Ocean
Manta Ray Night Snorkel
Float above lit ocean water after dark as Kona's resident manta rays somersault inches beneath you, the Big Island's single most unforgettable hour.
Culture
Kona Coffee Farm Tour
Walk the rows where the world's most famous coffee grows, from cherry to roast, on a working farm in the cool green hills above Kona, tasting as you go.
Kona coffee grows in a narrow belt on the western slopes, where morning sun, afternoon cloud, and volcanic soil combine to make a coffee the rest of the world chases. On a farm tour you follow the whole path, cherry on the tree, wet mill, drying deck, and roaster, in about an hour.
Some farms are polished estates with tasting rooms; others are family plots where the grower pours your cup. Our concierge picks the one that fits your morning and points you to lunch in the artist town of Holualoa afterward.
Good to know
Do we get to taste at the end?
Yes. Every tour ends with a cupping of the farm's roasts, and most have a shop where you can carry home the exact lot you tasted. It is the freshest Kona you will find.
How long does a farm tour take?
The walking tour typically runs about an hour, following the coffee from cherry on the tree through the wet mill, drying deck, and roaster. Allow extra time for the tasting and the shop afterward.
When is the best time to see harvest and roasting?
The Kona harvest runs roughly August to January, when you can watch cherry being picked and processed. Tours run year-round, and many farms roast and cup on any day, so there is always something to see and taste.
Is it good for kids?
Yes, the farms are relaxed and the walk is easy, and children enjoy seeing the bright red cherry and the roaster at work. The tasting is geared to adults, though most farms also pour water or juice.
Do we need to book, and what does it cost?
Tours run from free to a modest fee with tasting, and we suggest booking about 1 to 2 days ahead so the farm expects you. Our concierge picks the one that fits your morning and points you to lunch in the artist town of Holualoa afterward.
More ways to spend the day
Culture
Pu'uhonua o Honaunau (Place of Refuge)
A sacred place of forgiveness on a lava point of carved ki'i, royal fishponds, and swaying palms. One of Hawaii's most powerful cultural sites, and its best preserved.
Ocean
Kealakekua Bay Kayak & Snorkel
Paddle a glassy marine sanctuary to the Captain Cook Monument, where spinner dolphins pass and the reef drops into some of Hawaii's clearest water.