Hotels Kailua

It was King Kamehameha I who founded the Kailua Kona community. He chose it as the capital after having merged Kona for the Kingdom of Hawaii. However, the capital was moved from there to Lahaina and then again to Honolulu. The community was mainly a small fishing village until the late 1900s and Kaloko-Honokohau National Historic Park's royal fishponds were responsible for this. However, after this point, the area received tourist funding, which led to reconstruction. Now, when staying in hotels Kailua visitors can enjoy authentic festivals, cultural sights, amazing scenery and outdoors activities.

The Kona Brewer's Festival started in 1996 to celebrate the opening of the Kona Brewing Company. It is held each year in March, featuring some of the most distinctive microbrews of the island. Events of the festival include the Brewer's Pa'ina dinner, which is a food and beer-pairing event, much like a wine and cheese-pairing event. The dinner is held outside beside the ocean, featuring various entrees, salads, sides and desserts. It also features Hawaiian entertainment, entrees using beer, organic beers and various styles from nutty to fruity. The festival also features a golf tournament, called Run for Hops and a concert at the Aloha Theater.

The Merrie Monarch Festival is held in late April and lasts one week. The opening celebration, Ho'olaule'a, is free and features performances by the local halau at the Afook-Chinen Civic Auditorium. There will also be free entertainment every day in the afternoon. The Arts and Craft Fair is held on three different days, also at the Afook-Chinen Civic Auditorium. Other events include the Group Hula Kahiko, Miss Aloha Hula, free performances of Ho'ike, the PIHA Native Hawaiian Art Exhibit, the Merrie Monarch Royal Parade and the Group Hula 'Auana and Awards.

The Kamehameha Festival is held in June, honoring the great Kamehameha. It features the Warrior Dance demonstration, a traditional Hawaiian dance. It will also have an opening ceremony, a shell-blowing contest, a chanting demonstration, Hawaiian music, traditional food and several hula performances. There will also be cultural expos and Hawaiian arts and crafts. All events are free.

While staying in local hotels Kailua visitors can book with Fair Wind Snorkeling and Diving Adventures, which take visitors on a cruise out to Kealakekua Bay, from where they can dive and explore one of the most impressive marine reservations. The service offers several vessels, including the recently added luxury ship, the Hula Kai. Visitors can take a morning trip, which is five hours long and features two snorkeling spots, a narrated tour, scuba diving, breakfast and a barbecue lunch. Visitors can also choose the afternoon trip, which emulates the morning trip minus the breakfast.

The Mauna Loa Helicopters are a good complement to the snorkeling trips; together these create a full tour of the area. This service allows visitors to see the most astonishing sights of the area with four different packages. Visitors can take pictures, ride without the doors, or even learn to fly under the supervision of a certified professional. This brings up the next point, which is that Mauna Loa Helicopters doubles as a helicopter pilot school, so even those who are just visiting and want to take an intensive course can rest assured that the lessons are efficient.

Snuba Big Island is a company that provides the more timid visitors with an alternative to scuba diving. For anyone who shies away from all of the complex gear and training, Snuba is good because it replaces the air tank with an air hose that is connected to an extended snorkel mask. Lessons are still provided, but Snuba diving only covers shallow reef areas and is less involved. Reservations are required and trips are available in the morning and afternoon.

When staying in local hotels Kailua guests will find that these almost always feature free Internet, free parking, laundry and safety deposit boxes. A few of these have sun terraces, gardens and on-site restaurants while a couple also feature on-site bars. A few also offer a babysitting service. Common activities include snorkeling, swimming pools, jacuzzi rooms, barbecue facilities and fishing while some have windsurfing. For those visiting on business, meeting and banquet rooms are fairly common.

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