Hilo's Unlikely Wine Spot Earns Its Stripes
· Hilo · Contemporary Hawaiian / American · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed September 15, 2026 · How we review
RagingWine reviewed Lehua Restaurant’s wine list and gave it The Wild Card — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Wingman Metrics
Sixteen bottles isn't much to work with, but Lehua's list reads like someone actually thought about it — there's Failla sitting next to Vinho Verde, a Sancerre at $48, and a Crémant de Loire that has no business being this interesting in a casual Hawaiian restaurant. You don't expect this in Hilo, and that's exactly the point.
The list spreads across bubbles, rosé, whites, and reds with surprising intentionality for its size. Whites lean toward aromatic and food-friendly picks — Broadbent Vinho Verde, Selbach Ahi Riesling, and a Petit Bourgeois Sancerre give you real range at the lower end of the price scale. Reds are California-forward with Belle Glos and Failla holding down a solid Pinot Noir anchor, plus Bella Union Cab and Paraduxx rounding out the bigger stuff. The Gran Passione Rosso at $52 is the wild card that keeps things interesting.
Fifteen of the sixteen bottles are available by the glass — which is either a logistical headache or a genuine commitment to accessibility, and we're inclined to call it the latter. Glass pours run $12–$25, which is reasonable for Hawaii, where everything costs more and wine lists often use geography as an excuse to gouge. The range by the glass covers all the bases: bubbles, rosé, white, red — you're not getting locked into one lane.
Petit Bourgeois Sauvignon Blanc Sancerre — $48
Sancerre at $48 a bottle in Hawaii is a steal — this is a wine that typically gets marked to $70+ on the mainland. Clean, citrus-driven Loire Sauvignon Blanc that cuts through anything rich or seafood-forward on the menu. Order this without hesitation.
De Chanceny Crémant de Loire Brut Rosé
Most people walk past Crémant and go straight for the Veuve at $120. Don't. De Chanceny's Crémant de Loire Brut Rosé at $56 gives you a genuinely elegant sparkling wine — fine bubbles, red fruit, real structure — for less than half the price of the Champagne next to it on the list.
Veuve Clicquot Brut Yellow Label
At $120, you're paying full airport-gift-shop markup for a label everyone recognizes. The De Chanceny Crémant two rows up costs $64 less and drinks more interestingly. Veuve has its place, but this isn't it.
Selbach Ahi Riesling + Fresh local ahi preparation
The name alone isn't a coincidence — this off-dry Mosel Riesling's bright acidity and touch of residual sugar are built for the kind of rich, fresh Pacific tuna that a restaurant named Lehua in Hilo is almost certainly serving. It lifts the fish without competing with it.
The Bottom Line
For a 16-bottle list in a small Hawaiian city, Lehua is doing more than most — thoughtful picks, fair prices, and a Sancerre that punches well above its geographic weight. If you're eating in Hilo and you care about drinking well, this is your spot.
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One wine list review, one adventure pick, one quick tip, and a personal note. Every week. Under 500 words.
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