The Best Coffee in Ko Olina & Kapolei, Hawaii: 5 Fantastic Cafes

Looking for the best coffee in Ko Olina and Kapolei, Hawaii? This guide from a local has all of the best places to get your morning cup of caffeine.

Beyond the Starbucks and Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf locations, West Oahu has some amazing spots to get your morning cup of joe. So skip the chains and choose one of these five fantastic cafes for the best coffee in Ko Olina and Kapolei.

Considering the fact that millions of visitors stay in Ko Olina and Kapolei every year, you’d think there’d be some obvious local coffee shops in the area. Sadly, the most prominent cafes in town are Starbucks and Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf – but they’re certainly not the only options!

The best Kapolei and Ko Olina coffee spots are tucked away. They’re ones that support the local community – and of course, serve up a great cup of coffee. Those are the ones you’ll want to frequent during your Hawaii vacation. So without further ado, here are all of the best coffee spots in Ko Olina and Kapolei.

Hawaii Coffee-Related Words to Know

For the most part, Hawaii’s coffee scene is pretty easy to navigate. Unlike other local foods, like poke and shave ice that have lengthy lists of unfamiliar words, there are only a few at Ko Olina and Kapolei coffee shops.

Matcha: Powdered green tea leaves
Hawaiian Mamaki: Hawaiian herbal tea from a plant in the nettle family
Hojicha: Japanese-roasted green tea; different from other green teas, because of the way that it’s roasted
Taro: A root vegetable widely used in native Hawaiian cuisine and occasionally used at Ko Olina coffee shops.
Ube: Filipino purple yam

Where Can You Find the Best Coffee in Ko Olina and Kapolei?

Hokulea may be the fanciest coffee spot in Ko Olina and Kapolei. You can get three fancy cappuccinos, as pictured here, or opt for your coffee drink of choice.

1. Hokulea

Hidden within the Four Seasons Oahu, one of the best hotels in Ko Olina, Hokulea serves up coffees and pastries in the morning and wines by the glass in the afternoon. With its ocean view, open-air lanai (balcony), it’s the perfect place to sip on your morning cup of joe.

While Hokulea has all your classic coffee drinks like americanos and lattes, consider going for one of their specialty drinks, like the vanilla mac latte or Cupid’s cold brew.

Last but certainly not least, if you’re cool with a quick pastry or breakfast sandwich to start your day, Hokulea also happens to be one of the best Ko Olina breakfast spots.

Address: Four Seasons Resort Oahu at Ko Olina, 92-1001 Olani St, Kapolei, HI 96707

Located inside of the Island Country Markets grocery store, Island Gourmet Coffee -- and it's delicious coffee drinks -- often gets overlooked. And that's a shame, because it's great Ko Olina coffee pairs well with the many ready-to-eat foods served inside. — *Photo Courtesy of Island Country Markets*

2. Island Country Markets – Island Gourmet Coffee

Tucked inside of the grocery store Island Country Markets, you’ll find a hidden coffee bar called Island Gourmet Coffee. It’s a great place to get an affordable (yet still tasty) cup of coffee anywhere in West Oahu. You can get all of your standard coffees – cold brews, lattes, and what not – or an option with an island twist, like vanilla mac nut drip coffee or a matcha green tea latte.

*Pro Tip: Grab some local snack bites from Island Country Markets while you’re at it. A couple of spam musubis or a poke bowl make for a great meal after snorkeling the Ko Olina lagoons.

Address: 92-1048 Olani St Suite 4-101, Kapolei, HI 96707

Island Vintage Coffee recently relocated from Ko Olina to Kapolei. So while it's not as easy to enjoy your iced coffee on the beach, like in this image, you can still make it work! — *Photo Courtesy of Island Vintage Coffee*

3. Island Vintage Coffee

Island Vintage Coffee used to have a location in Ko Olina. It used to be Ko Olina’s go-to coffee spot, but they sadly had to close their doors. For a minute, they only had their Waikiki location open, but soon after, they opened a Kapolei location as well, just ten minutes from their old spot in Ko Olina! It’s now, without a doubt, the best place to get coffee in Kapolei.

Island Vintage Coffee is particularly special, because it’s one of the only coffee shops on Oahu where you can be sure you’re getting Hawaiian coffee. (Most coffee shops aren’t very explicit with what kinds of beans they use.) After all, you want to enjoy locally grown coffee while you’re in the islands, so be sure to look for that 100% Kona coffee or 100% Hawaiian coffee label.

I also personally love Island Vintage Coffee’s acai bowls. If you order in, it comes in a cute little Island Vintage Coffee mug and everything! These fruity bowls – with a side of coffee, of course – are a great way to start any day.

Address: 4450 Kapolei Pkwy Building D, Kapolei, HI 96707

Within the dark green wooden walls of Kalapawai Cafe & Deli, you'll find a hidden coffee nook serving up all sorts of delicious coffee drinks -- including an iced matcha latte that matches the building's exterior quite nicely. — *Photo Courtesy of Kalapawai Cafe & Deli*

4. Kalapawai Café & Deli

Kalapawai Café & Deli is a local favorite for all sorts of sandwiches – pastrami reubens, furikake fish sandwiches, Italian subs, you name it. It’s an incredible spot for a casual meal at any time of day. But unbeknownst to most visitors, they also have the most adorable coffee bar!

While this Kapolei coffee bar doesn’t take up much square footage, the baristas know how to make a whole lot of drinks in their small space. Whether you’re in the mood for a piping hot cappuccino or a cooling iced latte, they’ve got it for you! And you can easily add your milk or coffee flavoring of choice.

Address: 711 Kamokila Blvd, Kapolei, HI 96707

As the sign says, "Life happens. Coffee helps," especially a chocolate iced coffee from Local Joe West, one of the best coffee shops in Kapolei. — *Photo Courtesy of Local Joe West*

5. Local Joe West

Headed east or north for your day of Oahu activities? Make a pitstop at Local Joe West for your morning cup of caffeine. Technically located in neighboring Ewa Beach, this family-owned café good enough to recommend regardless.

Local Joe West really tries to put their own special twist on everything – from the house espresso blend to the house-made bagels. Their classic espresso drinks are always a treat, but the ever-changing list of seasonal specials will likely have a coffee drink you’ve never tried before. A royal Hawaiian mocha, anyone?

If you’ve got a non-coffee drinker on your hands, Local Joe West has lots of options as well. I tried their strawberry lemonade a few weeks ago, and I’d definitely recommend on a hot Hawaii day. There are also all sorts of teas available, from Hawaiian mamaki to Japanese sencha to a good ol’ chai tea latte.

Address: 91-3598 Nana Hope St Suite 1425, Ewa Beach, HI 96706

And there you have it! All of the places to get the best coffee in Ko Olina and Kapolei. We hope one of these spots becomes your go-to café for your morning caffeine fix!