Linda's Guide to the Big Island: Kona Coffee

Two things the Big Island is well known for are Kona coffee and the Volcano. One of Hawaii’s biggest exports is grown on the Big Island, Kona coffee, known as some of the best coffee in the world.

We visited two coffee plantations: Greenwell (808-323-2862) and Bayview (808-662-5880). Both offered free tours and coffee tastings, and of course, had gift shops where you could buy all sorts of coffee-rated items including coffee beans, Kona chocolate (which is delicious), and the always available tourist tee-shirt.

On the way down to the coffee plantations, we stopped at a place called the Coffee Shack for lunch. They had awesome sandwiches on a variety of homemade breads. They also had killer desserts, and even though we were full after our lunch, we managed to stuff ourselves with carrot cake and still have some left to have to-go for a later afternoon snack. They have outside tables with a nice view if you are there on a day when it’s clear. We were there on a very misty, cloudy day and it was still nice sitting outside. We were in Hawaii after all! The mist cleared just long enough for us to see down the slope to the ocean and then misted over again. Next time we are in Hawaii this place is definitely on our list of must-visits. It’s on the ocean side of the Captain Cook Hwy, between mile markers 109 and 108; 83-5799 Mamalahoa Hwy (808-328-9555).

Southpoint

Black Sand Beaches

Hilo Town

North of Hilo

Botanical Gardens

Puna District

Volcano

Kona Coffee

Drive Hilo to Kona

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