Vanessa’s guidebook
Within Walking Distance
Here are some fun spots within a short walking distance (less than a mile or so) from the Honu Hale.
Banyan's Beach
Want to catch some waves?
Here is one of the best spots to do just that!
This is a great place to surf, watch the sunset, snorkel or even do a shallow shore dive.
Lymans surf spot
77-6348 Ali‘i DrThis is a great place to surf, watch the sunset, snorkel or even do a shallow shore dive.
One of the Best White Sand beaches in Kona! It's Hawaiian name is
La Aloa (Very Sacred) and is nick-named Magic Sands due to the fact that the sand can disappear from time to time just to be brought back later due to ocean swells.
This spot is just over a mile (1.3) from the Honu Hale vacation unit, but is an enjoyable walk, and there are also bikes (blue bikes) available for rent directly across from the beach for you to rent and ride back, and use later to go into town where there are other areas near Huggo's and Laverne's to drop them back off.
It's a great spot to lounge on the beach, boogie board and play in the waves, but be mindful, the waves can sometimes get big there! General rule of thumb about the ocean... If in doubt, don't go out...
181 paikallista suosittelee
Magic Sands Beach Park
Ali'i DriveOne of the Best White Sand beaches in Kona! It's Hawaiian name is
La Aloa (Very Sacred) and is nick-named Magic Sands due to the fact that the sand can disappear from time to time just to be brought back later due to ocean swells.
This spot is just over a mile (1.3) from the Honu Hale vacation unit, but is an enjoyable walk, and there are also bikes (blue bikes) available for rent directly across from the beach for you to rent and ride back, and use later to go into town where there are other areas near Huggo's and Laverne's to drop them back off.
It's a great spot to lounge on the beach, boogie board and play in the waves, but be mindful, the waves can sometimes get big there! General rule of thumb about the ocean... If in doubt, don't go out...
Best little Hawaiian mart in Kona, directly across from the Banyan surf spot...FYI it's cash only
10 paikallista suosittelee
Banyan Mart
76-6265 Ali‘i DrBest little Hawaiian mart in Kona, directly across from the Banyan surf spot...FYI it's cash only
Best poke in town! Go earlier in the day...sometimes they can sell out
132 paikallista suosittelee
Da Poke Shack
76-6246 Ali‘i DriveBest poke in town! Go earlier in the day...sometimes they can sell out
Just over a mile away from the rental unit, serving local Kona coffee that is a must have!
30 paikallista suosittelee
Green Flash Coffee
75-6000 Ali‘i DrJust over a mile away from the rental unit, serving local Kona coffee that is a must have!
Just around the corner, this is a beautiful outdoor marketplace where many local artisans sell their products. There's also yummy food and snacks and usually a food truck there as well.
22 paikallista suosittelee
Alii Gardens Marketplace
75-6129 Ali‘i DrJust around the corner, this is a beautiful outdoor marketplace where many local artisans sell their products. There's also yummy food and snacks and usually a food truck there as well.
A very cool spot worth visiting whether you choose to swim or not. A large salt water swimming pool created by a manmade rockwall along the shoreline. The waves come crashing over the end to fill and refresh the pool...just be mindful...sometimes the waves can get to be too big! FYI...The area is directly on the shore and not owned by anyone, so it's not regularly maintained or cleaned at all so the pool sides, bottom, and entry stairs are all very slippery. Bring your snorkel masks and have fun!
Ali'i Saltwater Swimming Pool
75-6106 Ali‘i DrA very cool spot worth visiting whether you choose to swim or not. A large salt water swimming pool created by a manmade rockwall along the shoreline. The waves come crashing over the end to fill and refresh the pool...just be mindful...sometimes the waves can get to be too big! FYI...The area is directly on the shore and not owned by anyone, so it's not regularly maintained or cleaned at all so the pool sides, bottom, and entry stairs are all very slippery. Bring your snorkel masks and have fun!
Yummy little spot right next to Magic Sands beach. Hangin at the beach and need some grinds? Pop over to their walk up window and grab a bite to eat at their tables on the sand with a view of the beach. Also great lunch and dinner service as well!
91 paikallista suosittelee
Magics Beach Grill
77-6452 Ali‘i DrYummy little spot right next to Magic Sands beach. Hangin at the beach and need some grinds? Pop over to their walk up window and grab a bite to eat at their tables on the sand with a view of the beach. Also great lunch and dinner service as well!
Local Snorkeling or Shore Diving Spots - Dive Company Options
Here are some great local spots around Kona for snorkeling and/or scuba diving. I'll also include listings here for some local dive companies for those interested in scuba. The scuba diving is one of the reasons I moved here in 2007...it's awesome from the shore or from a boat!
Jack's Diving Locker is a really great professional diving company offering a wide variety of dive options. They would be my number 1 recommendation for boat diving.
39 paikallista suosittelee
Jack's Diving Locker
75-5813 Ali‘i DrJack's Diving Locker is a really great professional diving company offering a wide variety of dive options. They would be my number 1 recommendation for boat diving.
Big Island Divers is a great diving company to work with. When I moved here in 2007 I used them for some boat diving which was good, and I bought several products from them and used them for servicing my gear for a while as well. Great variety of dives to choose from, good availability, and may save you some money over Jack's Dive Locker.
19 paikallista suosittelee
Big Island Divers
74-5467 Kaiwi StBig Island Divers is a great diving company to work with. When I moved here in 2007 I used them for some boat diving which was good, and I bought several products from them and used them for servicing my gear for a while as well. Great variety of dives to choose from, good availability, and may save you some money over Jack's Dive Locker.
Just past Magic Sands Beach...This, in my opinion, is one of the best dive spots in town. It makes a great starting or ending dive depending on your dive day...deepest point is around 35/40' depending how far you go into the sand, there's a great 2 chamber cave to check out, a large swim thru arch above and near the cave. For a spot so close to shore I have seen amazing animals there including countless large reef fish, turtles, manta rays, eagle rays, giant pufferfish, white tip reef sharks (swam with one in the cave!)...it's a great spot for snorkel, free dive, or shore diving.
Mile Marker 4
Just past Magic Sands Beach...This, in my opinion, is one of the best dive spots in town. It makes a great starting or ending dive depending on your dive day...deepest point is around 35/40' depending how far you go into the sand, there's a great 2 chamber cave to check out, a large swim thru arch above and near the cave. For a spot so close to shore I have seen amazing animals there including countless large reef fish, turtles, manta rays, eagle rays, giant pufferfish, white tip reef sharks (swam with one in the cave!)...it's a great spot for snorkel, free dive, or shore diving.
Right off Alii Drive as you head away from Kona town, south toward Keauhou..you can't miss this large beach park. I can't lie, this is a tourist hot spot, but you'll soon see why. A large snorkeling area usually filled with fish, and off to the right side (north) is a great spot for surfing or stand up paddling. Kahalu'u Bay Surf & Sea is right across the street and rents surfboards, paddleboards, kayaks, and even offers lessons...along with a food truck and beach gear rental truck in the beach park you can't miss with this spot.
239 paikallista suosittelee
Kahaluu Bay
Ali‘i DriveRight off Alii Drive as you head away from Kona town, south toward Keauhou..you can't miss this large beach park. I can't lie, this is a tourist hot spot, but you'll soon see why. A large snorkeling area usually filled with fish, and off to the right side (north) is a great spot for surfing or stand up paddling. Kahalu'u Bay Surf & Sea is right across the street and rents surfboards, paddleboards, kayaks, and even offers lessons...along with a food truck and beach gear rental truck in the beach park you can't miss with this spot.
Right across from Kahalu'u Beach Park, this is the best place to rent your surfboards, stand up paddle boards, or sign up for surfing lessons. Check them out!
14 paikallista suosittelee
Kahalu'u Bay Surf and Sea
78-6685 Ali‘i DrRight across from Kahalu'u Beach Park, this is the best place to rent your surfboards, stand up paddle boards, or sign up for surfing lessons. Check them out!
Magic Sands, or La'Aloa Beach, is a great white sand beach just a few minutes out of town...and within walking distance of this vacation rental unit (approx. 1.6 mi).
This is a favorite spot of mine to play in the waves, boogie board, or snorkel to the right or left of the beach...be mindful of the waves on the left or south side.
But pay attention to the ocean swells, they can come in and wipe away the sand for weeks at a time only to bring it back, sometimes in one night, to create a soft beautiful white sandy beach again...hence the nick name Magic Sands.
181 paikallista suosittelee
Magic Sands Beach Park
Ali'i DriveMagic Sands, or La'Aloa Beach, is a great white sand beach just a few minutes out of town...and within walking distance of this vacation rental unit (approx. 1.6 mi).
This is a favorite spot of mine to play in the waves, boogie board, or snorkel to the right or left of the beach...be mindful of the waves on the left or south side.
But pay attention to the ocean swells, they can come in and wipe away the sand for weeks at a time only to bring it back, sometimes in one night, to create a soft beautiful white sandy beach again...hence the nick name Magic Sands.
Another amazing and soft white sand beach on this beautiful island! This is a great spot to go boogie boarding or body surfing or sun bathing...but be mindful...the waves can crash big here so if in doubt, don't go out. But enjoy the beach just the same!
174 paikallista suosittelee
Hapuna Beachin osavaltion puisto
Old Puako RoadAnother amazing and soft white sand beach on this beautiful island! This is a great spot to go boogie boarding or body surfing or sun bathing...but be mindful...the waves can crash big here so if in doubt, don't go out. But enjoy the beach just the same!
This is a very beautiful and popular white sand beach just north of Kona airport. Soft white sand, usually calm water in the morning with waves in the midday and afternoon. A great place to relax, swim, and people watch. I have swam with the spinner dolphins here, always a magical encounter. It's fairly shallow sandy bottom water so you have to swim out about 100 yds to meet them. Bring your snorkel and fins!
66 paikallista suosittelee
Manini'owali Beach (Kua Bay)
This is a very beautiful and popular white sand beach just north of Kona airport. Soft white sand, usually calm water in the morning with waves in the midday and afternoon. A great place to relax, swim, and people watch. I have swam with the spinner dolphins here, always a magical encounter. It's fairly shallow sandy bottom water so you have to swim out about 100 yds to meet them. Bring your snorkel and fins!