Date: Thu, 18 Dec 1997 05:54:34 GMT Server: Apache/1.2.4 Connection: close Content-Type: text/html
Punalu`u Bake Shop is the southern most bakery in the United States, located at Latitude 19, north of the equator. It is convenient for any traveler of the Big Island and is close to black sand beaches where turtles live, South Point, green sand beach and historic caves. It features some of the nicest weather on the island.
Situated between Kona and Volcanoes National Park, Punalu`u Bake Shop is on the mauka (mountain) side of Highway 11 within the Na`alehu township.
It offers and opportunity to view the actual making of this famous bread through observatory windows into the bakery. It takes about four hours from mixing to rising and baking to produce a Punalu`u Sweetbread loaf. The bakery creates sandwich loaf sweetbread, dinner rolls, hot-dog and hamburger buns and cinnamon creme cheese pinwheels with macadamia nuts.
The gift shop offers an authentic bread mix you can take home or order by Federal Express. It also offers the bread products, along with macadamia nut products and gifts by Mauna Loa.
Outside, the grounds feature water falls, many tropical trees and flowers, a rose garden, informational murals depicting ancient Ka`u the district, home to Punalu`u sweet bread and an eatery.
There is an outdoor picnic area, with tables, free sampling of bread, candy, cookies, and other macadamia nut products. Punalu`u Bake Shop is a very popular rest stop for visitors traveling to and from Volcanoes National Park and is known for its friendly staff and excellent snacks and sandwiches.
The grounds are botanically exceptional, with a collection of palms: royal, beetle nut, manila, Chinese, travelers, and arica. Large shade trees include: tamarind, mango, kamane, banyan, and breadfruit. Australian tree ferns and a wall of mock oranges, producing orange blossom perfume, add to the ambiance.