When I was a kid, I LOVED going to Ken's House of Pancakes with my family whenever we visited Hilo. Learning that Mrs. Island Miler has never been, I made it a point to get here during our last trip to the area. Alas, things weren't quite what I remember them to be. … [Read more...] about Review: Ken’s House of Pancakes (Hilo)
Trip Reports
Review: Arden Waikiki
With my shift in priorities came, not only a reduction in travel, but a massive scaling back in the amount I dine out. As such, I haven't really been keeping track of restaurant openings. But, Mrs. Island Miler wanted to treat me to a nice night out, and I ended up picking Arden Waikiki. … [Read more...] about Review: Arden Waikiki
Review: Atebara’s Famous Chips
Did you know that Hawaii's first and oldest potato chip company was founded in Hilo, Hawaii? Neither did I. But that's not surprising considering how few people - even locals - know about Atebara's and their famous chips. … [Read more...] about Review: Atebara’s Famous Chips
Best Bites of 2023
While I didn't travel much last year nor dine out much, I enjoyed a surprising amount of great eats. So, I wanted to take some time to go over my best bites of 2023. … [Read more...] about Best Bites of 2023
Outstanding! Kusano Sushi
Hilo is home to some surprising food options. Na'au Hilo and Moon & Turtle are two of the most visible (in my opinion), but other options exist as well. One of these is Kusano Sushi, which is a takeout-only sushi concept that requires preordering in advance. Sound familiar? It should. Kusano Sushi operates very similarly to the former FoodxJitsu, though both have very … [Read more...] about Outstanding! Kusano Sushi
Revisit Hawaii Volcanoes National Park
The title of this series is Big Island Bird-Watching. Well, the best way to do that was for me to revisit Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, as its native ecosystems are the most accessible places to see some of Hawaii's last remaining honeycreepers. … [Read more...] about Revisit Hawaii Volcanoes National Park
Na’au Hilo Round 2
My very first standalone dining experience with Na'au Hilo was in September 2022. But eight months later, the stars aligned, and they had another dinner during my impromptu hop over to the island. So, in May 2023, I had a Na'au Hilo round 2 dinner. And it was fantastic! … [Read more...] about Na’au Hilo Round 2
Review: Grand Naniloa Hotel – a DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel
For our most recent trip to the Big Island, we stayed in Hilo. That means we had only three hotels to choose from, and only one of them is associated with a large chain. As such, I decided to give the Grand Naniloa Hotel a try. Unfortunately, I don't think I'll be returning, which means I now have only one other option in the area. … [Read more...] about Review: Grand Naniloa Hotel – a DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel
Big Island Chocolate Adventure
When we landed in Hilo, our hotel room wasn't ready, so after dropping our bags, we quickly got back into our car and headed back out. We didn't have a plan for this contingency but ended up having an impromptu Big Island Chocolate Adventure of sorts. … [Read more...] about Big Island Chocolate Adventure
Review: Waiahole Poi Factory Windward Mall
It's been years since I last visited Waiahole Poi Factory. Though I love the place, its distance from me, coupled with the insane crowds that descend onto the small roadside eatery every day, have kept me away. That's why I'm so glad that Waiahole Poi Factory Windward Mall recently opened. … [Read more...] about Review: Waiahole Poi Factory Windward Mall