Awards

We're quite proud of the awards we've won. Listed below are awards given to us by North Hawaii News.

Best Dining Atmosphere 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013 & 2014

CheersAt the Blue Dragon Coastal Cuisine & Musiquarium, you can dine and dance under the palms and stars! We are proud to feature live music almost every night of the week! We are conveniently located on the Big Island of Hawaii on the Kohala Coast, across from Kawaihae Harbor. Open since July of 2008, our values-based philosophy, beautifully renovated building (formerly the Blue Dolphin), smiling staff, healthy gourmet food and unique ambiance are making the Blue Dragon the place to be to FEED YOUR SOUL!

Best Chef 2011, 2012, 2013 & 2014

BrandonNoah Hester, living the dream! He perceives cooking as a creative outlet and a way to bring people together. Growing up in Hawaii, he’s naturally drawn to Island Fusion cuisine. Noah has played an essential role at the Blue Dragon since opening day. He was recently promoted to Executive Chef and General Manager, and the customer feedback has been overwhelmingly positive. A reviewer wrote, “The food was exceptional! It is clear the chefs know their ingredients, but go beyond. They cook with HEART & SOUL.” The Blue Dragon is lucky to have Chef Noah leading the kitchen team along with Sous Chef, Curtis Taylor, and Pastry Chef, Danny Tabancura.

Best Bartender 2010-2014

BrandonBrandon’s power to create liquid magic with fresh and exotic ingredients is the secret to his success.   With his innovative approach to balancing flavors and combining ingredients, Brandon is taking a more culinary approach to bartending.  His inspired weekly specials are always the most popular choices with our guests. With farm fresh ingredients like lilikoi, mango, jaboticaba, basil, mint and lemongrass, and his own infused spirits and syrups, Brandon's cocktails not only look fantastic; they also are unforgettably delicious.

Born on Oahu and raised in Ahualoa, here on the Island of Hawaii, Brandon spends his free time playing Ultimate Frisbee, surfing and diving. However, our marvelous mixologist rarely stands alone. Sharon has been his partner behind the bar for over four years. Her calm demeanor and precision timing make for a dynamic duo.

Best Catering 2011, 2012, 2013 & 2014

Summer RollsThe Blue Dragon offers an atmosphere unlike any other. Dine, dance and celebrate in our open air facility under the moon, stars and palm trees.

Our chef orders fresh and organic ingredients from local fishermen and farms including The Blue Dragon's own organic farm in Kohala. All food items are created in house.

We have a state of the art sound system run by a professional technician. Choose from an extensive list of artists and dance the night away on our roomy dance floor.

Our staff is friendly, knowledgeable and full of aloha. Experienced service is available for any occasion.

Set above our stage is a huge projector screen which can host a personalized slide show or keep guests interacting with Nintendo Wii.

Best Family Entertainment 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013 & 2014

DancingWe are family oriented and the sound should be profound - not too loud and certainly not just background noise! Our eclectic offerings mean that there is something for everyone! Be sure to check our monthly music calendar for the current lineup!

Best Fish/Seafood 2011, 2013 & 2014

BrandonOur dinner menu features fine, fresh, festive flavors from the coasts around the globe! We are dedicated to using the freshest, organic, non-GMO and local products as possible. Most of our produce comes from the Blue Dragon Farm in Hawi, and our fish comes fresh right from Kawaihae Harbor! Choose from either the Pan Seared or Grilled Fresh Catch with Mango Butter or Lemon Beurre Blanc, or savor one of Chef’s nightly fish & seafood specials with favorites like Marinate Jumbo Shrimp and Grilled Scallops.

Best Live Music 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013 & 2014

Live MusicA huge mahalo to Larry Roppolo, audio/video tech extraordinaire for over four years. We proudly support local musicians and are thrilled to be honored with this award SIX years running!

We feature live music nightly (when we are open for dinner Thursdays through Sundays) and offer the best talent and a wide array of musical styles. If the music moves you, get up and dance right under the stars as our dining area has no roof! View our events section to see what's playing tonight or this week. For a further view into the future, check out our music.

Best Vegetarian Food 2012, 2014 & 2014

BrandonA wonderful acknowledgement of our commitment to employing healthy and healing practices for ourselves, each other, and the land, especially by supporting local, fresh food from our farm and island. Our culinary team consistently produces vegetarian specials and are always willing and able to make adjustments to standard menu items to cater to both vegetarians and vegans.

Best Pau Hana & Happy Hour 2013

Voted by our customers who appreciate the friendly staff, creative libations and hearty provender that welcomes them at the end of day.

Best Place for Receptions and Banquets 2013 & 2014

The Blue Dragon is becoming known as the place to host your special events. We can customize our menu to suit your occasion. We are happy to work with your events planner or provide our own to assist you. 

Best Steak 2013 & 2014 

Working with local ranchers to provide the highest quality meat has been our priority. Knowing the source of the food we provide assures that we can maintain the best standards.

Best Dessert 2014 

Kudos to our Pastry Chef Danny Tabancura for creating our specialty ice creams and sorbets. Chef Danny bakes all of our breads, including our burger buns. His custom cakes make special occasions a little more special.

Best Eco-Friendly Business 2014 

Sustainability is our goal whenever possible. To that end, we recycle our boxes, bottles and cans. We have converted our lighting to LED and heat our water with solar energy. Our food scraps are collected and fed to farm animals. Working with our farmers, ranchers and fishermen to protect our precious island environment is our privilege.

Other Awards

Best Chefs America

Our head chef, Noah Hester is featured in the book/website Best Chefs America.

Check out our reviews on GogoBot