Guidebook for Kailua-Kona
Food Scene
Umekes Fish Market Bar & Grill
74-5599 Pawai PlBest fresh fish and local food in town!
If you want great food and great beer this is the place for you! Highly suggest the Wailua Wheat (lilikoi beer)
226 locals recommend
Kona Brewing Company
74-5612 Pawai PlIf you want great food and great beer this is the place for you! Highly suggest the Wailua Wheat (lilikoi beer)
Best local plate lunch in Kona at a great price! arcade, bowling alley, bar, karaoke and restaurant all located inside!
11 locals recommend
Chubby's Diner
75-5591 Palani RdBest local plate lunch in Kona at a great price! arcade, bowling alley, bar, karaoke and restaurant all located inside!
AMazing local spot. Nothing fancy but the food is nothing less than amazing. Furikake Chicken with kim chi fried rice is my go to order here!
53 locals recommend
Broke Da Mouth Grindz & Catering
74-5565 Luhia StAMazing local spot. Nothing fancy but the food is nothing less than amazing. Furikake Chicken with kim chi fried rice is my go to order here!
Want something more sit down but still off the main strip, with great service and local food? this is the place!
61 locals recommend
Big Island Grill
75-5702 Kuakini HwyWant something more sit down but still off the main strip, with great service and local food? this is the place!
Punalu'u Bake Shop
95-5642 HI-11Fresh hawaiian sweet breads!
Want to bring home a bottle of Hawaiian wine? This is the place. Beautiful little winery near the Volcanoes National Park
82 locals recommend
Volcano Winery
35 Piimauna DrWant to bring home a bottle of Hawaiian wine? This is the place. Beautiful little winery near the Volcanoes National Park
known for making the #1 Malasada! This is MUST on the list.
and if you've never had one its a must to try them!
72 locals recommend
Tex Drive-In
45-690 Pakalana Stknown for making the #1 Malasada! This is MUST on the list.
and if you've never had one its a must to try them!
Parks & Nature
Hawaii Volcanoes National Park
Closet and nicest beach to town! Short 20 min drive to get there. A favorite for locals and visitors alike!
159 locals recommend
Kua Bay
Closet and nicest beach to town! Short 20 min drive to get there. A favorite for locals and visitors alike!
Pack as if you will be going for the entire day! once you're here, you will not want to leave anytime soon.
174 locals recommend
Hapuna Beach State Park
Old Puako RoadPack as if you will be going for the entire day! once you're here, you will not want to leave anytime soon.
also known as 'a bay' it fronts all of the big 5 star resorts in Waikoloa and is very catered too. Beautiful white sand beach with great little restaurant right on the sand called Lava Lava Beach CLub.
41 locals recommend
ʻAnaehoʻomalu Beach
69-275 Waikōloa Beach Dralso known as 'a bay' it fronts all of the big 5 star resorts in Waikoloa and is very catered too. Beautiful white sand beach with great little restaurant right on the sand called Lava Lava Beach CLub.
About a 45 min. hike each way. you can access a great black sand beach at the bottom, although not a swimming beach it's a great hike.
89 locals recommend
Pololu Valley Lookout
52-5100 Akoni Pule HwyAbout a 45 min. hike each way. you can access a great black sand beach at the bottom, although not a swimming beach it's a great hike.
Set up like an old Hawaiian village you can tour on your own. Great little snorkel spot you can access on your own, called 2 step
270 locals recommend
Pu'uhonua O Hōnaunau National Historical Park
State Highway 160Set up like an old Hawaiian village you can tour on your own. Great little snorkel spot you can access on your own, called 2 step
Not really a swimming beach, but it is the largest black sand beach on the island and is home to the endangered hawksbill turtles.
175 locals recommend
Punalu‘u Beach
Not really a swimming beach, but it is the largest black sand beach on the island and is home to the endangered hawksbill turtles.
WIth the National Park closed this is a great little stop to see similar plants, flora and birds that are in the Volcanoes National Park.
6 locals recommend
Manukā Natural Forest Reserve
WIth the National Park closed this is a great little stop to see similar plants, flora and birds that are in the Volcanoes National Park.
Want to ship an orchid home to yourself?! This is the place! They have the largest variety of Orchid on the island.
46 locals recommend
Akatsuka Orchid Gardens
11-3051 Volcano RdWant to ship an orchid home to yourself?! This is the place! They have the largest variety of Orchid on the island.
Rainbow Falls
Easily accessible waterfall stop!
SHort quarter mile hike around the entire loop trail state park overlooking the beautiful falls!
341 locals recommend
Akaka Falls State Park
875 Akaka Falls RdSHort quarter mile hike around the entire loop trail state park overlooking the beautiful falls!
Second largest Japanese garden in the world! free for everyone to walk around and see the beautiful fish ponds. located right on the ocean it's a very serene place and great for picnics.
103 locals recommend
Liliuokalani Park and Gardens
189 Lihiwai StSecond largest Japanese garden in the world! free for everyone to walk around and see the beautiful fish ponds. located right on the ocean it's a very serene place and great for picnics.
Largest botanicla garden on the island & offers the largest variety of native plants. You can self guide, take a guided tour, off road segway, or even zipline your way through!
19 locals recommend
Botanical World Adventures
31-240 Old Mamalahoa HwyLargest botanicla garden on the island & offers the largest variety of native plants. You can self guide, take a guided tour, off road segway, or even zipline your way through!
Mauna Kea Visitor Center is open daily to the first 110 cars a night. so get there early! telescopes are set up from 7pm-9pm daily. The visitors center is at the 9,000ft elevation
161 locals recommend
Mauna Kea
Mauna Kea Visitor Center is open daily to the first 110 cars a night. so get there early! telescopes are set up from 7pm-9pm daily. The visitors center is at the 9,000ft elevation
Waipio lookout lets you look over the most sacred valley in Hawaii, better known as the valley of the kings. The views are breath taking and worth the 9 mile detour off the main road to get to it.
201 locals recommend
Waipio Valley Lookout
Waipio lookout lets you look over the most sacred valley in Hawaii, better known as the valley of the kings. The views are breath taking and worth the 9 mile detour off the main road to get to it.
Drinks & Nightlife
On the Rocks
75-5824 Kahakai RdGreat Happy Hour! Live music every night and right on the ocean!
Bar and Grill right near the ocean. Great spot to catch the game and grab a beer
77 locals recommend
Humpy's Big Island Alehouse
75-5815 Ali‘i DrBar and Grill right near the ocean. Great spot to catch the game and grab a beer
Everything Else
Great little stop to see the production side of macadamia nuts. Over 50 flavors to sample!
12 locals recommend
Hamakua Macadamia Nut Co Inc
61-3251 Maluokalani StGreat little stop to see the production side of macadamia nuts. Over 50 flavors to sample!
Free zoo! by donation only entrance. its also an amazing botanical garden.
110 locals recommend
Panaewa Rainforest Zoo
800 Stainback HwyFree zoo! by donation only entrance. its also an amazing botanical garden.
Essentials
Target
74-5455 Makala BlvdIts a super Target! Bets prices for food essentials in town!
For the best poke around this is the place to pick it up ! as well as fresh local produce.
38 locals recommend
Sack N Save Kona
75-5595 Palani RdFor the best poke around this is the place to pick it up ! as well as fresh local produce.
Arts & Culture
A little something for everyone! Largest Farmers market on the island. Every Wednesday and Saturday in downtown hilo.
Great local food and hand made arts and crafts made in Hawaii!
246 locals recommend
Hilo Farmers Market
Mamo StreetA little something for everyone! Largest Farmers market on the island. Every Wednesday and Saturday in downtown hilo.
Great local food and hand made arts and crafts made in Hawaii!
A must if your a history buff. Great look in the past of Hilo
115 locals recommend
Pacific Tsunami Museum
130 Kamehameha AveA must if your a history buff. Great look in the past of Hilo
Terrific natural history museum right in downtown Hilo. Has the first mission house ever built in Hawaii still set up to tour!
71 locals recommend
Lyman Museum & Mission House
276 Haili StTerrific natural history museum right in downtown Hilo. Has the first mission house ever built in Hawaii still set up to tour!
Can't get to Mauna Kea? This museum offers a very hands on experience with the gizmos and gadgets of the telescopes located at the top of the worlds best place to study the stars!
92 locals recommend
Imiloa Astronomy Center
600 Imiloa PlCan't get to Mauna Kea? This museum offers a very hands on experience with the gizmos and gadgets of the telescopes located at the top of the worlds best place to study the stars!
Free fish museum. Perfect for kids and adults!
Right now this is where the Park Rangers are stationed to answer any questions you may have about the current lava eruption
38 locals recommend
Mokupāpapa Discovery Center
76 Kamehameha AveFree fish museum. Perfect for kids and adults!
Right now this is where the Park Rangers are stationed to answer any questions you may have about the current lava eruption
Entertainment & Activities
This company is a must for the night manta snorkel and any morning snorkel you might be thinking of doing! the 5 hr morning trip they have is my personal favorite!
15 locals recommend
Sea Quest Hawaii
78-7138 Kaleiopapa StThis company is a must for the night manta snorkel and any morning snorkel you might be thinking of doing! the 5 hr morning trip they have is my personal favorite!