Aloha Hilo Day Trip Recap

Back in October of last year, @konaish mentioned going to Hilo for the day to go to the Farmers Market, Two Ladies Kitchen, and Moon & Turtle.

The next month, she and I, along with @melissa808 and @deniset73 booked our tickets, and in January we had a 12-hour Aloha Hilo Day Trip.  We had just five things on our itinerary (the three places mentioned above, plus Kawamoto store and Restaurant Kenichi).

Our first stop was Kawamoto Store, because Melissa HAD to get Shrimp Tempura.

We then went to the Hilo Farmers Market to buy produce.

Melissa wanted shave ice, so we had some Kula Shave Ice, then walked to Two Ladies Kitchen for mochi, and stopped at Low International for Rainbow Bread and Cookies on the walk back.

We met our friend Sherrie for lunch at Restaurant Kenichi, then walked next door to George's Meat Market for beef jerky. 

We then made an impromptu stop at Hawaiian Licks for yummy vegan ice cream, and then decided to make another impromptu stop and visit our friend Adrian at Hilo Bay Cafe for my favorite (now off-menu) Kalbi Steak Fries.

We made a quick stop to see Rainbow Falls, bought more omiyage at Big Island Candies, then shopped at KTA for Oven Ready Deli Roll pork that Laurie said was really good.

We stopped at Makani's Magic Pineapple Shack for dessert-before-dinner, and ended the day with a fabulous meal at Moon & Turtle.

And we returned to the Hilo Airport with minutes to spare!

We hadn't planned on so many stops, but we managed to make it to fourteen stops.  Our Aloha Hilo Day Trip was a success!

I can't wait for our next adventure!

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Aloha Hilo Day Trip: Big Island Candies

Big Island Candies is a must-stop in Hilo.  Even though we have a location in Ala Moana Center on Oahu, there are many exclusive items you can get only at the Hilo flagship store (tip: check the product tags for AM, which means also available at Ala Moana, or simply ask an employee for help in finding the Hilo exclusives!).

I have many favorites from Big Island Candies, but my all-time favorite is the Milk Chocolate Covered Caramel Brownie with Hawaiian Sea Salt.  I willingly share these with my kids just so I don't eat up the entire box by myself, because it could easily happen...

What I also love about the Hilo shop is that you can get ice cream and ice cream brownie pies there!

The staff at Big Island Candies is the friendliest.  If you're having trouble finding what you're looking for, there are helpful staff members all around the shop to assist you.

Big Island Candies is definitely one of the sweetest places on the island!

Big Island Candies
585 Hinano St
Hilo, HI 96720
(808) 935-8890

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Aloha Hilo Day Trip: Moon & Turtle

I've gone to Hilo quite a bit over the past year, and with the exception of one visit, I've dined at Moon & Turtle each time.

On our Aloha Hilo Day Trip, Moon & Turtle was our last stop of the day.  I made reservations for 5:30pm, when they opened, since we had a very short window to eat (our flight back to Oahu was at 8:04pm).  The Moon & Turtle team made sure we had plenty to eat during our quick visit.

Menpachi Sashimi

Smokey Sashimi

Salty Fish Fried Rice

Crispy Brussels Sprouts

Crispy Menpachi

Mushroom Risotto

Pipikaula Salad

The food was amazing, as usual. The Smokey Sashimi and Salty Fish Fried Rice are popular dishes at Moon & Turtle, so of course we had to order some.

My personal faves were the Crispy Menpachi, Pipikaula Salad, and the Mushroom Risotto.  I could've eaten the entire dish of risotto myself.  It was so creamy and delish, made with Koshikari rice and truffle oil!

It was just too bad we had to rush out of Moon & Turtle (we made it just in time for boarding - that's how close we cut it), but I'm glad we got to squeeze dinner in.

Reservations are highly recommended!


Moon & Turtle
51 Kalakaua St

Hilo, HI 96720
(808) 961-0599

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WW: Rainbow Falls

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Aloha Hilo Day Trip: Makani's Magic Pineapple Shack

Shortly after we visited Big Island Juice Co. in Hilo last year, they changed to Makani's Magic Pineapple Shack, where they continue to offer yummy acai bowls, but they also specialize in "magical" ice cream confections, like the Unicone.

The Unicone - a twist of ube and dragon fruit soft serve flavors, can be ordered in a cone or pineapple bowl. It's dusted with sprinkles, and is just a pure delight to look at!

Stop by Makani's to add a little magic to your day!


Makani's Magic Pineapple Shack
54 Waianuenue Ave
Hilo, HI 96720
(808) 935-8454

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Aloha Hilo Day Trip: Hilo Bay Cafe

While on our Aloha Hilo Day Trip, we made an impromptu stop at Hilo Bay Cafe, after finding our afternoon free, and wanting to visit our friend Adrian, who works there.

We sat at the sushi bar, and a few of us ordered drinks.

Ginger Cove

I asked Adrian to make me something special, and he made my favorite Kalbi Steak Fries, which are no longer on the menu!

Off-menu Kalbi Steak Fries

Even though I was stuffed from just having eaten ice cream right before we got to Hilo Bay Cafe, I ate almost all of the fries myself. 

Adrian also made his special Hamachi Sashimi.

Hamachi Sashimi

I don't eat sashimi, but of course I had to try the Hamachi Sashimi since Adrian made it for us.  Adrian was kind enough to cut me a small piece.  It was really good!

My friends loved this impromptu stop at Hilo Bay Cafe!

Hilo Bay Cafe

123 Lihiwai St.

Hilo, HI 96720
(808) 935-4939

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Aloha Hilo Day Trip: Hawaiian Licks

Whenever possible, I always try to stop for ice cream when traveling.

So while on our Aloha Hilo Day Trip, even though I was very, very full from eating all morning, I asked my friends if we could go to Hawaiian Licks, a vegan ice cream shop.  

Made with coconut milk, many of the ice cream varieties have a strong coconut flavor.  So if you don't like coconut, you may not like the ice cream.  However, a friend of mine who does not like coconut, did sample a couple of flavors that she did enjoy, and in which the coconut flavor was very subtle.

Speaking of sampling, Hawaiian Licks will let you sample all the flavors available, and by the time I sampled 6 different flavors, I actually felt like that satisfied my ice cream craving.

Cookie Dough Monster

Chocolate Peanut Butter

But I didn't go all the way to Hawaiian Licks just to sample ice cream.

So I ordered a Cookie Dough Monster cone.

The keiki size is huge.  

The ice cream was full of cookie dough chunks, and you could really taste the coconut in this flavor, which I didn't mind.

The employees were very friendly, and if you love ice cream - vegan or not, check out Hawaiian Licks!

Hawaiian Licks
180 Kinoole St #104

Hilo, HI 96720
(808) 933-1869

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Aloha Hilo Day Trip: Hilo Farmers Market

One of the reasons for our recent Aloha Hilo Day Trip was to go to the popular Hilo Farmers Market.  Way before farmers markets started popping up all across the islands, the Hilo Farmers Market was already a must-stop for people visiting Hilo. 

When I used to work for the airlines, my co-workers would fly in just for the day and bring home bundles of beautiful, fresh flowers.

I didn't see that many flowers, but what I did see was a lot of fresh produce, baked goods, ready-to-eat foods, and CBD products.  Yes, CBD.  From CBD oils to CBD-infused drinks, CBD was everywhere (not just at the Hilo Farmers Market, but all around Hilo!).

I didn't buy anything, but my friends bought produce because it was really cheap compared to Oahu.  They hauled back avocados, ulu, longan, and even warabi.  

Definitely stop by the Hilo Farmers Market if you want gorgeous, inexpensive, fresh produce, or made-in-Hilo goodies!

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Aloha Hilo Day Trip: Kawamoto Store

Last year was my first-ever visit to the always busy Kawamoto Store.  It was our second stop of the day during our Hawaii Mom Blog Hilo Day Trip, yet we were still too late to try the popular Nori Chicken.

On a recent Aloha Hilo Day Trip with Melissa, Laurie, and Denise, Kawamoto's was our very first stop, because Melissa NEEDED Shrimp Tempura.  No matter how long we needed to wait, she needed to eat some, because she had it on her last trip to Hilo, and she absolutely loved it.

As luck would have it, we found parking right in front of Kawamoto's, there were only two people in line, and not only was there Nori Chicken, but there was a fresh tray of Shrimp Tempura.

Naturally, I had to try one.

Corned Beef Hash, Nori Chicken, Shrimp Tempura

I don't normally eat Shrimp Tempura, but I must admit, it was just as good as Melissa said it would be.  Crunchy and flavorful.  I could've easily eaten more.  I thought the Nori Chicken was tasty, as well as the cute little Corned Beef Hash.  

Everyone is so friendly at Kawamoto Store, and I don't think you can really go wrong with any of the items you order.

Laurie's order

Denise's order

Melissa's order

Kawamoto Store
784 Kilauea Ave

Hilo, HI 96720
(808) 935-8209

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