Big Island region
South Kona (Kealakekua & Hōnaunau)
Coffee farms above the island’s best snorkeling
Upcountry coffee country above Kealakekua Bay and Puʻuhonua o Hōnaunau — farm stands, small towns along the highway, and some of the clearest snorkeling water in Hawaiʻi below.
Photo: Robert Linsdell from St. Andrews, Canada via Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 2.0
Stay here if…
You want a quieter, local-feeling stay near Kealakekua Bay and the coffee farms, and prefer a B&B or vacation rental to a resort.
The trade-off
There are very few hotels, the roads down to the bays are steep and winding, and nightlife is essentially nonexistent.
Hotels in South Kona
Coffee farms above the island’s best snorkeling
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Tours leaving from South Kona
Things to do
Our picks in South Kona
Snorkel SpotsSouth Kona
Two Step (Hōnaunau Bay)
There's no sand and there are no facilities, yet this is some of the best shore snorkeling in Hawaiʻi. On a calm morning the visibility is remarkable.
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National & State ParksSouth Kona
Puʻuhonua o Hōnaunau National Historical Park
It's the island's most moving cultural site, and the setting of palms, black lava, and turquoise water is as beautiful as it is sacred. Pair it with a snorkel at Two Step next door.
Read moreNational & State ParksSouth Kona
Kealakekua Bay State Historical Park
History and some of Hawaiʻi's best snorkeling share the same water. Visit the right way, on foot or with a permitted operator, and you'll see why it's worth protecting.
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Coffee FarmsSouth Kona
Greenwell Farms
It's the best free introduction to Kona coffee. Take the tour, taste several coffees side by side, and you'll finally get what the fuss is about.
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