Natural Energy Laboratory of Hawaii Authority

Popular places to visit

Kaloko-Honokohau National Historical Park featuring tropical scenes, general coastal views and a sandy beach

Kaloko-Honokohau National Historical Park

Enjoy the beautiful sunsets and explore Kaloko-Honokohau National Historical Park, a lovely green space in Kailua-Kona. Wander the seaside and beautiful beaches in the area.

Kaloko-Honokohau National Historical Park
#blue 50 Shades of Blue - Manini'owali Beach at Kua Bay, part of Kekaha Kai State Park, is another of the very pretty Hawaii Big Island beaches, with fine white sand that slopes gently to the beautiful clear turquoise water. The swimming here is awesome when the ocean is calm, and there can be some decent snorkeling along the rocky outcroppings at either end of the beach. During certain times of the year, particularly the summer months, the beautiful soft sand covers the entire beach from north to south. More lava rocks become exposed in the winter months as sand is carried out with the surf. Be aware of those rocks in the shallows when boogie boarding or body surfing. This is a good place to have water shoes to navigate across the rocks. Manini'owali Beach is one of the nicer Big Island beaches that is easy to reach from Kailua-Kona. You can practically drive right to the beach, and some days it seems everyone on the Big Island knows it! If you arrive later in the day, parking can be a little crazy, especially on weekends. As you approach the beach you may see cars lined up down the road. You may have to walk down the road a bit but don't worry; there's plenty of room on the beach! There is a rocky shoreline trail at the northern end of the beach that leads to another of our favorite Hawaii beaches, spectacular Kikaua Beach to the north. The trail winds through a lava field and across a coral beach less than a mile to scenic Kikaua Point.

Kekaha Kai State Park

Enjoy a trip to Kekaha Kai State Park and popular activities such as snorkelling in Kailua-Kona. Discover the beautiful sunsets and top-notch restaurants in this walkable area.

Kekaha Kai State Park
We discovered this serene little beach last month. After turning off the highway there is a 2 mile drive over rocky unpaved terrain, but if you take it slow any kind of car should be able to traverse it. Our compact rental car did great. There is a parking area, and then a trail through the lava fields to the beach

Mahai'ula Beach

If a restful holiday is part of your travel plans, Mahai'ula Beach might be the perfect place to visit during your trip to Kailua-Kona. Wander the seaside or discover the area's sunsets.

Mahai'ula Beach
After a very bad road of 2 miles in between lava fields, you get tovthid amazing black sand beach, with nearly no-one, just a few turtles 🐢

Makalawena Beach

If a restful holiday is part of your travel plans, Makalawena Beach might be the perfect place to visit during your trip to Makalawena. Stroll along the seaside or discover the area's sunsets.

Makalawena Beach
Old Kona Airport State Recreation Area which includes a sandy beach and general coastal views

Old Kona Airport State Recreation Area

Old Kona Airport State Recreation Area is just one of the places to see in Kailua-Kona, so why not enjoy the other things to explore during your travels? Discover the area's beautiful sunsets or seek out its snorkelling spots.

Old Kona Airport State Recreation Area

Hawaii Gateway Energy Center

You can spend time browsing the exhibits at Hawaii Gateway Energy Center during your trip to Kailua-Kona. Wander the seaside or discover the area's beautiful sunsets.

Hawaii Gateway Energy Center

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