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Kailua-Kona
Things to do in Kailua-Kona

Top Things to Do in Kailua-Kona, HI - Kailua-Kona Attractions

Things to Do in Kailua-Kona

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Ways to tour Kailua-Kona

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Top Attractions in Kailua-Kona

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Day Trips

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Tours, activities and experiences bookable on Tripadvisor, ranked using exclusive Tripadvisor data including reviews, ratings, photos, popularity, user preferences, price, and bookings made through Tripadvisor.
*Likely to sell out: Based on Viator’s booking data and information from the provider from the past 30 days, it seems likely this experience will sell out through Viator, a Tripadvisor company.

What travellers are saying

  • Samantha S
    105 contributions
    Review of: Mauna Kea Summit
    A Beautiful & Unique Experience!
    After doing quite a bit of research, we decided to go as a family of 20 to check out the Mauna Kea Summit to watch the sunset & stargazing. It really is such a unique experience and a wonderful evening activity. Even if you are unsure or hesitant about the weather, layer layer layer and dress warm because it is freezing! The drive up was so cool because it truly felt like we were riding above the fog and clouds. You definitely need a 4 wheel drive vehicle as they do check your vehicle before allowing you to head up to the summit. Make sure you arrive at least an hour before the scheduled sunset time as they require you to wait 30 minutes at the visitor center before driving up so you can get acclimated to the altitude. The drive from the visitor center to the summit is about another 30 minutes. You can drive to the visitor center in any type of car but the sunset views are pretty non existent unless you hike up the hill across the street. The visitor center doesn’t have much except a handful of souvenirs so you pretty much have to sit in the car or bring your own folding chairs should you decide to sit outside. The night sky gets truly dark about an hour after the sun sets and then the stars light up and you can see the most stunning view of the Milky Way. I wish the cars in the parking area would turn their headlights off to avoid disrupting the views - that was the only bummer. It was definitely worth while, just come prepared! Oh and definitely make sure you have a full tank of gas before heading towards Mauna Kea as there are zero gas stations nearby.
    Written 28 July 2022
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • Samantha S
    105 contributions
    Review of: Manini'owali Beach (Kua Bay)
    Crystal Clear Water and Soft White Sand!
    Soft sands, crystal clear water + sea turtles - what’s not to love? Our family of 20 spent 2 days of our trip at this stunning beach. An absolute favorite spot on the Big Island for sure. A great beach for kiddos to swim and play as the water is fairly calm and the ocean floor is soft white sand. We were lucky enough to spot some sea turtles both times we were there and it truly is such a magical sight. Just please please be respectful and keep a good amount of distance between you and them. I definitely recommend this beach to any and everyone.
    Written 28 July 2022
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • Iliahi C
    Island of Hawaii, HI18 contributions
    Review of: Saddle Road
    fast access
    Nice road to take when you are traveling between East and West of the Big Island, cut the time by 2 hrs.
    Written 20 July 2022
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • tonibulg
    Dortmund, Germany550 contributions
    Review of: Kanaloa Octopus Farm
    Once in a lifetime experience
    If you like nature and animals you should definitely check it out. There were 3 of us and we all are adults in our 40ies but all of us found the experience fascinating. My friends actually were very sceptical at first and said there was no way they would touch an octopus and they would just watch and listen. Guess what… They were glued to their octopuses faster than one could imagine. There was a lot of information given about the species, the ladies who work there and who were in charge of the tour were amazing and were willing to answer all the questions one had. So if you have an hour to spare, just go ;-) . Keep my fingers crossed they will figure it out how to breed the animals in captivity!
    Written 11 August 2022
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • Wilson C
    4 contributions
    Review of: Kaloko-Honokohau National Historical Park
    Great walk/hike
    This National Historical Park was respectful of past and present Hawaiian peoples, history, culture, and spirit. It was an easy trail to walk/hike. The visitors center was informative.
    Written 12 August 2022
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • DrMon79
    San Diego, CA119 contributions
    Review of: Ocean Rider Seahorse Farm
    A must for a Family with elementary school age kids!
    This was one of the coolest things we’ve EVER done! My 5 and 7 year old kids LOVED it. Yes, it’s expensive, but we thought it was totally worth it. Wife and I are huge divers and we’ve dove all over the South Pacific. So, to get to touch and see so many seahorses was such a treat. I agree with another reviewer saying that it’s incredible it’s not a more popular attraction. At the end of the tour, you get to touch a seahorse that will wrap around your finger! Souvenir shop is well stocked with fun, cool and fair valued stuff.
    Written 4 August 2022
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • Cédric V
    10 contributions
    Review of: The Vanillerie
    Unannounced visit
    We found the vanillerie on TripAdvisor and wanted to visit that day. We showed up without booking a visit just to shop at the store. The lady there was super nice and gave us a quick tour anyway. Really interesting and great products!
    Written 11 August 2022
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • Heather E
    Salt Lake City, UT43 contributions
    Review of: Makalawena/Pu'u Ali'i
    Beautiful beach but difficult drive in
    Beautiful beach! Soft sand, great snorkeling, shade, and great whale watching. The drive in is a little rough. I made it in with a small compact car but it was touchy. I recommend a truck or suv but it can be done with smaller vehicle if you go slow & drive carefully
    Written 30 January 2022
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • Kimberly A
    12 contributions
    Review of: Magic Sands
    Small and pretty
    This beach is small and pretty. It offers some sand amongst the lava rocks to sit and lay out. The beach itself was nice to have a fun time for a short while. :)
    Written 23 June 2022
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • Ruskie-gaijin
    San Antonio, TX2 contributions
    Review of: Ali'i Drive
    Touristy road with shops and restaurants
    Cool road with lots of restaurants and shops, with good access to the water further south. Lots of places close relatively early.
    Written 6 June 2022
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • e-claiborne
    Rhode Island80 contributions
    Review of: Kiholo Bay
    Fun to watch the sea turtles
    Bumpy / rocky road to the parking area if you don’t hike in, best for a vehicle with higher clearance. A rewarding experience though. We saw a bunch of sea turtles munching on algae while the tide was coming in, and the fresh water filled lava tubes are very unique to see.
    Written 17 July 2022
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • HEATHER H
    1 contribution
    Review of: Kona Cloud Forest
    Inspiring Eco adventure in the cloud forest!!
    What an amazing experience! The cloud forest sanctuary was a beautiful ecosystem of flora and fauna. It’s the only cloud forest in the United States! The guide was very knowledgeable about all of the plants and trees, including all of the endemic species. I learned so much, it was inspiring! The sanctuary is family owned and they have beautifully restored and maintain a truly magical part of the planet. I’d go again.
    Written 29 July 2022
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • Melanie F
    Papa27 contributions
    Review of: Hulihe'e Palace
    A view to Hawaii past in tour of Hulihee Palace
    The Hulihee Palace tour is well worth your time. It is a flash to the past with beautiful history of the people, the place decorated with the furniture, and household implements of the time. Our tour was exceptional in large part due to our docent, Sunshine that was an incredible wealth of information. She graciously answered all of our many questions and continued to educate and share her Hawaiian history with our group. I highly recommend this excursion to anyone visiting Kailua Kona especially if you can schedule with Sunshine,
    Written 31 July 2022
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • PaulineS
    Auckland, New Zealand74 contributions
    Review of: Ola Brew
    Gem of a find.
    Loved this place, great beer and cider. Stumbled across Ola Brew when out and about sorting out some diving, Could easily have missed out on finding this little gem.
    Written 27 July 2022
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • MisterMD
    San Francisco, CA11 contributions
    Review of: Kahaluu Bay
    Nice place to snorkel; remember to "float, don't stand"
    Lovely spot. Not much of a beach, but pretty good snorkeling. Coral here is very stressed for lots of reasons, not least of which is people standing on it. So please remember: don't stand anywhere while snorkeling unless it is an emergency. Even rocks and sand are an important part of the reef (baby coral grows on rocks, and is so small you can't see it), so float, don't stand. Good place for families, though as mentioned, access is a pretty tricky. A bit tough to access for the elderly.
    Written 5 July 2022
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
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