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Kailua-Kona, HI

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Moana Restaurant

4.2 (50 reviews)
Closed • 7:00 am - 10:30 AM, 5:00 pm - 9:00 PM
Updated 2 months ago

Moana Restaurant Photos

MOANA RESTAURANT ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Romantic
Good for groups

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Recommended Reviews - Moana Restaurant

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Jessica Y.

Come to Moana if you're looking for a beautiful open aired beachside view. The food comes second after the ambience. Everything was solid but pretty overpriced and felt the portions for the drinks especially were very small. Luckily the staff was nice enough to give a free refill after asking. Food: 7/10 Service: 10/10 Ambience: 10/10

View
Amy K.

We gave Moana a second chance we are glad we did! I put on my OpenTable comments not to rush us and it really helped. Good: we got an excellent ocean front table and the weather was perfect. From the abalone appetizer to the Caesar salad to the pork chop and lobster dish, all the food was outstanding. The chopped mushrooms and edamame under the lemon foam with the abalone was probably my favorite bit. Hubs was pork chop!! (8 oz) Also the anchovies did not seem canned on the salad, really great. Other stuff: after the abalone the waitress took my sauce covered fork out of the 4 o'clock position and put it on the bare wood table. At that point I asked for fresh utensils and she gladly provided them at the time and onwards. She even wiped her mess off the table. The wine did not come in time for the appetizer, faux pas. I heard other waiters giving a full rundown on the menu that we did not get. Cracked pepper was not offered for the salad. BUT the ambiance was perfect, service nearly perfect and well timed. The sunset and full moon completed our great experience. I highly recommend Moana!

Lilikoi margarita

Dined at Moana's, BEST EXPERIENCE EVER!!!!!!! This was the best meal I have ever had in my whole life. Nick was our server, he recommended the mushroom risotto with a smaller cut of the New York steak. Nick also recommended the taco and seared Onaga. I can't even explain the flavor palate. Everything was so spot on. I enjoyed every second of the dinner experience. 10/10 I will always recommend this place to everyone.

Dessert
C B.

The location is unbeatable - - right on the ocean. An open air restaurant. The food is phenomenal. The five of us had several different fish dishes. Don't eat too much because you're going to want to have one or more of the desserts. Again, the service was unbeatable; very knowledgeable, there when we needed them.

Ahi
Patrick O.

Service was perfect, food was tasty, view was amazing, Live music was the perfect volume. Roasted potatoes side was outstanding and more than enough for two. Prawns were a great app and the snapper and ahi were outstanding entrees. I would pass on the rice next time because the potatoes were so good! The combination of romantic ambiance, view, service, and food is hard to beat and made for a memorable evening.

Carrot and beet salad. I would have preferred this a little more roasted but it still was very tasty and fresh!
Amanda A.

We had a beautiful meal! The view was amazing the staff were so friendly and attentive everything was delicious. Shout out to Rowena our sever for going above and beyond! I will definitely be recommending this to people who come visit me on Big Island.

Shipwrecks bar
K K.

I'll start with what was great. The location overall is incredible. Really top notch resort where all the details have been thought through. You can tell this is a 3 Michelin spot everywhere you look. Super cool and feels great to be at. We first got drinks at Shipwrecks bar which was tasty and a cool vibe sitting in the sand near the boat. We then headed over to Moana where we had reservations to celebrate our anniversary. Our table seemed like the best in the house and was outside near the water with an amazing view. Our server was prompt and talkative in a good way, explaining each dish and sharing his recommendations. We had ribs and abalone to start, the ribs were great but unfortunately the albacore was tough and didn't seem prepared well. For mains we had the snapper which was delicious. Dessert of the Barley Ice cream Sunday was a risk that we're glad we took! It was different for sure but super tasty. Really the main thing we were surprised and disappointed by was no mention of "Happy Anniversary". They had asked us when we booked the table if we were celebrating anything, so we told them, the same with the hostess who seated us and also asked the same question (although shouldn't she have known?). We exchanged cards at the table and had them sitting there next to our plates, but our server never asked about them, was curious as if we were celebrating anything, or seemed to have received the message it was a special day. I didn't even need any complimentary dessert or drink, just would expect the thoughtfulness of the service to match the careful thought that clearly has gone into the rest of the restaurant and resort as a whole. Overall I would recommend Moana and hope to go back someday, with the feedback to ask a little more about each guest in order to give even an even better experience.

Holly B.

Came to Moana for our 30th anniversary dinner and it was perfect. The setting, the food, and the service were all on point and so well thought out. It was wonderful to be presented with a complimentary glass of champagne, and from that through the oysters and prawns, to the main courses (the beef cheeks were amazing), then a lovely anniversary dessert and the pineapple upside down cake finisher, we treasured every bite. Definitely a meal to remember.

Inside the restaurant
Suzi B.

Beautiful newly reopened and renovated restaurant giving awesome, high-end Hawaiian vibes. Along with the hotel, the restaurant was destroyed by a tsunami three years ago and reopened in July 2023 by Rosewood resorts. Great care was taken to create a stunning space that speaks to the local heritage and takes advantage of its oceanfront location. Staff is professional and friendly and efficient. Perhaps it wasn't necessary to read through the menu with me but it was a sweet gesture. Food was flawless and fresh. Cocktails were good. We visited the restaurant in the weeks between Thanksgiving and Christmas, a predictably quiet time, but the restaurant and resort were exceptionally empty. It may take time for the place to find its footing and really bring in their target demographic given that the restaurant and resort are likely the most expensive on the island. As a restaurant guest, I didn't feel I quite got value for the money spent. Nothing wrong just not special enough to justify the expense for us.

Eggs Benedict with lobster on an ulu cake.
Robin S.

Service is a bit uneven. My faves were kabocha with miso glaze, prawns, Hokkaido scallops and eggs Benedict on ulu cake.

Patrick T.

In September, we had a very close friend (hānai aunty) visiting with us from New Jersey. She had visited Hawaii before with us but was now using a walker and we were a little concerned about the layout at KVR and the sandy village paths to and from Moana Restaurant and the surrounding property. We arrived early, so our friend wanted to use her walker and attempt to walk around the circle to visit the gift shop before going to dinner. So, we gave it a try. We had no issues with using the walker in the sand as long as we stayed in the middle of the pathway. On the path to Moana Restaurant a man (also using a walker) said hello and challenged our friend to a race. Not sure if he was a resort guest or a visiting local but that friendly greeting set the tone for the evening. The wait staff had received the notes we sent about our friend and her issues with ambulation and had chosen a table for us with a great view. The Moana Bartender noticed we were struggling a little to get to the bar and offered to bring drinks to us at the patio surrounding the restaurant. Again, the kindness of staff and attention to detail really set the tone. Once seated for dinner, we decided to order a variety of entrees and appetizers to share "family style." We shared the Grilled Octopus appetizer, Tomato and Strawberry Salad, the Wagyu (which was excellent!), BBQ Eggplant and Hawaiian Snapper Entrees but our favorite, hands down, was a side dish of Ali'i Mushrooms. Most of us "try" to eat healthy. So, we skipped dessert. All of the dishes were amazing and it was a treat to be able to actually see the chef preparing some of the dishes from our table. But what made this the perfect night for us were the present day KVR employees. From the second the valet took our car, to the final Alohas from staff as we left, we were treated as if we were the only guests on the property. And that experience is priceless. Mahalo Nui KVR, Patrick Toal & Jon Vagi

The village

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Reviews are largely positive. Many highlight the oceanfront ambiance, fresh flavorful dishes, and attentive and friendly service.

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Best dining experience on the island, excellent service and amazing food. Ambiance is perfection. Highly recommended!

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Merriman's - Bread pudding

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Moana Restaurant - wine_bars - Updated October 2026

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