Meridia

The story

Crafted with passion, served with love

Where the Mediterranean Meets the Pacific

Perched above Hapuna Beach on the Kohala Coast, Meridia brings Mediterranean cuisine to one of Hawaii's most dramatic oceanfront settings. The al fresco dining room at The Westin Hapuna Beach Resort frames sweeping sunset views across the Pacific — a backdrop that earns its keep without any help from the menu.

A Kitchen Rooted in the Island

What distinguishes Meridia is its deliberate sourcing. Ingredients come directly from Hawaiʻi Island's farms, fisheries, and ranches, and the restaurant maintains its own Chef's Garden, supplying fresh vegetables and herbs to the kitchen daily. That commitment shows up across the menu: Big Island fiddle-head ferns, Kona shrimp, Ho Farms tomatoes, Puna chicken, Hilo hearts of palm, and Waimea greens appear alongside imported Mediterranean staples like Bomba rice, Castelvetrano olives, and Hojiblanca olive oil. Artisanal bread is baked fresh each day.

The Menu

The Mediterranean framework is broad enough to travel — from a gazpacho with feta ice cream and a grilled octopus with mojo verde and ʻulu bravas, to a paella mixta built on saffron, Kona shrimp, and clams. From the sea, Plancha Hawaiian Ahi arrives over a warm ancient grain salad with Big Island fiddle-head ferns and romesco vinaigrette, finished with Kona sea salt. The grilled branzino — a whole European seabass — is paired with watercress, pipinola shoots, and lemon herb rice. From the range, a pan-seared filet mignon comes with truffle potato gratin and a black garlic–Kona coffee demi-glace that speaks to where the kitchen sits geographically and culinarily.

Desserts stay true to the local-Mediterranean crossover: a Spanish cheesecake with Volcano blackberry jus and Meridia Garden honey, and a pineapple crostata with almond frangipane and ricotta sorbetto.

Drinks Worth Staying For

The cocktail list is organized into distinct character profiles — lighter, fruit-forward "Debutante" pours like the Contessa Spritz (Italicus bergamot, strawberry, Prosecco) alongside more layered "Raconteur" builds. The wine program earned a Wine Spectator Award of Excellence, recognition that reflects a genuinely considered cellar rather than a hotel afterthought.

The Setting

Dress code is casual elegant, which matches the mood: refined enough to feel like an occasion, relaxed enough to suit the beach air. Outdoor seating, a chef's table, and a full bar round out the experience. Meridia is open daily for dinner — a rare, unhurried evening on one of Hawaii's great stretches of coastline.