The resort of Kailua Kona offers all of the beauty, relaxation and pleasure of traditional Hawaiian culture, as well as the allure of a modern tourist town.
The destination is divided into two very different sections. The first is Kailua, home to many luxury hotels and wide, welcoming beaches. The sweeping bay is one of Hawaii's finest locations for scuba diving, offering the chance to meet exotic local residents like manta rays. It's also a great place to take trips on outrigger canoes and to head out whale watching with expert marine guides. You can even take submarine tours of the coral reefs.
On land, Kailua Kona offers plenty for the family to enjoy. Kids and grown-ups can splash around as long as they like at the Kailua Park Complex, while the beach is fringed by bars and restaurants of all varieties.
A short distance uphill from the beach, visitors can enter another world by visiting Kona, the other half of the resort. Take tours of the cloud forest and taste the local speciality at one of the region's coffee plantations. There are also historic buildings to tour such as the Hulihe'e Palace, as well as more modern attractions like one of Hawaii's finest micro-breweries.
Nature lovers will be well-served by a trip to Kailua Kona as well. The Hawaii Volcanoes National Park is not far away, and offers plenty of hiking trails and spectacular views. Then there are other stunning landscapes like the black sand of the Waipi'o Valley, again, a short drive from Kailua Kona.