20 Unique Things To Do In Kona Hawaii in 2024
Looking for interesting things to do in Kona? You’ve come to the right article.
Kona is a beautiful coastal town on the Big Island that’s home to many interesting historical parks, farms, and activities for tourists.
On my recent trip to the Big Island, I was surprised to discover just how much Kona had to offer beyond the beaches.
To help you make your trip memorable, I’ve put together a list of 20 unique things to do around Kona’s coast. From free coffee tours to seahorse aquariums, there’s something on this list for all ages.
Here are 20 unique things to do in and around Kona.
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Unique Things To Do In Kona Hawaii
1. Snorkel At Kealakekua Bay
One of the best places to snorkel by far in Kona is Kealakekua Bay.
It’s home to the Captain Cook monument, which marks the site of the first British explorer to discover the island of Hawaiʻi!
The bay has crystal clear waters filled with bright coral, and yellow tang fish. This is also an amazing place to spot spinner dolphins early in the morning.
To visit the snorkeling area, you’ll need to hike, or go on a boat tour.
I chose to hike the Ka’Awaloa trail down to the Captain Cook monument, which is a 3.8 mile roundtrip hike down to the bay, and back up.
The hike was much more strenuous than I expected, so I wouldn’t recommend it for most people.
It took me around 2 hours in total to hike the trail, and I saw mongoose and dozens of goats along the way.
Once you reach the bay, there’s plenty of amazing spots to snorkel. If you plan on snorkeling, I highly recommend going on a boat tour to avoid the hike.
If you choose to hike the trail, you’ll want to arrive early, wear hiking shoes, and bring snacks and lots of water.
Also be mindful of the loose gravel, as I witnessed a person slip on my way back up!
2. Swim at Magic Sands Beach
Just south of downtown Kona, Magic Sands Beach is a beautiful white sand beach with turquoise waters.
It gets its nickname “Magic Sands” because most of the beach is gone in winter months when the tide’s high.
When the tide is low, this is the perfect spot to swim, snorkel, or relax and watch the sunset.
If most of the beach is gone when you visit, Hapuna beach is another beautiful white sand beach to visit instead.
3. Tour A Vanilla Farm
Just minutes from Kona’s airport, the Vanillerie is a small vanilla farm that offers tours from Tuesday through Saturday.
You’ll get to learn how their hand farmed vanilla is grown, and enjoy homemade vanilla ice cream on a tour.
Tours start at $25 for adults, and $10 for children. They also have an amazing gift shop that sells everything from vanilla beans to vanilla infused skincare products.
73-4301 Laui St, Kailua-Kona, HI 96740. Open Tues-Fri 10am-2pm, Sat 9am-12pm, closed Sun. & Mon.
4. Stroll Around Pu’uhonua O Honaunau National Park
Not far from Kealakekua Bay in south Kona, Pu’uhonua O Honaunau National Park is one of the most beautiful national parks in Hawaii.
Also known as “Place of refuge”, the grounds are surrounded by cultural artifacts and ancient structures.
To enter, you’ll need to pay a fee of $20 per vehicle or $10 per person.
Once you arrive, I recommend stopping by their gift shop to pick up a brochure and watch the short film on the park’s history.
Then, you can follow the map to see all of the sacred sites throughout the park.
State Hwy 160, Hōnaunau, HI 96726. Open 8:30am-4:30pm.
5. Drive To The Mauna Kea Summit
Just under a 2 hour drive from Kona, the Mauna Kea Summit Visitor Center is worth a stop for anyone visiting the Big Island.
The Mauna Kea summit is at nearly 14,000 feet in elevation, whereas the visitor center is at around 9,000 feet in elevation!
If you want to drive to the top of the summit, you’ll need to rent a 4×4 vehicle, or go on a Mauna Kea summit tour from Kona or Hilo.
When we visited, we parked at the visitor center, and crossed the street to hike the Mauna Kea Visitor Center Sunset Hill Trail.
It was an easy 10 minute hike up a small hill to see the mountains peek out of the clouds. If you plan on visiting, make sure to wear warm clothes, as it’s especially cold due to the elevation.
Mauna Kea Access Rd, Hilo, HI 96720. Visitor center open 9am–9:30pm.
6. Swim With Manta Rays
Swimming with large manta rays by far is one of the most unique experiences the Big Island has to offer.
The tours begin at sunset, and they’re just a 5 minute boat ride from the marina to the manta ray feeding sites.
You’ll get to watch manta rays get within inches of your face, and spot everything from monk seals to dolphins.
They offer sunset or night snorkels, and all equipment, snacks and drinks are included in the price.
7. Explore Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park
Just under a 2 hour drive from Kona, the Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park is another must visit place for anyone visiting the Big Island.
It has many excellent hiking trails, scenic vistas, and is home to two active volcanoes – Mauna Loa and Kilauea.
You can get a weekly pass for $30 to explore the park, which is valid for 7 days. Upon arriving, make sure to pick up a map from the Kīlauea Visitor Center to plan your trip.
We spent the entire day exploring the park, and could easily spend 2 more days seeing the rest.
We hiked the Crater Rim Trail, Sulphur Banks Trail, and walked through the Thurston Lava Tube during our visit.
Before heading back to Kona, there are a variety of great restaurants within Volcano village to get dinner.
Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, HI 96718. Park open 24hrs daily. Visitor center open daily 9am-5pm. Weekly passes cost $30 per vehicle (valid for 7 days).
8. Sample Honey At A Bee Farm
Stop by Big Island Bees to learn how bees are kept, and honey’s harvested at a small family owned farm!
They offer beekeeping tours weekdays from 10am-3pm, starting at $30 for adults, and $10 for children under 12.
On a tour, you’ll get to learn how bees are taken care of, and sample a variety of honey products.
They also have a small gift shop where you can purchase everything from beeswax lip balm to honey ice cream.
82-1140 Meli Rd #102, Captain Cook, HI 96704. Open Mon-Fri 10am–3pm, closed Sat-Sun.
9. Visit Punaluʻu Beach (Black Sand Beach)
Located on the southeastern Kaʻu coast, Punaluʻu Beach is a picturesque black sand beach with bright turquoise blue waters.
It’s only a 20 minute drive from the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, so it’s the perfect beach to stop by after a long day of hiking!
The beach is fringed with coconut palm trees, and we spotted a few green sea turtles on the shore.
Ninole Loop Rd, Naalehu, HI 96777. Free parking. Restrooms on site.
10. Visit Kaloko-Honokōhau National Historical Park
Not far from the Kona airport, Kaloko-Honokōhau National Historical Park is a serene historic park with fishponds, petroglyphs, and religious sites.
It’s also one of the best beaches to spot green sea turtles in Kona!
You can park at the visitor center to get a map, and hike the 1 mile “petroglyph trail” down to the beaches.
You can also park at Honokohau harbor, and it’s just a short 5 minute walk to the beaches.
It’s completely free to visit, and there are bathrooms and a nearby restaurant at Honokohau harbor.
Kailua-Kona, HI 96740. Visitor center open daily 8:30am-4pm.
11. Go On A Kona Coffee Farm Tour
Kona’s coffee is known around the world for its bold flavor, rich aroma, and in-depth cultivation process. In fact, it’s one of the most expensive types of coffee.
You can go on a coffee tour to see how Kona’s coffee is handpicked, roasted, and sample freshly brewed coffee.
See our article on the best Kona coffee tours for a list of the best free and paid coffee tours in Kona.
12. Try Poke from Da Poke Shack
If you’re visiting Hawaii for the first time, trying Poke is a must. Poke is a traditional Hawaiian dish of raw marinated fish over rice that’s topped with vegetables and sauces.
With poke being so popular in Hawaii, you can find poke bowls in the sushi section at grocery stores like Safeway or Costco on the Big Island.
However, the best poke I’ve tried on the Big Island was from Da Poke Shack in Kona.
76-6246 Ali‘i Dr, Kailua-Kona, HI 96740. Open daily 10am–4pm.
13. Zipline Over Umauma Falls
If you love an adventure, go ziplining over Umauma Falls with Umauma Falls Experience.
They’re located off of highway 19 between Hilo and Kona, on the way to Akaka falls. This is a 2 mile long zipline course over rivers and waterfalls in the rainforest.
The zipline tours start at $229+ for adults, and $219+ for children. They also offer ATV tours, kayaking, and horseback riding.
31-313 Old Mamalahoa Hwy, Hakalau, HI 96710, USA.
14. Visit The Only Cloud Forest In The United States
Situated on the slopes of Mt. Hualalai in the heart of Kona, the Kona Cloud Forest Sanctuary is one of the most unique places to visit in Kona.
It sits at around 2,500 to 5,000 feet in elevation, and is considered the only cloud forest in the United States.
You can go on a guided tour of the sanctuary with a reservation. They also offer sound bath meditation sessions and photoshoots. Tours start at $99 for adults, and $29 for children.
73-1865 Hao St, Kailua-Kona, HI 96740. Tours from 8:30am-10:30am.
15. Get A Bird’s Eye View Of The Island On A Helicopter Tour
Helicopter tours are an amazing way to see all the Big Island’s volcanoes, farms, waterfalls, and natural beauty.
The cheapest helicopter tours start at around $350 an hour, but they’ll leave you with an experience to last a lifetime.
There are several tour providers, with Blue Hawaiian Helicopter Tours, Paradise Helicopters, Mauna Loa Helicopters, and Sunshine Helicopters all providing tours from Kona.
16. Shop For Souvenirs At Kona Inn Shopping Village
Tucked along the coast, Kona Inn Shopping Village is a waterfront shopping center with small boutiques, restaurants, and souvenir shops.
This is the place to go if you’re looking for gifts to purchase before you leave the island.
Also located within the shopping village is Moku‘aikaua Church (Hawaiʻi’s oldest Christian church), and Hulihe’e Palace (a Hawaiian royalty home-turned museum built in 1838).
75-5744 Ali‘i Dr, Kailua-Kona, HI 96740. Free street parking along Hualalai Road.
17. Learn How Sea Salt’s Made
Just minutes from Kona’s airport, the Sea Salt Farm is the only working sea salt farm on the Island of Hawai’i.
You can go on a tour to learn how the salt’s made from the ocean, and sample a variety of different salts. Tours start at $27 for adults, and $17 for children. They also have a gift shop where you can purchase magnesium and flavored sea salts.
Whether you’re a foodie or interested in the salt making process, this is a unique experience you won’t want to miss.
73-907 Makako Bay Dr, Kailua-Kona, HI 96740. Open daily 9am-4pm.
18. Tour Hulihe’e Palace
Located near Kona’s shopping village, Hulihe’e Palace is a historic vacation home for Hawaiian royalty built back in 1838. Now, it operates as a museum.
You can go on a guided tour during Wednesday to Saturday from 10am-3pm, or do a self guided tour on Saturdays.
The museum is filled with Victorian artifacts, old furniture, and lots of interesting objects. If you’re interested in learning about Hawaiian royalty, it’s definitely worth stopping by.
75-5718 Ali’i Drive, Kailua-Kona, HI 96740. Open Wed to Thurs 10am-3:30pm, Fri-Sat 10am-2:30pm.
19. Hold A Seahorse At Ocean Rider Seahorse Farm
Located right next to Kona’s airport, Ocean Rider Seahorse Farm is a small aqua-culture farm that homes thousands of seahorses.
This is a great place to take kids, and they allow visitors (above 5 years old) to hold a seahorse on their tours. Tours of their farm start at $69 for adults (online), and $59 for children.
73-4388 Ilikai Place, Kailua-Kona, HI 96740. Open Mon to Fri 9:30am-3pm, closed Sat-Sun.
20. Attend A Luau At Sunset
Luaus are Hawaiian celebrations that begin around sunset, and involve live music, dancing, and a feast of traditional foods. If you want to immerse yourself in Hawaiian culture, attending a luau is a must.
Many resorts along Kona’s coast feature luaus throughout the week, with tickets starting around $150+ per person. Here are some of the most popular luaus in Kona.
- 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+
- Mauna Kea luau (Mauna Kea Beach Hotel): Tues, Fri, starts at $94
- 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
Conclusion
When I visited Kona, I was surprised to discover how many different places there were to learn about the island’s history, agriculture, and culture.
From historic parks to vanilla farms, you won’t struggle finding ways to spend your time in Kona.
Where To Stay On The Island of Hawai’i
When it comes to where to stay on the Big Island, Hilo is generally cheaper than Kona. During my trip to the Big Island, I stayed in a vacation rental in Hilo through Vrbo.com to save money.
Hilo is just under a 2 hour drive from Kona, and is closer to Rainbow Falls, Akaka Falls, and the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. However, Kona has more large resorts and dining options.
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