Kailua-Kona is the activity capital of the Big Island. This sunny, compact town on the west coast is where most visitors base themselves, and for good reason. The ocean here is calm year-round, the snorkeling and diving are world-class, and nearly every tour on the island departs from a harbor within 15 minutes of downtown. Ali'i Drive runs along the waterfront for about 5 miles, and most of the best stuff is right on or just off this road.
Here are the 10 best things to do in Kona, with honest tips on timing, parking, and what's actually worth your money.
1. Snorkel at Kahalu'u Beach Park
Kahalu'u Beach is the easiest great snorkeling you'll find anywhere in Hawaii. Walk into waist-deep water in a protected bay, look down, and you're immediately surrounded by reef fish and green sea turtles. The turtles here are so accustomed to humans that they'll graze on algae three feet from you without flinching.
The natural lava rock breakwater keeps the bay calm even when surf is up elsewhere. This is the spot for first-time snorkelers, kids, and anyone who wants guaranteed turtle encounters without getting on a boat. A reef education station on the beach teaches proper snorkel etiquette.
Tip: Arrive before 9 AM. Parking fills up fast, and morning light makes the water glow. Bring water shoes because the entry is rocky. If you want more variety after Kahalu'u, head south to Two Step for deeper reef, or check our complete snorkeling spots guide.
2. Swim with Manta Rays After Dark
The manta ray night snorkel is the Big Island's most famous experience, and it's headquartered right here in Kona. Two harbors serve as departure points: Keauhou Bay (south of town) takes you to Manta Village, and Honokohau Harbor (north of town) takes you to Manta Heaven.
You float on the surface holding an illuminated board while manta rays with 14-foot wingspans do barrel rolls inches beneath you. It sounds terrifying and turns out to be peaceful and awe-inspiring. No swimming ability required. The board and wetsuit keep you floating effortlessly. Success rate is around 90% year-round.
Our picks: Manta Magic from Keauhou (calm, short boat ride) or Manta Mania from Honokohau (fewer crowds). For a bigger evening, try a sunset + manta combo tour.
Full details in our manta ray night snorkel guide.
3. Walk Historic Ali'i Drive
Ali'i Drive is Kona's main drag, and walking the oceanfront stretch through downtown gives you the town's vibe in about an hour. Start at Ahu'ena Heiau next to the Kamakahonu Beach. A restored Hawaiian temple where King Kamehameha I spent his final years. Walk south past Hulihe'e Palace (a royal vacation home, now a museum) and Moku'aikaua Church (the oldest Christian church in Hawaii, built in 1820).
The walk is flat and shaded in spots, with shops, restaurants, and ocean views the entire way. On some weekday afternoons, you'll catch outrigger canoe crews training in the bay. Competitive paddling is still a serious thing here.
Tip: Park at the north end near the pier and walk south. Wednesday and Saturday mornings, the Kona Farmers Market sets up along Ali'i Drive with local produce, coffee, and crafts.
4. Visit a Kona Coffee Farm
The Kona coffee belt runs along the slopes above town at around 1,500 feet elevation, and it's the source of some of the most expensive coffee beans in the world. The combination of volcanic soil, morning sun, afternoon clouds, and gentle rainfall creates conditions that coffee cherries love.
Several farms offer free tours where you walk through the groves, learn the picking-to-roasting process, and taste multiple varieties. Kona Coffee Living History Farm goes deeper. It's a restored 1920s homestead that shows how Japanese immigrant farmers built the coffee industry here.
The drive up from Kona to the coffee belt takes 15 minutes on winding roads, and the elevated views of the coastline are stunning. Browse all coffee farm tours.
Tip: Go in the morning when the farms are active. September-January is picking season, the most interesting time to visit.
5. Scuba Dive the Kona Coast
Kona is a top-5 dive destination in the US, and it's not hard to see why. Visibility routinely exceeds 100 feet, the leeward coast stays calm nearly year-round, and the underwater terrain (lava tubes, arches, caverns, walls) is unlike anything in the Caribbean.
The two-tank morning charter is the standard: two dives at different sites, back to the harbor by noon. Big Island Divers runs a great operation for experienced divers. If you really want to push boundaries, the pelagic black water night dive drops you into open ocean in the dark to watch bizarre deep-sea creatures rise from the abyss. Not for the faint of heart, but people who do it call it the best dive of their life.
Tip: Even if you're not certified, most shops offer discover scuba dives for beginners, which are shallow reef dives with an instructor guiding you the entire time.
6. Deep-Sea Fishing from Honokohau Harbor
Honokohau Harbor is where Kona's fishing fleet lives, and the sportfishing here is legendary. The ocean floor drops to 6,000 feet within a mile of the harbor, which means you're in blue marlin territory almost immediately. The annual Hawaiian International Billfish Tournament has been held here since 1959. This is where records get broken.
Half-day charters (4 hours) are great for families and casual anglers. Full-day trips (8 hours) get you further out and more time on the fish. Reel Escapes runs quality full-day charters. Browse all fishing charters.
Tip: Book a morning departure. The bite is usually best early, and afternoon winds can make for a rougher ride home.
7. Watch the Sunset from the Water
Kona faces due west, and the sunsets are world-class. No landmass between you and the horizon, just ocean and sky. A sunset cruise puts you on the water as the sky goes through every shade of orange, pink, and purple. Many operators serve drinks and pupus (appetizers), turning it into a floating happy hour.
During whale season (December-March), you'll likely see humpback whales on the cruise. Even outside whale season, dolphins and flying fish are common company.
Tip: Want double value? The sunset + manta ray combo packages the sunset cruise and manta snorkel into one evening on the water. Best deal in Kona.
8. Explore Kaloko-Honokōhau National Park
Kaloko-Honokōhau is the park that most tourists drive past without knowing it exists, and that's a shame. Just north of town near the harbor, it's a coastal wilderness of ancient fishponds, petroglyphs, sea turtle haul-outs, and pristine tide pools. The Aimakapa Fishpond is one of the best-preserved examples of ancient Hawaiian aquaculture, and the engineering is remarkable.
The beach at Honokōhau is a quiet stretch of sand where green sea turtles bask regularly. The whole park is walkable, flat, and rarely crowded. It's a window into pre-contact Hawaiian life that you can experience in an hour or two, right next to a boat harbor.
Tip: Bring water because there's no shade or facilities on the trails. Late afternoon light is gorgeous here for photos.
9. Bodyboard at Magic Sands Beach
Magic Sands (La'aloa Beach Park) is Kona's best bodyboarding beach. A small cove where shore break waves peel consistently and the sandy bottom makes wipeouts soft. The beach gets its name because winter swells can strip all the sand overnight, leaving bare rock, then dump it back a week later. Magic.
This is also a great spectator beach. Bring a cooler, park yourself under one of the few palm trees, and watch boogie boarders and body surfers ride the shorebreak all afternoon. The snorkeling on the rocky south side is decent when the water is calm.
Tip: The beach is small and parking is limited. Go before 10 AM or after 3 PM. Not suitable for young kids when waves are up because the shorebreak can be powerful.
10. Kayak to Kealakekua Bay
For the more active visitor, kayaking across Kealakekua Bay to the Captain Cook Monument combines exercise, snorkeling, and a sense of adventure that a boat tour doesn't quite match. You'll paddle about 20-30 minutes across the bay (it's wider than it looks), then snorkel the pristine reef on the monument side.
Rental kayaks are available from shops in Captain Cook. Guided kayak + snorkel tours include instruction and a guide who knows where the best coral and the spinner dolphins hang out. Budget 3-4 hours for the full experience.
Tip: Mornings only. Afternoon winds make the paddle back a real workout. Bring your own snorkel gear to save money on rental add-ons.
Getting Around Kona
Kona is spread along a single coastal road. The main strip of Ali'i Drive is about 5 miles long, and most hotels, restaurants, and activities are on or near it. Some practical notes:
- Rent a car. You need one for the coffee farms, snorkel spots south of town, and any day trips. Uber exists but is unreliable outside the main drag.
- Parking downtown: Limited and metered. The free lot behind the Kona Marketplace fills up by 9 AM. For beach days at Kahalu'u, arrive early.
- Honokohau Harbor is 3 miles north of downtown. Easy to find, free parking, and where many fishing and dive charters depart.
- Keauhou is 6 miles south, where snorkel tours and manta ray tours depart from here. Also has a great Saturday farmers market.
A Sample 3-Day Kona Itinerary
Day 1: Ocean Day
Morning: Snorkel at Kahalu'u Beach or book a Kealakekua Bay boat tour. Afternoon: Explore Kaloko-Honokōhau or bodyboard at Magic Sands. Evening: Manta ray night snorkel.
Day 2: Culture + Coffee
Morning: Walk Ali'i Drive historical sites, hit the Kona Farmers Market. Late morning: Drive up to the coffee belt, tour a farm, taste Kona coffee. Afternoon: Beach time at Hapuna Beach (30 min north). Evening: Sunset cruise or luau.
Day 3: Choose Your Adventure
Option A: Scuba dive the Kona coast (morning two-tank charter). Option B: Deep-sea fishing half-day out of Honokohau. Option C: Circle island day trip to the volcano, waterfalls, and black sand beach.
Beyond the Top 10
Kona has more than we can fit in a top-10 list. A few honorable mentions:
- Whale watching (December-March): humpback whales breed in the warm waters right off Kona. Morning boat tours have near-guaranteed sightings during season.
- Stand-up paddleboarding: calm Kona waters are perfect for SUP. Rent a board at any beach shop.
- Place of Refuge (Pu'uhonua o Hōnaunau), 20 minutes south of Kona, this sacred Hawaiian site has massive tiki carvings, a royal fishpond, and excellent snorkeling at Two Step right next door.
- Ironman Triathlon route, even if you're not racing, running or biking parts of the famous course along the Queen K Highway is a bucket list item for athletes.
For island-wide recommendations, see our 15 best Big Island tours and activities.