Kona Canoe Club

Kona Canoe Club – Enjoy Delicious Island Fare Right on the Kailua-Kona Waterfront
Local Expert's Rating:
4 / 5
The Bottom Line:

When you want to dine on tasty island fare while enjoying oceanfront views, just head on over to the Kona Canoe Club. Set on the Kailua Bay, this Kona favorite always rolls out the most imaginative dishes and drinks for your pure enjoyment. On top of that, they offer the friendliest service around, so you can bask in all the aloha that comes your way.

- The HawaiianIslands.com Local Expert Team

Are you in the mood for the full waterfront dining experience, complete with decadent island fare and the drinks to match? If so, you need a trip to the Kona Canoe Club in your life. Thanks to their location right on Kailua Bay, their ocean views are second to none. Plus, their friendly service will have you feeling right at home in an instant.

At this Kailua-Kona eatery, they go all out in creating bright, flavorful dishes to remember. Their menu items always start with the freshest local ingredients and imaginative recipes. Then, the chefs use their culinary expertise to transform all their ingredients into pure magic. Their clean plating techniques let the magnificence of every item stand out, although you can still expect tropical flower accents here and there.

Their drinks are equally scrumptious, too, especially if you’re in the mood for craft cocktails. They have a variety of top-notch signature drinks available at all times, including their ever-popular Kona Cocktail. If you’d like something a little more sophisticated, they have specialty martinis as well. Or you can go all out by asking for their wine list. They carry Salmon Creek as their house wine, but that’s not where their offerings stop. You can also find pinot grigio, chardonnay, and everything in between – all available by the bottle and the glass.

No matter what you want to enjoy during your visit, you’ll undoubtedly delight in sitting right by the waterfront. Their open-air dining room treats you to the most breathtaking views around, especially during the sunset hour. Even midday, you can often lose yourself in the ocean waves, plus there’s a chance you could see dolphins flitting by. As you enjoy the views, food, and drinks, your servers will go all out in ensuring you have a fantastic dining experience. So, don’t hesitate to let them know how they can take your visit to the next level.

Swing by for the:

Kona Cocktail
For all the best tropical flavors in every last sip, get the Kona Cocktail, for sure. This drink starts with Malibu and dark rum plus banana and apricot liqueur. Then, they add orange juice and pineapple to jazz it up a bit before bringing it out to your table.

Shrimp Bucket
The Shrimp Bucket lets you revel in the best ocean flavors while keeping you busy while you wait for the main course. When you order this appetizer, they poach the shrimp until perfectly cooked. Then, they toss them in a rich garlic-herb butter sauce and serve them 21 at a time with cocktail sauce.

Paddler’s Fish Sandwich
The Paddler’s Fish Sandwich is definitely the way to go when you want to enjoy fresh-caught fare to the fullest. They create this popular entrée by broiling the fresh catch of the day until light and flaky. Then, they place it on a hamburger bun with tomato and lettuce. Potato salad, coleslaw, or macaroni salad come alongside – unless you want French fries, which are an extra charge.

As you dine in style, make sure to save room for dessert. That way, you can revel in the deliciousness that is their Mud Pie. Prefer macadamia nuts instead? Go with the Mac Nut Pie to get all the nuttiness you crave. If you want to keep it simple, you cannot go wrong with the Macadamia Nut Ice Cream either. None of these options transport well, so you’ll have to enjoy them on site rather than taking them for the road.

Insider Tips:
-Want happy hour specials? Come by between 2pm and 5pm each day.
-If you’d like to get a table without a wait, be sure to call ahead of time to book your spot. Their dining room fills up fast, especially right along the oceanside, so don’t leave it all to chance.
-Come by in the mid-afternoon for the best chance at getting an oceanfront table without reservations.