10 Best Things To Do In Kona Hawaii For A Memorable Experience

Best things to do in Kona Big Island Hawaii is a manta ray night snorkel with C Big Island Tours. Book a thrilling 2-hour tour for just $139 per person.

This excursion admits up to 16 travelers per group and will give you the ultimate thrill of swimming with the mantas.

The Big Island, Kona Manta Ray Night Snorkel - Small Group is an exciting underwater activity. Guests will depart on a 32-foot Zodiac Manta Boat from the Kailua-Kona.

Everyone above the age of five can participate in this journey. You are provided with all the necessary gear and equipment before diving into the water. 

The visitors will get a stipulated snorkeling time to observe the giant Rays feeding, doing somersaults, and barrel rolls, and turning gracefully in the beams of piercing light.

When snorkeling, you will hold on to a comfortable bar attached to a large surfboard with 16 bright LED drop lights to attract plankton. This way, guests can safely view mantas feeding on the plankton underneath them. 

• Departure Location: 74 Kealakehe Pkwy, Kailua-Kona, HI 96740, USA
• Phone: 855 275-5071
• Weight Limit: 265 lbs
• Juice, Soda and Light Snacks provide onboard

Things to do on the Big Island Kona is hiking the volcanic mountains with Hawaii Adventure Now. Tick off three volcanic craters in just a day on this guided tour.

You will gain an intimate glimpse of three volcanic craters on this private full-day hiking tour including Mauna Ulu, Kilauea Iki, and Kilauea Caldera. The company provides a hassle-free round-trip transfer from your hotel.

Guests will receive a morning pickup from Waikaloa or Kona hotel on a luxurious Mercedes van. You will be greeted by an early deli-style lunch served along the Big Island’s historic Saddle Road.

First you will hike at Mauna Ulu, spending 2.5 hours trekking to visit the steaming crater mouth of the volcanic site. The well-trained guide will ensure your safety. Depending on the weather on the day, you might get a glimpse of the ongoing eruption at nearby Pu’u O’o.

Next is a 2-hour round trip that follows a ridge before traversing the crater floor of Kilauea Iki. Here, you’ll observe the unique flora and fauna of the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park ecosystem. At the crater floor, marvel at the amazing scenery, surreal lava formations, and smoky steam plumes.

Thenafter, you will continue down the 4,000-foot summit of Kilauea. This relatively easy walk will bring you into view of Halema'uma'u Crater. Finish the day with dinner at a local-style eatery before heading back to your hotel.

• Price: $1,281.06 per person
• Phone: 855 275-5071
• Duration: 11 hours
• Hotel pickup is offered
• Lunch, Dinner and Bottled Water
• Entertaining and Informative Guides
• Ideal for keen hikers

Best things to do in Kona Big Island is Coffee Plantation Tour with Wasabi Tours Hawaii. Visitors will get a wholesome experience of Kona touring within a day.

Kona Tour: Coffee Plantation, Kealakekua Bay, Kaloko-Honokohau Park, and Bee Farm is offered for $193.75 per person. This is a small-group trip with a maximum of 15 people for a friendlier experience.

The booking fee covers entry and admission to Pu'uhonua O Honaunau National Historical Park, Bay View Farm and Big Island Bees. You will be allowed honey and coffee tasting as well.

Guests will travel by private van to parks, historical sites, and farms, as a guide fills you in on Hawaii’s history and culture. You will begin your Big Island tour with pickup from Kona or Waikoloa hotel. Fun facts and commentary from your guide, and scenic views are cherry on top.

The tour begins at Kaloko-Honokohau National Historical Park where you will pass by petroglyph sites, sacred temples, and a beach popular for its sea turtles. Then comes the Mokuaikaua Church and Kealakekua Bay. 

Then, you will visit the Big Island Bees for a look inside the honey industry. Taste the raw, organic honey samples to keep things sweet and learn about bees’ role in maintaining a healthy ecosystem.

Visitors will take a walking tour of Pu’uhonua o Honaunau National Historical Park, before finally visiting a coffee plantation. The tour concludes with lunch on the coffee plantation.

• Duration: 7 hours
• No. of Visitors: 12 per group (at max)
• Hotel pickup and drop-off included
• Lunch is provided
• All taxes, fees and handling charges are covered

Top things to do in Kona is to seek out Kohala Waterfalls adventure with your group. Hiking and a guided tour of Kohala is offered by Hawaii Forest and Trail for $225.13 per person.

Kohala Waterfalls Small Group Adventure Tour is a stress-free package perfect for first-timers. You will start by driving along the cliffs and over the rugged landscape, exploring the areas where lava flows from Mauna Loa, Mauna Kea and the Kohala Mountains.

The expert guides will teach you all about Hawaii's Countryside including historic sugar plantations, hike along tunnels and aqueducts to the several Kohala waterfalls. At last you can take a refreshing dip at the pool.

This full day tour of the Big Island’s northwestern coast starts as you pass through the charming plantation towns of Hawi and Kapaau. Also, keep an eye out for large marine life offshore, including spinner dolphins and humpback whales. 

Then you will take an off-road tour in your 4x4 touring van for brief, bumpy road along the cliffs. The destination is the Kohala Ditch Trail where hiking begins.

On this 2 miles journey, you will pass by the blasted-out tunnels, ditches and an old aqueduct. Take a break and re-energize with a picnic lunch with beautiful mountainous scenery in-sight.

Travelers will see several Kohala waterfalls streaming down the lush and diverse landscape. Finally, you will stop at the refreshing pool to cool off under the cascade.

• Departure Address: Hawaii Forest & Trail Kona Headquarters, Kailua-Kona, HI 96740, USA
• Duration: 7 hours
• Walking sticks, daypacks and rain gear provided
• Lunch and re-fillable filtered water is provided
• Entry and Admission to Kohala Waterfalls Adventure is covered

Things to do in Kailua Kona is to drive off for a self-guided tour with a rented car. Explore the best sights of the Kailua-Kona at your own pace with a GPS guide.

Enterprise Rent-A-Car is a popular rental car company located in the Old Industrial Kailua Lona area. This company offers its service at Kailua Kona Town, Costco on the north and King Kam III on the south.

The rental company offers clean and sanitized vehicles added with a  low-touch rental process. The base offering price of a Compact car is $36 per day.

Vehicles available for rent range from cars, SUVs, Trucks, Minivans, and Vans. The place to the public is open from 7:30 to 5 pm on weekdays.

• Address: 74-5583 Luhia St, Kailua-Kona, HI 96740
• Phone: 808 331-2509
• Age Requirement: 21 years at least

Some of the popular day trips and attractions offered by Enterprise Rent-A-Car company are listed below:

• Captain Cook Monument - 35 mins (approx.)
• Greenwell Coffee Farm - 35 mins
• Hapuna Beach - 45 mins
• Blacksand Beach - 1.25 hours

Things to do in Kailua Hawaii is to book a Deluxe Sail and Snorkel to the Captain Cook Monument. The half-day boat cruise takes you to the best snorkeling sites in Kona.

Deluxe Sail & Snorkel to the Captain Cook Monument is offered by Sea Paradise Sailing and Snorkeling Tours for $177.72 per person. Travelers are provided breakfast and lunch on the tour.

The popular sites are Kealakekua Bay, the reef beneath Captain Cook's monument, and the underwater lava formations of Red Hill. Before snorkeling, you are given identification charts to help you spot fish and dolphins in their natural habitat.

The sailing route showcases sweeping views of the Kona coastline. As you arrive at the Captain Cook Monument, your snorkeling adventure will begin in the turquoise waters of the marine sanctuary of Kealakekua Bay

Travelers are advised to bring an underwater camera to capture the colorful schools of fish and pods of spinner dolphins. You will set sail onboard Hoku Nui, a 50-foot Catamaran with a blue sail bag.

• Departure Address: Keauhou Bay, Kahaluu-Keauhou, HI 96740, USA
• No. of Travelers: 44 per group
• Duration: 4 hours 30 minutes
• Snorkel gear and flotation noodles are provided
• Continental Breakfast, lunch, snacks and juice provided

Kailua Kona Hawaii things to do is to take private surfing lessons with Unique Experiences. You can hone your skills starting at just $135.08 per person.

Kona and surfing go hand in hand, so learn the tricks to ride the waves from a professional instructor at the most beginner-friendly surf spot on the Big Island.

Semi-Private surf lessons are perfect for couples, friends and children. With a 2:1 student-to-instructor ratio, you get the similar personalized attention that you receive with a private lesson.

Dive in safely with first-aid-certified, lifeguard instructors. Use of a surfboard, reef shoes, and an SPF rashguard is included for extra safety.

Learning to surf is always a blast when you have someone to share the experience with. Hence, grab a friend and get ready to get wet.

• Departure Address: 78-6685 Ali‘i Dr, Kailua-Kona, HI 96740, USA
• Age Limit: 7 years and above
• Duration: 2 hours

Kona Hawaii things to do is Kona Coast Private Helicopter Tour with Mauna Loa Helicopter Tours. Experience the sun-soaked Kona Coast for $240.64 per person.

On this aerial ride, you will get a different perspective of the famous coast. Guests will soar over Kona Town, Kua Bay, and the Captain Cook monuments.

You can't help but admire the aerial views of the beaches and bays on this helicopter tour. You could even spot migrating humpback whales along the coast.

This amazing tour takes you either from Kona Airport (Southbound) past Honokohau Bay, Kona Town, Keauhou to the famous Captain Cook. Or Northbound to the famous Kua Bay, Kiholo Bay, Hapuna Beach, and Kawaihae.

A minimum of 2 seats must be purchased even if only 1 passenger wishes to travel. This is a private tour so the passenger groups are not mixed.

• Departure Address: 73-310 UU Street, KAILUA KONA, HI 96740
• Duration: 30 minutes
• Age Limit: 7 Years and above
• Free Onsite Parking
• Wheelchair Accessible
• Airport and Departure Tax is covered

Kailua Hawaii things to do is to try an adventurous zipline tour in the Kohala region. Big Island Kohala Zip and Dip Tour from Kona combines ziplining and swimming for a double thrill.

This package from Kohala Zipline is one of the best zipline adventure deals on the Big Island. It takes you on a trip from Kona to North Kohala for a whole-day adventure.

The adventure begins at North Kohala as you soar across the forest on a zipline. Then, take a break and enjoy your lunch at the Pololu Valley before you dip at the waterfall's base.

Kailua Kona things to do is watching dolphins with Dolphin Discoveries in a group of 14 people. You can spot these intelligent creatures in their natural habitat.

After feeding in deeper waters at night, spinner dolphins come close to the Kona shore. There, they interact with boats, playing in their wake very often.

Depending on where and when we locate the dolphins there may also be time for a quick snorkel at one of the many beautiful reef areas along the Kona coastline, quite possibly Kealakekua Bay.

Watch the wild and free Hawaiian Spinner Dolphins and learn a thing or two about them from the naturalist guide. The crew will share exciting information about their life cycle, habitats, and behaviors.

Nearly every day, year-round, visitors can catch a sight of their torpedo-shaped bodies darting smoothly through the waves, swimming in synchronization, and rolling in formation.

After that, you will cruise the coastline looking for other marine lives such as sea caves and arches. The tour ends snorkeling at one of the Kealakekua Bay, home of the Captain Cook Monument.

• Departure Address: 787100 Kaleiopapa St, Kailua-Kona, HI 96740, USA
• Price: $171.26 per person
• Duration: 4 hours and 30 minutes
• Age Limit: 6 Years and above
• Snacks, fruit, juice and bottled water provided
• Mask, Fins, Snorkel, and Flotation Aids are included