Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
share the main house, while attached are two airy 'Greenhouse' rooms with queen beds
and screened windows. Separate and hidden by banana plants, the Barn is simply won-
derful, a tastefully unadorned shack with screened, half-open walls and an outdoor
shower - a budget traveler's jungle fantasy.
Families are particularly welcome, and breakfast is a social occasion. Two-night min-
imum stay.
Eating
Manago Hotel
HAWAII REGIONAL CUISINE $
MAP
(
323-2642; 82-6151 Mamalahoa Hwy; breakfast $4-6, dinner mains $8-14; 7-9am, 11am-2pm
& 5-7:30pm Tue-Sun;
) There are somethings you just don't miss on the Big Island. The
crater of Kilauea. Snorkeling at Two-Step. Sipping 100% Kona coffee. And the dining
room of the Manago. Traveling here involves crossing space
and
time; the Manago, with
its woodsy paneling and linoleum floors, feels like an early 20th-century diner. But it's a
diner for the population of South Kona, and that population is a blend of Japanese,
Chinese, Portuguese, Filipino, a few mainlanders and Native Hawaiian.
Thus, the Manago's famous pork chops are hearty enough for a Westerner, yet come
with bowls of rice and chopsticks plus diced Japanese vegetables. The liver and onions is
a house specialty, while the fried whole
ʻopelu
(mackerel scad) is a delight. For breakfast
there's a complete egg, meat, toast, juice and coffee combo for $5.50 - one of South
Kona's best deals.
Super J's
LOCAL $
MAP
(
328-9566; 83-5409 Mamalahoa Hwy; mains under $10; 10am-6:30pm Mon-Sat)
The full
title of this place is ʻKaʻaloa's Super J's Authentic Hawaiian,' but everyone calls it Super
J's. They also call it freaking delicious. Super J's is a veritable temple to Native Hawaii-
an cuisine. The
laulau
(pork cooked in taro leafs) is cooked for over six hours until it's so
tender it melts under your fork, the
lomolomi
(salmon and tomato salad) is damn tasty -
hell, we even like the poi (steamed, mashed taro).
Best of all is the setting: you're basically eating in a very friendly Hawaiian family's
living room. Don't miss this one.
Up Country Bakery & Cafe
CAFE $
