To get to St. Jude s, turn off Hwy 11 between mile markers 76 & 77 North onto Donala dr. Keep left and in ½ block veer left onto Paradise parkway

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1 To get to St. Jude s, turn off Hwy 11 between mile markers 76 & 77 North onto Donala dr. Keep left and in ½ block veer left onto Paradise parkway Drive two blocks and turn right onto Paradise circle. St. Jude s is on the outside of the circle at the corner of Keaka Pkwy and Paradise circle. By: Don Hatch Version: b Printed: 3 April 2015

2 Table of Contents What is This Guide For?... 4 Why I Wrote It... 4 Getting Around the Big Island... 6 Places in Ocean View... 7 Restaurants in Ocean View... 7 Mehe s - Ka u Bar & Grill (new under construction)... 7 Ka-Lae Garden Fruit & Vegetable Stand... 7 L&L Hawaiian Barbecue... 7 Coffee Grinds... 8 DJs Pizza and Bakeshop... 8 Ocean View Pizzeria... 8 Farmers Markets... 8 Ocean View Swap Meet & Farmers Market... 8 Ka u Naalehu Farmers Market... 8 Kona Farmers Market... 9 Hilo Farmers Market... 9 Keauhou Shopping Center Farmers Market... 9 Naalehu Waiohinu: Monkey Pod Tree Mark Twain Restaurants in Naalehu Panalu u Bakery Hana Hou Restaurant Beaches Ho okena State Park & Beach Panalu u Black Sand Beach Whittington Beach & Park Two Step Beach Places You Must See: St. Benedict's better known as the Painted Church City of Refuge or Place of Refuge Volcano Park - Kilauea Visitor Center South Point Kona Along the Drive to/from Kona Coffee Shack South Kona Fruit Stand Places to Shop in Kona Costco Walmart, Ross s, Home Depot, Lowe s, etc Farmers Market Restaurants Quinn s almost by the Seaside Kona Brewery & Pub Things to Do When You re in Ocean View 2

3 Bongo Ben s Island Café Bianelli's Gourmet Pizza & Pasta Aloha Fridays Sam Choy s Teshima's Restaurant Royal Thai Cafe Los Habaneros or Habaneros Grill Los Habaneros Grill - Keauhou Shopping Center (fast food) Los Habaneros Grill corner of Walua Rd & Alii Dr (family restaurant) Annie s Island Fresh Burgers Organic Produce & Natural Foods Stores Island Natural Market and Deli Kona Natural Foods Ruderman-Russel: Island Natural Market and Deli Shopping Centers Keauhou Shopping Center Hilo Along the Drive to/from Hilo Akatsuka Orchid Gardens Places to Shop in Hilo Walmart, Home Depot, Lowe s, etc Farmers Market Restaurants Pineapples Restaurant Café Pesto Hilo Bay Café Ken s House of Pancakes Concerts / Plays in Kona Hulihe e Place Free Concert Kailua-Kona Keauhou Shopping Center Free Monthly Concert Kailua-Kona Aloha Theatre Community Theatre North West Coast - St Columba's Church St. Columba's Episcopal Church Hotel Honokaa Club Cafe Il Mondo Suggested Outings Lunch at the Beach - Black Sand Beach or Whittington Beach Place of Refuge and Painted Church South Point Ho okena Beach and Park Volcano Park Two Day Northern Loop of the Big Island Things to Do When You re in Ocean View 3

4 What is This Guide For? There are several good guide books for the Big Island and I suggest you use them as you are navigating and explore around the Big Island. They identify lots of very interesting things to do, many places to see, and many wonderful restaurants to try. However, their focus is mostly on the northern, more populated, and plush parts of the island. Ocean View is a rural community located around the 76 to 78 mile markers on the Belt Road which is near the southern tip of the Big Island. It s an hour or more drive to most of the populated and touristy places on the island. In this guide, I ll try to give you a few ideas of things to do or see close to home. In addition to things close to home; I also include some of my favorite places in Kona and Hilo and some of the places you may want to stop at while driving to/from either of those places. Some people use their imagination to make their own entertainment while in Ocean View and sometimes they didn t go any farther than St. Jude s to make their wish come true. The first time Rev. Elaine Barber was here one of her sons and his family visited her, including her seven year old grand-daughter Chloe. Chloe wanted to learn how to hula. A hula group practices at St. Jude s twice a week; so, she asked them if she could join their group and learn how to hula. The next Sunday was the first Sunday of the month, which is when they usually perform a hula prayer as part of our services. They put Chloe in the front row center and she stole the show. If most of the ladies in the hula group weren t close friends of mine I would even say she was one of the better dancers. If this was such a memorable moment for me, I can t imagine how Chloe s parents and grandmother felt. Why I Wrote It I thought a monthly article on St. Jude s newsletter about Things To Do, When You re in Ocean View would help our visiting priests find things to do when they first arrived in Ocean View. I started writing this in February 2015, as a way to organize my thought for writing those articles. I thought I would write a few paragraphs on each place or activity that our visiting priests and their family might enjoy. Then I would simply take exerts from this document to make the article for the newsletter. As it grew, there was several times when I thought it was big enough so I could stop writing for several months and use exerts from it to create the newsletter articles. It continued to grow because I would drive by some place that should be added to the document, or someone would comment or ask about some place and that would prompt my memory. I added one restaurant, Ken s House of Pancakes, when it was featured on the 5 O clock News as a human interest story. Dwayne The Things to Do When You re in Ocean View 4

5 Rock Johnson was in Hilo and when he dropped by Ken s, where he always goes to get his Pancake Fix, they were closed. The story is on page 29. By the end of March it had grown to around 30 pages and it continued to grow. Although I thought it would be useful to our visiting priests, but I wasn t sure; so, I decided to run a test to find out what other people thought about it. I printed a copy and gave it to Fr. Douglas and Carolyn Coil when they arrived in March. Doug and Carolyn said they started out the next day with Doug driving and Carolyn holding the guide in her lap - using it to find their way around. They not only did they find it very useful; they started giving me suggestions about places that needed to be added. By the time they left, after Holy Week, it was 35 pages long and continued to grow every day. After they said it was a big help for them, I posted it on the St. Jude s web under the About Us tab. That way priests and their families can get a copy to read before they arrive in Ocean View. As I add new information I plan on reposting the latest version on the web. Things to Do When You re in Ocean View 5

6 Getting Around the Big Island Warning: Something you need to be careful of in this area is the drivers. Around here, some of them drive on the wrong side of the road and some don t even slow down at stop signs. Although the speed limit in the Hawaiian Ocean View Estates ( HOVE) neighborhood is 25 mph, it is far too common to see someone going mph and sometimes they speed through the stop signs without even slowing down when a wreck happens here it is likely to be a bad one. It s up to you to avoid them. Especially be careful and take a second look at 4-way stops and even if you think the other driver sees you, wait until he stops. The same caution applies as you drive around the Big Island, although it usually isn t quite as bad. To get anywhere around the Big Island you need to become familiar with the Hawaiʻi Belt Road. It circles the island and in some places is the only available road. In the past, it was called the Mamalahoa Hwy and is still called that on some documents. To add a bit of confusion, as highways were built and road were assigned numbers the Hawaiʻi Belt Road is now made up of three highways. Hwy 11, Hwy 19, and Hwy 190. In the southern part of the island section between Hilo and Kailua-Kona, including Ocean View, the Belt Road is Hwy 11. Between Hilo and Waimea it is Hwy 19. Between Waimea and Kailua-Kona the highway splits and both Hwy 19 and Hwy 190 are called the Belt Road. Hwy 190 takes the mountain rout and Hwy 19 takes the lower ocean route. To add yet another level of confusion, sometimes local maps will refer to Hwy 19 as Makai which means "towards the sea" and Hwy 190 as Mauka which means "towards the mountain" There are green mile marker signs along the Belt Road. The zero mile marker for Hwy 11 and Hwy 19 is located in Hilo at the corner where Hwy 11 and Hwy 19 intersect. The zero mile marker for Hwy 190 is in Waimea. From Waimea Hwy 19 goes west to the cost, while Hwy 190 goes south neat the mountain. When I can, I ll include a mile marker in the directions so you can tell about where you are when you are driving and so you can calculate how far it is to your turn-off. Note that while the zero point for the mile marker is at the intersection where Hwy 11 and Hwy 19 intersect it is the zero point for both directions. If you drive a mile on Hwy 11 north from the zero point you will be at the 1 mile marker If you drive a mile on Hwy 19 west from the zero point you will be at the 1 mile marker Things to Do When You re in Ocean View 6

7 Even more confusing is when the three highways that make up the Belt Road intersect in Kalaheo- Kona where Palani Road meets with the Belt Road. South of the intersection is Hwy. 11 North of the intersection is Hwy. 19 it is 0.3 miles to the 122 mile marker (Zero marker Waimea) it is 0.8 miles to the 99 mile marker (Zero marker Hilo) Inland of the intersection is Hwy 190 it is 0.5 miles to the 38 mile marker (Zero marker Waimea) between the mile markers of Hwy 19 Places in Ocean View Ocean View is a small rural community near the southern tip of the Big Island. It is an hour or more drive to most of the populated and touristy places on the island. It has a post office, two grocery stores, Ace Hardware, and several small businesses. It also has 5-6 places to eat, but at the time of this writing there was no place to go out for a nice lunch or dinner. The Ocean View grocery store, Ace Hardware, and post office are all located between mile markers 77 & 78 on the north side of the Belt Road. The Malama Market and the Saturday Swap Meet and Farmers Market are located on the south side of the Belt Road. Restaurants in Ocean View Currently there is no set down restaurant to go out for dinner in Ocean View, but there is a new restaurant in the process of starting up here that we have high hopes for. Mehe s - Ka u Bar & Grill (new under construction) This is a new restaurant that is almost ready to open. The new owners are doing major renovations before opening. It is located one block west from the post office on the north side of the Belt Road. Ka-Lae Garden Fruit & Vegetable Stand This is a combination Restaurant and Fruit stand. The restaurant specializes in Thai Food and it is good. Although they are mostly a take-out restaurant, they do have 4 or 5 tables available to sit and eat. They are located between 76 and 77 mile marker closer to the 76 marker south of the Belt Road. You can see their business from the belt road, but to get to it you have to turn south on Kohala Blvd. as if you are going to the Ranchos entry gate, then turn left onto the small road running parallel to the belt road sounds complicated, but when you see it you will understand. L&L Hawaiian Barbecue This is a Hawaiian chain of fast food restaurants and it is quite popular. It is located next to the Malama Market, between the market and the Belt Road. Things to Do When You re in Ocean View 7

8 Coffee Grinds It is open for breakfast and lunch. This is probably the most popular place to eat in Ocean View. Coffee Grinds is Located one business away from the Post Office - Next to DJs listed below. DJs Pizza and Bakeshop They have very good pizza and Calzone. They also have pizza sold by the slice. A large variety of sandwiches including Panini sandwiches. Their baked goods include cakes, cheesecakes, and pies. They have several tables outside on the sidewalk. They are located next to the Post Office. Ocean View Pizzeria They have very good pizzas and sandwiches we especially like their Hawaiian pizza with Canadian bacon and pineapple. This is mostly a take-out restaurant. It is located ½ block from the post office - next to Ace Hardware. Farmers Markets As you drive around the island you will find hundreds of farmer markets. Most towns and some shopping centers have one. Some are open every day, some are open Wednesday and Saturday, and others are only open Saturday morning. Some are better than others, but I think they are all worth stopping to see what they have. The Farmers Market in Volcano is supposed to be one of the better ones, but I haven t been by there when it was open. Ocean View Swap Meet & Farmers Market Each Saturday morning there is a Farmers Market/Swap in Ocean View where you can buy fresh fruit, plants, used tools, and some handicraft items. It is located between the 77 and 78 mile markers and is 1/2 block below the Belt Road (south) on Princess Kuhno Blvd. It is in the open area below the Malama Market. This doesn t compare to the other Farmers Markets I listed - the selection is smaller and the prices are higher, but it is close. This is one place where you need to bargain with the seller. Ka u Naalehu Farmers Market The Ka U Naalehu Farmers Market is open Wednesday and Saturday mornings. It recently split into two locations. The original market is located in the parking lot in front of Ace Hardware and the other is across the street and ½ block south in the Shaka Restaurant parking lot. Located near the 64 mile marker which is around 13 miles north east of Ocean View. Things to Do When You re in Ocean View 8

9 Kona Farmers Market Open Wednesdays through Sundays, 7:00 am to 4:00 pm This is a great place to buy fresh local fruit and handicraft items. They have a huge selection of locally-grown produce, flowers, hand-made arts and crafts, Kona coffee and a whole lot more. Their price for fresh fruit is less than half the cost in Ocean View. The only place I ve found with a better selection and price is the farmers market in Hilo on Wednesdays and Saturdays when their entire market is open. Located at the corner of Haulalai rd and Alii Drive in the heart of Kailua Kona. Hilo Farmers Market Part of this market is open every day with day from 7:00 am until 4:00 pm with over 30 farmers and crafters participating. On Wednesday and Saturday the entire market is open with over 200 local farmers and crafters participating. This is a must see to believe In addition to fresh fruit and vegetables, they have very inexpensive cut flower arrangements. The problem with this Farmers Market is the lack of parking in the area. This is especially a problem on Wednesday and Friday when the entire market is open. It is located at the corner of Kamehameha Ave & Mamo Street. Kamehameha ave. runs parallel to the belt rood, but around 200 ft north of it. It is around two miles west of the 0 mile marker on Hwy 95. Keauhou Shopping Center Farmers Market On Saturdays 8:00 am until 12:00 noon I haven t been to this farmers market, but included it here because I recommended other events and merchants in or near this shopping center. Things to Do When You re in Ocean View 9

10 Naalehu Naalehu is the closest town to Ocean View. It is located 13 miles north east from Ocean View in the direction of Hilo. All of the places I suggest are located near the Belt Road 64 mile marker. It features a Farmers Market on Wednesday and Saturdays, a great bakery, and a restaurant with good food. Waiohinu: Monkey Pod Tree Mark Twain Naalehu is a small village located on the belt road A couple miles before you get Naalehu. (Around the 66 mile marker) In 1866 Mark Twain spent four months in Hawaii and much of that time was on the Big Island in the village of Waiohinu. While he was there he planted a monkey pod tree. The tree blew down in 1957, but a shoot from it was replanted, and a mature monkey pod tree now stands along the main road where Mark Twain planted the original tree. Restaurants in Naalehu Both of the restaurants mentioned here are located near the 64 mile marker. Panalu u Bakery The Punalu u Bakery is the southernmost bakery in the U.S.A. It has a varied menu of plate lunches, sandwiches, vegetarian fare, fresh garden and fruit salads, and lots of sweet bakery favorites. Some of our friends stop to buy something every time they drive by. They are best known for their pastries and breads, which are wonderful. We especially like their raisin breads to make French toast. Outside the bakery is a park type setting with outside tables in two gazebos. The park setting has a wide variety of tropical palms, flowers, fragrance and culinary gardens, and other floral exotica from Hawaii. This is one of the places we pick up sandwiches on our way to one of the local beaches for lunch. Near the 64 mile marker Mamalahoa Hwy Naalehu, HI Things to Do When You re in Ocean View 10

11 Hana Hou Restaurant Hana Hou Restaurant is advertised as the Southern-most restaurant in the USA. They have a full menu offering breakfast, lunch and dinner, with daily specials including soups, salads, and local favorite. This is one of the places we go for lunch or to pick up sandwiches for lunch at the beach. They are located across the Belt Road from the Punalu u Bakery and Ace Hardware. Near the 64 mile marker Na alehu Spur Rd - Na alehu, HI Things to Do When You re in Ocean View 11

12 Beaches As you would expect in Hawaii, there are lots of beaches and most of them don t have potable water. So, you should get into the habit of carrying something to drink. Ho okena State Park & Beach This is one of our favorite beaches for kicking back and relaxing, snorkeling, and sometimes swimming with the dolphins. There are several free showers, public toilets, equipment rentals, and some picnic areas. Most days there are a couple professional kayak fishermen that launch from here and come back in with their catch a little before noon. I ve seen them come in with mahi mahi, ono (wahoo), yellow fin tuna, and other local fish that I don t know the names of. They usually sell their catch to some of the local restaurants, but if you ask they may sell one to you. We usually go here on Monday, Wednesday, or Friday mornings, have a picnic lunch and head home in the early afternoon. Some people camp overnight, but they usually do it on nights with a full moon because it can get very dark here. This is a very popular beach on weekends and you usually can t find parking, let alone a place to relax. Sometimes the spinner dolphins are in the harbor, but not always. Feb 2 nd 2015 When we got to Ho okena around 9:00 am the spinner dolphins were there along with three humpback whales. They were still there when we left around 2:00 pm The dolphins were swimming with the snorkelers while the whales were farther out ( yards offshore). The whales were putting on a show by blowing, sounding, flapping their tails, and rolling over. Then one of them came in to around yards offshore to swim with the snorkelers and dolphins it stayed in close for minutes. When the whale came in to swim with the dolphins and people it slowed down and seemed to be careful not to hurt anyone. One of the snorkelers said people were holding onto the whales fins and were being pulled along. That s a no-no because they are wild animals and you can get hurt. Humpback whales migrate to Hawaii each year during the winter months of December-April During that time the leeward waters of Maui County has the world s densest humpback whale population. Every year, over 10,000 humpbacks migrate to the warm, shallow waters of Maui to birth their young. Directions: Some people hike from the City of Refuge to Ho okena Beach, but I haven t tried to. They are only three miles apart but the walk is a little over five miles. To drive there: Turnoff of the Belt Road around the 101 mile marker (this is 3 miles closer to Ocean View than the City of Refuge turnoff). Then drive 3 miles down a narrow paved road to the beach. When you get to the houses, turn left into a narrow road that goes around 100 yards to the parking lot and beach (there is a sign, but most people miss it the first time there). Things to Do When You re in Ocean View 12

13 Panalu u Black Sand Beach This is a nice place to have a picnic. The main attraction is the Sea Turtles that come ashore to bask in the sun. The come up on the beach with the bathers and picnickers. The beach has a large amount of underground fresh water that flows under it. This fresh water is very cold and legend has it that in the time of drought, the ancient Hawaiians would dive underwater with a jug to get fresh water. The south end of the beach has some picnic facilities and a toilet. The north end of the beach has a couple porta-potties. In the middle of the beach are a few shops, but they are mostly souvenirs. The last time I checked there was no snack-bar open. You should bring drinking water. The swimming area is very rocky, and it can be dangerous to swim. There is also a nine hole golf course near the park. The turnoff for Black Sand beach is 22 miles north east from Ocean View, which is between mile Marker 56 and 57. Whittington Beach & Park It is almost always a bright and sunny spot with beautiful ocean, cliff and tidal views. The small, 1 acre park has picnic facilities including shelters, picnic tables, fire pits, grills and bathrooms. It is also a popular place to camp overnight. However, there is no drinking water at the park. Each year St. Jude s has one of their church services at this beach. Some weekends the hula group that practices at St. Jude s does fundraisers here. You can buy hot dogs, shaved ice cones, and enjoy some great hula dancing. The turnoff to the Whittington Beach is located 16.5 miles north east of Ocean View between mile Marker 60 and 61. History: The land currently occupied by the park was once the village of Honu'apo. The bay in front of the park is Honu'apo Bay and it, along with other nearby bays such as Punalu'u were hit by the 1868 tsunami. The wave completely wiped out Honu'apo village as well as much of the road though this area. In 1870's sugar cane mills were built in the bay. The bay was dredged and a wharf constructed in 1883 to ship the sugar. In 1946 Another tsunami destroyed most of the landings and warf at Honu'apo leaving the ruined skeleton of a structure that still stands today. Things to Do When You re in Ocean View 13

14 Two Step Beach This beach is located next to The City of Refuge park and you can look down onto the beach from the park. This is a small secluded beach that is very popular for families with small children because it has a sandy beach that is protected from the waves. It is also a very good snorkeling and shore-diving areas. It is considered by some to be one of the top 5 snorkel beaches in the state and you often see dive boats anchored offshore. There is very little parking here; so, you may have to offload your beach chairs and picnic supplies and then drive back into the Place of Refuge to park. Directions: Turn of the Belt Road between 103 to 104 mile marker into route 160 (City of Refuge Road) drive 3 ½ miles, turn left onto the Honaunau Beach Road and drive 0.2 miles, around 200 ft. before you get to the park gate, there is a small one way road that leads off to the right and the beach is 100 yards down that road. Places You Must See: St. Benedict's better known as the Painted Church This Church dates back to the early 1840s and like many buildings in the tropics; the weather decayed the structure until it was unusable. In 1899 Father John Berchmans Velge moved to the church and restored it to like-new condition. Father John was reported to be an excellent teacher and a self-taught artist. Since many of his followers couldn t read, he used his art skills to paint the interior walls of the church with scenes from the Bible to help with his teaching. His biblical murals soon became famous, and St. Benedict Church became known as "The Painted Church". St. Benedict Church is unique in American Art and has become a tourist attraction where thousands of visitors come every year. It is listed in the Hawaii State Register of Historical Places and the National Register of Historical Places. The painted church is only one mile off of the Belt Road; so, it s an easy stop any time you are going to/from Kona. Directions: Turn off the Belt Road between 103 to 104 mile marker into route 160 (City of Refuge Road). This is around 25 miles from Ocean View. Drive a little over one mile down the City of Refuge road and turn right onto the Painted Church Road. The church is 0.3 miles up that road. Things to Do When You re in Ocean View 14

15 City of Refuge or Place of Refuge Pu uhonua O Honaunau National Historical Park (City of Refuge or Place of Refuge) is a 180-acre park preserving what's left of an ancient Hawaiian royal residence, a sacred place of refuge. Among the original artifacts on the site are petroglyphs and a 16th-century wall. In ancient times, Hawaiians lived under strict laws. Commoners could not get too close to the chief, nor were they allowed to touch any of his possessions, walk in his footsteps or even let their shadows touch the royal grounds. The penalty for violating a sacred kapu (taboo) was death. Breaking a kapu was believed to incur the wrath of the gods. Hawaiians often chased down an offender and swiftly put him to death unless he could reach a puuhonua, or place of refuge. There he could be absolved by a kahuna (priest) in a purification ceremony, then return home with his transgression forgiven. Defeated warriors and non-combatants could also find refuge here during times of battle. There are lectures, shows, and pictures. This is a great place to walk around and see some of the ancient works and get a feel of what it was like a several hundred years ago. Sometimes there are demonstrations showing how they weave baskets or even hollow out a Koa log to make an ocean going canoe. This is also a great place to relax and share a picnic lunch. Directions: Turn of the Belt Road between 103 to 104 mile marker into route 160 (City of Refuge Road) drive 3 ½ miles, turn left onto the Honaunau Beach Road and drive 0.2 miles to the park gate. This is a federal park with the usual entry fees. Volcano Park - Kilauea Visitor Center One thing everyone should do when they visit the Big Island is spend some time at the Volcano National Park. If you stay after dark you can see the glow from the hot lava. The Volcano House Hotel has been recently remodeled and although I have walked through the hotel I haven t stayed there. Likewise, the restaurant was remodeled and features a new menu Here is their advertisement: The Rim, the newly refurbished restaurant at Volcano House, overlooks the rim of Kilauea caldera and showcases spectacular views of billowing Halema uma u Crater. Creative island cuisine highlights the best of Hawaii Island s bounty through seasonal specials; at least 95% of the restaurant s meat, seafood, fruit and vegetables are bought from local ranchers, farmers and suppliers. Things to Do When You re in Ocean View 15

16 The Rim Restaurant has a spectacular view of the Halema uma u Crater and at night you can see the glow from the volcano dining area. I haven t eaten here, but friends have told me it is an excellent place to eat. I think a very memorable dinner would be to have a wonderful meal here at sunset so you can see the glow of the volcano in the distance. Picture from advertisement There are lots of interesting presentations, tours, and pictures about Hawaiian volcanoes. One of the tours is called A Walk into the Past and this is the one I always try to take my guests to. It takes you back in time to 1912, when the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory was first opened by Professor Thomas Jaggar. The tour guide is dresses in authentic 1912 clothes and the tour is presented as if he is Professor Jaggar showing you his latest and greatest seismic monitoring equipment, which he is so very proud of. He walks you around the ground and explains what it was like in Then he takes you down into the room built to monitor seismic activities and shows you some of the delicate seismic monitoring equipment that was actually used in 1912 to monitor volcano seismic activity Professor Jaggar (by Dick Hershberger) This tour is led by Dick Hershberger from Ocean View. Dick is better known in Ocean View for his directing/acting in community theaters, member and MC for the Last Fling Band, Coordinator of the Senior Nutritional Program, and coordinator of the HOVE neighborhood watch. Now I also know Dick as Professor Jaggar. If you can, you should do this tour several times because it is a little different each time he does it. Dick says he has a much bigger script for this show than he had for any of his other acting rolls, and this gives him the flexibility to change the dialog to fit the question/interests of each audience. You need to do a little planning to get on this tour because it is only available every other Tuesday, at 10 a.m., noon and 2 p.m. The tour starts at the Volcano National Park Visitor Center. There is no charge for the tour, but park entrance fees do apply. The turnoff to Volcano National Park is 46 miles North East from Ocean View which is between the 30 and 31 mile marker. South Point South Point is the southern-most place in the USA. It s located at the southern tip of the island and without mountains to stop the winds, they blow most of the time. Since the prevailing winds are from east to west the trees in the area are affected by the winds. This tree is located beside the road going to South Point. All of the branches on the tree are on the downwind side (west) of the trunk. Things to Do When You re in Ocean View 16

17 Parking at South Point isn t as good as the road. It is on unimproved lava rock and sometimes you need someone to get out and guide you through the rough spots. That s why some people park feet from the parking area and walk in. Also, even if you make it to the parking area you might have problems getting out. One time we were there and someone parked on the only road in-out of the parking area and everyone had to wait until they decided to leave before anyone else could get out. There are no facilities or shops at South Point, but sometimes there are people selling handicraft souvenirs. Cindy Coots wrote a nice article in the March St. Jude s newsletter about one of her trips hers. A bunch of Humpback whales were there putting on a show. If you ever see whales sounding and flipping you ll wonder how something larger than a school bus can move and jump so easily. Also, that something that large seems to play with each other. I haven t been at South Point when they were in, but have seen them playing at Ho okena beach and when we were there one of them even came in and swam with the snorkelers. One thing you often see are people jumping off of the cliffs and plunging feet down to the water. It is a sheer cliff down to the water and a long climb back up a wobbly metal ladder. I would like to say this is some crazy kid from the area jumping, but this crazy kid is actually Beverly s grandson Matthew who visited us in The first picture was taken by Rev. Dennis Maynard and I took the other two. Close to where they jump off of the cliff there is also a blowhole that some folks jump into. If you make this jump successfully you have to swim out a tunnel, that s sometimes submerged, to the ocean and then swim to the ladder. If the current is too swift and you can t make it to the ladder, I ve been told that the current will usually carry you to a small beach a mile or so west of the jump point and from there you can climb the cliffs and walk back to South Point. They said usually, and I couldn t get any clarification on what the alternative was if the current didn t carry you to the small beach. Actually there is often someone fishing from a boat off of south point. Most of the times you will see several people fishing here and I ve seen some with bagged fish but haven t actually seen anyone actually pulling a fish up the feet from the water to the top of the cliffs. The biggest fish I saw here was a yellow fin tuna about 4 feet long. There re usually strong winds blowing here and the fishermen use those winds to help get their bait feet offshore. They use a variation on Kite Fishing where they inflate a large plastic Things to Do When You re in Ocean View 17

18 garbage bag with air and attach the inflated bag to their fishing line to act like the kite. The wind carries the bag and fishing line several hundred feet offshore. I haven t seen a lot of catching activity here, but my brother Ray told me that one time when they were here there was a school of bait fish here with mahi mahi feeding off of them. The fishermen were having a great time catching the mahi mahi. Above are a few pictures of people fishing at South Point. Directions: The South Point Road turnoff is located between the 69 and 70 mile marker of the Belt Road. Turn south and drive 10 miles south on a narrow road. The first time we tried to go to South Point we turned back because the road was so bad, but it was repaired and resurfaced in 2012 and now it is a fairly easy drive. Kona Kona is where we do most of our shopping. Our main reason for choosing Kona over Hilo is because Kona has a Costco store and Hilo doesn t. The drive to Hilo is longer; however, it has much better roads and the drive is easier. Along the Drive to/from Kona Coffee Shack This is a great place to stop for breakfast as you drive to Kona or for lunch as you drive home. You can t miss it as you drive by it because it s located next to the road and its parking lot is always full with overflow cars parked along the sides of the road. They have wonderful breakfast and lunches. They are known for their eggs Benedict. Their waitstaff are polite, hardworking, and efficient. It is built on a coffee plantation and the view from their lanai is along 25 miles of coastline. The Coffee Shack is located between the 108 and 109 mile markers. The only negative for this restaurant is the lack of parking. South Kona Fruit Stand This is worth stopping to see. Very clean and nice fruit stand with a huge variety of fruit, some pastries, smoothies too, and coffee. My two problems with this stand (1) the workers are constantly trying to sell you something and I hate high pressure sales tactics (2) the prices are way too high. Things to Do When You re in Ocean View 18

19 Located on the north side of the Belt Road between the 103 and 104 mile markers. Places to Shop in Kona Costco This is the only Costco store on the big island and is where we do most of our shopping. Some people living in Hilo drive to Kona to do their major shopping at Costco. Walmart, Ross s, Home Depot, Lowe s, etc. Kona has many of the same stores you will find and almost any medium to large American town. I won t try to elaborate on that. However, you should be ready for the stores to have empty shelve and you might not find things where you think they should be located. For example, the last time I went to Walmart to buy coffee filters I couldn t find them. I finally asked and was told they decided it was silly to put them with the coffee because they weren t food; so, they moved them to small appliances near the coffee pots. Farmers Market Open Wednesdays through Sundays, 7:00 am to 4:00 pm. This is a great place to buy fresh local fruit and handicraft items. They have a huge selection of locally-grown produce, flowers, handmade arts and crafts, Kona coffee and a whole lot more See complete write up on page 9. Restaurants There are lots of good places to eat in Kona and you can find out about them in the guide books. The restaurants listed here are the ones we usually eat at when we are in Kona. Quinn s almost by the Seaside This is our favorite place to go for lunch. They don t have a nice ocean view, but they do have a nice covered garden lanai where we like to eat. They also have inside air conditioned dining, but we have never used it. The first time we went there I ask the waitress if the fish was fresh and she said An hour ago it was still on the fishing boat. We get our fish fresh off of the boat and clean it our self. Their Fish Of The Day is usually Ono (yahoo) which is a light colored mild flavored fish. They usually have mahi mahi available if you prefer it. They have good hamburgers and sandwiches and daily lunch and dinner specials. Parking is limited in this area, but you can park across the street in the King Kamehameha Kona Beach Hotel parking lot. Take your parking ticket with you to Quinn s, and they will put a sicker on your parking ticked good for one hour free parking. Quinn s is located three blocks down Palana Rd. from the Belt Road at the intersection where Palana Rd. meets Alii Dr. The 122 mile marker in the Belt Road is.4 miles south of this Things to Do When You re in Ocean View 19

20 intersection, but the mile markers around this intersection may be a little confusing because this is where three highways that make up the Belt Road intersects Hwy 11, Hwy 19, and Hwy 190. As you drive down Palana Rd. from the Belt Rd. you can see Quinn s green roof on the left side as you approach. The King Kamehameha Kona Beach Hotel is on the right, as Palana Rd. turns to the left and changes into Alii Dr Palani Road * Kailua-Kona, Hawaii * (808) Kona Brewery & Pub Maybe this is our favorite place instead of Quinn s I guess maybe it s a toss-up. The reason I say both restaurants are our favorites is because their foods are very different. We go to Quinn s for their fresh seafood while Kona Brewers is known for their beer, pizza, sandwiches, and much more. Kone Brewers is larger than Quinn s and much more popular. They have a large menu and we ve liked everything we have tried. They have a beer of the week, and a pizza slice of the day. The beer is cold and served in a mug. The slice of the day is a large slice of pizza and it comes with a side. For a side you should try their Spinach Salad with Strawberry Vinaigrette dressing. Another one you should try is their Papaya Slaw they shred green papayas and make it into a slaw (much like cabbage slaw). They also have the best nachos I have found in the area. The dough for their pizza and sandwiches are made using the yeast from brewing their beer. Although it isn t on their menu, you can buy the raw pizza dough to make your own pizza at home it can be frozen until you need it. Directions: From the Belt Road you turn south onto Kaiwi St. (Located half way between Makela Blvd and Palana Rd.). Drive three blocks (around 0.5 miles) down Kaiwa St. then turn left onto Pawia Place and drive 0.2 miles to the restaurant (located at the end of the road). They have a free tour of their facilities that ends up in the restaurant sampling several of their beers. It s worth taking the tour History: Kona Brewing Company introduced Pacific Golden Ale (now called Big Wave Golden Ale) and Fire Rock Pale Ale in Today their beers are widely distributed throughout Hawaii, making Kona the top selling craft beer in the islands. It is also sold in 36 states and 9 other countries. Bongo Ben s Island Café This restaurant has great food and a beautiful view of the ocean. They were voted Kona's Best Breakfast for Their Eggs Benedict is great, but they usually stop serving it before breakfast time is over because they run out of their homemade Hollandaise Sauce. They have an extensive breakfast, lunch, and dinner menu includes daily specials and the catch of the day I haven t tried all of their offerings, but those I did try were very good. Until we found Quinn s, this was our favorite place for fish and chips and their coconut crusted shrimp is great. Beverly loves their Hula Chicken Sandwich. Things to Do When You re in Ocean View 20

21 Directions: It is located on Alii Drive, which amble along the coast and as you drive through the Kona Village you will see various shops, the Farmer Market, and hotels. A nice drive through the area is to turn off of the Belt Road on Palana Rd. three blocks down Palana you will pass Quinn s Almost by the Seaside restaurant. At that point Palana circles left (south) and become Alii Dr. Around 0.5 miles into the drive you will see the Kona Farmers Market on the left and 0.25 farther you will come to Bongo Bens (also on the left). Immediately after you pass Bongo Bens there is a driveway into the parking behind the restaurant. They are located in Kona Village Alii Dr. around 0.25 mile south of the Kona Farmers Market. Bianelli's Gourmet Pizza & Pasta They feature great Italian food, pasta, pizza, calzone, sandwiches and much more. We usually order one regular Calzone and split it between us. They aren t open for lunch, but they are in the same shopping center as the monthly Keauhou Shopping Center Concert; so, we usually have dinner here and then go to the other end of the shopping center to watch the concert. Usually during dinner I realize that I forgot to bring the two cans of food which is the entry fee for the concert. The KTA market is next door to Bianelli s so I stop by there to buy my canned goods before going to the concert. Directions: Turn south west off of the Belt Road onto Kamehameha III Road (Keauhou Bay Turnoff which is located between the 117 and 118 mile markers. Go 1.5 miles to the 2 nd stoplight, Turn right onto Laii Drive, go one block and turn right into the Keauhou Shopping Center. The KTA Market and Bianelli s restaurant is located at the southern end of the shopping center. The theatre, Longs Drugstore, and the monthly Keauhou Shopping Center are located at the north end of the shopping center Alii Drive, #B-106 Kailua Kona, HI Aloha Fridays The setting for this restaurant within the Kona Coast Resort is very pleasant. It has a nice view just above the pool and an ocean and golf course view. They have a fairly large menu for a poolside restaurant and also have a nice bar with a happy hour, and on weekend they have live entertainment. My favorite is their French Dip Sandwich made with Smoked Prime Rib. This restaurant is owned and operated by Bill & Beth DeVaney who are members of St. Jude s; however, we don t see them very often because their restaurant is open 7 days a week. In addition to that Bill is a very busy general contractor. Directions: Turn south west off of the Belt Road onto Kamehameha III Road (Keauhou Bay Turnoff which is located between the 117 and 118 mile markers. Go 1.5 miles to the 2 nd stoplight, Turn right onto Laii Drive, go one block and turn left. Immediately turn left again into the Kona Coast Resort. Go 100 yards to a circle, turn right and then circle to your left (downhill). Near the bottom Things to Do When You re in Ocean View 21

22 of the hill you can see three flagpoles which indicate the resort office. The restaurant is located near the office, by the flagpolesl. They are below the Keauhou Shopping Center Sam Choy s Sam Choy s restaurant is situated above the Keauhou Shopping Center and it has a spectacular view extending all the way to Kailua town about 5 miles away. The location is hard to beat for a romantic sunset dinner. They serve breakfast lunch and dinner. Since there is such a spectacular view, the restaurant is open to the outside and many of the tables are outside overlooking the ocean which is good unless it starts to rain. Their food is a cross between Hawaiian and Chinese. They use fresh local products in their dishes and many of their dishes were created by Sam Choy. Of the restaurants listed here, this is probably my least favorite, but it is something worth doing. One of their breakfast dishes is a Beef Stew Omelet which I thought was quite unique. Directions: Turn south west off of the Belt Road) onto Kamehameha III Road (Keauhou Bay Turnoff which is located between the 117 and 118 mile markers. Go 1.2 miles to the 1 st stop light. You can see Sam Choy s on the right side of the road. Sets above the Keauhou Shopping Center. Teshima's Restaurant If you want to experience a piece of Hawaiian history while having a relaxed Japanese meal, this is the place to go. They are friendly, clean, and have some great Japanese food, but sometimes it has a unique Hawaiian/American twist. The first time I ate here I saw Fried Rice Omelet listed on their menu and had to try it because I had never even considered that combination it was quite good. The local Rotary meets here and Grandma Teshima was an honorary member. In 2007, in honor of her 100th birthday, members of the rotary club helped her set up the Mrs. Shizuko Teshima Scholarship. The perpetual scholarship provides $1,000 to a Konawaena High School senior to help further their education. They are located on the hill side of the Belt Road between the 113 and 114 mile markers Mamalahoa Hwy Holualoa, HI History: In 1899 Goichi Hanato came to Hawaii from Japan and opened a store and tofu shop. He married in 1905 and their daughter Mary Shizuko took over the business in In 1929, Mary and her husband Fumio Harry Teshima opened a general store in South Kona, aptly named F. Teshima Store. They started making and serving ice cream and then added other foods to their menu. By the 1940s, the store was mostly a restaurant and during WWII, GIs eating their ice cream taught her how to make hamburgers. The store evolved into a restaurant with a focus on Japanese and local Hawaiian cuisine. Sometime around 1957 Mary Teshima became known as Grandma Teshima. Grandma Teshima died in 2013 when she was 106 years old. The restaurant is still a family business run mostly by her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. Things to Do When You re in Ocean View 22

23 Royal Thai Cafe Located in the Keauhou Shopping Center They have authentic Thai cuisine like Pad Thai, Pineapple Fried Rice, Thai Curries and several Sizzling Hot Plates. Most dishes come with rice; however, they also have fried noodle dishes. I ve been told their spring rolls are great and although I haven t tried them, I will the next time I eat there. If you aren t familiar with Thai food, it is similar to Chinese, but it is usually a little sweeter and lighter. They don t use much Soy Sauce or brown sauces. They mostly use oyster sauce and fish sauce to make a lighter flavored white sauce. When you order they will ask you how hot (spicy) you want foods. I had medium and I could taste some spice, but too much. I have eaten in Thai restaurants where their HOT went well past hot into hurt. Los Habaneros or Habaneros Grill The big island is not known for having good Mexican restaurants, but the ones listed here are considered, by some, to be a couple of their better ones. If you look on the internet you will find many reviews where people think these have some of the best they have ever ate at and others who think they are so bad they will never go back. I believe this is mostly because different areas in the USA have very different types of Mexican food and your definition of good Mexican food is whatever you were raised with. I was raised in California; so, I grew up knowing what good Mexican food is (or at least what I consider good Mexican food is). Then I moved to the Middle East and there was only one Mexican restaurant in the area. If you haven t had Mexican food cooked by a Pakistani and seasoned Arab style you don t know what bad Mexican food is. When I returned to the good old USA I lived in Texas and I still couldn t find any of that good California style Mexican Food. What I did find was lots of TexMex which is very different than California style Mexican food, but it turned out to be quite good. Sometimes being able to order your favorite dish makes it a good restaurant. A dish I liked when I was growing up in California was Chimichanga which is like a deep-fried burrito. These are popular in California and along the West coast of Mexico, but not in Texas or the east coast of Mexico. I ask several restaurants in Texas if they had Chimichangas and they didn t even know what they were. There are two Habaneros restaurants in Hilo. The one in the Keauhou shopping center is a fast food restaurant that has been open for over 10 years. In mid 2014 they opened a second restaurant located a block south of the Kona Village and Bongo Ben s restaurant. The newer restaurant is more upscale and definitely is not a Fast Food restaurant. Both restaurants brag about using fresh local produce to make their dishes. Although I haven t tried it, many reviewers say their Mole Sauce is some of the best they have ever had. They also get rave reviews on their Ceviche. Things to Do When You re in Ocean View 23

24 Los Habaneros Grill - Keauhou Shopping Center (fast food) This is fast food casual dining with a setup something like Taco Bell. You place your order and pay for it at the counter and then wait until they prepare it for you. I think their food is better than Taco Bell, but not up to a family restaurant quality. They have Fast Food type Mexican dishes that are made using fresh local products. Their food isn t made ahead of time; so, when you order a dish, the cook starts preparing it. This takes a little longer, but I think it s worth it. The only time I ve eaten here is during lunch and they were very busy. There were around 10 orders ahead of us; so, it took minutes before our food was ready. The restaurant was crowded with only eight tables inside and several more outside. They have been open over 10 years and because of their popularity they decided to open the family type restaurant discussed below.. They have Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner. Monday to Thursday 10 am to 8:30 pm. Friday & Saturday 10 am to 9 pm. Sunday 11am to 8 pm. Breakfast menu available from 9:am until 11:am. Includes Huevos Rancheros, Mexican style Eggs, Egg & Chorizo Burrito, and Egg, Rice, Cheese & Salsa Burrito. Lunch/Dinner items are available all day. This include Burritos, Nachos, Tostadas, Taco Salads, Quesadillas, Hard & Soft Tacos, Enchiladas and Chimichangas. Daily specials include Fajita Burritos (Mon.), Chile Rellenos (Tues.), Tamales (Wed.), Tequitos (Thurs.). Shrimp Vallarata (Fri.), and Fajitas (Sat.). Los Habaneros Grill corner of Walua Rd & Alii Dr (family restaurant) Walua Rd Kailua-Kona, HI Hours: Monday through Saturday 11am - 9pm Happy Hours 3pm - 6pm We haven t eaten here, but it is on our short list of places we want to try This is a new restaurant opened in mid 2014 by the owners of the fast food Los Habaneros Grill, but it is definitely not a fast food restaurant. The prices are in line with many other restaurants in the area with lunch Items ranging from $12 to $19 and dinner ranging from $14 to $29 (Rack of Lamb). It is located a block south of the Kona Village and Bongo Ben s restaurant. Before opening, they completely remodeled the building. It is a family owned restaurant and they say they serve both the Traditional Mexican dishes along with some contemporary flavors of Mexico. One of their contemporary flavors of Mexico is called Chiles En Nogada ($18) and it is on my Have To Try list. It is a dish popular in Puebla, a region in the southern part of Mexico. In Things to Do When You re in Ocean View 24

25 Pueblo the dish is made by stuffing a poblano chili with Picadillo (seasoned meat hash) then it is topped with a walnut pomegranate sauce. This Hawaiian version is made by stuffing a poblano pepper with Picadillo (ground beef, pork, peaches, pears, apple, ginger candy, raisins, cinnamon, garlic, onion & tomato) and it is served topped with a macadamia cream sauce. The ingredients in their picadillo sounds more like a Cuban picadillo than a Mexican one to me, but maybe that s how they make it in Pueblo. Probably the reason this is so high on my have to try list is because, from reading the ingredients, I can t figure out what it will taste like. I mentioned earlier that many people think their Mole Sauce is some of the best they have ever tasted Poblano Mole Sauce originated in the same region in southern Mexico that the Chiles En Nogada comes from. Annie s Island Fresh Burgers Annie's is a great place to get that burger you've been craving. The menu has a verity of burgers from a basic, through several specialty burgers and even a couple vegetarian burgers. They were voted the best burger in West Hawaii 2011, 2012, and Their prices are a little higher the other restaurants on my list with their basic hamburger at $13.50 and the others are $ They are located on the ocean side of the Belt Road near the 113 mile marker between the 112 and 113 mile markers. In the Mango Court Plaza next to Island Naturals Mamalahoa Hwy. #105 Kealakekua, HI Organic Produce & Natural Foods Stores There s some confusion about the Island Natural Market & Deli. There are four stores on the big island with that name, but I m not sure they are still owned by the same people or corporation. Island Natural Market and Deli This is the store I go to. They are a little larger than the others and have a better selection. Also, the have some bulk items food items. They feature local and organic produce, groceries, refrigerated and frozen items, beer, wine, meat, fish, and bulk products. And their deli has a variety of freshly made ready-to-eat food. They have vitamins, supplements and natural body care items and green household products. If the vog form the volcano bothers you, ask if they have Vog Relief. It is a natural herbal relief from vog that is used by many locals Directions: From the Belt Road turn south onto Kaiwi St. (Located half way between Makela Blvd and Palana Rd.). Drive 1 1/2 blocks down Kaiwa St. The store is located on the left (south) side of the street. This is the same stret you would use to get to Kona Brewers Restaurant Kaiwi St, Kailua Kona, HI Between Alapa St and Luhia St Things to Do When You re in Ocean View 25

26 Kona Natural Foods I haven t been in this store lately; so, here is what they say about their selves. Their main store is located in Waimea and it is much larger. We are here to provide the Waimea community and our visitors with the finest quality fresh, natural, and organic whole foods, nutritional supplements, body care products, and health information in a friendly, safe environment. Our store offers our famous sandwiches,salads and smoothies as well as specials. We use organic ingredients whenever available and the finest natural local ingredients. Products & Services Body Care, Breads & Pastries, Bulk Foods, Coffee, and Cookies Directions: From the Belt Road you turn north onto Henery st (around the 122 mile marker). It is located in the Safeway parking lot which is the second left turn from the Belt Road Henry St, Ste 105, Kailua Kona,HI Ruderman-Russel: Island Natural Market and Deli They feature local and organic produce, groceries, refrigerated and frozen items, beer, wine, meat, fish, and bulk products. And their deli has a variety of freshly made ready-to-eat food. They have vitamins, supplements and natural body care items and green household products. If the vog form the volcano bothers you, ask if they have Vog Relief. It is a natural herbal relief from vog that is used by many locals.. They are located on the ocean side of the Belt Road near the 113 mile marker between the 112 and 113 mile markers. In the Mango Court Plaza next to Annie s Island Fresh Burger Mamalahoa Hwy Kealakekua, HI Shopping Centers Keauhou Shopping Center This is our closest shopping center. It is around 40 miles from Ocean View and it will probably take you around 1 hour to drive here. The two largest stores in this shopping center are a KTA grocery store and Longs Drugstore. We shop at both of these and have found Longs to have the best price on wine (when it is on sale). To get their sale price you need a CVS loyalty card which is free at the counter if you don t have one. They also have a nice movie theatre, a free concert each month, and several of the restaurants mentioned above are in or near here. Directions: Turn south west off of the Belt Road onto Kamehameha III Road (Keauhou Bay Turnoff which is located between the 117 and 118 mile markers. Go 1.5 miles to the 2 nd stoplight, Turn right onto Laii Drive, go one block and turn right into the Keauhou Shopping Center. Things to Do When You re in Ocean View 26

27 Hilo The drive between Ocean View and Hilo is longer than the drive to Kona, but the roads are much better which makes it an easier and safer drive. If Hilo had a Costco store we would probably opt for the longer drive to Hilo to do most of our shopping. Along the Drive to/from Hilo Akatsuka Orchid Gardens This is located a little over half way to Hilo and is a great place to stop and walk around. Thay are open from 9:30 am - 5:00 pm They have a large selection of orchids with tours of their gardens. They also have many other tropical plants including Anthuriums, Bromeliads and some tropical cut flower arrangements. They ship to anywhere in the US Mainland. They are located on the south side of the Belt Road between the 22 and 23 mile marker. Near the intersection of Volcano Rd and Kahaualea Rd Volcano Rd, Volcano, HI Places to Shop in Hilo Walmart, Home Depot, Lowe s, etc. Hilo has many of the same stores you will find and almost any medium to large American town, but it doesn t have a Costco the only Costco on the Big Island is located in Kona. Farmers Market Part of this market is open every day from 7:00 am until 4:00 pm with over 30 farmers and crafters participating in the market. On Wednesday and Saturday the entire market is open with over 200 local farmers and crafters participating See the full write up on page 9. Things to Do When You re in Ocean View 27

28 Restaurants Two of my favorite restaurants in Hilo are located within two blocks of the Farmers Market. Pineapples Restaurant It is an open air restaurant located in the bottom floor of the historic Pineapple Building. I don t know why it s called the historic Pineapple Building, but it is old and has pineapples painter around the top of the building. Everything we have had here is fresh and delicious - it is clean and has good service. Some of the people eating near us lived in the area and this is one of their regulars. It is advertised as having island-inspired fresh cuisine, including local caught fish, Big Island beef, farm fresh fruits and vegetables. They also have locally-produced beers, specialty cocktails and a comprehensive wine list. They have live entertainment from local artists and musicians - Tuesdays through Sundays starting at 6:30pm until????. We are haven t been here during any of their entertainment hours. Historic Pineapple Building Painting of Pineapples Restaurant It is located two blocks up Mamo st (west) from the farmers market at the corner of Keawa and Mamo. 332 Keawe Street - Hilo, Hawaii Hours: Tuesday Sunday at 11:00 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Closed on Mondays. It is located around two miles west of the 0 mile marker which is where Hwy 11 and Hwy 95 intersect. It is near the corner of Kamehameha Ave & Mamo Street. Kamehameha ave runs parallel to the belt rood, but around 200 ft north of it. The restaurant is two blocks up Mamo Street from the Farmers Market Café Pesto Café Pesto has two locations. The one we always go to is their Cafe Pesto Kawaihae Location. The place is clean, the service is good, and the food is great. The menu features fresh local seafood, exotic pizzas, colorful eclectic salads and Asian inspired pastas and risottos. Comment From one of their customer: I highly recommend Cafe Pesto if you are looking for a more upscale meal. The menu is large with lots of local twists on Italian standards. There were lots of seafood food options and I really like the use of local ingredients Things to Do When You re in Ocean View 28

29 whenever possible. Including fresh catch mahi mahi, great shrimp and scallop "stir fry" with citrus pasta that is fresh and slightly spicy. It is located around two miles west of the 0 mile marker which is where Hwy 11 and Hwy 95 intersect. It is on Kamehameha Ave which runs parallel to the Belt Rood, but around 200 ft. north of it. It is less than a block north west of the Farmers Market and is on same side of the street as the market. 308 Kamehameha Ave #101 - Hilo, HI Hilo Bay Café They serve a fusion of Japanese and Hawaiian cuisine using fresh local products. Their covered lanai overlooks beautiful Hilo Bay, old Hilo Town, and the slopes of Mauna Kea. Hours Mon. Thurs. 11:00-9:00 - Fri. Sat. 11:00-9:30 - Sun. 5:00-9:00 Across the street from the Hilo Bay Café are the Liliuokalani Gardens. This 30-acre Japanese garden was dedicated in 1917 as a tribute to Hawaii's first Japanese immigrants who worked in the Hawaii Island sugar cane fields. It is named after Hawaii's last reigning monarch, Queen Liliuokalani. Directions: From the zero mile marker, go west on Hwy 19 around 1/3 mile and turn right onto Lihiwai Street. Drive 100 yards - Hilo Bay Café is on the left side between the road and Hilo Bay. 123 Lihiwai Street Hilo, HI Ken s House of Pancakes Ken s House of Pancakes has been open since 1971 and they ve been voted Best Breakfast 14 years in a row. They consistently have good food, a nice setting, and very friendly staff. They are open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Breakfast is available 24 hours a day, but they have more than pancakes and breakfast. They also have omelets, burgers, prime rib, tacos, and much more. They also have nightly specials every Sunday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. Like Prime Rib, all you can eat taco, all you can eat spaghetti, Paniolo (Hawaiian cowboy) Night, Bar-B-Que d Ribs, and others. We have friends that eat here every time they are in Hilo. I left this restaurant off of the original version of this guide, but when they were featured it on the 5 O clock News I realized my mistake. Dwayne The Rock Johnson was in Hilo and when he dropped by Ken s, where he always goes to get his Pancake Fix, they were closed. They close one day every six months to do cleaning, repairs, and painting that can t be done when they have customers in the restaurant. Directions: They are easy to find because they are located at the corner where Hwy 11 and 19 meet. On the belt road they are located at the Zero Mile Marker for Hwy 11 and Hwy Kamehameha Ave. Hilo, HI Phone: (808) Things to Do When You re in Ocean View 29

30 Concerts / Plays in Kona Hulihe e Place Free Concert Kailua-Kona The concert includes Hawaiian music featuring the Merrie Monarchs men's glee club, Kumu Etua Lopes' Na Pua U`i O Hawai`i hula halau, and other local groups. The concert is usually on the 3th Sunday of each month and starts at 4:00 pm. And you need to bring your own beach mat or chair. We were at a party one Saturday night and several of us were talking about going to the concert the next and Hannah Uribes, the kumu who choreographs the hula dances at St, Jude swas there. The next day at the concert we noticed Hannah and her sister setting at the head table at the concert. She told us she hadn t planned on coming to the concert, but after listening to us talk about it she decided to come and visit with her sister, who is one of the coordinators for the concert. Kona, Hulihe`e Palace was the vacation residence of Hawaiian royalty. Today it is a museum operated by the Daughters of Hawai`i and is a showplace of beautiful furniture and fascinating artifacts The palace was built in 1838 and ownership passed down through a number of Hawaiian royalties. In 1925, Hulihe`e was purchased by the Territory of Hawai`i to be operated as a museum by the Daughters of Hawai`i. Most of the furnishings were originally in the Palace during the Monarchy. Hulihe`e Palace was placed on the National Register of Historic Sites in Across the street from the palace is the Mokuaikaua Church which is the oldest Christian church in the Hawaiian Islands. The congregation was first founded in 1820 by Asa and Lucy Goodale Thurston. The church is still in use and is open to the public for tours. Before and after the Palace performance you can stroll thru historic Kailua Village (the Stroll starts at 1:00 pm & goes till 6:00 pm). You can enjoy ocean-side cafes and restaurants, local musicians & artists. Parts of Alii Drive are blocked off for the Kailua Village Stroll; so, getting around the area and parking can be difficult. Alii runs along the ocean, and A block above (inland) is Kuakini Hwy which you can use. There is parking between Alii and Kuakini, but the free parking fills up fairly fast. From the Belt Road take Henry Street (around the 122 mile marker) south for 3 blocks. It runs into Kuakini Hwy. Turn left on Kuakini Hwy. and then immediately turn right into the next road. Try to find parking in this area because the palace is directly ahead around yards away. The palace is between Alii drive and the ocean. The Hulihe e Palace is located at Alii Drive in Kailua-Kona. Things to Do When You re in Ocean View 30

31 Keauhou Shopping Center Free Monthly Concert Kailua-Kona The Hui Kako`o Concert Series is held at The Keahou Shopping Center on the Last Saturday of each month. It isn t exactly free - admission per person is two cans of food which are given to the Hawai'i Food Basket. The concert starts at 5:00 pm with local Hawaiian music. Then at 6:00 pm one of the professional Hawaiian entertainers will perform. This is a charitable event in support of the local Food Basket; so, some of the top names in Hawaiian entertainment volunteer to perform here. It seems like many of the entertainer have just returned from tours in the lower 48, Europe, or Japan. The concert is set up in the parking lot in front of Longs Drugstore. Seating is limited so you should bring lawn chairs. Since parking is limited on concert nights; we sometimes park near where the concert will be performed, and walk to the other end of the shopping center for dinner. Before the concert we usually have dinner at Bianelli's Gourmet Pizza & Pasta Restaurant, which is located in the southern part of the Keauhou shopping center. Then we go back to the northern part of the shopping center to set up our chairs and enjoy the concert. Eating at Bianelli s is a family tradition for us, but there is 9-10 other places to eat in the area that you may prefer. Including Sam Choi s, Aloha Fridays, Royal Thai Cafe, and Las Habaneros Mexican cuisine mentioned elsewhere in this document plus several others that I haven t tried. Directions: Turn south west off of the Belt Road onto Kamehameha III Road (Keauhou Bay Turnoff which is located between the 117 and 118 mile markers. Go 1.5 miles to the 2 nd stoplight, Turn right onto Laii Drive, go one block and turn right into the Keauhou Shopping Center. The KTA Market and Bianelli s restaurant is located at the southern end of the shopping center. The theatre, Longs Drugstore, and the monthly Keauhou Shopping Center are located at the north end of the shopping center. Also, The Royal Thai Café, Habaneros Grill, and Subways are located near the concert. Aloha Theatre Community Theatre This is a community theatre and they have a large verity of entertainment with something to please everyone. You have to check on the web site to find out what s being presents. The Aloha Theatre first opened in 1932 as a silent movie house. Over the years it became a gathering place for the local area. Since 2003 it has been the home of the Kona Association for the Performing Arts (KAPA). Concerts, plays and performing arts are presented. The Aloha s long legacy of showing films continues and includes art-house films, independent films, and film festivals such as the Hawaiian International Film Festival. The Aloha Angel Cafe adjoins the theatre and offers breakfast, lunch and dinner. They are located on the ocean side of the Belt Road near the 113 mile marker between the 113 and 114 mile markers. Things to Do When You re in Ocean View 31

32 North West Coast - St Columba's Church There are lots of places to see in the northern part of the island, and there s lots of information in the travel books, but here are a few things worth seeing that aren t covered in the tour books. After Fr. Tom and Jean Buechele spent a year helping us revitalizing St. Jude s, they took on the job of replanting St Columba's Episcopal Church which is located in Paauilo, a little over 37 miles north west of Hilo. Around 20 of us drove to St. Columba s for a work day to help get the church ready to open. We needed to do lots of cleaning and some repairs. Since it was a long drive and we didn t know how late we needed to work, Beverly and I decided to stay overnight and drive home the next day. We stayed in Honokaa, which is around 7 miles northwest of the church. It had one hotel and two restaurants (a fast-food and a small Italian), and little else. Honokaa is around 40 miles north of Hilo. The small community of around 2,500 people is a closeknit one with roots going back to the sugar plantation days of more than 100 years ago. The plantations are gone, but the town lives on. The Honokaa residents and surrounding area have tried to maintain their unique sugar plantation lifestyles.. It was dreary and rained all the time we were there, everyone worked hard and everyone was tired at the end of the day, but Beverly and enjoyed the entire trip. The hotel was old, but clean and friendly and we thought the restaurant was wonderful. We considered the entire trip a nice adventure. St. Columba's Episcopal Church This is a beautiful old church which is really worth seeing. It has lots of beautiful natural wood furnishings. It was founded in 1898 and since the 1970s, it has been known as the Filipino Church on the Big Island. When sugar cane harvests stopped in 1996 they were unable to keep the church going. In early 2013, after finishing his commitment at St. Jude s, Fr. Tom Buechele took on the challenge of helping to "replant" St. Columba s. On Easter Sunday 2013 it reopened. Many of the St. Jude s congregation, including Beverly and I, we were there to welcome it back. Things to Do When You re in Ocean View 32

33 St. Columba s is located in Pa'auilo on the Hamakua Coast of the Big Island of Hawai'I, a little over 37 miles north west of Hilo One block of of the Belt Road between 36 & 37 mile marker St Columba's Episcopal Church, Hauola Rd, Paauilo, HI Hotel Honokaa Club This is an old family run hotel that gives you one of those old-world feelings. They are mostly unchanged from sugar cane days; the rooms are retro 1950s style, simple and clean. We had a room in the newer part of the hotel, which was added on in the 40 and 50. We found the staff friendly and very helpful in sharing info on the area. The hotel has Wi-Fi, but they rely on nature to provide the air conditioning. Private rooms with a bath range from $75 to $85. We stayed in an upstairs room with ocean view price from $99 to $119. If you are a little more adventurous you can get a private single for $35 and a dorm bed for $25. (The singles have an additional charge of $10 if you want blankets and towels). Directions: Turn off the Belt road, north onto Mouno Loa St. Near the 43 Mile Marker. Drive almost.5 miles and turn left onto Mamame St. Drive 1/10 mile and the hotel is on the right side of the road Mamane St, Honokaa, HI 96727(808) Cafe Il Mondo We ask at the hotel about options to eat dinner and they told us we had two choices. A Fast Food or a nice Italian Restaurant called Cade Il Mondo. We chose the Café Il Mondo and had a pleasant surprise at how good it was Beverly thought this was one of the best dinners we have had in Hawaii. The owner operator is Chef Sergio Ramirez and they feature stone-baked pizzas, calzones, pasta, sandwiches, salads, and more. We had a Geek Salad and a Calzone which we split and still had food left over. When we ate there, it was a very small restaurant with a few tables inside and a couple more outside. However, they were preparing to move to a new larger location a block nearer to the hotel. Directions: They are located on the same street as the Hotel Honokaa Club and less than ¼ mile west of the hotel. Turn off the Belt road, north onto Mouno Loa St. Near the 43 Mile Marker. Drive almost.5 miles and turn left onto Mamame St. Drive 1/4 mile and the restaurant is on the right side of the road Mamane St, Honokaa, HI 96727(808) hotelhonokaa.com Opens at 11:00 am Things to Do When You re in Ocean View 33