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 4 days in order to fully appreciate everything Kailua-Kona has to offer.

Where to Eat in Kailua-Kona

If you’re looking for affordable options, Mi's Waterfront Bistro (75-5770 Alii Dr) and Foster's Kitchen - Kailua Kona (75-5805 Alii Dr) are great picks.

When to visit Kailua-Kona

Kailua-Kona in January
Estimated hotel price
$170
1 night at 3-star hotel
Kailua-Kona in January
Estimated hotel price
$170
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 8 miles from the city centre. The shortest flight to Kailua-Kona from Australia departs from Sydney and takes around 12h 52m.

Car

Another option to get to Kailua-Kona is to pick up a car hire from Honolulu, which is about 167 miles 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 8 miles from the city centre. The shortest flight to Kailua-Kona from Australia departs from Sydney and takes around 12h 52m.

Car

Another option to get to Kailua-Kona is to pick up a car hire from Honolulu, which is about 167 miles from Kailua-Kona. You’ll find branches of Thrifty and Dollar, among others, in Honolulu.

Airports near Kailua-Kona

Airlines serving Kailua-Kona

Lufthansa
Good (4,666 reviews)
KLM
Good (849 reviews)
British Airways
Good (4,541 reviews)
Delta
Good (4,618 reviews)
Air France
Good (983 reviews)
United Airlines
Good (4,962 reviews)
Qatar Airways
Good (2,467 reviews)
Air Canada
Good (5,863 reviews)
Finnair
Good (871 reviews)
Alaska Airlines
Excellent (5,654 reviews)
ITA Airways
Good (716 reviews)
JetBlue
Good (1,606 reviews)
Malaysia Airlines
Good (185 reviews)
Korean Air
Excellent (773 reviews)
Avianca
Good (1,329 reviews)
Japan Airlines
Excellent (965 reviews)
Aeromexico
Good (811 reviews)
China Eastern
Good (54 reviews)
Copa Airlines
Good (778 reviews)
China Airlines
Excellent (609 reviews)
Show more

Where to stay in Kailua-Kona

From 5-star hotels such as the Four Seasons Resort Hualalai to great affordable options like the Pacific 19 Kona, Kailua-Kona offers a range of accommodations for every taste. Average rates range from around $394 per night for a double room in a 3-star hotel to $946 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

Mauna Lani, Auberge Resorts Collection
5 stars
Excellent (9.6, Excellent reviews)
$1,262+
Outrigger Kona Resort and Spa
4 stars
Good (7.8, Good reviews)
$455+
Royal Kona Resort
3 stars
Good (7.6, Good reviews)
$380+
Courtyard by Marriott King Kamehameha's Kona Beach Hotel
3 stars
Good (7.6, Good reviews)
$462+
Four Seasons Resort Hualalai
5 stars
Excellent (9, Excellent reviews)
$2,138+

Hiring a car in Kailua-Kona

Hiring a car in Kailua-Kona costs $72 per day, on average, or $287 if you want to hire it for 4 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 Alamo branch at 73 106 A Ulepe Street, which is 7 miles from the city centre.

It’s generally cheaper to hire your vehicle outside the airport: locations in the city are around 1% cheaper than airport locations in Kailua-Kona.

Expect to pay $1.57 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 $18.74 and $24.99. The most frequently booked car type in Kailua-Kona is Compact (Nissan Rogue or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Full-size car hire (Volkswagen Jetta or similar) is, on average, 39% cheaper than other car hire types in the city.

Hiring a car in Kailua-Kona costs $72 per day, on average, or $287 if you want to hire it for 4 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 Alamo branch at 73 106 A Ulepe Street, which is 7 miles from the city centre.

It’s generally cheaper to hire your vehicle outside the airport: locations in the city are around 1% cheaper than airport locations in Kailua-Kona.

Expect to pay $1.57 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 $18.74 and $24.99. The most frequently booked car type in Kailua-Kona is Compact (Nissan Rogue or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Full-size car hire (Volkswagen Jetta or similar) is, on average, 39% cheaper than other car hire types in the city.