Hawi was once a bustling sugar town, home to the Kohala Sugar Company. The sugar mill closed in 1970 and the town has struggled to keep itself alive. In recent years craft shops and boutiques have begun to appear in hopes of attracting the tourists who make their way through town.
Hawi is known for its lovely village green and for the Bamboo Restaurant and Bar, considered by many to be one of the best restaurants on the Big Island. The restaurant features island cuisine in a tropical setting with bamboo and rattan furniture. There is often live entertainment on the weekend. There is also a great gift shop/gallery attached with excellent Hawaiian koa wood crafts.
