Know Before You Go, Kona Big Kahuna Tour

Start Planning!

You’re about to go on an awesome adventure visiting beaches and learning about the history of Kona. But first, there are a few things you should know about the tour before you get started.

Start the tour in Waikoloa (if you join the tour in progress, you’ll miss some stories though!) and travel in a counterclockwise loop, ending in Kona.
This tour can only be done in one direction.
There’s a guided tour of Big Island Bees that costs $25 for adults, $15 for youth (13-18) and $5 for children (12 & under), expect to spend about an hour on the tour.
The Painted Church has free admission but donations are welcome. It's open Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 9:30 a.m. - :3:30 p.m.
Pu’uhonua Honaunau National Park costs $20 per car, $10 per motorcycle - valid for 7 days.
The guided tour of Kona Coffee Living Museum costs $20 for adults and $10 for children. Open Tuesdays and Fridays from 10am-2pm.
Visitors must pay to park at Kahalu'u Beach. Learn more here.
Pack snorkel and swim gear! You can visit Kealakekua Bay and Two-Steps — two great snorkel spots.
The tour takes about 4-6 hours. Our recommended start time is before 11 a.m.

What to Expect!

1. To Spend 4-6 Hours Exploring

This tour takes about a half day to complete, depending on how much time you spend at each spot.The tour is concentrated on the Kona Coast, so the drive time is minimal, you’ll spend most of the time exploring the fun stops we’ve picked out for you.

2. To Be Active

Although this tour only has a few short hikes -- one at Kaloko-Honokohau National Historical Park and the other at Kiholo Bay and Queens Bath OR Kua Bay Beach -- there’s no shortage of activities! We take you to multiple coffee farms and two historic sites with walking trails.

3. To Hit the Beach

The Kona Coast has some of Big Island's best beaches and snorkel spots and we’ll take you to seven on this tour. To learn more about all the beaches you’ll see check out our detailed Kona Big Kahuna Tour suggested itinerary here.

Pro Tip! After a short hike at Kaloko-Honokohau National Historical Park there’s an eighth beach that you can explore!

4. To Try Local Food

This tour is one of our favorites for foodies! You’ll make stops at so many local spots where you can try local favorites like poke, Kona coffee and chocolate covered mac nuts. We’ll take you to a bee farm, and two coffee farms. You can also visit Hawaii’s self-proclaimed “oldest restaurant” at the Manago Hotel.

5. To Learn

Kona and the surrounding area is a really unique corner of the Big Island. For a small region, it packs in a lot of history. On this tour you’ll visit the Birthplace of King Kamehameha III, discover Hawaii’s first royal residence (and capital), and a Pu’uhonua or sacred spot

Budgeting

How much you spend truly depends on what you do along the tour route, but here’s a breakdown of some costs:

$15.00 per person: Lunch
$5.00 per person: Local snack like coffee or donkey balls
$25.00/adult, $15.00/youth (13-18), and $5.00/children (12 & under): Big Island Bees
$20 per car and $10 per motorcycle: Pu'uhonua Historic Park
Free entry, but donation welcome: St. Benedict’s Painted Church
$20.00/adult and $10.00/child per person: Kona Living Museum

Start Packing

Here’s our packing list for this tour. It may seem a little long, but remember, what you bring depends on the activities you choose to do for the day.

Sneakers
Hiking Clothes
Jacket or Layers, temperatures vary drastically across the island
Water Bottle
Bug Spray (rainforest = mosquitoes)
Towel
Bathing Suit
Sandals
Sunscreen
Sun Glasses and/or Hat
Snacks
Cash
Car Charger *Very Important*
Phone Mount

Malama Aina

In Hawaiian the word malama means “to take care” and the word aina means “land.” When you’re in Hawaii, we ask that you practice this and pick up your trash; respect the marine life, plants, and animals; and avoid spots that are unsafe. Hawaii’s natural resources are precious, it’s up to all of us to help preserve these resources for generations by respecting the aina when you visit.

We hope that we’ve given you all the information you need to make the most of your day. Your vacation is extremely important to us so if you have any questions feel free to reach out at aloha@shakaguide.com.

For more help planning your day check out our Kona Big Kahuna Loop suggested itinerary.