Kiawe Kitchen has Closed

[Carey]

Last Thursday was the last night that Kiawe Kitchen was open in their Volcano location. Their answer machine states that they are looking for a new location...

[YurtGirl]

Drat. We don't have many other good restaurant in Volcano. There's the Ohia Cafe, around the corner from Keawe Kitchen, but they're more of an excellent bakery/deli. The Lava Rock is a joke... Breakfasts are okay greasy, GREASY spoon, but dinner and lunch?? Eek. They tried to charge us 20+ per plate on Valentines Day for instant mashed potatoes, bad prefrozen vegetables, a hockey puck steak and pile of greasy fries. We stated our case, touched nothing and headed for the door. The Thai place is decent, but the owners were positively wretched to us on one occasion, trying to charge us for two plates that we never ordered nor ever received and drinks that we couldn't drink because they would have soured the strongest stomach. This is sad news Hoping the Volcano House turns out to be good, quality food. And that Keawe Kitchen finds another place close to Volcano!! One thing we have a shortage of throughout the Hilo side: Good, high quality restaurants.

[Midnight Rambler]

Kilauea Lodge is good for lunch. It's not fancy like their dinner, just solid sandwiches and such, and reasonably cheap.

[OpenD]

I hate that news. Hate it. Must have been a dispute with the owner over the lease, because they've always had good food, and been very busy. And what really sucks is... it's not like there is any new location in Volcano for them to move to!

OK, let's review... both the restaurant and the cafe at KMC (inside the park) are open to the public. Not great food, but then again, the only real bar in the area is there.

The Volcano House is now selling sandwiches at lunch time, a very soft opening for them, although the full restaurant opening is still months away.

Ohia Cafe is great for what it is... outside tables only... and the Wednesday roast pork dinner is a favorite for me. Mahiburger is a must when they have it.

Thai Thai is excellent, but expensive, and not what i want every day.

Lava Rock Cafe, I agree with the previous. Not for me.

Kilauea Lodge, excellent food, but pricey.

Garden Arts - Ono Cafe near the north deadend of Old Volcano Road has a gourmet lunch.

And the two general stores have platelunch counters and a few sandwiches.

And that, my friends, is it for miles in either direction. Losing Kiawe Kitchen is a big deal.

[DanielP]

Kiawe Kitchen was one of the finest eateries on the Island, and the best steak to boot. I sure hope that they find a new location. They were packed every night.
Anyone in the spot where Hokulani's was? More of a drive, but would be worth it.

[kalakoa]

We haven't been out for breakfast since Pearl Bakery gave up their fight with County, there just aren't any good options, even if you're willing to drive to Hilo.

[YurtGirl]

Hokulani's place, Charlies, Paradise Bar and Grill, they all left because of an outrageous overhead cost there. I don't see how any place will make it there unless the owners get real about the lease cost. Better to have a restaurant/bar there at all than to have it empty. The restaurant/Bar pulls people in and gets business for the other places. Seems an easy thing to see... But agreed. Losing Keawe Kitchen is a very big deal.

[DanielP]

Nobody has had food as good as Kiawe Kitchen in there though. Not even close.

Dan

[oink]

Admittedly I'm no gourmand but ambiance aside, I found plenty of good places to eat when I was their last. Well, I never found any good soul food (home style southern cooking) but I wasn't expecting any.

Pua`a
S. FL
Big Islander to be.