Top Trending Kailua-Kona, Hawaii

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HOTELRoyal Kona ResortKailua-Kona, HI

ARTICLEKailua-Kona On the island's sunny leeward coast, Kailua-Kona has everything you'd expect to find in a tourist hub: restaurants, shops, tour operators and lodgings galore. At first glance, Kailua-Kona appears to be all souvenir hula dolls, condo complexes and expensive tropical cocktails, but this seaside town played an important role in Hawai‘i's past and offers some interesting historical sites as well.

POINT OF INTEREST | 37 Things To DoKona (Kailua-Kona)Kailua-Kona, Big Island of Hawaii, HI

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RESTAURANTKona Inn RestaurantAmerican | Kailua-Kona, HI

POINT OF INTERESTHilo Cruise PortIf you're on a cruise through the Hawaiian islands and have a stop on the big island, you may find yourself at the Hilo Cruise Port in Kuhio Bay, just east of downtown. If you book a shore excursion to Hilo, expect to be met by a tour representative or shuttle.

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RESTAURANTHuggo's on the RocksPacific Rim | Kailua-Kona, HI

POINT OF INTEREST | 71 Things To DoRainbow FallsHilo, Big Island of Hawaii, HawaiiOne of the most popular waterfalls on the Big Island of Hawaii, Rainbow Falls is loved for its easy access and the rainbows that frequent the falls on misty mornings. The Wailuku River varies dramatically based on rain, but this 80-foot (24.4-meter) cascade wows viewers whether it is a thundering torrent or delicate trickle.

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RESTAURANTHonu's on the Beach RestaurantHawaii Regional Cuisine | Kailua-Kona, HI

POINT OF INTERESTKalapanaOnce a thriving fishing village and residential community, Kalapana was destroyed by lava from the Kilauea Volcano in 1990. Nearly the entire town was buried under molten rock including Kaimu Beach, one of the most popular black-sand beaches on Hawaii’s Big Island. Today, all that remains is a handful of homes and the ruins of the town.

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RESTAURANTSushi & Robata by 'UluSushi | Kailua-Kona, HI

POINT OF INTEREST | 14 Things To DoPuʻuhonua o Honaunau National Historical ParkStep into Pu‘uhonua o Honaunau National Historical Park and be surrounded by royal gardens, wooden statues, and temples that once offered a place of refuge for Hawaiians who broke sacred laws. The site that once provided a lifesaving sanctuary for lawbreakers is now a national park recognized for its cultural significance and natural beauty.

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RESTAURANTKeei CafeSeafood | Kealakekua, HI

POINT OF INTEREST | 13 Things To DoSaddle Road (Hawaii Route 200)Big Island of Hawaii, HawaiiHawaii’s Saddle Road traverses the width of the Big Island along the valley between Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa. The road used to be rough and unpaved in spots, but is now entirely paved and not to be missed since it cuts through some of Hawaii’s most rugged and remote scenery. Saddle Road also provides access to the Mauna Kea Visitor Station.

POINT OF INTEREST | 5 Things To DoHawiOnce the bustling hub of North Kohala's now obsolete sugar industry, Hawi is a cozy small town best known as the turnaround point for the bicycle portion of the Kona Ironman World Championship held annually in October. Today, Hawi is home to an array of art galleries, cafes, and organic markets, and is a popular foodie destination on Hawaii’s Big Island.

POINT OF INTEREST | 9 Things To DoHamakua CoastCurvy, cozy, and impossibly green, the Hamakua Coast is a verdant time portal on the Big Island’s northeastern side. Often referred to as the “Hamakua Heritage Corridor,” this 50-mile (80-kilometer stretch of two-lane road passes through small, historic towns and offers beautiful scenery around every hairpin turn.

POINT OF INTEREST | 1 Things To DoRoyal Kona Coffee CenterCaptain Cook, Big Island of Hawaii, HawaiiIf you like coffee, you can get your fill—and learn about coffee production in the process—at the Royal Kona Coffee Center. Here, you can see where Kona coffee cherries are processed and beans are separated from the fruit, and you can also learn how the beans are air-dried after they are hulled.

POINT OF INTEREST | 1 Things To DoIsaac Hale Beach ParkOtherwise known as Pohoiki Beach, Isaac Hale (ha-lay) Beach Park is one of the newest black-sand beaches in the world. Created during the massive Kilauea eruptions in 2018, you shouldn’t expect soft white sand, icy mango drinks, and idyllic cerulean waters lapping the gentle shore. This spot is volcanoes all the way down.

POINT OF INTERESTCrater Rim DriveThe Crater Rim Drive is an 11-mile (17.7-kilometer) route encircling the active Kilauea volcano in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. The road takes you past Kilauea’s summit caldera and large pit crater. Along the way, you’ll find museums, a lodge, lava tubes, numerous overlooks, and trails to explore deeper into the park’s environment.

POINT OF INTEREST | 1 Things To DoKolekole FallsKolekole Falls is nestled in the lush jungle-like Kolekole Beach Park on the Big Island of Hawaii’s Hamakua Coast. The falls’ plunge pool is a popular swimming spot, just up from where the stream meets the seashore. With many visitors heading to nearby Akaka Falls instead, Kolekole Falls is an ideal spot enjoy a picnic away from the crowds.

POINT OF INTEREST | 24 Things To DoAkaka FallsHonomu, Big Island of Hawaii, HawaiiLocated north of Hilo, Akaka Falls is one of the best-known waterfalls on the Big Island. Surrounded by lush, tropical jungle, the 442-foot-high (135-meter-high) Akaka Falls is easily accessible by a short, paved loop trail, making it one of the most popular and scenic attractions on the island.

POINT OF INTEREST | 17 Things To DoChain of Craters RoadOne of the most scenic roads on the Big Island, the Chain of Craters Road stretches for 19 miles (31 kilometers) from the summit of Kilauea Volcano to sea level, a change in elevation of 3,700 feet (1,128 meters). The drive offers stunning vistas across changing landscapes, access to different volcanic features, and other interesting sites.

POINT OF INTEREST | 8 Things To DoHawaii Tropical Botanical GardenPapaikou, Big Island of Hawaii, HawaiiAlong the Big Island’s lush Hamakua Coast, the Hawaii Tropical Botanical Garden is a nonprofit, rain forest nature preserve promoting education and ecology. The beautifully maintained living museum hosts thousands of native Hawaiian and international plant species, plus a variety of wildlife including birds, crabs, mongooses, and geckos.

POINT OF INTEREST | 8 Things To DoHilo Farmers MarketOperating for 30+ years, the Hilo Farmers Market is considered by some to be among the best in the US. More than 200 farmers and vendors sell everything from locally grown produce and fresh-caught seafood to handmade cosmetics, original artwork, and coffee. Even just lunch and a shave ice from the myriad food stalls are worth the trip.

POINT OF INTEREST | 7 Things To DoOnomea BayOn a grand section of the coast of the Big Island of Hawaii, the best way to see Onomea Bay is with a scenic drive — granting views of the coastline, turquoise waters, and tropical forest. The Hawaii Tropical Botanical Garden is located along the route, as is the Onomea Arch (which collapsed during an earthquake in 1956.) With many streams and waterfalls, it is a particularly lush area of the Big Island.Historically the bay was a small fishing village for early Hawaiians, and became one of the Big Island’s biggest landing spots for large ships. There were once taro and sugarcane fields growing in the hills above, with both products being shipped out from the bay. The “Donkey Trail” is the path (now hike) from the remains of the old sugar mill that was used to take products down to the water for wider distribution. Now the bay is a much-loved scenic spot popular with snorkelers and those driving through.

POINT OF INTEREST | 32 Things To DoLiliuokalani GardensThe largest authentic Japanese gardens outside of Japan, Liliuokalani Gardens present Japanese culture set on Hawaii’s Hilo Bay. Arched stone bridges, moats, stone lanterns, pagodas, and a tea house make up the gardens, which were named after Hawaii's last reigning monarch and dedicated to the immigrants who worked in the sugar fields.

POINT OF INTEREST | 16 Things To DoBanyan DriveConsider it Hawaii’s very own Hollywood Walk of Fame. On the Big Island, Banyan Drive loops around Hilo’s Waiakea Peninsula, a short stretch of road that courses beneath roughly 50 magnificent banyan trees, each planted between 1933 and 1972 by celebrities, from George Herman “Babe” Ruth to King George V. Catch some shade here, and you’ll stand amid Hilo history.

POINT OF INTEREST | 4 Things To DoOriginal King Kamehameha StatueA nine-foot-tall golden-helmeted and spear-wielding bronze depiction of King Kamehameha the Great stands on the North Kohala Civic Center lawn in the tiny town of Kapaau. Though there are similar statues honoring the King throughout the state—including notably in Hilo and fronting the State Supreme Court in Honolulu—this site is perhaps the most significant to the king’s own story: He was born not far from here in 1758, and lived his first few years in hiding deep within a nearby valley where he was safe from battling tribal factions. Kamehameha would later prove his strength, acquiring each of the Islands for the Kingdom of Hawaii by 1810.The statue, originally intended for a site in Honolulu and constructed in Europe, took several years to make. However, the ship transporting it to Hawaii wrecked in a storm near the Falkland Islands and the heavy sculpture sank to the bottom of the sea. Insurance money was used to quickly replace the missing statue with an even taller one, and that arrived in Honolulu in 1883 where it still stands today. Meanwhile, entrepreneurial fishermen lifted the original and sold it back to the Kingdom of Hawaii for a bargain price. Seeking a spot for the ill-fated statue, the state decided to place the original commissioned bronze here. Each June 11th—the state holiday honoring Kamehameha—all statues of the King, including this one, are draped in community-strung floral lei to celebrate his legacy.

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