Hawaii - Jeff Campbell [234]
KTA Super Store Downtown (Map; 935-3751; 321 Keawe St; 7am-9pm Mon-Sat, to 7pm Sun); Puainako Town Center (Map; 959-9111; 50 E Puainako St; 5:30am-midnight) For regular groceries, Hilo shoppers prefer KTA. The downtown store is as cramped as the Puainako location is enormous; downtown sells out of the good stuff early, but Puainako has such an extensive selection of poke, bentō and other local treats that you needn’t worry.
For organic foods, bulk grains, fruit smoothies and travel-ready salads, head for Abundant Life Natural Foods (Map; 935-7411; 292 Kamehameha Ave; 8:30am-7pm Mon, Tue, Thu & Fri, 7am-7pm Wed & Sat, 10am-5pm Sun) in downtown Hilo; it also has a simple café. Island Naturals (Map; 935-5533; Waiakea Center, 303 Maka’ala St; 7:30am-8pm Mon-Sat, 9am-7pm Sun), near the Hwy 11 malls, has a nice salad bar and good to-go and bakery items.
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DRINKING & ENTERTAINMENT
The words ‘Hilo’ and ‘nightclubbing’ never rub together. There are a few bars downtown and at the Banyan Dr hotels, and some live music – but even then, when it’S slow, places shut early. Often, the only ones making noise after 10pm are the coqui frogs.
Bars & Nightclubs
Shooters Bar & Grill (Map; 969-7069; 121 Banyan Dr; admission $5; 9pm-2am Wed, 10pm-3am Thu-Sat) This is the most reliable spot for local 20-somethings who want to drink, flirt and dance to DJ-spun tunes.
Cronies Bar & Grill (Map; 935-5158; 11 Waianuenue Ave; 11am-10pm Mon-Sat) With big windows looking out on the bayfront, Cronies is a bright, TV-festooned sports bar with occasional live music and a full menu (meals $9 to $18). It’S the biggest, most welcoming spot downtown.
Coffeehouses
Kope Kope Espresso Café (Map; 933-1221; www.kopekopeespresso.com; Hilo Shopping Center, 1261 Kilauea Ave; 6:30am-7pm Mon-Wed, 6:30am-9pm Thu-Sat, 7:30am-6pm Sun; ) This hip Seattle-ish coffeehouse with couches, simple eats and internet access hosts a daily lunchtime music series, and live entertainment on weekend evenings. It could be jazz, slack key guitar, ukelele or swing dancing.
Bayfront Kava Bar (Map; 935-1155; 155 Kamehameha St; snacks $4-8; 10am-9pm Mon-Sat) It looks like an upscale coffeeshop, but that’S kava in those coconut cups. Order your mashed ′awa straight up or with coconut milk (for a slightly sweeter dirt taste). Relax, that’S what kava’S for, and enjoy live music most nights. This place also serves espresso, tea and a few munchables.
Theaters & Cinemas
Palace Theater (Map; 934-7010, box office 934-7777; www.hilopalace.com; 38 Haili St; tickets $7) The resurrected, historic Palace Theater is Hilo’S cultural crown jewel. Its eclectic programming includes arthouse and silent films (accompanied by the house organ), music and dance concerts, Broadway musicals, and various cultural festivals. Every Wednesday morning it hosts the highly recommended ‘Hawai′iana Live’ ($5), a sweetly intimate, personal, 45-minute sampling of Hawaiian culture.
Kress Cinemas (Map; 935-6777; 174 Kamehameha Ave; tickets $1) Second-run films are only one buck (!) during the week at Kress Cinemas, and a whole $1.50 on evening weekends (blame inflation).
Stadium Cinemas (Map; 961-3456; Prince Kuhio Plaza, 111 E Puainako St; adult/child 3-11/matinee $9.25/5.75/6.75) New Hollywood releases are shown at this plush, up-to-date multiplex cinema.
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SHOPPING
Downtown Hilo has some of the coolest gift stores and boutiques on the island. It’S got a great gallery scene if you’re hunting for local and/or fine art; cruise the corner of Mamo St and Kilauea Ave, in addition to bayfront’S Kamehameha Ave.
Sudha’S Art Gallery (Map; 934-0009; www.sudhaachar.com; 100 Kamehameha Ave; 11am-4pm Tue-Sat) Run by the former chairman of the East Hawai′i Cultural Center, this fine art gallery sells contemporary paintings, sculpture and woodworking. Upstairs, you’ll find secondhand