Christmas Dinner
Island Lava Java * Kona, Hawaii * December 25, 2024
We arrived!
We were in Kona. It was Christmas. Time for the family’s Kona Christmas!
A hearty “Aloha” to 75-5801 Ali‘i Dr Building 1, Kailua-Kona, HI 96740, the bustling oceanfront restaurant: Island Lava Java.
This dinner had been months in the planning, with matching “Kona Christmas” tee-shirts designed by Danielle Gro’ak. Our stomachs were rumbling, tumbling, ready to go tummy-to-toe with a menu of delicious Island offerings.
The two-vehicle commute from Hilo, across the Big Island, had only heightened our anticipation. And here we were. A Mele Kalikimaka crowd packed the downstairs dining area. The patio buzzed with small talk, drawl talk, big talk, tall talk.
Other patrons watched the NFL Christmas game on wall-mounted TVs; others sipped cool-looking cocktails; others skulled cold cold-ones; others stared out to the bay, soaking up the sun and the magic of the moment.
“Stephen G, party of twelve, your table is ready upstairs.”
There’s twelve of us? Nana Rae from New Zealand, Dani from St. Louis, the LA crew—Abu, Si Si, Sadie, Michael, Raewyn, Alex, G, Don Bran, Teresa, and me.
“Here.”
“Present.”
“Hungry!”
“Follow me.”
Like an All Black rugby scrum, we locked arms—"someone grab the grandmas’ walkers”—as we followed our hostess, pushing forward…step by step…to higher ground.
Once we were seated, two views competed for our attention: the stunning bay, with a moored cruise ship, and the menu.
The menu won out (briefly) when Tawney, our waitress, a lady with long eyelashes and a well-practiced aloha attitude, appeared and took our orders.
Pupus/Starters
Of course, a menu offering twenty-five choices starts with one bite, and for starters we nibbled—who am I kidding?—inhaled seafood chowder and honey-macadamia nut brie.
And we all know that “man shall not live by bread alone,” so for drinks we partook in pono mai tais, Kona-tini, wai nui mai tais, juice, mai lychee tais, Kona Big Waves (surf’s up), sparkling hibiscus, and water.
Christmas Entrees
The familial revelry, celebrating the most holy of days, was continued with a Super Smash Burger, Lemongrass Curry Mahi Mahi, Roasted Veggie Bowl, Island Lava Java Fresh Fish Tacos, LJ’s Steak and Frites, Roast Prime Rib (medium rare), Big Island Beet Salad, Shrimp Carbonara, and Ahi Poke Bowl.
Merry Desserts
Finally, on the Big Island you can have your cake/desserts and eat it too. And eat we did: Chocolate Cappuccino Cheesecake, Hawaiian Vanilla Crème Brûlée, Macadamia Nut Pie, and Pineapple-Mango-Lime Cheesecake.
No magic Kodak-iPhone moment can go unphotographed:
“Say, ‘Mele Kalikimaka.’”
“Mele Kalikimaka.”
CLICK.
🥝🥝🥝🥝
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