Wake up to the rich aroma of Kona coffee on the Big Island of Hawaii. This itinerary offers an immersive day in the world-renowned Kona coffee region. You will learn about the unique geography and climate that create the distinctive flavors of Kona coffee. With guided tours to local coffee farms, hands-on coffee picking and processing experiences, and coffee tasting sessions, you’ll develop an appreciation for the ‘black gold’ that is Kona coffee.
A word about Kailua-Kona (aka Kona), where there are more plentiful lunch and dinner options than near our morning and afternoon experiences. Kailua-Kona used to be a peaceful fishing and agricultural village. Now, residential housing, condos, and hotels now line Ali‘i Drive for about 10 miles. From Kamehameha’s home in the north to the Keauhou condo and shopping developments in the south, the coastal boulevard bulges with monuments to a new kind of prosperity. The northern sector of Ali‘i Drive is the center of the action, which in Kona equates to tourist shops and eating at good-time restaurants.
The village of Holualoa, located on the fertile slopes rising up to Mauna Loa, was once majorly agricultural but is now an artists’ community with galleries occupying the church and former post office. It’s still the heart of the Kona coffee district; the old coffee mill is now an artist’s workshop and studio. Lots of cafés serve 100 percent Kona coffee. Holualoa is about a 15-minute drive from Kailua-Kona; take Hwy. 19 to Hualalai Road and head uphill along the winding tropical road.
Holualoa, HI, USA
Kailua-Kona, HI, USA
Old Kona Airport State Recreation Area, Kuakini Highway, Kailua-Kona, HI, USA
Holuakoa Coffee Shack, Mamalahoa Highway, Holualoa, HI, USA
Konalani Coffee Bar, Mamalahoa Highway, Holualoa, HI, USA
Greenwell Farms, Mamalahoa Highway, Kealakekua, HI, USA
Umekes Fish Market Bar & Grill, Pawai Place, Kailua-Kona, HI, USA
Broke Da Mouth Grindz- KONA, Luhia Street, Kailua-Kona, HI, USA
Kona Coffee Living History Farm, Hawaiʻi Belt Road, Captain Cook, HI, USA
Magics Beach Grill, Ali‘i Dr, Kailua-Kona, HI, USA
Jackie Rey's Ohana Grill Kona, Kuakini Highway, Kailua-Kona, HI, USA
Outrigger Kona Resort and Spa, Ehukai Street, Kailua-Kona, HI, USA
Kona Brewing Co., Pawai Place, Kailua-Kona, HI, USA
Holualoa Inn, Mamalahoa Highway, Holualoa, HI, USA
Before Breakfast in The Big Island
Best Places for Breakfast in The Big Island
Holuakoa Coffee Shack
In the heart of Holualoa Village, the “Coffee Shack” is a garden oasis that offers a tranquil breakfast experience. The rustic, outdoor seating area with lush greenery stands in a refreshing contrast to the more bustling beachside venues. The shack is known for 100% Kona coffee, organically grown and brewed to perfection. Try their Belgian waffle with lilikoi butter or the avocado toast – both local favorites.
Konalani Coffee Bar
Konalani Coffee Bar in Holualoa is a boutique coffeehouse that exemplifies Kona’s rich coffee culture. Its modern, minimalist decor coupled with breathtaking views of the Kona coastline is rather memorable. They pride themselves on shade-grown, organic Kona coffee, which you can enjoy in its pure form or as an artisan coffee drink. Pair it with an Acai bowl or pastry for an energy-packed breakfast. You can also take a Heavenly Hawaiian coffee farm tour here.
Best Things To Do in the Morning in The Big Island
Greenwell Farms Coffee Tour
Greenwell Farms, a historical coffee farm established in 1850, is located in Kealakekua and about 10 minutes south of Holualoa. The original homestead consisted of a post office, cattle ranch, houses, and a general store. The latter is all that remains. It now houses artifacts and photographs that illuminate daily life on a ranch back in the 1850s. On the tour, you’ll learn about the coffee-making process from bean to cup, with a chance to walk among coffee trees and see how the beans are processed. It’s a hands-on experience, enhanced by knowledgeable guides. Visitors are also treated to a free coffee tasting.
Best Places for Lunch in The Big Island
Umekes Fish Market Bar and Grill
Umekes offers a casual dining experience with vibrant Hawaiian decor in Kailua-Kona. Specializing in fresh, local seafood, they offer traditional Hawaiian dishes with a twist. Try their Poke bowls or the Lau Lau pork, both favorites. The portions are generous, and the flavors are sure to satiate.
Best Things To Do in the Afternoon in The Big Island
Kona Coffee Living History Farm
The Kona Coffee Living History Farm in Captain Cook, about 20 minutes south of downtown Kailua-Kona, provides a fascinating insight into the life of Japanese immigrant coffee farmers in the early 20th century. A self-guided tour takes about 1.5 to 2 hours, and you’ll see traditional Japanese farmhouses, coffee orchards, and farm animals. You’ll also learn about the history of coffee farming in Kona through interactive exhibits and demonstrations. This immersive experience is informative and a unique opportunity to step back in time.
Best Places for Dinner in The Big Island
Magics Beach Grill
Overlooking the azure waters of Magic Sands Beach, in the southern end of Kailua-Kona, Magics Beach Grill offers an exceptional dining experience. Its open-air, beachfront setting provides a relaxed yet chic atmosphere that perfectly complements the vibrant sunsets. The menu features locally sourced ingredients. Try their grilled ono with lilikoi sauce or the Magic’s beach burger, both of which marry traditional Hawaiian flavors with modern culinary techniques. An evening here is a feast for the palate and eyes.
Jackie Rey's Ohana Grill
Jackie Rey’s in Kailua-Kona offers a refined dining experience with a warm, family-friendly environment. Their menu is a blend of local favorites and innovative dishes, all made from local ingredients. Their macadamia nut-crusted mahi mahi and slow-roasted prime rib are highly recommended. (They also have an outpost in Hilo.)
Best Places to Stay in The Big Island
Outrigger Kona Resort & Spa
Located on the iconic lava cliffs of the Kona Coast, about 15 minutes south of Kailua-Kona proper, Outrigger Kona Resort & Spa offers comfortably elegant accommodations with stunning views. The resort offers a full-service spa, a multi-level fantasy pool, and diverse dining options. Its location is perfect for water activities and exploring the local culture and history. There is also a nighttime manta ray viewing area here. There’s no beach but there are unobstructed views of Keauhou Bay, which don’t get much better in this neck of the woods. Don’t miss having a drink at sunset from the lounge.
Holualoa Inn
In Holualoa, in the cool hills above bustling Kailua-Kona, this contemporary open-air retreat sits nestled among grazing cattle and Kona coffee fields. It’s a different world up here, an enchanting balance of the artistic and the agrarian. Westerly ocean views from the rooftop gazebo and swimming pool are expansive. Cool, gentle breezes drifting through the house are magical, the sensibilities relaxed. The private home was converted to a B&B in the late 1980s, and it remains a stylish alternative to resort and condo living. Rough cedar walls and eucalyptus floors are a treat. More than 7,000 square feet of casually comfortable space rambles under high, open-beam ceilings.
After Dark in The Big Island
Kona Brewing Company
You’ve tasted their beer on the mainland. Now tour their facility and drink it onsite. Kona Brewing Company, open since 2003, is inspired by a traditional Hawaiian canoe house. They offer a breezy, relaxed vibe with decor that pays homage to the local culture. Their handcrafted ales and lagers are brewed on-site in Kailua-Kona. Open until 9 pm.
Kona Stroll
After dinner, stroll downtown Kona. The honky-tonk shops, local cafes, and historical landmarks along Alii Drive are a great way to experience a slice of local life.
Mark Twain and Robert Louis Stevenson marveled at Kona’s rustic charm around the turn of the 20th century. There are still vestiges of the past, such as Hawai‘i’s oldest missionary church and a replica of Kamehameha the Great’s last home. Almost 200 years ago, the king dedicated his residence to Lono, the god of good harvests and prosperity, who would likely have misgivings about today’s forms of bounty. In the last few decades, the population has quadrupled and concrete consumption has zoomed astronomically.
Bonus Pro Tips
Kona? You may have heard kona used to describe leeward-side weather; basically, kona redefines the words sunny and dry.
Coffee . . . did you know (per Hawaii Coffee Company)
- Kona coffee is the only coffee grown in the United States for commercial use.
- Kona coffee is grown only on the western slopes of the great volcanic mountains Mauna Loa and Hualalai, between the 800- and 2,000-foot elevations.
- The coffee tree takes two years to produce “first fruit,” but four years to reach full maturity and produce a commercial crop.
- In one year, one coffee tree will produce only enough fruit to make 1 pound of roasted coffee.
- The coffee tree is a member of the gardenia family.
- More than a billion pounds of coffee are consumed every year in the U.S.
Terms Describing Green Coffee Beans (Prior to Roasting)
- Color: From blue-green to yellow-green and brown dependent on geo-graphic origin, species, age, method of processing, maturity, and conditions of storage and transport
- Black jack: Coffee that has turned black after the full process during transportation or during processing
- Clean: A well-graded coffee free of defects
- Parchment: Dried coffee still in the outer skin prior to hulling
- Quakers: Often referred to as stinkers or floaters, these are unripe or blighted beans—coffee picked when the coffee cherry is still green
- Screen: The general term for size gradings based on the mesh or screen size through which the beans may be retained while grading
- Sound: Good marketable coffee
- Bold: A large to very large, well-formed, and even coffee bean
Terms Describing Brewed Coffee
- Acid: Sharp and pleasing characteristic particularly strong with certain origins—as opposed to one with a caustic, over-fermented, sour, or bitter flavor
- Body: Strong, full, pleasant characteristic as opposed to one tasting thin
- Coarse: A raspy and harsh flavor; one lacking finesse
- Erpsig: Potato flavor.
- Earthy: Groundlike, wet-earth flavor that comes after storage with damaged coffees
- Fiery: Bitter charcoal taste generally due to overroasting
- Grassy: Greenish grassy or greenish flavor, particularly strong with early-crop Arabics that have been picked prematurely
- Muddy: Dull, indistinct, and thickish flavor, perhaps due to grounds being agitated
- Rank: Dirty, unpleasant flavor due to contamination or overfermentation
- Fine: Coffee with distinct quality characteristics such as acid, body, etc.
