Kailua-Kona at a glance
Historic Kailua Village, better known as Kailua-Kona, is the main town on the west side of Hawaiʻi Island. The island is often split into Kona in the west and Hilo in the east, and the Kona coast is the drier side, with most boat trips, snorkel bays and resort areas. The town sits about 15 minutes by car from the airport at Keāhole (KOA), so many visitors start and end their trip here.
Things to do in Kona fall into three groups: the old town along Aliʻi Drive with Huliheʻe Palace, the coffee farms on the slopes above the coast, and the ocean, from snorkeling at Kahaluʻu to a manta ray night snorkel off Keauhou. Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park is a full day away from here, so plan it as its own trip.
Things to do in Kona
Kona attractions sit close together along the coast, so two or three of them fit into one day.
Walk Aliʻi Drive and visit Huliheʻe Palace
The seafront street runs through the old village. The palace is open four days a week and offers self-guided visits and a guided tour by reservation.
Big Island history →Tour a Kona coffee farm
Coffee grows on the slopes of Hualālai and Mauna Loa above the town. Farm tours of about an hour explain growing and roasting and end with a tasting.
Big Island tours →Snorkel with the manta rays at night
Night trips head to Keauhou and to Makako Bay off the airport. Mantas are wild animals, so no trip can promise a sighting.
Manta ray night snorkel →Spend a morning at Kahaluʻu or Magic Sands
Both beach parks lie south of town along Aliʻi Drive and have lifeguards during the day.
Big Island beaches →Head south to Kealakekua Bay
The bay with the Captain Cook Monument is one of the classic snorkel trips from Kailua-Kona, by boat or on a guided kayak tour.
Kealakekua Bay →Go whale watching in season
Humpback whales visit Hawaiian waters in winter. Cruises leave from the harbor on Kealakehe Parkway north of town.
Boat tours from Kona →Our pick: a Kona coffee farm
A one-hour farm visit with a tasting is an easy add-on to a day in Kona.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in US dollars (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Tours from Kailua-Kona
Coffee farm tours, manta ray night snorkels, whale watching and snorkel cruises along the Kona coast, with live prices and availability.
Aliʻi Drive and Huliheʻe Palace
Aliʻi Drive is the street along the water in Kailua-Kona. Its northern end is the old village with shops and restaurants under big trees; further south it follows the coast toward Kahaluʻu and Keauhou. Free Hele-On bus route 201 runs along Aliʻi Drive, which is handy if you stay south of town and want to leave the car.
Huliheʻe Palace stands on Aliʻi Drive in the village. As of 2026 it opens Wednesday to Saturday, 10:00 to 15:00, with last entry at 14:30; on Saturdays the self-guided visit may run until 15:30. It is closed Sunday to Tuesday and on major holidays.
- Self-guided visit: non-resident adults aged 18 to 64 pay $16, youth aged 6 to 17 pay $14, children 5 and under are free. Seniors 65 and over, kamaʻāina and military with ID pay $12 (2026).
- Guided moʻolelo tour: usually at 11:30, $20 for any age (2026). It depends on the docents and needs a reservation; walk-ins only if there is space.
- Parking: the palace has no lot of its own. Use the public parking at 75-5668 Kuakini Highway within walking distance, or the paid lots on Sarona Road.
Kona coffee: farms, harvest and the November festival
Kona coffee grows in North and South Kona, on the slopes of Hualālai and Mauna Loa above the coast. The ripening and harvest window runs from August to January, so in those months you are more likely to see red cherries on the trees. A harvest at the farm on the day of your visit is never certain.
There are two kinds of coffee farm tours. One is a guided walk through a farm in the Captain Cook area south of town, with a look at growing and roasting and a tasting of Kona coffee, in about an hour. The other, just above Kailua-Kona, adds a brewing class, chocolate-covered peaberries and goat feeding. Neither includes transport, so you drive there yourself. Longer circle-island day trips also include a coffee farm stop.
The Kona Coffee Cultural Festival is a multi-day event in November; in 2026 it runs from 6 to 15 November. Single events have their own times and tickets.
Snorkeling and beaches on the Kona coast
Kahaluʻu Beach Park, south of town, is a popular first snorkel spot. As of 2026 lifeguards are on duty daily from 9:30 to 16:45 there and at White Sands Beach Park (Laʻaloa), better known as Magic Sands. That is no promise of calm water: read the signs and ask the lifeguards before you swim.
Keep at least 10 feet (3 m) from green sea turtles, in the water and on land, and do not touch coral or marine life. Further south, Two Step is a snorkel entry next to the Hōnaunau Bay boat launch, outside Puʻuhonua o Hōnaunau National Historical Park. The park itself charges $20 per private car with up to 8 people, valid for 7 days and paid by card (2026). More bays in our snorkeling guide.
For a guided trip, snorkel cruises with lunch head down the coast to the Captain Cook reef, and shorter afternoon trips combine reef snorkeling with dolphin watching. Spinner dolphins are watched from the boat: swimming with them or staying within 50 yards (about 46 m) is against federal law.
Kona attractions compared
Prices in 2026. Boat and farm tours are priced per tour; see the cards above.
| Place | Where | Cost | Good for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Huliheʻe Palace | Aliʻi Drive, village | $16 adult non-resident | History, short visit |
| Coffee farm tour | Slopes above town and Captain Cook area | Per tour | Coffee lovers, families |
| Kahaluʻu Beach Park | South along Aliʻi Drive | – | First snorkel |
| Magic Sands | South along Aliʻi Drive | – | Beach time with lifeguards |
| Puʻuhonua o Hōnaunau | South Kona | $20 per car | Hawaiian culture |
| Manta night snorkel | Keauhou or off the airport | Per tour | An evening on the water |
For most first-time visitors, one day in Kailua-Kona works well as a morning at the palace and Aliʻi Drive, an afternoon at a coffee farm and a manta ray night snorkel after dark.
Getting to and around Kailua-Kona
From KOA airport, the drive into town takes about 15 minutes. Taxis wait in front of baggage claim A/B. A ride to Kailua-Kona town is about $25 as a guide fare; confirm the fare before you ride. Rental car offices are outside the terminal and reached by shuttle from the median opposite baggage claim A/B. Details in our Big Island airport guide.
A car makes the most sense here. Hele-On buses are free until December 2028, and routes 1 and 2 link Kailua-Kona with Hilo, but check the current timetable before you plan a day around them. Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park is about 95 miles (2 to 2.5 hours) away by the southern route, so most people join a volcano tour or plan a long day. For where to sleep on this side, see where to stay.
Kona: frequently asked questions
Is Kona a separate island?
No. Kona is the region on the west side of Hawaiʻi Island, the Big Island, and Kailua-Kona is its main town. There is no island called Kona.
When is the Kona coffee harvest?
The ripening and harvest window runs from August to January. A farm tour runs year-round, but you will not see picking on every day.
How much does Huliheʻe Palace cost?
As of 2026, $16 for non-resident adults aged 18 to 64, $14 for ages 6 to 17, $12 for seniors 65 and over, free for children 5 and under. The guided tour costs $20 and needs a reservation.
Where do manta ray snorkels leave from?
Trips go to two sites: off Keauhou, south of town, and to Makako Bay off the airport. Depending on the tour you meet at Keauhou Bay or at the harbor north of town.
Can I visit Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park from Kailua-Kona?
Yes, but count on 2 to 2.5 hours each way by the southern route. A guided day trip from Kailua-Kona saves you the driving.