10 Fun Things To Do In Kona At Night (2024)
Wondering what fun things there are to do in Kona at night? You’ve come to the right article.
As a night owl, I was pleasantly surprised with how many activities Kona has to offer in the evening. In fact, one of the most popular activities in Kona is night time manta ray snorkeling!
When I recently visited the Big Island, I spent my evenings enjoying the sunset at the beach and strolling around downtown Kona.
To help you plan a memorable trip, I’ve put together this list of ten things to do in Kona at night. From luaus to sunset dinner cruises, this list has something for everyone!
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Things To Do In Kona At Night
1. Go Night Time Manta Ray Snorkeling
Once it’s dark, head to Keauhou Bay harbor to go snorkeling with manta rays. Snorkeling with manta rays is one of the most popular activities on the Big Island, and it’s a once in a lifetime experience.
You’ll get to go on a short boat trip to a manta ray feeding site, and use lightboards to attract plankton.
Since manta rays feed on plankton, you’ll get within very close proximity of large manta rays. The tours begin after 7pm, and last around 2 hours.
2. Attend a Luau During Sunset
If you want to immerse yourself in Hawaiian culture, head to a Kona resort to attend a Luau.
Luaus are traditional Hawaiian celebrations that consist of live music, dancing, and a feast of delicious foods.
The feasts serve everything from kalua pig to breadfruit and sweet potatoes, so it’s a must for foodies.
Many of the popular Kona resorts host luaus throughout the week and tickets start at around $150 per person. These are some of the resorts that currently organize luaus:
- Mauna Kea luau (Mauna Kea Beach Hotel): Tues, Fri, starts at $94
- Island Breeze Luau (King Kamehameha’s Kona Beach Hotel): Sun, Tues, Thurs, starts at $175+
- Legends of Hawaiʻi luau (Hilton Waikoloa Village): Sun, Tues, Fri, starts at $200+
- Sunset luau (Waikoloa Beach Marriott): Mon, Wed, starts at $150
- Voyagers of the Pacific Luau (Royal Kona Resort): Mon, Tues, Wed, Fri, starts at $140
3. Stroll around Kona Inn Shopping Village
Located along Ali‘i Drive in downtown Kona, the Kona Inn Shopping Village is the perfect place to stroll around in the evening.
This shopping center has small souvenir and gift shops, art galleries, bars, and a variety of great restaurants.
It’s right by the ocean, near many popular resorts where luaus take place (Royal Kona Resort and King Kamehameha’s Kona Beach Hotel) .
After shopping, head to On The Rocks to enjoy amazing seafood and live music by the water. For drinks and karaoke, stop by Sam’s Hideaway.
Sam’s Hideaway is a local bar that has karaoke nightly starting at 8pm, and a great atmosphere for a fun night out.
75-5744 Ali‘i Dr, Kailua-Kona, HI 96740. Free street parking along Hualalai Road.
4. Go On A Sunset dinner cruise to Kealakekua Bay
Enjoy the sunset and spot dolphins on an evening snorkeling cruise to Kealakekua Bay.
Kealakekua Bay is one of the most beautiful, and historically significant places in Kona. It’s home to the Captain Cook Monument, ancient Hawaiian temples, and many interesting landmarks.
On this tour, you’ll get to cruise along the coast to learn about the history of the bay while enjoying cocktails and music.
The bay is a home to a diversity of marine life, so you’ll get the chance to spot everything from whales to spinner dolphins as well.
5. Explore the Pu’uhonua O Honaunau National Park
Located in south Kona, Pu’uhonua O Honaunau National Park or “Place of Refuge” is one of the most beautiful national parks on the Big Island. It served as a sanctuary in ancient times, and is considered a very sacred place.
It’s a serene, peaceful place to walk around in the evening, and the park gates are open daily until sunset.
The grounds are surrounded by ancient structures, and you can do a self–guided audio tour by downloading the NPS app on your phone.
State Hwy 160, Hōnaunau, HI 96726. Open 8:30am-sunset
6. Sample wine and chocolate at Puna Chocolate Company
After dinner, head to the Puna Chocolate shop to sample wine and chocolate.
This unique chocolate shop has a mini bar that serves chocolate themed cocktails, and they have chocolate and wine pairing nights on Fridays at 6pm.
They have an upstairs area with seating and board games so it’s the perfect place to enjoy a night out with friends or family.
This shop is located in downtown Kona, right by Walmart and Target.
siBrewery Block Bay 8, 74-5606 Pawai Pl, Kailua-Kona, HI 96740. Open till 9:30pm Sun–Thurs, and 10pm Fri-Sat.
7. watch the sunset From the Mauna Kea summit
For the most spectacular sunset view, drive to the Mauna Kea Summit.
The Mauna Kea Summit Visitor center is around an hour and a half drive from Kona, and it’s one of the most remarkable places to visit on the Big Island.
I visited the Mauna Kea Summit Visitor Center, which sits at an elevation of 9,000 feet. From the visitor center, you can hike a short trail up a hill to see the sunset over the clouds.
If you want to reach the top of the summit at nearly 14,000 feet, you’ll need to drive a 4×4 vehicle or go on a tour.
However, driving to the top of the summit’s not necessary since you’ll have amazing views from the visitor center!
Mauna Kea Access Rd, Hilo, HI 96720. Visitor center open 9am–9:30pm.
8. Go Bowling at KBXtreme
Just across the street from Walmart in downtown Kona, KBXtreme is an entertainment center with bowling, arcade games, karaoke, pool, and more.
This is an excellent place to spend the night out with family, and they have cosmic bowling after 5pm on Friday through Sunday.
75-5591 Palani Rd, Kailua-Kona, HI 96740. Open Sun-Thurs till 10pm, Fri-Sat till 12AM.
9. Watch The Sunset On The Beach
Just minutes from Target in downtown Kona, the Old Kona Airport State Recreation Area is the place to go for a sunset picnic.
It’s located on an old airport landing strip, and has walking paths, picnic areas, BBQ grills, and a rocky beach with tide pools.
Another great place to watch the sunset is Magic Sands Beach.
It has a beachfront Hawaiian restaurant on site with outdoor seating that’s perfect for a sunset dinner.
75-5560 Kuakini Hwy, Kailua-Kona, HI 96740. Open 7am-8pm.
10. Visit Uncle Robert’s night market in Pahoa
On Wednesday nights, Uncle Robert’s night market is a little market with a kava bar, live bands, dancing, and food vendors.
It’s located in the town of Pahoa, which is around a 2 hour drive from Kona via Saddle Road. The night market starts on Wednesdays from 5-10pm, and there’s an entrance fee of $10.
I personally wouldn’t make the trip from Kona to attend the market, but it’s worth visiting if you’ve spent the day in Hilo or at the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park.
12-5038 Kalapana Kapoho Beach Rd, Pāhoa, HI 96778. Wednesdays from 5-10pm
Conclusion
Whether you want to snorkel with manta rays or enjoy karaoke night at a beach bar, there’s no shortage of fun things to do in Kona at night.
If you’re interested in camping overnight, there are a variety of campsites in Kona and north Kohala.
For more ideas on what to do during your trip, check out our list of the top 18 things to do on the Big Island!