Introduction
Where to eat
When to visit
How to get there
Where to stay
Hiring a car

Kailua-Kona travel guide

Kailua-Kona Tourism | Kailua-Kona Guide

You're Going to Love Kailua-Kona

With a population of 11,975, Kailua-Kona is a must-see destination in Hawaii, United States. It is one of the most popular cities to visit in the country. We recommend you stay at least 6 days in order to fully appreciate everything Kailua-Kona has to offer.

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Where to Eat in Kailua-Kona

If you’re looking for affordable options, Sam Choy's Kai Lanai (78-6831 Ali'i Dr.) and Mi's Waterfront Bistro (75-5770 Alii Dr) are great picks.

When to visit Kailua-Kona

Kailua-Kona in October
Estimated hotel price
$1010
1 night at 3-star hotel
Kailua-Kona in October
Estimated hotel price
$1010
1 night at 3-star hotel

Looking for warm weather? Then head to Kailua-Kona in August, when the average temperature is 25 °C, and the highest can go up to 29 °C. The coldest month, on the other hand, is January, when it can get as cold as 18 °C, with an average temperature of 22 °C. You’re likely to see more rain in January, when precipitation is around 70 mm. In contrast, February is usually the driest month of the year in Kailua-Kona, with an average rainfall of 40 mm.

Data provided by weatherbase
Temperatures
Temperatures
Data provided by weatherbase

How to Get to Kailua-Kona

Plane

When flying to Kailua-Kona, you’ll arrive at Kona Intl (KOA), which is located 12 km from the city centre. The shortest flight to Kailua-Kona from New Zealand departs from Wellington and takes around 26h 37m.

Car

Another option to get to Kailua-Kona is to pick up a car hire from Honolulu, which is about 269 km from Kailua-Kona. You’ll find branches of Thrifty and Dollar, among others, in Honolulu.

Plane

When flying to Kailua-Kona, you’ll arrive at Kona Intl (KOA), which is located 12 km from the city centre. The shortest flight to Kailua-Kona from New Zealand departs from Wellington and takes around 26h 37m.

Car

Another option to get to Kailua-Kona is to pick up a car hire from Honolulu, which is about 269 km from Kailua-Kona. You’ll find branches of Thrifty and Dollar, among others, in Honolulu.

Airports near Kailua-Kona

ITOHilo Intl
KOAKona Intl
MUEWaimea (Big Island) Waimea Kohala

Airlines serving Kailua-Kona

Lufthansa
Good (7,042 reviews)
KLM
Good (1,333 reviews)
British Airways
Good (6,834 reviews)
Delta
Excellent (7,929 reviews)
Air France
Good (1,444 reviews)
United Airlines
Good (8,695 reviews)
Qatar Airways
Good (3,563 reviews)
Air Canada
Good (9,242 reviews)
Finnair
Good (1,273 reviews)
Alaska Airlines
Excellent (9,964 reviews)
ITA Airways
Good (967 reviews)
JetBlue
Good (2,922 reviews)
Malaysia Airlines
Good (254 reviews)
Avianca
Good (2,317 reviews)
Japan Airlines
Excellent (1,459 reviews)
Korean Air
Excellent (1,066 reviews)
China Eastern
Good (148 reviews)
Hawaiian Airlines
Good (2,403 reviews)
Aeromexico
Good (1,698 reviews)
Copa Airlines
Good (1,411 reviews)
Show more
Find flights to Kailua-Kona

Where to stay in Kailua-Kona

From 5-star hotels such as the Four Seasons Resort Hualalai to great affordable options like the Big Island Retreat, Kailua-Kona offers a range of accommodations for every taste. Average rates range from around $418 per night for a double room in a 3-star hotel to $1,254 and up for a 5-star experience. If you’re on a budget, well-reviewed accommodations include Kona Islander Vacation Club and Kona Islander.

Where to stay in popular areas of Kailua-Kona

Most booked hotels in Kailua-Kona

See all
Four Seasons Resort Hualalai
5 stars
Excellent (9.4, Excellent reviews)
$2,603+
View
Mauna Lani, Auberge Resorts Collection
5 stars
Excellent (8.6, Excellent reviews)
$1,398+
View
Outrigger Kona Resort and Spa
4 stars
Good (7.9, Good reviews)
$442+
View
Courtyard by Marriott King Kamehameha's Kona Beach Hotel
3 stars
Good (7.7, Good reviews)
$517+
View
Royal Kona Resort
3 stars
Good (7.5, Good reviews)
$390+
View

Hiring a car in Kailua-Kona

Hiring a car in Kailua-Kona costs $127 per day, on average, or $762 if you want to hire it for 6 days. Alamo, National and Enterprise Rent-A-Car are the agencies with the best reviews in the city. The most popular location to hire a car in Kailua-Kona is the Thrifty branch at 73-200 Kupipi Street, which is 12 km from the city centre.

Expect to pay $1.51 per litre in Kailua-Kona (average price from the past 30 days). Depending on the size of your car hire, filling up the tank will cost between $18.12 and $24.16. The most frequently booked car type in Kailua-Kona is Full-size (Ford Mustang Convertible or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Compact car hire (Toyota Corolla or similar) is, on average, 59% cheaper than other car hire types in the city.

Hiring a car in Kailua-Kona costs $127 per day, on average, or $762 if you want to hire it for 6 days. Alamo, National and Enterprise Rent-A-Car are the agencies with the best reviews in the city. The most popular location to hire a car in Kailua-Kona is the Thrifty branch at 73-200 Kupipi Street, which is 12 km from the city centre.

Expect to pay $1.51 per litre in Kailua-Kona (average price from the past 30 days). Depending on the size of your car hire, filling up the tank will cost between $18.12 and $24.16. The most frequently booked car type in Kailua-Kona is Full-size (Ford Mustang Convertible or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Compact car hire (Toyota Corolla or similar) is, on average, 59% cheaper than other car hire types in the city.

Best car hire deals in Kailua-Kona

Full-size

5 Adults, 2 Bags

$87/day

Full-size

Compact SUV

4 Adults, 2 Bags

$96/day

Compact SUV
Find car hire in Kailua-Kona

Kailua-Kona Travel Guide - View the KAYAK Kailua-Kona city guide for the best Kailua-Kona travel tips. To help you organise your Kailua-Kona trip ideas, this Kailua-Kona visitors guide provides travel information and trip tips about how to get there, where to stay, what to do, where to eat and more.