Kailua-Kona is more than a place for beaches, snorkeling, and sunsets. The Kona Coast also gives visitors a close look at Hawaiian royalty, traditional culture, religion, and major events that shaped the islands.

Some of the best historic sites on the Big Island are within Kailua-Kona or a manageable drive south of town. From a royal palace to sacred places of refuge, these five stops can add valuable cultural context to your trip.

Huliheʻe Palace

Huliheʻe Palace stands along Aliʻi Drive in the heart of Kailua-Kona. Built in 1838 by High Chief John Adams Kuakini, Governor of Hawaiʻi Island, the lava-rock residence later became a retreat for members of Hawaiian royalty.

Today, the palace operates as a museum. Visitors can see koa wood furniture, portraits, Hawaiian quilts, feather work, and other objects connected to Hawaiʻi’s royal past. Its central location also makes it an easy stop for travelers staying in Big Island Kona vacation rentals near Kailua Village.

Mokuaikaua Church

Mokuaikaua Church
Photo from Shutterstock

Across Aliʻi Drive from Huliheʻe Palace is Mokuaikaua Church, a major landmark in Hawaiʻi’s Christian history. The first Congregational missionaries arrived in Kailua in 1820, and an early grass church was built several years later.

After that structure was destroyed by fire, the present stone-and-mortar church was completed in 1837. A visit offers insight into the major religious and social changes taking place in Hawaiʻi during the 19th century.

Kamakahonu National Historic Landmark

At the north end of Kailua Bay, Kamakahonu was the final residence of Kamehameha I. The royal compound once included homes, storage buildings, walls, and ʻAhuʻena Heiau, the king’s personal place of worship.

The site’s importance continued after Kamehameha I died in 1819. Kamakahonu is connected to the end of the kapu system and the arrival of the first Christian missionaries in 1820, making it a key place for understanding a turning point in Hawaiian history.

Kaloko-Honokōhau National Historical Park

Just north of Kailua-Kona, Kaloko-Honokōhau National Historical Park protects cultural landscapes that show how Native Hawaiians lived along this dry section of coast. Congress established the park in 1978 to preserve and interpret traditional Hawaiian activities, culture, and land-use patterns.

Visitors can explore a landscape where Hawaiian communities once depended on both ocean and upland resources. For guests comparing our Hawaii vacation rentals, easy access to sites like this is one reason the Kona Coast makes a strong base for a history-focused trip.

Puʻuhonua o Hōnaunau National Historical Park

Farther south, Puʻuhonua o Hōnaunau National Historical Park preserves one of Hawaiʻi’s most important traditional cultural sites. In ancient Hawaiʻi, people who broke certain kapu could reach a puʻuhonua, or place of refuge, where they could seek safety and forgiveness.

The park includes the massive Great Wall, ceremonial structures, Royal Grounds, and Hale o Keawe. The area was also an important political and religious center in the traditional Kona district for centuries.

Final Thoughts

The best historic attractions near Kailua-Kona tell different parts of Hawaiʻi’s story. Huliheʻe Palace explores royal life, Mokuaikaua Church reflects a period of religious change, and Kamakahonu connects visitors with Kamehameha I and the early Hawaiian Kingdom.

Kaloko-Honokōhau and Puʻuhonua o Hōnaunau provide an even deeper look at traditional Hawaiian culture and relationships with the land and sea. Staying in rentals in Hawaii near Kona can put these meaningful places within reach while leaving plenty of time for the coast’s beaches and outdoor activities.

Book Your Kailua-Kona Vacation Rental with Island Beach Rentals

Make Hawaiʻi’s history part of your next Big Island getaway. Island Beach Rentals offers Big Island vacation rentals that provide a comfortable home base for exploring Kailua-Kona and the historic attractions along the Kona Coast.

Book your Big Island vacation rental with Island Beach Rentals and start planning a trip filled with Hawaiian culture, history, coastal scenery, and memorable days on the island.

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