The Complete Guide to Alii Drive: Beaches, Restaurants, and Things to Do in Kona
Ask anyone who knows the Big Island where to spend your time in Kona, and the answer usually starts with Alii Drive. This oceanfront road runs roughly six miles along the Kona coast, from the historic seaside village of Kailua-Kona down to Keauhou Bay, and almost everything that makes this side of Hawaii special sits somewhere along it. We host guests right on this stretch at Kona Ocean Views, so this guide comes from years of actually living here, not a quick weekend visit.
Getting to Know Alii Drive
It helps to think of Alii Drive in three parts. The north end is Kailua-Kona town, home to the pier, the shops, the historic sites, and a big share of the restaurants. The middle is a quieter run of oceanfront condos, surf breaks, and small beaches. The south end finishes in Keauhou, where you'll find Kahaluu Beach Park, Keauhou Bay, and some of the best snorkeling on the island. You can drive the whole road in about fifteen minutes, but give yourself longer. You will want to pull over.
The Best Beaches on Alii Drive
Magic Sands Beach. Officially La'aloa Beach Park, though everyone in town calls it Magic Sands or White Sands. The nickname comes from the way winter surf can strip the sand away overnight and bring it back weeks later. It's the best spot on Alii Drive for boogie boarding and bodysurfing, and the shore break is fun to watch even if you stay dry. Parking fills up fast, so come in the morning.
Kahaluu Beach Park. If you only snorkel once on the Big Island, do it here. Kahaluu sits near the south end of Alii Drive, and its calm, shallow bay is full of tropical fish and green sea turtles. It's gentle enough for kids and first time snorkelers. Bring reef safe sunscreen, both because Hawaii law requires it and because this reef genuinely needs the help.
Pahoehoe Beach Park. Not really a swimming beach, but this grassy oceanfront park between town and Magic Sands is one of the easiest places on the whole road to watch the sunset. Grab takeout, claim a bench, and let the evening do its thing.
Where to Eat on Alii Drive
Kona punches above its weight for food, and much of the good stuff sits on or just off Alii Drive.
For poke, locals argue about Umekes Fish Market Bar and Grill versus Da Poke Shack. Try both during your stay and pick a side. Broke Da Mouth Grindz is the move when you want a big, satisfying plate lunch.
For dinner on the water, Huggo's has been a Kona institution for decades, and its barefoot casual neighbor On the Rocks puts your table close enough to hear the waves. The Fish Hopper serves seafood overlooking Kailua Bay from one of the oldest restaurant buildings in town, and Foster's Kitchen is a solid pick for locally sourced dishes and good cocktails. For a classic mai tai at golden hour, the open air Don the Beachcomber bar at the Royal Kona Resort is hard to beat.
One more stop worth making: the Kona Farmers Market at the corner of Alii Drive and Hualalai Road runs most of the week and is the easy place to grab fresh papaya, 100 percent Kona coffee, and souvenirs that didn't come from a chain store.
Fun Things to Do Along Alii Drive
Start in town with a little history. Hulihee Palace, a former vacation home for Hawaiian royalty, is now a small museum right on the water. Directly across the street stands Mokuaikaua Church, the oldest Christian church in Hawaii, dating back to 1820. A few steps away, Kailua Pier is the launch point for fishing charters and snorkel cruises, and the swim spot where triathletes train year round. You'll see them out there most mornings, since Alii Drive is home turf for the Ironman World Championship.
Farther south, pull over at Banyans to watch local surfers work one of Kona's favorite breaks. And from Keauhou Bay at the very end of the road, you can join a manta ray night snorkel, the one Big Island experience people talk about for years afterward. Floating above giant, harmless mantas as they loop through the lights is genuinely unlike anything else in Hawaii.
A Few Local Tips
Parking in Kailua-Kona town is the only real headache, so use the paid lots just off Alii Drive and arrive early on weekends. Snorkel in the morning, when the water is calmest and clearest. And consider walking or biking sections of the road instead of driving. The ocean views are better at three miles an hour.
Where to Stay on Alii Drive
Location matters more than anything else on this road, and the south end has the best of both worlds. Our vacation rental, Kona Ocean Views, sits where Manukai meets the Alii Drive corridor in Keauhou, on the quiet end of the coast just minutes from Kahaluu Beach Park, the manta rays at Keauhou Bay, and an easy ten minute drive from the restaurants in town. You get the sunsets and the ocean views without the downtown noise.
If Alii Drive is on your Big Island itinerary, and it should be, come stay with us. Check availability and see the majestic views for yourself at konaoceanviews.com.