Papa'a Palaoa Bakery — Restaurant in Hawaii

We stumbled across this gem in Hilo and it instantly became one of our favorite spots on the island. The atmosphere is bright, welcoming, and full of aloha spirit. The staff is warm and genuinely friendly, making you feel like a regular from the moment you walk in.

The coffee is excellent—rich, smooth, and clearly made with care. But the real star here is the bakery. The popovers are unreal—crispy on the outside, soft and airy inside, especially with their incredible lilikoi butter. The rotating selection of donuts and pastries is dangerous in the best way (the ube and maple-bacon donuts are must-tries).

We also loved the savory options, like the breakfast popover sandwich, which was packed with flavor and perfect alongside a latte. Everything tasted fresh and thoughtfully made, with a nice mix of local ingredients and creative twists.

This is the kind of place you plan your morning around. Whether you’re grabbing a quick coffee or settling in for breakfast, it’s worth going out of your way to visit. We’ll definitely be back every time...

A completely unacceptable service and impolite personnel!!!! They overcharged me for the items purchased. After I called them to describe the overcharging situation, they were not willing to help, while most of the employees were completely impolite, and even sarcastic. They were promising to resolve the issue but kept on neglecting my request for a partial refund. The second time I called them, an employee closed the phone on my face, which is UNACCEPTABLE. Finally the manager called me (after a week of the incidence) and rather than apologising for the unacceptable treatment I had, they were saying they have a small business and this usually doesnt happen (which I don’t care about). They promised me to send me a refund at my home in cash, but after a month of waiting this never happened, so they were basically not saying the truth and not willing to help, just wasting my time.

I am completely disappointed by their unprofessional behaviour and I would never ever go back again at this place, neither do I...

While my wife and I honeymooned in Hawai'i we stopped by here one morning to pick up some fresh bread and any check out any other specialties. OH BOY was that the right call. The bakery doesn't really have a "back", it's kind of just one small room, which is amazing, you can see and SMELL all the goods they make fresh every day. Everything I ended up getting was mind blowing (which was a lot lol, we came back the next morning).

I cannot overstate how tasty everything was, however if you were to try only one thing, you NEED– YOU NEEEEEED to try the Lilokoi Pie. They sell them by the slice, but every day I regret not smuggling like 5 whole pies back on the plane. It should genuinely be illegal to visit the island without trying a slice. Much love to the hard working staff who make this place...