When I was researching great places to eat with kids on the Big Island of Hawaii, I found some awesome restaurants and one donut shop that looked awesome. After checking out VooDoo Doughnut in Portland last summer, hosting our own Donut Decorating Party for Natalie’s birthday, making doughnuts and ice cream a tradition, and pretty much eating donuts on a regular basis from a variety of donut shops, our family pretty much fancies ourselves to be donut-eating pros.
When I discovered Holy Donuts in Kona, Hawaii, I put it on my list of places to visit and crossed my fingers that we would make it to the shop.
We ended up eating some amazing donuts at Holy Donuts on only our second day on the island by accident! We had just finished touring the Hula Daddy, Mountain Thunder, and Kona Joe coffee farms, and were going into Kona to visit the historic Hulihe’e Palace. The closest parking lot we could find was behind the Kona Marketplace, and the first thing I saw when getting out of the car was the sign for Holy Donuts and a funny, brightly colored wall mural of donut people.
Natalie and looked at each other, then at Brian and he knew that we all would be taking a detour through the donut shop.
Holy Donuts opened in May 2015 by Irene Heiman and her husband Stephen. I was worried that because it was already early afternoon there might not be a good selection left, but I was wrong. The dounut counter was still pretty full with lots of scrumptious-looking choices. We were greeted by Brett who actually moved to Hawaii from our area! He came out from behind the counter and walked us through all of the different donut flavors in the case and pointed out which ones were stuffed.
Some of the creative donut flavors include Samoa, S’mores, Red Velvet, Maple Bacon, Oreo, M&M, Creme Brûlée, Fruity Pebbles, Peanut Butter Cup, and Birthday Cake With Oreo, as well as a Lilikoi Donut, Pineapple Macadamia Nut Fritter, and Cinnamon Rolls.
Oh, and let me just say, the donuts are large, very large. Normally we’d each get two donuts to try, but these babies were so big, that we stuck with one each.
They offer a special of buy three donuts and get the fourth donut free. But they didn’t have any plain glazed donuts or donuts with just chocolate frosting, which are the only donuts my son eats, so we stuck with three and Carter got a lemonade. This donut shop is really popular, so if you have a flavor you like best, the earlier in the day you come, the better!
We took our box of donuts to the seating area outside by the parking lot, got comfortable, and sampled our Holy Donuts. Brian chose a Lilikoi Donut, Natalie got a S’mores Donut with marshmallow filling, and I ordered a Samoa Donut. They were delicious and we devoured them. They were also fresher and softer than VooDoo Doughnuts.
If we are ever able to visit again, I think I’d go for a donut with fewer toppings though. Brian said his was perfect and his was the simplest donut. My Samoa Donut tasted amazing, but it was so rich and sweet, I could only eat half. Natalie said she’d get the same donut again, and again, and again.
Know Before You Go
- Holy Donuts is located in the Kona Marketplace at 75-5729 Alii Drive, Suite T-103, Kailua-Kona, Hawaii 96740. You can’t see it from the street, as it is in the back of the shopping center, along the parking lot. They are open Tuesday through Sunday from 7:30 am until the donuts run out.
- The kiosk location in Lanihau Shopping Center, located at 75-5595 Palani Road #B12, Kailua-Kona, Hawaii 96740, is open Tuesday through Friday from 6:30 am to mid-afternoon, and Saturday and Sunday from 7:30 am to mid-afternoon.
- If you’re up for a good laugh, the owners have scathing responses to less than stellar reviews on Trip Advisor.
- Buy three and get one free!
