Kanaka Kava

This is an interesting restaurant by Kona beach that serves authentic local farm to table Hawaiian food. The restaurant is located walking distance to the beach. Kona side is the best side for sunset. The food is interesting. First time I tried Kava juice, it’s a bit bitter earthy, and the lady told us to drink with apple juice instead if we were beginners and that was the best advice ever. The vibe is pretty chill with beautiful Hawaiian weather. I was there both summer and winter and loved it

Wow this was delicious! You get a chance to try unique Hawaiian foods and drinks here. The people were helpful and friendly and the place had a good atmosphere at night. The pork was amazing and as promised the kava made me feel relaxed and slept great afterwards. Don’t listen to the reviews that aren’t willing to try new and unique foods and experiences.

Despite the grungy look, the food is really good. We shared a Pork lau Lau plate with rice and squid Luau. If you don't know, pork lau lau is pork shoulder, salted butter fish, wrapped in taro leaves then steamed. The finished product is like salted pork butt/shoulder wrapped in something akin to a young and incredibly mild spinach. The Squid luau is squid, octopus and taro leaves steamed in coconut milk. To me, squid in coconut milk and it's not curry sounds odd to me, but we tried it and wow, it's really good! Like I wish more places offered it good. And now the kava drink. It looks like mud water, numbs lips and mouth, and gives you a buzzy high feeling really quick. It tastes like drinking an Asian herbal drink that was made using roots and it pretty much is. Try it for fun, they serve it in coconut shells. You'll definitely feel the effects half a cup in. The only improvements I can think of is a different way of ordering instead everyone going to the bar for any type of order. The place is tiny, so you're up in another patron's space to get an order in. You also pay + top before you get anything. None of the service was bad and even though they told us it'll be a bit for our food, it still came out quickly. Just a bit more chaotic than it needs to be. Definitely stop by and eat, the food is great. This is the type of place Anthony Bourdain would have eaten at when going local.

This place is a MUST when you come to the Big Island. Amazing traditional Hawaiian food. The food is fresh and tasty (and very different) and ‘Awa (kava) drink is a unique experience. Had to go there twice to drink ‘Awa again and try other plates because we loved it. It’s a very different taste and you have to be open to try it.