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 🐢
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.

Popular places to visit

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

Kaloko-Honokohau National Historical Park

4/5(1 review)

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
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
#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

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

Honokōhau Harbor

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

Honokōhau Harbor

Things to do

The Glassbottom Boat

Glass-Bottom Boat Reef Tour

฿2,265
per adult
84% of travellers recommend
Glass-Bottom Boat Reef Tour
Deluxe Snorkel & Dolphin Watch

Deluxe Snorkel & Dolphin Watch

฿3,214
per adult
96% of travellers recommend
Deluxe Snorkel & Dolphin Watch
Big Island Luau: Dance, Feast, Open Bar, Polynesian Culture & Fun

Island Breeze Luau on the Big Island

฿6,053
per adult
82% of travellers recommend
Island Breeze Luau on the Big Island
Captain Cook Reef Snorkeling of Kealakekua Bay

Captain Cook Reef Snorkeling of Kealakekua Bay

฿2,517
per adult
Captain Cook Reef Snorkeling of Kealakekua Bay
Michael our Foot Soak Attendant

Deep Ocean Water Foot Soak in Kailua Kona

฿629
per adult
100% of travellers recommend
Deep Ocean Water Foot Soak in Kailua Kona
Big Island Adventure Bundle: 5 Epic Audio Driving Tours

Big Island Adventure Bundle: 5 Epic Audio Driving Tours

฿1,101
per traveller
78% of travellers recommend
Big Island Adventure Bundle: 5 Epic Audio Driving Tours
See all activities in Kailua-Kona

Top hotels in Kalaoa

Royal Kona Resort

Royal Kona Resort

4 out of 5
75-5852 Alii Dr Kailua-Kona HI
The price is ฿6,174 per night from 25 Jan to 26 Jan
฿6,174
฿8,244 total
25 Jan - 26 Jan
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! (2,799 reviews)
Yes everything was great

Reviewed on 20 Jan 2026

Royal Kona Resort
PACIFIC 19 Kona

PACIFIC 19 Kona

3.5 out of 5
75-5646 Palani Rd Kailua-Kona HI
Fully refundableReserve now, pay when you stay
The price is ฿5,060 per night from 27 Jan to 28 Jan
฿5,060
฿6,927 total
27 Jan - 28 Jan
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 ...
8.2/10 Very Good! (2,170 reviews)
The room was comfortable, and the staff was excellent. I feel they went above and beyond to make me more comfortable after asking them to check my AC unit. I would absolutely stay here again.

Reviewed on 18 Jan 2026

PACIFIC 19 Kona
OUTRIGGER Kona Resort and Spa

OUTRIGGER Kona Resort and Spa

4 out of 5
78-128 Ehukai Street Kailua-Kona HI
The price is ฿8,628 per night from 5 Feb to 6 Feb
฿8,628
฿11,532 total
5 Feb - 6 Feb
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this golf resort in Kailua-Kona. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, 2 outdoor pools and 2 restaurants. Our guests praise the pool and the helpful staff in their reviews. ...
8.6/10 Excellent! (1,010 reviews)
Roomwas beautiful and staff and support were perfect our only complaint was the length of time our room took for the water to get hot enough to shower or wash up with it seemed they havent figured out how to quickly provide warm water to our floor. To get water warm enough to use took about ten minutes ...

Reviewed on 16 Jan 2026

OUTRIGGER Kona Resort and Spa
Hilton Waikoloa Village

Hilton Waikoloa Village

4 out of 5
69-425 Waikoloa Beach Dr Waikoloa HI
The price is ฿10,704 per night from 2 Feb to 3 Feb
฿10,704
฿12,707 total
2 Feb - 3 Feb
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. ...
8.2/10 Very Good! (1,076 reviews)
Freda the check in hostess was extremely friendly, knowledgeable and accommodating.

Reviewed on 16 Jan 2026

Hilton Waikoloa Village
Courtyard by Marriott King Kamehameha's Kona Beach Hotel

Courtyard by Marriott King Kamehameha's Kona Beach Hotel

3.5 out of 5
75-5660 Palani Road Kailua-Kona HI
The price is ฿8,687 per night from 2 Feb to 3 Feb
฿8,687
฿10,995 total
2 Feb - 3 Feb
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this beach hotel in Kailua-Kona. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, a full-service spa and 2 restaurants. Our guests praise the helpful staff and the clean rooms in their ...
8.4/10 Very Good! (1,005 reviews)
Focus more on cleaning the bathroom area and expand dinning options

Reviewed on 16 Jan 2026

Courtyard by Marriott King Kamehameha's Kona Beach Hotel
Hilton Grand Vacations Club Ocean Tower Waikoloa Village

Hilton Grand Vacations Club Ocean Tower Waikoloa Village

4 out of 5
69-425 Waikoloa Beach Drive Waikoloa HI
The price is ฿7,322 per night from 26 Jan to 27 Jan
฿7,322
฿10,165 total
26 Jan - 27 Jan
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this spa resort in Waikoloa. Enjoy 3 outdoor pools, a full-service spa and 6 restaurants. Our guests praise the pool and the helpful staff in their reviews. ...
7.6/10 Good! (1,121 reviews)
Great staff very friendly

Reviewed on 19 Jan 2026

Hilton Grand Vacations Club Ocean Tower Waikoloa Village
See all 5,666 properties in Kalaoa
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 Kamakahonu Beach.

Historic Kailua Village
Volcanic rocks along the coast and expanding the size of the island from time to time. Power of nature creating more land ...

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
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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