Pull over for a look at an ancient battlefield and burial ground. While you’re stopped, we’ll tell you the story of this historic spot. From your car, if you look over the lava field here, you will notice the terraced piles of rocks. These are the burial mounds of the fallen warriors, still visible today.

This historic church was built in 1899 by Father John Velghe of Belgium. Unlike the typical stained glass windows that you’ll find in churches, this religious site is completely painted on the inside. We highly recommend going inside for a peak!

Pay close attention to the Hawaiian details - have you ever seen palm trees painted in a church? - and the vaulted ceilings. It’s truly a sight to see!

Open Hours: 
Tuesday-Friday - 9:30am–3:30pm
Saturday-Sunday - During Church Services

Take a walk to learn a bit about Hawaii’s history and the story of one of its most famous kings, Kamehameha III. The walking area has historical signs and markers along the way explaining how Kona has been home to important royal sites since the 1600’s.

In ancient times, Pu'uhonua was known as the city of refuge, and offered a sanctuary to lawbreakers. Within the park are a number of historical landmarks like the grounds where the Ali’i (royalty) lived within the Pu'uhonua.

While you’re there try the guided audio tour of the park and check out the carved tiki statues. Please keep in mind that this is a very sacred spot for Hawaiians and should be treated with respect. There is a $20 entrance fee per vehicle.

Kealakekua Bay is a marine life conservation district. Since the water at the bay is usually calm, underwater life thrives, along with the coral reef, making it a wonderful spot for scuba diving and snorkeling. Hawaiian spinner dolphins often come into the bay, especially in the morning.  Kealakekua is also a wonderful place for kayaking - you can rent Kayaks here and paddle over to the Captain Cook Monument. At the bay you can also find restrooms, showers, a few picnic tables, and barbecue grills.

Have you ever seen a church on the beach? Well, here you can! Look out for a small white church, and you’ll see the beach right beside it. This beach is a popular surf spot and also a great place to snorkel.

Notice the rock structure to the right of the church. This is a one-of-a-kind heiau thought to be dedicated to surfing.

Two-step is immediately after the turn for Pu'uhonua park. The beach got its name for the lava rock steps you can use to enter the bay. This beach is usually crowded but worth a visit if you plan to snorkel. Otherwise you can skip it.

Manini’owali Beach, also known as Kua Bay, is a pristine white sand beach with sparkling blue waters. It's perfect for swimming, sunbathing, snorkeling or kayaking.

In the summer, the water is calm and crystal clear–great for kids. It’s also the best time to go snorkeling. Don’t be surprised to see colorful tropical fish swimming around your legs–or green sea turtles paddling nearby. 

In the winter months, you’ll often see expert surfers enjoying the waves. But the pounding surf and dangerous rip currents at this time of year make it unsafe for casual swimming. So, unless you’re experienced, it’s best to stay out of the water when it’s rough. 

If you’re not into watersports or sunbathing, there are lava rocks on the southern end of the beach with hidden tide pools that harbor some interesting marine life, like sea urchins and tiny reef fish. 

Amenities include restrooms, showers and picnic tables. There’s no shade at the beach, so you’ll wanna bring an umbrella or hat–and plenty of sunscreen. 

This beach tends to get crowded so weekdays and mornings are the best time to visit.

Big Island Bees makes honey from all sorts of flowers that are grown on the island. With over 2,500 hives and 125 million bees they know their stuff. Stop by to walk through the museum and take a look around the shop (which has body care products too!). You can also do a guided tour of the facility. There’s a guided tour of Big Island Bees that runs from Monday-Friday that costs $30 for adults, $20 for youth (13-18) and $10 for children (12 and under), expect to spend about an hour on the tour. The tour does require reservations, which you can find by clicking here. And you get a free packet of honey sticks with purchases of $35 or more! You can't miss this stop.

Hours: 

10am - 3pm Monday to Friday
Tours available M-F at 10am and 1pm

As you drive through town, you’ll see the historic Aloha Theatre, Back in the 1930s, this was the place to go for live shows and entertainment. Thankfully, the community has helped to preserve this historic building, and today it is still used for live performances. 

At the Kona Coffee Living History Farm you can take a self-guided tour through the orchard, farmhouse and coffee mill. There are also costumed interpreters that bring the past to life by demonstrating traditional crafts, agricultural tasks and the daily duties of people back then. Outdoors, you’ll see the family donkeys and free-range chickens. In the farmhouse, explore a traditional Japanese home built in 1925, complete with dish towels made from rice bags and large wooden tubs used to pickle vegetables.

The self-guided tour of Kona Coffee Living Museum costs $20 for adults and $10 for children (7-17).

Hours: Open Tuesdays and Fridays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Another great spot to learn about coffee and its importance to this region of Big Island is the Greenwell Farm and Museum. This is a multi-faceted agribusiness using modern farming practices. In addition to growing their own coffee, they also buy and process coffee beans from over 300 farmers in the Kona district. They give free farm tours from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. every day.

Here you can see an ancient fishpond and a traditional thatched Hawaiian building. The cultural significance of this park lies in the way it has preserved the ancient Hawaiian methods of utilizing the land, the stones, and the sea. There are goat pens made out of stones, fishponds and fish traps, petroglyphs, altars, and even a heiau!

There’s a short hike to the beach, and it’s one of the few hikes on this tour.

Note: The tour will guide you to a side entrance closest to the beach to avoid a long hot walk. Once at the beach find some shade and see if you can spot any turtles that frequent this beach. If you’re looking for a chance to stretch your legs jump out of the car and explore this quiet National Park.

The beach is also known as “La’aloa”, white sands, or disappearing sands, and it got the name from the sand that is pulled off from the beach during the winter or early spring, leaving the lava rock exposed. If you’re pressed for time, feel free to keep driving down the road, there are plenty more beaches ahead. Please note: there’s usually a pretty strong, potentially dangerous shore break here.

Kealakekua bay is a marine life conservation district. Because the water here is usually calm, underwater life thrives making it a great spot for snorkeling. While you’re there, look out in the distance for a white structure -- that’s the Captain Cook monument commemorating his death. You can kayak there if you want to spend a few hours on the water. Be advised: there are no lifeguards on duty here.