Kailua-Kona

The dry, sunny west coast of Hawaiʻi's Big Island: night dives with manta rays, snorkelling at Kealakekua Bay, Puʻuhonua o Hōnaunau, the Kona coffee belt and the white-sand beaches of the Kohala Coast.

Kailua-Kona lies on the west coast of the Island of Hawaiʻi, backed by Hualālai volcano. It is home to Kona International Airport and is the Big Island's largest resort hub. Sheltered in the lee of Mauna Loa and Mauna Kea, the west coast is sunny and dry year-round, with temperatures typically 24–30°C, so any season works. December–April is humpback whale season, and the ocean is calmest in summer. The area breaks down into three parts. First, historic Kailua Village and Aliʻi Drive, where Huliheʻe Palace, Mokuʻaikaua Church and Ahuʻena Heiau cluster around the pier; to the south lie Magic Sands Beach, Kahaluʻu Beach Park's snorkelling bay and Keauhou Bay, where night manta tours depart. Second, South Kona: the famous Kona coffee belt climbs the slopes, while the shore has the Captain Cook Monument at Kealakekua Bay, Puʻuhonua o Hōnaunau and the Two Step snorkel spot; about 2 hours' drive further south are Ka Lae (South Point), the southernmost point in the United States, and Green Sand Beach. Third, the Kohala Coast to the north, where Kua Bay, Kiholo Bay, ʻAnaehoʻomalu Bay (A-Bay), Hāpuna Beach and Puʻukoholā Heiau line Highway 19, which ends at Pololū Valley in North Kohala. Public transport on the island is limited, so a rental car is all but essential. Stay 3–5 nights; to visit Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park and Hilo, plan an extra 1–2 nights on the east side. Use reef-safe sunscreen when snorkelling and keep your distance from sea turtles and dolphins. The sun is fierce on the lava fields, so carry plenty of water.

Top sights

• Kealakekua Bay & Captain Cook Monument – The Big Island's finest snorkelling bay, with dense reef fish and frequent spinner dolphins, and the Captain Cook Monument on its north sho…
• Puʻuhonua o Hōnaunau National Historical Park – The ancient Hawaiian 'City of Refuge', where lava-rock walls, carved wooden figures and reconstructed temples stand by the sea, the Big Isl…
• Kona Manta Ray Night Snorkel – Watch manta rays several metres wide tumble close by in the light at night; hailed as a world-class night dive and Kona's signature experie…
• Hāpuna Beach State Recreation Area – One of the Big Island's largest and most beautiful white-sand beaches, with nearly a kilometre of soft sand and clear water, repeatedly ran…
• Huliheʻe Palace – A Hawaiian royal seaside summer palace completed in 1838. It stands beside Kailua Pier and displays royal furniture, woodwork and portraits.
• Mokuʻaikaua Church – The oldest Christian church in the Hawaiian Islands. Built of stone in 1837, its steeple is a landmark of the town of Kailua.
• Ahuʻena Heiau (Kamakahonu) – A reconstructed temple beside the residence where King Kamehameha the Great spent his final years. It stands on a stone platform in a small…
• Aliʻi Drive (Historic Kailua Village) – The main street of Kailua, running along the coast. Restaurants, bars, souvenir shops and an oceanfront walkway line it, and it is the fini…
• Kahaluʻu Beach Park – The best snorkelling beach on the Big Island for beginners. Tropical fish swarm in the shallow lagoon, and green sea turtles often feed nea…
• Magic Sands Beach (Laʻaloa Beach Park) – A small white-sand beach where the sand disappears and returns with the seasons and surf. It is good for bodyboarding and sunset, and it is…
• Kekaha Kai State Park (Kua Bay) – A white-sand bay surrounded by black lava fields. The water at Kua Bay is deep blue, Mahaiʻula Beach is quiet and uncrowded, and this is am…
• Kaloko-Honokōhau National Historical Park – A coastal park that preserves ancient Hawaiian fishponds, petroglyphs and temple sites. Sea turtles often rest on the beach, and entry is f…
• Puʻukoholā Heiau National Historic Site – A large temple built by King Kamehameha the Great to honour the god of war, with lava stone steps stacked in layers and a view over Kawaiha…
• Kona Coffee Belt & Kona Coffee Living History Farm – Visit a century-old Japanese-American coffee farm on the hillsides of Kona, the world-famous coffee region. See the beans being picked and…
• Hōlualoa Village – A hillside village in the Kona coffee belt. Galleries, craft shops and coffee tasting rooms are housed in old wooden buildings, and the vil…
• St. Benedict's Painted Church – A small wooden church on a hillside. Its interior walls were painted by a missionary priest with Bible scenes, and the flat ceiling has tro…
• Two Step (Hōnaunau Bay) – A snorkelling spot where you enter the water from natural lava steps. The coral is lush, the visibility is excellent, and green sea turtles…
• Pololū Valley Lookout – A clifftop lookout at the end of the North Kohala road, overlooking a deep green valley and a black sand beach. A trail leads down to the v…
• King Kamehameha Statue (Kapaʻau) – The original bronze statue of King Kamehameha the Great in North Kohala, his birthplace. It was cast in 1880, lost at sea when its ship san…
• ʻAnaehoʻomalu Bay (A-Bay) – A coconut-palm-lined bay in the Waikoloa resort area, with an ancient Hawaiian fishpond behind the beach. It is good for swimming, snorkell…
• Puakō Petroglyph Archaeological Preserve – One of the largest petroglyph fields in the Hawaiian Islands. More than 3,000 figures, canoes and symbols are carved into the lava surface.
• Kīholo Bay – A turquoise bay surrounded by lava flows, with a freshwater spring forming the Queen's Bath and a lagoon where sea turtles gather. You must…
• Papakōlea Green Sand Beach – One of the rare green sand beaches in the world, its olivine sand hidden beneath a broken volcanic cone at the southern tip of the Big Isla…
• South Point (Ka Lae) – The southernmost point of the United States, and possibly where Polynesian navigators first landed in Hawaii. It is famous for its cliff di…
• Lapakahi State Historical Park – A coastal park that recreates the site of an ancient Hawaiian fishing village about 600 years old. A self-guided loop trail passes stone ho…

Where to eat

• Da Poke Shack – Widely praised by visitors as the best poke takeout in all of Hawaii, using only fresh, never-frozen local yellowfin tu…
• Broke Da Mouth Grindz – Yelp's top plate lunch spot in Kona, blending Filipino and Hawaiian flavors, known for its garlic nori fried chicken.
• Island Lava Java – A popular brunch café on Ali'i Drive, steps from the ocean, known for its Kona coffee and hearty breakfasts.
• Kona Brewing Pub – The original pub of Hawaii's signature craft beer brand, serving the full lineup of draft beers and offering brewery to…
• Huggo's – A family-run seaside restaurant founded in 1969, with a deck built over the rocks. A classic spot for sunset in Kona.

Itineraries

• Big Island Loop: Kona to Hilo – A one-way road trip around the Big Island, starting from Kona and traveling via Kohala, South Point, and Volcano to Hil…
• Hawaii Three-Island Tour: Oahu, Maui & Big Island – Fly into Honolulu and out of Kona, connecting the main highlights of three islands with two inter-island flights.