On a Saturday afternoon while staying at the Hapuna Beach Prince Resort, I though we would go into Waimea for lunch then make our way to the Pololu Valley Lookout. We may hike down to the beach. Then I thought we'd make a stop for ice cream in Hawi and take the western route past the heiaus (Hwy 270) to our resort again. Here are my questions:

What is your favorite lunch place in Waimea?

About how long will this round trip take?

Are there any sights along this arid-looking western coast that really warrant stopping to see? Lapakahi State Park? Birthplace of Kamehameha?

For dinner, I'm debating between stopping in Kawaihae at Cafe Pesto or heading back to our resort to attend the clambake at the Mauna Kea. I guess some of it depends on the timing. I hate to make reservations for the clambake and then feel we must rush back. It looks like a fun setting, though. And it's only once a week - Saturday! Any suggestions about this would be appreciated.

We went to Bamboo Restaurant in Hawi for lunch. We really liked the atmosphere and the food. http://www.bamboorestaurant.info/

Bamboo is REALLY good! The food was very fresh and the prices were very good. Be sure and go to the bathroom while you're there. ;-) Hawi has some cute galleries and shops, too.

If you do just the overlook at Polulu and lunch, I'd allow at least 3 hours for the round trip. If you hike down, maybe 5 total. It's a pretty vertical hike. We didn't do it because my mother was still recovering from knee surgery, but the pics I took at the overlook were spectacular!

I second the vote for the Bamboo restaurant in Hawi. If you are in luck, John Keawe may be playing his wonderful slack key guitar when you are there. Have fun, Pololu is beautiful.

I third the vote for the Bamboo. We have eaten there both for lunch and dinner. The last time we had dinner there, John Keawe was playing. You can check the dates he is there either from the restaurant or from his website. We have also done the hike down - it is pretty vertical but other than that not too tough.

Unfortunately Bamboo was closed while we were there (owners were in Vegas!)and so we ate lunch at Lulu's, a very small simple Mexican hole in the wall type place with indoor/outdoor seating. The burritos were good and the salsa was excellent and did I mention it was CHEAP!

We haven't done the hike down into Pololu Valley yet....
but we did visit the heiaus (the BI revealed book hits the nail on the head) and at Lapakahi State Park it was so windy that we have crazy photos with everyones hair at rightangles to their heads!...not a good look

I'm not a clambake fan so I wouldn't rush back for one plus if you do eat at Bamboo I think this trip will take longer than 3 hours without the hike.