Overview
Da Whip Sandos & Bar is a casual sandwich-focused spot in Kailua-Kona on the Big Island, located in Hale Ku‘i Plaza near Costco. Based on the Google Places record and supporting local listings, it is operational at 73-5619 Kauhola St, Suite 204, with the phone number and website matching the candidate data. Google shows it as open Tuesday through Saturday from 11:00 AM to 7:00 PM, closed Sunday and Monday. (mapquest.com)
For travelers, this looks like a lunch-or-early-dinner stop rather than a destination fine-dining restaurant. The strongest signals point to big, flavor-heavy sandwiches in a relaxed upstairs setting with ocean views and a bar-like, quirky atmosphere. The place is small enough and distinctive enough that it seems especially useful as a break from the Kona retail corridor rather than just another strip-mall lunch option. (mapquest.com)
Cuisine & Specialties
Da Whip’s lane is best described as elevated sandwich shop food with a local casual-bar feel: artisan sandwiches, plus rice bowls and salads, with a strong emphasis on smoked meats and house-style combinations. A local travel feature says the kitchen avoids seed oils and highlights several vegetarian-friendly items, including a vegan sandwich built around local mac nut cheese and mushroom-cashew filling. (localgetaways.com)
- Overall menu style: Sandwich shop / sando bar with some bowls and salads; more specific than a generic deli, but still quick-casual in feel. (localgetaways.com)
- Notable specialties mentioned in sources:
- Richard Pickle — repeatedly singled out in reviews and local chatter as a standout Cuban-inspired hoagie with pulled pork, pickles, and slaw. (mapquest.com)
- Blast Unicorn — a vegan sandwich noted in a travel feature, using local mac nut cheese and mushroom-cashew filling. (localgetaways.com)
- Smoked pulled pork items — referenced by the travel feature as one of the recurring anchors on the menu. (localgetaways.com)
- Chopped beef items — also called out in the same feature as a repeated menu theme. (localgetaways.com)
- Pinto beans and rice — a vegetarian-friendly side/plate option mentioned in the same coverage. (localgetaways.com)
- Price range / spend expectations: Google does not list a price level. Public descriptions and traveler comments position it as a casual lunch spot rather than a splurge restaurant, so a traveler should likely expect mid-range sandwich-shop pricing rather than upscale dining. This is an inference from the available evidence, not a hard posted price. (mapquest.com)
- Dietary usefulness / limitations: There is some evidence of real vegetarian/vegan usefulness, which is better than many sandwich shops. At the same time, the most visible strengths are meat-forward, especially smoked pork and beef, so strict plant-based diners will likely want to check current menu details before going. (localgetaways.com)
Notable Features & Ambiance
The physical setting seems to be part of the appeal: upstairs in a plaza near Costco and Home Depot, with a view that multiple sources describe as ocean-facing or sunset-friendly. Reviews and travel coverage also describe it as relaxed, friendly, and a little eccentric rather than polished or formal. (mapquest.com)
- Service model and seating style: Appears to be counter-service or casual ordering, with seating in a small bar/sando-shop setup. Several sources describe it as a “sports bar” or “quasi dive bar” kind of space, though still focused on food. (mapquest.com)
- Atmosphere and decor: Quirky, laid-back, and cheerful; one travel feature specifically mentions orange walls and a sunset-friendly view. Review snippets mention a fun, eccentric flair and a relaxing feel. (localgetaways.com)
- Amenities or practical features: Google shows standard restaurant basics; a Yahoo listing mentions accessibility and Wi‑Fi. MapQuest also labels the place as “Open” and links to the website and phone. (local.yahoo.com)
- Best fit: Good for a casual lunch, a post-shopping stop, or an easy dinner before heading out of Kona. It also looks attractive for travelers who want a memorable sandwich and a view without a long sit-down meal. (localgetaways.com)
- Weaker fit: Likely a weaker choice for travelers looking for formal service, a broad menu, or a heavily polished dining room. The appeal is more about signature sandwiches and personality than about upscale comfort or breadth. This is an inference from the available descriptions. (mapquest.com)
History & Background
There is not much reliable public background available in the sources I found. The strongest available context is that Da Whip seems to be a locally branded Kona sandwich shop with a distinct identity around house-made sandwiches, a bar-like vibe, and a “zero seed oils” positioning surfaced by third-party listing sites. No solid founder story or chef biography was clearly established from the sources reviewed. (localfats.com)
Review Sentiment Snapshot
What People Love
Review patterns are very strong on the food itself: people repeatedly praise the sandwiches as unusually good, big on flavor, and worth seeking out. The Richard Pickle is the most consistently named standout. Travelers also tend to like the relaxed setting, the view, and the friendly staff. Overall sentiment appears very positive and consistent across multiple sources. (mapquest.com)
Common Gripes
Clear, recurring complaints were harder to find than praise. The main caution is that the setting is not especially polished and the location can feel tucked away above a retail area, which may be a plus for some travelers and a drawback for others. There are also some conflicting or slightly stale third-party descriptions about the business name and status, but no strong evidence of closure. The downside signals are therefore light and mixed rather than well-supported. (mapquest.com)
Practical Visitor Tips
- Hours: Google lists Tuesday through Saturday, 11:00 AM to 7:00 PM, with Monday and Sunday closed. That makes it mainly a lunch-to-early-dinner stop. (mapquest.com)
- Walk-in expectation: No reservation posture was clearly visible in the sources, so plan on walk-in dining. (mapquest.com)
- Location: It is in Hale Ku‘i Plaza at 73-5619 Kauhola St, Suite 204, near Costco/Home Depot in Kailua-Kona. Multiple sources mention the upstairs/plaza setting, so it may take a moment to locate. (mapquest.com)
- Best timing: A travel feature explicitly frames it as a good before-or-after-Costco stop, which suggests it works well as a convenient lunch break or shopping-day meal. (localgetaways.com)
- What to order: If you want the signature experience, the Richard Pickle is the most repeatedly endorsed item in the available evidence. (mapquest.com)
- Dietary planning: Vegetarian and vegan choices appear to exist, but the menu’s strongest identity is meat-forward, so strict diet needs should be checked against the current menu. (localgetaways.com)
Verification Notes
- Official and Google-supported identity details are aligned on the restaurant name, address, phone, and website. (mapquest.com)
- Google Places shows the business as OPERATIONAL with current hours posted. (mapquest.com)
- Minor address drift exists in third-party coverage: one feature prints 73-569 Kauhola St instead of 73-5619 Kauhola St, which appears to be a truncation or typo rather than a different location. (localgetaways.com)
- No major verification issues found. (mapquest.com)
Sources
- Google Places details for Da Whip Sandos & Bar —
https://maps.google.com/?cid=17727104032699616038— retrieved 2026-04-01. Most useful for the baseline identity anchor: name, address, phone, hours, operational status, rating, and location. - MapQuest business listing for Da Whip —
https://www.mapquest.com/us/hawaii/da-whip-776282812— retrieved 2026-04-02. Most useful for confirming the address, phone, website, location context, and review snippets that mention the vibe and standout sandwiches. - Hawaii Islander / Local Getaways feature, “Where to Find the Best Lunch in Kona” —
https://hawaiiislander.com/hawaii/where-to-find-the-best-lunch-in-kona/— retrieved 2026-04-02. Most useful for menu-style detail, view/ambiance notes, seed-oil-free positioning, and the specific mentions of Richard Pickle, Blast Unicorn, smoked pulled pork, and chopped beef. - Local Fats listing for Da Whip Sando Shop —
https://localfats.com/map/da-whip-sando-shop-kailua-kona-hi— retrieved 2026-04-02. Useful mainly as a secondary signal for the “zero seed oils” claim and contact/location matching, though it is a lower-authority source than Google or the official site. - Local Yahoo listing for Da Whip Sports Bar —
https://local.yahoo.com/info-238400747-da-whip-kailua-kona/— retrieved 2026-04-02. Useful for corroborating the BYOB, view, accessibility, and Wi‑Fi signals, plus the active-hours posture. - Reddit discussion: “The Big Island restaurant list. Repost.” —
https://www.reddit.com/r/VisitingHawaii/comments/1qaicyg/the_big_island_restaurant_list_repost/— retrieved 2026-04-02. Useful as lightly weighted firsthand chatter reinforcing the Richard Pickle as a standout and showing traveler enthusiasm; treated as anecdotal, not definitive.
