Kaupulehu · Luxury
Four Seasons Resort Hualalai
An oceanfront resort on the lava coast near the airport.
Official details for Four Seasons Resort HualalaiHawaii · Couples · Two nights
Kona & the Big Island
Lava, mantas and Kona coffee.
The Kona coast is the dry, sunny side of the Big Island, where black lava fields run down to white-sand coves and resorts. Land at Kona International, stay on the Kohala Coast, snorkel with manta rays at night, tour a Kona coffee farm, visit the ancient place of refuge at Puuhonua o Honaunau and make the long drive (or a short flight to Hilo) to Hawaii Volcanoes National Park.
VolcanoesResortsSnorkeling
YOUR ROUTEKMYR to PHKO
STRAIGHT-LINE DISTANCE~4130 NM
ILLUSTRATIVE FLIGHT TIME~27 hr 47 min
WEEKEND STYLETwo nights · Rental car
Time illustration: direct distance at 150 KTAS plus 15 minutes for departure and arrival, matching the discovery page. Use ForeFlight for your actual flight plan.
01 / Aviation & getting around
Land on the Kona coast.
PHKO (KOA), Ellison Onizuka Kona International, is a towered airport at 51 feet with an 11,000-foot runway on the lava fields north of Kailua-Kona. Hilo (PHTO) is closer to the national park.
The FBO
Kona International Airport (Hawaii DOT Airports)
808-327-9520Kona International Airport, Kailua-Kona, HI
Long over-water legs from the other islands; carry flotation. Volcanic haze (vog) can reduce visibility; check for volcanic-activity TFRs over the national park. 100LL and Jet A listed.
Hawaiian flying: steady trade winds with strong gusts and mechanical turbulence near terrain and in the channels between islands, afternoon showers and low clouds over the mountains, sudden obscuration in valleys, and long over-water legs. Carry life vests and consider a raft. Hawaii is about 2,100 nm of open ocean from California, beyond the range of most light aircraft. These guides are for Hawaii-based pilots and for visitors who rent or fly with a local operator, typically from Honolulu (PHNL), Kalaeloa (PHJR) or Kahului (PHOG).
02 / Where to stay
Lava-field resorts.
Rates and availability need travel dates. Winter books early.
Local guide
More places to stay
Resorts and inns on the Kona and Kohala coasts.
Hawaii Tourism for More places to stay03 / Where to eat
Upcountry and oceanfront.
Reserve weekend dinners.
Saturday dinner · Farm to table
Merriman’s Waimea
Peter Merriman’s original restaurant, a pioneer of Hawaii regional cuisine, in upcountry Waimea.
Official details for Merriman’s WaimeaFriday dinner · Oceanfront
Huggo’s
Dinner over the water in Kailua-Kona.
Official details for Huggo’s04 / Things to do
Lava, mantas and refuge.
Plan a full day for the volcano.
05 / What’s happening
Sometimes the season is the reason to fly.
This prototype links to the local visitor site. It does not yet match events to your travel dates.
November
Kona Coffee Cultural Festival
Farm tours and coffee events.
Hawaii Tourism for Kona Coffee Cultural FestivalOctober
Ironman World Championship
The famous triathlon in Kailua-Kona; book early.
Hawaii Tourism for Ironman World ChampionshipDecember–April
Whale season
Humpbacks off the Kohala Coast.
Hawaii Tourism for Whale seasonConcerts, festivals & local happenings
Check the local calendar when choosing a weekend, and confirm dates and tickets with the organizer.
06 / Suggested itinerary
Friday in. Sunday home.
A sample Big Island weekend. Written for Hawaii-based pilots and visitors already in the islands. No bookings or availability confirmed.
Day trip version
Just for the day
- Arrive
Land at PHKO mid-morning.
- Midday
Puuhonua o Honaunau.
- Afternoon
A Kona coffee farm, then back to the airport.
DAY 1
Arrive
- Arrival
Land at PHKO, subject to weather and your actual flight plan.
- Afternoon
Settle in on the Kohala Coast.
- Evening
Manta-ray night snorkel.
DAY 2
Explore
- Morning
Drive to Hawaii Volcanoes National Park.
- Afternoon
Kilauea’s crater and lava tubes.
- Evening
Dinner at Merriman’s Waimea.
DAY 3
Morning & home
- Morning
Puuhonua o Honaunau and a coffee farm.
- Before leaving
Allow time at the airport.
- Fly home
Trade-wind showers build over the mountains in the afternoon; plan around them.
Longer stay · Add a day
With an extra day
- Morning
Drive to Hawaii Volcanoes National Park.
- Afternoon
Kilauea crater.
- Evening
A manta-ray night snorkel.
07 / Good to know
Keep the weekend easy to change.
These details make the difference between an appealing list and a usable getaway.
Book in this order
Resort, car and the manta snorkel.
Distance
Volcanoes National Park is about 2.5 hours’ drive from Kona.
Vog
Volcanic haze can lower visibility.
Best seasons
Year-round.
Reviewed · Destination 226
Reviewed November 6, 2026.
Picks and links reviewed by WingAway Weekends. Hours, prices, menus and availability change often, so confirm directly with each place before booking. Spotted something out of date, or have a favorite we missed? Email us at [email protected].
WingAway Weekends helps you discover the destination. Use ForeFlight and current official aviation information for route, performance, weather, NOTAMs and preflight decisions. Flight planning and PIC responsibility stay with the pilot.