A few weeks ago, I was in Los Angeles airport getting ready to board a flight back to Kona. The person next to me (clearly a tourist) sensed that I lived in Hawaii, so he struck up a conversation about things to do and see in Kona. His family had six nights and we going to stay at the Marriott Courtyard King Kamehameha Kona Beach Hotel. He couldn’t say all this and manage to get out “the Marriott King hotel in Kona.” I knew what he meant. His kids are teenagers.
So, what’s there to see and do in Kona for a family?
Ocean Activities
For the kids, I’d highly recommend going scuba diving. All the dive shops have what are called “introductory dives”, which is basically scuba diving with a dive master by your side. You don’t need a license and it will open your eyes to a whole new world.
For the family, the manta night snorkel is one of the highest rated activities in Kona. The manta rays to come near shore areas at night to feed on the plankton, which is attracted to the dive lights. It’s best described as manta ballet. All the dive boats do a good job of providing for a safe and enjoyable experience.
Snorkeling at Kahaluu Beach is another fun and enjoyable activity. It’s also free is you have snorkel gear. The beach area is protected so the waves are very calm. This are also lifeguards, so it’s a great place to go if you’re not accustomed to ocean snorkeling. Waning: don’t touch or harass the turtles! There are also surf lessons available (fee based) at the north end of the beach.
Deep sea fishing will set you back a big hunk of change, but imagine the fun of reeling in a few hundred pound tuna or a possibly a thousand pound marlin. There are few places in the world with a better chance of catching a big one than Kona, Hawaii. We recommend TOPSHAPE Kona Fishing for a deluxe boat and experience and High Noon for those on more of budget.
Land Activities
For a great morning trip or afternoon trip, visiting one of the Kona coffee plantations can’t be beat. Our favorite is Mountain Thunder Coffee Plantation, which is just above Kailua-Kona and is home to some of the best organic Kona coffee you’ll ever taste.
It’s a bit of drive, but visiting Mauna Kea will take you to a new world. The visitors center is as high as you can go is you don’t have a 4 wheel drive car, but it’s still a great place for star gazing and learning about the solar system. There are tours to the top, but they can be very expensive.
“The volcano” (actually there are five, but this refers to the active one) is on the other side of the island and will take at least two hours to reach. If you can see the lava flowing at night, as it often is in the crater, it’s a spectacular experience. Check the park website for lava flow information.
Kona, Hawaii is also home to hotel luaus, parasailing, dinner cruises and all the other expected activities in a tourist area.
One thing I recommend to tourists is to commit to eating all their meals and doing all their shopping at places they have never been to before. So, avoid the big box stores and chain restaurants and seek out places with local flavor and goods..