Update 4/2025 We lovED the Java Lava so much that it was the first place we went to after arriving. I am not sure what has happened in the last year but it didn’t even seem like the same place that we have had so many great dining experiences at. 🥲 I knew we were in trouble when we were waiting to be seated at 3:30 in the afternoon and the restaurant was nearly empty. The employees at the bar didn’t acknowledge us in any way, not even a smile at us, this was very unusual . They just kept looking over at us (repeatedly), like “ it’s not my job to seat you”. Okay, understandable but let us know that someone will be taking care of us don’t just let us stand here wondering if you are closed or something else. We stood there so long that the people that came after us left. The Mia Tai’s were the only thing that were the same deliciousness that we remembered. They were excellent and worth every penny. However the food and service was a totally different story. We ordered Pupu’s and drinks. The calamari was so greasy and the grease coated the inside with of my mouth, yuck. The restaurant itself was dirty. The table was so dirty that the dirt was ground into the wood of the table, (see the picture). Like it was wiped with a dirty cloth repeatedly. We have eaten here many times in the past 8 years and it has always been clean. It was dirty, like a cheap bar. I know that this wasn’t supposed to be a fine dinning experience but cleanliness is important when consuming food. The bathroom was dirty, again like a cheap bar. This place needs a broom, bucket and scrub brush. I really don’t want to think about what the kitchen probably looks like? The service was a “You choose to eat here so I’ll serve you your order, but don’t ask for anything” attitude. Hubby asked about parking validation and the Responce was “it’s over there” pointing to somewhere in the corner of the restaurant. The server was very lackadaisical. He didn’t even check to see how our food was or if was needed more drinks a or anything. What if we decided we wanted to eat a full meal or have a 2nd drink? Which we do sometimes after a drink. However, It’s like he knew once we tasted the calamari we wouldn’t want to eat anything else there 🤨. We paid our bill using the table kiosk, left quietly and sadly for the last time. The parking in the back is still there but it is now paid parking, many of the businesses around the parking lot will validate, usually for 90 minutes. So no big deal just don’t forget to validate! This is really a sad review for me to write we have loved this place so much in the past and a lot of good memories over the past 8 years. It had slipped a bit last year, but this year it drop like a lead ballon. There are a lot of new places in Kailua that have great views of sunsets 🌅 and the ocean🌊. We will be looking for a new hang out in Kailua. So watch for the new reviews of these new places. Bye-bye Java Lava 😢

10/2023 We come here every year when we visit the island. This used to be one of our go to places but this year it has slipped a bit. It is still good, just not great. (I removed the past reviews so there won’t be any confusion). We ordered the Mahi Mahi it was just fish and kind of bla. The recipe they are using for the calamari is way different. They are putting hot spice with it covering the flavor of the calamari. If you like it spicer you will enjoy this. However their Mai Tai is still one of the best on the island. The view is out standing at sunset. Make reservations if you want a great table for the view! Easy parking in the back.