Top 10 things to do in Kona, Hawaii

The popular Kona district stretches along almost two-thirds of the west coast of the island of Hawaii (the Big Island) and is jam-packed with stunning natural wonders and every adventure activity you can think of.

The year-round sunny weather means that there is a great emphasis on watersports and many outfitters are vying for your custom. You can enjoy unsurpassed adventures, such as swimming with wild dolphins, sea turtles, or manta rays, learn how to scuba dive, surf or stand-up paddle, or view the superb underwater wonderland from the comfort of a submarine. Here are Top 10 things to do in Kona, Hawaii.

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1.Kailua Village

Kailua Village is the historic heart of the Big Island, located on the coastline of Kona, 15 minutes south of the Kona airport. The village was once a quiet little fishing village but is now a vibrant coastal town that offers a variety of accommodation, dining, shopping, and leisure options. Kailua Village is also home to several historic places that date back to the 1800s – you can easily visit several of these on a self-guided walking tour of the area. Historical highlights include Hulihee Palace and Mokuaikaua Church.

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2.Kaloko-Honokohau National Historical Park

Kaloko-Honokohau National Historical Park is the ideal place to combine outdoor activities with learning about the fascinating history and culture of the ancient Hawaiians. At the visitors center you can get all the information you need to follow hiking trails that will lead you to see four ahupuaa, several sacred temples, and some very old petroglyphs. You can marvel at the advanced engineering skills that enabled these settlers to construct Hawaiian fish ponds and then you can relax along the beach, where you may be lucky enough to see a sea turtle or monk seal. The park is located just south of Kona Airport.

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3.Puuhonua-o-Honaunau National Historical Park

An ancient place of refuge, Puuhonua-o-Honaunau is one of Hawaii’s most sacred historic sites. Highlights of your visit will include the Great Wall, which is up to 17 feet thick in places, and the fierce-looking Kii. The park offers daily ranger talks, which will greatly enhance your visit and deepen your understanding of the history and culture that surround you.

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4.Kanaloa Octopus Farm

You can learn all about cephalopods (octopus and squid) at the unique Kanaloa Octopus Farm, where octopus and squid are sustainably raised for aquariums, research, and saltwater aquarium hobbyists. The facility is located right on the beach, where fresh seawater can be easily pumped into the breeding tanks. You can learn all about the process by booking one of the guided tours, which are offered every day at 10.00am and 2.00pm. You will have some time to interact with the octopuses and even feed them.

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5.Hulihee Palace

At the Hulihee Palace (built in 1838) you can step back in time to the era of the Hawaiian monarchy and see how the royals used to live in the 1800s, when the palace was built to serve as a summer vacation home for the king. The lovely Victorian-style home is filled with beautiful furniture, ornaments, and Victorian relics and is now operated as a museum. Guided tours of the palace take place twice daily at 10.00am and 1.00pm, and on one Sunday of each month you can attend the free Hulihee Palace Concert featuring the Hulihee Palace Band and the Merry Monarchs Chorale. After you tour you can visit the on-site gift shop.

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6.Keauhou Bay

Keauhou Bay is located a short drive south of Kailua Village and is another of Kona’s cultural areas, having formerly been a favorite vacation destination for Hawaiian royalty. Besides enjoying a multitude of watersports on the calm, protected waters of the bay, you can also take a cultural tour of all the historical sites, including several restored temples. A highlight of any visit to the Keauhou coastline is the opportunity to swim and snorkel with the many giant manta rays that are attracted close to the shore to feed on microscopic plankton at night. During the day you can enjoy snorkeling, paddleboarding, and kayaking or try your hand at fishing with the locals.

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7.Atlantis Adventures

Imagine drifting quietly through a 25-acre natural coral reef as countless colorful sea creatures surround your comfortable air-conditioned submarine. Your unique adventure will take you to a depth of up to 100 feet, surrounded by sharks, stingrays, eels, turtles and countless colorful tropical coral reef fish.

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8.Big Island Air

One of the most unforgettable ways to see the Big Island is from the air on a scheduled tour or private charter with Big Island Air. The company has been in existence for over 30 years and operates a fleet of nine-seater Cessna Caravans, which guarantee each passenger a window seat. You can look forward to seeing miles and miles of rugged coastline, sensational beaches, deep verdant valleys, waterfalls, rainforests, and five of Hawaii’s volcanoes, including the active Kilauea Volcano. Big Island Air offer a selection of different tours, including a sunset option, when the twilight affords spectacular views of the red-hot lava fields below.

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9.Big Island Divers

The attraction of Hawaiian wonderland is what attracts thousands of visitors each year to the island. Big Island Divers is one of the most trusted and popular explorers on Big Island, turning your dive dreams into unforgettable diving and snorkeling adventures. If you've never tried scuba diving before, you can sign up for lessons and get your certificate on the site. For more experienced divers, the company offers a number of quite unique diving opportunities, including various daytime snorkeling and unique Blackwater night diving.

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10.Big Island Duck Adventures

Big Island Duck Adventures is waiting to thrill you with a very unusual island tour that seamlessly moves from land to sea in an amphibious bus/boat. At first glance, your Hydra-Terra vehicle looks like an ordinary tour bus until you notice the unusual triangular front, which is intended to glide easily through water. Your 2-hour tour starts with a 7-mile drive along the beautiful coastline, passing several historical and cultural sites along the way. Then it’s into the sea for the “boat” portion of your tour, which offers a completely different view of the coastline and the chance to see dolphins and whales.

The above are places we think will bring you unforgettable experiences. Hope that makes you happy and above is Kona, Hawaii. Wish you have a memorable and unforgettable trip, do not forget to follow us on Wikitopx for updates on the latest and best articles.

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