24 Best Sights in Kailua-Kona, Big Island

On February 14, 1779, famed English explorer Captain James Cook was killed here during an apparent misunderstanding with local residents, and this 27-foot-high obelisk marks the spot where he died. He had chosen Kealakekua Bay as a landing place in November 1778. Arriving during the celebration of Makahiki, the harvest season, Cook was welcomed at first. Some Hawaiians saw him as an incarnation of the god Lono. Cook's party sailed away in February 1779, but a freak storm forced his damaged ship back to Kealakekua Bay. Believing that no god could be thwarted by a mere rainstorm, the Hawaiians were not so welcoming this time. The theft of a longboat brought Cook and an armed party ashore to reclaim it. Shots were fired, daggers and spears were thrown, and Cook fell, mortally wounded. 

A trail leading to the site is accessible from the top of Napoopoo Road, but caution is advised. The very strenuous trail gains an elevation of about 1,500 feet and is recommended for advanced hikers only.

On the National Register of Historic Places, this lovely two-story oceanfront home, surrounded by jewel-green grass and elegant coconut palms and fronted by an elaborate wrought-iron gate, is one of only three royal palaces in America (the other two are in Honolulu). The royal residence was built by Governor John Adams Kuakini in 1838, a year after he completed Mokuaikaua Church. During the 1880s, it served as King David Kalakaua's summer palace.

Built of lava rock and coral lime mortar, it features vintage koa furniture, weaving, European crystal chandeliers, giant four-poster beds, royal portraits, tapa cloth, feather work, and Hawaiian quilts. After the overthrow of the Hawaiian monarchy in 1893, the property fell into disrepair. Set to be torn down for a hotel, it was rescued in 1920 by the Daughters of Hawaii, a nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving the culture and royal heritage of the Islands. The organization oversees and operates the site to this day; visitors see it on a guided tour.

One of the most beautiful spots in the state, this underwater marine reserve has dramatic cliffs that surround super deep, crystal clear, turquoise water chock-full of stunning coral pinnacles and tropical fish. The federally protected dolphins that frequent the sanctuary should not be disturbed, as they use the bay to sleep and escape predators. There's very little sand at west-facing Napoopoo Beach, but this is a nice place to enter the water and swim (when the water is calm) as it's well protected from currents. There are no lifeguards, but there are bathrooms, a pavilion, shower, and limited parking. The Captain James Cook Monument, marking where the explorer died, is at the northern edge of the bay. Stay at least 300 feet from the shoreline along the cliffs, which have become unstable during recent earthquakes. A limited number of tour operators offer snorkeling and kayaking tours nearby.

Site of the first Christian church in the Hawaiian Islands, this solid lava-rock structure, completed in 1837, is mortared with burned lime, coral, and kukui (candlenut) oil and topped by an impressive 112-foot steeple. The ceiling and interior were crafted of timbers harvested from a forest on Hualalai and are held together with wooden pegs, not nails. Inside, behind a panel of gleaming koa wood, rests a model of the brig Thaddeus as well as a koa-wood table crafted by Henry Boshard, pastor for 43 years. The sanctuary is still undergoing renovations, but if you attend Sunday services, they are glad to give you a tour.

Gorgeous and undeveloped, this area in the state historical park offers extraordinary vistas and protected swimming. The shoreline is rocky, but the area is surrounded by high green cliffs, creating calm conditions for superb swimming, snorkeling, and diving (beware of jellyfish). Protected Hawaiian spinner dolphins come to rest and escape predators during the day. Captain James Cook first landed in Hawaii here in 1778, but a year later he was killed in a skirmish with Hawaiians, now marked by a monument on the bay's north end. Rocky but walkable trails lead to Hikiau Heiau, a sacred place for the Hawaiian people. Please proceed respectfully and do not walk on it or enter it. Parking is very limited. Be aware of the off-limits area (in case of rockfalls) marked by orange buoys. Amenities: parking (no fee); showers; toilets. Best for: snorkeling; swimming.

This breathtaking, 420-acre National Historical Park has the best preserved puuhonua (place of refuge) in the state, and an aura of ancient sacredness and serenity still imbues the place. Providing a safe haven for noncombatants, kapu (taboo) breakers, defeated warriors, and others, the puuhonua offered protection and redemption for anyone who could reach its boundaries, by land or sea. The oceanfront, 960-foot stone wall built more than 400 years ago still stands and is one of the park's most prominent features. A number of ceremonial temples, including the restored Hale o Keawe Heiau (circa 1700), have served as royal burial chambers. Bring a picnic to the oceanfront park, where there are tables and bathrooms. The 2¼-mile, 1871 Trail takes you past incredible lava features and historic sites. This treasure of a park is a must-see for every visitor to the Big Island.

Depending on the season, the 20-minute walking tour of this working farm takes in various stages of coffee production, including a look at the 100-year-old coffee trees. The Greenwell family played a significant role in the cultivation of the first commercial coffee in the Kona area (as well as the first grocery store). No reservations are required, unless you are booking for a private party, which does have a cost. You can also book a master brewing class.

Hugging the hillside above the Kona Coast, the tiny, artsy village of Holualoa might contain more artists per square foot than any other town in Hawaii. Painters, woodworkers, jewelers, gourd makers, silk screeners, photographers, and potters work in their studios in back and sell their wares up front. Look for frequent town-wide events such as art strolls and block parties (the annual Christmas light stroll is a favorite) and relax with a cup of coffee in one of the cafés or galleries. Formerly the exclusive domain of coffee plantations, Holualoa still boasts quite a few coffee farms offering free tours and inviting cups of Kona. The town is 3 miles up winding Hualalai Road from Kailua-Kona.

In the early 1800s, King Kamehameha the Great built a large royal compound at Kamakahonu, the bay fronting what is now the Courtyard King Kamehameha's Kona Beach Hotel; today it is one of the most revered and historically significant sites in all of Hawaii. Kamakahonu, meaning "eye of the turtle," was named for a prominent turtle-shaped rock there, covered in cement when the hotel and pier were built. The Ahuena Heiau, an impressive heiau (temple), was dedicated to Lono, the Hawaiian god of peace and prosperity. It was also used as a seat of government. The compound features a scaled-down replica of the temple and is a National Historic Landmark. You can't go inside the heiau, but you can view it from the beach or directly next door at the hotel's luau grounds.

This beach is where King Kamehameha spent his final days—the replica of the Ahuena Heiau sits on a platform across from the sand. Adjacent to Kailua Pier, the scenic crescent of white sand is one of the few beaches in downtown Kailua-Kona. The water here is almost always calm and the beach clean, making this a perfect spot for kids. For adults, it's a great place for swimming, stand-up paddleboarding (SUP), watching outrigger teams practice, or enjoying a lazy beach day, but it can get crowded on weekends. Snorkeling can be good north of the beach, and snorkeling, SUP, and kayaking equipment can be rented nearby. There's lots of grass and shade. Amenities: food and drink; showers; toilets; water sports. Best for: snorkeling; swimming.

On the National Register of Historic Places, this perfectly preserved farm was completely restored by the Kona Historical Society. It includes a 1913 farmhouse first homesteaded by the Uchida family and is surrounded by coffee trees, a Japanese bathhouse, a kuriba (coffee-processing mill), and a hoshidana (traditional drying platform). Caretakers still grow, harvest, roast, and sell the coffee exactly as they did more than 100 years ago. All admission proceeds directly help the nonprofit's educational efforts.  Call ahead to confirm hours, as they have been limited and varied.

Even if you're not staying here, make time to stroll through the expansive lobby of this Kailua-Kona fixture to view impressive displays of Hawaiian artifacts, including feathered helmets, capes, ancient hula instruments, and battle weapons. Portraits of Hawaiian royalty adorn the walls. You'll also see mounted marlin from Hawaii International Billfish tournaments (Kailua Pier used to be the weigh-in point, and these "grander" marlin weighed 1,000 pounds or more). One of the best collections of works by Hawaiian artist Herb Kane is on display in the breezeway. Activities in Hawaiian arts and crafts are conducted regularly by on-site cultural staff, and there are nice gift shops, shave ice, and cafés scattered throughout the small mall.

More than 30 artists and craftspeople are represented in this small but lovely gallery. They feature original works as well as archival giclée pieces. If you are looking for Big Island artists, a stop at Glyph is a must.

There is a lot going on at this USDA-organic-certified coffee farm and processing facility, from growing the beans to milling and drying. The processing plant next door to the farm demonstrates how the beans are roasted and packaged. A flock of 50 geese welcomes visitors and "provides fertilizer" for the plantation at no charge. Holualoa also processes beans for 200 coffee farms in the area. Enjoy a cup of their finest as you peruse the gift shop after the tour.

This tiny but scenic white-sand-beach park is best known as the birthplace of boogie boarding. That's because boogie board inventor Tom Moray first tried his foam creation out right here in 1971. The Honl's nickname honors a family that once resided here, but its official name is Waiaha, which means "gathered waters." Lots of rocks limit easy access, but it's worth a stop for the history alone. Amenities: parking (no fee); picnic tables; showers; toilets. Best for: body boarding, swimming, sunbathing.

On a walking tour of this 20-acre working coffee farm (by advance reservation only), visitors can witness the workings of a small plantation, pick and pulp their own coffee beans, watch a roasting demonstration, and savor a tasting. Lee and Karen Patterson have perfected their coffee over many years, winning local cupping competitions. The gift shop carries whole beans and logo swag including bags, T-shirts, and mugs. Coffee brewing workshops and one-on-one tours with a master roaster are also offered.

Shallow and easily accessible, this salt-and-pepper beach is one of the Big Island's most popular swimming and snorkeling sites, thanks to the fringing reef that helps keep the waters calm, visibility high, and reef life—especially honu (green sea turtles) and colorful fish—plentiful. Kahaluu was a favorite of the Hawaiian royal family, too. Because it is so protected, it's great for first-time snorkelers. Avoid areas marked off for coral regrowth and be sure to use reef-safe sunscreen. Outside the reef, very strong rip currents can run, so caution is advised. Listen to lifeguard instructions. Never hand-feed the unusually tame reef fish here; it upsets the balance of the reef.

Experienced surfers find good waves beyond the reef, and scuba divers like the shore dives—shallow ones inside the breakwater, deeper ones outside. Snorkel equipment and boards are available for rent nearby, and surf schools operate here. A community group has provided reef-safe sunscreen dispensers on-site. Amenities: food and drink; lifeguards; parking (small fee); showers; toilets. Best for: snorkeling; surfing; swimming.

Though most fishing and sail charters use Honokohau Harbor in Kailua-Kona, this pier dating from 1918 is still a hub of ocean activity where outrigger canoe teams practice and race, shuttles transport cruise ship passengers to and from town, and tour boats depart from the docks. Old photos depict cattle being wrangled from the pier to steamers bound for slaughterhouses. Along the seawall, children and old-timers cast their lines and hope for the best. For youngsters, a bamboo pole and hook are easy to come by, and plenty of locals are willing to give pointers. September brings the world's largest long-distance outrigger canoe race, and in October, elite athletes line up on the beach next to the pier to swim 2.4 miles in the first leg of the internationally famous Ironman World Championship triathlon.

At this family-owned business, the commitment to growing 100% organic coffee starts even before the plants are in the ground, with organic mulch and naturally developed fertilizers that they also sell throughout Hawaii. No pesticides or commercial fertilizers are used on the 80-acre farm. Because it's such an exacting process, only 2% of Kona coffee can claim to be 100% certified organic. They process coffee from cherry to roasted on a solar-powered mill. The farm does private tours (with tastings) by appointment only and even offers a guesthouse should you wish to stay a little longer than a day.  The property can be accessed only by four-wheel-drive vehicles.

In 1819, an estimated 300 Hawaiians were killed on this vast lava field; their burial mounds are still visible at the south end of Alii Drive (called the "End of the World" by locals). After the death of his father, King Kamehameha, the newly crowned King Liholiho ate at a table with women, breaking the ancient kapu (taboo) system. Chief Kekuaokalani, his cousin and co-heir, held radically different views about religious traditions and unsuccessfully challenged Liholiho's forces in battle here. It's a great place to watch the surf, especially when a large swell is in, creating splashes as large as three-story buildings.

Towering coconut trees provide some shade and lend a touch of tropical beauty to this pretty little beach park, which may well be the Big Island's most intriguing stretch of sand. A migratory beach of sorts, it can disappear when strong surf washes away the small white-sand parcel (hence the name "Magic Sands"). Then suddenly, all the sand can reappear within days. You'll know you've found it when you see the body and board surfers. It's often quite crowded, no matter what time of year. Large shore breaks here can be dangerous, so always listen to lifeguard instruction. Amenities: lifeguards; parking (no fee); showers; toilets. Best for: sunset; surfing.

Hugging the long shoreline adjacent to the runway that served Kona's airport until 1970, this beach is flat, generally clean, and speckled with black rocks and coral bits. Mostly calm waters make for good snorkeling, and a few accessible small coves of white sand offer safe water entry and tide pools for children. Shady areas are good for picnics or admiring the Kona skyline, complete with a whale (in season) and a cruise ship or two. A well-tended community garden, jogging trail, and dog park opposite the runway are worth checking out. Just north, an offshore surf break known as Old A's is popular with local surfers. It's usually not crowded, but this area can get busy on weekends. Amenities: parking (no fee); showers; toilets. Best for: sunset; walking.

Come here to learn how growers create the perfect cup of Kona coffee through a multilayered process, with coffee cherries getting pulped, sorted, and dried in preparation for roasting, both by hand and with machinery. Take an easy, self-guided tour of this mill by following the descriptive plaques around the property. Then stop off at the coffee center to see coffee-making relics, peruse the gift shop, and watch an informational film. Visitors can also enjoy the beautiful views and stroll through a real lava tube on the grounds.

This tiny oceanfront Roman Catholic chapel by Kahaluu Beach Park, with its crisp white-and-blue trim and old-fashioned steeple, sits next to the site of an ancient heiau (temple), now marked by a dry-stack rock wall. This is not the church's original location, however. In 1912, it was dismantled and carried here piece by piece from a site across from Magic Sands Beach. Masses are not currently being held here, and the chapel is not open to the public, although you may certainly take photographs of the exterior.