If you like eating ice cream for breakfast, but want to be healthier, than the acai bowl is for you! Or if you need a great energy boost after a long hike, the acai bowl is your go-to food.
Acai (a-sigh-ee: but the ee is quick that people’s pronunciations just sound like a-sigh) is a berry from Brazil that’s been touted for a few decades as a superfood. We won’t weigh in on that except to say it tastes super, and it’s healthier than ice cream, so…
Acai Bowls are a fantastic treat after a morning hike or beach session in the sun. They are cold, blended acai with toppings of fresh fruit (strawberries, bananas) and other fantastic treats like granola, coconut honey, and bee pollen (yes, that’s a thing and yes, it’s delicious).
Acai comes to the US frozen, but you don’t want it just scooped out like ice cream, it has to be blended to perfection. Not all shops do that and we prefer it that way.
a delicious acai bowl from da cove in honolulu[/caption]
// finding a good acai bowl
While there are many places to grab a good acai bowl, here are some spots we recommend checking out:
Da Cove Health Bar / O’ahu: Great for breakfast right after hiking up Diamond Head. The delicious looking photos on this page are from Da Cove. 3045 Monsarrat Ave, Ste 5, Honolulu, HI dacove.com
Hale’iwa Bowls / O’ahu: A cute little grass shack in Historic Hale’iwa. After checking out the North Shore waves, stop by for a surfer bowl. 66-082 Kamehameha Hwy, Haleiwa, HI haleiwabowls.com
Aloha ‘Aina Juice Bar / Kaua’i: Find it as you’re heading west out of Lihue. 4495 Puhi Rd.
Lihiue, HI alohaainajuicebar.com
Anake’s Juice Bar / Kaua’i: Located at the back of a grocery store near Po’ipu, this is a favorite with locals and beachgoers. 2827 B Poipu Road, Koloa, HI instagram.com/anakesjuicebar
Nana’s Snack Shack / Kaua’i: A food truck in Kapa’a, you might have to drive a bit to find the parking spot.
4-971 Kuhio Hwy Kapaa, HI facebook page
Wow Wow Hawaiian Lemonade / Maui A declious acai bowl and some homemade lemonade to wash it down. Mmmm… 1279 S Kihei Rd, Kihei, HI wowwowhawaiianlemonade.com
Choice Health Bar / Maui: When on the west side of the island, the place for vegetarian and organic food of all types! 1087 Limahana Place, Lahaina, HI choicehealthbar.com
Big Island Juice Co / Big Island: A tiki bar that serves acai bowls in pineapples? Yes, please! 54 Waianuenue Ave, Hilo, HI facebook.com/bigislandjuiceco
Under the Bodhi Tree / Big Island A vegan/vegitarian haven, the fruit to acai ratio here is crazy. 68-1330 Mauna Lani Dr, Suite 116, Kamuela, HI underthebodhi.net