The Kona coast runs about 60 miles down the sunny west side of the Big Island and splits into three areas. Downtown Kailua-Kona has restaurants, bars, and tour operators within walking distance. South Kona is quieter, close to the snorkeling bays and coffee farms, while the Kohala coast, 30 to 45 minutes north, has the island’s best white-sand beaches and largest resorts.
For a first visit, stay in walkable downtown Kailua-Kona, where you can leave the car and reach restaurants and tours on foot. If you’re back for a specific snorkeling bay or beach, South Kona and Kohala are worth the longer drive to town. This is the dry, sunset-facing side of the island, with lodging from hostel dorms around $50 a night to Kohala beachfront resorts at $450 and up.
Table of contents
- FAQ
- Best places to stay for Families
- Best places to stay for First Timers
- Best places to stay for Solo Travelers
- Best places to stay for Active Travelers
- Best places to stay for Beach Bums
- Best places to stay for Repeat Visitors
- Reasons to stay in Kona, and reasons not to
This guide sorts Kona lodging by travel style: families, first-timers, solo travelers, active travelers, beach bums, and repeat visitors, each with high-end, mid-range, and budget picks. If you would rather spend some nights on the other side of the island, see our guide to where to stay on the Hilo side for any budget.
FAQ
Where you should stay on the Kona side of the Big Island depends on your goals.
Q: How many days should I stay in Kona?
We recommend at least 3 nights in Kona to see the region’s main sights.
Q: Where on the Kona Coast should I stay if I love beaches?
The beaches in North Kona/Kohala are especially nice, including the famous Hāpuna Beach. Check out our beach hotel recommendations here.
Q: Where on the Kona Coast should I stay if I am a solo traveler?
Downtown in Kailua-Kona, where there is a lot going on (including nightlife), is a good place to stay for solo travelers. Check out our hotel recommendations for solo travelers here.
Q: Where should I stay in Kona if I love shopping?
Downtown Kailua-Kona is the best place to stay for easy access to shops, restaurants, and bars.
Q: Where should I stay in Kona if I love snorkeling?
You can reach snorkeling sites from all areas on the Kona coast. However, downtown Kailua-Kona and Keauhou have the most options nearby. Most boat tours leave from downtown Kailua-Kona.
Q: Where should I stay in Kona if I love volcanoes?
Downtown Kailua-Kona and Keauhou are both close to the upcountry of Hualālai Volcano, with coffee farms and hiking trails. From North Kona, the Saddle Road is close, the quickest way to reach the Mauna Kea summit or Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park.
Map of every place we recommend
We plot every hotel in this guide on the map below (in blue), along with some of the highest-rated vacation rentals (in red). Fill in your trip dates to see which places are available during your stay and what they cost.
Tip for more accurate pricing: make sure to fill in your expected dates to directly see price and availability.
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The three regions of the Kona coast
The Kona coast covers about 60 miles. Where you stay sets your drive time to beaches and tours.
- Downtown Kailua-Kona is the most walkable, with the highest concentration of restaurants and activity operators.
- South Kona (Captain Cook, Keauhou) is quieter, closer to snorkeling bays and coffee farms.
- The Kohala coast, 30 to 45 minutes north, has the best white-sand beaches and the island’s largest resorts.
1: Kailua-Kona
Kailua-Kona Town is the main hub on the Big Island’s west coast, with the highest concentration of restaurants, bars, shops, and activity centers. Lodging in town is plentiful, but the properties are smaller than the North Kona resorts.
Downtown Kona and Kailua Bay. Credit: Hawaii Tourism Authority (HTA) / Heather Goodman
2: South Kona Coast
South Kona, around Captain Cook and Keauhou, sits away from the crowds of town and has a boat-tour hub at Keauhou Harbor. Lodging here is a mix of resorts and vacation rentals.
3: North Kona / Kohala Coast
The North Kona and Kohala coasts have the island’s best beaches and its largest full-service, big-property beachside resorts. This stretch has the island’s full-service resorts.
For more on how these areas differ, see our full guide to Big Island accommodations.
What Kona rentals cost per night
Kona sits in the middle of the island’s price range: above Hilo and Volcano, below the Kohala resort coast. The chart shows three years of vacation rental rates for the Kona area, from Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority reporting. December through February is peak pricing here, when whale season and the holidays overlap, so book those months early.
Where to stay on the Kona Coast for Families
The best family base has everything on one property. Our Kona picks pair a pool and a beach with on-site dining or a short walk to it, from full-service Kohala resorts to more walkable downtown hotels.
High-end picks
The Mauna Lani Resort along the Kohala coast is an Auberge property that works well for families. After recent renovations it has a beach, a pool, water sports, and a daily activities program that includes snorkeling and whale watching.
Alternative Options:
Mid-range picks
King Kamehameha’s Kona Beach Hotel (Marriott) sits in the heart of Kailua-Kona and pairs on-property activities with easy walking access to the rest of town. On site you’ll find a pool, a beach, an activity center, a lūʻau, and a mix of shops and snack spots. Kailua Pier, where many snorkeling and ocean tours depart, is right next door.
Alternative Options:
Budget picks
The Kona area has plenty of condo rentals, which are good value for families who want a multi-bedroom unit. Kanaloa at Kona by Outrigger is a solid example, with quick access to nearby Kahaluʻu Beach.
Alternative Option: Kona Coast Resort.
Where to stay on the Kona Coast for First-Timers
First-timers get a blank slate. We point them to places that feel like the Big Island rather than anywhere-tropical, with a lūʻau and cultural sites on the grounds. Your exact pick still depends on whether you are here as a couple or with the whole family.
High-end picks
Four Seasons Resort Hualālai is the top-rated luxury property on the island. It sits on a lava field on the Kohala coast with four pools, direct beach access, and a strong children’s program. Rates start around $1,200/night. A splurge or honeymoon stay.
Alternative Options:
Mid-range picks
King Kamehameha’s Kona Beach Hotel (Marriott) is a historic property in downtown Kailua-Kona and a good first introduction to the town. It has several cultural sites on the grounds, plus a beach, a pool, a lūʻau, and an art gallery. It’s an easy walk to nearby restaurants and a quick step onto a tour from the adjacent Kailua Pier.
Alternative Option: Royal Kona Resort.
Budget picks
Just south of Kailua-Kona sits a run of two- and three-star properties. Pacific 19 is one example. Room rates at such places are often below $200 a night.
Alternative Options:
Where to stay on the Kona Coast for Solo Travelers
Solo travelers do better downtown in Kailua-Kona, where the bars and restaurants are a short walk from the door and it’s easy to fall in with other people. Our picks sit in that walkable stretch of town rather than out at a quiet resort.
High-end picks
Recent renovations and a focus on individual travelers make Pacific 19 a strong choice for solo travelers, as does its proximity to downtown Kailua-Kona. The hotel keeps its own activity listings and gives free travel advice on its website (places to eat in Kona, best hikes, and more). Room rates usually run less than $300 per night, more in line with a mid-range option, but it fits solo travelers well.
Alternative choices:
Mid-range picks
The Kona Islander Inn rents studio apartment-style rooms with conveniences like refrigerators and kitchenettes. There are no on-site services, but you’re a one-minute walk from the restaurants and shops of downtown Kailua-Kona.
Alternative choices: There are many condo rentals within Kailua-Kona in this price range. Check Airbnb or VRBO for listings.
Budget picks
There are two hostels in the Kailua-Kona area: the Kona Beach Hostel and My Hawaiʻi Hostel. Both offer a mix of shared dorms and private rooms. The Kona Beach Hostel is closer and within walking distance of downtown Kailua-Kona.
Alternative choice: Pineapple Park Hostel (in the south Kona district).
Where to stay on the Kona Coast for Active Travelers
Active travelers want a short drive to both the water and the trailhead. Our Kona picks sit close to the snorkeling bays and the tour departure points, and a couple run their own activity or rental-car desk.
High-end picks
The Fairmont Orchid is a 5-star hotel with some worthwhile spots nearby, including Puakō Petroglyph Park and a long coastline with several coves. It also runs an on-site rental car center.
Alternative Option: Mauna Lani
Mid-range picks
The Royal Kona Resort has what you want after a long day out: a pool, a protected lagoon for a swim, and easy walkability. It sits near the Coconut Grove Marketplace in Kailua-Kona, with plenty of bars and restaurants a short walk away, and it runs its own lūʻau on site.
Alternative Options:
Budget picks
Vacation rentals (see our picks here) are plentiful through Airbnb, VRBO, and other rental companies. Active travelers who spend long days out often like a rental house with a kitchen and proper sitting areas. Many go for less than $200/night.
Alternative Options:
Where to stay on the Kona Coast for Beach Bums
Beach bums should be able to walk to the sand, so every pick here sits on or across from a real beach rather than a hotel lagoon. The Kohala coast has the best white-sand beaches. Downtown is within walking distance of the sand instead, but the beaches there are smaller.
High-end picks
The Westin Hapuna Beach is a full-service resort next to Hāpuna Beach, the best white-sand beach on the island.
Alternative choices:
Mid-range picks
The Waikoloa Beach Marriott Resort is another full-service resort on a white-sand beach, A-Bay (ʻAnaehoʻomalu Beach). There’s plenty of room to spread out, and it’s a walk from one of the island’s few beach bars, the Lava Lava Beach Club.
Alternative choice: King Kamehameha’s Kona Beach Hotel.
Budget picks
The Big Island Retreat sits across the street from Kahaluʻu Beach Park, one of the most popular snorkeling and surfing spots in Kona. It’s an open-air property, which means no air-conditioning. That suits some people and not others, especially in mid-summer.
Where to stay on the Kona Coast for Repeat Visitors
Repeat visitors who have already run the resort circuit head inland and south, to the coffee-belt inns and bed and breakfasts around Captain Cook and above Kailua-Kona. These inland spots are quiet and local, with a slower pace, but not walkable to the beach.
High-end picks
Holualoa Inn sits in the coffee belt above Kailua-Kona, about 15 minutes from town. The property has six rooms, unobstructed views down to the coast, and a slower pace than anywhere on the waterfront. Rates start at $620/night including breakfast.
Mid-range picks
The Kaʻawa Loa Plantation sits in the town of Captain Cook in south Kona, a very local area near Kealakekua Bay. Prices start at $174, with suites in the mid-$200s. Breakfast includes local fruit, pastries, and 100% Kona coffee.
Alternative choice: Luana Inn.
Budget picks
The Pineapple Park Hostel has dorms, semi-private, and private rooms in a funky setting, with easy access to Kealakekua Bay, Puʻuhonua o Hōnaunau, and the Kona coffee belt.
Alternative choice: Gingerhill Farm Retreat.
Reasons to stay in Kona, and reasons not to
Kona is where most Big Island visitors base themselves, for good reasons and despite a few drawbacks.
Why should you stay on the Kona side of the Big Island?
The Kona side is where most people stay when they visit the Big Island. Here’s why:
- Close to airport. Kona Airport (KOA) is the Big Island’s largest and most accessible airport. It is the main hub of air traffic on and off the island, making it a convenient place to stay.
- Sunny days. Kona sits on the leeward west side of the island, so it stays hot and sunny most of the year.
- Sunset views. No matter where you are on the Kona side, you’ll face west, toward the sunset, each night.
- Beaches. The beaches on the Kona side are the island’s best, and the best white-sand beaches are here. The water is generally calmer than on the Hilo side.
- Availability of tours: Most tours involving water sports, like snorkeling, whale watching, sunset cruises, etc., leave from the Kona side.
- Walkability (Downtown). If you stay in Downtown Kailua-Kona, you’ll be able to walk to a wide variety of restaurants, bars, shops, and outfitters.
Why shouldn’t you stay on the Kona side of the Big Island
There are some potential drawbacks to being on the Kona side of the Big Island:
- Crowds. Parts of the Kona side, especially downtown Kailua-Kona, get busy in the summer months.
- Far from Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park. Plenty of visitors come to the Big Island specifically to explore Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park, which is about 1.5 to 2 hours away from areas in Kona.
- Hot climate. It’s hot and dry during the summer on the Kona side. Beach bums may love it, but other folks may prefer the cooler temperatures of Hilo or the upcountry areas of the Big Island.