Guidebook for Kailua-Kona
Food Scene
Local fresh food with a great view down on Alii Drive. Great cocktails too. Most nights there is a live band. Call to make reservations if you don't want a wait for dinner.
100 locals recommend
Foster's Kitchen
75-5805 Ali‘i DrLocal fresh food with a great view down on Alii Drive. Great cocktails too. Most nights there is a live band. Call to make reservations if you don't want a wait for dinner.
Great Italian food right on the ocean. Must try the Meyers Lemon Creme Brûlée. Call for reservations if you don't want to wait.
26 locals recommend
Mi's Waterfront Bistro
75-5770 Ali‘i DrGreat Italian food right on the ocean. Must try the Meyers Lemon Creme Brûlée. Call for reservations if you don't want to wait.
Hands down the best place for poke bowls and local plate food.
154 locals recommend
Umekes Fish Market Bar & Grill
74-5599 Pawai PlHands down the best place for poke bowls and local plate food.
Great beer and pizza. All beer is brewed on location. They also do brewery tours. Check the website for times.
226 locals recommend
Kona Brewing Company
74-5612 Pawai PlGreat beer and pizza. All beer is brewed on location. They also do brewery tours. Check the website for times.
Beautiful little restaurant up in Holualoa. Slow food cooking, all the food is locally sourced. Good for a romantic dinner out.
61 locals recommend
Holuakoa Gardens and Cafe
765897 Kona Belt RdBeautiful little restaurant up in Holualoa. Slow food cooking, all the food is locally sourced. Good for a romantic dinner out.
Original Thai Cuisine LLC
75-5629 Kuakini HwyGood Thai food.
Inside the Four Seasons. One of the few bars/restaurants on the beach. Out of this world food. Expensive but worth it. Also great to just go have a drink at the bar and watch the sunset. Take a walk down the beach, great place to possibly see turtles resting on the beach.
ULU Ocean Grill
72-100 Ka'upulehu DriveInside the Four Seasons. One of the few bars/restaurants on the beach. Out of this world food. Expensive but worth it. Also great to just go have a drink at the bar and watch the sunset. Take a walk down the beach, great place to possibly see turtles resting on the beach.
Great place for breakfast! Right across the ocean the Ali'i drive.
163 locals recommend
Island Lava Java
75-5801 Ali‘i DrGreat place for breakfast! Right across the ocean the Ali'i drive.
Basik Cafe
75-5831 Kahakai RdGreat place for morning açaí bowls.
Parks & Nature
The Queens bath is lava tube with fresh water that you can swim in. This is also a great place to take a walk down the beach and see turtles. Not great for ocean swimming though. There also is the Bali house that Paul Mitchel built that you can walk by.
Here are instructions on how to get there: https://lookintohawaii.com/hawaii/34168/queens-bath-keanalele-waterhole-beaches-big-island-kailua-kona-hi
Queens Bath near Kiholo Bay
The Queens bath is lava tube with fresh water that you can swim in. This is also a great place to take a walk down the beach and see turtles. Not great for ocean swimming though. There also is the Bali house that Paul Mitchel built that you can walk by.
Here are instructions on how to get there: https://lookintohawaii.com/hawaii/34168/queens-bath-keanalele-waterhole-beaches-big-island-kailua-kona-hi
Pine Trees Surfing Beach
Easy access beach. Popular with the locals families.
Kua Bay
Beautiful beach. One of the few sandy beaches in the area.
There are a few hiking trails in this area. Because its up the mountain it like a different world up there. I call it fern forest and my daughter believes fairies live up there. If you go up there a nice side trip is going to Moutain Thunder Coffee for a free coffee tour.
https://pathhawaii.org/trails-paths-projects/hiking-walking/kaloko-trail/
Hao Street
Hao StreetThere are a few hiking trails in this area. Because its up the mountain it like a different world up there. I call it fern forest and my daughter believes fairies live up there. If you go up there a nice side trip is going to Moutain Thunder Coffee for a free coffee tour.
https://pathhawaii.org/trails-paths-projects/hiking-walking/kaloko-trail/
There is a trail that runs along the ocean here. Not good for swimming but great for a short hike and checking out the old fish ponds.
Kaloko Fishpond
There is a trail that runs along the ocean here. Not good for swimming but great for a short hike and checking out the old fish ponds.
Beautiful little beach. Great for sun bathing. You have go to the guard gate to get access to this beach. It is possible it might be full and you can't get in.
26 locals recommend
Kukio Beach
72-197 Waiulu StBeautiful little beach. Great for sun bathing. You have go to the guard gate to get access to this beach. It is possible it might be full and you can't get in.
Two Step
Great place to go snorkeling without going out on a boat.
Sightseeing
On the hour they run free coffee tours and tasting. Make sure to try the chocolate covered peaberry.
32 locals recommend
Mountain Thunder Coffee Plantation
On the hour they run free coffee tours and tasting. Make sure to try the chocolate covered peaberry.
Snorkel with Manta Rays! This is best company to go out with. If you are uncomfortable getting in the water, you can stay in the canoe and still have amazing view which isn't possible on any of the other tours.
https://www.anelakaiadventures.com
10 locals recommend
Anelakai Adventures
78-7138 Kaleiopapa StSnorkel with Manta Rays! This is best company to go out with. If you are uncomfortable getting in the water, you can stay in the canoe and still have amazing view which isn't possible on any of the other tours.
https://www.anelakaiadventures.com