Shar, I'm very partial to Kona Village, as you may have picked up. I did a website just for the heck of it, and you might want to take a look: www.davidskvr.net. If that doesn't work, go to Google and do a search on "Kona Village Life in the Soft Lane." When I did that my website was the second listing. Anyway, it's got 265 pictures of the village, including pictures of the Hale Samoa. Enjoy!

I will say that Browns is not a "must do" restaurant. I ate there in November 2008 for Thanksgiving dinner, but on my last visit over Labor Day weekend I was less than impressed. I had two appetizers as my main...a beet salad (wonderful) and a ahi tuna poke (ho hum). My friend ordered a steak prepared medium, and it came out well done and tough as leather...she had it sent back, and the waitress asked for the cook to prepare it medium rare, and of course it came back more on the rare side. Sigh. It was an expensive and unenjoyable dinner.

I found that our service and food was far better at the Luana Lounge. For a splurge meal, I would much rather spend my money at Pahu I'a at the Four Seasons Hulalai than Browns at the Fairmont.

again thanks for the comments.

You can make it to Bamboo in Hawi easily, and I urge you to go because it is so off-beat, and everyone who works there is so friendly. The last time we were on the BI, after a year, we went to Bamboo, and when we walked in the waiter knew exactly what our drinks order would be. Of course, every time we go we have fun talking with and joking with the staff.

And the food is sort of hawaiian/Asian. Their coconut sauce which they put on their veggie stir-fry and some other dishes is divine. And you can buy their cookbook, too.

I loved the "Hilo Bay Café" in Hilo, odd location in a shopping area but staff, ambience and last but not least food was to die for! I was early (for dinner) and lucky to get a table but a little while later the place was packed! People waiting in line outside, so make sure to either be there early or have a reservation. For lunch I can also recommend "What's shakin'" at the end (or beginning, depending on where you're coming from)of the 4 mile scenic drive outside Hilo. Very fresh, very neat, very delicious. When up north, yes, go for the "Bamboo" or "Sushi Rock" in Hawi. And one of the greatest little Greek places is "Pico's" in Kapaa, excellent deal for lunch and sooo cute...

I'll add something else to this old thread: Kenichi Pacific, a Japanese restaurant in the Keauhou shopping center in Kona. It's not a glamorous loction, but the food is excellent. DH and son love their sushi, we all love their "dynamite shrimp" and I think their veggie tempura is really good. It's a fairly expensive place but not outrageous, IMO.