Top 3 Big Island of Hawaii Cooking Classes

1.Hands-On Hawaiian Imu Cooking and Cultural Dining Experience

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 95 reviews · 4 hours (approx.) · from $150Our pick

At Imu Mea ‘Ai in Pāhoa, the Men of Paʻa guide you through building an underground imu, explain its Hawaiian meaning, and cook a shared meal of kalua pork, chicken, vegetables, and kulolo. The four-hour experience begins at 10:00 am and returns to the meeting point.

“This is a highlight of our trip! Our family loved this experience and loved the food. It’s a gift to be given the opportunity to be apart of Hawaii culture and learn from the Men of Pa’a”

Check availability →Read our full review

2.Farm to Table Cooking Class at Kulaniapia Falls

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 36 reviews · 4 hours (approx.) · from $169

At Kulaniapia Farms near Hilo, you’ll tour the gardens, harvest seasonal produce, and prepare a mostly farm-grown plant-based lunch in a restored barn kitchen. Guides such as Natalie, Davey, Adrian, and Ayden have led sessions, though the team may change. Closed-toe shoes are a must.

“This was a great laid back and relaxing experience, had so much fun! Picked our own ingredients and then got to enjoy them in our meal. Small group was the way to enjoy this the most. There were just 4 of us. 4-6 is a perfect size for this experience.”

Check availability →Read our full review

3.Baumkuchen Campfire Baking Class

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 3 reviews · 1 hour 30 minutes (approx.) · from $65Best value

Meet at Baumkuchen Farm in Papaikou for a 90-minute hands-on class. You’ll taste baumkuchen, learn about its German and Hawaiian connections, wrap dough around a stick, and grill your own baumstriezel over a sheltered campfire.

“Our baking experience was tremendous! We thoroughly enjoyed ourselves and the yummy treats. Our hosts were fantastic! We highly recommend this experience to others. Be sure to take home some of the baumkuchen to share with friends and family.”

Check availability →Read our full review