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Choose from 2,596 Fun Things to Do in North America

Kapiolani Park

Even as early 1877, the Hawaiian Royalty recognized the need for preserving open space. With the city of Honolulu rapidly growing, King David Kalakaua—the last reigning King of Hawaii—allocated 130 of Waikiki’s acres towards a park for the people of Hawaii. Naming it after his beloved wife—Queen Kapiolani—the park today offers sprawling green fields for locals, visitors, and families.

In addition to the soccer fields, tennis courts, and jogging paths, the park also houses the Honolulu Zoo and public art shows on the weekends. For special events, the Waikiki Shell is a performance venue set in the middle of Kapiolani Park, where some of the world’s largest musical acts will throw concerts, benefits, and shows just minutes from Waikiki Beach. The Honolulu Marathon—held every December—usually finishes at Kapiolani Park, and even during other times of the year, this is a happening place for Honolulu residents to escape the city rush.

Practical Info

Kapiolani Park is on the eastern edge of Waikiki between Kalakaua Avenue, Monsarrat Avenue, and Paki Avenue. There is free parking and metered parking along the streets bordering the park, as well as next to the Honolulu Zoo. Hours for the zoo are from 9am-4:30 pm daily, and the zoo admission fee is $14/adult and $6/child.

3902 Paki Avenue, Honolulu, Hawaii, USA

From $ 80

Kaumana Caves

Created by lava flow from Mauna Loa in 1881, the Kaumana Caves are located near Hilo. Legend says Princess Ruth sat in front of the lava flow praying to the goddess Pele to save the city and the flow stopped just in the nick of time.

Concrete stairs (that visitors say can be slippery) lead down through the skylight to the entrance. The caves’ exterior is full of thick and lush foliage, while the inside is loaded with lava rock.

You can explore the area near the mouth of the caves in a fairly quick visit, but if you are the explorer type, you’ll need to come prepared and have some time. The lava rocks can be slippery and sharp, and the caves get dark quickly.

You’ll need good sneakers or hiking shoes and a good flashlight. A headlamp is even better since it keeps your hands free. The rocks can be sharp; gloves will protect them from scrapes and cuts. Headroom can get tight at times, and some who have trekked through say a hardhat and knee pads are something to think about too. Expect the caves to be cool and damp, so dress accordingly.

Practical Info

To get to the Kaumana Caves from Hilo, make a left on Waianuenue Avenue and in a little over a mile, another left onto Kaumana Drive. It will take about 10 minutes. Entrance is free, and parking is located across the street. Picnic tables and restrooms are available.

Kaumana Caves Co Park, Hilo, Hawaii 96720, USA

From $ 225

Kailua Beach Park

Thanks to its ample parking, family-friendly atmosphere, and postcard-worthy shoreline, Kailua Beach Park is often regarded as one of Oahu’s nicest beaches. Like its neighboring cousin, Lanikai Beach, this stretch of white sand is fronted by turquoise waters which stretch out to the Mokulua islands.

Unlike Lanikai, however, Kailua Beach Park is as active a destination as Lanikai is calm. Everything from snorkeling to kayaking and parasailing is available from this windward shore classic, and when the wind picks up in the afternoon the kitesurfers, windsurfers, and catamaran sailors take to the water in full force.

On shore, Kailua Beach Park is a popular spot where locals gather for picnics and barbecues, and the bustling streets of Kailua town are only a short walk from the beach. Trendy cafes and classic delis ring the streets surrounding the park, and this is a part of the island where you could spend an entire day just lounging about the sandy shores and exploring the neighborhood on foot.

While afternoons are a favorite time for watersports enthusiasts, locals agree that mornings at Kailua are the perfect time for a long stroll down the beach to neighboring areas such as Kalama Beach and secluded Lanikai. Whether it’s walking or diving or paddling an outrigger canoe, Kailua Beach Park is always a hub of activity that serves as the epicenter for the windward beach community.

While the beach is admittedly busy (particularly on the weekends), it’s a different sort of energy from the crowds at Waikiki Beach, and a visit to Kailua Beach Park is a refreshing day trip for those who still want to soak up the sun but get out of Waikiki.

Kailua Beach Park, Kailua, HI 96734, USA

Open 5am - 10pm. Restrooms open 6am - 10pm.

From $ 121

Kantun Chi Ecopark

Built around the cenotes and jungle of the Riviera Maya, the Kantun Chi Ecopark makes a popular choice for a day trip from Cancun or Tulum, offering a unique way to explore the dramatic natural scenery and learn about the region’s long Mayan history.

A subterranean playground of cenotes, underground caves and grottoes, dripping with stalactites, stalagmites and ancient columns, the dramatic landscape is the ideal backdrop for an adventure. Go swimming in the freshwater cenotes, try snorkeling or diving in the vast caverns, or go kayaking around the underground caverns.

Practical Info

Kantun Chi Ecopark is located about 90 km south of Cancun and is open daily from 9am-6pm.

Carretera Federal Cancún-Tulum, km 1266.8, Puerto Aventuras, Playa del Carmen, Q.R., Mexico 77734, Mexico

9am-6pm

From $ 140

Kalalau Lookout

The Napali Coast tops nearly everyone’s Kauai bucketlists with its sheer green undulating cliffs dropping directly into cerulean waters. The Kalalau Trail takes you back in and along Napali’s Valleys for 11 miles down to the beach and back up and out for another 11—a trip that takes most people at least two days to complete. Not for everyone. Enter the Kalalau Lookout, an easily accessible vantage from which to take in the deep expanse of Napali’s most recognizable Kalalau Valley and get a taste of Napali from land without all of the hiking. Sitting at an elevation of 4,000 feet, the lookout is perfectly positioned to take in the full two-mile-across valley and the ocean beyond.

Practical Info

Kalalau Lookout is located near the end of Kokee Road, off Waimea Canyon Road, at mile marker #18. Visit the lookout in the morning between 8 a.m. and 11 a.m. if possible. During this window, the sun fully illuminates the valley’s crags, and ensures the best chance of uninterrupted views before the regular afternoon clouds roll in.

Kokee Rd, Kapaa, Hawaii, USA 96746, USA

From $ 135

Katmai National Park

Remotely located in Southwestern Alaska near Kodiak Island, Katmai National Park is one of the foremost places to see Alaskan brown bears, which come to feast on summer salmon runs. Covering more than 4 million acres, the park has one of the largest populations of brown bears in the world. There are 15 different volcanoes to explore, some of which are still active and releasing steam. In fact, the park was established to preserve the area round Mount Katmai and the Valley of Ten Thousand Smokes after volcanic activity devastated the land in the early 1900s.

Hiking, kayaking, and canoeing among the crystal-clear waters are coming activities here, and bear-watching is best at the park’s Brooks River Falls. The many wild rivers and lakes not only draw bears but also sport fisherman, both of which are after the area’s five varieties of Pacific salmon as well as pike, rainbow trout, and Arctic char. The park’s location provides access to some of North America’s most remote wilderness.

Practical Info

Katmai is open year-round, but facilities at its main hub Brooks Camp are only available during summer months. Entrance to the park is free, though camping and lodging fees are $5 and $10 respectively. For extended visits, special arrangements must be made, as Katmai not connected by any major roads. Most reach the area by floatplane. Day trips can be arranged from Kodiak, Homer and Anchorage.

Katmai National Park, Alaska, USA

Park open year-round, facilities open summer only

From $ 680

Kapaau

Much like the neighboring town of Hawi, Kapaau is a town in North Kohala that is experiencing an artistic resurgence. Eccentric artisans and shabby chic galleries now populate sugar-era storefronts, and the pocket-sized town has an intriguing allure that is impossible to pass without stopping.

More so than any other sight, however, Kapaau is known for the King Kamehameha statue that stands just off the highway. Constructed in 1880 in Florence, Italy, the statue was lost during a terrible shipwreck off the coast of the Falkland Islands. For 32 years it sat at the depths of the Atlantic sea floor before it was amazingly found and eventually delivered to its rightful home in Hawaii. The statue was placed in Kapaau since it's considered the birthplace of the king, who was born in a field on Upolu Point only a few miles from town.

Behind the statue, a small museum has a bulletin board with a timeline of Hawaii's history, although you get the feeling that time ticks slower here than in the rest of the state. Continue six miles to Pololu Valley for a sweeping view of the ocean, or descend the rocky, switchback trail down towards the historic, rock-strewn shoreline. For an enjoyable picnic along the coast, pick up lunch from a Kapaau restaurant and head to Keokea Beach Park, a comfortable stretch of grass and picnic tables that fronts the crashing surf.

Practical Info

The town of Kapaau is one hour from Kona and 30 minutes from Waikoloa. Swimming can be rough along the coast, and most afternoons are characterized by wind and the potential for passing showers. Since tourism is such a mainstay of Kapaau's economy, most businesses are open for visitors seven days per week.

Kapaau, Hawaii, USA

From $ 185

Kaumahina State Wayside Park

This 7.8-acre park is a popular stop along the Road to Hana, with several hiking trails, covered picnic facilities and scenic views of the coast. There are dozens of native Hawaiian plants and birds to see as you walk through the forested area, so take a break from the drive and get some perspective from an overlook of the Ke’anae Peninsula and the nearby village.

There are several scenic spots to catch views of the bright blue sea and the winding coastline. Trails lead down to the ocean and loop back around, so there’s space to stretch your legs while enjoying the tropical environment here. Bring your walking shoes, your camera or binoculars and a picnic to enjoy some time at this park on your way up to Hana.

Practical Info

Kaumahina State Wayside Park is located on the north coast of Maui, 28 miles from the Kahului Airport at mile marker 12 along the Hana Highway. It is open from 6 am to 6 pm daily and has restroom facilities.

Maui, Hawaii, USA

6 am to 6 pm daily

From $ 125

Kalaupapa National Historical Park

Just off Maui’s shore on the island of Molokai, Kalaupapa National Historic Park is the former site of two leper colonies. People living with Hansen’s disease (leprosy) have been quarantined here since the days of King Kamehameha, and a community of cured patients still inhabits the Kalaupapa Settlement, scenically surrounded by steep Pali cliffs. The park is dedicated to preserving the experiences of the past so that they might be learned from in the present and future.

Father Damien, a Belgian missionary, first came to Molokai in the 19th century and cared for the afflicted until his death. In doing so, he brought awareness of the disease to the rest of the world. Once completely isolated, the peaceful area is now a center for education and reflection. Historic churches, homes, and cemeteries can still be seen. Out of respect for the residents, the number of visitors is limited to 100 per day.

Practical Info

Kalaupapa is accessible only by tour, and must be traveled to by mule, hiking, or small plane. It is open Monday to Saturday and is not accessible by car.

Kalaupapa, Hawaii, USA

From $ 189

Kauai Coffee Company

There was once a time when the island of Kauai was awash in waving green sugar. When the last mill closed down, however, in October of 2009, the island was left searching for a new crop to step in and fill the void. Luckily for island plantation workers and caffeine lovers worldwide, coffee is starting to pick up on Kauai where the sugar cane industry left off.

Nowhere is this more evident than at Kauai Coffee Company in the town of Kalaheo, where over 4 million trees on 3,100 acres officially make this the largest coffee farm found anywhere in the United States. Take a guided tour through the coffee fields to learn the production process, or sample from over 20 different coffees at the large tasting room on site. Every bean that’s served and sold is grown right here in Hawaii, and when you’ve gotten enough of a buzz for the day, look out at the rows of waving green leaves that disappear over gentle hills to the tropical shoreline below.

Practical Info

The tasting room at Kauai Coffee Company is open from 9am-5:30pm in summer, and 9am-5pm, daily. Admission, tours, and tasting are free, and the plantation is located about 30 minutes from the Lihue, 20 minutes from Poipu, and an hour from Hanalei.

870 Halewili Rd, Kalaheo, Hawaii, USA

From $ 135

Kaneohe Bay

The best stretch of sand in Kaneohe Bay is out on the middle of the sea. That’s where the sandbar, or “Sunken Island” emerges during low tide, and its sugary white sands are like a floating cay that was made especially for you. Kayaking to the sandbar is one of the most popular activities on the Windward Side of Oahu, and while the beaches along the shoreline aren’t great for swimming, the protected waters make the perfect spot for paddling, boating, or kayaking.

In addition to the sandbar, five islands poke above the turquoise, reef-fringed waters. The tallest of the islands—Chinaman’s Hat—rises 200 feet from the northern edge of the bay and offshore of Kualoa Park. Known to Hawaiians as Mokoli“i, the island resembles a large straw that seems to be floating on the surface of the water. While there may or may not be a Chinese man underwater (according to local legend), one thing that’s found on the Kaneohe seafloor is tens of thousands of sea urchins—imported by scientists to help stave off the growth of highly invasive algae. While the water around the sandbar offers nice swimming and has a soft, sandy bottom, much of the shoreline is rocky, slippery, and potentially covered in urchins. A better bet is to stay in the kayak and enjoy the view of the mountains, which explode from the shoreline with a rugged fury, their peaks outstretched toward the clouds.

Practical Info

Kaneohe Bay is on the island’s eastern shore about 30 minutes from Waikiki. Morning hours offer calmest conditions for paddling, swimming, and boating, and check the tide charts for low tide for the best time to visit the sandbar. Private boats and charter boats can be rented in Kaneohe, and kayak rentals are offered in the neighboring town of Kailua.

Oahu 96744, USA

From $ 48

Kau Coffee Mill

Globally, Kau coffee may not have the same ring to it as Kona coffee does, but on Island many say the coffee produced in Kona’s southerly neighboring district is just as good. Kau Coffee Mill, perhaps the largest and most outward facing of the plantations in Kau, takes its beans from branch to brew onsite with regular scheduled tours of its volcanic-soil loving plants, drying mill and roastery. Should you miss the tour, the company offers a big glass window into its drying and roasting production facilities, visible anytime during business hours.

Inside the small but bright and cheerful gift shop is the best part: Tastings of their estate brews and locally-produced macadamia nuts. Among the most popular varieties here include their Peaberry and the unique coconut caramel crunch or macadamia nut-flavored roasts. While you’re tasting, be sure to gaze up at the coffee-themed murals that line the upper walls, or read about noteworthy locals on the Kau Coffee Farmers' Wall of Fame. There’s plenty of coffee to take home, including their 100% estate grown coffee in single-use cups for your coffee maker.

Practical Info

Kau Coffee Mill is located north of the town of Pahala off Wood Valley Road. From the Belt Road, turn inland at Kamani Street, following Pikake Street—which forks left into Wood Valley Road—for about three miles. The mill is open daily from 8:30am until 4:30pm, except on major holidays. Daily tours are free and run at 10, noon and 2pm.

96-2694 Wood Valley Rd, Pahala, Hawaii 96777, USA

Daily 8:30am-4:30pm

From $ 180

Kapalua

Situated on Maui’s northern tip past the sweltering shores of Lahaina, Kapalua is a luxurious enclave of beaches, golf, tennis and resorts. The signature beach—Kapalua Bay—has been voted America’s best, and the Plantation Golf Course regularly hosts the best in professional golf. Snorkel with sea turtles and colorful reef fish at hidden Namalu Bay, or hike the Village Walking Trails that climb their way up the ridge. Wherever you stand in Kapalua, the island of Moloka’i dramatically sits on the not-too-distant horizon, and whitecaps fleck the Pailolo Channel that separates the two islands. In winter, locals flock to Fleming Beach Park for the bodysurfing and waves, and secret, white sand Oneloa Bay is a sanctuary of footprints and silence. And, even though tony Kapalua is only 20 minutes from Lahaina, its exposure to the trade winds means it’s always cooler just a few minutes up the road.

Practical Info

Kapalua is located 10 miles north of downtown Lahaina. There is public parking at Kapalua Bay and DT Fleming Beach Park, and early mornings are always calmest before the afternoon trade winds pick up. The exposure to the wind means an increase in rain, although the showers usually only fall as short, passing bursts.

Kapalua, Hawaii, USA

From $ 131

Kauai Cruise Port

Known as the Garden Isle – it’s the greenest of all the islands – Kauai lies at the northern end of the Hawaiian chain. Kauai’s scenery is so spectacular, it’s been featured in dozens of movies, from Jurassic Park to The Descendants to Tropic Thunder. Shore excursions include film location tours, as well as tours to Waimea Canyon, the ‘Grand Canyon of the Pacific.’

How to get to Kauai

Ships dock in Nawiliwili Harbor on the island’s southeast coast, near the town of Lihue. A rental car is the best way to get around if you aren’t taking an organized tour.

One day on Kauai

Spend your day on Kauai getting back to nature. Start with a drive from Lihue a couple of miles north to Wailua River State Park. Here you’ll find Wailua Falls, a pristine triple waterfall. Then head south, back through Lihue, to the south coast of the island.

Make your way to the National Tropical Botanical Garden, which is really made up of two gardens: Allerton and McBryde (the third garden, Limahuli, is located on the north shore). See an astounding array of tropical plant life as you explore the two expansive gardens, which can be reached by bus from the visitor’s center.

End your day at Poipu Beach, near the botanical garden. Stretch out and relax on this stretch of sand that’s often considered one of the top beaches in Hawaii.

Port Information

The currency in Hawaii is the US dollar. English is the official language, as is Hawaiian, which many locals also speak. The Aloha Center, a block from the cruise dock, offers a coffee shop and arts-and-crafts souvenir shopping.

Nawiliwili Harbor, Lihue, HI, USA

From $ 69

Kaloko Honokohau National Historical Park

It’s easy to look at the Kona coastline and wonder how Hawaiians survived. Barren, dry, and covered in black lava, this desolate terrain appears inhospitable and incapable of supporting life. In actuality, however, this harsh coastline boasted a thriving population of native Hawaiian inhabitants, who worked intimately with the natural surroundings to maximize all of its resources.

At Kaloko Honokohau National Historical Park—set just south of the Kona Airport—this ancient history is brought to life and is blended with recreation. Take a hike past ancient fishponds that were used for feeding the village, and follow trails past historic heiau that were used to worship the gods. If the Kona sun gets a little too hot, cool off at white sand Honokohau Beach, or a take a dip in the Queen’s Bath and enjoy the secluded, hidden surroundings.

More than just the beaches and hiking trails, the Kaloko Honokohau National Historical Park is as an outdoor museum of Hawaiian archaeology. Petroglyphs, fishponds, and ancient rock walls are scattered across the park’s 1,160 acres, and traditionally restored, thatched-hut hale (houses) sit on the shore like they once did for centuries. Local fisherman can often be seen throwing nets like their ancestors before them, and this is the perfect place to unplug and escape when staying in downtown Kona.

Practical Info

The Hale Ho‘okipa Visitor Center is open from 8am-4pm daily and is off of Queen Ka‘ahumanu Highway. To access the park after 4pm when the gates to the Visitor Center close, follow the road to the Honokohau Marina and the signs to the Kona Sailing Club. From here, a short trail leads north to the beach and all of the hiking trails within. There is no admission fee for visiting the park, and no camping is allowed.

Kaloko-Honokohau, Kalaoa, HI 96740, USA

Daily 8am-5pm

From $ 124

Kailua Pier

Kailua Pier is the northern bookend to most of Kailua-Kona’s restaurants, shops and bars, a stretch of concrete wide enough to host four-lanes of traffic (if it wasn’t closed off to cars). The historic pier was first built as a downtown fishing dock in 1900 and utilized rocks from deconstructed Hawaiian palace and fort walls, but today few boats moor here. Instead, the pier is mostly used for large events and festivals including the annual Kona Ironman World Championships, which starts and finishes at the pier, and the Kona International Billfish Tournament whose daily catches of sometimes-massive fish species including Pacific blue marlin are weighed from pier-side scales for all to see.

On the pier’s northern side, a small beach fronting the King Kamehameha Marriott Hotel has public showers, restroom blocks and hosts community events such as the Kona International Surf Film Festival and the Kona Brewers’ Festival. Aside from the beach, the best vantage for

Ahu’ena Heiau, a still-revered thatch-roof temple dedicated to Lono and dating to the early 19th century, is from Kailua Pier. Some say the temple is just 1/3 of its original size when built by Island-uniting King Kamehameha I. Because it is believed the monarch also died here, the site and its tiny man-made island remain sacred and off-limits to the public, despite being on the National Register of Historic Landmarks.

Practical Info

The pier is located on Kaahumanu Place at the bend where Alii Drive becomes Palani Road. It is next door to the King Kamehameha Marriott Hotel and across the street from the Fish Hopper Restaurant and ABC Store.

Kaahumanu Place, Kailua-Kona, Hawaii 96740, USA

From $ 116

Kalapana

More than anything else, the town of Kalapana is a town that was, not a town that is. It is a sad, black, graveyard of homes where dreams, memories and material possessions were incinerated by nature’s fury. Prior to the eruption of Kilauea volcano, Kalapana was a sleepy town along the Big Island’s eastern coastline. All of that changed in 1990 when Kilauea literally rolled through town. By the time the molten carnage was through, over 100 homes had been burned and swallowed by the shifting orange magma.

Today there are still about 35 homes remaining in Kalapana, although the main highlight is where visitors can hike to watch lava spill into the sea. Ever since Kilauea began erupting in 1983, over 500 acres of new land has been created along the coastline, and even though it isn't officially a part of the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, Kalapana is often the best place to watch the drama unfold.

Practical Info

The town of Kalapana is 32 miles from Hilo and 40 miles from Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. The lava viewing area is at the end of Highway 130, and the hike to reach the lava flows can vary from 20 minutes to a couple of hours depending on the exact location of the flow. The hike to the lava is across rocky terrain, so closed–toe shoes are needed, and the best time to view the lava is at night when it glows a fiery bright orange.

Kalapana, Hawaii, USA

From $ 225

Karl Strauss Brewing Company

As the longest operating brewery in San Diego, Karl Strauss has quite the legacy in the burgeoning brewery scene of the city. It is often credited as the brewery that began the craft brew craze of San Diego County. Yet it’s not only locally recognized — the team continues to make some of the best beers in the country. Karl Strauss beers have won nearly 100 medals since 2009 alone, and has taken top honors as the best mid-size brewery at the Great American Beer Festival.

Their brewpub in downtown San Diego was the city’s first, opting for stronger handcrafted flavors against the light, mass-produced popular American beers. Today they’re making several different types of beers, including their popular San Diego-style IPA. The amber ales, pale ales, wheat ales, and stouts also receive high praise. As a founder of the San Diego brewing scene, it is recognized as an essential stop on any beer tour of the city.

Practical Info

The main tasting room is in the Pacific Beach neighborhood of San Diego. It’s open Wednesday to Saturday from 2pm for tastings or sipping in their beer garden. There are five other brewery locations throughout the city of San Diego, and a few others spread out Southern California.

5985 Santa Fe St., San Diego, California 92109, USA

Weds-Sat from 2-8pm

From $ 85

Kawaiahao Church

Often referred to as 'the Westminster Abbey of the Pacific,' this historic stone church was the first of its kind to be built on the island of Oahu. Prior to its construction in 1843, Christian missionaries held weekly sermons in small, pili grass huts, but the Hawaiian royalty rapidly embraced Christianity and a long lineage of Hawaiian royalty has worshipped here at the church. Not only is King Kamehameha II buried on the grounds, but this is where Kamehameha III uttered the phrase that would eventually become the state motto: "Ua mau ke ea o ka aina i ka pono"—"the life of the land is perpetuated in righteousness."

When it was completed, Kawaiahao Church was unlike any structure that had previously been built on Oahu. Over 14,000 coral blocks were carved from offshore reefs, and it's estimated that over 1,000 workers took nearly six years to completely finish the church. Today, the structure is an architectural highlight of Honolulu’s historic quarter, where visitors can also find 'Iolani Palace and the King Kamehameha statue, in addition to the current state capital.

Practical Info

Sunday mass is held at 9 a.m. and is partially conducted in Hawaiian. There are also prayer services on Wednesday evenings from 5 to 7 p.m. Visitors can also stop by to visit the grounds and take photos of the church from outside.

957 Punchbowl St, Honolulu, Hawaii 96813, USA

Sanctuary open daily 8am-4:30pm

From $ 51

Kealakekua Bay

The marine sanctuary of Kealakekua Bay ranks among Hawaii’s most scenic spots for snorkeling, swimming, and hiking. The beautiful bay, home to spinner dolphins and backed by green mountain slopes, was the site where Captain James Cook landed—and was later killed—on the Big Island in 1779, forever altering the history and culture of the archipelago.

The Basics

Kealakekua Bay is one of the most popular day trips from Kailua-Kona. Most visitors arrive by tour for snorkeling, kayaking, dolphin watching, or learning about the site’s historical significance over a Hawaiian-style meal. The protected waters are often ideal for swimming, often alongside dolphins, tropical fish, and a range of other marine life. Don’t overlook the Captain Cook Monument, a white obelisk commemorating Captain James Cook, who was killed in a skirmish with Native Hawaiians in February 1779.

Things to Know Before You Go

Kealakekua Bay is a must-visit for history buffs and nature lovers alike.
A small park near the beach offers a picnic pavilion, restrooms, and a water fountain.
Don’t forget to bring sunglasses, sunscreen, and a hat.
No lifeguards are on duty in the bay, so swim at your own risk.
Most snorkeling tours include all necessary snorkel gear.

How to Get There

Kealakekua Bay sits on the Big Island’s western Kona Coast, within the protected Kealakekua Bay State Historical Park. If you don’t have a rental car to drive there yourself, the easiest way to visit is through an organized tour from Kailua-Kona.

When to Get There

Since much of the appeal of Kealakekua Bay lies in its turquoise waters, plan to visit on a warm, sunny day. For the best chance to spot spinner dolphins near the shore, opt for an evening cruise along the Kona Coast.

Kayaking to Kealakekua Bay

Due to the growing popularity of Kealakekua Bay (and the risk that popularity poses to the underwater ecosystem), kayakers wishing to land boats along the shoreline have to get a permit ahead of time. Most guided kayak tours and kayak rentals already include the necessary permits, but it’s a good idea to check.

Kaawaloa Road, Kealakekua Bay 96750, USA

Free

From $ 70