Kona's known for coffee, 1000-pound marlin, called "granders" and two world class resorts.
A dual personality place, Kona divides in two after you land at the airport in a lava bed.
Head north to the Kona Coast on Queen Ka'ahumanu Highway past 18th century lava flows to fabled Kona Village and Hualalai and let the rest of the world go by.
Or, go south to Kailua-Kona, a seaside cluster of touristy commerce where all the action occurs, day or night.
Walk Ali'i Drive's wave-lashed seawall, book a Kealakekua Bay snorkel cruise, or bask on King Kamehameha Hotel's pocket beach.
Eat fresh mahimahi at Huggos-by-The-Sea on the very edge of the sea.
Visit 1838 coral block Hulihe'e Palace. See Kona History Society's 40,000 artifacts.
Hunt for trophy fish out of Honokohau Harbor.
Back at the resorts, swim Hualalai's black lava pools, ponder petroglyphs at Kona Village, and snorkel Kiholo Bay.
Almost always-sunny Kailua-Kona inherits the wind when Kilauea erupts to smudge the sky with vog. The town's own volcano, 8,271-foot Hualalai, is, thankfully, defunct.
Must See
- #1 Kona Village
- #2 Marlin Fish
- #3 Kona Historical Society
- #4 Huggos-By-the-Sea
- #5 Hualalai Resort
Skip It
- #1 Hulihe'e Palace
- #2 Onizuka Space Center
- #3 Condo Coast (Keahou)