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 4 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, Fish Hopper - Kailua-Kona (75-5683 Alii Drive) and Jackie Rey's Kailua-Kona (75-5995 Kuakini Hwy) are great picks.

When to visit Kailua-Kona

Kailua-Kona in November
Estimated hotel price
$309
1 night at 3-star hotel
Kailua-Kona in November
Estimated hotel price
$309
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 13h 16m.

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 Hertz, 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 13h 16m.

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 Hertz, among others, in Honolulu.

Airports near Kailua-Kona

ITOHilo Intl
KOAKona Intl
MUEWaimea (Big Island) Waimea Kohala

Airlines serving Kailua-Kona

KLM
Good (1,485 reviews)
Lufthansa
Good (7,885 reviews)
British Airways
Good (7,845 reviews)
Delta
Good (8,374 reviews)
Air France
Good (1,562 reviews)
United Airlines
Good (9,539 reviews)
Qatar Airways
Good (3,730 reviews)
Air Canada
Good (10,886 reviews)
Finnair
Good (1,376 reviews)
Alaska Airlines
Good (12,157 reviews)
JetBlue
Good (2,914 reviews)
ITA Airways
Good (1,175 reviews)
China Eastern
Good (200 reviews)
Avianca
Good (2,505 reviews)
Japan Airlines
Excellent (1,763 reviews)
Korean Air
Excellent (1,203 reviews)
Aeromexico
Good (1,552 reviews)
Copa Airlines
Good (1,578 reviews)
Philippine Airlines
Good (979 reviews)
Royal Air Maroc
Good (585 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 $348 per night for a double room in a 3-star hotel to $1,146 and up for a 5-star experience. If you’re on a budget, well-reviewed accommodations include Kona Islander Vacation Club and Hampton Inn by Hilton Kailua-Kona Bay.

Where to stay in popular areas of Kailua-Kona

Most booked hotels in Kailua-Kona

See all
Four Seasons Resort Hualalai
5 stars
Excellent (9.1, Excellent reviews)
$2,119+
View
Mauna Lani, Auberge Collection
5 stars
Excellent (8.6, Excellent reviews)
$1,125+
View
Outrigger Kona Resort and Spa
4 stars
Good (7.9, Good reviews)
$370+
View
Courtyard by Marriott King Kamehameha's Kona Beach Hotel
3 stars
Good (7.7, Good reviews)
$374+
View
Royal Kona Resort
4 stars
Good (7.6, Good reviews)
$268+
View

Hiring a car in Kailua-Kona

Hiring a car in Kailua-Kona costs $87 per day, on average, or $349 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 Dollar branch at 73-200 Kupipi Street, which is 8 miles from the city centre.

It’s generally cheaper to hire your vehicle outside the airport: locations in the city are around 17% cheaper than airport locations in Kailua-Kona.

Expect to pay $1.64 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 $19.67 and $26.23. The most frequently booked car type in Kailua-Kona is Intermediate (Mazda CX-5 or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Economy car hire (Chevrolet Spark or similar) is, on average, 39% cheaper than other car hire types in the city.

Hiring a car in Kailua-Kona costs $87 per day, on average, or $349 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 Dollar branch at 73-200 Kupipi Street, which is 8 miles from the city centre.

It’s generally cheaper to hire your vehicle outside the airport: locations in the city are around 17% cheaper than airport locations in Kailua-Kona.

Expect to pay $1.64 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 $19.67 and $26.23. The most frequently booked car type in Kailua-Kona is Intermediate (Mazda CX-5 or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Economy car hire (Chevrolet Spark or similar) is, on average, 39% cheaper than other car hire types in the city.

Best car hire deals in Kailua-Kona

Full-size

5 Adults, 2 Bags

$55/day

Full-size

Economy

2 Adults, 2 Bags

$55/day

Economy
Find car hire in Kailua-Kona