Guidebook for Kailua-Kona
Food Scene
This is a lovely restaurant that serves breakfast and lunch. It is very quaint. The food is awesome and they make fresh pies. The location is high up on a hill and you can see the shoreline and Kealakekua Bay. You can also watch the hang-gliders who take off from further up the hill
137 locals recommend
The Coffee Shack
83-5799 Mamalahoa HwyThis is a lovely restaurant that serves breakfast and lunch. It is very quaint. The food is awesome and they make fresh pies. The location is high up on a hill and you can see the shoreline and Kealakekua Bay. You can also watch the hang-gliders who take off from further up the hill
This is a great place to eat and have a drink. It is right in the harbor and only about 10 to 15 minutes away by car. They serve wonderful lunches and early dinners and also have a full bar.
34 locals recommend
Harbor House
74-425 Kealakehe PkwyThis is a great place to eat and have a drink. It is right in the harbor and only about 10 to 15 minutes away by car. They serve wonderful lunches and early dinners and also have a full bar.
A great selection of food, the best fish and chips! We love this place, later take a walk along the sea wall.
66 locals recommend
Quinn's Almost by the Sea
75-5655 Palani RdA great selection of food, the best fish and chips! We love this place, later take a walk along the sea wall.
A great place to sample some great beer, they also have the best pizzas, lots of wonderful people there too!
226 locals recommend
Kona Brewing Company
74-5612 Pawai PlA great place to sample some great beer, they also have the best pizzas, lots of wonderful people there too!
Drinks & Nightlife
This is a fun place to get a bite to eat, have a couple of drinks, and dance. It is right across from the water so you can have fun, watch sunsets and dance into the night!
40 locals recommend
Laverne's Sports Bar
75-5819 Ali‘i DrThis is a fun place to get a bite to eat, have a couple of drinks, and dance. It is right across from the water so you can have fun, watch sunsets and dance into the night!
Parks & Nature
This is a wonderful beach. It is very close to the house, about 10 to 15 minutes from the house. It is very beautiful and not a lot of people around. You can swim, snorkel and see the turtles basking in the sun. Just park in the Honokohau west side parking lot - look to your north and follow a tree shrouded path (easy walk) and you will be there!
18 locals recommend
Honokohau Beach
This is a wonderful beach. It is very close to the house, about 10 to 15 minutes from the house. It is very beautiful and not a lot of people around. You can swim, snorkel and see the turtles basking in the sun. Just park in the Honokohau west side parking lot - look to your north and follow a tree shrouded path (easy walk) and you will be there!
This is a wonderful white sand beach that is about 20 minutes from the house. It is a wonderful beach with "facilities" too! A great place for a beach day and picnic!
66 locals recommend
Manini'owali Beach (Kua Bay)
This is a wonderful white sand beach that is about 20 minutes from the house. It is a wonderful beach with "facilities" too! A great place for a beach day and picnic!
Hapuna Beach
Another wonderful white sand beach!
This is also called the place of refuge. This is a wonderful place to walk around. You can also swim nearby at "two steps beach". This place has a lot of history and is very interesting. there are also a lot of turtles there to see basking on the beach in the sun. They have a walking tour there as well.
270 locals recommend
Pu'uhonua O Hōnaunau National Historical Park
State Highway 160This is also called the place of refuge. This is a wonderful place to walk around. You can also swim nearby at "two steps beach". This place has a lot of history and is very interesting. there are also a lot of turtles there to see basking on the beach in the sun. They have a walking tour there as well.
This is a beautiful trail right up the hill from the house. About 5 minutes away, you can park and just walk into a wonderful forest with lots of flowers and just pure nature!
10 locals recommend
Makahi St trailhead
73-4365 Makahi StThis is a beautiful trail right up the hill from the house. About 5 minutes away, you can park and just walk into a wonderful forest with lots of flowers and just pure nature!
This is an awesome beach, it's a bit of a day trip but a must see if you have time. Pack a lunch and enjoy!
175 locals recommend
Punalu‘u Beach
This is an awesome beach, it's a bit of a day trip but a must see if you have time. Pack a lunch and enjoy!
This is a great beach, it involves a bit of a hike, be sure to bring lots of water to drink. This is very close to South Point. It is a bit of drive but well worth seeing.
148 locals recommend
Papakolea Green Sand Beach
This is a great beach, it involves a bit of a hike, be sure to bring lots of water to drink. This is very close to South Point. It is a bit of drive but well worth seeing.
Arts & Culture
This is a wonderful place to see. It was the residence of many of the Hawaiian Ali'i (royalty). It has been kept in wonderful condition and is right on Ali'i drive next to the ocean.
67 locals recommend
Hulihe'e Palace
This is a wonderful place to see. It was the residence of many of the Hawaiian Ali'i (royalty). It has been kept in wonderful condition and is right on Ali'i drive next to the ocean.
This is am amazing thearte and was built around 1929 - it is like stepping back in time. They have many shows there - you can call (808) 322-9924 to see what show is being preformed or go onto their website. It is one of my favorites places to visit.
23 locals recommend
Aloha Theatre
79-7384 Hawaiʻi Belt RdThis is am amazing thearte and was built around 1929 - it is like stepping back in time. They have many shows there - you can call (808) 322-9924 to see what show is being preformed or go onto their website. It is one of my favorites places to visit.
Essentials
This little grocery store with gas pumps is very close to the house. About a 5 minute drive south on the main road. You can get many grocery items there, also prepared foods to go. They also have gas there for a quick fill up.
16 locals recommend
Matsuyama Food Mart
73-4354 Hawaiʻi Belt RdThis little grocery store with gas pumps is very close to the house. About a 5 minute drive south on the main road. You can get many grocery items there, also prepared foods to go. They also have gas there for a quick fill up.
A great grocery store, let us know if you need directions and we are happy to help.
130 locals recommend
Safeway
75-971 Henry StA great grocery store, let us know if you need directions and we are happy to help.
Shopping
Costco is a great place to stock up on essentials. It is also only about a 10 minute trip from the house by car. They also have gas there that is very inexpensive.
153 locals recommend
Costco Wholesale
73-5600 Maiau StCostco is a great place to stock up on essentials. It is also only about a 10 minute trip from the house by car. They also have gas there that is very inexpensive.
Sightseeing
This is a beautiful church and was built around 1899 -1902. It is an amazing place, very small but so pretty. The grounds are so beautiful with many flowers and gardens you can walk through.
35 locals recommend
St Benedict Catholic Church
84-5140 Painted Church RdThis is a beautiful church and was built around 1899 -1902. It is an amazing place, very small but so pretty. The grounds are so beautiful with many flowers and gardens you can walk through.
The park is a great place to learn about the "birth of the island" as well as the other islands. It has been damaged by the recent volcanic event but there is a lot to see and it is not too far away by car. I would set out early in the morning and make a day of it!
880 locals recommend
Hawaii Volcanoes National Park
The park is a great place to learn about the "birth of the island" as well as the other islands. It has been damaged by the recent volcanic event but there is a lot to see and it is not too far away by car. I would set out early in the morning and make a day of it!
The Captain Cook Monument on the shore of Kealakekua Bay, the largest natural sheltered bay on the Big Island of Hawaii, marks the spot where British explorer Captain James Cook was killed in 1779. You can snorkel there too, it is a beautiful place to see. You can only get there by kayak, boat, or on a very steep, 2-mile trail. You can book a trip on one of the snorkel boats that go to this location and make a day of it!
55 locals recommend
Captain James Cook Monument
The Captain Cook Monument on the shore of Kealakekua Bay, the largest natural sheltered bay on the Big Island of Hawaii, marks the spot where British explorer Captain James Cook was killed in 1779. You can snorkel there too, it is a beautiful place to see. You can only get there by kayak, boat, or on a very steep, 2-mile trail. You can book a trip on one of the snorkel boats that go to this location and make a day of it!