Kailua-Kona, commonly called Kona, is a major tourist destination town on the Big Island of Hawaii.

Get around

Traffic was pretty minor before but is not so in Kona. Driving in tourist-oriented areas can be slow, but the town is generally not large enough to have serious congestion. Walking is a great way to move from place to place if you're taking in features of the town. But you should rent a car because there are some place where there is only lava.

Activities

There is great snorkeling at a local beach park called Kahaluu. It can be crowded, but it's pretty worth it. You can rent equipment in town and at the beach. Kahaluu also has a lovely little bar next to it when you're tired of drinking salt water.

Shopping

Kona is a resort area with many tourist-oriented gift shops (cf.ABC stores).

Dining

 • Bubba Gumps (a chain restaurant) was pretty good. Even though it is a chain, the view is great and the food was fine. You can enjoy both nice view and dishes with ocean breeze.
 • Shave Ice can be found everywhere during the tourist season. It's one of Hawaii's best treats. More than just a snow cone, the ice is specially shaved so it's smooth and creamy. Especially good with ice cream in the bottom.
 • Oodles of Noodles The noodle shop of the famous Chef Amy Ota. She cooks great dishes of noodles. She can prepare Chinese noodles Japanese noodles like soba and udon too. There is nothing she can't do in cooking.
 • French Bakery Don't you want to eat delicious donuts, tasty baguettes, drink Kona coffee of high quality? The place is near downtown Hawaii. So have fun!

Drink

 • LuLu's is just down the street from Bubba Gumps and is a pretty cool place to hang out and knock back some beers.
 • Huggo's is another good place to hang out, especially Huggo's on the beach which is next door and usually has a band. It's right on the water with great sunsets.
 • Kona Brewing Company
 • Quinn's Almost By The Sea
 • Jumba Juice 

Lodging

On a sunny day go to Keahou beach! you can sleep on the benches that are there.

Get out

 • Volcano's National Park is awesome, but a long drive. Easily 2+ hours. If you want to see the volcano really near take the helicopter. My Gran said it was miraculous.
 • Mauna Kea (13,000+ ft) has great telescopes and worth the drive, again long. Dirt drive for much of the drive up, but not bad. Also, don't let everyone scare you about Saddle Road, the road that splits the island, it is fine, narrow and hilly, but if you pay attention you can drive it, and it will save you an hour and a half to get to Hilo and the east side of Hawaii.