30+ Things to Do in Kona Hawaii On A Budget

While most of our yearly Hawaii trips are to Oahu to visit family, we’ve enjoyed a couple amazing vacations to Kailua-Kona on the Big Island of Hawaii. In this post, we’ll share some of the best things to do in Kona Hawaii for free or low cost.

As budget travelers ourselves, we know Hawaii is not a cheap destination to begin with. We recommend you choose one or two things you want to splurge on: special accommodations, a rental car, dining out, or adventure activities.

On our most recent Kona trip, the purpose was to spend quality time with family so we prioritized a nice vacation rental house where we could all be together. We saved money by doing most of our food shopping at Costco and finding free things to do in Kona.

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Last updated: February 2024. Originally published: February 2020.

Read our complete guide on where to stay in Kona here >

About Kailua-Kona, Hawaii

The Big Island of Hawaii has two main towns: Kailua-Kona on the West and Hilo on the East. Each has their own airport, but Kona is more tourist-centered. 

Kona is an ocean-side town which starts to slope up toward Hualalai volcano. Much of the ground is clearly lava rock, making it feel especially arid.

As you go uphill, away from the water, the landscape becomes more lush, though nowhere near as rainforest-like as the rainy Hilo side of the island. 

Kona’s climate stays relatively warm year-round, with temperatures rarely lower than 60 or higher than 90.

What to do in Kona for free

The following is a list of fun things to do in Kona Hawaii for free. After that, we’ll cover some more low cost things to do in Kona on a budget.

Wander around Kailua Village

Once a small fishing village, Kailua Village is now the heart of downtown Kailua-Kona. The main street is Ali’i Drive which runs along the coast. Designated a Hawaii Scenic Byway, it’s also called the “Royal Footsteps Along the Kona Coast.”

Kailua Village is home to several historic places that date back to the 1800s, including Hulihee Palace (the summer residence of Hawaiian royals) and Mokuaikaua Church, the oldest Christian church on the island.

King Kamehameha spent once lived on Kamakahonu Bay near Kailua Pier. This also happens to be the finish line of the annual Ironman World Championship and is a great place to watch the sunset.

Kailua Village, 75-5766, Kuakini Highway, Kailua-Kona, HI

Visit a Coffee Farm

Kona coffee is a world-renown arabica coffee bean, grown on the slopes of Kona’s mountains.

There are a number of coffee farms open to visitors, including Rooster Farms, Hula Daddy, Greenwell Farms, and Mountain Thunder.

At Mountain Thunder Coffee Plantation, in the cloud forest just up the hill from town, you can take a free tour of the whole coffee production process on site. You can also sample their coffees in the gift shop.

73-1944 Hao Street
Mon – Sun 9:30am – 4:30pm. Tours are every hour, 10am – 4pm.
No reservations required.

Visit Big Island Bees

The Big Island Bee farm is a short drive South of Kailua-Kona. While their one-hour tour does have a fee, you can still visit this family-friendly honey farm free of charge.

There is a museum with exhibits and bee keeping demonstrations. Plus enjoy free samples of their local, raw honey.

82-1140 Meli Rd Suite 102, Captain Cook, HI
Mon – Fri 10am – 4pm. Saturday 10am – 2pm.

Check out Hamakua Macadamia Nut Company visitor center

Delicious macadamia nuts have been produced on the island since the 1920’s. Hamakua Macadamia Nut Company has a visitor center/gift shop about an hour North of Kona. There, you can observe how macadamia nuts are processed and try free samples.

61-3251 Maluokalani St., Kawaihae, HI
Mon – Sun 9am – 5:30pm

Watch the sunset or sunrise

With Kona being on the West side of the island, nearly everywhere has a great view of the sun setting over the Pacific Ocean. Catch a glimpse from your accommodations or take a stroll out to Kailua Pier in town.

Enjoy a beach day

Returning to the place where we honeymooned almost 12 years later!

This side of the island has a wide variety of beaches, from white sand to pebble beaches and volcanic black sand as well. Wave size and undertow vary with the weather and seasons, so be sure to check for your own safety before entering the water. 

Also note that Hawaii is enacting a ban on reef-damaging sunscreens. To help protect the marine environment, check that the ingredients in your sunscreen comply with regulations. 

Here are some beaches to check out on the Kona Coast:

Hapuna Beach State Park – The Big Island’s largest white sand beach about 40 minutes North of town, good for body boarding and snorkeling. Restrooms and showers on site. Large parking lot can fill up mid-day on holidays or weekends. $5 per car.

Hapuna Beach on a holiday

Kauna’oa – White sand in a beautiful protected bay at Mauna Lani Resort. Open to the public but there’s only a limited number of parking passes given out at the Mauna Kea Hotel’s guard gate.

Kua Bay – White sand beach 10 minutes north of Kona Airport with big surf for experienced boogie boarders. Restrooms and showers available, but no shade.

Honokohau Harbor – Long beach 15 minutes south of Kona Airport. Shallow and protected swim area and lots of space for walking. Dogs allowed.

Kahalu’u Beach Park – A black sand beach and park on the South end of Kona with snorkeling, SUPing, and a beginner surf spot. Rental shop across the street.

Kahalu’u Beach Park

Watch for wildlife

Whether it’s passing whales or pods of dolphins, bird watching, sea turtle spotting, or snorkeling to see colorful fish, there are plenty of opportunities around Kona to spot wildlife.

Be sure to keep your distance from any wild animals, especially sea turtles which are a protected species.

Kealakekua Bay is an underwater marine sanctuary at Captain Cook Bay, south of Kona, where you often can find dolphins and sea turtles. The best snorkeling spot is on the opposite side of the bay from the parking area, close to the captain Cook monument.

Kona’s North-West Coast is ideal for whale watching from December to May. This is when humpback whales frequent Hawaii’s warm waters to breed and give birth. 

Take a Hike

Kaloko-Honokohau National Historical Park – This park is just South of the Kona airport. Stop by the visitor center for hiking trail information so you can find the park’s sacred temples and some very old petroglyphs. Admission is free.

A kid-friendly and dog-friendly option close to town is Makuala O’Oma Trail, a 1.4 mile loop in the forested hills above Kailua-Kona. 

Most of the other most popular hikes on the Big Island are further from Kona:
– Kilauea’iki Trail (4 miles) in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park
– Waipi’o Valley (6.5 miles) or Pololu Valley (2.5 miles) in Kohala
– Hawaii Botanical Gardens (1.5 miles) in Hilo
– Mauna Loa Lookout (1.5 miles) at Volcano Village

Explore resort grounds and events

The grounds of the Mauna Lani Resort, North of Kailua-Kona, are home to several ancient Hawaiian fishponds and shark ponds.

You will also find a path with ancient petroglyphs at the Puako Petroglyph Park. The beach path from the Mauna Lani north to the Fairmont Orchid provides great beach scenery.

Self-parking is free at the resort. 

The Shops at Mauna Lani offer a free Polynesian show including fire knife dancing two nights per week in addition to cultural classes and other entertainment.

Additionally, Queens’ MarketPlace and Kings’ Shops at Waikoloa Beach Resort offer free entertainment and classes.

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More Cheap Things to Do in Kona Hawaii On A Budget

Now that we’ve covered Kona’s free things to do, here are a few more options that are low cost.

Shop at Costco in Kona

If you’re a Costco member, you might want to grab some local snacks from the Kona Costco, which is right by the airport. (If you’re not a member, the food court is located outside so you can still order an acai bowls, smoothies, or chicken bake.)

Costco in Hawaii stocks most of the same products you’re probably used to but they also have some local specialties. Things like salted or chocolate covered macadamia nuts, One Ton chips, POG, and ready-made dishes can be a nice treat during your Hawaii vacation.

The Kona Costco gas station is one of the cheapest places to refuel your car on the island as well.

Visit a Farmers Market

Kona has a few different markets, which usually include fresh produce vendors as well as crafts or souvenir booths.

The main Kona Farmer’s Market (may be temporarily closed), open Wednesday through Sunday, is just off Ali’i Drive. Live music and performances are also common here.

While prices are not always the cheapest at these markets, you have the opportunity to buy directly from local producers.

Ali’i Drive Farmers Market (may be temporarily closed)
Corner of Alii Drive and Hualalai Road, Kailua-Kona
Wednesdays-Sundays 7am-4pm

Pure Kona Green Market
Amy Greenwell Botanic Garden in Captain Cook
Sundays 9am-2pm

Water sports: Snorkeling, SUP (stand up paddle boarding), surfing, and kayaking

The cost of these beach activities vary. If you can bring your own gear or book accommodations that provide equipment, then these types of water sports are definitely a cheap thing to do in Kona.

Even if you need to rent, hopefully it’s a worthwhile expense that helps you better experience what Hawaii has to offer.

A couple of us rented Stand Up Paddle boards and a surf board at Kahalu’u Beach Park on the South end of Kona. It’s a popular snorkeling area with sea turtle sightings. The park’s small protected bay also tends to be good for beginner surf lessons.

Kahalu’u Bay Surf and Sea rental shop is just across the street from the beach, offering rentals ($20 for 2 hours at the time of this writing) and surf lessons.

Visit Pu’uhonua o Hanaunau Historic Park

Puuhonua o Honaunau in South Kona was once the grounds of Hawaiian royalty and a place of refuge for ancient Hawaiian lawbreakers.

Today the park offers self-guided tours as well as daily ranger talks about this intriguing historical territory. Entrance at the time of this writing is $10 per pedestrian, or $20 per car (valid for 7 days).

Recommended Restaurants in Kona

As mentioned previously, the most budget-friendly dining option in Kona is shopping at Costco or another grocery store and cooking for yourself. That being said, we would be remiss not to share some of Kona’s best restaurants, in the likely event that you’d want to eat out a few times!

Original Thai Cuisine – Tasty Thai dishes for dining in or take away.
75-5629 Kuakini Hwy, Kailua-Kona, HI

Broke Da Mouth Grindz Bar & Grill – Hearty Hawaii and Filipino comfort food.
75-5864 Walua Rd, Kailua-Kona, HI

Umeke’s – Poke bowls and local style lunch plates.
75-143 Hualalai Rd #105, Kailua-Kona, HI

Da Poke Shack – Award winning poke bowls (raw fish) by the beach South of Kona. Picnic tables outside or take it to go.
76-6246 Ali’i Dr., Kailua-Kona, HI

Lava Java – Locally-sourced cafe in downtown Kona with ocean views.
Location: 75-5799 Ali’i Dr, Kailua-Kona, HI

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Worthwhile Splurges for a Bucket List Kona Hawaii Trip

Bucket list activities in Kona aren’t cheap, but as we mentioned at the start, you may be able to keep your Kona trip budget-friendly and still enjoy one or two selective splurges. Here are some of the top rated activities in Kona:

Volcano Discovery Tour – An epic full-day experience to Hawaii Volcanoes National Park and beyond with scenic views, hiking, tasting local specialties, and searching for sea turtles with a certified guide. 
Check price and availability for the Volcano Discover Tour here >

Small Group Surf Lesson – Learn to surf in a 2-hour session with a friendly, professional instructor at Kahaluu Bay, in Kona.
Check price and availability for Surf Lessons here >

Night Manta Ray Snorkel Experience – A must-do activity while in Hawaii, enjoy an amazing opportunity to see manta rays up close.
Check price and availability for the Snorkeling Experience here >

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More FAQs about things to do in Kona Hawaii

Is Kona worth visiting? 

Definitely. Kona Hawaii is a beautiful vacation destination, even if it’s not as lush and tropical as other parts of the islands.

As you can see from our list, there are plenty of things to do in Kona, Hawaii for free, for cheap, and for bucket list travelers. 

Is Kona or Hilo better?

Most visitors stay in Kona where there are more tourist amenities, beaches, and vacation rentals.

Hilo is frequently more rainy, but the weather is typically better in Kona. Personally, we only go to Hilo to visit family, while we visit Kona for vacation.

What should you not miss in Kona Hawaii?

Of course it depends on your interests, but we’d say the most interesting thing about the Big Island of Hawaii is its diverse landscapes. So get out and explore! See the rugged coasts, the hills of coffee, the pasturelands, the volcanoes.

Is Kailua Kona safe?

Hawaii is moderately safe but it’s certainly not immune from crime. For details about pandemic safety and travel requirements, see our Hawaii pandemic travel updates.

Do I need a car in Kona?

We do recommend renting a car to explore the Big Island, unless you plan to stay on the resort or in a hotel right in town. Kona is not particularly walkable and many of the best attractions require driving.

Is there Uber in Kona?

Yes, Uber and Lyft are available in Kailua-Kona and around the Big Island. With a car rental shortage and increasing rental car prices, ride share apps can be a useful alternative for travelers to Kona.

 * Access our free Hawaii packing checklist here *

 

We hope this post has been helpful for you! Let us know in the comments if you have questions or recommendations of your own to add for cheap and free things to do in Kona on a budget. 

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