Renee's Guidebook
Great Beaches
Kua Bay
Great beach only 15 min from our place with big waves 🌊
This is a great cove with shallow calm waters and great snorkeling. It’s really perfect for kids and/or grandparents. The walk there is smooth and perfect for toting a wagon and the bathrooms and showers are wonderful. The only trick is you need to be there before 8:30am on busy days or after 2:30pm because they only give out so many passes. It remains one of our family’s favorites!
26 locals recommend
Kukio Beach
72-197 Waiulu StThis is a great cove with shallow calm waters and great snorkeling. It’s really perfect for kids and/or grandparents. The walk there is smooth and perfect for toting a wagon and the bathrooms and showers are wonderful. The only trick is you need to be there before 8:30am on busy days or after 2:30pm because they only give out so many passes. It remains one of our family’s favorites!
Known by the locals as “turtle beach” you are guaranteed to see sea turtles here just make sure to stay more than 20ft away to respect their space! The walk here is not too long over fairly smooth lava but you will still need to watch your step.
45 locals recommend
Kaloko-Honokohau National Historical Park
Known by the locals as “turtle beach” you are guaranteed to see sea turtles here just make sure to stay more than 20ft away to respect their space! The walk here is not too long over fairly smooth lava but you will still need to watch your step.
This is our families favorite go to beach because it’s so close and so kid friendly. It’s basically a large tide pool protected by massive lava and rocks so the water breaks spectacularly without ever filling the pool more than a foot or so deep. My kids can spend hours here exploring the tide pool life and I get to set up under the tree and watch them from the shade.
OTEC
This is our families favorite go to beach because it’s so close and so kid friendly. It’s basically a large tide pool protected by massive lava and rocks so the water breaks spectacularly without ever filling the pool more than a foot or so deep. My kids can spend hours here exploring the tide pool life and I get to set up under the tree and watch them from the shade.
This is the PERFECT shady beach! The shade goes all the way to the ocean and then the waves are pretty much perfect too. There are bathrooms and showers here too. It’s one of our top three and once all my kids are swimming it will probably be our #1.
109 locals recommend
Waialea Beach
Old Puako RoadThis is the PERFECT shady beach! The shade goes all the way to the ocean and then the waves are pretty much perfect too. There are bathrooms and showers here too. It’s one of our top three and once all my kids are swimming it will probably be our #1.
No beach recommendations on the Kona side would be complete without Hapuna. The sand is perfect, the waves are perfect and the bathrooms and showers are pretty close to perfect too. The only thing this beach is missing is shade so don’t forget the beach umbrellas and reef safe sunscreen 🏖
241 locals recommend
Hapuna Beach
No beach recommendations on the Kona side would be complete without Hapuna. The sand is perfect, the waves are perfect and the bathrooms and showers are pretty close to perfect too. The only thing this beach is missing is shade so don’t forget the beach umbrellas and reef safe sunscreen 🏖
Food scene
Our favorite local spot!
We order: Spicy Chicken Furikake with pork Adobe rice and sweet potatoes side
Everything here is local and amazing!
53 locals recommend
Broke Da Mouth Grindz & Catering
74-5565 Luhia StOur favorite local spot!
We order: Spicy Chicken Furikake with pork Adobe rice and sweet potatoes side
Everything here is local and amazing!
A-Bay's on Ali'i
Great view and great food right on Ali’i Dr
Best Shaved ice in town with all local and organic syrups.
24 locals recommend
One Aloha Shave Ice Co.
75-5711 Kuakini HwyBest Shaved ice in town with all local and organic syrups.
Lava Lava Beach Club
69-1081 Ku'uali'i PlWorth the drive for dinner on the beach!
Ultimate Burger
74-5450 Makala BlvdBest Local Burger
Shopping
Favorite woman’s boutique
Cookies Clothing
74-5450 Makala BoulevardSightseeing
Greenwell Farms Inc
81-6581 Mamalahoa HwyGreat coffee tours
Big Island Bees
82-1140 Meli RdBee tours
Paleaku Gardens Peace Sanctuary
83-5401 Painted Church RdIncredible gardens!
Very challenging hike! If you are in good shape it’s one of the best on the island. It’s down a couple miles to some of the best snorkeling on the island and then back up again!
64 locals recommend
Captain Cook Monument Trail
Napoopoo RoadVery challenging hike! If you are in good shape it’s one of the best on the island. It’s down a couple miles to some of the best snorkeling on the island and then back up again!
Kaloko-Honokohau National Historical Park
Churches
King’s Kona
75-5626 Kuakini HighwayGreat church that moves in healing!
St. Michael the Archangel Church
75-5769 Ali‘i DrNewest Catholic Church
Mokuaikaua Church
75-5713 Ali‘i DrOldest church in Kona
The Painted Church
Historical church with beautiful paintings