Top Things to do in Kailua-Kona
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Things to do in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii (HI): The Best Nature & Parks
Coffee drinkers will recognize Kona as the source of some of the best beans in the world. Get your blood pumping with a walk along the “Royal Footsteps” waterfront stretch of Alii Drive, or take stargazing to the next level with a nighttime visit to the summit of Mauna Kea. Waterfalls, volcanoes, and soft black sands are just some of the natural features that make Kailua unique. Shimmy your hips at a hula-filled luau, or get an eyeful of native history at the Kamakahonu compound.
Restaurants in Kailua-Kona
1. Keike Beach (Queen's Bath)
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 2 reviews
2. Kona Cloud Forest
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 175 reviews
Reviewed By renata623 - Los Angeles, United States
Took this nature walk with my teens, sister and her husband. All 5 of us loved it. It was a magical place. Kelly, who guided us so was so passionate about the forest and shared so much with us about the plants, nature and local history. The beauty of this place and it's unique trees and plants make it a must in Kona. This is a very special place to visit.
3. Living Ocean Adventures
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 28 reviews
Kona Whale Watching and Sport Fishing Charters--------------------------------------------------------------------------------Year-round, off the Kona Coast of the Big Island of Hawaii Recommended by Travel BooksCaptain Tom BottrellLiving Ocean Adventures offers personalized boat charters (six-passengers maximum) with owner-operator Captain Tom Bottrell, a professionally trained marine ecologist and USCG licensed Master since 1977, aboard his Bertram 31' Sportfisherman SPINNER. Captain Tom sailed into Kona in 1975 with Project Jonah to study whales and dolphins, and has been here ever since.
4. White Sand Beach
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 404 reviews
Hawaii beach with white sand and good surf.
Reviewed By Chowa-Rides-Again - Bend, United States
This beach is also known as magic sands. Depending on storms there is either super soft sand or lots of exposed lava rock. The sand is multicolored white, gold and black but is lovely. Can be crowded. Good parking across street. In Nov 2019 there was plenty of sand. But after a big storm it can take weeks to come back.
5. Kona Coast State Park
6. Mauna Kea Summit
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 4,543 reviews
At 13,796 feet, this peak offers an incredible view of lava, desert, the valley and Mauna Loa.
Reviewed By patricialj2016 - Las Vegas, United States
An amazing visit to the summit of Mauna Kea and the evening was clear as a a bell - enough to be able to see Maui! Knowledgeable guide showed and explained the various observatories located at the summit. It was cold but, the gear they provide was more than adequate. After dark explanation and location of common stars in the night skies was super! Loved every minute!
7. Kaloko-Honokohau National Historical Park
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 774 reviews
Reviewed By kpammy
This is a really nice place to stop for a walk as there are not that many people. Hike the Ala Mauka Makai trail for 0.7 miles-- you will see a Hawaiian royal fishing ground, There were signs that green sea turtles are around but that morning we went, there were none sighted. We saw a Indian mulberry tree full of the unusual ripe yellow color fruit that ancient Hawaiians used as food source, the Alo'pio fish trap, and a canoe house (Halau Na'a) at the shoreline. The walk on the trail can be somewhat hot, so make sure you bring along some water. Also, the trail is all on soil so prepare with good walking shoes. A ranger does walk around the surroundings to help answer questions. Great to stop for a least 1 - 1 1/2 hours with a few minutes stop at the Visitor Center and gift shop.
8. Honokohau Marina & Small Boat Harbor
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 319 reviews
Reviewed By GC404 - Anchorage, United States
While most folks come to the Honokohau Harbor for boat tours/charter fishing, there’s a lot more to see and do here... there’s a nice restaurant with great food, plus shops for island clothing and fishing tackle as well :)). Many tropical fish hang around beneath the vessels, and turtles pass through too... nautically inclined folks can admire the array of boats docked here, and if you show up around mid day, you might be able to view trophy catches being brought in as well (look for the flags high above the flying bridge to see what species were hooked). Enjoy!
9. Makalawena/Pu'u Ali'i
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 385 reviews
Reviewed By takemeaway23
I went here on a Friday and when I left at 2:00pm, I stopped counting when I hit 100 people. I thought I read that there are hardly any people that come here. Well not on Friday’s. It was still a nice day! It takes about 15mins to drive down to Mahailua beach, and then you walk to Makalawena beach. You don’t have to walk along the water. I did this going there, which is beautiful, but coming back I took the trail and it was much faster. It’s about a 30min walk to Makalawena beach. I hit it lucky, too, saw a monk seal and a turtle, resting on the beach!
10. Ocean Rider Seahorse Farm
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,036 reviews
Reviewed By LynneP861 - South Padre Island, United States
This was one of our favorite stops in Kona - easy to get to - right near the airport. Don't expect Sea World, it's a working lab at which they're trying to raise domestic seahorses to keep people from snatching them from the wild. Lovely giftshop and staff and a unique experience holding one. Worth the price to support their research. Do make sure not to schedule the Octopus Farm the same day prior to coming here. Because of cross contamination, they will not let you go on the tour.
