The sun, the beach, no, it’s the food! That’s my favorite part of my recent Hawaii vacation. I just came back from the Big Island of Hawaii, and I’m still on island time. As a vegan, traveling can seem challenging at first. But with a bit of preparation, you can be well fed and have a fabulous trip.
Before the Trip
An airport is a tricky place. Things are getting a lot better, but you never know what to expect. Since I flew Delta, the app offered the ability to view what restaurants were near our gate. I researched and found two places to eat breakfast/lunch during our layover. But I also packed plenty of flight-friendly snacks, such as:
- Dried fruit
- Nuts
- Popcorn
- Apple Sauce
- Guacamole
- Graham Cracker Bites
- Fresh fruit (although that had to be tossed before leaving Kona International)
- Carrots
I even placed most of those snacks in a craft container. This great portable solution is excellent on the plane and even on road trips. My husband used his craft container throughout the trip. Load all the snacks into your craft container. Then stick them in a carry-on to keep close to you on the plane. When I pack for the plane, I usually have a bag that can go under the seat, so that is where I place my craft container.
During your Hawaii Trip
Depending on your activities, you might need more snacks! I packed my take on Starbucks’ Chickpea Bites. These bites are loaded with cumin, onion powder, garlic powder, and paprika. I purchase 3oz guacamole packets to eat the bites with.
Other snacks to consider having on hand in your purse or day bag are:
- Protein Bars
- Apple Sauce
- Trail Mix
Places I ate
To me, the trip isn’t a vacation unless I’m stuffing my face with food. I was traveling with my non-vegans, who only eat about twice a day. I, however, eat at least three meals a day, somethings three meals and two smaller meals or a snack. Breakfast is usually the trickiest meal of the day as the Standard American Diet always includes dairy, eggs, or meat.
Honorable Mention:
Before landing on the Big Island, I had a layover in Seattle. As previously mentioned, I planned and read up on the restaurants near my terminal. Floret is a vegetarian restaurant near my terminal with a sit-down option and a grab-and-go. Because I had a five-hour layover, I did both options. The restaurant was adorable and had options for my non-vegan eaters. Though the restaurant is vegetarian, the menu labeled all the vegan options or what could be made vegan. I had the Winter Scramble, which must change seasonally. It was a tofu scramble with seasonal veggies.
In Hawaii:
After a nearly six-hour flight, I was hungry when we arrived at the Big Island! The local vegan Facebook group raved about Journey’s Cafe and Sweet Journey, so I checked it out. Though the food was just okay, granted it was pretty late, the soft serve was delicious! I tried a pizza and a pocket as well as their housemade kombucha. (Which you will see is an ongoing trend for me throughout this trip)
An epic Uber ride helped us land at Herbivore. This restaurant is a completely vegan fast food spot. I was extremely excited to try vegan poke. (Another pattern you will see throughout the trip). The poke was fabulous. The vibes of space were exactly what I needed to kick off my trip. My favorite part of the visit to this restaurant was my coconut water. The coconut water tastes like cereal milk, and I love it! It’s the simple things. The poke also came with purple sweet potatoes and rice, which was a savory breakfast for a relaxing day.
Loko Wraps offered jackfruit, fresh-pressed juices, and smoothie bowls. You picked your protein, in my case, I went with jackfruit, and I chose a taco salad. Other vegan-friendly options included wraps and tacos. I added the delicious tropical avocado because when in Hawaii, eat fresh produce! The seating was a bit lacking, but if you get there at just the right time, you can sit outside and enjoy the weather as we did.
Honorable Mention:
I wanted to point out two delicious breweries if you are interested in beer. First, Kona Brewery is probably one of the most well-known local breweries. Though it doesn’t offer sours as I love, the brewery has amazing IPAs and Lagers. Next, Ola Brewery was way more fruit-forward. I could see myself going back to that brewery for a meal.
The island vibes were so genuine on the Big Island. My family was greeted by locals that chatted our heads off. I believe the locals were excited to see tourists again. We also had on matching t-shirts when we visited Kaya Coffee which captured lots of attention. Kaya Coffee is on the outskirts of Captain Cook and offered plenty of plant-based options.
The Junjara Thai Kitchen was located near a grocery store. After ordering my ginger stir fry and soup, I headed to the grocery store. Well in the store, I found tofu poke and some chips that I truly enjoyed. However, the Junjara Thai Kitchen food was perfect that day and for leftovers for the remainder of the trip.
The Cardinal Herbs were already on my must-visit list, due to the jackfruit tuna. The local vegan Facebook group recommended the restaurant as well. The man was even there to say hello! This was my favorite bite. The avocados tasted so fresh yet different from my avocados at home. The fresh fruit on the salad was mouth-watering along with the dressing. I am forever in love with the relaxed vibes.
Speaking of amazing vibes, the atmosphere was incredible. The beachfront On the Rocks had a few tasty vegan options plus a great view of the ocean. During my visit, there was live music which added to the ambiance. I ordered the On the Rocks taco salad with plant-based meat. As a family, we ordered onion rings and guacamole.
One of Kona’s newer restaurants with vegan cheese is Black Rock Pizza. I ordered a pizza with a salad for balance. Remember to ask to remove the butter on the crust for a vegan-friendly bite. The cocktails were also fresh and refreshing to drink on a warm Kona day.
Honorable Mentions:
Big Island Brewhaus didn’t have too many options. I made substitutions to the Roasted Kabocha Squash. I wasn’t too hungry and I also enjoyed some fries with my hubby.
Umeke’s Fish Market only had one vegan-friendly option. This was their take on poke. I ordered this as well as a seaweed salad. I was pretty full and ready to hop on the plane by this time.
Hawaii as a vegan was not as complicated to navigate with a little preparation and research. Vegan-friendly options were readily available, from completely vegan restaurants to vegan options clearly noted on the menu. Ultimately the people on the island enjoy the produce grown there. The restaurants really highlight the freshness and that really shows.
What restaurant would you like to try? Or what tips did you find helpful? Let’s chat in the comments below.