Halekulani Bakery

Disclosure: Coupons for complimentary croissants and drinks were provided.

I never pass up the opportunity to visit a bakery, so of course I made sure to stop in at Halekulani Bakery while staycationing at Halepuna Waikiki by Halekulani!

Clockwise from top center:

• Prosciutto Goat Cheese Fig Jam Danish
• Chocolate Haupia Brioche Bun
• Salted Caramel Croissant
• Big Island Macadamia Nut Chocolate Croissant
• Valrhona Chocolate Croissant
• Curry Pan

Although I have the biggest sweet tooth, I am #TeamSavory when it comes to pastries, so I loved the savory, salty, & sweet combo of the danish, but I really enjoyed the mac nut croissant as well. as well.

I also got a Caramelia Salted Chocolate Chip Cookie, because I can't resist a giant chocolate chip cookie.

The bakery also offers sandwiches, drinks, and of course — the Halekulani Signature Coconut Cake.

Don't be deterred by a long line. Apparently a lot of people need their morning caffeine (fun fact: I never had coffee before), so we were greeted by a pretty long line before 7am, but thank goodness it moved really quickly!

If you go later in the day the lines are shorter or nonexistent, but you run the risk of a smaller pastry selection, as a lot of the treats sell out in just a couple hours.

Halekulani Bakery
2233 Helumoa Rd

Honolulu, HI 96815

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ALOH Health Bar & Cafe in Waikiki

Ala Moana Bowl

On a recent staycation in Waikiki, my friend suggested we eat breakfast at ALOH Health Bar & Cafe. They offer coffee, acai bowls, and toasts, but best of all it was a 3-minute walk from our hotel. Conveniently located on Seaside, it appears to be a small shop from the outside, but you will find ample seating in the spacious cozy cafe including a couch in the back.

I ordered the Avocado Toast - Vegan Sourdough Bread, Fresh Avocado, Cream Cheese, Oregano Leaves, Himalayan Pink Salt, Cracked Pepper, Bagel Seasoning, ALOH Dressing. It may not look amazing, but I enjoyed it very much. The sourdough is flavorful and chewy. My friends loved their acai bowls and favored the Caprese Toast and Basil Pesto Toast. The acai bowls come in three different sizes so my friends opted for a small size bowl to pair with their toast.

ALOH Health Bar & Cafe is open daily from 6:30am to 10pm and you can order online for pickup. After 12pm, they offer milky shave ice. 

Avocado Toast

Basil Pesto Toast

Caprese Toast

Honey Ricotta Toast

Diamond Head Bowl - SMALL

ALOH Health Bar & Cafe

407 Seaside Ave Honolulu, HI 96815

  

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Visit Big Island: Big Island Coffee Roasters Cafe & Roastery

Big Island Coffee Roasters just opened up their Cafe & Roastery in Hilo, and we went to check it out!

They of course have a nice selection of coffees on the menu, but they also have non-coffee drinks, as well as some small bites.

Haimakamaka Espresso

Mamaki on Nitro

I love mamaki tea, so I opted for Mamaki on Nitro.

"Michelle Wie"

We were given an off-menu drink, the "Michelle Wie," which is a combo of the Mamaki Tea and Lemonade.  It was so refreshing and delicious - and my new go-to drink for the next visit.  

The team there is so knowledgeable and friendly, and they do more than just pour a cup of coffee - they can share how to best enjoy and prepare the coffee, and they even share the stories behind the coffees (the farmers, the history, the land).  

Visit the Big Island Coffee Roasters Cafe and Roastery for a true coffee experience!

Big Island Coffee Roasters Cafe & Roastery

76 KALANIANAOLE STREET
HILO, HI 96720

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Mana + Pua in Haleiwa Offering Coffee, Eats, and Now Wine

Cloud Braker latte.

Mana + Pua in Haleiwa is a coffee shop, eatery, and most recently, a wine tasting room for Mana + Pua wines. They offer unique wine flight experiences that you can reserve online at www.manapua.wine    

On a previous visit, I had the Cloud Braker latte special (made with vanilla, honey, and cinnamon), the avocado smash, and I took home a couple of coconut chocolate chip cookies for good measure. 

The food and coffee were all absolutely delicious and I am now looking forward to returning to experience the wine tasting! 

Inside the shop.

Super yummy baked goods.

Avocado smash.

Mana + Pua
66-526 Kamehameha Hwy
Haleiwa, HI 96712

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Dalgona Coffee with Coffee Jelly

Chances are if you've been online, you've seen people whipping up Dalgona coffee.  All you need to make the pretty drink is to combine 2T instant coffee, 2T sugar, and 2T hot water.  I had the best results using my stand mixer that has a whisk attachment.  Once you get that stiff consistency, pour over ice cold milk.

While I liked the sweetness of dalgona coffee, it made me miss coffee jelly drinks so I looked to find a recipe online.  It's actually really easy to make!  Dissolve one packet of gelatin in 2T hot water in a small bowl.  Pour gelatin mixture, 2 cups fresh brewed coffee, and 3T white sugar in a saucepan.  Bring to a boil.  Pour the mixture into pan.  Chill.  It should take about 6-7 hours in the refrigerator to solidify.  Perfect for an afternoon pick me up or try making it with decaf!

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Review: Steeped Coffee Introduces Innovative Single Serve Coffee!

Disclosure: Complimentary product was received for review purposes. All opinions are honest and entirely my own. 

When I first heard about Steeped Coffee, I was super excited to try it.  They promised barista approved single serve coffee brewed similar to tea. (What?!) The no coffee maker, no mess, convenience of it all had me all in.  I just hoped it tastes as good as it sounds. 

I got my 10 pack variety box in the mail right away and was pleasantly surprised that it doubled as a holder for the coffee.  It included 2 bags of each of their blends of Light, Medium, Dark, French Roast, and Decaf.  Every Steeped Coffee Bag holds 100% speciality coffee roasted locally in small batches and nitro-sealed for freshness.  They are also environment friendly with each single serve bag packaged with compostable and renewable materials making it great to take with you anywhere. 

All you need to get your Steeped Coffee started is to place it in a standard cup and slowly pour over 8 ounces of hot water.  Next, dunk the Steeped Bag for 15 seconds - longer for a stronger coffee.  Let steep for 5 minutes or longer if desired. Voila!  Enjoy the easiest cup of quality coffee you’ve ever made. 

For my first cup, I tried the medium roast California blend.  The lovely coffee aroma hit me as soon as I opened the packet.  When I took my first sip, I let out an audible ahhhh!  Coffee fans will get that.  The coffee was smooth, flavorful, and most importantly to me - not bitter at all. 

Steeped Coffee is my newest office essential!

Two cups later and I’m a huge fan of the Steeped Coffee concept.  I love all things convenient and I love how easy it is to make a great tasting cup of coffee at any time and anywhere with hardly any clean up.  Plus it costs less than what I pay for my daily cup of coffee. Winning! 

For more information, check out their gorgeous IG @steepedcoffee and to order, go to www.steepedcoffee.com

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Keiki and the Pineapple

New to the hip, vibrant Kakaako area is a small, locally owned coffee shop called Keiki and the Pineapple. It's a place where parents can come with their keiki to relax with a cup of stellar coffee or a refreshing smoothie, grab a bite to eat, and mingle with other parents, in a kid-friendly environment. 

What makes this coffee shop great for parents is that there is a lot of open space, and a nice play area for the keiki. 

It may look like it's just for babies, but believe me, my 5 year old twins could find ways to entertain themselves here.

And unlike other places where store owners or customers give you "the eye" if your keiki is wandering around the shop, at Keiki and the Pineapple it's totally normal to see toddlers walking around the shop (if you're lucky, you'll catch a glimpse of the owner's handsome lil dude), and it's OK! It almost feels like you're a friend's house for a play date. 

K&P Cold Brew

As for the menu, they have a great selection of coffee, tea, toast (sweet and savory), and menu items for the keiki (toast recipes that are geared towards kids' tastes). 

Americano + Keiki Unicorn

They have events throughout the week, like story time, live music, arts and crafts, etc. Some activities/events are free, some are for small fee.  

Beach-inspired tees and onesies by Kana'i Kai

Check out their website for their complete menu and calendar of events!

KEIKI AND THE PINEAPPLE
909 Kapiolani Blvd
(808) 369-7025

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Seaglass Coffee

Complimentary beverages were provided by our sponsor. All opinions are my own.

I always get excited when I hear of a new locally owned business opening in Kailua or Kaneohe, especially if it's a food or drink establishment. Just the other week, my friend posted a picture of a purple colored iced beverage, and I immediately messaged him for the details. Seaglass Coffee. Being the coffee-addict that I am, I just had to check it out.

It's a new trailer located at 33 Oneawa Street, which is directly across the street from Zippy's Kailua.  

Just look for this green-colored trailer in the parking lot....

The menu is filled with classic coffee beverages, as well as Hawaiian-themed lattes that are all brewed to order and uniquely flavored. 

The business is run by a young couple of entrepreneurs.  Hannah, an experienced barista, has a smile and personality that is as sweet as her lattes.

She recommended the ube latte on ice - very refreshing and not too sweet. 

I also tried the Mac Attack (macadamia nut syrup + macadamia nut milk). I could definitely taste the mac nut flavor! 

They also have drinks for your little ones (non-caffeinated, of course!) - keiki steamers or hot cocoa. 

Everything here is 100% VEGAN (i.e. they use non-dairy milk such as macadamia nut, almond, and coconut milk) and can be made hot or cold.  They use only high quality ingredients, such as award-winning Rusty's Hawaiian Coffee.

Currently serving ALOHA seven days a week! 

 SEAGLASS COFFEE
33 Oneawa Street

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Lion Coffee's Limited Edition Holiday Flavors

Disclosure:  Complimentary products were received for review purposes. 

Lion Coffee and Royal Kona's holiday flavors makes gift giving festive and fun! 

I know it’s not even Halloween, but I have a great holiday gift idea for your family and friends!  Lion Coffee!  Lion Coffee has released three limited edition holiday flavors: coconut caramel, gingerbread and frosty vanilla in special holiday packaging.  The limited edition flavors, as well as all their coffees, are easy to ship to long distance loved ones making gift giving this holiday season convenient and fun.  The special flavors are available only in the Lion Café & General Store and online (LionCoffee.com and HawaiiCoffeeCompany.com). 

Since my husband and I both enjoy coffee, we were very excited to try the holiday flavors!  The first thing we noticed was the contemporary new packaging.  I wanted to try the gingerbread flavor first because I love the sweet smell of gingerbread.  The coffee did not disappoint.  It had a great nutmeg smell and I enjoyed the taste because it was not overly sweet. 

Lion Coffee’s parent company, Hawaii Coffee Company, has also released their Royal Kona holiday flavors: Pumpkin Spice, Mele Kalikimocha, and Coco-Nutcracker.  My husband thought the Mele Kalikimocha sounded fun so we tried it next.  The Mele Kalikimocha is a 10% Kona coffee blend and we enjoyed the flavor notes of chocolate, cinnamon, and spice.  I speak for all coffee drinkers when I say these coffees would make great gifts!    

About Lion Coffee: Lion Coffee was voted “Hawaii’s Best” local coffee brand in 2017 and 2018 and is a favorite among locals and visitors alike. The coffee is roasted in the 55,000 square foot Hawaii Coffee Company roastery located in Kalihi and the packages are sealed to ensure freshness upon opening. The quality blends and local flavors make perfect gifts for your family and friends on the mainland who miss the local flavors of home.

Lion's Coffee recently rebranded and released their new stylish packaging!

Royal Kona's Mele Kalikimocha!  Photo Courtesy of Lion Coffee.

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Punchbowl Coffee

Instagram led me to this food truck in the Foreign Trade Zone in the downtown area called Punchbowl Coffee. 

They feature 100% Hawaiian coffee utilizing the syphon brewing method, energy teas, tropical teas, kobe style milk tea, Vietnam style iced coffee, and various wraps and paninis.

I opted to try the kobe style milk tea - it was really good! I liked that it was not overly rich or creamy. 

For my lunch I ordered the Reuben panini. 

It's made with corned beef, swiss cheese, Horseradish dressing and Bavarian Sauerkraut sandwiched between two pieces of RYE bread.

I enjoyed every bite of it.

The Reuben is their best seller, and I can see why. The corned beef is moist and flavorful. I would definitely recommend this panini if this is your first visit to Punchbowl Coffee.  

They are currently parked at the Foreign Trade Zone, Monday - Friday from 7 am - 2 pm. On the weekends they are often at Sandy Beach in East Honolulu. Once the Fall semester starts at the University of Hawaii, they'll be at the Manoa campus Mondays - Fridays. Check their Instagram page for updates!

PUNCHBOWL COFFEE

Instagram: @PunchbowlCoffee

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