Things to Do in Kona and Kailua-Kona
Sunny Kailua Village, clear snorkeling bays and coffee country on the slopes above.
See top-rated activities »About Kona
Kailua-Kona is the west side's main town and the place most visitors land, since Kona International Airport is a few miles north. Its seafront, Alii Drive, runs past Hulihee Palace, a summer home of Hawaiian royalty now run as a museum by the Daughters of Hawaii, and Mokuaikaua Church, built in the 1830s on the site of the first Christian church in the islands. The village has shops, sunset bars and a small pier where the canoe clubs train, and King Kamehameha spent his last years nearby at Kamakahonu.
The water is the main event. Kona's coast is lava rock rather than long sandy beaches, which keeps the ocean clear and full of reef fish. At night, boats leave from Keauhou and Honokohau harbors for the manta ray snorkel, where giant mantas feed on plankton drawn to underwater lights. South of town, Kealakekua Bay is a marine life conservation district with some of the best snorkeling in the state; the white monument marking where Captain Cook was killed in 1779 stands on its far shore. Boats may anchor offshore but cannot land at Kaawaloa flat, so you reach the monument area by guided kayak tours with permitted companies, by snorkel and sail tours that stay on the water, or by a steep hike.
Farther south, Puuhonua o Honaunau National Historical Park preserves a place of refuge where Hawaiians who broke sacred laws could escape punishment, with carved wooden images, a rebuilt temple and a great stone wall beside tide pools where turtles rest. North of town, Kaloko-Honokohau National Historical Park protects ancient fishponds and a quiet beach.
Above the coast, the Kona coffee belt stretches along the slopes of Hualalai and Mauna Loa through Holualoa and the towns of South Kona. Dozens of small farms offer tastings and tours, and the November Kona Coffee Cultural Festival celebrates the harvest.
Don’t Miss
A restored place of refuge with carved wooden images, a great wall and tide pools. Part of the Tri-Park annual pass with Hawaii Volcanoes.
A protected bay with excellent snorkeling and the Captain Cook monument. Boats cannot land at Kaawaloa; go with a permitted kayak tour or hike in.
A seafront royal residence on Alii Drive, now a museum of Hawaiian furniture and artifacts.
A lava-stone and coral church from the 1830s across from Hulihee Palace.
Ancient Hawaiian fishponds, anchialine pools and Honokohau Beach, where green sea turtles often rest.
Small farms on the slopes above Kona offer tastings and tours of the trees, mill and roasting room.
Top-Rated Tours, Tickets & Activities in Kona
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ViatorTours, tickets, prices and reviews from Viator (a Tripadvisor company) and Tiqets — prices are per person, from, and were checked October 27, 2026. Best of Hawaii Island may earn a commission when you book, at no extra cost to you.
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Get free trip quotes »Kona — FAQ
When is the best time for the Kona manta ray snorkel?
The tours run year-round at night, and sightings are frequent but never guaranteed. Calm evenings are best; operators will reschedule if the ocean is rough.
Can I kayak to the Captain Cook monument on my own?
Rules have tightened. Landing at Kaawaloa, where the monument stands, is limited to guided kayak tours by permitted operators or to people who hike the steep trail. Check the state park page for current rules before you paddle.
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