Among your first stops should be Hawaii Gateway Energy Center. Here, you'll be able to find your bearings and pick up some great ideas before you begin exploring.

When you've finished at this tourist information center in Kailua-Kona, why not make your way to Hulihee Palace, Kailua Pier, and Kaloko-Honokohau National Historical Park? They're not far from Hawaii Gateway Energy Center and also a favorite with tourists.

Plan a trip to see Hawaii Gateway Energy Center

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Kona Reef, A Raintree Vacation Club Resort

Historic Kailua Village

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per person

Jul 25 - Jul 31

found 1 day ago

Roundtrip non-stop flight included

Burbank (BUR) to Kailua-Kona (KOA)

8.6/10 Excellent! (423 reviews)

Really loved the location and especially the pool that overlooked the ocean. It was nice that it was never busy with loud kids/people and was pretty mellow. The room we stayed in, however, was a bit run down and kind of smelled like it was cleaned with a dirty sponge and the floor looked like it was never washed, based on my socks turning black after walking around on it. Also wasn’t a fan of the centipede’s crawling on my bed and floor. I wouldn’t recommend staying on the ground level. On the positive, all of the staff was amazing and attentive. Great customer service and welcoming. (Even after my complaints 😬) I’d consider staying here again in the future.

Reviewed on Jun 18, 2025

Mauna Lani, Auberge Resorts Collection

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Aug 25 - Aug 29

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Roundtrip non-stop flight included

Dallas (DAL) to Kailua-Kona (KOA)

9.2/10 Wonderful! (1,005 reviews)

Words cannot express how amazing this resort is!!! Our experience staying at the Mauna Lani was beyond excellent! The resort is absolutely gorgeous, nestled on Big Island's west side surrounded by superb views of the coast, volcanos and nearby lava rock fields. The grounds are absolutely stunning, the facilities are top notch with lots of attention to detail and the property has a nice white sand beach in a bay where lots of wildlife seem to congregate (we saw 5 sea turtles in the water one morning!). The views of the sunset here are amazing and can be seen either from the beach, walking along the walkway riding along the coast or from the beautiful pools on property. The resort is pretty remote from a lot of places, and we needed 2 1/2 hours to drive down to Volcanoes National park but being so isolated and disconnected was the best! Our room was an oceanfront room with a beautiful view looking west (sunsets here were amazing to see to!). We found the room very luxurious, roomy and clean. The fine dining restaurant Canoe House was excellent in terms of the taste & quality of the food and the service, plus the resort has a bar near the pools and a little market for buying lots of snacks and drinks. We recommend this hotel to anyone staying on Big Island!!!

Reviewed on Jun 12, 2025

Castle at Royal Sea Cliff

Holualoa Village

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Aug 12 - Aug 17

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Roundtrip non-stop flight included

Los Angeles (LAX) to Kailua-Kona (KOA)

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Browse tours and tickets to explore Hawaii Gateway Energy Center

Tours & day trips

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Big Island in a Day: Volcanoes, Waterfalls, Small Group Tour

Free cancellation available

Water activities

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Big Island Manta Ray Night Snorkel

Free cancellation available

Private & custom tours

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Big Island Adventure Bundle: 5 Epic Audio Driving Tours

Free cancellation available

Cruises & boat tours

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Captain Cook Dinner Cruise to Kealakekua Bay

Free cancellation available

Weddings & honeymoons

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Honeymoon Lei Greeting at Kona Airport

Free cancellation available

Popular places to visit

Kaloko-Honokohau National Historical Park

4.5/5(286 reviews)

Discover ancient Hawaii at this historic settlement.

Beautiful spot to watch the dolphins play. #Adventure

Kekaha Kai State Park

Enjoy a trip to Kekaha Kai State Park and popular activities like snorkeling in Kalaoa. Discover the beautiful sunsets and top-notch restaurants in this walkable area.

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 vacation is part of your travel plans, Mahai'ula Beach might be the perfect place to seek out during your trip to Kalaoa. Stroll along the seaside or discover the area's sunsets.

Learning how the roast is perfected with Hula Daddy owner.

Hula Daddy Kona Coffee Plantation

3/5(1 review)

Enjoy an outing to Hula Daddy Kona Coffee Plantation during your stay in Holualoa. Stroll along the beautiful beaches or visit the shops in this romantic area.

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

4.5/5(14 reviews)

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

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.

Kehaka Kai State Park

Enjoy a trip to Kehaka Kai State Park and popular activities like snorkeling in Kalaoa. Discover the beautiful sunsets and shops in this romantic area.