I have to admit we were one of the unlucky ones to be blessed by the Hawaiian rain, but the event…read moreteam did an amazing job keeping everyone in high spirits! They handed out rain ponchos right away and generously offered refunds for anyone who preferred not to stay. Despite the weather, the food was delicious and the entertainment was wonderful. We had a great time and will definitely be back--though next time, with a little more sunshine, please!

My first luau and I did not know what to expect. My expectations were not high, due to the mix…read morereviews, but I had an amazing time! The food was good with plenty options, drinks were plenty, and the entertainment was wonderful. It was a beautiful experience to be exposed to a version of Polynesian cultural celebration. I appreciated every moment and the work of the dancers and musicians. I highly recommend and suggest to attend with an open heart and open mind.

This theatre was built in 1936, what a landmark it is on Big Island. Very nostalgic inside out…read more I came here to watch a musical with my friends and we all enjoyed the show. Amazing casts and they offer really good shows. Check out their schedule and find out what is showing, and make sure to check it out if you're on the island!

Amazing performance done by The Lava Dolls and The Pod Kona presenting a magical and seductive…read moretheme of Alice in Wonderland. Very magical and talented group of humans. Cozy historical venue with plenty of seating for the event. Restrooms and beverages available.

First, if you are staying at the Outrigger, make sure you sign up and get the discount! Some…read morereviews had me worried about them running out of food, etc. but that was not an issue. I thought it started at 5, but the doors actually didn't open til 5:30 so we were waiting around for a bit. The welcome drinks were nice, as were the activities, though there were only three: bracelet making, stamp art, and a game like bowling (we didn't do it so I don't know the name). There wasn't actually a ton of time before the program started so this worked. The drinks tasted good but were very watered down. I had about 4 and didn't feel much of a buzz. They had us line up and get food and there was plenty. The poke was disturbingly fishy tasting (not good), but I liked the POG butter and rolls, mac salad, beef, pork (a bit too salty) and chicken. The fish was ok. It would have been nice if they had a few more options for fruit. The desserts were actually really good, I thought. I loved the fluffiness of the chantilly cake, and the pineapple upside down cake was also good. The passion fruit muffins tasted good and had a dense texture that grew on me, but when I got my own it had lots of hard lumps in it and I was a bit put off. The show was nice with a band and explanations about local culture and legends and a little history. I like how they moved through time with it and covered different regions like you were on a tour. I honestly got a little bored at the act before the fire dance and my kid almost wanted to leave, but then it was the fire dance and we were good and that was the last part. The timing was just right in my opinion. Overall, a touristy thing to do for sure. The price is on par with other places in the area and since we were staying at the hotel this was a no brainer. I'm glad we went for my own curiosity and for my kid to experience it, though my husband was bored. It was a good experience and well orchestrated.

This is held at the Outrigger in Kona every Monday and Thursday. There are two types of seating:…read morepreferred and general. Preferred is more expensive than general but your party will be seated closer to the front without other people sharing your table. Your party will also be called earlier for the buffet. Check in started at 4:30pm and gate opened at 5pm. A welcome drink (choice were mai tai and a non-alcoholic drink) is available for everyone. The mai tai was good. At our table, we had smoked pork, smoked salted macadamia nuts, and banana bread waiting for us. The wooden serving plate designed and shaped like a pineapple where these were served was cute and covered with plastic wrap. I suggest that once you know your assigned table, you proceed to the side and try some activities to avoid a line or the number of people who would like to try them later as well. These activities were fun and guided by staff. They included orchid lei bracelet making, traditional Hawaiian printing, and traditional games. Traditional artist/crafts were available at the back. Open bar was also located at the back. There were a lot of cats in the field. I would not leave the table that long if you have food that is exposed and unattended. The cats would roam around and some would climb on the table to get appetizers/food. Dinner was buffet style with different dishes: salads, taro rolls, (and different butters), kalua pork, fresh catch of the day (this grilled fish was soo good), chicken, among many others. I liked the desserts which included Kona coffee chocolate cake, pineapple upside-down cake and another one. We enjoyed dinner while listening to the live music/singing from the musicians. The program was good. Comparing this to a different luau in Oahu, even though there were fewer performances and fewer performers in this luau, the performers were very good and very graceful. They had great stage presence. There was a part when a few guests were invited to the stage for a hula dance. The fire dance by the chief was awesome. Very impressive. The photo opportunity at the end of the show was different. The performers remained on the stage and did not go down to be closer to the audience, unlike the other luau I went to where the performers warmly interacted with the audience. Had a great time here. Weather was lovely - no rain and the temperature was just right from that afternoon until the show finished at about 7:30pm. All in all, though the performances, activities, and interaction with the performers were less compared to another luau, the food and performances were great. Would give this a 5/5.

I had heard the storied history of the Kona Brewers Festival since moving here, but never had the…read moreopportunity to go. I'm glad I waited as this year, I had a weekend filled with beer! Arguably, this is the best beer festival to which I've ever been! The festival is primarily a charity event, with all the proceeds going to local and Big Island foundations and groups. It's all volunteer run, from the set-up, clean-up, staff, and pourers; they're working for free and don't get to join in the fun! The festival is located at the King Kamehameha Hotel, a Courtyard Marriott right on the Kona bay. The beach is right in the middle of the festival and provides a beautiful foreground, while the mountains and trees provide a picturesque landscape beyond. For 2019, the weather was overcast and kind of cool, yet humid and hot at the same time. I was glad to wear sunscreen and a hat, you'll need them in the afternoon sun! The festival offers various ticket choices from the high tier Connoisseur's Lounge, to VIP, and General Admission. There are also so many complimentary or discounted levels for groups that assist in the planning of the event. The Connoisseur's Lounge includes an extra hour of special tastings and food in the hotel's restaurant area with music and air conditioning. Their badge was also a piece of koa as a keepsake. VIP was allowed onto the grounds up to an hour early, but no tastings were allowed until the start of the event (basically a skip-the-line deal). The General Admission line snaked around the pier in the hot sun, but people looked happy to be coming in. The festival was arranged around the beach with brewery tents interspersed with food, merchandise, and information booths. All ticket tiers got a wristband with 10 tickets to try 10 beers, more tokens could be purchased for $2 each, again with all proceeds going to charity. Food was unlimited, which means it went fast! All the volunteers were extremely friendly and having a great time interacting with the crowd. It was very crowded, but easy to walk around without feeling cramped. The main stage at the end of the pier had live musical acts and the Trash Fashion Show among other draws. Restrooms and portapotties were everywhere, so that was less of a worry than I thought beforehand. It was fun talking to random people, trying new beers from new breweries, and munching on delicious local foods. For anyone that can, be sure to attend this festival. Organization is second to none! Mahalo to the organizers for providing the homebrew judges with discounted passes!

This was a well-organized, albeit crowded event - I totally understand its popularity: what's not…read moreto love? 30 plus brewers from across the US pouring their best brews, unlimited food samples from dozens of vendors across the island, and to top it off, it all takes place at a picturesque setting right on the water in Kailua-Kona Town, on the lawn of the King Kamehameha Hotel. Online ticket sales sold within 15 minutes and I ended up having to go to Kona Brewery's location in Hawaii Kai (Oahu) to purchase our tickets the same afternoon. I'm glad I did because they sold out completely later that evening! Upon arriving at the event, there was a long line extending across the pier to enter the grounds of the event. Thankfully, the line moved swiftly and we collected our souvenir tasting mug and fork/spoon for tasting. The event aimed to be 100% eco-friendly, thus the reusable utensil, mug and food was being served on either ti leaves or compostable plates/bowls. Brewers' tents and food tents were scattered throughout the grounds with an impressive array of food and drink to last FOUR HOURS! I could barely stand by the end of the event! By the time the last couple of hours of the event rolled around just a couple of the most popular brews were tapped out and several food vendors were down to their last, although by this time I think everyone was stuffed to the gills and drink tickets were waning. The wristband you are given upon entry had 10 tasting tickets, once those were exhausted and you still want to drink more? Tasting tokens were being sold for $2 each. This year, Sig Zane designed the logo for the festival and I thought I'd wait til later to purchase a shirt to commemorate the event, which turned out to be a bad idea! The popular sizes and colors sold out quick, so no t-shirt for me to wear once and shove in the depths of my drawer forever. Hm... that's actually a great thing! I'm already stoked for next year!

We couldn't find a reservation anywhere and the owner accommodated us, working with our concierge,…read morewhich was really nice of them both to make our trip the best it could be. I really enjoyed the entire night, it didn't feel overly long or boring at all. The band started out the evening and the MC kept the eve going with meanings or origins behind the dances which added a lot to the experience. There was a nice mix of crowd interaction and the performers and you can't miss the finale with a dancer tossing and eating fire which really made the evening- these were all professionals and it showed. The wait staff was friendly and on point. The food is a pre fix type of meal and very filling with lots of protein, you can have as much as you like, but one plate was plenty for me with a nice slice of cheese cake with either guava or pineapple syrup applied as dessert. It's not so much about the food as the entertainment factor if you go. The setting is off a golf course, it's great for star gazing after the show and they do have a photographer at sunset if you are so inclined. A lovely night out.

I was trying to book a Laua a little last minute and not many places had availability by us. I…read morestumbled upon them and I am glad I did. If you are out off by the distance from your resort, please do not be, it is worth it and the drive was beautiful. We were greeted with a shell necklace and a picture they give you the opportunity to purchase. They have goats roaming the property and it was fun to watch them. Not a big coconut fan but the mai tais were delicious. While waiting for the show to start they have two activities you can practice. It makes you realize how hard what they are doing really is. It was a lot of fun before the show started. The food was amazing. The best pork I've had the entire trip. Nothing compared to it honestly. The barbecue pork was delicious. We ordered seconds for both and did not waste a single piece. The roasted fruit was delicious. Not a cantaloupe fan but it definitely opened me back up to it. I am not a seafood fan, but I am always willing to try. The shrimp was delicious. The fish was great too. It didn't taste fishy and had great flavor. I ended up eating my boyfriends, and that was surprising since I normally can't handle it. Food broke my scale 100/10. They give you the opportunity to practice the hula when they start the show and it was a lot of fun being able to be involved. The performers were all amazing. I watched in awe the entire show. At one point they have all the Males stand up to practice the haka and it was so fun seeing them so it. The host was great and funny. He explained everything well. It was nice to hear the stories of all the dances which I know not every Laua does. It was very informative. The fire performer was amazing! It was so cool to see and as I was scanning the room you could see everyone was enjoying it and were amazed by his talent. Overall I would highly recommend. Everyone was very friendly and I was able to learn a lot about the culture and their history. I am beyond happy with the purchase. Absolutely worth it. Please take the time out of your day to make the beautiful drive down and experience this amazing experience!!

The views to reach here are fabulous: the oceans, flora and homes on the slopes…read more We need to return another day. Today hubs was the driver and we had to reroute too many times. We will try again on another trip and hopefully Doc will be our driver then.

Stayed at an airbnb in this little village along the western ridge of Hualalai Mountain. It's a…read moreshort 15 minute drive to Kailua, but you'll appreciate the difference in temperature during the hot humid months here on The Big Island. Enjoy the views of Kailua below and the tropical greenery on the drive up. But be cautious, the drive is steep and a bit curvy. Take care when hitting the turns higher up. It's a quaint, small community with a few art galleries, a cafe or two and some retail shops. But mostly residential. The rustic flair suits the island perfectly. If you're looking for something similar to Rodeo Drive or anything boujee, stick to Oahu or the mainland. But if you stop by here, enjoy the view, the rustic environment and the sense of ohana! Keep on Yelp'n!

Kona Town Hui is a nice and welcoming environment. There is a lot of nice poetry and you see both…read moreApo and Stephanie (husband and wife) working on the pottery in the studio. We got to have a nice conversation with Apo and he explained the business. He said they also provide pottery classes and date nights. He also has a sperate business where he teaches net fishing. My wife and I were able to buy nice poetry and learn a lot about Kona. I recommend stopping by when visiting the Kona Brewery.

Always a great time with friends and making new ones. Stephanie is a great instructor and really…read moreguides everyone through the process to complete an original piece is a surprisingly short amount of time. The possibilities are endless and it is so fun to be creative for a few hours with friends.

I say LDT a few years ago! Fabulous performance and great latin beats. I honestly had no idea they…read morewere based on the Big Island! Don't miss their performances, Loved them! They get the audience moving!

Leche De Tigre performed during the cocktail hour for our wedding at Puakea Ranch on the Big Island…read moreand it was absolutely fantastic. They are really great, laid back and so much fun. I really wanted people to dance right after the ceremony, and you bet so many did. Thank you so much!