Kailua-Kona
Kailua-Kona is a town on Hawaii Island's west coast and the usual base for manta ray night snorkel tours, Kealakekua Bay trips and Kona coffee farms.
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Kailua-Kona is a town on the leeward, or west, coast of Hawaii Island, the largest island in the Hawaiian chain and the one most people call the Big Island. Hualalai and Mauna Loa rise behind it, and Kona coffee grows on the lower slopes around town. Many trips here center on the water. Manta ray night snorkel tours are the main draw, and Kealakekua Bay, a drive south, is the usual choice for snorkeling and for the Captain Cook monument.
For a first trip, stay in town if you want to walk to the pier and the restaurants along Ali'i Drive and do not plan to drive every day. Choose Keauhou or Waikoloa if you want quieter nights or beach access, and expect to drive. The leeward side is drier than the windward side for most of the year. Plan three or four days for the main water trips and a coffee farm, and a week if you also want the Kohala coast.
Kailua-Kona in five
- Book manta and snorkel tours aheadNight manta snorkels and boat trips to Kealakekua Bay run from the Kona harbors and sell out in busy months. Compare operators and read the cancellation terms.Tours and tickets
- Join a tour for Kealakekua BayKealakekua Bay is a protected bay with a monument across the water. Boat or kayak tours are the easiest way in, so book through a licensed operator.
- Rent a car for the islandKona is far from Hilo and Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park, both 2 hours or more by road. A car is the only practical way to see more than the town.Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park
- Visit coffee farms in the morningMany farms in the hills above town offer tastings and short tours. Check each farm's hours and whether it needs a booking.
- Compare Kailua-Kona with the Kohala coastKona is a town with restaurants and a harbor; the resort coast to the north has large resorts and golf. Read the Kona Coast guide before you book.Kona Coast
Things to do in Kailua-Kona
See all attractions in Kailua-Kona
Need to know
- Airport
- Kona International (KOA), about 15 min north
- Getting there
- Fly into Kona; inter-island flights from Honolulu
- Getting around
- A rental car; walk the town and Aliʻi Drive
- Best base
- Aliʻi Drive in Kailua-Kona, or the Kohala coast
- Time needed
- 2–4 days, more with Volcanoes
Weather by month
- Rainy days
- Best
- Good
- JanuaryRain13 rainy daysHigh24°Low20°Whale seasonJanuaryRain
Best
- High
- 24°
- Low
- 20°
- Precipitation
- 79 mm
- Rainy days
- 13
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Whale season
- FebruaryRain13 rainy daysHigh23°Low20°Whale seasonFebruaryRain
Best
- High
- 23°
- Low
- 20°
- Precipitation
- 99 mm
- Rainy days
- 13
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Whale season
- MarchRain14 rainy daysHigh24°Low20°Warm, dryMarchRain
Best
- High
- 24°
- Low
- 20°
- Precipitation
- 76 mm
- Rainy days
- 14
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, dry
- AprilRain19 rainy daysHigh24°Low21°Warm, calmAprilRain
Best
- High
- 24°
- Low
- 21°
- Precipitation
- 133 mm
- Rainy days
- 19
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, calm
- MayRain21 rainy daysHigh24°Low22°Warm, dryMayRain
Best
- High
- 24°
- Low
- 22°
- Precipitation
- 136 mm
- Rainy days
- 21
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, dry
- JuneRain24 rainy daysHigh25°Low22°Hot, dryJuneRain
Good
- High
- 25°
- Low
- 22°
- Precipitation
- 174 mm
- Rainy days
- 24
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Hot, dry
- JulyRain23 rainy daysHigh26°Low23°Warm, calmJulyRain
Good
- High
- 26°
- Low
- 23°
- Precipitation
- 190 mm
- Rainy days
- 23
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, calm
- AugustRain22 rainy daysHigh26°Low23°Hot, busyAugustRain
Good
- High
- 26°
- Low
- 23°
- Precipitation
- 207 mm
- Rainy days
- 22
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Hot, busy
- SeptemberRain18 rainy daysHigh26°Low23°Hot, calmSeptemberRain
Best
- High
- 26°
- Low
- 23°
- Precipitation
- 126 mm
- Rainy days
- 18
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Hot, calm
- OctoberRain15 rainy daysHigh26°Low23°Warm, calmOctoberRain
Best
- High
- 26°
- Low
- 23°
- Precipitation
- 85 mm
- Rainy days
- 15
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, calm
- NovemberRain12 rainy daysHigh25°Low22°Cooler, showersNovemberRain
Best
- High
- 25°
- Low
- 22°
- Precipitation
- 56 mm
- Rainy days
- 12
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cooler, showers
- DecemberRain13 rainy daysHigh24°Low21°Whale seasonDecemberRain
Best
- High
- 24°
- Low
- 21°
- Precipitation
- 100 mm
- Rainy days
- 13
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Whale season
Average daily high and low in Kailua-Kona, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.
Right now in Kailua-Kona
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
28
- Feels like
- 33°
- Humidity
- 78%
- Wind
- 7 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 79%
Kailua-Kona
11:19 AM
Monday, November 2
- Today28°24°79%Monday: Drizzle. High 28°, Low 24°. Chance of rain 79%.
- Tue27°24°84%Tuesday: Drizzle. High 27°, Low 24°. Chance of rain 84%.
- Wed27°23°39%Wednesday: Drizzle. High 27°, Low 23°. Chance of rain 39%.
- Thu29°21°8%Thursday: Drizzle. High 29°, Low 21°. Chance of rain 8%.
- Fri28°22°8%Friday: Cloudy. High 28°, Low 22°. Chance of rain 8%.
- Sat29°22°18%Saturday: Drizzle. High 29°, Low 22°. Chance of rain 18%.
Updated 10:14 AM local time · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Money
Mid-market rate1 EUR = 1.116 USD
Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API
Every year
- Mar–AprMerrie Monarch FestivalHilo, a day trip
Day trips by train
Before you go to Kailua-Kona
We may earn a commission. It never decides our picks.
Rules for Kailua-Kona, checked
- Many non-US visitors enter under the Visa Waiver Program with an ESTA, and others need a visa. Apply for ESTA on the US CBP site before you fly.Source
- Declare fresh fruit, plants, seeds and soil on arrival. Hawaii's agricultural inspectors can confiscate untreated items.
- Taking sand, coral or lava rock from Hawaii's beaches and parks is illegal. Leave them where you found them.
- Keep at least 10 feet from sea turtles and 50 feet from Hawaiian monk seals. Check NOAA Fisheries guidance for the current rules.
Plan around Kailua-Kona
Parks, cities and trip planning for visitors
Read the guideKona CoastThe wider west coast and where to base
Read the guideHawaiʻi the Big IslandThe whole island on one page
Read the guideHawaiʻi Volcanoes National ParkKīlauea, about 2 hours by road
Read the guideKailua on OʻahuNot the same place: a Windward Oʻahu beach town
Read the guideESTA explainedWho needs it, the fee and how to apply
Read the guideTravel insuranceMedical cover for visitors to the US
Read the guideKailua-Kona FAQ
Is Kailua-Kona worth visiting?
Yes, for snorkeling, manta ray trips, coffee and sunny weather. It is the main base on the Big Island's dry west side, with more restaurants and tours than the resort coast.
How many days do you need in Kailua-Kona?
Two to four days covers a snorkel or manta trip, a coffee farm and a drive along the coast. Add two more days if you want Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park.
Is Kailua-Kona the same as Kona?
Kona is the district; Kailua-Kona is its main town. Visitors often say Kona for the town and the airport, which is 15 minutes north.
Do you need a car in Kailua-Kona?
Yes, for anything beyond the town. You can walk Aliʻi Drive and the harbor, but the volcano, Kealakekua Bay and coffee farms need a car or a tour.
Can you swim with manta rays in Kona?
Yes, on guided night snorkel and dive trips from Kona operators. Book ahead, read the safety and cancellation terms, and choose a licensed company.