Photo by Ingrid Martinussen on Unsplash
The 5-day plan, rearranged for 2 days: the best-ranked places stay, and each day keeps to one part of town.
From average weather, 2021 to 2025: warm, sunny days with little rain score highest (the air stands in for the sea, which is not included). Crowds and prices change through the year, so check them before you book.
Built from the plan’s must-sees, grouped so each day stays close together and ordered by time of day.
A lava tube you can walk through, in a fern forest. Get here early to avoid the crowds and feel the cool, dripping dark. Check ahead on whether the tube is open.
Go when Early morning, before the tour buses.
Local tip The tube is dark and wet underfoot, so bring a small light and shoes with a grip. Check ahead on whether it is open.
A short paved loop through rain forest to a tall waterfall that drops into a gorge. Orchids, ferns and bamboo line the path. It is wet, so bring a light jacket.
Go when Midday, when the light reaches the gorge.
Local tip Wear shoes with a grip, because the path is wet. Stay on the path and behind the rails.
A bowl of noodle soup with a clear broth and small toppings, a comfort food that mixes the island's many cultures.
Local tip Add a dash of chilli oil if you like it hot.
A long road that drops from the summit to the sea over old lava flows, past craters and steam vents. Allow a good part of the afternoon. Parts of the road have been closed by lava and rockfall, so check ahead.
Go when Afternoon, with time to stop at the pull-outs.
Local tip There is no fuel or food along the way, so top up first. Stay on the roadside and off fresh lava, and check ahead on closures from lava or rockfall.
The rim of the great crater at the top of the volcano, with steam vents and a wide view. What you see depends on the volcano's activity, which changes, so check the park's notices before you go.
Go when Early evening, as the light changes (about 6:52 PM).
Local tip What you see depends on the volcano's activity, which changes. Heed the park's notices, keep behind the rails and watch for volcanic gas, which can be harmful.
A warm bowl of soup or a hearty plate in the cool village near the park, after an evening on the rim.
Local tip It gets cold at this height at night, so bring a jacket.
Built from the plan’s must-sees, grouped so each day stays close together and ordered by time of day.
A black-sand beach made of crushed lava, where green sea turtles often rest on the shore. Keep well back from them and never touch them. Swimming here can be rough, so be careful.
Go when Morning, when turtles are often on the sand.
Local tip Stay well back from resting turtles, and never touch them. Swimming here can be rough, with currents, so be careful.
A sheltered bay of deep, clear water with a reef and a white monument on the far shore where Captain Cook died in 1779. A marine life conservation district and a sacred place, so give turtles and dolphins plenty of room.
Go when Morning, when the water is calmest and clearest.
Local tip The bay is a protected area. Give turtles and dolphins plenty of room, never touch the coral and check ahead on how access to the monument works.
Cubes of raw fish dressed with soy sauce, sesame and seaweed over rice, a Hawaiian classic. Eat it on the shore after a swim.
Local tip Look for a counter with a queue of locals, because the fish is freshest.
A long white-sand beach with clear water, one of the finest on the island. Swim in the calm cove when the sea is gentle and heed the signs, because winter surf can be strong.
Go when Midday, for a swim when the sun is high.
Local tip Winter surf can be strong, so check the flags and ask a lifeguard before you swim. Bring shade and water.
A walled place of refuge beside the sea, where people who broke sacred laws could be safe, with carved wooden figures and fishponds. A powerful, peaceful place. Walk slowly and do not move or climb on the stones.
Go when Afternoon, when the light is soft on the stones.
Local tip It is a sacred place. Do not climb on the walls or move stones, and check ahead on opening. Turtles sometimes rest on the nearby shore, so keep away from them.
A plate of the day's catch, grilled with butter and lime, with rice and salad, at a table by the water.
Local tip Ask what was caught that day. Tables by the water fill early.
By average weather from 2021 to 2025, October to December are the best months for a beach trip to Kailua-Kona. This plan is built for mid May, which is a good month. Crowds and prices change through the year, so check them before you book.
It covers 2 days in Kailua-Kona, planned for mid May. Each day is built around a small number of stops, with room to rest.
It was planned for most travelers. The pace and the places reflect that, so check it fits how you travel.
No. Places marked "book ahead" need a reservation. Hours, prices and availability change, so confirm before you go.
Yes. Archie drafts a day by day plan for your dates and takes your pace, the weather and who is travelling into account. You can start one from the Archie app.
Yes. It is a starting point you can change to fit your own trip: swap a place, add a day or move the pace.
Each day has about 78.2 to 112.2 miles between its stops, and 190.4 miles in all across 2 days. A short hop is a walk and a longer one a ride. Distances are straight-line estimates, so allow extra for the streets.
Make it yours in a minute, then move days around and add what you want.
A trip idea · Updated November 2026
Want your own days planned like this? Plan your own trip on the web or get the Archie app.
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