Kona, Hawaii

Kailua Village is the historic heart of the Big Island, located on the coastline of Kona, 15 minutes south of the Kona airport. The village was once a quiet little fishing village but is now a vibrant coastal town that offers a variety of accommodation, dining, shopping, and leisure options. Kailua Village is also home to several historic places that date back to the 1800s – you can easily visit several of these on a self-guided walking tour of the area. Historical highlights include Hulihee Palace (the summer residence of the Hawaiian royalty) and Mokuaikaua Church (the oldest Christian church on the island), both of which were built in the early 1800s.

Kailua Village, 75-5766, Kuakini Highway, Kailua-Kona, HI 96740,

Kaloko-Honokohau National Historical Park is the ideal place to combine outdoor activities with learning about the fascinating history and culture of the ancient Hawaiians. At the visitors center you can get all the information you need to follow hiking trails that will lead you to see four ahupuaa (mountain to sea land divisions), several sacred temples, and some very old petroglyphs. You can marvel at the advanced engineering skills that enabled these settlers to construct Hawaiian fish ponds and then you can relax along the beach, where you may be lucky enough to see a sea turtle or monk seal. The park is located just south of Kona Airport.

Kaloko-Honokohau National Historical Park, 73-4786 Kanalani St, #4, Kailua-Kona, HI 96740, Phone: 808-329-6881

An ancient place of refuge, Puuhonua-o-Honaunau National Historical Park is one of Hawaii’s most sacred historic sites. You can learn about Hawaiian culture and history as you take a self-guided tour of this deeply spiritual site. Highlights of your visit will include the Great Wall, which is up to 17 feet thick in places, and the fierce-looking Kii (wooden totem-like images of the gods who protect the sacred temple). You will also be able to see the royal canoe landing beach and ancient fishing pools. The park offers daily ranger talks, which will greatly enhance your visit and deepen your understanding of the history and culture that surround you.

Puuhonua-o-Honaunau National Historical Park, 1871 Trail, Honaunau, HI 96726, Phone: 808-328-2326

You can learn all about cephalopods (octopus and squid) at the unique Kanaloa Octopus Farm, where octopus and squid are sustainably raised for aquariums, research, and saltwater aquarium hobbyists. The facility is located right on the beach, where fresh seawater can be easily pumped into the breeding tanks. You can learn all about the process by booking one of the guided tours, which are offered every day at 10.00am and 2.00pm. You will have some time to interact with the octopuses and even feed them. Bookings are only done online, and each tour is restricted to 35 visitors, so you are advised to book early to avoid disappointment.

Kanaloa Octopus Farm, 73-4460 Queen Kaahumanu Hwy, Kailua-Kona, HI 96740, Phone: 808-747-6895

At the Hulihee Palace (built in 1838) you can step back in time to the era of the Hawaiian monarchy and see how the royals used to live in the 1800s, when the palace was built to serve as a summer vacation home for the king. The lovely Victorian-style home is filled with beautiful furniture, ornaments, and Victorian relics and is now operated as a museum. Ask about guided tours, Hulihee Palace Concert featuring the Hulihee Palace Band and the Merry Monarchs Chorale. After you tour you can visit the on-site gift shop.

Hulihee Palace, 75-5718 Alii Drive, Kailua-Kona, HI 96740, Phone: 808-329-1877

Keauhou Bay is located a short drive south of Kailua Village and is another of Kona’s cultural areas, having formerly been a favorite vacation destination for Hawaiian royalty. Besides enjoying a multitude of watersports on the calm, protected waters of the bay, you can also take a cultural tour of all the historical sites, including several restored temples. A highlight of any visit to the Keauhou coastline is the opportunity to swim and snorkel with the many giant manta rays that are attracted close to the shore to feed on microscopic plankton at night. During the day you can enjoy snorkeling, paddleboarding, and kayaking or try your hand at fishing with the locals.

Imagine drifting silently through a 25-acre natural coral reef as a multitude of colorful marine creatures surround your comfortable air-conditioned submarine. Atlantis Adventures give even the most ardent landlubber the chance to experience the magical underwater wonderland of Hawaii on board a safe, silent, and eco-friendly submarine. Your unique adventure will take you to depths of up to 100 feet, surrounded by sharks, stingrays, eels, turtles, and a multitude of colorful tropical reef fish. Your journey takes around 45 minutes and is a marvelous way to enjoy the spectacular marine life without having to get your feet wet, and the adventure is particularly great for younger children who cannot dive or snorkel.

Atlantis Adventures, 75-5660 Palani Rd, 304 Kailua-Kona, HI 96740, Phone: 808-326-7939

One of the most unforgettable ways to see the Big Island is from the air on a scheduled tour or private charter with Big Island Air. The company has been in existence for over 30 years and operates a fleet of nine-seater Cessna Caravans, which guarantee each passenger a window seat. You can look forward to seeing miles and miles of rugged coastline, sensational beaches, deep verdant valleys, waterfalls, rainforests, and five of Hawaii’s volcanoes, including the active Kilauea Volcano. Big Island Air offer a selection of different tours, including a sunset option, when the twilight affords spectacular views of the red-hot lava fields below.

Big Island Air, Kona International Airport Commuter Terminal, 73-103 U’u Street, Kailua-Kona, HI 96740, Phone: 808-329-4868

The lure of Hawaii’s underwater wonderland is what draws thousands of visitors to the island each year. Big Island Divers is one of the most trusted and popular outfitters on the Big Island, specializing in turning your diving dreams into unforgettable scuba and snorkeling adventures. If you have never tried scuba diving before, you can enroll in lessons and get your certification on site. For more experienced divers, the company offers some pretty unique diving opportunities, including various day-time scuba excursions and the unique Blackwater Night Dives. If you prefer to snorkel, you can go on the Dolphin Watch or the Manta Ray Snorkeling Adventure or simply enjoy reef snorkeling. The company also offers equipment rental, including kayaks, canoes, paddleboards, and GoPro underwater cameras.

Big Island Divers, 74-5467 Kaiwi St, Kailua-Kona, HI 96740, Phone: 808-329-6068