Tiny list, big swings, ocean views included
· Kailua-Kona · Modern Hawaiian / Seafood · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · September 20, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Moana Restaurant at Kona Village’s wine list and gave it The Wild Card — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Wingman Metrics
Twelve bottles. That's the whole list. At a Rosewood resort property on the Kona Coast, you might expect something grander — but what's here is curated with a point of view, not just filler. There's a logic to it: bubbles, rosé, a couple of whites, a red or two, and a pair of dessert wines that would make most hotel lists blush.
The list punches well above its weight class given how short it is. You've got Louis Roederer Collection 244 anchoring the sparkling section alongside Bortolomiol Prosecco and a Prosecco Rosé — a sensible range for a coastal dining room where people want something festive. Domaine Ott rosé shows up (as it does everywhere), but the real personality comes through in the Birichino picks: Car Car Glou Glou Carignan and Scylla Mourvèdre-Carignan are genuinely interesting California wines that have no business being on a resort menu and all the business being exactly here. The dessert wine bookend — Royal Tokaji 5 Puttonyos Aszú 2017 and Château d'Yquem Sauternes 2006 — signals that whoever built this list actually cares.
The region focus confirms that Champagne, Prosecco, Prosecco Rosé, Rosé, and Pinot Noir are offered by the glass — a sensible lineup for the setting. However, specific glass prices are not available to us, so we can't tell you whether those pours are priced fairly or are resort-tax robbery. Given the Rosewood context, assume the latter until proven otherwise.
The Bottom Line
Moana's wine list is a fascinating contradiction: twelve bottles, a Rosewood price tag, and two Birichino natural wines sitting next to a 2006 d'Yquem. It shouldn't work this well, but the curation earns respect. Come for the ocean, stay for the Tokaji — just be prepared to pay resort prices for the privilege.
· Kailua-Kona · Seafood / Classic American
Kona Inn's wine list is exactly what it needs to be — competent, crowd-friendly, and anchored by a by-the-glass program that actually gives you options. Markup trends steep, as expected in Hawaii's resort corridor, but a few smart picks like Siduri Pinot and Lieu Dit Blanc de Mer reward guests who look past the Rombauer reflex. If you're eating here for the view and the seafood, the wine list won't let you down — just don't expect to be surprised.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Waikoloa · Kailua-Kona · Hawaii Regional Cuisine / Asian Fusion Seafood Grill
Roy's Waikoloa is a reliable night out with food that outpaces the wine list by a full length. Drink the Sonoma-Cutrer with the butterfish, skip the markups on the obvious stuff, and let the view do the heavy lifting.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Waikoloa · Kailua-Kona · Italian osteria with locally sourced Hawaiian ingredients
Pueo's isn't building a destination wine program, but it's doing something harder — keeping prices honest in a market that rarely does. Send your friends here for dinner; just know the list is a supporting character, not the headliner.
Plays It Safe
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Waikoloa · Kailua-Kona · Beachside Hawaiian and Pacific Rim
Come for the sand, the sunset, and the Huli Huli chicken — just don't come expecting the wine list to match the view. Order the best white they have cold, tip your server well, and make peace with it.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Alii Drive · Kailua-Kona · Hawaiian-style barbecue / plate lunches
We would never send someone to TJ's for the wine list — we'd send them for the smoked brisket and the ocean view. But if you want something in a glass while you eat, the list does just enough to keep you covered, and $12 a pour is fair by Hawaii standards.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Kailua-Kona · Kailua-Kona · Hawaiian-inspired and pan-Pacific fare with a classic tiki bar
Don the Beachcomber is a genuinely fun place to spend an evening in Kona, and the cocktail program absolutely earns its reputation — so get the mai tai and leave the wine list alone. If you insist on a bottle, grab the La Crema, accept your losses, and watch the sunset.
Crowd Pleasers
Gouge
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
One wine list review, one adventure pick, one quick tip, and a personal note. Every week. Under 500 words.
List Variety
Markup
Glassware
Staff
Specials & Deals
Storage & Temp
