Kona Coast Vacation Rentals

Take your hike to new heights up volcanic mountains or explore the beaches and coastline. Either way, Kona’s natural beauty, flora, and wildlife ensure a workout that’s as much a feast for your eyes as it is a heart-pumper. Kaloko-Honokōhau National Historical Park is home to Ala Kahakai National Historic Trail where you can investigate heiau (sacred temples) and kiʻi pōhaku (rock carvings). Kekaha Kai State Park Trails lets hikers choose from easier to more challenging excursions. Up for a challenge? Hike one of the tallest mountains in the world from ocean bottom to summit when you climb Mauna Kea. This isn’t a novice hike. Guided tours are available and this is a hike that requires advanced prep for maximum safety and fun. 

Will you be the next fisherman to catch a record-breaking marlin? It’s possible when you fish along the Kona Coast. In fact, this stretch has netted people marlin clocking in at more than 1,000 pounds. Fishing charters can take you to the hottest spots where tuna, mahi mahi, ono, sailfish, and, of course, marlin, bite. Inshore fishing can net you smaller catches like mackerel and papio and might be a better choice for your little fisherman. For an even lower key outing, cast your line from the beach and see what’s biting!

Tee off in paradise at one of Kona Coast’s public or private courses. Hapuna Golf Course lays along the coastline and its par-72 course invites guests to spend a day on the greens. Tropical flora and a course erected on a former black lava field make Mauna Kea a special place to add to your Kona golf scorecard. It’s coastal home means the winds rushing in offer an added challenge to your play. Want more of a forest vibe? Go to North Kona’s Makalei Golf Club where native plants, lava tubes, and native plants make this a very Hawai‘in golfing experience. 

Kona Coast’s natural beauty is rivaled only by its historical and cultural connections to Hawai‘in culture. Visit Hulihe’e Palace and walk into a site dedicated to preserving Hawai‘in history and language. The “Westminster Abbey of the Pacific”, Maku’aikaua Church is the first Christian church built on the island. Take a guided tour of Ahu’ena Heiau, a  heiau, or sacred temple, constructed to honor Lono, the god of prosperity and fertility. And you might not be on the run from the law, but those rebels who broke the law of the kapu only had two choices: death or flee to Pu’uhonua o Honuaunau. Pu’uhonua o Honuaunau National Historical Park (aka Place of Refuge) might not offer legal sanctuary but does offer visitors films screenings detailing the site’s history and tours as well as offering a natural refuge to all who visit. 

Don’t let your Kona Coast stay pass without basking in this Polynesia celebration of food, culture, music, and dance. The first lūʻau dates from around 1819 and the celebration continues today with poi, poke, and laulau. Multiple lūʻau happen in Kona, so don your leis and bring your appetites to take part in this cultural feast. 

Surfing, snorkeling scuba diving, and parasailing. Do it all when you stay along the Kona Coast. Fly high above the turquoise waters and gaze on lush mountains and volcanic fields when you parasail above the water. Some Kona picks for snorkeling that brings you close to the ocean’s world include Kealakekua Bay, Kahaluʻu Beach Park, and Puʻuhonua o Honaunau National Historical Park. Manta rays and coral reefs greet you when you dive into the Pacific. Check out scuba tours, including day dives, night dives, and guided dives to take you to the perfect underwater spot. 

Taste your way along the Kona Coast with a tour of  a chocolate farm or coffee farm–after all, this is where Kona coffee hails from. Maybe you want to explore more of the waters with a manta ray boat tour and watch these fish meet to feast at night. The Kona Coast is a hot spot for whale watching. Book one of all of these excursions for the ultimate Hawai‘i experience. 

Take a gentle ride along the coast and let the salt air ride with you, waves providing the only soundtrack you’ll want. Maybe you choose to explore the forest trails and discover the lushness of the plants on the forest floor. Amp it up with ascents along Hualalai Road and Waipio Valley’s switchbacks and terrain that leaves you breathless. 

If you’re a seasoned wave rider or dipping your toes in the surfing pool for the first time, the Kona Coast serves up some of the world’s premier areas. North of Kona Airport sits Kohanaiki Beach, a spot well-suited for intermediate and advanced riders. Newbies might want to check out Kahaluʻu Beach in Keauhou. Kohanaiki Beach Park’s waves offer tons of practice to hone your wave riding skills.