One of the better farmers markets on the Big Island. We play 'tourist' when we have…read morevisitors from the mainland or other islands and it's always an enjoyable field trip. Local vendors selling their wares -- art, clothing, jams/jellies, baked goods, Kona coffee, fruits/veggies. There are vendors selling hot/cold foods. They open early on Saturdays and parking can be challenging. Get there early!

Great vendors. Lots of food options. Well organized. A must visit if you are in Waimea.read more

Would you pay $99 for AYCE prime rib dinner for two? Yes, but how about if you had to attend a…read moretimeshare sales presentation? 48 Hilton guests took the $99 offer, and came up a packed bus 20 miles from Hilton Waikoloa Village. Gathered in a large dining room sitting around six tables to hear the host give a long talk on the cultural history of the Ranch. Everyone attentive until the singer started playing Hawaiian songs, at which point everyone started talking to the others around the table. Had to talk really loud to be heard across the large table, due to the large amount of background noise. Dinner buffet self serve by table in multiple courses, including unlimited wine and lemonade. Fabulous mixed salad, so good that everyone finished their salad, even those that don't like vegetables. Main course included broccoli, potatoes, fish, and prime rib. I got a double portion of prime rib, while everyone else got a 12 oz to start off with. Thought the outside portion was way too salty and tough. Not for someone to chew with a temporary crown. Center portion was tender and juicy. Threw out a good portion of the outside and fat and gristle. Meal topped off with a dessert of cheesecake covered with sweet mango sauce. Met the host outside. Turned out we were both UC Berkeley graduates, me of class of 1975, and he of class of 1963. Oh, by the way line outside the mens bathroom, as the urinal was out of order. Those people who didn't show up for the Hilton timeshare presentation would be assessed the full $390 price of the event for two!

Fabulous opportunity to come up to Anna Ranch for a dinner with Chef Ipi via a special weekly…read morecultural event managed by the Hilton Grand Vacation folks. We were treated to oral history of the area, music, and an impromptu Hula. Truly honored to be part of this event. Oh, the food? Locally made ricotta in a crostini, mixed green salad with toasted sesame dressing, local shrimp, beef, zucchini, potatoes, and a lava cake with strawberry ice cream.

This is a great way to spend a Saturday morning. This farmer's market is really chill, with lots of…read moregreat food options, baked goods, fresh coconuts, and beautiful orchids. There's a big grassy area for the kids to run around, live music, and plenty of picnic tables. Some of the highlights for us were: + Sourdough booth with fluffy sourdough english muffins + The coconut guy was fun to watch as he hacked a coconut for us + Gourmet crepes with your choice of filling Overall, it was a fun place and the kids didn't get bored.

Great variety of fresh local fruit and vegetables, handmade items, clothing and hats.read more

I found this place completely by accident after being invited to dinner by the manager's mother…read more Honestly, that's the kind of accident I hope keeps happening. They opened with beef tartare that ruined me for every other beef tartare I've ever had. The osso buco is legendary. Then came the double cheeseburger... and I need everyone to understand that I don't hand out compliments like ketchup packets. This is, without question, the best burger I've ever eaten. It's so good it makes you want a cigarette afterward--and I don't even smoke. I've come back many times just for that burger because nothing else I've tried on Hawaiʻi Island or Oʻahu comes close. Their tater tots have developed their own fan club, and the little bar with beer, wine, and cocktails makes it dangerously easy to linger. The staff is consistently warm and welcoming. After being away for six weeks because of a family emergency, one of my first stops after returning was this burger. It was still outstanding, but I did notice the beef patty seemed about a third to nearly half thinner than I remembered. At around $20, that's noticeable. I'm hoping it was just an off day because this place has earned enough goodwill for me to give it another shot. Don't overlook the butcher shop itself. The meat quality is miles beyond what you'll find in a grocery store. I bought their ground beef for a ragù alla Bolognese, and it was so spectacular that I went back specifically to buy more for homemade burgers. Bottom line: this is one of the hidden gems of the island. Come for the butcher shop, stay for the burger, and if you leave without wondering whether you should light an imaginary post-burger cigarette, we clearly ordered different meals.

If you drive around the big island you will see lots of cattle just out grazing. I really wanted to…read moretry local Hawaii grass fed beef while on the big island. Waimea Butcher Shop is a good place to try them, (it is also a restaurant)! You will be served with warm & friendly service. I found out that I enjoy the taste of fresh grass fed beef, while my family did not. They did not think the meat was fatty or tender enough. This is because grass fed cows are much leaner and don't have their feed come to them. Anyway, I enjoyed my dining experience here and if you're curious, you should definitely come and give it a try! If you're inclined and know how to cook a mean steak, and staying somewhere with a kitchen, grab your supplies here.

Attended a lunch thru dinner (corporate) event for 150 at the ranch. They did an excellent job for…read morethe 7+ hour event. ATV, horseback, Pinzgauer (jeep) and helicopter rides. This pilot liked the (Paradise Helicopters) operation; good equip, plenty of safety staff, flown by former Marine Corp aviators. Pinzgauer drivers were exceptionally knowledgeable about plants, birds, geology and Pacific island history. Other entertainment included roping, saddle making and branding demos. Lunch buffet was salad, BBQ pork ribs, BBQ chicken, corn, mashed potatoes, rolls, pie, soft drinks and water. After returning from our events, appetizers included shrimp, sushi, sashimi, fruit, Italian meat roll-ups, beer, wine and water. John (Ranch owner/manager) had a good patter about Ranch ops and history. Staff was knowledgeable, attentive, helpful and focused on fun (with appropriate safety) ops. Band was good. They have a wide ranging repertoire. A bit too loud, as it was difficult to chat with co-workers and spouses that we only see once per year.

Sunset, Food, Relaxing! Way up north of Kona in the rolling green hills of Waimea/Kohala, there is…read morea hidden gem, the Evening at the Ranch. This is a true Hawaiian experience most people don't know about. Hawaii, especially Big Island, is known for a rich ranching background. A working ranch by day and every Wednesday night, they turn it into a BBQ Dinner experience. It kind of reminds me a bit like a Luau, but country style. Rolling green hills and pasture lands. Open bar, all you can eat feast and those slabs of macadamia nut pie are delightful! A great activity for all ages. Very relaxing and low key. If you have done a Luau then try this next.

Cute, small farmers' market but with a good variety of fruit - like dragon fruit! -- and…read morevegetables, vendors selling jewelry and Hawaiian-made, reef-safe sunscreen (Little Hawaii Hands - mahaloz!) and food trucks, including Red Barn. There was also a seamstress at work on her sewing machine; it seems that she offers on-the-spot alterations, which is genius. The crowd was mostly locals, with some visitors. The Red Barn food truck was very, very popular, and for good reason. They serve different types of grilled cheese sandwiches and they are uh-MA-zing. I got "the Frenchman": crisply toasted bread, heavily buttered, piled with high-quality cheese and two types of mushrooms. You must also get a side of their flavorful homemade tomato soup so you can dunk your sandwich. Oh, the sandwiches also come with a pickle spear and taro chips. Besides the Red Barn, there were other food trucks selling Chinese bao (filled steamed buns), filipino food (pancit and halo halo, need I say more), and boba tea. I'm sure I'm forgetting a few of the food trucks, but they all seemed to have their fans. Parking can be tricky during peak hours. And if you park on the side of the road, be on the lookout for pedestrians and cars.

This market has everything. Produce, food, coffee, small souvenirs, etc. Plenty of parking down the…read morestreet.

We went on an almost 100% full (flower) moon. It was special to see the terminator line on the…read moreCelestron telescope - it had such great definition! The color of Mauna Kea with the moon shining on it was so magical all around us. There were some clouds that cleared pretty well by the end of our star gazing. We were the last ones up there so it got dark enough to see more than you'd expect with the moon. Jeff, our awesome tour guide, used a laser pointer to help us see the constellations we usually can't back at home. The images on the digital telescope like nebulas, the moon & star clusters were an amazing addition to have as keepsakes. My husband and I felt he made the tour a great balance of learning and fun. He had the group feeling like family before we even left from the pickup lot. Things to consider: I do recommend following the moons cycles booking this tour/your trip if this is especially important for you to see as many stars as possible. The sunset and views of the observatory's make it awesome anyways :) I struggled with altitude sickness around 12,000 ft. Jeff had made sure to let us know beforehand if we experienced any issues to speak up. I was hesitant as I know it would mean turning the whole tour around, but some tingling turned to dizziness and then a brief fainting. He immediately stopped the bus and helped ground me and make sure I was completely okay & coherent before letting me know our options for the tour. We made it up to the top with 2 more (included in tour) stops and I felt better with each one having more time to acclimate :) Thank you Jeff!! You handled this so professionally and I appreciate your check-ins for the rest of the trip. It's cold even with parka and gloves. It's so worth packing warm shoes and layers. The bus had ac and heat so that was great! Do it if you can! Awe-inspiring! Such an unreal environment that makes you wonder about so many things. Just take the precautions seriously, move slow and breathe deep.

I had heard how amazing the Mauna Kea Stargazing tour is and it truly lived up to the hype! I was…read morein Hawaii for a milestone birthday celebration and this was definitely the highlight of the trip! Eugene was our guide and he was perfect. Fun, funny and full of facts. He made the trip comfortable and enjoyable. I whole heartedly recommend this tour!

Closed for good. Nothing more to say but trying to get my required additional 68 characters.read more

The memorial to the brave soldiers from Camp Tarawa is very nice, but I was very disappointed in…read morethe rest of it. A small sign marked the entrance to Parker Ranch. Six flagpoles stand at the entrance without one flag flying. Driving up the driveway, no signs direct visitors where to go or what to do. We parked, got out, saw a woman walking toward one of the houses who did not speak to or acknowledge us, spoke to her and ask where we were supposed to go. She handed us two papers and went about her business. We walked around, looking at artifacts, not marked as to what they were, so I asked her what the deal was. She said, "The trustees are putting their efforts into the cattle ranching now." "So, in other words, they don't really care whether tourists come to the ranch or not?", I asked. She said, "Their efforts are in the cattle." We went ahead and toured the Mana Hale, the original Parker home, with it's rich Koa wood throughout. Lots of pictures and artifacts decorated this small home and most items were labeled. As we left the Mana Hale for the walk, again no signs and only the briefest description on the two papers made it impossible to know what we were seeing. One highlight, though, was seeing the giant pine tree in the front yard that was planted in 1852. Overall, I would advise, just going to the Camp Tarawa memorial out on the highway, pay your respects, and move on to the spectacular drive from there to Hawi on highway 250. We love this drive where you can view the Kohala mountain range (you're actually on it), Mauna Loa, Mauna Kea, and Maui and the vistas from the highway are amazing. In Hawi, we got coffee, shopped, visited, then drove back on the coastal highway past the harbor, the Lapakahi State historic park, and all the Kohala resorts. Great drive!

I loved everything about this tour and our tour guide Daniel was amazing. He was so knowledgeable…read moreabout the cloud forest and able to point out different species of trees and the overall history of the called forest along our tour. This place is definitely up in the clouds and gets really cold. There are a variety of tours that are offered and I ended up taking a hike and a sound bath. The hike was about a mile long and it looped around the cloud forest, so there's no way you can get lost. They are still actively working to plant trees and they have volunteer opportunities on the weekends for locals which I think it's a great option. This is such a peaceful and amazing way to learn about the history of the island along with ways to protect the trees and other plants that are being planted there. In addition to the hiking, there is also birdwatching and there's also a sound bath that is offered. I ended up doing the sound bath and it was just absolutely amazing, and it was really amazing right after the hike. I highly recommend both of these activities and to try to do them back to back. Both are such a relax and experience and it's also helping to reclaim the natural Kona world from deforestation.

What an amazing experience. The surroundings, the sounds from the birds, the sound bath, the mini…read moremeditation, all of it. Nadara Rose really elevated Sound Bath experiences for me. While I've experienced a few sound baths in my life, the location of this one was amazing. I did a private group of 13 and Kona Cloud was extremely accommodating. Every single one of us left feeling refreshed as well as excited to talk about it with eachother throughout the whole day. Nadara Rose made it very special for me as I was celebrating my bachelorette squad! Will 100% be coming back here for another sound bath experience when I visit big island!

We booked the 6 1/2 hour volcano tour and it was fantastic! We got to see most of the island. It…read morewas super scenic and just breathtaking! We got to visit the volcano national Park, see the steam vents, see the volcano, went to the volcano house, and drove through Hilo. Our guide, Chris was amazing and gave us such great information about the island and all the facts! He was very friendly, fun, and professional! It was just an enjoyable drive! Even my six-year-old ,who I did not know how he was going to do because this was his first tour and being in the car for so long , he did Fantastic.! We also made a special stop and got some delicious treats and picked up lunch for later, which was really good! He also provided us with water, juice, soda, snacks, and a cold towel. Also very accommodating for dietary restrictions like myself who is gluten-free. The booking process was super easy and they confirmed details the evening before your reservation date. They will call you and then send you a text. Pick up was on time so be ready! The shuttle is super comfortable ride with AC. I highly recommend booking this tour if you're visiting the big island.

Our tour guide Thia was fantastic. Super knowledgeable of the island and very genuine. Highly…read morerecommended this tour for anyone who would like to learn about the island and have a fun experience.