Kona Inn
Positioned at the water’s edge of Kailua Bay on the Big Island of Hawaii, the Kona Inn is a striking reminder of why people continue to travel to the middle of the Pacific Ocean for vacation. With an open-air dining area that allows a sea breeze to blow through and a view that faces west over the water, you won’t find a better place to enjoy Hawaii’s world class sunset. That is, if you can pry your eyes away from the fresh seafood and juicy steaks they put in front of you.
Geographically located in the heart of Kailua-Kona’s downtown, the Kona Inn is also the historic heart of the area. Originally built in 1928 as a small hotel for steamship passengers and fisherman, the red-roofed building is a large two-story affair with an island flair that fits perfectly with the palm-strewn shore. Today, with a shopping village built around it, the entrance is almost inconspicuous, but once inside there’s an understated elegance that distinctly separates it from its surroundings. A grand entryway with sweeping staircases leads upstairs to the old rooms and a horseshoe-shaped bar of beautiful koa wood welcomes thirsty guests. The dining room’s dark wood furnishings are set off by natural light pouring through big open windows.
It was about thirty-two years ago that management decided to convert the inn into a restaurant. The building and the atmosphere have stayed pretty much the same and the food is fresh and exciting. There’s a café grill menu (for lunch as well as dinner) with basic American fare like sandwiches and burgers and some not so basic options like a calamari sandwich or coconut shrimp.
But the most interesting choices are available at dinner. There’s fresh sashimi and poke to whet your appetite. Or on a cooler day, a bowl of steaming clam chowder sure hits the spot. For the main courses, they offer either surf or turf but the Inn prides itself on its seafood. Their fresh caught fish of the day is the real deal and they are proud of it, the firm fish flaky and delicious. If you’re not keen on seafood, they’ve got great steaks and ribs for the carnivores.
Perhaps the best part of the meal is their desserts, so make sure you save room. If you’re only going to try one, make it their famous Mud Pie and plan on sharing because it’s massive. I also recommend the macadamia nut pie, not quite as gigantic and equally good.
Sure, there are plenty of surf-and-turf restaurants in Hawaii so it’s important for the Kona Inn to stand out in as many ways as possible. For me, the atmosphere is the most outstanding. The location, tucked among a bunch of fun shops on the waterfront, doesn’t get better. You can stroll Kailua’s waterfront before dinner or pop in one of the beach bars afterward but the glue that’s holds it all together is the Kona Inn. As the sun sets red and magnificent, the warm and cozy feel of the dark wood dining room with big open windows facing out to the water, will definitely have you ordering another Mai Tai.
The Kona Inn
Kona Inn Shopping Village
75-5744 Alii Drive
Kailua-Kona, Hi.
808-329-4455