Not only is Kalakoa Sweetbread colorful, but it’s quite tasty, too. If you look closely, you’ll notice three colors. There’s a purplish gray section which is taro flavored. You may also see a thin section of pink which is guava flavored. The yellowish orange area is mango flavored.
We found this bread on the Big Island and just had to try it. We would toast it and add a thin layer of butter and Big Island honey for breakfast. It was a great accompaniment for our Kona coffee that we savored on our lanai.
The name of the bakery that makes this colorful bread is the Punalu’u Bake Shop. Per the bakery’s Web site, it’s the southernmost bakery in the USA – situated at latitude 19 degrees, four minutes north of the equator. You can visit this bakery on the Big Island and try free samples. The visitor’s center is located on Mamalahoa Highway (Route 11) in the town of Na’alehu, midway between Kailua Kona and Volcanoes National Park.
I’ve only found Punalu’u brand bread on the Big Island. Does anyone know if you can buy it on the other islands?
Sheila Beal
8 comments
Oh those bread are sooo yummy!
I do not know either where to get it on Maui. One of our employees who’s family is from the Big Island brings back some to us when he visits there 🙂
AMB – Hmmm…must be just a Big Island thing, then. I happened to notice that you could order their bread online. I may have to do that sometime. 🙂
Just another reason for me to go there…as if I need any more. I love tips on bakeries, as I’m a big fan of them!
Hi Carolina – Well, of course this is a viable excuse for needing to visit Hawaii. 😉 Thanks for your first time comment.
We get in trouble sometimes ordering food from Hawaii, too much good stuff. We still have a whole box of cookies from Honolulu Cookie Company from the holidays that we’re trying to avoid (New Years and all).
The Cinnamon Raisin Macadamia Nut Sweetbread on their website looks very tempting, though.
Kris – I love the pineapple shortbread cookies from Honolulu Cookie Company. I just tried some for the first time in October. Yum!
You bring up a good point, Hawaii can be tricky if you’re trying to eat healthy. Of course, there’s lots of great fresh fruit and fish that’s healthy, but the hula pies and desserts can getcha! I’m going to have to be vigilant when I go next month.
Thank you for the bakery info Just the thought of taro infused in a bread with Hawaiian fruit makes me dream MORE.