Planning Your Perfect Trip to Keauhou Bay

Where to Stay: From Resorts to Vacation Rentals

The Main Hub: Outrigger Kona Resort & Spa: If you want to be right in the heart of the action, this is the place to be. The resort sits on the lava rock cliffs of the bay's southern shore. Many rooms have incredible ocean views, and you can literally watch the manta ray tour boats from the property. It features a fantastic multi-level pool with a waterslide, multiple restaurants, and the largest convention center in Kona.

Other Nearby Options: The Keauhou area and nearby Kailua-Kona offer a wide range of accommodations. For a similar resort feel, the Royal Kona Resort in town is a popular choice. Condo complexes like Aston Kona by the Sea and Kanaloa at Kona by Outrigger offer more space and kitchen facilities, which are great for families. You'll also find hundreds of vacation rentals in the area, from budget-friendly studios to luxurious oceanfront homes.

Where to Eat: From Sunset Views to Local Grinds

Resort Dining: Inside the Outrigger, Piko Restaurant offers a casual setting with a menu focused on fresh, local ingredients and Hawaiian Regional Cuisine. They have a great breakfast buffet and live local music every night.

Casual & Local Cafes: The nearby Keauhou Shopping Center has some great options. I love Clover and Mug, a cute cafe that serves excellent 100% Kona coffee and unique Korean-inspired treats like croffles (a croissant-waffle hybrid) and bingsoo (shaved milk ice).

For a classic Kona experience, it's worth the short drive south to The Coffee Shack. Perched on a cliffside, it offers one of the most stunning breakfast and lunch views on the island, overlooking Kealakekua Bay. Back in Kailua-Kona, Huggo's on the Rocks is my go-to for casual, toes-in-the-sand dining with live music and amazing sunsets.

Kona Coffee: You're in the heart of coffee country. Dozens of world-famous Kona coffee farms are just a short drive up the hill from Keauhou. Many, like Greenwell Farms and Heavenly Hawaiian, offer fantastic farm tours and tastings. The perfect way to spend a morning before heading to the bay.

For the Ultimate Hawaii Vacation

One of the things I love most about the islands is the diversity of experiences you can have. You can spend one day in serene communion with nature and the next seeking pure adrenaline.

For the Thrill-Seekers: The beauty of the manta rays is serene and peaceful, like a slow-motion ballet. But I get it. Sometimes you need to balance that zen with a shot of pure adrenaline. When that feeling hits, my go-to is always Coral Crater Adventure Park back on Oʻahu.

Trading the gentle glide of the mantas for the rush of their 900-foot ziplines and the rugged fun of their ATV trails is the perfect way to round out a vacation. They have everything from a giant swing to an adventure tower with 18 different obstacles that will test your nerve and leave you with a huge smile on your face. It's a full day of high-energy fun.

For the History Lovers: Standing on the shore where Kauikeaouli was born and looking out toward the Kuamoʻo battlefield, you can't help but feel the deep pulse of Hawaiian history. It's a story of royalty, change, and the enduring spirit of this place. To continue that journey and understand a pivotal moment in world history that shaped these islands, a visit to Pearl Harbor on Oʻahu is an essential, moving experience. The Pearl Harbor National Memorial is a place of solemn reflection. Seeing the USS Arizona Memorial, which marks the final resting place for 1,177 crewmen, provides a powerful view of the sacrifices that have defined our modern world. It adds another layer of depth and understanding to your visit to Hawaii.