12 Reasons to Love Kona, Hawaiʻi Island

With its sunny weather, world-renowned coffee and rich history, region marked by fields of lava rock formations and, offshore, crystal clear waters.

It’s also home to the community of Kailua-Kona, where the annual Ironman World Championship takes place. On Oct. 11, nearly 3,000 of the best triathletes in the world will take on the iconic course.

However, you don’t need to be a triathlete to love Kona—trust us.

Here’s 12 reasons why Kona on Hawaiʻi Island is special.

1. Kona Coffee

Kona has become famous for cultivating world-class coffee.
Photo: Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority (HTA)/Heather Goodman

Kona has become the most well-known regions in Hawaiʻi for cultivating coffee. The high elevation and nutrient-rich volcanic soil from Hualālai are ideal for growing the crop, and many local farms welcome visitors to learn about the seed-to-cup process and, of course, to sample freshly brewed Kona coffee.

READ MORE: A History of Kona Coffee, Hawaiʻi’s Most Caffeinated Crop

2. Kona Brewing Hawaiʻi

Kona Brewing Hawaiʻi has become a leading brand of local beers, in the Islands and beyond. You can visit the brewery’s original pub.
Photo Courtesy: Kona Brewing Hawaiʻi

And it’s not just coffee: The Big Island is big on beer too. Since opening in 1994, Kona Brewing Hawaiʻi has become a leading brand of local beers, in the Islands and beyond. You can visit the brewery’s original pub, an ideal setting to sip a refreshing beer and enjoy fresh pūpū and homemade pizzas. For those curious about the brewing process, 60-minute tours are also offered. A complimentary shuttle picks up guests at the pub and takes them to the brewery for the guided tours.

READ MORE: The 5 Best Local Beers in Hawaiʻi

3. Aliʻi Drive

Aliʻi Drive boasts stunning vistas of Kailua Bay.
Photo: Grace Maeda

With stunning vistas of Kailua Bay, this oceanfront promenade is lined with restaurants, shave ice stands and local boutiques. Spend an afternoon strolling this stretch and you’ll also find Aliʻi Drive is home to significant archaeological and historical sites, like Huliheʻe Palace and Mokuʻaikaua Church. And the start and finish lines for the Ironman World Championship are on Aliʻi Drive.

4. Kamakahonu Beach

The turquoise waters off Kamakahonu Beach are perfect for swimming and paddling.
Photo: Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority (HTA)/Heather Goodman

After wandering down Aliʻi Drive, the turquoise waters off Kamakahonu Beach are perfect for diving in and cooling off. At the northern end of the road, this small but beautiful stretch of white sand is sheltered by the Kailua Pier, and the conditions are typically calm, ideal for swimming and paddleboarding.

5. Huliheʻe Palace

Huliheʻe Palace was once a summer vacation home for Hawaiian royalty.
Photo: Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority (HTA)/Daeja Fallas

Built in 1838 on Aliʻi Drive, Huliheʻe Palace was once a summer vacation home for Hawaiian royalty. Today, it’s a museum showcasing Victorian artifacts from the time of King Kalākaua and Queen Kapiʻolani. The area is actually surrounded by fascinating history. Across the street from the palace is Mokuʻaikaua Church, the first Christian church built in Hawaiʻi, back in 1820. And if you look beyond Kailua Pier, you can see another important site. The Ahuʻena Heiau was a religious temple of Kamehameha the Great and today is one of the most historically significant places in Hawaiʻi.

6. Puʻuhonua o Hōnaunau National Historical Park

Puʻu o Hōnaunau was once royal ground and a place of refuge. Today, you can explore the park and learn about Hawaiian history.
Photo: Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority (HTA)/Heather Goodman

Located at Hōnaunau Bay in South Kona, this 180-acre national historical park holds tremendous cultural significance. Puʻu o Hōnaunau was once royal ground and a place of refuge for ancient Hawaiians who broke kapu (taboo or sacred laws). Lawbreakers could avoid execution by fleeing to a puʻuhonua, a place of sanctuary. The offender needed to participate in a ceremony of absolution before returning to society. Today, you can explore the park and the Hawaiian history that’s preserved here, from ancient heiau (temples) to wooden images of gods.

7. Kaloko-Honokōhau National Historical Park

Kaloko-Honokōhau National Historical Park is an important historical site in Kona.
Photo: Courtesy of the Island of Hawaiʻi Visitors Bureau (IHVB)/Emily Dickey

Kaloko-Honokōhau National Historical Park is another important historical site in Kona. Once a settlement for ancient Hawaiians, you can see restored hale (houses), ancient fishponds and petroglyphs. Be on the lookout for wildlife like honu (Hawaiian green sea turtles) and native birds. You can stop by the visitor center to learn more about special programs and guided tours.

8. Ironman World Championship

The start and finish lines for the Ironman World Championship are on Aliʻi Drive in Kona.
Photo: Island of Hawaiʻi Visitors Bureau (IHVB)/Kirk Lee Aeder

The Ironman World Championship in Kona is the pinnacle of long-distance triathlons. Set against beautiful but unforgiving terrain, athletes complete a 2.4-mile ocean swim, a 112-mile bike ride through lava fields, and then a grueling 26.2-mile run. It’s incredibly impressive and inspiring to watch these athletes push their limits.

9. Swim with Manta Rays

You can take a nighttime tour to swim with manta ray off the Kona coast.
Photo: Getty Images

Jumping into the ocean and floating next to magnificent manta rays is an unforgettable experience. These gentle giants can grow up to 15 feet from wingtip to wingtip. You can hook up with a tour company to take you on a nighttime swim with these creatures as they glide gracefully through the water and feed on plankton.

READ MORE: 10 Things You May Not Know About Manta Ray in Hawaiʻi

10. Mrs. Barry’s Kona Cookies

For a sweet treat, stop by Mrs. Barry’s Kona Cookies.
Photo: Nani Welch Keliʻihoʻomalu

Tucked in an industrial plaza just a five-minute drive from the Kona airport, Mrs. Barry’s Kona Cookies is a hidden gem worth searching for. You can pick up an assorted bag to sample all 13 cookie varieties, including chocolate chip macadamia nut, peanut butter and coconut shortbread.

READ MORE: Mrs. Barry’s Kona Cookies is Big Island’s Sweetest Hole-in-the-Wall

11. Uber-fresh Poke

Kona is home to some of the best poke spots in the Islands.
Photo: Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority (HTA)/Blake Bronstad

Kona’s coastline drops steeply, giving fishermen quick access to deep ocean waters filled with pelagic species like marlin, ʻahi and mahimahi. For us, this means ultra-fresh fish—and incredible poke.

From Da Poke Shack to Umeke’s Fish Market and Grill, Kona is home to some of the best poke spots in the Islands.

12. Shipwreck Bar at Kona Village

Sip on cocktails from the starboard of a restored schooner at Shipwreck Bar and Grill.
Photo: Courtesy of Kona Village, A Rosewood Resort

Guests are invited to sip cocktails from the starboard of a restored schooner at Shipwreck Bar and Sushi at Kona Village, A Rosewood Resort. This certainly isn’t your typical beach bar experience—it’s better.

Here, the bar menu features creative drinks like Mick, the Jungle Bird, inspired by a myna bird named Mick. Made with a blend of bitter Campari, pineapple and passion fruit, it’s a refreshing cocktail that can be paired with the bar’s fresh maki rolls, nigiri and sashimi.

READ MORE: 3 Cool and Unexpected Hotel Bars and Lounges in Kailua-Kona

Grace Maeda is the editor of HAWAIʻI Magazine.