On the sun-drenched shores of Ali’i Drive, one oceanfront café has been pouring aloha into every plate since the day it opened. 🌊☀️
Island Lava Java in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii, is the kind of locally-owned breakfast restaurant that stops you mid-bite just to make you appreciate where you are — because the view is as spectacular as the food on your plate.
Perched along the iconic Coconut Grove Marketplace, this beloved Big Island institution serves up Hawaii-inspired breakfast and brunch that keeps locals loyal and visitors coming back on every return trip to the island. 🤙
How Island Lava Java Won Kailua-Kona’s Hearts
From its earliest days on Ali’i Drive, Island Lava Java set itself apart by doing something that sounds straightforward but is surprisingly rare: it committed fully to both the food and the experience simultaneously.
The oceanfront setting along Ali’i Drive — one of Hawaii’s most beloved coastal stretches — gave the restaurant a front-row seat to some of the most breathtaking views on the island, with spinner dolphins regularly spotted from the dining deck and cruise ships anchoring just offshore visible right from your table. 🐬
But a great view alone doesn’t fill seats for years on end — the food has to deliver.
Guests consistently rave about the Luau Scramble, the Fresh Fish Benedict, and the Island Style pancakes loaded with bananas, macadamia nuts, and coconut syrup — dishes that feel like they were designed specifically for the setting, pairing classic breakfast comfort with true island soul.
The 100% Kona coffee program sealed the deal for the local community.
Kona coffee — some of the most prized coffee in the world, grown right on the slopes of Mauna Loa just miles from the restaurant — flows through Island Lava Java in every cup, French press, and latte, giving the café a deeply authentic connection to its Big Island roots that no chain café could ever replicate. ☕
Earning a Travellers’ Choice award and consistently ranking among the top restaurants in Kailua-Kona, Island Lava Java has proven that the best way to win a community’s loyalty is to give them something genuine — a beautiful place, honest food, and a staff that treats every table like it matters. 🏆
Live music on Sunday mornings, a full bar for those who prefer a mimosa with their eggs, and a menu that accommodates vegetarians, vegans, and gluten-free diners alike only adds to the restaurant’s wide-reaching appeal across locals and visitors from every walk of life. 🎶
In a town full of tourist traps and ocean-view spots that coast on their setting, Island Lava Java has always chosen to earn its reputation the right way — one unforgettable plate at a time.
Food Highlights
The breakfast and brunch menu at Island Lava Java is a love letter to Hawaii’s bold, fresh, locally sourced ingredients — here are the must-try morning offerings locals and visitors can’t stop ordering:
- Luau Scramble: Scrambled eggs tossed with Kalua pork, grilled pineapple, onion, and cheddar-jack cheese, served with rustic potatoes and applewood smoked bacon — a true island flavor bomb. 🍍
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Island Eggs Benedict: Grilled ham on a flaky, buttery croissant topped with two poached eggs and hollandaise.
- Fresh Fish Benedict: Freshly grilled local catch served over an English muffin, topped with two poached eggs and house-made hollandaise. 🐟
- Big Kahuna Fish Breakfast: Locally caught fish fillets paired with eggs your way and fresh-cut fruit.
- Big Island Basics: Two eggs cooked your way with honey-oat wheat toast, Portuguese sausage or applewood smoked bacon, and rustic potatoes or brown rice. 🥚
- Lava Java Breakfast: A hearty classic — your choice of scratch-made buttermilk pancakes or Belgian waffles, two eggs cooked your way, and applewood smoked bacon or Portuguese sausage.
- Pineapple “Upside Down” French Toast: Egg-dipped house brioche topped with fresh pineapple, toasted pecan pieces, and house-made cinnamon brown sugar syrup. 📸
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Island Style Pancakes or Belgian Waffle: Scratch-made buttermilk pancakes or a golden Belgian waffle topped with fresh bananas, macadamia nuts, and coconut syrup. 🥥
Atmosphere
Island Lava Java is breezy, open, and utterly alive — a casually upscale oceanfront space where the Pacific sets the mood and the hum of a happy crowd fills the rest.
The outdoor deck overlooking Ali’i Drive is the crown jewel of the experience, offering sweeping ocean views, passing spinner dolphins, and the kind of morning light that makes every meal feel like a special occasion. 🌅
Live music on Sunday mornings adds a festive, only-in-Hawaii energy to the dining room, while the full bar ensures the vibe carries seamlessly from brunch into the evening.
It’s the kind of restaurant that makes you slow down, sip your Kona coffee, and remember exactly why you came to Hawaii in the first place. 🌺
Bottom Line
Island Lava Java is Kailua-Kona at its most delicious.
Locally sourced Hawaiian-inspired breakfast, world-class Kona coffee, spinner dolphins from your table, live music, and an oceanfront deck that makes every bite taste better — this is the Big Island breakfast you simply cannot miss. 🤙
Address:
75-5801 Ali’i Drive, Building 1, Kailua-Kona, HI 96740
📞 (808) 300-5672
🕔 Open Daily 7:00 AM – 8:30 PM (Late Night Wed–Sun 9 PM–12 AM)