Great grinds are an absolute must at any festival, and The Best of Kona offers you the quality and variety you’d expect from such a unique community.
Pick Your Favorite Food…or Sample Them All!
Kona’s diverse community means excellent food. Graze among the offerings and create your own mix plate to go down easy with a beer from our beer garden.
“So Fresh It’s Off Da Hook” is the theme of Umeke’s, the beloved local favorite with the freshest fish and local grinds around. Umekei’s sources as many ingredients as possible from local fishermen, farmers, and ranchers. And their renowned poke is always created with only the freshest fish from Hawaiian waters. It’s a true boat to bowl experience!
Hualalai BBQ started out as a small operation in 2017, but now serves up award winning Central Texas style BBQ on a bigger scale. Enjoy a full belly of award winning brisket, pork spareribs, and other ‘que.
For fast, friendly service and lighter fare, Kona Town Market hits the spot. The store itself features soup, salads, sandwiches, beverages and snacks as well as a wide variety of sundries and grocery items. Take your food to go or enjoy their ocean view lanai. Plus, keep alert, awake, and full of aloha with a cup (or two) of genuine Kona coffee.
Every parent knows that food preparation is an essential life skill. Kealakehe High School’s Culinary Program aims to teach keiki all about the importance of food, cooking, a love of diverse cuisines. Students in the program compete yearly at the Oahu Family, Career, & Community Leaders of America’s convention, as well as at the Big Island Chocolate Festival (they won first place two years running). The program engages in multiple cross collaboration project on campus, including building a water wheel at Waipio Valley and a food truck. Meet some of these ambitious young people at the festival, and sample the fruits of their labor!
Any Kine Wontons is a real Big Island original. It terms its specialty as “we’ve taken a small idea and packed it with BIG flavors,” and locals wholeheartedly agree. The bite sized bundles come in vegan, vegetarian, savory and sweet, so there’s a wonton for every palate. Always handmade with love, we hope you enjoy!
Chubby’s Diner is known for its local kine food. KBXtreme is the only place in Kona where you can eat, drink, play, bowl and sing in over 28,000 square feet of air conditioned fun! Located inside is Chubby’s Diner, serving up homemade style local and American cuisine, plate lunches, salads, and breakfast all day and late night.
Akiona Musubi will be serving up a huge variety of different musubi recipes. From Furikake Spam Musubi with sweet shoyu sauce, Smoked Meat Musubi, Kamaboko Musubi encrusted with Furikake, Tempura Vegetable Musubi, Pineapple and Kale Musubi, Deep Fried Ahi with Crab to Avocado Musubi without rice, and Avocado fries.
Hawai’i Fresh Specialties is locally owned and operated, specializing in preparing traditional and contemporary Hawai’i Cuisine. They’re passionate about Perpetuating The Enjoyment Of Poi! Their desire is to support Hawai’i farms and agriculture as much as possible.
Formerly known as Sundried Specialities in Kealakekua, the Kona Grill House is kicking off a new year with a new name. The owner, Bryan, isn’t changing any of the great things that people have come to love including the best fish burger on the island, lobster cakes, and daily specials. He continues the work of his Pastry Chef daughter by baking desserts fresh every morning, including Salted Caramel Banana Cream Pie, Lilikoi Cheesecake, or his Chocolate Macadamia Nut Pie. From weddings to birthday parties, Bryan and his crew are there to provide the food that brings it all together including traditional local food, or specialties. Bryan is excited to introduce the new Kona Grill House and invites you to come by and let him cook up a special piece of his Hawaii just for you!
Shaka Tacoz will be serving up some of the Big Island’s best tacos during the Best of Kona Festival! Shaka Tacoz is a food truck in south kona regularly parked just north of the historic Manago hotel and a short drive from kealakekua bay.