What 24 hours of eating in Hawai‘i looks like

A mere 24 hours is not long enough to feast on all the pupu pizza, steamed clams and poke bowls Hawai‘i has to offer, but that’s all the more reason to come back again and again (and again!) and sample all the dishes on offer across every island. Here’s our guide to spending a day in Kailua-Kona and all the underground spots where you can get top-notch eats. Start here and then add Maui, Honolulu (O‘ahu), Kaua‘i and the Island of Hawai‘i to your bucket list of best meals to try.

Bongo Ben’s Island Café Buffet
75-5819 ALI’I Drive, Kailua Kona, Hawai‘i
8am Breakfast

If it’s a breakfast food, it’s on the menu here. The brekky at Ben’s starts at 6:30am and winds up at 2:30pm, but the Sunday morning buffet setup is so massive you might need the whole session to taste everything. From local faves like loco moco with white rice and beef paties, to Huevos Rancheros eggs with tortillas, Dixieland Delight’s chickenfried steak and white country gravy, or Belgian waffles, the dishes offer a taste of almost every cuisine you can think of. The place itself has an island vibe, and don’t be fooled by the million-dollar views – the menu is super affordable and the meals are massive. Plus, it’s won Best Breakfast more than once, so you know they’re doing something right. This is a top choice for great value and a fave for families who have picky eaters, big appetites and everything in between. Get the lowdown on more from the Bongo’s menu by checking out some websites before you go – the Flight Centre website houses a bunch of useful offers and info that will be all you need.

Daylight Mind Coffee Company
75-5770 Alii Dr, Kailua-Kona, HI 96740, USA
11am Coffee Break

The Kona feels might be cruisy, but you’ll still want to fuel up with a caffeine stop at Daylight just ‘cos the coffee is the kind of brew you can’t find back home. Be prepared for the coffee craving to hit as soon as you step into the two-storey loft- the coffee is fresh-roasted on site so the rich fragrance of beans wafts throughout the whole space. A mid-morning break is also a good chance to stop and take stock of your trip so far, and check in with your personal Flight Centre expert to catch up on any new deals or special offers. The combined coffee school, bakery and café overlooks the endless blue sea, so you can watch the white-tipped waves washing up against the iconic rocky Kona coastline while you drink up and wait for that smooth coffee rush to get you in the mood to explore some more.

Da Poke Shake
76-6246 Ali’i Drive, Kailua-Kona, HI 96740, USA
12.30pm Lunch

PSA: Do not leave Kona without a lunch at the phenomenally awesome Da Poke Shack. REPEAT: Do NOT leave Kona without stopping by for a poke bowl here. Trust us, they are famous for a reason. Sure, it’s oceanfront and has the kind of view you’d normally only see on a postcard, but you won’t care because the bowls are that good. Sure, poke (which means cut or cubed in Hawaiian) as a concept sounds simple, just raw local fish like ahi and tuna, seasoned with salt, limu kohu (seaweed), and inamona (roasted kukui nutbut) with rice, but the combo is to die for. And don’t make the mistake we did. If you don’t already know, it’s pronounced poh-kay bowl, not “poke”. You’ll go back again and again just for the avocado aioli. Da Poke Shack is a serious hotspot, so put it top of your list and make sure you book your trip ASAP to get a taste of the seriously famous food for yourself.

Shave Ice at Ululani’s
790 Front St, Lahaina, Maui, HI 96761-2358
3pm Arvo Snack

If you’re not across these famous snacks, shave ice (yes, shave, not “shaved”) are cones of delicately flaked ice crystals drenched in out-of-this world flavoured cane sugar syrups like mango, lime or root beer that pool at the bottom of the cup to be sucked up by your straw. Take the heat out of a hot Hawaiian arvo by stepping into the cool of Ululani’s for a chilled-out party in your mouth. A shave ice is one of those rad stops that puts a smile on everyone’s dial, whether it’s kids clamouring for extra scoops of their fave flavour or adults after an edgy pickle-flavoured sour shave to tell their mates about back home. The rainbow-coloured cones look pretty good on the ‘gram too, so get there as soon as you can and be an early adopter on the hashtag #shaveice. The phenom of shave ice is so big on the islands you can practically take a tour of the most famous places for the sweet stuff. The guides at Flight Centre or their website can help with more spots to try, like Matsumos in Haleiwa.

Humpy’s Alehouse
5-5815 Alii Dr, Kailua-Kona, HI 96740, USA
6pm Drinks

As the sun starts to set over the island, laidback Kona comes to life with bars lighting up the night all along the street side of the main drag – the other side of the street is the rocky coastline and black ocean shimmering in the starlight. Get your party pants on and head straight to Humpy’s where the live music, open mic nights, pub quizzes, trivia and pop up events keep the crowds coming back. Get yourself set up for the night ahead matching craft beers with bar snacks like steamed clams or Kalua pork sliders. The towering building has two floors and killer views of the Kona coast outside, or sit inside and people-watch at the monkey pod wood bar.

Broke Da Mouth Grindz
74-5565 Luhia St B-2, Kailua-Kona, HI 96740, USA
7.30pm Dinner

You won’t spot any tourist types at tiny, uber-casual Broke Da Mouth Grindz in Kona, but while the place is small, the menu is absolutely massive. For the locals, Grindz is “food” and this place has it by the bucketload. Don’t go here for dinner on your last day, because the spicy garlic furikake chicken and adobo fried rice are so unbelievably addictive you will definitely want to eat here more than once. Try and snag a table by the door, as Broke da Mouth Grindz is set in a small square of shops and you can watch the world go by (when you’re not frantically ordering more of that insanely good chicken). The other items are a mix of Hawaiian and Filipino staples, so put thelechon (pork) and garlic shrimp on your list too.

Oceans Street Tacos
75-5811 Alii Dr, Kailua-Kona, HI 96740, USA
11pm Midnight Snack

Oceans Street Tacos might be a tiny one-window setup in Kona, but they serve up big flavours in the form of their famous tacos (we also love the huge flaky fish and bucket of chips). Wander over to the stall after a big night of drinking or dancing and chow down on the super cheap taco combos (the hard shell carnitas tacos are mega popular) any time before they shut up shop at 2am. The service is fast and friendly, and you can visit all year round for some creative seasonal specials, from Cinco De Mayo, 4^th of July and at Christmas the adventurous Kalua turkey tacos with cranberry relish.

If you’ve been thinking of going to Hawai‘i, now is the time to book! Check out Flight Centre for all the latest deals.