Pāhoa town is the quintessential small town. Head here to get a taste of Hawai‘i of old. Pāhoa’s colorful and quaint downtown strip is filled with shops, galleries and eateries. The town’s easy-going vibe makes it the perfect place to while away a day.
Culinarily speaking, PĀHOA is the perfect microcosm for Hawai‘i’s food landscape. You’ll find cuisines from around the world represented here. LUQUIN’S MEXICAN RESTAURANT is an institution; head to award-winning KALEO’S BAR & GRILL for a Hawai‘i twist on classic comfort food (stop in for dinner, when there’s nightly entertainment); and, at PĀHOA FRESH FISH , you’ll find — you guessed it — fresh fish. The fish and chips are not-to-be-missed. Brunch at PELE’S KITCHEN ; gather your fill of tropical fruits, including delicious papaya, at VOLCANO ISLE FRUIT CO. ; and find all of your organic and natural food needs at ISLAND NATURALS (islandnaturals. com). If farmers markets are more your speed, head over on Sundays, 8 a.m.-2 p.m., where you’ll find MAKU‘U FARMERS MARKET .
Understandably, Pāhoa — like the rest of Puna, and the island at large — inspires many artists. Find an array of art in area galleries such as TANGLEWOOD GALLERY and HOUSE OF FIRE .
