Kailua-Kona Tours Big Island 2026 | Book Big Island Tours, Activities & Things to Do with HawaiiActivities.com
Top Big Island Sights & Attractions

Kailua-Kona

4.54
For guests staying in Kailua-Kona hotels, nestled at the bottom of Hualalai Volcano, this area is a bustling seaside town where balmy weather conditions and crystalline waters make it optimal for almost any ocean adventure. Kailua-Kona was once home to Hawaii’s greatest kings and today this city center is the perfect spot for those who seek area attractions that resonate with rich tradition and history, from petroglyphs and battlefields to sanctuaries and ancient temples.

Top-Rated Activities for Big Island

Latest reviews of Kailua-Kona

Hawaii Lifeguard Surf Instructors - Kona Private & Semi-Private Surfing Lessons

Fantastic Experience

2026/04/16 Families Kristen

My kids ages 11 and 13 had a great time learning to surf! Both instructors were friendly and supportive and their personalities put my kids at ease. I appreciated their attentiveness and both girls are excited to return ... more

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4.5-Hour Sea Paradise Premium Kealakekua Bay Snorkel Tour with Breakfast & Lunch

Top notch experience

2026/04/03 Families with Young Children Trevman

This was our 1st time to the big island and this was our 1st time snorkeling. The captain and the crew were all exceptional and pretty funny at times. The vessel was clean and the cruise was smooth. We had 2 areas we sto... more

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Kailua-Kona Sunset Cocktail with Free Drinks - Honi Olani Catamaran

Beautiful night, great crew

2026/03/31 Families NIC

A lovely night of cocktails and beautiful weather. Drinks were plentiful and the chicken and rice meal was delicious

Mauna Kea Summit Adventures Sunset & Stargazing Guided Tour with Transportation

Excellent Adventure

2026/03/29 Families RGG

Seeing the sun set above the cloud line is a once in a lifetime experience. Our guide, Fernando, made the night that much more enjoyable with the knowledge (and parkas) he shared. After the spectacular sun set we went f... more

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Oceanfront Royal Kona Resort Luau Voyagers of the Pacific Show - Dinner, Drinks & Fire Knife Dance

Great time

2026/03/25 Families Hpox88

We had a great time. Good food and drinks and entertainment. It did take some time to get started but overall great experience!

Ocean Encounters Manta Ray Snorkel Tour - Sunset & Moonlight Cruise from Kona

Girls trip 2026

2026/03/10 Families Happy Travels

Mind blowing tour! Incredible crew: friendly, professional, knowledgeable, well prepared. The experience of a lifetime. Huge manta rays, swimming all around us! Gentle giants. Feeding on the plankton attracted to the lig... more

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Kailua-Kona Town Essentials

What is Kailua-Kona?
Kailua-Kona is the resort and historic town on Big Island west coast, the main visitor base for the Kona side of the island. The town centers on Alii Drive (oceanfront strip with shops, dining, snorkel beaches) and Kona Pier (where cruise ships tender, sportfishing boats depart, and Ironman triathlon swim happens). Population around 12,000. Hilo is on the opposite (east) coast and serves as the airport for Volcanoes-side travel.
Top things to do in Kona
Kona top activities: Kealakekua Bay snorkel cruise (Captain Cook Monument, dolphins, manta night dive), Kona coffee farm tours (the only coffee region in the United States), Hulihee Palace historic tour, Kahaluu Beach Park snorkel, Kona Brewing Company tours, big game sportfishing (marlin, mahi-mahi). Day trips from Kona to Volcanoes National Park run 2.5 hours each way. Manta ray night dive is a Kona-exclusive marine experience.
Where to stay in Kona
Kona has resort hotels along Alii Drive (Royal Kona Resort, Courtyard King Kamehameha) within walking distance of restaurants and Kona Pier. Larger oceanfront resorts at Keauhou (south of town, quieter, manta ray viewing) and the Kohala Coast (north, premium resorts like Mauna Kea Beach Hotel, Mauna Lani, Hilton Waikoloa). Vacation rentals popular along Alii Drive. Most visitors stay 4-5 days on Kona side.

Kona Highlights

Kona Pier & Alii Drive
Kona Pier is the historic harbor in downtown Kailua-Kona where cruise ships tender, fishing charters depart, and the annual Ironman triathlon swim takes place. Surrounding Alii Drive runs 6 miles south along the oceanfront with shops, restaurants, and historic sites including Hulihee Palace (royal summer residence) and Mokuaikaua Church (the first Christian church in Hawaii, 1820). Magic Sands Beach is a popular swimming spot mid-Alii Drive.
Kona coffee region
The Kona coffee region runs 30 miles along the slopes of Hualalai and Mauna Loa, the only Kona coffee region in the United States. Coffee farms 600-3,000 ft elevation, with optimal volcanic soil and twice-daily afternoon showers. Visit working farms (Greenwell, Doutor, Mountain Thunder) for tours and tastings. Pure Kona coffee retails $30-60 per pound. Kona blends contain only 10 percent Kona coffee minimum. November-March is harvest and processing season.
Kona ocean activities
Kona ocean activities: Kealakekua Bay snorkel (boat tours from Keauhou or Kona Pier; Captain Cook Monument, dolphins), manta ray night dive (Keauhou bay, year-round), Honaunau Two Step snorkel (paid park, calm reef), big game sportfishing (Honokohau Harbor; marlin season May-October), kayak with dolphins. Kahaluu Beach is the easiest free shore snorkel in town. Kona Brewing Company tours by appointment.

Logistics & Trip Planning

Getting around Kona
Rental car is essential outside walking-distance Alii Drive. Hertz, Enterprise, and Avis at Kona International Airport (KOA, 7 miles north of town). Resort shuttles connect Kohala Coast resorts to Kona airport. TheBus serves Kona limited routes. Driving is straightforward: Highway 11 north and south, Highway 19 to Hilo (across Saddle Road, 2.5 hours). Sunset is at the same time on west coast as east; west coast has the iconic open-Pacific sunset.
Best season
Year-round comfortable. Kona side averages 80F with very little rain (<10 inches per year). Summer (May-October) brings calmest seas and best snorkel conditions. Winter (November-April) brings whale watching, slightly cooler nights (60s F), and bigger Kohala Coast surf. Volcanoes National Park (drive from Kona) is best year-round; cooler at the 4,000-foot summit. Avoid mid-October Ironman week if you want quiet town energy.
When to book
Manta ray night dive: 1-2 weeks ahead summer, 3-4 weeks during winter holidays. Snorkel cruises: 3-7 days ahead in shoulder season. Sportfishing private charters: 2-3 weeks ahead for marlin season (May-October). Kona coffee farm tours: same-day or day-of typically. Most cruise ship excursions can be booked through cruise line up to ship boarding day; independent operators sell out 1-2 weeks ahead.
Kailua-Kona Tours Big Island 2026 | Book Big Island Tours, Activities & Things to Do with HawaiiActivities.com
For guests staying in Kailua-Kona hotels, nestled at the bottom of Hualalai Volcano, this area is a bustling seaside town where balmy weather conditions and crystalline waters make it optimal for almost any ocean adventure. Kailua-Kona was once home to Hawaii’s greatest kings and today this city center is the perfect spot for those who seek area attractions that resonate with rich tradition and history, from petroglyphs and battlefields to sanctuaries and ancient temples.