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Kailua-Kona is the center of commerce and of the tourism industry in western Hawaii. Most people refer to Kailua-Kona simply as Kona. It's not related to the town of Kailua on Oahu's north shore.
First-time visitors to Kona are often shocked by the dry and rugged appearance of the volcanic landscape. Underwater, though, sea life flourishes, making this one of the best destinations in the islands for scuba diving and snorkeling close to shore. Stand-up paddle-boarding and kayaking are popular too, as are sailing excursions and visits to coffee plantations.
Dolphin Quest at the Kahala Hotel offers swim-with-dolphin experiences that are as much fun to watch as to participate in. Down the coast, Puuhonua O Honaunau National Historic Park, a place of refuge for ancient Hawaiians, is one of the most beautiful and haunting places of cultural interest in the islands.
The region south of Kona is home to coffee farms producing what some call the best coffee beans in the world. Lush plantations and amazing views offer a taste of what Hawaii was like before the resorts took over.
Kona’s main road is Ali'i Drive, where you’ll find a variety of shops and restaurants. The shore surrounding Kona is covered in black lava rock interspersed with sandy beaches. Bring your camera!
Driving north along the Big Island's west shore on Highway 270, you'll pass a string of top-notch resorts and come to beautiful Hapuna Beach, one of the state's most iconic white-sand strands. A bit farther up, in Kawaihae, is the Blue Dragon, a popular restaurant and outdoor music venue.
Cruise ships anchor offshore and local boats ferry passengers to the Kailua Pier.
Kona Town is fairly small and walkable, with the bulk of commerce to your right as you come off the pier. If you want to explore areas further out you will have to take a taxi.
Tipping: A 10% to 15% tip in restaurants and for taxis is customary. Sometimes (most often for groups) a tip is automatically added to the bill; check your credit-card slip before adding more.
Safety: Kona is considered to be a safe place. But as always, don’t flash cash around and stay in well-lit areas at night if you're not back on your ship.
This city on the eastern side of the Big Island is Kona’s scenic opposite. With a population of 45,000, it's the largest city on the island and the second largest in the state after Honolulu. It's also the oldest city in the archipelago, evolving from fishing and farming to sugar cane, which ruled the economy for more than a century.
In 1960, a tsunami with waves reaching 35 feet high washed over the town, causing much damage and loss of life. Fifty-odd years later, the historic downtown is a flower-filled city of charmingly restored Victorian buildings overlooking a half-moon bay. The nearby mountainous countryside, flowing with waterfalls after a rain, is staggeringly lush.
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Be prepared: It rains a lot in Hilo, and when it rains, it pours. This is one of the rainiest places in the Americas, with precipitation averaging 126 inches a year and rain falling 275 days out of 365.
Cruise ships dock at a pier on Kuhio Street, close to the airport and about two miles east of downtown.
Tipping: A 10% to 15% tip in restaurants and for taxis is customary. Sometimes a tip is automatically added to your bill; check your credit-card slip before adding an additional amount.
Safety: Kona and Hilo are considered to be safe places. But as always, don’t flash cash around and stay in well-lit areas at night if you're not back on your ship.
Have you been to the Big Island? Did you stay on the Kona side or Hilo? Please share a story, tip or discovery. What was the highlight for you?
