Dining near Volcanoes National Park

Most people who visit the island visit Volcanoes National Park. It is the premier attraction on the island. To explore the Park is at least a full day affair; more if you are into hiking. When we offered tours to the Park, we would be ready to exit the Park at about 6:00 PM. There was no way that people would tolerate a two hour ride back to the Kona Coast without dinner. We would take them to Kilauea Lodge in the town of Volcano, just outside the Park. It is a gem situated in the rain forest and good enough that we didn’t mind eating there several times in a week.

The Lodge is situated in an old YMCA camp. The first thing that catches your eye on entering the dining room is a huge fireplace, usually with the fire roaring. That is particularly inviting on a winter night. It is the Fireplace of Friendship and contains items from all over the world embedded in it, a fitting relic of the YMCA camp.

The Lodge is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Check out their website at www.kilauealodge.com. We will dwell on dinner, since that is when we visit after a full day in the Park. First of all, if you would like a drink before dinner, they have a full bar. They even have a nice list of Scotch whisky at reasonable prices. We once took a liquor distributor on tour and he allowed as how they have an excellent wine list.

Kilauea Lodge is owned by Lorna and Albert Jeyte. Lorna was a local school teacher and Albert was an Emmy winning make-up artist. He was working on the Magnum PI show and when it closed, they bought the Lodge on their honeymoon in 1986. Albert was born in Germany and loved to cook. He went off to school and became the executive chef. As you might imagine, with that background, many of his dishes have a German flavor.

We have had almost everything on the menu and it is all superb. Naturally we have our favorites, since we have been eating there for 20 years, including just last week. Our favorite is Paupiettes of Beef, which consists of rolls of sliced prime rib stuffed and crispy fried. It is the only restaurant that we have visited that offers that entrée. Be sure to check out the menu on their web site.

The wait staff is excellent. Some have been working there for the entire 20 years that we have been going there. They are attentive and knowledgeable. You will be treated as family, or as we say in Hawaiʻi, ohana.

In addition to the restaurant you can book a room to stay there overnight. We have stayed there and found the rooms to be excellent. Of course, breakfast is available when you arise.

We cannot recommend Kilauea Lodge more highly. It is a restaurant you will not want to miss.