Is Kona a good island to visit?
If you're going to be on the island for just a couple of days and only have time to stay in one place, it probably makes sense for most travelers to stay in Kona, given its proximity to beaches, a broader range of activities, and better selection of hotels, restaurants, and flights.
On average, count 3 days to discover the Kona region and the west coast, 1 day at the Volcanoes National Park, 1 half to one day if you want to go up to Mauna Kea, 1 day for the north of the island and 2 days around Hilo, without counting the travel times which are relatively long here.
Kona is also famous for its deep-sea fishing, hosting the International Billfish Tournament (August) every year. And on land, don't forget to travel to the cooler upland slopes of town like Hōlualoa, where you can sample the distinctive flavors of 100% Kona coffee, which is what Kona is famous for!
Kona offers better weather, the best beaches and snorkeling, newer resorts, more vacation rentals, and more nightlife compared to Hilo Town. Hilo is worth a visit but may not be worth staying for more than a night.
With its jagged cliffs, lush valleys, and paradisiacal beaches, Kauai is truly heaven on earth and is our top pick for the most beautiful island in Hawaii. While it would be impossible to squeeze in everything that makes Kauai so special, we have narrowed it down to the top 3 must-see destinations in Kauai.
Oahu is the most visited of all the Hawaiian islands, at nearly 4.7 million visitors annually. Oahu is primarily defined by the state capital of Honolulu, as well as Pearl Harbor and the famous beach known as Waikiki. These areas attract tourists by the thousands daily.
The best times to visit the Big Island of Hawaii, taking into consideration the weather, how crowded, or not, the island is, and demand for accommodations are the month(s) of April, May, August, September, and October. Some call these Hawaii Island's 'off-season periods' or the 'shoulder months.
The cheapest time to fly to Hawaii is during February and March. The most expensive month to fly is December when the holiday period falls, with January being very expensive as well. The peak travel months of June and July are surprisingly not the most expensive months for flights, with middle figure prices.
The island is simply too large to affordably and conveniently navigate without one. You can pick up a rental car at either the Kona International Airport (KOA) or the Hilo International Airport (ITO), or if you want to let go of some serious cash, you could take a taxi from the terminal to your hotel.
Kona coffee is so expensive because it's one of the rarest types of coffee, which is available in a very small and limited location. Kona coffee beans are also hand-picked by farmers throughout the year. Due to the small land area where Kona beans are grown, they're only available in limited supply.
Does Kona have a downtown?
Downtown Kailua-Kona, also known as Kona's central commercial hub, straddles the scenic Kailua Bay. The key attraction here is Kailua Pier, an iconic docking spot for local fishing boats.
Kona is a walkable seaside village, so allocate the early hours to exploring every inch of the town on foot. There's plenty of shopping opportunities, an excellent farmer's market and key attractions such as Mokuʻaikaua Church, the oldest Christian church in the Hawaiian Islands.
The Kona side of the island (roughly the western half) is the more tourist friendly side. It's sunny, dry, and where all of the best beaches are hence…all of the best resorts. At all budget levels, probably 90% of accommodations on the Big Island are on the Kona side.
Kalaupapa, Molokai
In Kalaupapa, HI, there is a small community with single-family households present. This is also rated the safest city in the entire state of Hawaii according to Neighborhood Scout. The city is on the northern island of Molokai, one of the eight major Hawaiian islands.
The average price of a 7-day trip to Kailua-Kona is $2,118 for a solo traveler, $3,804 for a couple, and $7,131 for a family of 4. Kailua-Kona hotels range from $84 to $381 per night with an average of $147, while most vacation rentals will cost $260 to $520 per night for the entire home.
Molokai is the least visited island of Hawaii. With about 65,000 visitors, the island attracts only a fraction of all the tourists that visit the island group each year. The island is more rural and doesn't have resorts. Molokai is most definitely a destination off the beaten path.
Due to the abundance of hotels, activities, tours, and attractions, Oahu is the cheapest Hawaiian island to visit. Between the competitive prices and myriad of things to do, those looking for a budget vacation to Hawaii will find that Oahu is exactly what they've been searching for.
LANAI ISLAND - THE PLACE TO RELAX Lanai entices the sophisticated traveller with a handful of exclusive luxury resorts and championship golf courses. It's the least visited Hawaiian Island, small in size and slow in pace those that travel to Lanai, by air or on the ferry from Maui, are forced to rest and relax.
O'ahu (Population 876,156, Area 597 sq. miles) The most populated island, where Honolulu is the Capital City, the principal port, the major airport, and business and financial center, and the educational heart of the State. O'ahu is the military command center of the Pacific. Waikīkī is the visitor center.
Among the Hawaiian Islands, Molokai is known as the Friendly Isle, and those who live there would consider it the best island to live on by far. With many longtime families and few visitors living on remote Molokai, it is one of the most secluded Hawaiian Islands.
Which Hawaii island has the best beaches?
With 227 miles of shoreline, Oahu is the best Hawaiian Island for beaches. Oahu has the best beaches in Hawaii due to Oahu's many protected bays, reefs surrounding the island, gold-sand beaches, and calm waters year-round.
Kona is the only region in the islands where summer rainfall exceeds winter rainfall. Our wettest month is September but this is no reason to avoid Kailua this month as in general (but by no means as a rule) it rains in the late afternoon or in the early evening.
While for most of Hawaii, the winter months are generally the rainiest, Kona's drier season is generally from November through March, while the rainy season runs from April through October.
average temperature Kailua-Kona
With an average of 20.8 °C | 69.4 °F, August is the warmest month. February has the lowest average temperature of the year.
Even though the flights to Maui are usually cheaper, in terms of accommodation, shopping and eating it tends to be more expensive than Big Island. However, there are plenty of local restaurants and shops that are more affordable and offer great value for money.
Hop-On Hop-Off Tours in Kailua-Kona
Take a journey to the youngest Hawaiian Island and witness firsthand the amazing power of Hawaii's fiery goddess of fire…
Driving around the island takes about six hours – and that's without stopping or running into any traffic. If you're looking to break up your trip a bit, try taking a self-guided tour like the one Action Tour Guide offers.
Additionally, as of June 12, 2022, the U.S. federal government no longer requires a negative pre-departure COVID-19 test result or recovery from COVID-19 documentation. For more information, please click here.
Pickup at Kona Airport
When you're ready, open the Uber app to request a ride to your destination.
Uber on the Big Island (airport rides available)
The Uber ride sharing service is available throughout the island and services both international airports on the Big Island with designated pick up locations at the Ellison Onizuka Kona International Airport (KOA) and Hilo International Airport (ITO).
What should I pay for a Kona?
Based on Edmunds analysis of recent prices paid in your area, the Edmunds Suggested Price for the 2023 Hyundai Kona SE base trim is $23,175. The Edmunds Suggested Price for a 2023 Hyundai Kona is based on recent transactions in your area.
Kona is generally more expensive than Hilo in terms of hotel accommodations. Food also is a little more expensive on Kona side. In Kona, everything is centered around tourists and prices are usually high. Hilo has more locals than Kona and the prices are generally a bit cheaper than Kona.
Hawai'i is the only state that grows coffee, vanilla beans, and cacao. The fertile volcanic soils, cool mountain nights, and warm sunny days are ideal for coffee trees. The beans produced here are highly sought after for their smooth flavor and low acidity, making them among the rarest and most expensive in the world.
- Kona Coffee Tour.
- Whale Watching Tour.
- Snorkeling Tour to Kealakekua Bay.
- Snorkeling Kahalu'u Beach.
- Surfing.
- Helicopter Tour.
- Pu'uhonua O Honaunau.
- Hiking.
- Makuala O'Oma Trail. Moderate• 4.5(1853) ...
- Pu'u Wa'awa'a Cinder Cone Trail. Moderate• 4.5(1123) ...
- Makalawena Beach. ...
- Ala Kahakai National Historical Trail. ...
- Ala Mauka Makai. ...
- Ala Mauka Makai, Ala Kahakai, Ala Nui Kaloko and Māmalahoa Trail Loop. ...
- Ala Hu'ehu'e and Māmalahoa Loop. ...
- White Sands Beach.
Many people assume there's a network of ferries to transport you from island to island. That's not the case in Hawaii. Ferry service is only available between the islands of Maui and Lanai. To travel between all the other Hawaiian islands, you must fly.
So, if you're visiting the Big Island in Hawaii, you'd like to ask “is Kona safe to travel?” if the city is on your travel list. Crime rates in Kona are lower than average when compared to similar size cities across the United States, making it a safe place for residents and visitors.
The airport is approximately seven miles from Kailua-Kona town and approximately 25 miles from resorts located on the Kohala Coast.
Sunny and Dry West Side – Kona and Kohala Coast
The massive mountains on the Big Island create a dry side and wet side of the Island. The prevailing trade winds approach Hawaii from the North East. When the winds bring humid ocean air up against the mountains it provides lots of rain on the East side of the Island.
If you're looking to get away from the tourist experience, the Big Island is an excellent option for visiting Hawaii. In addition to its 186,000 residents, the island receives about 1.7 million tourists every year. However, despite the size of “Big” Island, the island is actually much less crowded in comparison.
How far is the volcano from Kona?
Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park is located on the island of Hawai'i. From Kailua-Kona: 95 miles southeast on Highway 11 (2 to 2.5 hour drive), or 125 miles through Waimea and Hilo via highways 19 and 11 (2.5 to 3 hours). From Waikoloa: 90 miles southeast on Highway 200 (2 hour drive).
Generally speaking, most tourists who are visiting Hawaii for a tropical paradise vacation experience will want to spend a little more time on the Kona side than the Hilo side.
The Kohanaiki club isn't a place that you can just show up and hang out in: It's a 450-acre patch of land on the Kona Coast of Hawai'i, the Big Island where the richest of the rich—literally billionaires, as they claim—come to live in what essentially amounts to a luxury commune.
However, Maui had the fewest violent crime incidents per resident across all of the islands. (Data courtesy of the FBI's Crime Data Explorer.)
The windward/east side of the island (Hilo) receives by far the most rain. As you can see on the map below, Hilo gets between 10 and 40 times as much rain as the driest parts of the Big Island.
One of Kona's most memorable experiences is going on a manta ray boat tour to scuba or snorkel with these gentle, graceful sea creatures. Kona is also famous for its deep-sea fishing, hosting the International Billfish Tournament (August) every year.
Kona coffee has a simple but still rich flavor; it is light and delicate with a complex aroma. A high-quality Kona coffee has a clean and well-balanced flavor along with medium body and brightness through acidity.
Beaches: Maui
Maui's shores have some of the best beaches in the entire state, and the Big Island's young, rocky, volcanic shores offer very little in the way of soft white sand. If it's the beaches you crave, Maui is the clear choice. Paia Bay has a long white sand beach with an excellent near-shore surf break.
So, if you're visiting the Big Island in Hawaii, you'd like to ask “is Kona safe to travel?” if the city is on your travel list. Crime rates in Kona are lower than average when compared to similar size cities across the United States, making it a safe place for residents and visitors.
Located on Kua Bay in Kona, Maniniʻōwali Beach is sometimes called “The Caribbean of Hawaiʻi,” thanks in part to its fine white-sand beaches that gently slope toward the crystal-clear water. The crescent-shaped beach is one of the best places for swimming when the water is calm, usually during the morning hours.
Is the Big Island of Hawaii worth going to?
It's one of the best places to vacation in Hawaii. While Maui feels fancy with its resorts and Kauai feels wild and undeveloped, Big Island, Hawaii offers a little of everything with black lava beaches and one of the most astounding national parks in the USA. So, read on for the best things to do on the Big Island!
Wearing a Mask or Face Covering
Masks are strongly recommended while indoors and when you are unable to maintain physical distancing.
Kona. Apart from the strange taste you are sure to detect, tap water in Kona is generally safe to drink. According to the Department of Health, regular tests are done to ensure the quality of tap water.
If you happen to be walking on a public highway or sidewalk to your beach, consuming liquor is illegal.
Oahu is the cheapest Hawaiian island to visit, with a total cost of $2,625. A Ko Olina Resort lagoon on Oahu. Maui is the most expensive island to visit, coming in nearly $1,000 more expensive, with a total cost of $3,600.