Kaya’s Kawanui (Coffee)

Kaya's Coffee – Serving Energizing Fare with a Healthy Kick in Kealakekua
Local Expert's Rating:
4 / 5
The Bottom Line:

When only organic, local fare will do, set your sights on Kaya’s Coffee in Kealakekua. Delicious coffee drinks, smoothies, and housemade kombucha are always up for grabs. Plus, they have the tastiest light bite plates around, all served up with plenty of aloha from their talented team.

- The HawaiianIslands.com Local Expert Team

Whenever you want to take your day to the next level, swing by Kaya’s Coffee for tantalizingly delicious food and drinks. They only use organic local ingredients, so you can feel good about whatever you order. On top of that, they put plenty of aloha into all they do, bringing in a steady stream of loyal patrons from all over Kealakekua and beyond.

They open their doors bright and early every morning to help everyone start their day off right. Then, they keep things running through the evening hours, just in case you need a midday pick-me-up. All throughout the day, you’re likely to encounter a medium to the long line. But it’s well worth sticking around for a chance to order.

While you wait, you can explore their huge menu, which starts off with a look at all their 100% Kona Coffee drinks. They have mochas, cappuccinos, and all the other classics, plus their signature drinks, like the ever-popular Breve Latte. Then, they exceed all expectations with even more imaginative fare, such as their Blackflower Chai and Lavender Matcha Latte. You can then further customize your drinks with their regular and non-dairy creamers plus syrups galore.

If you’d rather stick with fruit-based deliciousness, then their smoothies are where it’s at. They have several premade varieties to consider, but it’s their Build Your Own fare that will satisfy all your cravings. You just have to choose one base and three fruits, and then add any boosts you want to amp up the protein and other nutrients. Prefer to keep it ultra-healthy? Go with their housemade kombucha instead.

They take the same open approach with their small bite plates. You can either go with their premade sandwich, burger, or toast recipes. Or use their organic ingredient list to build your own. They also have flavorful quiche, oatmeal, and soup available daily. Many of their items are gluten-free, vegan, or both, and they’re clearly marked on the menu.

If you’re not sure what to order – or have any questions about the ingredients – just let the team know and they’ll help you out. They can go in-depth about the ingredient types, quality, and even which farms provided their items. Want to know which drinks go best with a certain food item? Just ask and the team will let you know.

Check out their:

Lavender Cardamom Mocha
When you want to kick your day into high gear, you cannot go wrong with their Lavender Cardamom Mocha. Available in 12-, 16-, 20-ounce cups, this drink starts with their 100% Kona coffee. Then, lavender and cardamom syrup join the mix alongside your creamer of choice.

Berry Best Smoothie
For a taste of all the best island flavors, treat yourself to their Berry Best Smoothie. To create this 16-ounce drink, they blend up fresh, organic strawberries and blueberries. To that, they pour in their awesome bluecran juice to thin it out while amping up the tart berry flavors even more. 

Pete Special
When hunger strikes, you can always count on the Pete Special to get you through to your next meal. This open-face bagel begins with a layer of cream cheese and pesto. Over that, they add two eggs topped with cheese plus onion, tomato, cucumber, sprouts, and avocado slices.

When ordering, let them know if you’d like to take your items to go or stick around to eat in house. Whenever you’d like to dine onsite, you can either grab a seat inside their cozy dining room or go out front. They have several tables set up in front of their shop, letting you view all the action on Mamalahoa Highway while you chow down. If you prefer to hit the road, they’ll package everything up for easy transport to your next destination.

Insider Tips:
-While sourcing local ingredients, the shop often ends up with art, jewelry, handmade soap, and other artisan goods to sell. So, be sure to look around a bit at the items on their shelves whenever you come in.
-If they have to close early, they’ll usually post an announcement on Instagram.