Of all of Hawaii’s islands, the Big Island has the most free and affordable things to do. Fortunately, you don’t have to spend a fortune, once you’re here, to take in all the island has to offer. The eleven attractions listed below are some of the top places to visit while you’re on the island. The island offers you a nice mix of cultural, scenic, and historical activities.

1. Go to The Beach. It’s one of the most inexpensive things you can do in Kona, Hawaii. One of the best beaches to visit is Kau Bay, just seven miles north of Kona Airport. It’s sandy, has a parking lot, restrooms, showers, and lots of locals to chat with.

   A second great beach to visit is Magic Sands Beach, right in Kailua-Kona. You’ll find it easily accessible and wonderful for swimming.

2. Tide Pooling and Snorkeling. One of the best snorkeling spots on the Big Island is Honaunau Bay, which is right next door to Pu’uhonau o Honaunau Park. If you don’t bring your own gear, you can rent it nearby at a reasonable price. Walking through the tide pools you will be up close and personal with sea urchins and sea turtles.
3. See a Black Sand Beach. Panuluu Beach, in between Kona and Hilo is well worth a visit.
4. Visit the Pololu Valley Lookout. If you’ve ever been to the island of Kauai, this region of the Big Island rivals the beauty of the Na Pali Coast on Kauai. Tall green cliffs shoot right down to the sea, and the deep valley meets the ocean at a black sand beach. Here you can hike all the way to the beach, if you so desire.
5. Hulihe’e Palace. Right in downtown Kailua-Kona, there are numerous sites to see, all free or very inexpensive. The palace was built in 1838 and is in beautiful condition. There is a tour you can take which lasts about an hour and a half.

Cheap eats, beach trips, great drives and more help keep the budget manageable when visiting Kona on the Big Island of Hawaii.

6. Moku’aikauna Church. Built in 1837, this is the first stone church built on the Big Island. Inside or out, it is beautiful, serene and relaxing to look at.
7. The Kamakahonu, the residence of Kamehameha I, can be found find near the Kamehameha Kona Beach Hotel near the pier. This is the place to be, as there is always a free luau being hosted!
8. If you have little ones with you, the Cultural Center at the Keauhou Village Shopping Center is a must-see. At the shopping center, you will find a movie theater, a CVS, grocery store, and an informational kiosk which will provide you with additional recreational activities. The Cultural Center, where depending on the day, hosts any number of activities, including things to make and create, such as bracelets and necklaces, leis, and other items made from kukui seeds and shells. These activities are all free. Don’t forget the free cultural hula show on Friday evenings. You didn’t come all the way to Hawaii without seeing one of these!
9. Kona Historical Society’s Traditional Portuguese Bread-baking. Experience Hawaii the way it used to be. Here you will see life the way it was in the 1880’s. Every Thursday, you can come to the H. N. Greenwell Store Museum, and help to bake the Portuguese bread. The bread is baked in a traditional stone oven, which takes at least four hours to heat up! Once the loaves are baked, you can take them home. You’ll soon want more of this mouth-watering Portuguese sweet bread that just melts in your mouth.
10. Drive Saddle Road. For only the cost of the gas in your car, you can have an adventure you won’t soon forget. You’ll drive across a high valley between two mountains, Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa. This road is a shortcut between East and West Hawaii, and offers you a ride through difference geologic and ecological zones. You’ll climb as high as 6,000 feet, and then will you will make your way down again. This spectacular drive is not for the faint of heart.
11. Window Shopping. Visit the Historic Kailua Village, the Queen’s Marketplace, The Kings’ Shops, Kona Commons Shopping, Big Island Grill, Keauhou Shopping Center and more. Here you’ll discover the unique cultural tastes of what make the Big Island of Hawaii the beauty that it is known for.

 

(Kona Big Island cropped image courtesy Prayitno / CC2.0)