The Veli Cafe Pahoa

Article by Karyn Chambers

Photos By Karyn Chambers & The Veli

The Veli: A Vegan Plant-Based Deli

Are you looking for a vegan/vegetarian delicatessen in Puna? You’re in luck! The Veli, a newly established restaurant in downtown Pahoa, is located below Pahoa Village Hostel, at 15-2958 Pahoa Village Road,  open Mon, Wed, Thurs, Fri, Sat from 4 pm to 8 pm offering dine in or take out, 808-300-0124. The Veli has been open for approximately four months. Rebecca, the owner, shared she’s had a lifelong dream of owning a vegan restaurant that serves farm fresh produce and all natural ingredients. She purchased the hundred year old building, which had been on the market for a long time. It now houses the Hostel upstairs for the last two years.  Rebecca wanted to support local farmers and give her guests a healthy place to dine. Another goal, Rebecca shares, is to pay her staff a higher working wage, an honorable achievement.  

The causal, brightly lit, colorful environment of The Veli provides an upbeat vibe with Jamaican music, murals of tropical ocean scenes painted by Charlene Lofgreen, and real wood tables built and varnished by the owner. The shiny solid wood tables are exquisite, adding to the overall ambience. Dining in option offers indoor or outside seating. The outside has a pristine, garden-like setting, overlooking a beautiful green meadow outback, offering a quiet peaceful space to enjoy your meal. 

Plant-based cuisine options include signature wraps/burritos, signature bowls, nachos, soups, and build your own salads with wholesome ingredients such as coconut bacon and cashew cheese. I ordered Chorizo Nachos served with an abundance of fresh avocado chunks, lettuce, corn, brown beans, blue tortilla chips, and tomatoes topped with a wonderful spicy chipotle and lime cilantro sauce. As someone who loves Mexican style nachos with lots of gooey cheese, these plant-based nachos were the best I’ve ever had!  I didn’t miss the cheese at all. Her delicious sauces are made from cashews and pumpkin seeds. 

Like the usual delicatessen atmosphere, one can watch as the meal is created at the front counter. Sugar free drinks are offered in the can: coconut water, Big Island Cider kombucha, sparkling water, and low sugar soda with probiotics. 

If you are looking for a healthy, planted-based treat to satisfy your sweet tooth, The Veli offers dairy free desserts. This includes chunky monkey “Nice Cream,”(plant based dairy free ice cream) which has creamy peanut butter, chocolate, banana chunks topped with granola and chocolate chips. Bliss berry “Nice Cream” with raspberries, blueberries, granola and coconut, Orange Creamsicle and Mermaid mints bowls, and a shake option–Orange Creamsicle with blended papaya, banana and vanilla.  I ordered the Orange Creamsicle shake with ten grams of protein on another visit after the gym! It had a potent orange flavor combined with banana. Delightful treat.

Overall, I must say I was pleasantly surprised by the lovely upbeat environments and tasty meal options. The folks I met enjoying their meal were friendly and shared that they are regulars happy to have a farm-fresh, organic, vegan establishment to satisfy their cravings for a healthy dining experience. I returned for the fantastic salad options: Santa Fe, Arthur’s Club, and Raw Rainbow, deciding on the Arthur’s Club that had crispy chik’n pieces (soy protein that mocks chicken) and coconut bacon, sprouts, tomato, and cukes with ranch dressing.  Perfect vegan meal after a hearty workout.   If you are looking for a healthy vegan/vegetarian evening out, give them a try!