Kailua-Kona
🌺 Things to do
4 curated experiences
Aliʻi Drive Evening Stroll & Dinner, Kailua-Kona
Kailua-Kona
Easy, flat, walkable strip along Kailua Bay past Mokuaikaua Church and Huliheʻe Palace, ending at oceanfront restaurants for sunset dinner; good low-key evening for travelers already based in Kona town.
Island Breeze Lūʻau, Kailua-Kona
Kailua-Kona
The in-town Kona lūʻau (no shuttle needed for clients staying in Kailua-Kona), set at Kamakahonu / Ahuʻena Heiau, Kamehameha the Great's former residence — standard buffet-and-Polynesian-show format. Schedule and price are third-party-confirmed, not pulled from the operator's own price page, so verify the current adult rate and that the date is running before quoting a client.
Manta Ray Scuba Dive — Garden Eel Cove
Kailua-Kona
The nocturnal manta experience from below the surface is even more extraordinary than snorkeling — mantas circle in feeding spirals within arm's reach at 20–30 foot depth. Multiple mantas typically present; the record in a single evening is 78. The best night dive in the Pacific.
Kaloko-Honokōhau National Historical Park
Kailua-Kona
A national historical park 10 minutes from Kona that almost no tourists visit — ancient Hawaiian fishponds, lava coast, and a sheltered bay where Hawaiian green sea turtles rest on the beach in numbers that rival Punalu'u. The ʻAiʻōpio Fishtrap area is the focal point: a large enclosed lava pool used for ancient aquaculture, now filled with fish and surrounded by turtles on the rocks. Swimming is possible from a small beach in the protected cove. The combination of free entry, no crowds, and genuine wildlife makes this one of the best-kept secrets on the island.
🏨 Where to stay
4 vetted properties
Outrigger Kona Resort & Spa
Kailua-Kona
Built into a lava flow on Keauhou Bay — manta rays feed below the restaurant terrace on most evenings. Oceanside pool over lava. Best resort in Kailua-Kona proper.
Casa De Emdeko
Kailua-Kona
Oceanfront condo complex on Aliʻi Drive south of Kailua-Kona with a saltwater pool and a sandy sunbathing area; one-bedroom units 110, 116, 121, 124 and 202 are the ones she books. Her default Kona stay.
Courtyard by Marriott King Kamehameha's Kona Beach Hotel
Kailua-Kona
The only hotel on a beach in Kailua-Kona town, at the pier where the Ironman starts. Walk to restaurants; parking and resort fee at check-out.
Holiday Inn Express & Suites Kailua-Kona
Kailua-Kona
Reliable chain stay above the town with breakfast included and free parking; standard rooms with two queens. The budget-conscious Kona pick.
🍽️ Where to eat
3 places our scouts eat
Da Poke Shack
Kailua-Kona
Da Poke Shack (Kailua-Kona) — the best poke in Kona and consistently rated among the best on the island. Small counter, limited daily batches — arrive before noon or it sells out; closed Saturday and Sunday. Ahi shoyu and spicy ahi are the moves. Take it to the seawall.
Huggo's on the Rocks
Kailua-Kona
Huggo's on the Rocks (Kailua-Kona, on Alii Dr) — toes in the lava, drinks in hand as the sun drops into the Pacific. Not the strongest menu but the location is the point: an open-air bar built directly on the volcanic rock above the water. The best sunset drink spot in Kona. Go for drinks, not dinner.
Island Lava Java
Kailua-Kona
Island Lava Java (Kailua-Kona, Ali'i Drive) — oceanfront cafe with local Kona coffee. Eggs Benedict with Portuguese sausage and macadamia nut pancakes are essential. Best breakfast in Kona with open-air ocean seating.
📅 Events
49 on the calendar
2026-01-01
New Year's Day Virtual Run - Hilo (Big Island)
2026-01-03
Quadrantid meteor shower (peak)
The Quadrantids are one of the year's strongest meteor showers, with a brief, sharp peak in early January that can produce 40 or more meteors per hour under dark skies. Because Hawaiʻi has some of the clearest, darkest skies in the U.S., the islands are a superb place to watch. Look in the hours before dawn, away from town lights — a high-elevation spot or a dark leeward beach is ideal. No telescope needed; just let your eyes adjust for 20 minutes.
2026-01-18
Playtri Hawaii Camp
2026-02-28
Big Island Road Runners Waikaumalo Fun Run
2026-03-29
HATA 5K Fun Run
2026-04-04
43rd Annual Mac-a-thon
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