Da Beeg Island
Nichi Bei Times - December 2003
Some of our readers been asking, "Ey, Bruddahs, you wen tell us wea fo' go eat on O'ahu, Kaua'i and Maui. When you goin' write about da Beeg Island?" Kay den, befo' you guys get all habuteru, us Two Japanee Bruddahs goin' give you some tips on da Big Island.
Except for our friend, jazz musician/historian George Yoshida, most visitors to the island of Hawai'i, the Big Island, prefer to stay in the Kona area. We actually enjoy Hilo, on the windward side of the island, because of its very local feel and old-Hawai'i charm. However, the cool rainy weather and lack of beaches tends to keep the tourists away. Maybe dats one mo' reason we like Hilo.
By contrast, the weather in West Hawai'i, in Kona and the Kohala Coast, is what tourists expect, hot and sunny. The area is also home to some of the most fabulous and luxurious resorts in the world. Resorts such as Waikoloa, Mauna Lani and the Mauna Kea Beach Resort offer world-class accommodations and dining. Staying at any of these spots is a heavenly experience, but afta couple days of fine dining, you goin' be craving some local kine grinds.
Kailua-Kona
Right in Kailua town, Ocean View Inn (75-5683 Ali'i Drive) is located directly across from the Kailua Pier, and has one of the best views in town (would be even betta, if dey nevah have da screens on da windows). The ambiance is very casual, very local. But if you stay looking fo' local kine grinds and need one break from fine dining and fine dining prices, dis is da place. Da menu is very local and food is very 'ono.
Just a few doors down from Ocean View Inn is Aki's Café (75-5699 Ali'i Drive),
a small open-air café, with the same great view of Kailua Bay, serving Japanese cuisine. Owner and chef, Hideaki Tsunashima moved to Hawai'i in 1990, and opened his restaurant on January 17, 1995, the day of the Great Hanshin Earthquake. We actually don't know how good the Japanese food is because, believe it or not, Aki's is best known for their fish and chips, using fresh mahi mahi, and their hamburgers.Of course, no trip to Kona would be complete without a stop at Sam Choy's Kaloko (73-5576 Kauhola Street), the first restaurant of "Hawai'i's Culinary Ambassador," our good friend Sam Choy. Little bit hahd fo' find, but worth it.
Like its industrial-park location, the restaurant has a casual cafeteria ambiance with formica tables and plastic drinking glasses, but the food is so 'ono, and the servings are as massive as Sam, himself. We recommend breakfast. Your biggest problem will be trying to select from among Sam's great omelets, breakfast platters and his signature loco mocos.
Manago Hotel
A must-stop, about 20 minutes south of Kailua-Kona, the Manago Hotel (82-6155 Mamalahoa Highway) will take you back in time. Right on the main highway, in the town of Captain Cook, the hotel was opened in 1917 by Kinzo and Osame Manago and is still operated by the Manago family. Located high above Kealakekua Bay and the City of Refuge, the Manago Hotel has hosted generations of kama'aina over the decades.
Room rates are very reasonable, with most rooms around $50 per night. The Japanese rooms, at around $70, feature traditional Japanese décor including furo and tatami mats.
On our recent trip to the Big Island, we made a side trip to the Manago Hotel, specifically to check out their "world famous" pork chops. The pork chops are excellent, but, in our opinion, a notch below those of Honolulu's Side Street Inn, the standard against which all pork chops are measured. Or, maybe we wuz still too full from da breakfast at Sam Choy's two hours earlier. By the way, da macaroni salad at Manago is definitely one winnah. Broke da mout!
Pork chops or not, you must stop at Manago Hotel just for the experience. The dining room is a throwback to the '50s, kind of like eating at your obachan's house. Like we said, it will definitely take you back.
And, when you stop at the Manago Hotel, be sure to visit Kona Chips (formerly known as Furukawa Kitch'n Cook'd Potato Chips) right next door. The business has been operated by the Jerome Furukawa and his family for the past 12 years, and before that, for over 50 years by the Deguchis. Da bes potato chips in da universe, garans. Dey also make da kine Furikake Chips, their potato chips tossed with furikake. Like dey used to say, no way you can eat jus' one chip.
Ho, da Beeg Island stay so beeg, we nevah even reach Hilo yet, an' already we wen run out of room. Gotta save our Hilo reviews fo' one nodda column.
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Kama'aina expats Keith Kamisugi and Kyle Tatsumoto are the Two Japanese Bruddahs. Their column appears monthly in the Nichi Bei Times and online at www.twojapaneebruddahs.com. You can also email them at wot@twojapaneebruddahs.com.
The Manago
Hotel in Captain Cook, Big Island