This insider’s guide is a short list of our favorite adventures, top attractions and favorite food joints, with most recommendations focused on the West Side.
While visiting, please protect this beautiful sanctuary by only using reef safe sunscreen and/or rash guards when enjoying the pristine beaches. Recycling is very limited so avoid single use plastics and bring your own reusable water bottles. We provide filtered water, so refilling them is easy!
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TOP ACTIVITIES
Snorkeling Top spots include Two Step at Honaunau, Captain Cook’s Monument & Hookena
Green Sands Beach 4x4 to a green sand beach! If you don’t have your own 4x4, you can jump in with a local “taxi” for $20 pp round trip. Worth it!
Night Snorkeling or Scuba Diving with Manta Rays Book a boat to take you out- Jack’s Diving Locker and Big Island Divers are both great! Manta Rays, unlike Sting Rays and harmless creatures. Rated #1 dive worldwide
Deep Sea Fishing Some of the best fishing grounds in the world!
Ziplining Go with Umauma for fast and exciting or Kohala for mellow tree tops!
Helicopter Blue Hawaii can take your to see the areas only visible by air
Luau The Marriott King Kamehameha Hotel, the Royal Kona or the Sheraton are all good!
Hiking Cooks’ Monument (med difficulty), Place of Refuge (easy), Kaloko (easy), Pololu’u (med), Waipio Valley (med-steep), White Road in Waimea (med)
Best Party on the Island Wednesday Nights in Puna at Uncle Robert’s Kava Bar and Night Market
SOUTH KONA
Best Snorkeling On Island at “Two Step” Excellent snorkeling/ diving spot right next door to Place of Refuge. This is where the snorkel tours from Kona bring people! Save your money and drive down to the spot! Dolphins, sea turtles and loads of colorful fish inhabit this calm bay.
Local Tip Jump in at the naturally formed “Two Steps” in the center of the rocky shore and glide in and out with the waves. Swim to the left towards the grass hut on the beach to find underwater caverns, coral cliffs and valleys. Keep at least 3 ft of water between you and the corals so you don’t touch them...they are delicate and can cut your skin. Enjoy!
Place of Refuge or “Pu’uhonua O Honauanau National Historical Park”
Amazing historical grounds where you can learn about the ancient Hawaiians who lived here and had to run for their lives, to escape death and be forgiven when they broke the ancient laws. This place also has excellent hiking in the back of the park, and a beautiful picnic area towards the backside as well, which is perfect for sunsets.
Local Tip Go early before 8 am for hiking while the park is free and then take a dip next door at “Two Step” to cool off and swim with some other early risers—wild dolphins!
Ho’okena Beach
Spinner dolphins love to swim in it’s bay. Humans love the gorgeous dark sand beach and fun waves to play in. The bay tends to be very calm and is a great place to bliss out, with it’s sandy bottom and crystal blue waters. Good for families or people who just want to chill and find some shade under a tree.
Manini Beach A grassy lawn + baby beach with great snorkeling off to the right and beautiful views of Kealakekua Bay. Great for picnics, open water swims, paddle boarding and great sunsets. The waves can sometimes get a little wild, so time your exit and entrance from the cove according to the sets.
Directions Go South on Hwy 11 1 mile and turn Right on Middle Keei. Follow that road until intersects with Napoopoo Rd. Turn left and follow it all the way down until it intersects with Pu’uhonua Rd. Turn Left and 1000 meters, turn right on Manini Beach Rd and look for parking when the road bends.
Ke’ei Beach
Lazy Daze in Paradise Beach. Picturesque salt and pepper beach lined with coconut palms. Tucked away in a “local” neighborhood off the beaten path. Perfect place to get away from the crowds, hang a hammock, read a book and sip your favorite beverage. The only downside is that the swimming isn’t great here because of the shallow water with coral reef bottom. A tiny sandy pathway has been made to allow swimmers and surfers access to the open water. Use caution.
Directions Follow directions to Manini Beach but instead of turning right on Manini Beach Rd., continue ½ mile until you see Keei Rd, a bumpy dirt road on the right. Follow it until it until the parking area for the beach.
Paddle a Kayak to Cook’s Monument
Rent one from Kona Boys—they will load it on your car and tell you where to launch.
Or an easier option, rent from Ehu & Kai on the ocean near Manini Beach and launch from there! You might see Dolphins along the way. You can also hike to the monument, but unless you go really early, this steep hike gets very hot and lacks the shade of some of the others we recommend below.
Paleaku Gardens
Gorgeous gardens devoted to peace, spirituality and beauty. Gift shop, coffee shop and more located in the heart of South Kona coffee country. $10 entry
Directions: Travel south on Hwy 11, Turn Right on Middle Keei and go until the stop sign. Turn Left on Painted Church and look for it on your right.
St. Benedictine’s Painted Church
Exquisitely painted by a master muralist. On Painted Church Rd, just before you arrive at Paleaku Gardens.
Best Romantic Date Night
Mamalahoa Hot Tubs. Open Wed-Sat afternoon and evenings. Gorgeous jungle setting with private tubs and massages! You’ll thank me later.
Best Coffee Tour
Heavenly Hawaiian Coffee in Holualoa. Stunning views, entertaining and free! Did I mention you get to taste some of the best coffee around?
BEST PLACES TO GRAB SOME PROVISIONS
There are several grocery stores nearby.
Ohana Warehouse The closest one is a small convenience store located 2 driveways to the North of ours, where you can get the basics
Choice Mart 2 miles North next to Ace Hardware in the Upstairs area of the Kealakekua Shopping Center (access it by the upper parking lot)
KTA Another local favorite in Kealakekua about 4 miles to the north
COSTCO Near the airport. By far, the cheapest grocery store on island but they make you have a membership and buy in bulk. If you have a larger group and plan on making a lot of meals during your stay, this will probably be a worthwhile place to go! Approximately 40 minutes to the North.
BEST PLACES TO EAT & GRAB COFFEE NEARBY
Menehune Coffee Company Great lattes and simple sweet breakfasts.
The Coffee Shack Killer views, killer breakfasts & lunches and even better desserts! Really good chai. The coffee is okay, but Kaya’s is by far the best.
Kaya’s Coffee Coffee Heaven. Rumor has it this coffee was being served up at the White House. The quiche is unbelievable. Lots of good breakfast and snack options.
Shaka Tacos Excellent, cheap and satisfying! Tuesdays and Thursday deals!
Junjira Thai take out just below Choice Mart. The Tom Kha is unbelievable!
Ke’ei Cafe Swanky and delicious dinner restaurant. Located in Kealakekua approximately 4 miles North on Hwy 11
FAVORITE EATS IN KONA
Mi’s Italian Bistro Excellent Dinner choice...right above Daylight Mind! Great pasta and seafood.
Lava Java Great Happy Hour.
Huggos on the Rocks Toes in the sand, the location can’t be beat!
Original Thai Best hole in the wall Thai food hiding behind Firestone Tires.
Krua Thai Another excellent Thai restaurant!
Royal Thai In Keauhou, delicious!
Killer Tacos Best Big Surf Burritos with an Island Spin. I recommend the Kailua Pork version.
Fosters Kitchen Overlooking volleyball court and Kailua Bay.
The Restaurants at the Four Seasons Resort
Kona Inn A classic oceanfront restaurant.
Lava Lava Beach Club One of the best dining experiences on the island—on the sand in Waikoloa. Great bar and ambiance, family friendly.
Merrimans Excellent Cuisine in Waimea.
BEST BARS
Kona Brew Classic family pub with huge outdoor area and great food- the pizzas are ono!
Ola Brew New cider house with delicious local fruit ciders. BYO Food!
Humpy’s On Alii Drive with great bay views
The Spit Outdoor Pub next to Firestone Tires
Laverne’s On Alii Drive
ENTERTAINMENT
Huggos on the Rocks
Lava Lava in Waikoloa Great place for dinner and a live music on the sand
Gertrude’s Jazz Bar Latin Nights are Thursday, but they seem to always have fun live music
BEST BEACHES ON THE ISLAND
TOP 7 Favorites, North of the Airport
Kua Bay Beautiful turquoise waters, fun body/ boogie boarding. Great Family Beach, especially for teenagers who like to play in the waves. Winter waves can get too wild for little ones
Kukio Turtles! Nestled in quiet luxury community, you’ll find this gorgeous beach awaiting, which is never crowded. There is limited parking by going into the neighborhood of Kukio and asking for the parking pass. There are nice facilities and a picture perfect sunset framed with swaying palm trees waiting for you.
Kehaka Kai Gorgeous white sand beach with lots of shade. Turtle sightings are common here! You have to take a 10 min trip down a windy road through a lava field but it’s so worth it! The best area is to the North from the parking area.
Makalawena Hike 20 min along lava trail to this beach from Kehaka Kai. Crescent shaped and not very crowded, due to its remote access.
Beach 69 Gorgeous coves, lots of sand and shade, pocket beaches in a row...I like going far south (to the left ) from the parking area.
Hapuna One of the top rated beaches in North America. White sand. Postcard perfection. Fun waves, can get bigger waves in winter but usually still safe.
Mauna Kea Crescent shaped white sand beach- go through Mauna Kea Resort and ask for parking pass