Since 1969
Our story
A relaxed gathering place by the sea that became one of Kona's most beloved dining destinations.
Kailua-Kona · On the water
Huggo's opened in 1969 as a relaxed gathering place by the sea, a spot where good steaks, fresh fish, and easy conversation came together naturally. With its oceanfront location in the heart of Kailua-Kona, it quickly became a favorite among local fishermen and the community, a place to swap stories as salty as the sea breeze itself. More than five decades later, Huggo's remains one of Kona's most beloved dining destinations, known for fresh island seafood, open-air oceanfront dining, and a sense of casual elegance that feels timeless.
Founded by Hugo and Shirley von Platen Luder and guided by their motto of “good food and good fun,” Huggo's helped shape the way Kona dines. They introduced the now-iconic Teriyaki Steak and built direct relationships with local fishermen, coordinating daily catches so only the freshest fish reached the kitchen. That commitment continues today; many of the fish served at Huggo's are caught just hours before arriving on the plate. With a long-standing farm-to-table philosophy, Huggo's sources as much as possible from Hawaiʻi Island farmers, fishermen, and producers, allowing the menu to evolve with the seasons while staying rooted in local abundance.
Dining at Huggo's has always been about more than the food. The open-air setting seems to hover above the Pacific, where sunset skies, gentle trade winds, and the rhythm of the ocean become part of the experience. Longtime favorites remain, but the menu continues to evolve, highlighting just-caught fish prepared in a Hawaiian Regional Cuisine style, alongside thoughtfully crafted meats, vibrant salads, and desserts that bring a satisfying finale to the evening.
Over the years, Huggo's has earned recognition from both local and national publications for its dining atmosphere, seafood, and desserts, and has been celebrated as one of the country's top neighborhood restaurants. The addition of hBAR expanded the experience even further, offering handcrafted cocktails in a relaxed oceanfront lounge where Kona sunsets set the tone for the night.
Today, Huggo's is proud to be employee-owned and operated, with the people who welcome guests, prepare the food, and keep the legacy alive having a direct stake in its future. That shared ownership deepens what Huggo's has always stood for — genuine hospitality, pride in craft, and a commitment to creating memorable evenings by the sea. Whether you're celebrating something special or simply enjoying dinner with the ocean at your feet, Huggo's continues to be a place where people gather, linger, and return to — still guided by good food, good fun, and the spirit of aloha.
Huggo's archives
About our founder
Huggo's founder and Hawaiʻi native, Hugo von Platen Luder's path to becoming a Hawaiʻi Island restaurateur extraordinaire was circuitous — literally and figuratively speaking. When he was 14, Punahou School sponsored a summer travel program called “The Rover Boys,” that took 30 students, via buses, to tour 36 of the 48 states. Then at the age of 16, his parents allowed him a break from Punahou for an adventure of a lifetime, sending him off to circle the globe on a merchant steamer out of Honolulu.
Upon his return he set out again — this time leaving Punahou for the New Mexico Military Institute in Roswell. He went on to study briefly at the University of Houston before enlisting in the United States Marine Corps for a three-year tour. After serving his country, Hugo used the G.I. Bill to continue his studies in Ranch Management at Cal Poly in San Luis Obispo, California.
After several years away from the islands, Hugo returned home upon his father's death in December 1957. He worked for Standard Oil Company on Oʻahu for several years before turning down a promotion — the deal breaker was a transfer to San Francisco. He was back in the islands to stay.
Moving from big oil to fashion, he took his growing management skills to Hawaiʻi's prominent clothing manufacturer, Kahala Sportswear, before making the move back to Hawaiʻi Island. Back home he worked in sales, retail, and construction — from selling jeeps and assisting his mother at her popular Kailua-Kona dress shop, to being a “labor pusher” on the Mauna Kea Beach Resort project in the early '60s.
No one was surprised, then, when he left the construction industry in the late '60s to build and operate the now legendary Huggo's Restaurant with his equally entrepreneurial wife, Shirley, on a prime waterfront property in the heart of Kailua-Kona. To ensure their chefs had the freshest fish possible, Hugo and Shirley also owned and operated a sport fishing charter boat, the “Chiripa.” In 1982, ownership and leadership of Huggo's transitioned to their son, Eric von Platen Luder.
Huggo's archives · Video
Huggoʻs, in motion
From the Huggoʻs archives · Kailua-Kona, Hawaiʻi
good food, good fun