Kalaoa Travel Guide

Kailua-Kona

After a very bad road of 2 miles in between lava fields, you get tovthid amazing black sand beach, with nearly no-one, just a few turtles 🐢
Beautiful spot to watch the dolphins play. #Adventure
Beautiful Sunset
#blue 50 Shades of Blue - Manini'owali Beach at Kua Bay, part of Kekaha Kai State Park, is another of the very pretty Hawaii Big Island beaches, with fine white sand that slopes gently to the beautiful clear turquoise water. The swimming here is awesome when the ocean is calm, and there can be some decent snorkeling along the rocky outcroppings at either end of the beach. During certain times of the year, particularly the summer months, the beautiful soft sand covers the entire beach from north to south. More lava rocks become exposed in the winter months as sand is carried out with the surf. Be aware of those rocks in the shallows when boogie boarding or body surfing. This is a good place to have water shoes to navigate across the rocks. Manini'owali Beach is one of the nicer Big Island beaches that is easy to reach from Kailua-Kona. You can practically drive right to the beach, and some days it seems everyone on the Big Island knows it! If you arrive later in the day, parking can be a little crazy, especially on weekends. As you approach the beach you may see cars lined up down the road. You may have to walk down the road a bit but don't worry; there's plenty of room on the beach! There is a rocky shoreline trail at the northern end of the beach that leads to another of our favorite Hawaii beaches, spectacular Kikaua Beach to the north. The trail winds through a lava field and across a coral beach less than a mile to scenic Kikaua Point.
Manini'owali Beach at Kua Bay, part of Kekaha Kai State Park, is another of the very pretty Hawaii Big Island beaches, with fine white sand that slopes gently to the beautiful clear turquoise water. The swimming here is awesome when the ocean is calm, and there can be some decent snorkeling along the rocky outcroppings at either end of the beach. During certain times of the year, particularly the summer months, the beautiful soft sand covers the entire beach from north to south. More lava rocks become exposed in the winter months as sand is carried out with the surf. Be aware of those rocks in the shallows when boogie boarding or body surfing. This is a good place to have water shoes to navigate across the rocks. Manini'owali Beach is one of the nicer Big Island beaches that is easy to reach from Kailua-Kona. You can practically drive right to the beach, and some days it seems everyone on the Big Island knows it! If you arrive later in the day, parking can be a little crazy, especially on weekends. As you approach the beach you may see cars lined up down the road. You may have to walk down the road a bit but don't worry; there's plenty of room on the beach! There is a rocky shoreline trail at the northern end of the beach that leads to another of our favorite Hawaii beaches, spectacular Kikaua Beach to the north. The trail winds through a lava field and across a coral beach less than a mile to scenic Kikaua Point.

Popular places to visit

Kaloko-Honokohau National Historical Park featuring tropical scenes, general coastal views and a sandy beach

Kaloko-Honokohau National Historical Park

Discover ancient Hawaii at this historic settlement.

Kaloko-Honokohau National Historical Park
After a very bad road of 2 miles in between lava fields, you get tovthid amazing black sand beach, with nearly no-one, just a few turtles 🐢

Makalawena Beach

If a restful holiday is part of your travel plans, Makalawena Beach might be the perfect place to visit during your trip to Makalawena. Stroll along the seaside or discover the area's sunsets.

Makalawena Beach
#blue 50 Shades of Blue - Manini'owali Beach at Kua Bay, part of Kekaha Kai State Park, is another of the very pretty Hawaii Big Island beaches, with fine white sand that slopes gently to the beautiful clear turquoise water. The swimming here is awesome when the ocean is calm, and there can be some decent snorkeling along the rocky outcroppings at either end of the beach. During certain times of the year, particularly the summer months, the beautiful soft sand covers the entire beach from north to south. More lava rocks become exposed in the winter months as sand is carried out with the surf. Be aware of those rocks in the shallows when boogie boarding or body surfing. This is a good place to have water shoes to navigate across the rocks. Manini'owali Beach is one of the nicer Big Island beaches that is easy to reach from Kailua-Kona. You can practically drive right to the beach, and some days it seems everyone on the Big Island knows it! If you arrive later in the day, parking can be a little crazy, especially on weekends. As you approach the beach you may see cars lined up down the road. You may have to walk down the road a bit but don't worry; there's plenty of room on the beach! There is a rocky shoreline trail at the northern end of the beach that leads to another of our favorite Hawaii beaches, spectacular Kikaua Beach to the north. The trail winds through a lava field and across a coral beach less than a mile to scenic Kikaua Point.

Kekaha Kai State Park

Enjoy a trip to Kekaha Kai State Park and popular activities such as snorkelling in Kailua-Kona. Discover the beautiful sunsets and top-notch restaurants in this walkable area.

Kekaha Kai State Park
We discovered this serene little beach last month. After turning off the highway there is a 2 mile drive over rocky unpaved terrain, but if you take it slow any kind of car should be able to traverse it. Our compact rental car did great. There is a parking area, and then a trail through the lava fields to the beach

Mahai'ula Beach

If a restful holiday is part of your travel plans, Mahai'ula Beach might be the perfect place to visit during your trip to Kailua-Kona. Wander the seaside or discover the area's sunsets.

Mahai'ula Beach

Honokōhau Harbor

Explore the waterfront of Honokōhau Harbor and enjoy activities such as snorkelling in Kailua-Kona. Stroll along the area's seaside or simply savour its seafood restaurants.

Honokōhau Harbor

Kohanaiki Beach Park

Why not spend a lazy afternoon at Kohanaiki Beach Park during your trip to Kailua-Kona? Stroll along the area's seaside or simply enjoy its cafes.

Kohanaiki Beach Park

Things to do

Scuba divers look at large manta ray up close

Night Manta Ray Experience at Manta Ray Village from Keauhou Harbor

£108
per traveller
94% of travellers recommend
Night Manta Ray Experience at Manta Ray Village from Keauhou Harbor
Deluxe Snorkel & Dolphin Watch

Deluxe Snorkel & Dolphin Watch

£76
per adult
96% of travellers recommend
Deluxe Snorkel & Dolphin Watch
Kona Underwater Submarine Adventure

Kona Underwater Submarine Adventure

£119
per adult
94% of travellers recommend
Kona Underwater Submarine Adventure
See whales from up-close

Whale Watching On The Big Island

£73
per adult
82% of travellers recommend
Whale Watching On The Big Island
The Glassbottom Boat

Glass-Bottom Boat Reef Tour

£53
per adult
84% of travellers recommend
Glass-Bottom Boat Reef Tour
Manta Ray Night Snorkel at Kona, Big Island

Manta Ray Night Snorkel at Kona, Big Island

£43
per adult
94% of travellers recommend
Manta Ray Night Snorkel at Kona, Big Island
See all activities in Kailua-Kona

Top hotels in Kalaoa

Stunning Ocean Views + Designer Designed Kona Home

Stunning Ocean Views + Designer Designed Kona Home

Kailua-Kona HI
Stay at this golf holiday home in Kailua-Kona. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, a garden and laundry facilities. Popular attractions Four Seasons Resort Hualalai Golf Course ...
9.8/10 Exceptional! (114 reviews)
Excellent place to stay very convenient and extremely well equipped! Kitchen bathroom had everything we needed! Great views!! We stayed in the lower unit and the only issue would be is when the upstairs neighbors are even slightly walking around it’s loud downstairs in this unit. So as long as your ...

Reviewed on 3 Mar 2026

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Stunning Ocean Views + Designer Designed Kona Home
Beautiful Pool with Stunning Ocean and Sunset Views

Beautiful Pool with Stunning Ocean and Sunset Views

Kailua-Kona HI
Stay at this holiday home in Kailua-Kona. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, private pools and a garden. Popular attractions Lyman Kona Coffee Farms and Makalei Golf Club are ...
9.6/10 Exceptional! (75 reviews)
What a great place to stay for large groups. Amazing views and an exceptional property to stay on the Big Island of Hawaii. Would recommend.

Reviewed on 17 Feb 2026

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Beautiful Pool with Stunning Ocean and Sunset Views
Hilton Waikoloa Village

Hilton Waikoloa Village

4 out of 5
69-425 Waikoloa Beach Dr Waikoloa HI
The price is £357 per night from 17 Apr to 18 Apr
£357
17 Apr - 18 Apr
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this beach resort in Waikoloa. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, 3 outdoor pools and a full-service spa. Our guests praise the pool and the helpful staff in their reviews. ...
8.4/10 Very Good! (1,132 reviews)
Yes

Reviewed on 16 Mar 2026

Hilton Waikoloa Village
Royal Kona Resort

Royal Kona Resort

4 out of 5
75-5852 Alii Dr Kailua-Kona HI
The price is £193 per night from 1 Apr to 2 Apr
£193
1 Apr - 2 Apr
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this beach hotel in Kailua-Kona. Enjoy a full-service spa, breakfast (surcharge) and a fitness centre. Our guests praise the pool and the restaurant ...
8.2/10 Very Good! (2,886 reviews)
They were very accommodating despite the big storm

Reviewed on 23 Mar 2026

Royal Kona Resort
PACIFIC 19 Kona

PACIFIC 19 Kona

3.5 out of 5
75-5646 Palani Rd Kailua-Kona HI
The price is £174 per night from 12 Apr to 13 Apr
£174
12 Apr - 13 Apr
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this hotel in Kailua-Kona. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, parking (surcharge) and a 24-hour front desk. Our guests praise the pool and the helpful staff in their ...
8.4/10 Very Good! (2,433 reviews)
Staff were really “matter of fact” and unapologetic for extra fees on parking and lack of service abilities due to non working ice machine Given the weather and timeframe Only renting for overnight We didn’t have a lot of needs but a good cold drink and not having to park across the street in the ...

Reviewed on 23 Mar 2026

PACIFIC 19 Kona
Hilton Grand Vacations Club Kings’ Land Waikoloa

Hilton Grand Vacations Club Kings’ Land Waikoloa

4 out of 5
69-699 Waikoloa Beach Dr Waikoloa HI
The price is £234 per night from 24 Mar to 25 Mar
£234
24 Mar - 25 Mar
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this golf resort in Waikoloa. Enjoy 2 outdoor pools, 2 hot tubs and breakfast (surcharge). Our guests praise the pool and the helpful staff in their ...
9.2/10 Wonderful! (1,101 reviews)
Really nice/comfortable resort with some cool amenities (golf, fun pools and lagoons, restaurant options). We really enjoyed our stay and felt very welcomed by the staff! Thank you!

Reviewed on 23 Mar 2026

Hilton Grand Vacations Club Kings’ Land Waikoloa
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Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.

Other neighbourhoods around Kalaoa

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Kona Palisades

When in Kona Palisades, you can plan a visit to Hula Daddy Kona Coffee Plantation and Kaloko-Honokohau National Historical Park, some noteworthy sights in the nearby area.

Kona Palisades
Turtle in Hawai'i. Really nice beach to hang out, white sand and clear water!

Kaupulehu

Unique features of Kaupulehu include the beaches and spas. Make a stop by Kailua-Kona Beaches or Four Seasons Resort Hualalai Golf Course while you're exploring the area.

Kaupulehu
Kailua Pier featuring general coastal views, tropical scenes and a bay or harbor

Historic Kailua Village

Are you interested in stunning beaches, island views and popular shops? A visit to Historic Kailua Village might be the perfect thing. You can also explore top sights like Kailua-Kona Wharf and Kona Brewing Company.

Historic Kailua Village
Aerial view of Kahikolu Congregation Church, Kealakekua Bay, Big Island, Hawaii, United States of America, North America

Holualoa Village

While visiting Holualoa Village, you might make a stop by sights like Sadie Seymour Botanical Garden and Honl's Beach.

Holualoa Village
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Alii Kai

While there might not be top attractions in Alii Kai, you can explore the larger area and discover places like Sadie Seymour Botanical Garden and Magic Sands Beach.

Alii Kai
Rugged Lava Shoreline Along Alii Drive, Kailua-Kona, Hawaii, USA

Alii Heights Mauka

While there might not be top attractions in Alii Heights Mauka, you can explore the larger area and discover places like Magic Sands Beach and Kahalu'u Beach Park.

Alii Heights Mauka

Kalaoa Travel Guide

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