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    The Sippin Siren

    4.6 (135 reviews)
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    THE SIPPIN SIREN ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Outdoor seating

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    Bacon egg and cheese with a cold brew
    Kalei E.

    I really loved the vibe of this place. So many cute locally made jewelry options, good coffee and kind staff. I was a little confused as to how to order or where to order because of how tired I was and where the sign was placed but was fine once I asked. I ordered a sausage egg and cheese and received a bagel sandwich with bacon instead. It was delicious either way but would love to try their sausage egg and cheese sandwich the next time I'm on big island! The cold brew was strong and got me through my day trip perfectly!

    Photo montage bench
    Shantell C.

    Located on the ground level of the 2-story wood building on Kanoelehua (across from Sakura). There's indoor and outdoor seating. You're able to purchase Sandi's, cold & hot coffee as well as smoothies with all the toppings. Check out the mermaid merch, super cute.

    Alexander G.

    On a recent visit to Hilo I was on a mission to try some new local coffee places. As Hawaii is the only state to grow coffee, there are some excellent choices, and the coffee shops themselves different. This one popped up as highly rated and was close to our hotel and I ended up coming three mornings in a row! (I was disappointed they were closed on Sundays as I didn't get a fourth visit.) The coffee shop is located in an older commercial plaza near Banyan Drive. It's easy to drive or even walk here from many of the popular hotels and the stadium. It's a cute spot with limited bar stool seating and counter space inside and a couple tables outside. The menu is clearly shown above the pickup window, with ordering on the left. They have a number of bottled drinks and baked goods (scones, cookies, and cakes are done in-house fresh each morning and change daily). Most days I just got drinks, but also got to try a cheese & chives scone which I loved. I've been really craving iced coffee lately so I got a large size black cold brew each morning. They were served fresh with just enough ice to keep cold without watering them down. The coffee was strong and flavorful, black as can be which I loved. All the staff on the mornings I was there were friendly, quick to take orders, and efficient to serve them. I loved my visits here and look forward to coming again next trip!

    Cold Brew with Ube whipped cream.
    Mona L.

    I was looking up coffee shops one morning during my stay in Hilo, when I came across this place. As soon as a saw a picture of Ube whipped cream I knew I had to come here. I'm so glad I did. The prices were reasonable and my coffee was perfect. The Ube whipped cream was the icing on the cake... well coffee to be exact. I wanted to come here before flying out but they are closed on Sundays. Bummer but it's okay as I feel businesses should be closed to have a day to rest.

    Antioxidant smoothie and strawberry banana smoothie
    Sydney M.

    I am so disappointed this only exists in Hilo, HI because this might be one of my favorite coffee shops of all time. The mermaid vibe is so cute, the workers were so friendly, and the food was top notch. I loved that as folks came in to order, the employees knew their names. The mocha was so chocolately and there wasn't an ounce of bitter in it Bacon Sandy on a cheese bagel was so good, I came back the next day for another one Antioxidant smoothie was so berry focused and smooth Honestly, I can't say enough great things about this place!

    Sippin Siren! Hilo, Hi
    Eric R.

    "I don't understand. All my life I've been waiting for someone and when I find her, she's... she's a fish." Awww Splash the classic romantic comedy of a man falling in love with a Mermaid! Sounds like my life! :D After driving from Keaau to Waimea, Waimea to Hilo, Hilo to Kona, Kona back to Hilo... the 300 miles of driving finally caught up to this Merman! Hawai'i Big Island is truly a Big Island! Island Coffee needed stat! On my last stop before headed to the Hilo airport I decided to give The Sippin Siren a shot! All I knew is that it's a small business, Wahine owned, with limited hours. Ok, I also admit the Siren logo was super cute! And who cares if in Greek Mythology... Sirens were symbolic of the dangerous temptation embodied by women! Oh! Trust me, I'm a sucker for a cute Siren! :D The Sippin Siren is located just a mile from the airport. Finding her was easy and parking up front a breeze too! Upon entering I noticed a small, charming Café style Coffee shop. Three women, not sure if they were Sirens lol, walked in ahead of me. It gave me the chance to peruse the menu. I noticed it was more than just a Coffee shop when the ladies before me ordered sandwiches & baked goods with their drinks. The Gen-Z barista was friendly and professional and offered suggestions to go with the Hot Mocha I ordered. I decided on Ube Ubae Magic Bite because hey I'm all about Mythology and Magic! Just no Curses please ha! There's about four areas to sit inside and a couple of small cafe tables outside. I managed to grab a seat at the corner when I noticed more women walking in! I'm now surrounded in a sea of Sirens :0 My Hot Mocha was made quickly and I snagged it at the counter. Mocha was on point and I could tell it was quality Cocoa & Coffee used. The Ube Ubae Magic Bite was unique in a almost health food-ish way lol but it was tasty and paired well with the Hot Mocha. In the end, I suggest The Sippin Siren if in Hilo! A small town charming Café with sayings like "Great things come to those who Believe". Whimsical decor and a pleasant staff. They have a good thing going with the logo merchandise and treats to keep any Siren happy! Trust me, you don't want to make a Siren unhappy! Dedicated to International Women's Day! This review just happened! Mahalo to Dee for reminding me! :D

    Nasty spongy, grey eggs in their breakfast bagel sandwiches. Microwave delight. Was starving, but couldn't bring myself to finish this.
    Shinanagins O.

    Quality here has gone so far downhill. Slow service and nasty spongy grey eggs in their breakfast sandwiches. Iced tea was just a tea bag in cold water. It had no flavor. Most coffee/tea places make a concentrate to put over ice. Coffee is even watered down now. Used to like this place. Tried to give this business a few more tries before posting this review. Prices went up and quality has become gas station level.

    Cupcake, Red Velvet Cake, and Mini Mochi
    Briana B.

    Everything was amazing. I definitely recommend getting the fruit boat if you're thinking about it. It was sooo good I want another one.. They also had mini stickers for 50 cents each that I got for my journal but I didn't get a photo of them. The service was fast and nice. The store itself is sooo cute and cozy. Definitely recommend.

    Fruit and youghurt bowl
    Jasmine B.

    The yoghurt and fruit bowl is fricken delicious and so is the iced coffeee!!! I'm super sad we've been grabbing coffee from the big island coffee roasters because the coffee was terrible and the service was sub par!! You ladies are doing an amazing job xx

    Go visit!!
    Karen W.

    Sooo loved The Sippin' Siren!! My go-to-coffee shop during a 4 day visit to Hilo. The light breakfast choices including the bagel and scones were scrumptious, BUT my most fav' was the fresh fruit & yogurt boat! Be sure to try the blended crème brûlée coffee. Promise, you won't be disappointed and bet you'll go back just for that! Kelli, the owner is the sweetest and spunkiest coffee barista ever. She knows her stuff, plus she pays attention to the details of your specific liking. All the baristas are great and offer the best customer service-- you know, the kind you don't find much these days. Please be sure to pay them a visit!

    Iced vanilla latte with ube coconut whipped cream
    Aminah K.

    Very cute coffee shop! They have a lot of options on their menu. Tons of coffee flavors and add ons. I got an oatmilk vanilla latte. I added ube coconut whipped cream which was absolutely amazing! 100% recommend. Also got bagel sandwiches which were good. There was only 1 person working the register and making the drinks/food so service was a bit slow but very friendly. They have few window counter seating.

    S'mores mocha and Marry Poppins (English toffee, brown sugar, cinnamon) 7.16.23
    D. Fudge F.

    Got off the plane, picked up my rental and went straight here for a cup of coffee. Perfect way to start off my vacation on the Big Island. Ordered a S'mores mocha and a "Mary Poppins" latte which had English toffee, brown sugar and cinnamon. Both drinks were awesome. Also had a homemade scone. Warm and filled with fresh blueberries. Sad I missed taking a photo of the scone so I will have to go back and "try another one." If you are in Hilo, go check them out. You will not be disappointed. It's very rare I give 5 stars. This spot gets all 5. Hope the rest of my vacation goes as great as this cup!

    Clarissa L.

    Took the first flight over for work, and found most fast food places open around 9am - whut? So I Yelped a coffee shop and ended up here at this cute little spot with a piping hot cup of coffee that was much needed after a 345am wake up I didn't want to spend too much time looking over the menu as others were waiting so I asked the barista for a recommendation and she suggested a Salted Caramel Mac Nut latte, I added 3 shots. Looking over the other reviews, I see they have UBE ... and now I'm sad I didn't see it then lol Next time, Hilo!

    Espresso freeze ube walls

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    Business owner information

    Photo of The Sippin S.

    The Sippin S.

    Just so awesome to read! Ty

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    6 months ago

    This is a place we will not forget. Yummy coffee and phenomenal pistacho cake. Wish I lived here just for this stop!

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    The Sippin S.

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    Super close to the airport and quick service. Very nice staff and the everything scone is so yummy. Coffee was quick and delicious

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    11 months ago

    Awfully good coffee! Would stop in again. A little bit pricy in my opinion. Nonetheless, quite good.

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    Lots of coffee options and delicious! Also loved the breakfast sandwich! Fast service too, will definitely return!

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    Baumkuchen Farm

    Baumkuchen Farm

    4.9(16 reviews)
    6.3 mi

    Hilo's best kept secret tho I can't keep it a secret any longer!…read more FIrst stumbled upon Baumkuchen Farms 16 months ago when I visited the Big Island from Oahu... scouting where I would like to bring my college reunion group. They were gathering from places like Taiwan , Canada, the continental USA so betcha I wanted to show them only the best! Finding anything outside of downtown Hilo can be a challenge as WIFI gets a little sketch. Baumkuchen Farms is easy to find as they are marked on most Hilo (paper) maps. From the phone calls I made to the first welcome from Danielle who was on site to greet us on our scouting trip we felt welcomed. Danielle met us in the parking lot and guided us to the meeting place of the tour. She gave us a brief overview and showed us the bakery, the bathroom, the gift shop, before escorting us to "the hale" the meeting place under shade. Marcus, proprietor of the Farm with wife Maria, further told us about the rich history of the Baumkuchen estate as well as the products they baked and sold. Loved the tour of the farm where we saw vanilla beans growing in greenhouse, jurassic looking fruit trees and beautiful royal palms. A year later returned with my college friends who were absolutely impressed with the operation. We purchased baumkuchen cake, flavored cooking rock salts, other treats and of course ICE COLD drinks (in fact grabbed a few of these before the tour and after). And we enjoyed the tasty samples. In fact, have since seen these delectable morsels of Baumkuchen at Neiman Marcus in Honolulu at much higher price..! Still, nice to know where I can get more when I run out. Or, will have to take another trip to Hilo and Baumkuchen Farms! Thank you Maria, Marcus, Danielle for your hospitality. Visiting Baumkuchen at the Farm or Hilo Farmers Market is always a highlight on my Hilo trips!

    Such a special place! Baumkuchen Farm is more than just…read moredelicious cake (though the Japanese-style baumkuchen is incredible, so soft and flavorful!). The whole experience is peaceful and welcoming. The free farm tour was informative, and the owners were genuinely kind, & love what they do. What a beautiful place to share. Their handcrafted island salt and signature cake make the perfect souvenirs... truly a piece of Hawai'i to take home. Beautiful spot, great people, and totally worth the visit!

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    Baumkuchen Farm
    Baumkuchen Farm
    Baumkuchen Farm - The front of the bakery

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    The front of the bakery

    Anuenue On The Bay - Avocado dill on onion bagel. So so good! Pickled onions and dill pickle on top is a great choice!

    Anuenue On The Bay

    4.3(23 reviews)
    1.5 mi

    The decor looks great in there. The desserts look good too. Here we go now…read more.. Keep in mind I pay close attention to detail - The merchandise out in the front of the store needs to be taken better care of. Some of them aren't doing so good. - It honestly didn't smell pleasant in there. I'm not sure if it was just that day but it didn't smell nice that's for sure. - Walked in, only one other customer in there. Worker looks directly at me and stares like I'm an inconvenience. No greeting, no wave, not even a smile. We actually had to be the ones to smile and tell the employee "Hi!" - We walked up to the counter and still no hospitality of something like "how can I help you?" "First time here?" "How are you today?" Etc. - She uncomfortably stared at us as we looked at the menu. Not even looking at it for a solid 30 seconds and says "Let me know if you have questions" then walks away. -We did buy a single dessert because we were already there. After purchase there's no "Thank you" "Have a nice day" it seems like having business was a pain. - The utensils on the side aren't wrapped and all loosely in a container with the fork and spoons handle in first. To me that's unsanitary already, other people's hands are touching it. Dust will also definitely accumulate as old ones won't be switched out just keep getting more added in there. I'll give this place another chance but how our first trip went I'd really like to give it a 0/5. All in all we didn't feel welcomed in there.

    Super cute and very comfortable coffee shop with yummy eats as well. Awesome barista, also the…read morecook, which is the only downside as it took a little while. She's excellent! Our cappuccinos were so good and the bagel was delicious. Worth the wait, but definitely would be great to have additional staff.

    Photos
    Anuenue On The Bay - Local products

    Local products

    Anuenue On The Bay - Brownie, iced matcha latte and chilled drinks to go!

    Brownie, iced matcha latte and chilled drinks to go!

    Anuenue On The Bay - Grab and go

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    Grab and go

    Kula Shave Ice - The Kula Rainbow

    Kula Shave Ice

    4.8(432 reviews)
    1.3 mi
    $$

    After stopping by the Farmer's Market across the street, my wife and I walked over to Kula Shave…read moreIce for some shaved ice. As a disclaimer, I'm not the biggest fan of shaved ice because of how sweet the dessert tends to be, and because more often than not, there are a bunch of artificial colors used in the fruit juices. When we looked at the menu, I was impressed and excited to see the emphasis on quality of their ingredients: no artificial flavors or colors, no aspartame, no high fructose corn syrup, and no preservatives. I was sold. Although we were tempted to create our own shaved ice, we ultimately went with "The Local", a soursop and liliko'i combo topped with haupia cream. Between the two flavors, I enjoyed the sour sop side a bit more since it was the one that was less sweet. The cream on top was absolutely delicious, and reminded me of the light and airy frothed milk cream you find on many boba drinks these days. There's a generous amount ladled on top, ensuring you can have some in every bite without having to carefully ration out the cream. Overall, I'm a fan of Kula Shave Ice. Definitely a great dessert to enjoy on a hot day. Worth checking out if you're ever in Hilo.

    Wow!!! This place serves awesome shaved ice! You order at the counter. They do not have an indoor…read morespace. You can sit outside on the various benches. We went on a Saturday afternoon after visiting the Hilo Saturday Market. We ordered the Kula Rainbow $12. 10/10 It was delicious. There are public restrooms next door and there is free parking nearby about one block south off on Ponahawai St and Punahoa St. You can also look for street parking. I would definitely return.

    Photos
    Kula Shave Ice - Half orange and half blueberry

    Half orange and half blueberry

    Kula Shave Ice - The Hapa (choc, coconut flakes, haupia ice cream) & The Local (love the local - lilikoi, soursop w ice cream

    The Hapa (choc, coconut flakes, haupia ice cream) & The Local (love the local - lilikoi, soursop w ice cream

    Kula Shave Ice - Açaí bowls

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    Açaí bowls

    Keaukaha General Store - condiments

    Keaukaha General Store

    4.8(35 reviews)
    0.8 mi
    $

    When a store is the only game in town for goods near a tourist entry point, one would expect/accept…read morehigh prices. Instead, Keaukaha General Store (within easy walking distance of the Port of Hilo) provided a great selection of sundries, some souvenirs of Hilo, and a small menu of Hawaiian favorite dishes at prices that were the lowest I've seen in Hawaii. My wife and I came here twice: first while walking into town, when we picked up souvenirs and an unexpected loco moco plate. It was a lot less crowded then, with us being the only ones there...allowing us to have a completely different experience. When we came back as we headed back towards the ship, other cruisers from the ship had discovered this place, and were stocking up on various things. It's a large modern space inside, with things organized displayed very neatly. There was no sense I needed to check for expiration dates. There was a portable ATM machine right by the door. A decent selection of alcohol at good prices were displayed (e.g. $8.81 for a bottle of Barefoot Cab or $18.99 for a 12 pack of Budweiser). I took the opportunity to get something I've not seen elsewhere: a bag of dried clams (aka Asari) for $4.19. Ended up finishing it that night...was really good. It has an all day menu, and was able to order a Loco Moco for breakfast. The all beef patty was very thick and dense, definitely from a frozen patty...good for Salisbury steak or Loco Moco, but wouldn't be great for a burger. The brown gravy was served hot and hadn't congealed, and the 1 egg had been cooked over easy, just as requested. It was obviously freshly made. It was packed to-go, with condiments and utensils available near the registers. There wasn't much space to eat inside, but because it wasn't too busy, found a space to sit in the back. I scarfed it down (probably too fast) while my wife finished her shopping. Also in the back, there are gourmet coffee machines and a chest freeze full of hand scoopable ice cream. There is a Pepsi self serve soda machine, along with various sizes of chips. My wife initially bought a couple of t-shirts as requested souvenirs for our travel mates ($25 a piece), and bought another one as we were heading back. On the 1st trip, she also liked a perfume body mist...the tester was the last one so the attendant sold it for half price ($14). For us, she bought a Hilo waterproof sticker for $2.75. And her favorite part of the store was the small portable Pokémon card machine, that dispensed random Japanese Pokémon cards for a quarter. She kept changing out dollars for quarters and ended up getting $5.75 of them...and a couple of them were hollos that we like. They do charge a 3.25% credit card fee, so cash is preferred when possible.

    Located on the way to the Hilo beaches and in the industrial area. Here you'll find a small variety…read moreof hot foods, poke and tons of drinks and ice.

    Photos
    Keaukaha General Store - Dragonfruit pop

    Dragonfruit pop

    Keaukaha General Store - Outside view

    Outside view

    Keaukaha General Store - View of port from parking lot

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    View of port from parking lot

    Kava Republic

    Kava Republic

    5.0(4 reviews)
    1.4 mi

    Stopped into Kava Republic on a whim and it was the perfect way to ease into the day after a hectic…read moremorning of travel. The environment inside was soothing and the employee helping us out was very accommodating. She offered us samples of the different kava available and ultimately I went with a combination of their fresh kava and kombucha. Their other kava option was too strong for me personally, tasting almost of tree bark? It caused my mouth to numb out more than I desired. I loved getting to chat with locals who came and went throughout the hour spent there.

    There have been a number of Kava bars that have opened and closed in Hilo in recent years. I hope…read moreKava Republic stays for quite a while! It is easily the most professional looking of all the Kava bars to date, with pleasant, clean, comfortable surroundings and cool ambiance. And the Kava? It's great tasting and brings you the mellow feelings you look for from the drink! They have both locally grown product, and product from Polynesia. The employees are wonderful: knowledgeable, friendly, down-to-earth, and attentive to customer needs. They have live music on some nights, but are also open in the mornings, for a quiet experience. The bar is non-alcoholic, but they serve coffee and kombucha drinks, and seem to be experimenting with more offerings. Three cheers for Kava Republic! May they rule over Hilo's kava scene for a long time to come!

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    Kava Republic
    Kava Republic
    Kava Republic

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    Mahiai Made - Catch our Limited Edition Chocolates, including Golden Milk, Ube, Mamaki and Matcha, Monk Fruit Sweetened White Chocolate, and more!

    Mahiai Made

    4.7(94 reviews)
    1.4 mi
    $$

    I'm really glad I checked, the day I had planned to visit the shop downtown, what time they closed,…read moreand I'm glad I checked at 2:45, since the answer is: 3. I'm also glad I happened to be a couple blocks away at that time, cause it would've stunk if I'd missed out! They have a whole range of great chocolates, from 55-90 percent that were all great, a fantastic matcha chocolate, great dried fruit chocolates, and one very good, *very* spicy dark chocolate (I loved it enough to buy a bar, but much more so than most pepper chocolates I've had, it does *not* play around.) Definitely also loved that they had samples of basically everything they sell. Also loved, we learned, it was actually the chocolatier himself running the shop when we were there, so all our questions were being answered directly from the source. It also worked out in that they didn't actually *have* any bars of the spicy chocolate out, as he'd just made a new batch and hadn't packaged them yet, so when he learned we were leaving the next day, he pressed one for me right then and there! How's that for great service?

    So glad we stumbled upon this little gem during our travels! The owners were so friendly and all…read morethe samples were delicious. Since it was hot and we were traveling by car, we opted for the cacao nibs and THEY ARE INCREDIBLE. We had them on ice cream paired with molten lava cake and I'm still thinking (drooling) about it. Lots of options for gifts and the staff will make great recommendations.

    Photos
    Mahiai Made - Items for purchase

    Items for purchase

    Mahiai Made - Selecting our chocolates (not a bad souvenir)

    Selecting our chocolates (not a bad souvenir)

    Mahiai Made - What they sell

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    What they sell

    Paul's Place - Belgium Waffle

    Paul's Place

    4.7(542 reviews)
    1.3 mi
    $$

    Paul's was one of my favorite dining experiences I've ever had. Yelp only allows for five stars, I…read morewould give more if I could. If you are able to visit Hilo, make a reservation. And you need a reservation. The tiny restaurant only has three two person tables (the other party of four had two pushed together). And it is only open Wednesday thru Saturday, 7:30am- 2pm. I made the reservation for my friend's Birthday lunch by text. It is conveniently located by the farmers market, and there is plenty of free parking in the area. The space is airy, and on our visit, decorated for Easter. We were immediately greeted by Paul. The restaurant is staffed by him, and one other employee. The menu is short, and all the better for it. Paul explained the menu and gave us recommendations. I was already interested in the Pasta de Marco, which appears to be a part of a regular menu. Angel hair pasta, lightly fried, tossed with fresh veggies and pesto, and lightly toasted baguette on the side. We also had the tuna, two ways, and papaya salad. Both were perfect, incredibly fresh, all ingredients balanced, beautifully presented. Paul had us end with the Belgium waffle. I've had waffles in Belgium, and these were the best I've had. Crispy, soft, with berries, whip cream, and powdered sugar, it didn't even need the (warm!) syrup. This experience felt like being a guest in the chef's home. Paul treated all customers as a friend, he was funny, relaxed, and personable. I also personally appreciated it is the safest restaurant for me to eat at as he hates bell peppers as much as I do! The only disappointment when the meal ended. Mahalo!

    The cafe is very small and cozy, we had to have reservations in advance to get in as Paul has very…read morelimited seating, about 3 tables. He is always busy and has a rule with no Togo orders as far as I know. The service is good, and the servers and Paul himself is very friendly, laidback, and easy to talk to. Be respectful of his rules, he's a nice guy and it felt like he really cares about the food he makes. Playing is very nice and simple in a good way, has a very clean aesthetic. The food itself is extremely fresh, every single thing felt very refreshing to the palette and not heavy. It was one of the pricier spots me and my partner went to in Hilo, but it is extremely popular and the quality of the food is nice, as I said, I think this is the place in Hilo so far that I've eaten at with the "freshest" tasting food. I had not yet tried his Belgian waffles, but I saw they were served to another customer and they looked fantastic. After our meal, Paul also highly reccomended them for next time. Definitely would like to come back next time we are in Hilo, it was one of my partner and her Uncle's favorite spots (they are local to Hilo, so it's gotta be good haha). They both vouch for the ingredient quality.

    Photos
    Paul's Place - Interior

    Interior

    Paul's Place - Salmon Benedict

    Salmon Benedict

    Paul's Place

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    The Sippin Siren - coffee - Updated May 2026

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