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10 Amazing Free Things To Do In Kona Hawaii

Looking for fun things to do in Kona while staying on budget? You’re in the right place.

On my recent trip to the Big Island Hawaii, I was amazed to find out how many interesting places there were to visit in Kona and the Kona area. With beautiful beaches, historical landmarks, and coffee farms, Kona truly has something for everyone.

To help you plan a memorable trip, I’ve compiled a list of the ten best free activities to do around Kona.

Ready to find out how to spend the day in Kona while keeping costs low? Let’s dive into the travel guide!

1. Explore The Different Beaches

One of the best free activities to do in Kona is exploring all of the different beaches.

Some of the most beautiful beaches I’ve visited were Magic Sands Beach and Kua Bay. These are easily accessible white sandy beaches with free parking.

Magic Sands Beach gets its nickname “Magic Sands” because the sandy portion of the beach disappears when the tide’s high. On a low tide day, it’s a great public beach for swimming, and there is a restaurant on site.

Kua Bay is a more secluded beach with soft white sand and crystal clear waters that are excellent for snorkeling.

Kona has many other amazing public beaches that are free to visit, with the exception of Hapuna Beach and Mauna Kea Beach. Hapuna Beach requires an entrance fee of $5 per person, and Mauna Kea Beach has a parking fee of $21.

Accessibility: The west coast of the Big Island also has 11 accessible beaches for disabled travelers: Spencer Beach Park, Hapuna Beach Park, Kua Bay State Park, Kaloko National Park, Kahonaiki Beach Park, Honokohau National Park, Old Kona Airport Park, King Kamehameha Beach, Honl’s Beach, White Sands Beach, and Kahalu’u Beach Park.

2. Visit Historic and Cultural Sites

If you want to learn more about Hawaiian culture and history, Kona has an abundance of historic sites to visit. On my last trip, I visited Pu'ukohola Heiau National Historic Site, Kaloko-Honokōhau National Historical Park, and Pu'uhonua O Honaunau National Historical Park.

Pu'ukohola Heiau National Historic Site is located in north Kona up the street from Spencer Beach, and is completely free to visit. You can learn about the history of King Kamehameha by watching a short film at the visitor center and doing a short hike to a sacred temple site.

Another great historic site that’s free to visit is Kaloko-Honokōhau National Historical Park. It’s located not far from the airport, near Honokohau Harbor where the nighttime manta ray tours take place.

From the visitor center, you can hike the petroglyph trail down to the beach. The trail has informational signs throughout so you can locate the petroglyphs, and learn the unique history of the area.

Although not entirely free, The Pu'uhonua O Honaunau National Historical Park, or “place of refuge” is another site worth visiting. This is the most well-known historic park in Kona, and the grounds are surrounded by fascinating ancient structures.

The entrance fee is $10 per person, but I highly recommend visiting if you’re interested in Hawaiian history. Before exploring the park, make sure to stop by the visitor center to pick up a map and watch a short film on the site’s significance.

Accessibility: Pu’ukohola Heiau National Historic Site is wheelchair-accessible. The Visitor Center and restrooms are accessible inside the park. A half-mile loop trail paved with a little decline and slight incline throughout the loop and a few steps to complete this path are accessible as well. Wheelchair path accessible from the parking lot to the visitor center, and from the visitor center to the base of Pu'ukoholā Heiau and Mailekini Heiau.

Kaloko-Honokōhau National Historical Park Visitor Center is accessible to all visitors. Kaloko Fishpond can be accessed by car. However, most areas in the park require travel over a rough lava trail.

Pu'uhonua O Honaunau National Historical Park Visitor Center has an accessible information desk, Hawaiʻi Pacific Parks Association (HPPA) bookstore, and exhibits. Accessible parking spaces and accessible restrooms are located nearby.

3. Go On A Coffee Farm Tour

Kona coffee is loved around the world for its bold flavor and is one of the most expensive types of coffee. What makes Kona coffee so special is that it’s grown on volcanic-rich soil and is 100% handpicked.

Kona coffee is grown on the slopes of Hualalai Mountain and Mauna Loa, and there are over 600 coffee farms in Kona alone! There are a variety of paid and free coffee tours.

Greenwell Coffee Farms, Mountain Thunder Coffee, Kona Joe’s, Hala Tree Coffee, and Ka'u Coffee Mill offer free coffee farm tours throughout the week. I visited Greenwell Coffee Farms, and they also offer free coffee and sea salt samples.

Accessibility: Kona Joe’s offers a free, fully accessible walking tour of their facilities. The coffee farm is open for tours daily (including major holidays) 8:00 AM to 4 PM. They are located 8 miles south of Kailua-Kona on Highway 11 between mile marker 113 and 114. Accessible parking is available next to the gift shop.

4. Watch The Sunset From The Mauna Kea Visitor Center

Just around an hour and a half drive from Kona, the Mauna Kea Summit is one of the most spectacular places to visit on the Big Island.

You can take Saddle Road to visit the Mauna Kea Summit Visitor Center, which sits at an elevation of around 9,000 feet.

From the visitor center, you can walk across the street to hike the “Sunset Hill Trail” to see the mountains peek over the clouds! It’s a short 10-minute hike up a small hill, and it’s an incredible place to watch the sunset.

If you want to reach the top of the summit, you’ll need a 4x4 vehicle. There’s no entrance fee to drive to the Mauna Kea summit, but tours are highly recommended.

This is because the summit sits at nearly 14,000 feet in elevation so visiting can be dangerous for people without experience driving at high altitudes.

Mauna Kea Access Rd, Hilo, HI 96720. The visitor center is open 9 am–9:30 pm.

Accessibility: The visitors center is wheelchair accessible, but the hike is uphill and while it’s an easy hike, it is not wheelchair-accessible.

5. Stroll Around Historic Downtown Kona

The downtown area of Kona is surrounded by historic sites. You can walk past the Kona Shopping Inn Village along Ali'i Drive to see the Hulihe‘e Palace and Moku‘aikaua Church.

The Hulihe‘e Palace is a former Hawaiian royalty vacation home built in 1838 that now operates as a museum. You can tour the outside of the palace for free, or pay an admission fee to enter.

The Mokuaikaua Church is Hawaiʻi’s oldest Christian church. It sits right across the street from Hulihe‘e Palace. It’s free to enter and is open for tours on Sundays after service.

Free parking for Hulihe‘e Palace located at 75-5668 Kuakini Hwy.

Accessibility: Downtown Kona is wheelchair accessible with excellent walkways. The inside of Hulihe‘e Palace is not wheelchair accessible. Mokuaikaua Church is fully accessible.

6. Check Out Kona’s Farmers Market

Located in downtown Kona, the Kona Farmers Market is a great place to shop for local goods. It has an incredible selection of tropical fruit and souvenirs at reasonable prices.

There are also vendors selling honey, macadamia nuts, and Kona coffee. It’s open Wednesday through Sunday from 7 am to 4 pm.

75-5767 Ali‘i Dr, Kailua-Kona, HI 96740. Open Wednesday through Sunday from 7 am to 4 pm. Free street parking is available along Walua Rd.

Accessibility: The Kona Farmer’s Market is wheelchair accessible.

7. Have A Picnic At Spencer Beach Park

Just down the street from the Pu'ukohola Heiau National Historic Site, Spencer Beach Park is the perfect beachfront park for a picnic.

It has shaded picnic areas, BBQ tables, restrooms, showers, and a sandy beach. From the south side of Spencer Beach, you can hike the Ala Kahakai National Historic Trail to get to Mau'umae Beach. It’s a short 15 minute hike (0.3 miles) through the forest to a beautiful secluded white sand beach.

62-3461 Kawaihae Rd, Waimea, HI 96743. Open 7am-8pm. Camping overnight requires permit, which costs $25 per person per night.

Accessibility: Spencer Beach Park is wheelchair accessible. The beach features a paved path leading to the water, accessible restrooms and showers, and designated parking spaces for disabled visitors.

8. Enjoy Free Samples From The Hamakua Macadamia Nut Company

Before leaving Kona, head to Hamakua Macadamia Nut Company for free macadamia nut samples.

They sell ice cream and flavored macadamia nuts, with unique options like Kona coffee, spam, island onion, wasabi and more.

They’re less than a 10 minute drive from Spencer Beach Park, so it’s the perfect place to stop for a sweet treat after a long beach day.

61-3251 Maluokalani St, Waimea, HI 96743. Open daily 9:30am-4:30pm.

Accessibility: The Hamakua Macadamia Nut Company is wheelchair accessible.

9. Take a Trip To Punaluʻu Black Sand Beach

Just an hour and a half drive from Kona, Punaluʻu Beach is a picturesque black sand beach on the southeastern Kaʻū coast. A clear departure from the white or green sand beaches one sees all over Hawaii, the black sand beaches of Punalu’u are a site to behold. Despite not being in Kona, it’s well worth stopping by for anyone visiting the Big Island.

Lying just south of the Volcanoes National Park, it gets its black sands from lava that cooled as it reached the ocean. This beautiful beach is fringed with coconut palm trees, and we spotted a few green sea turtles relaxing on the shore.

There are restaurants, cafes, and an excellent bakery in Naalehu on the way to Punalu'u Black Sand beach.

Ninole Loop Rd, Naalehu, HI 96777. Free parking. Restrooms on site.

Accessibility: The southend parking lot is paved and has wheelchair accessibility. There’s a paved path to the bathrooms and a path that will give you a good view of the black sands and ocean. The rest of the park is not wheelchair accessible.

10. Go Snorkeling At Kealakekua Bay State Park

One of the best places to snorkel in Kona without a doubt is Kealakekua Bay. It’s located in South Kona, and is home to the Captain Cook monument, which marks the site of the first British explorer to visit the island of Hawaiʻi!

The bay has crystal clear waters, great snorkeling spots, tons of tropical fish, and it’s a popular site to spot spinner dolphins early in the morning. When it comes to Kona beaches, this really has it all.

Although snorkeling tours are recommended to get to Kealakekua Bay, you can hike there yourself for free. In an effort to save money, I hiked the Ka’Awaloa trail (Captain Monument Trail) down to the bay.

Captain Cook Monument Trail (Ka’Awaloa trail)

‘This is a roughly 3.8-mile round trip hike that’s entirely downhill. It’s a moderately difficult hike, but it’s definitely doable if you arrive early and wear comfortable shoes.

If you plan on hiking the Captain Cook Monument Trail, here are a few helpful tips:

Arrive early so you have time to take breaks while hiking
Wear comfortable shoes with padded bottoms (Most of the trail is over loose lava rocks)
Pack lightly because the hike back up is entirely uphill
Bring snacks and lots of water

Accessibility: Unfortunately, the park is not wheelchair accessible, though plans are underway to make it wheelchair accessible.

Bonus - Hawaii Volcanoes National Park

Hawaii Volcanoes National Park is a remarkable destination that showcases the powerful forces of nature. Established in 1916, the park is home to two of the world's most active volcanoes, Mauna Lani and Kilauea.

Visitors to the park can witness breathtaking volcanic landscapes, including steaming vents, lava fields, and unique geological formations. The park offers various hiking trails that lead to stunning viewpoints where visitors can observe lava flows and volcanic activity from a safe distance.

In addition to its volcanic wonders, Hawaii Volcanoes National Park boasts a diverse range of ecosystems, from lush rainforests to barren desert regions created by past lava flows. The park is also rich in cultural history, with sacred sites and petroglyphs that provide insights into the island's indigenous past.

Since it is a National Park, it is available to visit for free with a National Parks Access Pass if you are permanently disabled.

Accessibility: Wheelchairs may be available for use at the Kīlauea Visitor Center. Currently the Kīlauea Visitor Center, Volcano House, and Volcano Art Center are wheelchair accessible.

Most of the Ha'akulamanu (Sulphur Banks) Trail is wheelchair accessible if you begin from the Steam Vents parking lot to the west. The short gravel trail (0.1 miles in length) from the Steam Vents parking lot to the Wahinekapu (Steaming Bluff) is also possible for wheelchairs to traverse.

Kīlauea Overlook is accessible on a short asphalt path from the parking area.

Devastation Trail is accessible from the parking area to the trailhead, and the trail is possible for wheelchairs to traverse with assistance.

Final Thoughts on Free Things To Do In Kona Hawaii

I hope you’ve enjoyed this post. Whether you enjoy learning Hawaiian history or snorkeling with sea turtles, Kona has something for everyone. ( Pro tip: If you need to rent snorkel gear, check out Boss Frogs, near the Royal Kona Resort. Address: 75-5725 Alii Drive, Kailua-Kona HI 96740)

With a walkable downtown area, free public beaches, and historic sites, you won’t struggle to find something to do in Kona. See our article on unique things to do in Kona for a full list of interesting places Kona has to offer.

If you’re willing to venture outside of Kona, the Mauna Kea Summit Visitor Center and Punalu'u Black Sand Beach are amazing places to visit for free. Additionally, the small town of Hilo has a free zoo, waterfalls, beach parks, and more.

Check out our article on things to do in Hilo if you plan on driving to the eastern side of the island!

By: Layla Pond of Layla’s Lens

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