Açaí Hawai’i Company — Restaurant in Hawaii

Disappointing Experience at Açaí Hawaii in Kailua

I recently visited Açaí Hawaii in Kailua, and unfortunately, my experience left much to be desired. As a food enthusiast who loves exploring new culinary delights in Hawaii, I was genuinely excited to try this place. However, my visit turned out to be a disappointment on several fronts.

First and foremost, I couldn’t help but notice that the prices at Açaí Hawaii didn’t align with what was advertised on their online menu. This inconsistency left a sour taste in my mouth from the very beginning, especially considering that I purchased a whopping five açaí bowls. When you add in the tip, I ended up spending a small fortune. Nevertheless, I placed my order and even left a generous tip, hoping for a positive experience.

Regrettably, the second aspect of my visit only exacerbated my disappointment. The staff at Açaí Hawaii were shockingly rude and unfriendly. Despite my polite and respectful demeanor, including a simple "thank you" when my order was called, I was met with cold indifference and a complete lack of welcoming hospitality.

For a place situated in a high-tourist area, where people come not just for good food but also for a great overall experience, this was truly dismaying. It's unfortunate that such a beautiful destination like Hawaii could house a business with such poor service.

Lastly, when my much-anticipated Açaí bowl was finally in hand, it failed to live up to expectations. Instead of the rich, vibrant açaí flavor I was hoping for, the bowl was watery and overwhelmingly dominated by bananas. As someone who appreciates the true essence of açaí bowls, this was a major letdown.

In conclusion, based on my visit to Açaí Hawaii in Kailua, I cannot in good conscience recommend this establishment to fellow travelers or food enthusiasts. With prices that don't match the online menu, unfriendly staff, and a disappointing açaí bowl, it falls short of the standards I expect when exploring the culinary scene in Hawaii. There are plenty of other delightful food spots to explore on this beautiful island; I would suggest looking elsewhere for a truly enjoyable dining experience.

EDITED: To all the customers who read this original review, I want to ensure you are aware that there is a continuation of my post (Part 2) available on Yelp titled "Concerns Regarding Review Authenticity and Business Ethics." In this extended response, I address the issues raised by a review from (Anissa Ramirez,) which appears to be closely linked to the business. She has recently removed her comment see attached photo

If you're unable to access the complete response here, please head over to Yelp to read the full details. Your engagement and awareness of these concerns are greatly appreciated, and together, we can advocate for transparency and fairness in the world of online reviews. Let's work towards creating an environment where honest feedback benefits both businesses and...

Acai was fine but the staff were very rude. They messed up my niece’s order by not putting bananas in. When we went back to politely ask for the bananas they refused to believe us and said we should have come back before we started eating so they could confirm that it was indeed their mistake. Ok, this is a small business, I get it. But who would go to a well rated popular spot and inspect the work before starting to eat? Honestly if I’m here to spend money as a tourist I’m not going to try to scam you out of 5 slices of bananas, which is what they were implying based on their delivery and their condescending tone of speech.

Later before we left we realized we actually took a photo before digging in, so we went back and showed them proof that they indeed did not put the bananas, again being polite and mindful that sometimes people make mistakes and we’re not offended that they made a minor mistake. The staff acted extremely impatiently, did not apologize, and very passive aggressively gave us the side of bananas. This was an extremely unpleasant interaction and we are very disappointed by this behaviour...

I’ve never in my life left a negative review. So trust me when I say don’t waste your time or money. I used to live local and this place was always fantastic. I’d recommend it to friends who were visiting and always hit it in the mornings when I got off the water. Perhaps it changed ownership because it’s definitely not the same. My husband, son, and I each ordered our own small bowl and they were all the same. The bottom quarter was the smallest amount of açaí/smoothy mix I’ve ever seen in an “açaí bowl”. The top 3/4 of the bowl was banana. They should’ve called it a banana bowl because that’s basically all it was. On top of that, I’d be willing to bet there’s little to no açaí in the mix at all. Tasted like watered down strawberries and more bananas. It’s sad when a local business that used to be good becomes a tourist trap and all about squeezing out a dollar, charging as much as possible and giving little...