Kailua-Kona: Local Guide to Downtown, Beaches & Activities

Kailua-Kona is the Big Island’s main hub for visitors, and for good reason. The weather is reliably sunny, the airport is 15 minutes away, and the town puts beaches, coffee farms, manta ray dives, and decent restaurants within easy reach of each other.

It’s not the most dramatic part of the island. That distinction belongs to Volcano and the Kohala coast. But Kona is practical: it’s where most people stay, and it earns its place as a base camp for exploring the western side of the island.

Aliʻi Drive, the main strip running south from the pier, has the density of activity you’d expect from a tourist town. The better experiences — the coffee tours, the snorkeling spots, the historical sites — are a short drive out.

You can find Kailua-Kona on the western slopes of the Hualālai volcano next to the ocean. North of the village were the weather gets dryer you can find gorgeous beaches, the resort coast, and world- famous golf courses. Towards the South you can find many of our favorite snorkeling spots. The climate in the South Kona is more humid and perfect for the lush forests that surround the world-famous Kona coffee plantations.

Kamakahonu (King Kam beach) is a small and family-friendly beach in the heart of Kailua-Kona

Kailua-Kona: the sunny outdoors capital of the Big Island

The western coast of the Big Island is dominated by the North and South Kona district, and Kailua-Kona is the lively center of both. This historic seaside town sits in the center of both districts, a few miles south of the Kona International Airport (KOA). Not too long ago Kailua was a sleepy fishing village. Now, because of its central location and great weather it has transformed into a lively town that is the activity capital of the Big Island.

In our opinion Kailua is the place on the island that is best equipped for tourists.

You can find many shops and farmers markets selling locally produced items here, and there are many restaurant options. This makes Kailua-Kona a good and central home base to explore the west coast of the island. Relax and look at the waves crashing over the black lava rocks while sipping from a cup of the world-famous Kona coffee, or have some freshly caught ahi (tuna) while recovering from your busy day.

Downtown Kailua and Kailua Bay. Credit: Hawaii Tourism Authority (HTA) / Heather Goodman

The Weather in Kailua-Kona and the Kona district:

The Kona district is located on the leeward side of the Big Island, which means that weather here is in general excellent: sunny and dry. You can find pleasant temperatures year round, with sunny mornings, overcast afternoons and an occasional afternoon shower.

If you want to know more about the weather in Kailua have a look at our monthly average weather guide for Kona from which we have taken the illustration below. At that page you can find in-depth information about the average temperature, the number of hours of sunshine, the amount of cloudy days, and the amount of rain in the Kona districts.

The weather here is in general warm and dry with sunny mornings and afternoon clouds. Read more about the yearly weather in Kailua-Kona.

Things to do in Kailua-Kona

Kailua-Kona is the hot spot for sunny outdoor adventures on the Big Island. There are bucket-list activities all over the Kona coast (see e.g. our 5 favorite highlights in Kailua), but you definitely also should spend some time downtown cruising along Aliʻi drive:

Aliʻi drive in central Kailua-Kona is a great place for a short walk. Any of the restaurants or cafes with a view of the horizon are a great place to watch the sun set below the ocean.

While spending time in Kailua-Kona you could try some of the following:

• Get up early for some sunrise snorkeling at King Kam beach. Already been there? Go to one of the many other good snorkeling spots in the Kona district.
• Take an afternoon stroll over the “see-and-be-seen” Aliʻi Drive. You can end your walk at the Kailua pier or at any of the restaurants along the seaside to watch the sunset. Try out a local favorite, the Mai-Tai, or one of the many local specialties, such as the Kona Brewing Company’s handcrafted ales.

Outside the city limits you can find many beautiful beaches, interesting historical sites, and countless places to go play outside. Have you already heard about the Manta Ray night dive? About the local seahorse farm, or about the lush coffee country (coffee tours!), botanical gardens, and national parks on the Kona coast?

Below follow 3 of the most popular activites for people staying on the Kona coast. For more, see our complete list of things to do in and around Kailua-Kona.

Manta Ray Night Snorkeling

One of the more unusual things you can do anywhere in Hawaii. After dark, boats anchor above underwater lights that attract plankton, and manta rays follow. You float on the surface and watch them feed within a few feet of you. Tours run about two hours and cost $85–$120 per person. Best for anyone comfortable in the ocean at night — no diving experience needed, snorkeling gear is provided.

Read our Manta Ray snorkeling guide.

Kona Coffee Farm Tours

The slopes above Kailua-Kona produce some of the most expensive coffee in the world, and most farms welcome visitors. A basic tour walks you through the growing and processing steps and ends with a tasting. Expect to pay $20–$45 per person depending on the farm and how in-depth the tour goes. Good fit for food and agriculture enthusiasts, or anyone who drinks a lot of coffee and wants to understand where it comes from.

Whale Watching

Humpback whales migrate to Hawaiian waters between November and April, and Kona is a solid base for a boat tour. Tours run two to three hours and cost $60–$90 per adult. Sightings are common during peak season (January through March) but not guaranteed. Worth it for families and first-timers to Hawaii during winter months. If you’re visiting outside of whale season, skip this one.

One of the great things about Kona is the proximity of many world-class beaches. Kua bay, for example, is only a 30 minute drive away from Aliʻi drive.

Shopping in Kailua-Kona:

The Big Island is not the best place in the state to go on a shopping spree. With only 1/5th  of the inhabitants of Oʻahu (202,906 vs 1,000,890 in 2021, source) there just are not enough people around for lots of shops to exist. Having said that, Kailua-Kona is the best place to go shopping for souvenirs while you are on the Big Island because of the many cruise ships stopping by and because of its role as tourist-capital of the island.

The best place to look for shops is Aliʻi drive. There are many shops selling everything from cheap souvenirs and t-shirts to expensive jewelry, locally made art, and anything in between. Most shops are located on the 1-mile stretch going south from the pier in Kailua bay to the Royal Kona Resort.

Further inland you can find some smaller shopping centers and there is a Costco close to the Kona airport.

Accommodations in and around Kailua Kona

There are accommodation options for almost every budget on the Kona coast, ranging from the most affordable options of going camping in one of the beach parks or staying in a hostel, to splurging on one of the 5-star resorts on the amazing coastline north of Kailua-Kona on the Kohala coast.

Read more about where to stay in the Kona district.

Practicalities

Kailua truly is a small piece of paradise and your largest concern while visiting here is probably getting a sunburn. The weather is often warm and sunny, so do not forget to wear plenty of reef-safe sunscreen. If you venture out to one of the many beaches or hikes, remember to take plenty of water.

Parking in Kailua-Kona

It can be difficult to find good parking spots close to the water because Kailua has grown so much in the last decades. Luckily it is not a big town and it is easy to find a good place for your car if you don’t mind walking a bit.

There are several parking lots (some free, others requiring a small fee) between Aliʻi drive and the Kuakini Hwy (one street up) for example. Drive around to find them, see if the concierge at your hotel can point you in the right direction, or have a look at what your navigation app of choice has to offer.

Directions to Kailua-Kona

Kailua-Kona is a 15 minute drive (without traffic) away from the Kona International Airport. Hilo (driving distance: 86 miles, driving time: 2 hr 20 min), Waimea (driving distance: 40 miles, driving time: 1 hr 10 minutes), and Volcano Village (driving distance: 95 miles, driving time: 2 hr 15 min) are all easily reachable by car.

The public transport service the hele-on bus can take you from Kailua-Kona all over the island but only if you are not in a rush.

Kailua Bay, as seen from uphill (Ma Uka). Photo credits: Travis Thurston

Interactive Map of Kailua

We have added what we think are the most important stops and activities in and around Kailua-Kona on an interactive map. This map lists our highlights for the 40+ mile stretch of coast between Captain Cook and the Waikoloa resorts. Click any icon to find more information about that local activity, shop, or hotel/vacation rental.

Map with our Kailua-Kona favorites

Are you looking for the map of another part of the Big Island? We also have interactive maps of:

• Waimea
• Volcano Village
• Kaʻu
• Hilo