. We will be back to try their other offerings in the future. So, if you're looking for a solid bakery in Hilo, be sure to check them out!

    Photos
    Papa'a Palaoa Bakery - Chocolate Chip Walnut Cookies

    Chocolate Chip Walnut Cookies

    Papa'a Palaoa Bakery
    Papa'a Palaoa Bakery

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    Two Ladies Kitchen - Getting our mochi fix

    Two Ladies Kitchen

    4.6(1.5k reviews)
    27.4 mi
    $$

    We've read about this place in many Big Island guides, so it was a must stop when visiting the Hilo…read moreside of the island. I must say, these are probably the best mochi balls I've had in my life. Every flavor came to life with every bite. It's very tight inside without any place to sit so be prepared to queue outside if the line is long. You can call in ahead to avoid the crowds. This is definitely one of the must visit spots on the Big Island. Even if you're on the Kailua Kona side.

    We tried coming around noon on a weekday but the line was long and we thought maybe we wouldn't be…read moreable to get the flavors we wanted so decided to call to place an order to pick up the following day. We came at 10:30am which was the pickup time we asked for and waited about 20 minutes in the phone order line before being called into the store and waited a few more minutes and left with our order around 11. They did give samples in line though, so that was nice. I did wish I knew about the additional daily fresh fruit flavors beforehand though so that I could order those when I called! I didn't see it until I came to pick up. The place is small and only enough room for a few people at a time. The strawberry mochi is amazing! Other flavors are good too, so soft and fresh. I think it's worth going if you like mochi and have the time!

    Photos
    Two Ladies Kitchen - Fruit mochi - Cherry Mochi, Rainier Cherry Mochi, Mandarin Orange Mochi, Grape Mochi, Peach Mochi, Strawberry Mochi, Li Hing Mui Apple Mochi

    Fruit mochi - Cherry Mochi, Rainier Cherry Mochi, Mandarin Orange Mochi, Grape Mochi, Peach Mochi, Strawberry Mochi, Li Hing Mui Apple Mochi

    Two Ladies Kitchen - For a limited time their new li hing mui apple mochi!

    For a limited time their new li hing mui apple mochi!

    Two Ladies Kitchen - Butter Mochi, Lilikoi Mochi, Kamato Mochi, Nantu Mochi, Shiso Mochi, Azuma Yaki Manju, Furusato Manju, Okinawan Sweet Potato Mochi

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    Butter Mochi, Lilikoi Mochi, Kamato Mochi, Nantu Mochi, Shiso Mochi, Azuma Yaki Manju, Furusato Manju, Okinawan Sweet Potato Mochi

    The Big Island Bakehouse - Raspberry Almond Croissant

    The Big Island Bakehouse

    4.8(66 reviews)
    34.6 mi

    Big Island Bakehouse is a can't miss when visiting Big Island! We made it over to this place on our…read moresecond to last day and we were greeted with so much cheer and the friendly staff gave recommendations and helped guide our choices. We tried the Bomboloni and Nutella Coconut croissant during our initial visit. The Bomboloni reminds me of a malasada but I enjoyed the creamy filling of this so much more. We ended up going back on our last day and tried some of the savory options - the goat cheese pesto croissant and then sausage roll were standouts for us. Enjoyed this place so much we hardly took pictures, but everyone should add this as a stop especially if visiting Volcano National Park!

    Open only 3 days a week, this has become one of my favorite stops on the way to Volcano (from…read moreHilo). In fact, except Madam Pele does NOT necessarily keep to the same schedule as the bakery, would try to time my Volcano drives to coincide with Friday, Saturday, or Sunday! Hahah. Today got a sampling of Mediterranean scones (savory with olives and delicious seasonings), croissants, danish, and my favorite... the ube cruffin. Holy Moly Batman... that one item was worth the drive alone! Since there really wasn't any real estate in our tummies, we split everything 3 ways... over the course of the next few hours. Two weeks later, still thinking about that ube cruffin! Would definitely do a repeat on that as well as the Medeterranean scones while trying other items. And as the nice couple infront of us in line mentioned, will have to return for the sister deli across the parking lot. Heard it was featured in Guy Hagi's food vlog. And if its good enough for Guy Hagi its where I want to be my next mealtime!

    Photos
    The Big Island Bakehouse
    The Big Island Bakehouse
    The Big Island Bakehouse - Raspberry Almond Croissant

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    Raspberry Almond Croissant

    Donna's Cookies - bakeries - Updated May 2026

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