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Since the start, it's been our aim to provide the latest cruise news covering all the major cruise lines. Take a stroll along the sea, enjoy theviews or chat up local fishermen going about their day. Explore the historiclandmarks along the drive and stop by restaurants to grab lunch. On the otherside of the road are great places to picnic and just enjoy the sea breeze. Thisconditions made it a suitable place for business, thus making it the CapitalCity of the Big Island. It has the best beaches on the islandfeaturing clear warm waters perfect for snorkeling.
More about Kona (Kailua Bay)
The moment you touch down on the stunning island of Hawaii, we bet one of the first things on your checklist is hitting the beach ASAP! We don’t blame you, and the Big Island has some of the most unique and beautiful beaches of all the Hawaiian islands. These include green sand beaches, black sand beaches, white sand beaches, snorkeling beaches, etc. Kamakahonu Beach is the closest beach to the Kona cruise port and is located right by the King Kamehameha Hotel. Kahalu'u Beach Park is a popular beach near Kailua-Kona, Hawaii cruise port. It is a great spot for snorkeling, as the waters are crystal clear and full of colorful fish.
HAL-Holland America unveils Panama Canal and Hawaii cruises for 2025-2026 season
At the sea horse farm, you get to see baby, adult, and pregnant male sea horses. The highlight of this tour is when a sea horse curls up its tail on your finger. Swim along with the dolphin and hopethey invite you to play with them in the leaf game.
Kona International Market
Hawaii Cruises Remove Maui From Itineraries For Now - Beat of Hawaii
Hawaii Cruises Remove Maui From Itineraries For Now.
Posted: Fri, 11 Aug 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]
This adventure involves hiking through the verdant countryside of Kohala, crossing plantations, creeks, and forest areas to get to the waterfalls. All seven waterfalls are remarkable with the last being the best. Granted these are not the mostaccessible beaches, but their off-the-beaten-path-nature makes them secludedand uncrowded; perfect for a great beach day. Because of the PVSA, the Pride of America follows a strict set of guidelines. Not only is the crew required to be 75% American, but they must also abide by US labor laws and wages, which can make voyages on this cruise more expensive than others.
Time difference
The beach (aka "salt-and-pepper beach") is lined up with high palm trees. A short hike to Honomalino Bay passes through a rainforest, also crossing lava flows from Mauna Loa (active volcano). At Honomalino Bay there are no any facilities, and camping and fires are forbidden. Depending on your cruise operator, it’s possible to spend a night on land while the ship moves between ports.
Our favorite snorkeling spot is called Two Step Beach, located just north of the City of Refuge. There is plenty of sea life, corals and the crystal blue waters will just take your breath away. Another reason why this place is unique is because it is surrounded by lava rock. Kailua-Kona is the start and finish of the annual triathlon Ironman World Championship, Kona Coffee Festival, and Hawaiian International Billfish Tournament. Famous Kona coffee is a variety of Coffea arabica cultivated on Hualalai and Mauna Loa's slopes in North and South Kona Districts.
Cruises to Kona (Kailua Bay)
Where you go on your Hawaiian cruise largely depends on the cruise line and itinerary. Most cruises will visit Oahu, Maui, Kauai, and the Big Island, although others may only make stops at two or three islands. When dining in restaurants, it is customary to leave 15-20% tip for good service since servers typically make minimum wage. The cultural fabric of Hawaii would not be possible without honoring the Polynesian populations who lived on the Big Island and surrounding areas peacefully for thousands of years. It’s the Polynesians who introduced the Western world to its culture, cuisine, and the famous perception of Hawaii’s relaxed atmosphere and friendly people. Without their traditions, including the art of the hula and other rituals, Hawaii as we know it today would not exist.
This part of the Big Island also is famous for its macadamia nut orchards. As mentioned before, apart from being the largest white sand beach out of all the islands, Hapuna Beach is a great spot for snorkeling. The best snorkeling spots are located on either end of the beach (shhh…experts say that the right end is the best spot to snorkel). While cruise ships call it "Kona," this stop on the western part of the island is actually a region rather than an actual city you can visit on a cruise to Hawaii.
Kohala Zipline
The port of Kailua-Kona is located in the Kona region on the Big Island. This area is known for its beaches, snorkeling and surfing. The islands of Hawaii were first settled by Polynesians over a thousand years ago. It wasn’t until 1778 that Europeans like Captain James Cook sailed to the islands. By the 19th century, sugar became a huge export in the region, and Western settlers forced indigenous populations from their homes. In 1900, the Territory of Hawaii was established, and Hawaii became the 50th state of the United States of America in 1959.
It is a rough road across a lava field from hwy 19 to the parking lot at Mahai'ula Bay. Continue north of the beach along a footpath for about 20 minutes to reach the beach. Coffee enthusiasts will find plenty of opportunities to find the perfect souvenirs to bring back home. There’s also a popular farmers market Wednesday to Sunday, where locals hawk fresh produce, flowers, artisanal goods, and handcrafted items. However, if you have some time to explore and are willing to take the drive to other beautiful beaches on Big Island, we have plenty other gems to share with you.

On a cruise to Hawaii, it can be tempting to stick to the well-known destinations like Maui and Honolulu, but you’d be missing out on some of the magic of the Big Island. A cruise to Kailua-Kona promises all the laid-back relaxation of Hawaii with way fewer crowds. Nearly year-round sunshine and minimal rain makes Kailua-Kona a local favorite, but then again, you can’t go wrong with most of Hawaii. Kailua-Kona has become famous over the years for snorkeling in crystal-clear waters as well as local delicacies like Kona coffee, ahi tuna, and chocolate. Cruise Hive was established back in 2008 and among the earliest blogs in the industry.
Devour dishes infused with Papaya,Macadamia nuts, and locally sourced ingredients. Of course, you cannot say youhave tasted Hawaii if you haven’t had their popular Plate Lunch. It’s arice-based dish, served with savory meats that have been slow-cooked for overhalf a day with a topping of potato mac n cheese salad. Luckily you get to taste all these food varieties in Kona.Enjoy seafood-based dishes comprising of Mahi Mahi and the popular Ahi tuna. Kona Farmers Market is located on Ali’i Drive in the heart of Kailua Kona.
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