Planning a trip to the Big Island and want to know the best Kona activities, attractions, tours, and more? Scroll to find the coolest things to do in Kona Hawaii for your entire family.
This things to do in Kona Hawaii post was written by Hawaii travel expert Marcie Cheung and contains affiliate links, which means if you purchase something from one of my affiliate links, I may earn a small commission that goes back into maintaining this blog.
Kona sits as the lively central hub of the Big Island of Hawaii. It is located on the West Coast and is home to some of the most beautiful beaches in the world.
There are endless options for things to do in Kona with kids and all tourists and vacationers.
The Big Island Capital proudly boasts a landscape that is just the ideal spot for growing luscious coffee, crystal clear beaches that are an absolute delight for snorkeling lovers, and endless adventurous outdoor activities.
In addition to the Kona Hawaii attractions and sightseeing, the Big Island of Hawaii offers a wide range of activity options that are bound to spin one’s mind.
An added benefit is the wonderful weather that Kona enjoys throughout the year. Of course, there are the occasional afternoon spells of rain, but they are so pleasant that they do nothing to dampen the constant high spirits of all those in Kona.
It is not hard to believe why Kailua Kona is one of the top holiday destinations.
If you truly want the experience of a lifetime, you can’t miss the must do things in Kona Hawaii. No matter what you choose to do in Kona, you will surely have the most memorable time of your life.
Here is what is there to do in Kona Hawaii to have a wonderful trip to the Kona Coast!
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The Best Things to Do in Kona Hawaii
Here are the top 10 things to do in Kona Hawaii to enjoy with your family if you are wondering what to do in Kona!
1. Go Snorkeling
If you are lucky enough to vacation in Kona Hawaii, you must visit the Kealakekua Bay and avail yourself of the world’s best diving and snorkeling opportunities here. Check out the latest prices and more details.
Kealakekua Bay is one of the best snorkeling spots and houses some of the most stunning coral reefs, spot sea turtles, and endless schools of colorful tropical fish. It would be safe to say that the Bay is, without a shadow of a doubt, an underwater paradise.
You can also visit the Captain Cook Monument for another one of the excellent snorkeling spots.
Snorkeling is one of the best Kona Coast activities!
Book your discounted Kealakekua Bay snorkeling cruise.
2. Enjoy a Mauna Kea’s Sunset
No one would argue against the fact that there is perhaps nothing truly more mesmerizing and awe-inspiring than watching a sunset or sunrise from the top of a volcano.
If one experiences this even once in life, the feeling will last for life. Imagine if you had the opportunity to experience the same magic but from the top of the world’s tallest volcano. It sounds absolutely breathtaking, doesn’t it?
This dormant, tallest volcano in the world is Mauna Kea, one of the six volcanoes on the Big Island.
As one would naturally expect, the tallest volcano allows an incredible sunset and stargazing view. This is perhaps the only place in the world where you can see the sunset from this dimension.
If you plan to embark on the Mauna Kea Summit Sunset & Stargazing Tour, you should be prepared for a seven to nine-hour excursion, which starts with pick-ups in Kona at selection locations. Check out the latest prices and more details.
Along with this excursion, you will eat dinner at the Onizuka Visitor Center, learn more about Hawaiian history and culture, and enjoy the wonderful journey to the volcanic peak.
3. Visit a Chocolate Farm
Have you ever visited a chocolate farm? There are a few awesome chocolate farms in Kailua Kona Town that are awesome to check out.
Puna Chocolate Co. has a Cocoa Orchard Tour in Kona every Sunday, Wednesday, and Friday. This tour lasts about an hour and a half and goes over the farm and how chocolate is grown and made. Plus, you get to taste some delicious samples!
The Old Hawaiian Chocolate Factory is also located in the historic Kailua Kona town. It offers guided tours of its chocolate factory and farm and offers free samples.
These tours are offered on Wednesday and Friday.
Tasting 100% made Hawaiian chocolate is a unique experience and a must-do in Kona. You will love to try it.
4. Coffee Farm Tour
Have you ever wondered why coffee in Kona comes at such exorbitant prices?
If you have, then you most certainly need to tour a coffee farm in Kona to discover the extravagance of all the elements that make up the delectable coffee of Kona.
In addition to happily being caffeinated for your entire stay in Kona Hawaii, you will also receive education about the coffee industry, its culture, history, and processes that play an integral role in creating your favorite cup of java.
The Mountain Thunder Coffee Plantation is located in Hawaii Kona and offers free self-guided tours and guided tours. You can explore the farm, coffee shop, lava tube, and more with this coffee farm!
You can also go on a Kona coffee tour! With these tours, you can go with a small group to see not only a coffee farm but also a bee farm, see some Hawaiian sacred temples, look at green sea turtles at Honokohau Beach, and so much more!
Tasting the famous Kona coffee is one of the best things to do in Kona Hawaii you can’t forget to do!
Book your Kona coffee farm tour.
5. Go in a Submarine
Now we understand that not everybody knows how to swim like a fish. Apart from swimming, even sports like scuba diving and snorkeling are not everybody’s piece of cake.
So, for safe underwater exploring, you can enjoy a submarine tour!
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If you opt for this form of underwater fun, you will board a submarine from the Kailua- Kona Pier for an adventure running 100 feet deep beneath the ocean.
While cruising under the ocean, you will learn a lot about the coral reefs of Hawaii, the marine life, and the efforts being made to conserve all these treasures of Kona.
Oh, and also watch for sharks, stingrays, and other tropical fish. You are safe from them in a submarine, but nothing can stop you from admiring them up close. You can read my full Kona Atlantis Submarine tour review HERE.
An underwater submarine ride is one of the best kid-friendly Kailua Kona things to do. Check out the latest prices and more details.
Your kids will be thrilled by watching schools of fish swim by and have a real underwater diving experience.
Get your discount Atlantis Submarine tickets here.
6. Visit a Seahorse Farm
One of the most mind-blowing things to do in Kona is to visit the Big Island Seahorse Farm.
You have the Ocean Rider Seahorse Farm in Kona, which will leave you awestruck with its tour of the facilities dedicated to raising and nurturing seahorses.
This is a one-of-a-kind experience as this interactive tour also allows you to feed and touch the seahorses. Wouldn’t you love that? The fascinating creatures have so much to learn about them, and you will just have a grand time doing so.
The seahorse farm is 3 acres big and houses the only living gene bank for breeding live seahorses and sea dragons.
It is definitely one of the popular attractions and unique experiences in Kona Hawaii!
7. Go to the Beach
You will love visiting all the beaches along the Kohala Coast during your vacation.
The following are the best beaches on the Big Island. You will find uniquely colored black, white, and green sand beaches here, which are quite intriguing, to say the least.
Here are some of the best beaches in Kona!
1. Black Sand Beach
These are the beaches in Hawaii, which have black sand made from tiny fragments of lava.
Contrary to the white and green sand, much of the black sand was created instantaneously. This process occurs when the hot lava enters the water and cools down and solidifies. It almost immediately shatters into large amounts of black sand.
The only black sand beach around Kona is Makole’a Beach. It is a small hike to get to the beach, and there isn’t great swimming here, but if you want to see one of the black sand beaches, this is the closest to Kona.
2. Green Sand Beach
The Green Sand Beach receives its name from the olivine, glassy crystals you can find, found within the sand on the beach.
There is a 49,000-year-old cinder cone that washes out the olivines. The cinder cone is used to spew olivine-concentrated lava, which you can still see on the bay’s east side.
Olivine tends to cluster around the beach, and the usual volcanic sand gets swept out to sea, so only the green sand remains prominent here.
Papakolea Beach is a beautiful green sand beach, but it is a long way from Kona. It is about a 1.5—to 2-hour drive.
A visit to Green Sand Beach can be paired with other attractions during a full-day trip across the island.
3. White Sand Beaches
There are plenty of white sand beaches in Kona. During high surf, the sand completely washes away, leaving you with black lava rock, which is quite magical!
Magic Sands Beach Park is the best beach in Kona as it is centrally located to food and other fun Kona things to do.
If you want some kid-friendly activities in Kona, Hawaii, head to Kikaua Point Beach Park. It is about 22 minutes away from Kona and is one of Hawaii’s Big Island’s amazing white sand beaches.
It is the best beach near Kona, especially for kids! Here, you will find a cove with tons of tropical fish and even some sea turtles! The waters are calm for little ones, and there are even some cool tide pools!
For a white-sand beach in Kona, check out Manini’owali Beach. It offers good swimming and soft sand to relax on, and it is one of the best beaches in Kona!
8. Go to Some Kona Luaus
I recommend attending a luau in Kona, a show that all kids love. There are also large buffets to allow your kids to sample some local food.
So, while in Kona, Hawaii, with your kids, head to a luau!
Voyagers of the Pacific Luau is located along Kailua Bay at the Royal Kona Resort. Here, you can enjoy a delicious island-style buffet and an incredible Polynesian show.
Read more about my review of Royal Kona Resort Luau here.
You can also enjoy the Island Breeze Luau located in the Kona region. This luau is put on by the King Kamehameha Hotel and is another populst choice to learn more about Hawaiian culture and get some delicious food.
Many people consider a luau one of the must do things in Kona Hawaii for families and first-time visitors.
Get your discounted Voyagers of the Pacific Luau with Buffet or Island Breeze Luau tickets
9. Enjoy Snorkeling with Manta Rays
The manta ray night dive is highly recommended, and snorkelers of all ages can experience a once-in-a-lifetime view with this one.
During this night dive, you will head out on the Pacific Ocean and swim with these fantastic creatures. Afterward, enjoy some hot chocolate as you head back to land.
Children 7 years and older can enjoy this manta ray snorkeling tour. It is definitely the best thing to do in Kona!
Swimming with manta rays is a unique experience and one of the top 10 things to do in Big Island for ocean lovers.
Read our full Big Island Manta Ray snorkel tour review.
Get your discounted Snorkeling with Manta Rays tickets.
10. Kona Helicopter Ride
If you want unique things to do in Kona, why not try a helicopter tour?
Although it may be a little pricey, the happiness it will give your older kids is totally worth the cost.
You can see surreal views of the island you couldn’t see from anywhere else. You will see Kua Bay, Kona Town, the Captain Cook Monument, and so much more.
It is quite an adventure you will love to do!
Helicopter tours are a great option if you want to explore remote parts of the Big Island quickly, especially the volcano areas and waterfalls on the eastern side of the island
Get discounted Kona Helicopter Ride tickets.
11. Head to Kona Farmers Market
One of the cheap things to do in Kona Hawaii, is to head to the Kona Farmers Market.
At the Keauhou Farmers Market, you will find all sorts of produce, flowers and plants, local food, crafts, jewelry, souvenirs, homemade jams, and so much more.
The Kona Farmers Market is open every Saturday from 8 AM to 12 PM.
It’s a quick stop that gives you a taste of local life and offers a chance to support local artisans and farmers.
12. Kona Hawaiian Quilt Museum
If you love quilts, head to the Kona Hawaiian Quilt Museum. It only costs $5, and it is quite fun to see these incredible quilts that were made many years ago.
I’ve always loved Hawaiian quilts. They have so much detail on them and are simply stunning. Take a couple of minutes to walk through, see these amazing quilts, talk stories with the volunteers, and take in this peaceful Kona Hawaii Quilt Museum.
It is another one of the Kailua Kona things to do to learn more about Hawaiian history.
This museum also provides a unique experience that highlights Hawaiian artistry and tradition, making it a favorite stop for craft lovers visiting the west side of the island.
13. Puʻuhonua o Honaunau National Historical Park
This national park is about 40 minutes from South Kona but is quite fun to see and experience with your kids.
Here, you can go on a nature walk, take pictures with a few tiki statues, explore some Hawaiian shelters, and do a few other cool things. It’s a great way to learn more about Hawaiian culture.
It’s one of the most culturally significant Kona Hawaii attractions and a great option for a family-friendly day trip.
Read our full guide on the Pu’uhonua o Honaunau National Historical Park.
14. Go Whale Watching
One of the best things to do in Kona, Hawaii, on December is to go whale watching! Whale season is usually from November to March, which is a nice winter activity.
With a whale-watching tour, you will enjoy a boat ride out on the Pacific Ocean to spot some humpback whales.
It is quite a fun experience and is good for all ages! Children five and under are free.
Many people consider whale watching one of their favorite things to do during winter visits to the Hawaiian Islands.
Get your whale-watching tour tickets.
15. Kona Cloud Forest Sanctuary
The only tropical cloud forest is located in Kona, and it is quite fun to visit and explore this private nature reserve.
You can take a guided tour of the sanctuary and learn more about its importance. The Kona Cloud Forest Sanctuary also offers meditation events, workshops, sound baths, and more.
You must have a reservation to see the Kona Cloud Forest Sanctuary.
This hidden gem is one of the more unique things to do in Kona, especially for nature lovers looking to escape the beaches and explore lush, high-elevation ecosystems.
16. Kona Brewing Company
If you want to try Hawaiian beer, stop by the Kona Brewing Company.
Enjoy a nice drink or two, or go on a tour of the brewery! You can enjoy some samples and learn more about how they make their Kona beer.
It’s a popular attraction for adults visiting the west side of the island and a quick stop for those looking for a casual bite near downtown Kailua Kona.
17. Kaloko Honokohau National Historical Park
The Kaloko Honokohau National Historical Park is one of the parks in Kailua Kona, HI.
At this national park, you can enjoy ancient fishing pools, see an ancient Hawaiian settlement and canoe house, see some sea turtles, and more.
You can go on a self-guided tour of the area, and there is even a junior ranger program for kids!
Read our complete guide on the Kaloko Honokohau National Historical Park.
18. Kamakahonu National Historic Landmark
You might also want to stop by and see the Kamakahonu National Historic Landmark in Kailua. It is located by the King Kamehameha Hotel.
You can learn more about Hawaiian royalty here as you see the ancient Hawaiian settlement at this landmark.
It was destroyed at one point but has been rebuilt to preserve its history and culture.
Spend a few minutes here to honor the culture here.
As one of the lesser-known but significant things to see in Kona, this site is a meaningful stop for those interested in Hawaiian history.
19. Kona Sunset Dinner Cruise
Need a romantic night out with your spouse? Try going on a sunset dinner cruise! With this cruise, you can enjoy watching the beautiful sunset while eating dinner. There is even live entertainment, too!
You’ll enjoy this boat ride on a 65-foot double-deck catamaran. You’ll cruise down to the Captain Cook Monument and back up the bay.
A Kona sunset cruise is a unique experience that many people include in their list of favorite things to do on the Big Island.
Get your sunset dinner cruise tickets.
Things to do in Kona Hawaii FAQs
The Kona district is on the West Side of the Big Island.
Kona definitely has more options for hotels and luxury resorts and is close to many popular attractions. Some of the best places to stay on the Big Island for families are in Kailua Kona. Hilo is more laid back, and close to many majestic waterfalls. Learn more about where to stay: Kona or Hilo
Lots of stuff! Kona has some great hiking, beaches, boutique shopping, and Hawaiian historical sites.
Worldwide, Kona is known for its amazing coffee beans and you can visit a Kona coffee plantation to try it for yourself. Kona is also a popular choicw for deep-sea fishing in Hawaii.
Kona is absolutely worth it! There are plenty of places to stay on the Kona Coast and tons of fun things to do in Kona, Hawaii, making a trip here incredibly worthwhile.
It is nice to split up your Big Island stay for a few days in Kona to explore and a few days in Hilo to visit the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park and other things around the area.
Depending on where you stay, you can walk around parts of Kailua Kona HI, but you will likely want to rent a car.
Things to do on Kona Hawaii Wrap-Up
Now you know what is there to do in Kona Hawaii during your trip. Of all the Hawaiian Islands, Kona on the Big Island is one of the favorite destinations to enjoy a Hawaiian vacation
These are just some of the top 10 things to do in Kona Hawaii that your entire family will love.
Whether you stay in a vacation home or at a Kona resort, you can enjoy all the natural beauty and unique things to do in Kona.