Kailua-Kona

From eTripTips Wiki

Kailua-Kona, commonly called Kona, is a major tourist destination town on the Big Island of Hawaii.

[edit] Get in

[edit] By plane

Kona International Airport at Keahole (IATA: KOA), also known as Keahole Airport, is the main commercial airport for the Kona coast, serving the Kona area and the resort areas of Kohala to the north. Hawaiian Airlines, Aloha Airlines, and go! Airlines offer non-stop interisland service from Honolulu and Kahului, as well as trans-Pacific service from selected cities on the West Coast of the United States. Besides Hawaiian and Aloha, service from the U.S. mainland is also provided by American, Delta, Northwest, and United. Japan Airlines, through its JALways subsidiary, also operates non-stop service from Narita Airport to Kona.

[edit] By boat

[edit] Get around

Traffic was pretty minor before, but in recent years has become more congested. Driving in tourist-oriented areas can be slow, but the town is generally not large enough to have serious problems. Walking is a manageable way to travel in town, but you should rent a car if you want to get to resorts, beaches and other cultural locations.

Kailua-Kona is a place for ocean and outdoor recreational activites. Surfing, fishing, diving, boating, snorkeling and swimming are all popular sports in Kailua-Kona, as are hiking, biking, caving, and four wheeling. There are also many important cultural sites in the town, including the first Christian church in the islands, the Queen's Palace, and petrogyphs that can be found at Kaloko-Honokahou National Park.

[edit] See

• Coffee plantations abound, see for example Bayview Farms, which has a short free tour and samples of the Kona coffee. And at UCC Hawaii Coffee Factory Outlet UCC coffee, you can enjoy Roastery Tours and Roastmaster Tours.

[edit] Do

• There is great snorkeling at a local beach park called Kahaluu. It can be crowded, but it's pretty worth it. You can rent equipment in town and at the beach. Kahaluu also has a lovely little bar next to it when you're tired of drinking salt water.

[edit] Buy

• Kona Coffee - Kona Coffee is widely recognized as one of the top coffees in the world. Look for 100% Pure Kona Coffee, as there are many 10% Kona Blends that do not have the same taste.

• Donkey Balls, these world famous premium chocolate covered Hawaiian Macadamia Nuts are known for their quality and weird name. Named #1 treat in Kona for years. Two locations, downtown Kailua in the Kona Inn Shopping Center, and in Historic Kainaliu.

• Kona is a resort area with many tourist-oriented gift shops(cf.ABC stores).

• Salt-water fish: Stockly's Aquarium is a family owned bussiness with healthy fish and a friendly knowledgeable staff.

[edit] Eat

• Bubba Gumps - A pretty good chain restaurant. The view is great and the food is fine. You can enjoy both a nice view and dishes with ocean breeze.
• Shave Ice - Shave ice can be found everywhere during the tourist season. It's one of Hawaii's best treats. More than just a snow cone, the ice is specially shaved so it's smooth and creamy. Especially good with ice cream in the bottom.
• O's Bistro (formerly Oodles of Noodles) - A wonderful restaurant that used to be the noodle shop of the famous chef Amy Ota. The seared Ahi and Saipan are great. In the Crossroads Shopping Center off Henry Street in download Kona-Kailua.

[edit] Drink

• LuLu's is just down the street from Bubba Gumps and is a pretty cool place to hang out and knock back some beers.
• Huggo's is another good place to hang out, especially Huggo's on the beach which is next door and usually has a band. It's right on the water with great sunsets.
• Kona Brewing Company
• Quinn's Almost By The Sea
• Jumba Juice

[edit] Sleep

Cedar House Bed & Breakfast and Coffee Farm, [1]. Enjoy your Kona, Hawaii vacation and Hawaii Big Island Lodging at the Cedar House Bed and Breakfast. Enjoy the spacious accommodations of our bed and breakfast in the heart of Kona coffee country. Bask in expansive views and relish a hearty breakfast buffet, which includes our home grown coffee.

On a sunny day go to Keahou beach! you can sleep on the benches that are there.

Holua Resort at Mauna Loa Village, [2]. 78-7190 Kaleiopapa St, 808-324-1550. 73 spacious, air-conditioned villas at Holua Resort at Mauna Loa Village are designed with a Hawaiian flair. Each comfortable villa offers a private lanai or patio with ocean, mountain or golf course view. Villas are fully furnished and available in two floor plans.

Kona Coast Resort, [3]. 78-6842 Alii Dr, 808-324-1721. Sitting on 21 acres of lush, tropical gardens amidst the panoramic backdrop of Hawaii's Kona Coast, the Kona Coast Resort on Hawaii’s Big Island offers spectacular views of palm trees and calm waters. Enjoy two swimming pools, three Jacuzzis, sauna, children’s pool and playground, tennis courts, volleyball, fitness center, and on-site activities like hula lessons and dive instruction

[edit] Get out

• Hawaii Volcanoes National Park is awesome, but a long drive. Easily 2+ hours. If you want to see the volcano really near take a helicopter, you get a great view.
• Mauna Kea (13,000+ ft) has great telescopes and worth the drive, again long. Dirt drive for much of the drive up, but not bad. Also, don't let everyone scare you about Saddle Road, the road that splits the island, it is fine, narrow and hilly, but if you pay attention you can drive it, and it will save you an hour and a half to get to Hilo and the east side of Hawaii.

Wikipedia:Kailua-Kona