Lots of pull offs on the way up with some spectacular views. Park has three view points and some hiking trails. Note some people weren't paying. Pay to park $10 then pay $5 per visitor. If your not hiking stop is less then ten minutes. Bathrooms on site

Parking is easy and the drive here isn't too long. The view is amazing, similar to the Grand Canyon but with more colors. The only thing we didn't like was how each person is charged extra $5 on top of the $10/car. I wish they would just charge once per vehicle.

Very lovely state park, up high in the mountains with spectacular views of the canyon and Napali Coast. It is a two lane road up to the summit making it a fairly easy drive if you stay in the speed limit. The Koke’e Lodge restaurant and Museum is near the top in a grassy meadow. They lodge has a full restaurant and bar with an adjoining gift shop. The museum has good coverage of the park history and local wildlife. Lots of available hiking trails but both the Waimea Canyon Overlook and the overlook at the very end of the road were closed for what must be repairs. This was a disappointment. Have fun on your visit

Absolutely stunning views! Photos don’t do it justice. The colors of the canyon are incredible, and the drive up is beautiful too. A must-see on Kaua’i.

Really not what I expected as far as seeing the canyon. Maybe we didn’t drive far enough, but we stopped on the side of the road. Walk through the jungle and got some photos.

Beautiful canyon, the drive though was not my favorite would much prefer to hike around but not many options. You have to pay car entrance fee and per person at certain locations in the park? Should be a park entrance fee period.

Nice trails, great views. Lots of driving to get to each spot! So don't get dropped off here unless you have one specific hike in your plans. Otherwise it takes a few hours to drive to each look out. The parking and ticket purchasing system is easy and straightforward. Just be patient if there isn't a spot, a lot of people park, take a pic, then drive off to the next spot. We hiked the canyon rim trail to the waterfalls area. Mind the signs as they do serve as a good warning that some of the waterfall lookouts are on several hundred foot tall ledges. So keep your kids on a short leash!

Kōkeʻe State Park is a paradise for hikers, photographers, and anyone looking to experience Kauaʻi’s raw, untamed beauty. The views alone make the trip worthwhile, but the combination of serene forests, challenging trails, and diverse wildlife ensures that every visitor leaves with a deep appreciation for this special place. Just be prepared for changing weather conditions, and bring plenty of water and layers for cooler temperatures.

Nice views, especially from the lookout at the end. If you go around the fence on the left side you can go to another nice trail with even better views (stick to the right when you run into another fence, there'll be a small door).

A very nice and scenic park. The nature is incredible. Can be combined with a visit of the famous Waimea Canyon.

This place was pretty awesome! It did take some time to get up there but the views were great and the atmosphere was wonderful. The only reason I'm giving it four stars instead of five is I got motion sickness on the way up and I was pretty miserable the whole time. My wife had a great time and loved it!

Long journey up a mountain, but it is worth every single second!! Great family day!! I do hope they use the tourist money for park access to get some of the potholes fixed soon. With no service at the top, you really hope your car doesn’t blow a tire on some of those. They are deep and large!

Even if you go just to take in the views at the overlooks, it’s worth it! Lots of great trails in the park, too, of course. Beauty everywhere you look! A must do. The lodge is a nice stop for lunch and live music if the timing works out. Remember there is nearly 0 cell service; download offline maps if you’ll be relying on GPS.

This place is beyond beautiful! If you make it to the island of Kauai you have to visit this place! There are quite a few lookout points to see, but it is possible to see them all in one day. There is a site for picnics and there are cabins as well. The museum is small, but definitely worth seeing. There are some really nice hiking trails also, but be careful if it rains, as they can become very slippery. Some of the lookouts have a price you have to pay to enter. They are $10 per car, and $5 per person. Absolutely worth it.

A beautiful view! Totally worth it. It was a very muddy trail. Our shoes were completely covered with mud by the end. There were times it felt more like climbing than hiking.

Well worth the drive. Reasonable amount of parking but heading up early will make it a much nicer experience. There is a $10 charge for the lookouts but you only have to pay once for access to them all.

Views are spectacular! The road is (temporarily?) closed therefore you'll have to hike a little under 2 miles with mild hills and one particularly steep hill. Make sure to purchase a parking ticket or you'll be fined. The fog moves so just hang out at the top and it'll end up clearing well enough for photos. It is muddy and I saw two people slide walking down so be careful.

100% worth the 20 min walk to lookout. We were lucky enough to be there on a sunny day so we could see it. Breathtaking view! Pictures don’t do it justice.

The road was closed after Kalalau lookout so had to walk 1 mile here the road is paved so it was easy but it gets steep so bit of exercise but easy hike. The views are very different than kalalau and better IMO it’s worth checking out still!

Absolutely the best view of the island! The road was closed to cars (due to many large dangerous potholes), so you need to take a 30 minute brisk walk to get to the lookout point. The walk was well worth it, as the views were tremendous, both of the ocean side and the canyon side.

The road that typically takes you the last mile to the start of the actual trail head and overlook is still closed so you start and end your day on a very boring stretch of paved road. As long as they eventually fix it, I'll keep this 5 stars. If I hear they scrap the repair plans, I'll downgrade my review. But then you get to the actual trail and it's awesome. The hike out&up, pretty sure we were the first hikers of the morning. We didn't see a single person until the "summit" spot when another couple caught up to us. The first half a mile I kept wondering why this hike wasn't packed with people. It's an awesome hike and every hundred feet is another beautiful lookout in either direction. On the way back, we weren't paying attention and took the left fork like we were going to continue the trail down to the swamp. Realized it, turned around. The trail conditions were probably about as close to "dry" as you'll ever see. I could see how this hike could turn into a nightmare if it was raining. Even with it being as "dry" as it was today, I still highly recommend hiking with walking poles / hiking sticks. I would pay good money to sit there and watch people slowly get mad at each other trying to climb back up if it was wet/rainy/muddy. As we were making our way back, all the late-starters were now trickling onto the trail in all ranges of preparedness. THIS IS NOT A SUNDRESS AND NIKE'S trail even in ideal states like today. Not that it's some super technical hike, but do people seriously not look up reviews and pictures before they go for a hike at 4,200 feet? By the time we got back to the car, the place was a zoo. People were taking the time to walk the mile to the real parking lot and lookout, then just turning around and going back without doing the actual hike. Honestly, good for them. Even just that paved, 1-mile walk is going to be a challenge for a lot of people.

A M A Z I N G ! ! ! This was by far one of the most beautiful beaches we visited on Kauai. The backdrop of the mountain with the beautiful sandy beach and crystal blue water is literal heaven. The beach goes as far as the eyes can see. The drive in is 4+ miles on a VERY rough unpaved road 30 minutes for 4 miles. The Google directions were about a mile short of the first parking area ⛱️⛱️

I would camp here every single night I didn’t have so much planned throughout my trip. This has to be one of my most treasured spots on the entire island. It’s peaceful, quiet, and incredible stargazing. The road is a bit rough coming out but nothing that should scare you away. GPS recommends about a 45 minute ride for 5 miles but I did it in 20-25mins. Its best to have a four wheel drive to drive a little faster.

It's a lovely spot, the sand dunes are very cool, the waves are big, and there's pretty much nobody there but it does has its issues. You have to drive down a long, bumpy dirt road and there's not much to actually do other then admire it's beauty.

Absolutely beautiful! Perfect for sunset! The sand is so soft and the beach is huge so it is t crowded at all! The road to get here is not easy....gravel with tons of potholes. You can drive right onto the beach so make sure you have an appropriate vehicle for sand.

Miles of clean uncrowded beach. The surf can be fairly rough here so you really need to be careful in the water. Where you go in matters. If you can find the queens pond the surf may be less there due to the small reef. We watched from the shore as the waves suddenly got much bigger and chased people out of the water and then suddenly calm back down again. The drive in was rough due to the numerous deep potholes even in a jeep. Not too bad if you take your time. Some folks arrived in sedans, but you really need to pick your way around the potholes. The road was dry, that is no standing water in any of the potholes so you can see the bottom of each one. Different story if the road is wet. No cell service out there. Tip: to play it safe, there is room to park a few vehicles by the monkeypod tree. From there, you can walk 10 minutes on the small potholed road to the left for the shortest access to the beach. No facilities yet. If you deem the road passable, you can drive in to a small parking area before you hit sand.

Totally worth the drive out! We had a Jeep Wrangler Rubicon, and it was completely dry so we had no problems at all and made it to the furthest point in about 25 minutes. There are multiple forks in the road. The first one if you go left you come to a beach part where you can drive on the beach. DON'T do it! Even if you are in a jeep, just park up top and walk down. If you are silly enough to do it deflate your tired to about 15 psi if you don't want to get stuck, but still not worth the risk. We were saved by Grace, literally. 2 moms that live there helped us get out, one of their names was Grace, so Grace if you see this thank you!!! Also, this beach area is really cool for snorkeling. Now, if you go right at the first fork you will come to another fork, left takes you to another beach area and bathrooms. We didn't walk all the way down to that one, bc it was more of the same, still beautiful. If you go right at the second fork that's where you will go to the furthest part of the beach where it ends. There are bathrooms. You can drive down the beach, but we didn't (and we went to this one first), and wouldn't recommend it. We just parked and walked down (short easy walk, just wear shoes bc the sand is HOT.) the beach is gorgeous and we pretty much had the whole beach to ourselves. The waves were super fun to play in and the sand was amazing. One of our top 5 beaches!

This is one of the best and cleanest beaches on the island, but getting there is a challenge due to the difficult dirt road. Do not attempt to drive a sedan; an SUV is a must. The long dirt road is very rough, full of potholes, mud, and more. It's frustrating that the authorities haven't fixed the road to make it more accessible for tourists, as its condition is worse than a third-world country. However, once you arrive, you'll find a truly beautiful beach with campsites, showers, and restrooms. Highly recommended if you can handle the journey!

Came for lunch. Shared Chili burger on a brioche bun. Side order of fries. Wait staff was quick to seat and take orders. Fries were very good. Burger was cooked perfectly and had good taste. My only concern was seating that is too close to the tables making it hard to get out.

My wife and I came here for lunch after driving back from visiting the volcano National Park. We were in the mood for burgers and beer so why not swing by a local pub! The atmosphere was really awesome - smaller interior space with a corner bar along with a great sized outdoor patio that was mainly covered up top. We got there at a good time as they’re filled up pretty quick for lunch. We grabbed two seats at the bar and with the bartender’s help, we ordered the Paniolo Pale Ale and Overboard IPA. Both were wonderful and really paired well with lunch. We both ordered burgers and shred a side of fries. The food was cooked to perfection and the portions were perfect! Overall this was a fantastic place to grab lunch with an outstanding variety of local brews!

Had a delicious Chili Cheeseburger on a brioche bun with garlic fries. I think it was probably one of the best Cheeseburgers I’ve had in a while. I think they could have given me a little more fries for the $9.00 price the charge for the fries. Great service. Everything was served promptly and hot.

Had such a great time catching up with our Big Island friend!🍻 Tried a few of their beers and shared a FISH TACO and Cheese QUESADILLA—kept it light since we had a big lunch planned later. Always a good vibe here! 🌺 #BigIsland #Hawaii2025 #USA2025

We are all about seafood when we travel to tropical locations but we were craving a hearty burger. What better place than in historical hawaiian cowboy country? Our burgers were SO GOOD. Wish we could go here all the time! Garlic fries were also tasty. Only recommendation is nixing the barrel seating on the patio. Bit uncomfy.

This was one of our best dinners during our trip to the Big Island! Nice cozy interiors, delicious beers, excellent service and fantastic vegan food. We got the falafel sandwich with fries & the kamuela kabocha squash dish- both were great. Tip- Get the homemade habanero sauce for the sandwich. It’s the best!

Best brewery on the island! Love their Belgian style beers and porter beers. And some pretty good food as well. The cup or bowl of green chili has great flavor and some real kick. My wife loves the fish bites. The green chili cheeseburger and pastrami sandwich are also solid.

Good selection of cuisine at the food court from gourmet burgers to several Asian choices.

Always busy, cool shops, a few spots were upgrading . One thing is i miss the parker ranch store

Great place to shop and friendly people. The local craft fair that was there that day was very cool.

Spacious food court with a good selection of family-run food stands (Thai, Hawaiian, Japanese, burgers) and some corporate options. Clean restrooms ! Lovely murals painted by artist Marcia Ray. If nothing else, come here to admire the art reflecting Hawaii Island’s ranching heritage.

I love their restaurants in the food court. They have Dominoes, Thai food, Don's Chinese kitchen, Yummy Korean BBQ & Dairy Queen. But they have one restaurant called... Village Burger!!!!!! My ABSOLUTE favorite is Village Burger! Fresh grilled burgers blended with different types of beef, they also have Vegetarian & Fish burgers. My favorite is Truffle fries!!!! OMG, IYKYK!! Try Village Burger, you won't regret it!!!!

Small local shopping town...food pretty good..clean rest rooms.. support the locals please

Nice shopping center conveniently located in the heart of Waimea. Shops, restaurants and a cute food court. Aloha

The Waimea Town Market is a very popular farmer’s market which beautifully locally grown vegetables as well as local bakery products, jewelry and all kinds of local vendors. I know the market is open on Saturdays from 7:30 am til ( I think) noon!

Great selection of local fruits, vegetables, food and various craft items with live music. Don’t miss Le Magic Pan and her AMAZING Crêpes! They are scrumptious. Sweet and savory options available.

This farmers’ market is absolutely amazing. The temperature here is refreshing, and so is the food. Unique, delicious, and rare things fill this mouthwatering place. So many foods to choose from. You must come here!

The farmers market is so amazing great vendors with a good variety of food options. The best thing I had there was to smash burger, hands-down the best burger I’ve ever had in my life. Also, next to the Smashburger tent is a unique fermented veggie vendor so I picked up some pickled veggies to go with my burger. It was honestly the best meal I had on the island.

Great market located right in the heart of Waimea. Open on Saturdays until around 1pm. You can find nice local products, fresh cooked foods, local farm harvested fruits and vegetables, flowers, handmade knives, jewelry and more. Easy to access and not crowded. Look at the weather before you go as the coastal area weather is different than Waimea. Enjoy the Aloha spirit and the beautiful city.

Saturday’s Waimea Town Market satisfied my appetite. One vendor sold me a double Kona espresso to go with the neighbors Mexican tamales. I ate my breakfast , while, I watched people forming a long line to buy baked goods. A cheese vendor sold me a variety of sample size pieces of goat cheese to eat later, while driving. I purchased a pineapple, papayas, and lemons. Vhuntermassage LLC

If you want to experience a various local Hawaiian shops, this farmers market could be one of the good ways. You could meet various kind of local businesses from here, and particularly you could meet and taste local farm's products such as Lilikoi butter or jam. They will close around 12 PM, so do not be there too late if you do not want miss any store.

Absolutely incredible playground! So much to do and so thoughtfully designed! I loved it as much as my kid!

Such a great park for littles to play at. Has bathrooms. Completely enclosed

It's a wonderful play ground that my son really enjoys. He has always loved going to this park even before it's recent remodeling of the playground. The park is usually cool while still being dry so children can play. The new features that were added during the remodeling of the park like the merry-go-round and the rope Geo structure for climbing are really fun and interesting. It's some place my son got at least a couple of times a week. Even if your just passing through on a long road trip if you have kids I would recommend stopping and letting them and your selves stretch out your legs.

AMAZING park, great for a play stop for the kids if you are driving across the island. There is a smaller child area for 2-5 year olds, then a larger child area for 5-12 years. There are bright colors, murals, musical instruments, ropes, rock climbing walls and a nice picnic area with benches in the shade and sun. One swing needs to be fixed and other older areas need repair but overall a great park.

This playground is located in the downtown of Waimea. It is convenient to access this playground. For my family, we usually bring some bento from home or the shop on the way to eat from this playground. There are several benches and tables you could use. It would be a good experience to play with kids on this playground. If you travel with kids, you would consider to stop by this playground to take a break or eat something with kids.

Nice spacious park. Some picnic tables, restrooms and a beautiful playground for kids. Our furr babies loved cooling off in the shade after our long drive from Kona. Aloha

Lots of space for your little ones to play, they have a specific 2-5 YO section and 5-12 YO section with lots of room to play and share. There are multiple benches with enough shade that most families bring water, snacks, and have breaks throughout their visit. We will be coming back!

Amazing art center! Mollie and Charlene were super kind to my girlfriend and I, along with the lady at the front desk I forgot to get her name. It was a great experience, if you're lucky enough you'll also get to meet Mr. Siam. Thank you, til next time!

This is our second time we're have been able to view the Hawaiian wood working show. If you are into fine woodworking this is a must see!

Take Isaacs Art Center located in Waimea is a wonderful place to visit. Each room displays authentic art by Hawaiians. The carvings of Master Wood Carvers were especially notable. Furniture, vases and sculptures featured beautiful natural woods. There are also Paintings and other items.

What a beautiful place. I loved the work the kids displayed. What a magical way of transporting history into the new days.

Great gallery with real art and real artisans. Sales benefit the school. Don't miss!

This place has amazing art of all varieties and of Hawaiian arts covering the past 200 years Woodworking, jewelry, stone, glass and more. Don't be put off by looks outside, as the building itself is a historical interest. Parking is behind the building. Best rating!!

Great gallery to learn a lot about Hawaiian art and the artists that poured their life in the work. Appreciated that it wasnt just trying to get you to buy the pieces (although a majority of the gallery was available to purchase to support the local art scene) but the staff wanted you to walk away impacted from the collection.

3 stars for a museum historical site is ok. Not a lot of things but great history of the paniolas, Hawaiian cowboys from Spain. The woodwork in the adjacent building is 5 star.

Tour the two historic homes of famous Parker Ranch, but by reservations only. Tour the last home and the first home of the Parker family. The original homestead is made entirely out of koa wood and there is nothing like it anywhere in the world. These were working ranch homes, nothing really fancy, but there are some surprises. The koa home is just amazing. You'll also see the carriage house, maybe some wild turkeys and horses too. Plenty of parking. This is a chance to better understand the history of the family dynasty that has shaped the Big Island for the past 150 years.

This is a neat tour to read about the history of the ranch and ranch owners. They should really create an audio tour instead of just paper pamphlets, not only for saving paper resources but also for equity of all visitors. The tour is short and won't take more than an hour. And disappointingly, you can't actually see any of the working ranch areas. They should really have a short route people can take a guided golf cart tour to working ranch areas as that would be something unique and add value to the experience. It was underwhelming overall and I would skip going here is pressed for time on the island. It's really not worth the price of admission.

This was a neat historical stop. The old house was impressive with all the koa wood and historical pictures and artifacts. I enjoy history and this appealed to me. The drive through the area is pleasant and is a good prelude to stopping at the Parker ranch mall with some good food and shopping options.

Had a great time learning about the history of the Parker Ranch. Incredible to learn about one of the oldest ranches in Hawaii. The home is grand and beautiful, many items intact from the early 1900s

Walked the entry Lane to the headquarters, such a beautiful day, the intermittent sun was painting the hills bright green behind the Parker house. Sturdy eucalyptus trees bent by the wind ushered us in. Wonderful history of a benevolent family.

Interesting self guided tour. No actual ranch tour only the headquarters and other buildings. Staff very friendly.

I loved painting at this venue for a wedding! The wedding was so picturesque and the staff was so wonderful to work with. I definitely hope to be back and would recommend it to any couple looking for a gorgeous and extremely special location.

I just popped in on a weekday afternoon and gave myself a self-guided tour of the property. Although I did not enter any of the buildings or the gift shop, I was overwhelmed by the beauty of the very well maintained grounds. There were gorgeous gardens and a treasure trove of interpretive signs that detailed fascinating information about Hawaiian history and culture. And there are stunning volcanic hills surrounding the homestead that make it even more scenic. Highly recommend stopping here, I will be back to tour the buildings.

A Hidden Gem along the highway. Not to be missed. A quiet retreat worth the "recommended" donation. Beautiful skies, green hillsides, and a lovely garden walk. A family history waiting to be discovered! Enjoy!

Nice tour. Good food. Talented hula dancers

The Waimea area has a long history of ranching on the island. This ranch at the foot of hills still used for grazing, has preserved some of its past. A pastoral setting worth the experience. The place was open for a self guided experience.

We shot a wedding here a couple of years ago and absolutely loved working here! Beautiful wedding venue tucked away in the hills of Hawaii!

Upcountry Weddings. Great country themed weddings and vow renewals. Mahalo, Michaela Lehuanani Larson Hawaiian Style Beach Weddings

We attempted to hike the Waimea Trail, but unfortunately, we had to turn back because it was extremely muddy and slippery. Many other tourists were struggling with the trail and decided to turn back too. It’s always wet there, and I wish we’d been better prepared with proper hiking shoes, which definitely would’ve helped. My boyfriend ended up having to carry me so I wouldn’t slip! The views looked amazing, though, and I’d love to try again on a drier day with the right gear!

Wow wow wow!!! I’m really proud of myself for doing this! We me and my family did great! Especially since we didn’t realize we were doing a 7 mile hike! But we still kept going! We finished👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼 well worth the views!! Take plenty of water but don’t drink too much just ration your water. This is a must do!!!

We did the short hike to the small waterfall on Monday morning in September. The parking was tight when we arrived and even moreso when we left so come early! The trail was moderately busy with friendly hikers going both directions. Beautiful views of th canyon along the way to the waterfall, the approach to the waterfall itself is like a stumbling on a small oasis, fun hike ⛰️⛰️

An absolutely stunning view of the canyon at the end! I can understand why they call this the Grand Canyon of the Pacific and would recommend it as a must do in Kauai. The waterfall at the end is fairly underwhelming, but the views from the cliffs are awesome. Absolutely worth the time and effort! Word to the wise, it's essentially like walking through a rainforest so it's quite muddy all the time and there are a lot of steep ups and downs. Bring real hiking shoes and walking sticks if you have them, because your shoes will get muddy and there are many areas with poor grip.

Beautiful trail, but be prepared. It gets steep with lots of roots and rocks. I saw people starting to hike the trail in flip flops!

This was such a stunning and beautiful place. I suggest you go early rather than later as the parking fills up fast. The hike to the waterfall was breathtaking.

Nice hike to be able to be a part of the canyon versus looking into it from the road.

Fantastic service, very good at accommodating preferences! The waitstaff are very attentive and friendly! The chef made me a goat cheese grilled cheese when I mentioned that I was pescatarian (after ordering the oysters that are cooked with sausage) and boy oh boy was it good! I loved the oysters and would have eaten more if sausage wasn’t involved ! 10/10 would recommend, if you’re in Waimea or even just passing through, go here !!! I don’t remember the name of the people who served me, but they were both great! Give them raises (love- the one with purple hair and piercings, y’all are great!!!!)

Solid dining experience. Love the small menu. The sashimi was the absolute highlight. Delicate fresh fish paired with the tasteful wasabi sauce and the refreshing pickle slices on the side. The goat birria was a miss in our opinion. For birria it’s missing spices and bold flavor. Miso butterfish is of good quality but could use stronger miso flavor. Ribeye loco moco used very good steak. We ordered the macadamia nut tart for dessert but taste like something from a supplier; it’s not bad tho. Overall you can definitely taste the quality of ingredients. Some items were very good and others were just on par. If you are in the area I would recommend giving this place a visit

How did I miss this place? After numerous visits to the Big Island I finally made it to FORC which cleverly stands for Farmers, Ocean, Ranchers, Cooks. Our server, Nanaia, was exceptional. We started off with 2 different tasty cocktails, wailea ranch water and a spicy Margherita. We then shared the oyster appetizer and a salad. We were thinking of their Miso butterfish entrée but ultimately both had their signature Kau coffee encrusted NY strip. The steak was so delicious that we made reservations on 5he spot to return 3 days later something I had never done before. When we returned the server immediately recognized us and waved from across the restaurant. She even remembered our drink preferences from the previous visit. We were treated like we were regular local diners (of which there were many dining) and this time my wife had the Miso Butterfish and I had a NY strip repeat. The butterfish was flavorful and perfectly cooked. Two very enjoyable meals. Highly recommended!

Excellent me on excellent service – everything was fresh and flavorful. Starting with an amazing house salad with some of the best tomatoes I’ve ever tasted a wonderful brown butter macadamia dressing. The three course kids meal was top quality food that I ur daughter enjoyed immensely – the chimichurri steak, the miso butterfish, and the short web surf & turf were all outstanding, perfectly cooked with lovely presentation. Cap it all off with attentive, friendly service from Jessica and our host and you can’t imagine a better meal.

Local Big Island gourmet gastro-pub with hyper local ingredients, fine dining quality food, truly warm aloha service and a relaxed small town atmosphere. We had Miso Butterfish, and Korean Short Ribs with the clams appetizer. Totally worth it! Better food than the resorts at a locals price point. Worth the drive from Waikoloa, Mauna Lani, Hapuna, etc.

Had a great experience here. The staff were friendly, flexible, and accommodating with our party, which had to reschedule and adjust group size a few times. I was very happy with the food. Every dish we had was grounded in tradition but exhibiting tasteful innovations. Altogether a delicious execution of the farm-to-table style. I'm sure the tasty cocktails and colorful platings contributed to the atmosphere, which I found elegant but not stuffy. If I had the chance I would love to come back to try their menu again as the seasons change.

My favorite meal on the big island! The Korean Braised Beef Rib was delicious. And everyone in our party loved what they got, so you can't go wrong.

David the dino loved the eggs benedict! The food was delicious, the service was awesome and the environment was relaxed and inviting 🤘💚

The food was tasty enough but incredibly small portion, 1/2 slice of French toast, 1 egg and 2 pieces of bacon belongs in the child's menu! Waitress was either very poorly trained or just didn't care or both. Stood at the counter for 10 minutes just to pay our bill, there were only two other tables in there at the time.

Staff friendly but food was horrendous. They featured Mexican cuisine for the day. By mistake they gave our order to another table————the food sat in front of them for awhile and then was sent back. A few minutes later they bought us our food, can’t say for sure, but I think it was the same plates sent back from the other table. Food was lukewarm and dried out. Felt nauseous after leaving. Will definitely not be returning.

Waitress was friendly to begin with but then changed attitude when my friend altered her order. She then ignored our table and didn't refill our water, let alone coffee, nor did she check on us. I don't recommend this place because of bad service. Food was good though, so compliments to the cook. Thumbs down for the waitress.

Popped in at about 1:40 PM after riding up north. I had the place to my self. Server was very accommodating, sorry I didn't get her name. Her daughter is heading to Oahu for school. I had pork rib special, which was a bit spendy for my lunch tastes, but was oh, so worth it, They were basted in a guava BBQ sauce, and were fall off the bone tender. Coffee is excellent, black and strong. Worth a second cup. If I ever venture back to the Big Island, I'll be sure to eat here again. Great comfort food for a hungry guy!

Plenty of parking, nice atmosphere. I had the taco plate one beef one chicken. The beef tasted funny chicken was great. My husband had the burrito supreme with chicken and he really enjoyed it. We will go back.

Today we went in and waited almost an hour for our food. We got our food and the eggs tasted like there was something wrong with it. The food was cold. Service sucked. The bathroom smelled like piss and could use a major cleaning. We only ordered 4 plates of food and it cost $65.00.

Update: Came back today. “Extra Crispy” fries came out hard and de-hydrated. Over-cooked patties. Done. Recommend you skip. Attention to quality is gone. Lowering rating due to consistently poor delivery. Off day yesterday. Thin shake. Under-fried fries. Burger was so very good! Usually a 5/5 from prior years. Variable, likely crew-specific. May update if I re-visit this trip.

One of the best burger joints in waimea. Its located by the food court. We had the hamakua wagyu burger.

The burger was amazing. The service was incredibly relaxed, no one seemed to be in a rush but we were on holiday so was happy just chilling. Staff are very friendly and the atmosphere was great. There are shops nearby to visit if there is a long wait on food.

It is very refreshing to discover a hidden gem in a small town, especially when hunger strikes. Not only is the menu varied and unique, the aloha oozes as deliciously as the juices from the fare. I particularily appreciated the willingness to cater to my preference for lettuce instead of bun, as well as the rarely found hand-cut fries

We’ve always enjoyed the burgers at Village Burger - but lately they seemed to stepped their game up to 11. The Parmesan goop fries are so cheesy they are practically a meal unto themselves. And my last bacon burger (eaten at lunch time) was so big that I skipped dinner that night. Really enjoy the juicy, grass fed burgers - and since they are local we feel comfortable ordering them medium rare - even for the kids. I highly recommend the Parmesan fries and burger with slow cooked onions, cheese and bacon. We like the wasabi mayo and sweet chili mayo to take it even more over the top. We only wish they would stay open until 6pm (or later!)! It’s so easy to order online and there are so many times we’ve wanted dinner but they are already closed!

A great burger and nice people. Take your time to look at the menu and build exactly what you want. Fries were perfect, burgers cooked to perfection.

I remember these burgers being a 10, but havent been in a while until today. I witnessed the cook using unsafe food handling practices. He was using his phone, then bare-handed touching burger buns and putting burgers together. The burger bun was soggy with beef blood, which I have never experienced before. We were with small children and did not have the time to take it back.

We’ve eaten at Merriman’s two days in a row, and it’s been incredible both times! The fish of the day was amazing, and everything we tried was fresh and full of flavor. They even made a special mango slaw on the side for my son’s quesadilla — such a thoughtful touch! The service and hospitality were outstanding, and the host was so kind and welcoming. Highly recommend Merriman’s — the food, service, and atmosphere are all top-notch!

We recently dined couple times at Merriman’s in Waimea during our Big Island trip, and it was an experience we won’t soon forget. From start to finish, the evening was great. First, the atmosphere strikes a perfect balance — polished yet warm, with a sense of aloha woven in. The space feels elegant but not stuffy, and you sense the care put into the details. The staff greeted us with genuine smiles and guided us confidently through the menu and wine list. As for the food — outstanding. Every dish felt intentional and true to the spirit of Hawaii Regional Cuisine. The catch-of-the-day was cooked beautifully; the local beef and produce-driven sides were superb. We also made sure to try one of their signature cocktails (the Mai Tai with lilikoi foam) — it delivered. Service was equally impressive. Our server anticipated our needs, explained dishes with enthusiasm. Little touches like that elevated the whole evening. Yes, the pricing is upscale — but you absolutely get what you pay for. The ingredient quality, presentation, ambiance, and care make it worth it. Merriman’s Waimea is more than a meal — it’s a culinary experience that honors local flavors and talent. We’d return in a heartbeat on our next visit to the island. Highly recommended.

Oh how I miss Merriman’s when I’m away from the Big Island. We have never missed going to Merriman’s one time when we’re visiting. It’s a must for us! It’s always so amazing and we were just there in August and it blew us away again. We decided that the next time we go back, not only are we going to Merriman’s for dinner but we’re also going for lunch. We can’t get enough! Please don’t miss out on this wonderful restaurant. Who doesn’t love locally sourced food?!?! We sure do miss the cute bread baskets though. Lol

From the moment you enter the did your treated as family. Great food options and our waiter discussed where all the items came from. The wine list was amazing but, I'm a little prejudice, they're should have been more California wines from Santa Ynez and Santa Rita Hills area. We will definitely go back

Incredible experience! Fresh and flavorful food, attentive servers, and warm atmosphere. We ordered the Poke and beet salads for appetizers - both were incredible. For entrees, I had the lamb and my husband got the NY strip. Both were seasoned and cooked to perfection. Also, portions were very generous! For dessert, we ordered the bread pudding which was so yummy and not too sweet. Overall, a perfect dinner to end our vacation in Hawai’i

Merriman's is top notch! We recently visited for dinner and were amazed with the experience. First, shoutouts to our server, Fay, who was so kind and attentive. She made the night very special. Our server assistant, Gustavo, who was so quick and polite. The restaurant manager, Eric, was very welcoming and funny. And lastly, the GM, Ben, for his generosity. Thank you all so much for making my grandparents' anniversary dinner one that my grandma thoroughly enjoyed. She was so thankful and we are all so grateful for the hospitality you showed. It was all thanks to the amazing people at Merriman's Big Island! On to the food: Some of the appetizers we ordered were specials (pork rillette and tomatos with bluecheese) and were phenomenal. That doesn't however take away from the staples - tako escargot and the beet salad, which are always so good. For entrees, we decided on kanpachi specials, new york steaks, and the lobster ravioli - all so 'ono! Everything was cooked and seasoned perfectly. Our dinner was accompanied by a wonderful prosecco (very good). Finally, the desserts were the perfect ending to our dinner and highlighted again the truly remarkable hospitality at Merriman's. My grandma was overjoyed with the chocolate torte and raved about it on the drive home. All in all, the folks at Merriman's Big Island delivered one of the BEST dining experiences, and just overall dinners, I have ever had. We are so grateful for the experience and want to say mahalo nui loa to the amazing people here!

Waimea residents visiting for birthday's in the family. Unfortunately, they seemed overbooked for the evening and our seating was 20 minutes past our reservation time. Once seated, service was amazing! Great wine list, local ingredients for everything on the menu, and desserts to make you want to eat them all! We will be back...

Not much of a fort remains here, but the statue of the Hawaiian chieftain is worth the quick stop for. Oh, and of course the river views. Anywhere you go or stop in Kauai is stunning.

It is designated as a historic site, but it is a place where I don't know what to see. It seems like I should go there after studying a little more next time.

Neat place, it still needs some work, but was very interesting and informative and yes, worth a trip if you’re on this side of the island. The fort is located right next to where Captain Cook first landed in Hawaii. There’s lots of parking and a bathroom available on site. It truly takes just a few minutes and is well worth the stop.

Very interesting historical information. The fort is very torn apart. All the info is at the trail head, nothing inside the fort. Take the time to walk to the back. A beautiful view of the river entering the ocean is a must on this spot. Great for a 30 minute stop, public restrooms available.

Very accessible park but the trails are heavy red clay. There's a hose by the restrooms to cleanup so it was all good.

This place is completely uninteresting from a visual standpoint. If you read the history about the fort it makes the fact that the location and foundation are still there interesting. As far as stopping to visit, may I point out that it has a bathroom that is conveniently located and easily accessible from the main highway (that isn’t crowded). We used this particular restroom several times over the week we visited. In fact we used it enough that the term “Russian Fort” now refers to the need for someone to relieve themselves. A souvenir that I didn’t anticipate bringing home from the island.

There is only the wall left off the old fort. Nice walk around the place. If you walk to the back of the structure towards the ocean you will get some great views of what is a black sand beach.

Whether you're a local or just passing through, Aloha n Paradise is a gem worth visiting. The combination of delicious sandwiches, beautiful Halloween decorations, and a warm, inviting atmosphere makes it a perfect spot for a casual meal. Grab a seat, enjoy the festive vibes, and indulge in some tropical flavors this Halloween season!

Fantastic local coffee shop with great food too! We enjoyed breakfast and their locally brewed and fresh made coffee here one morning on our way to Waimea. The Apple & Brie grilled cheese was great and the Egg & Cheese bagel was very tasty. The service was friendly and atmosphere was inviting. We will be back next time we’re in the area!

This charming spot left a great impression on us on our way to Waimea canyon. We enjoyed the avocado toast and grilled chicken sandwich, both of which were delicious, with the avocado toast being the standout. The owner was very hospitable and even recommended some hikes for us. A must-try place!

Such a nice place! The coffee was perfect (we didn't get food but I wish we had! It all looked so good.) Staff was so nice. It just felt like the quintessential place to go to get an authentic Hawaiian experience. Highly recommend!

Wonderful and friendly breakfast place! Coffee is very smooth with great flavor. Food is great. Atmosphere is very charming. Owners are very friendly.

This spot is exactly where we needed to go for coffee and to relax after a long morning. We both got americanos and they were so good. The lady working the counter was so kind and friendly too. Thank you!

This coffee shop is amazing! I had the canyon latte which was recommended by the staff, it had a hint of lavender flavor which at first sounded a little weird but it was really good. My husband had the ocean freeze energy drink and he really liked it as well. The drinks were delicious and the staff was very attentive and friendly, super glad we stopped here.

Worth visiting for the history and see how the locals have carefully and consciously vandalized it. A historical monument to the end of an empire and beginning of international meddling.

Captain Cook Landing Site is marked by by the bronze statue, which looks dull and dour. Hawaiian take it personally because James Cook discovery brought here repression and deceased. However, Cook was more like a cold-blooded profiteer following darwinism. You can understand why the place is not up to date by reading the full title of the famous book - "On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection, or The Preservation of Favored Races in the Struggle for Life" by Charles Darvin.

Very nice statue commemorating captain James Cook. It is not very well maintained. There was vulgar graffiti on it when we saw it.

Nice statue of the Captain. It’s a lot more interesting if you read the history of Captain Cook and know something about the man. Also fun to read about how he ultimately died. Give it a go. Pleasant little park that this statue sits in. Nice place to have a sit down or a lunch.

Nice place to sit and have lunch. Much of the place was defaced or marked up.

Sadly, The statue has not been kept up and the needed cleaned.

A nice monument for James cook. I agree with the other comments. Its not a discovery of hawaii. Maybe first recorded encounter.

Very friendly staff. Free museum to learn about the culture and history. They sell books on local history as well. Buy your souvenirs here & support a local non profit and local vendors! Public restroom available!

We stopped to see the visitors center in mid October and were surprised to find several locals in a jam session. They showed such kindness and hospitality to two Connecticut couples as we watched, listened and even dared to sing along with these talented musicians. It became one of our most cherished memories of our vacation.

Great little pit stop on the way up the canyon! Free to use public restrooms (though you need to go into the center in order to get the key). There are also a lot of great artifacts and exhibits to peruse through to learn more about the history of Waimea and Kauai. The employees are friendly, the bathrooms are clean, and it's a quick walk-through to learn something new! There is not a place to fill up your water though.

Such kind and generous ladies helped us make leis and learn about some of Hawaii's history. Much aloha here.

Hours are limited but we were lucky they were open. No one in town has a restroom. Thank goodness they were open! Other stores refer people here for the restroom.

The employees do not keep the posted hours. You cannot call first to make sure they are open because they do not answer the phone. I would not drive out here for anything. It was expensive and the museum was a joke. It was not even worth the time given that we were driving by.

Hours are 10-4pm, Saturday and Sunday closed. We started hiking before 10pm and came back from the state park after 4pm. There are also no maps available outside.

We did the Kukui Trail going down into Waimea Canyon on Kauai & remember, what goes down must come back up! (Not quite the saying we all know...) We had a late start, beginning our hike at 10am. I definitely recommend starting earlier than that! The first bit of the trail has periodic shade, which was quite nice, but you soon lose the shade, trading it for dusty, wide open areas. The ground was quite loose as we were hiking in dry conditions, but I could see it being quite treacherous in the rain. After quite a bit of blazing sun, you are then surprised to find yourself a lush forested area with shade again. This leads you to the bottom, where a cool, refreshing stream awaits you. We spent some time at the stream, soaking my feet a bit in the cool, refreshing water, & we had some snacks to refuel. There is an outhouse there, but I gladly took a squat off trail instead of battling it out with the monster spiders we saw in there! The hike back up to the top I found to be challenging, as we were not only tackling the incline, but also, the heat was real! We took small breaks wherever we could find little pockets of shade. We found our hiking poles were helpful with the incline. Overall, it took us about 4 hours to complete with our rest at the bottom. Bring LOTS of water as you'll need it!

Moderate to difficult hike. Highly recommend hiking poles to navigate muddy areas of the trail. There's two options. Loop and back and fourth to the river. I did the river back and fourth trail. Limited parking available across from trailhead

This is another beautiful lookout offering a different angle of the canyon and the waterfall. It's truly majestic. While there are many worthwhile trails in the park to explore, we only stopped at the lookouts during our visit.

Awesome nature trail into the canyon, well maintained. Go here instead of the lookout point it's free and offers the same amount of views. Has parking and you can also walk to the other main trail.

Nice easy hike. Unfortunately many of the plant identifiers are no longer there. Still worth the stop and you can zoom in on a waterfall across the valley!

This is the starting point for a few different trails. We only did the small loop (maybe 0.3 miles) as we had people in the group that couldn't go further. But it was totally worth it. You'll get a great view of the canyon and it's completely free. Other lookouts along the road aren't.

A challenging but stunning 5-mile out-and-back trail Takes about 4 hours, including breaks, to complete. Was not crowded at all when we came. It goes down to a river where you can refill your water if you have a purifier.

This is one of the best places to see the “Pacific Grand Canyon”. Beautiful overlooks you can easy spend hours just soaking in the views. When it is busy parking is limited and their isn’t any places for a picnic (but what do you expect on the side of a canyon.

I parked here and hiked the Canyon Trail. It took me 1 hour and 52 minutes. It is an out-and-back. I was by myself and hiking with trekking poles, so I was moving pretty quickly (but I’m generally a slow hiker). I passed lots of people wearing sandals and carrying babies, which I would not recommend. It had some respectable verts with a few heart-pumping climbs. The views of the canyon are beautiful. The waterfall is a little underwhelming, but the canyon more than made up for it. I got there at 10:00 AM and had no problem finding a parking place. When I got back at noon, it was bumpin’. I really enjoyed this hike. The canyon is amazing.

Overrated. We had to pay $20 to park our car for 10 mins just to take a quick photo. You can get the same picture free of charge if you pull over somewhere else, which were plenty opportunities. But the view is amazing, worth driving up these mountains

Great views! Limited parking and a bit crowded. Keep in mind you'll need to purchase a ticket, but it can be used for other lookouts too. There are bathrooms available. Worth the stop.

So think to much. Go. You won't regret it

Loved it. The first time we went, we couldn't see anything because of cloud cover below us. The second time, we thought we went on a clear day, but still couldn't see much by the time we got up there because of clouds. Both times we went in the afternoon. Later, locals told us to go in the morning when it is less cloudy. Still beautiful. The air really is thinner up there. Makes it harder to breathe.

Pu'u Hinahina Lookout shares a paid parking lot with the Ni'ihau Viewpoint. $10 per car + $5 per person and your ticket is good for all the scenic lookouts in the Waimea Canyon & Koke'e State Parks on the same day. There is a bathroom and a two elevation viewpoint area that has the best views of the canyon, looking towards the East. Visited: January 2023

Excellent food, everyone loved it! Was surprised by how affordable it was, great prices. Got the Mahi katsu (loved it! Two people could share), fish and chips (daughter loved it), teriyaki cheeseburger (delicious), onion rings, fries and brownies. Everything was good and would definitely come again. Sad we missed the cheesecake, it had just sold out. We ate at the park across the street. We came as a group of 14 and got our food pretty quick. The woman taking our order was friendly, patient and helpful

Got the Mahi katsu and Mac salad. I wish my stomach was bigger because I wanted to try their chicken too. I’ll have to go back next time Food was fresh and delicious and the staff were very respectful. There’s a little plaza across the street where you can sit down, enjoy the weather, and if you’re lucky you’ll see some baby chicks as they chase after their mothers.

Someone else mentioned the mahi katau changed their life. I got it, and loved it. Definitely a local place and they were friendly. There is no place to eat inside, drive less than 3 minutes and sit at the beach to eat it.

The food tastes incredible. They don't have seating inside but it's definitely worth stopping by and getting some stuff

I would give this place 10/5 stars if I could. Excellent food, great service and HUGE portions. The Mahi Katsu might be my favorite thing I have ate on my trip and we also spent a week in Oahu before coming to Kauai

First time going, got the katsu Mahi Mahi, was ONO!! Ordered cheeseburgers and fries for my kids and a brownie to share everything was good!

Super friendly lady, old school atmosphere & unbeatable plate lunches made with love!

Great spot for a quick meal, especially after hiking at Waimea Canyon. I got the Kalau Pork taco, super filling and came with a nice side of chips. Outside seating is shaded by umbrellas. Highly recommend eating here!

Classic Taco plate was delicious. Interesting having the Refried beans, rice and meat all in one large taco shell. The meal was very satisfying. Came with chips and salsa also. Tables and seating area is outside.

The lady who helped us order was great and very helpful. We loved sitting outside on the picnic tables. I got the shrimp tacos and my husband got the kalua pork burrito. Both were really good. The chips were my favorite fluffy and crispy

Best taco I've ever had!! And it stayed together the whole time. Really like this taco burrito shop. I had the Cajun ahi taco. Their homemade tortilla and chips are so delicious!! Super nice people too.

The food is very good here. I had a Cajun ahi ahi burrito. The salsa and meat were fantastic, especially after hiking - it just felt a bit expensive considering the lack of shady seating and the tables had a lot of chicken poop. The tables were very close to the road so it was dusty and uncomfortable

For island fare, this is the place! The Mahi Mahi taco was incredible. Get the extra side of jalapeño cream sauce.

Really great spot right off the highway. Delicious tacos and salsa. The tortilla chips and tortillas are made in house and they are fantastic! We got the ahi burrito and the mahi mahi taco and the mango pineapple pico. 10/10 Highly recommend this little spot, you won't regret it!