Keoki's is a cute little place next to the main highway, with a sign that says they serve the best fish & chips on the island.  Keoki’s has the freshest fish. They give you big portions and offer a  special that’s perfect for 2 people. They also have kids’ meals, sweet potato fries, and a baked fish taco that’s to die for.

83-5315 Mamalahoa Hwy, 

Captain Cook, HI 96704

(808) 328-9000

Well-known for their pulled pork and pulled chicken sandwiches, half-rack ribs, baked beans, and tangy coleslaw. There might be a line but it’s worth the wait.

83-5308 Mamalahoa Hwy # B, 

Captain Cook, HI 96704

(808) 328-1227

https://www.facebook.com/Big-Jakes-Island-B-B-Q-189247791108226/

For authentic hawaiian food, head to They’ve been featured on the food network’s best thing I ever ate. Pork laulau’s are made daily, and you’ll feel like you’re eating at a hawaiian aunty’s house. They’re closed on sundays. The coffee shack has an island-style breakfast and lunch menu, pizzas, salads, and desserts. If you eat out on their lanai, you’ll have a beautiful 26-mile view along the kona coastline.

83-5409 Mamalahoa Hwy A, 

Captain Cook, HI 96704

(808) 328-9566

Their poke is super fresh, but they have way more than poke to offer. The food here is straight from the ocean to the table. They have a fish sandwich like no other, and their crab cakes are stuffed with fresh crab meat. 

81-951 Haleki'i St, 

Kealakekua, HI 96750

(808) 323-3512

The Kona Coast on the island of Hawai'i is the site of the historic battle that led to the end of the traditional kapu religious system in the early 1800s. The Kuamoʻo Burials (also known as the Lekeleke Burial Grounds) is a historic Hawaiian burial site for warriors killed during a major battle in 1819. The site is located at Kuamoʻo Bay in the North Kona District.

Father John Velghe built the church in 1899 and decorated it with his paintings, using regular house paint on wood. Few hawaiians could read at the time, so he taught them with pictures. It took him over four years to build the church and finish the paintings before he returned to belgium. If you go inside, take note of the belfry’s exterior  and the latticework entryway, which are both masterpieces. And look up! The vaulted ceiling is pretty amazing.

Kamehameha III was thought to be stillborn at birth, but a prophet was called upon and he declared that the child would live. They cleaned the baby and placed him on a stone. Then they fanned him, prayed over him and sprinkled him with water until he began to move and cry. The stone is preserved as a monument at his birthplace. Kamehameha III was only 5 years old when king kamehameha died. He later became king himself, unexpectedly, in 1835 when his older brother, liholiho and sister-in-law queen kamamalu died of measles on a royal trip to london. He was the longest reigning hawaiian monarch, ruling for 30 years. During his reign, he introduced the first written constitution, saw hawaii recognized diplomatically on the world stage, reformed the tax system, and signed laws instituting the legal basis for land ownership.

In ancient Hawaii, there were strict laws or kapu that helped to keep order in an isolated island society. When laws were broken that threatened the peace and safety of others, a swift death was the usual punishment. But if a lawbreaker reached a Puuhonua or place of refuge, he was safe, and forgiven. The lawbreaker would be cleansed by kahuna or priests, and allowed to return home without any punishment hanging over his head. Inside the boundaries of a Puuhonua, no one was harmed for any reason. Defeated warriors who survived the battlefield could escape to a Puuhonua and be free to live without fear of revenge. Commoners caught in battle would often seek refuge at a Puuhonua until the fighting ended.

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 constructed out of stones, fishponds and fish traps, petroglyphs, altars, and even a heiau!You only need around 45 minutes to explore the area. You will be rewarded by frequent turtle sightings at the beach, and some lovely reef snorkeling. And hey, it is one of the few national parks with free admission! 

Kailua-Kona, HI 96740

(808) 329-6881

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.

Kahaluu Beach is a tiny sheltered cove on the west side of the Big Island right in the town of Kailua Kona.  It’s one of only a handful of beaches in Hawaii with such a large tame fish population.  Kahaluu Beach is not a marine preserve, yet for having no fishing limitations, it rivals and sometimes surpasses the quantity of fish you’ll see at a dedicated marine sanctuary. Kahaluu Beach Park’s abundance of marine life, sheltered cove, great park facilities, and convenient location make it one of the top beaches on my Big Island snorkeling list.

If you are prepared and planning to snorkel today, this is a great place for beginners. The reason for the name two step is because of the natural lava rock steps you can use to enter the water.

Originating in 1820, Kīholo Bay was created as a man-made fishing pond for King Kamehameha the Great. The recreational area was bordered by rock walls 6 feet tall and 20 feet wide. Kīholo Bay was also home to "Queen's Bath" a large tide pool on the Kona Coast. The original Queen's Bath, located in Kalapana, was formed by a collapsed lava tube that filled with fresh water from a nearby natural spring. Appropriately named, only ancient Hawaiian royalty, also known as the Ali'i, were allowed to enter the pool which was used as a place for bathing and relaxation. Kihola Bay has a little of everything: beautiful sights, fascinating wildlife, tide pools, ancient ponds and rock formations. There's even a mini-island made of lava rock right at the heart of the bay.

If you’re looking to explore Big Island beaches near Kona in Hawaii, Kua Bay is definitely beautiful. Also known as Manini’owali Beach, the water is clear turquoise and the white sand is perfectly soft. Kua bay can get good (big!) waves in the winter but is great for snorkeling if the water is calm. Wildlife sightings (turtles and an occasional dolphin) are normal in the water of the bay. Sunsets at Kua bay are spectacular, so if your itinerary has enough room for a late beach visit this is certainly something we recommend.

Big island bees is one of the most unique enterprises on the big island. From a few hives in the 1970’s, they have grown to have 2500 hives and 125 million bees today. Flavors include Ohia Lehua honey, from the native Ohia Tree; Hawaiian Chili Pepper Honey, Hawaiian Honey Mustard, Macadamia Nut Blossom Honey, and even Hawaiian Honey Caramel Drizzles. Big Island Bees also has body care products using ingredients from their hives, like Lehua honey bar soaps, cuticle and hand lotions, and bee balm. The bee museum and gift shop are free to enter and look around, they also offer tours of their bee farm. Reservations are recommended and there’s a fee.

82-1140 Meli Road #102, 

Captain Cook, HI 96704 

https://bigislandbees.com/

(808) 328-1315

The Aloha Theatre is located 8 miles South of Kailua-Kona and 1 mile North of Kona Community Hospital on Highway 11 in Kainaliu Town located on the “ocean” or “makai” side of the road. Originally named Tanimoto Theater in 1932, the name was changed to Aloha Theater after World War II. It was shut down in the 1970s, but restored and re-opened, playing mostly live events. It is the oldest theater in Kona that is still operating.

79-7384 Hawaii Belt Rd, 

Kealakekua, HI 96750 

http://apachawaii.org/

(808) 322-9924

Manta rays are the ocean creatures that look like b2 stealth bombers. Mild-mannered and graceful as they glide through ocean waters, they usually avoid contact with humans. These huge fish eat plankton and other marine organisms, swimming around with their mouths open as they filter their prey from the water. The reef manta rays that live in kona waters have wingspans up to 12 feet across with a large tail and can live to be 50 years old. Night snorkeling tours cost from $80 per person, and the night scuba dive begins at $100 per person, but prices are always changing so ask first.

https://www.mantaraydiveshawaii.com/

74-380 KEALAKEHE PARKWAY,

KAILUA-KONA, HI, 96740

(808) 325-1687

At the Kona Coffee 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.

82-6199 Mamalahoa Hwy, 

Captain Cook, HI 96704

(808) 323-3222

http://www.konahistorical.org/

The old greenwell home is now a store and museum operated by the kona historical society. There’s a nominal admission fee to the museum, but it’s well worth it to get a sense of how life was lived back then. Next to it is greenwell farms, managed by the descendants of henry and elizabeth. It’s now a multi-faceted agribusiness using modern farming practices, but also buying and processing coffee beans from over 300 farmers in the kona district. They give free farm tours from 8:30 to 4 every day. No cost, no reservations, just show up. Tours leave multiple times each hour and you can enjoy some free coffee samples while you wait.

82-6199 Mamalahoa Hwy, 

Captain Cook, HI 96704

(808) 323-3222

http://www.konahistorical.org/

Created during the 1801 Huehue flow from Hualalai’s northwest flank, the lava tube is located about 2 miles north of Ellison Onizuka Kona International Airport at Keahole, and attracts visitors and residents alike curious as to what is within. In recent months, especially with the closure of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, the site has become increasingly busier causing state transportation officials to assess safety concerns along the highway.

Ka'ahumanu, Queen Ka'ahumanu Hwy, 

Kailua-Kona, HI 96740