Kailua-Kona is the main hub of beach tourism on the west coast. Here you will find the largest concentration of luxury hotels and smaller guesthouses. It is also home to the largest number of dive and travel agencies on the island. Kona can be restocked at several hypermarkets, so it serves as an ideal starting point for trips around the Big Island.

When planning your trip, be careful not to confuse the Big Island town of Kailua-Kona with the resort town of Kailua on Oahu.

Beaches and swimming

The coastline of Kailua-Kona is lined with small beaches broken up by a very curvy shoreline, the local beaches are not among the most famous on the island and are more for short stops if you happen to be driving by.

The southern part of town, where you'll find large residential areas with luxury holiday homes and guesthouses, is a good place to snorkel.

Particularly popular spots are Magic Sands Beach in the very south of Kona or King Kam Beach right in the centre of town.

Shopping

The city is an ideal base for shopping for supplies and souvenirs, and is also the place with the largest concentration of restaurants. The entire northern part of Kona is occupied by large hypermarkets like Wallmart and Safeway, where you can get absolutely everything at affordable prices.

The central promenade along Ali'i Drive, on the other hand, is the ideal place for strolling, visiting restaurants, shopping for small souvenirs and visiting the large farmers' markets.

Accommodation

Kailua-Kona boasts the largest concentration of accommodations on the entire Big Island and is a prime staycation spot if you like to go on excursions but also like having all of civilization at your fingertips.

The town has classic 3* and 4* hotels from local and international chains, as well as many private holiday homes for rent to tourists. Prices here are higher than on the east coast and start at 220 eur per night for 2. However, in the outskirts of the city further away from the sea you can also find apartments with prices below 110 eur.

Accommodation 110 eur per night for 2 - Simple Kona Guest House, Aeolian Ranch
Cheapest 3* hotels under 5 0 eur per night for 2 - Kona Reef Hawaii by Raintree, Big Island Retreat, Kona Reef Resort by Latour Group
All accommodation in Kailua-Kona

Transportation and parking

Kailua-Kona is the main transportation hub of the Big Island. It is here that the island's largest airport, Kona International KOA, is located, with most flights from the mainland USA and many flights from surrounding islands.

It's also home to all of the island's car rental companies, which you can compare at the click of a button on search engines like Booking.com.

If you're heading to Kona by car, it can be a problem to park on the streets in the centre (there's usually free parking), which can get very busy indeed. However, you'll find many smaller free car parks within a 10-minute walk of the sea or the main shopping promenade, Ali'i Drive.

There are also Hele-on buses that leave from Kailua-Kona all over the island and if you don't want to rent a car at any cost, then living in Kona is the best option. Keep in mind, however, that the bus will only take you to the towns and beaches along the west coast. Other natural attractions will remain off-limits to you as buses don't go to them.